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| Van Williams, born 27 Feb. 1934 in Ft. Worth Texas has quite a long career in show business. Starting in the late 1950's, he guest starred on many TV shows, including westerns like "Lawman", "Colt 45" and "Cheyenne", "Big Valley" and "Gunsmoke". He also did a long stint in modern crime dramas: "77 Sunset Strip","Hawaiian Eye", "Mannix", "Mission Impossible", "Streets of San Francisco", and "The Rockford Files". Don't overlook Van's roles in "Westwind", "The Night Rider" and an appearance in "Dragon-The Bruce Lee Story" which was a critically-acclaimed portrayal of the life of the 'little dragon'. Today, Mr. Williams still makes appearances at sci-fi and fan conventions around the country. Bruce Lee, whose real name is Lee Jun Fan, was born 27 November 1940 in San Francisco, California. Part of his legend says he was named Bruce by one of the nurses in the hospital. A year later,in 1941 he played an infant in 'Golden Gate Girl'. By age 1 Bruce was already a movie actor. Bruce's early films have some wonderful titles, most still unknown to his American fans.: "The Birth of Mankind"{ (1946), "Wealth is like a Dream" (1948), "The Kid" (1950), The Guiding Light" (1953), "A Mother's Tears" (1953), "The Orphan" (1960). Post-Hornet movies included "Marlowe" with James Garner. He played a thug named Winslow Wong who first wrecks Marlowe's office, then does a fatal flying kick off a rooftop. His immortal fight scene from "Return of The Dragon" (1974) with Chuck Norris in the Roman Coliseum is as classic in martial arts circles as the great Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier matches are to boxing fans. Bruce passed away 20 July 1973 from a cerebral edema in Hong Kong. He was 32. There are so many notable achievements by Bruce, it would take forever to tell them all. I like to think of Bruce as a benevolent spirit, just out of reach but always nearby. Blessed with an almost superhuman talent, this motion picture legend set a standard that still exists today, and likely will stand forever. Lloyd Gough, a Hornet favorite and a journalistic legend among some writers, has a movie-making career that spanned two great Hollywood eras. Those post-war Hollywood classic films were full of appearances by Lloyd. 1948's "All My Sons" with Edward G. Robinson, and another classic "The Babe Ruth Story' with William Bendix as Babe Ruth, also in 1948. Let's not forget "Black Bart" with Yvonne DeCarlo, or 1951's "Storm Warning" with Ginger Rogers and Ronald Reagan. 14 years before the "Green Hornet", Lloyd co-starred with Marlene Dietrich and George (Superman) Reeves in "Rancho Notorious". After "Green Hornet", Lloyd co-starred with Mr. Frank Sinatra and Jill St. John in "Tony Rome". `1968's "Madigan" with Richard Widmark and Henry Fonda, 1969's "Tell Them Willie Boy is Here" featured Robert Redford and Robert Blake. He had an uncredited role in "Funny Girl" with Barbra Streisand playing Fanny Brice. "The Great White Hope" with James Earl Jones in 1970 was not Lloyd's first boxing movie. That would be his first film, "Body and Soul", about boxer Charlie Davis, back in 1947. Lloyd followed up "Great White Hope" with "Executive Action" in 1973. A notable costar in this film is Walter (DA Frank Scanlon) Brooke. Always in the support role, never quite capturing the full spotlight, just a few names down from the top of the cast list Lloyd played his most ironic role in Woody Allen's "The Front" in 1976. He played a blacklisted writer in that film. Lloyd's last film role was "House Calls" with Walter Matthau and Art Carney in 1978. Lloyd passed away 23 July 1984, leaving behind a wonderful film legacy for all of us to treasure always. He will always be remembered not only by Green Hornet fans, but by 2 generations of Hollywood movie fans. Adam Bitterman, actor in action and sci-fi films such as "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" is a dedicated Hornet fan. His online collection of Hornet memorabilia here is a Hornet fan must-see. His unique collection includes old 40's-era anti-Nazi Green Hornet comics and things many Hornet fans have never seen. |
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