Alan Rickman (1946–2016)

Born: February 21, 1946 in Hammersmith, London, England, UK
Died: January 14, 2016 (age 69) in London, England, UK

(On his role in Die Hard (1988)) “As far as I’m concerned, I’m not playing ‘the villain.’ I’m just playing somebody who wants certain things in life, has made certain choices, and goes after them.”

I love America because whenever I go home — there’s something about England and coming from England — but as soon as you walk down the steps of the plane you shrink. And you have to start saying “sorry” and being polite and curtsying and things like that… America just lets me be the klutz I really am.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone 2001 dir. Chris Columbus Starring Richard Harris

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 2002 dir. Chris Columbus starring Daniel Radcliffe

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 2004

Donna Reed (1921–1986)

Born: January 27, 1921 in Denison, Iowa, USA
Died: January 14, 1986 (age 64) in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Forty pictures I was in, and all I remember is ‘What kind of bra will you be wearing today, honey?’ That was always the area of big decision – from the neck to the navel.

I’ve been involved with blood donation since the 1980s because there is a critical need.

If nuclear power plants are safe, let the commercial insurance industry insure them. Until these most expert judges of risk are willing to gamble with their money, I’m not willing to gamble with the health and safety of my family.

From Here to Eternity 1953 dir. Fred Zinnemann Cast Burt Lancaster Montgomery Clift

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Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957)

Born: December 25, 1899 in New York City, New York, USA
Died: January 14, 1957 (age 57) in Los Angeles, California, USA

Married to: Lauren Bacall (21 May 1945 – 14 January 1957) (his death) (2 children)
Mayo Methot (21 August 1938 – 10 May 1945) (divorced)
Mary Philips (3 April 1928 – 11 August 1938) (divorced)
Helen Menken (20 May 1926 – 18 November 1927) (divorced)

Became a father for the 1st time at age 49 when his 4th wife Lauren Bacall gave birth to their son Stephen H. Bogart on January 6, 1949.

Became a father for the 2nd time at age 52 when his 4th wife Lauren Bacall gave birth to their daughter Leslie Bogart on August 23, 1952.

The first actor to form his own production company.

Usually smoked 40 cigarettes a day.

Shelley Winters (1920–2006)

Born: August 18, 1920 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Died: January 14, 2006 (age 85) in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

[on Norman Mailer] Norman’s not capable of sleeping with a starlet and using her and then just saying “That was great, kid. Goodbye.” Unlike most men in Hollywood, he’s actually a feminist. He sees women as people, not just sex objects. He reveres women. He feels there’s kind of respect they must have.

[In a 1980 interview] Jean Arthur was ALWAYS my favorite actress when I was a kid. And I love Bette Davis for a very peculiar reason. Bette Davis is not afraid to stink! There are these careful actresses who look pretty, and they’re never bad, they’re never great. But Bette Davis goes; she’ll take chances. I love to watch her on the set. Sometimes it’s awful, but sometimes it’s FANTASTIC!

Peter Finch (1916–1977)

Born: September 28, 1916 in South Kensington, London, England, UK
Died: January 14, 1977 (age 60) in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

[on how he coped with the challenge of conducting the first erotic film kiss with another male actor in ‘Sunday, Bloody Sunday’] I did it for England.

[on screenplays]: It really is no good getting surgeons in, the script has to be right at the beginning; and it has taken me, I’m ashamed to say, some thirty years to find out that you mustn’t listen to anybody at lunch any more.

Married to:
Eletha Finch (9 November 1973 – 14 January 1977) (his death) (1 child)
Yolande Turner (4 July 1959 – 11 November 1965) (divorced) (2 children)
Tamara Tchinarova Finch (21 April 1943 – 17 June 1959) (divorced) (1 child)

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Jason Bateman

Born: January 14, 1969 in Rye, New York, USA

Married to: Amanda Anka (3 July 2001 – present) (2 children)

[on his past drinking] As disciplined as I am. I’m also a huge hedonist. If my fun level is like a 6 when I’m out, why not take it to a 10? That’s how I was with drinking. If I’m buzzed, let’s get drunk. And if I’m drunk, let’s black out. I mean, why not? I didn’t understand why you’d stop.

[on Arrested Development (2003)] I mean, my career was not vibrant, not robust, to say the least. And then that show came along and gave me a second chance. If it hadn’t appeared, you know, I may have turned to something else … It was the most important thing I’ve ever done.

Starsky and Hutch 2004 dir. Todd Phillips Starring Ben Stiller Owen Wilson

The Kingdom 2007

Grant Gustin

Born: January 14, 1990 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA

I was ‘gay-bashed’ when I was in school even though, you know, I’m not… I’m a straight guy that just happens to be what I do. So, it’s easily relatable to me. It was awful. It’s a hard time in a kid’s life.

My favorite actor that I look up to is Joseph Gordon-Levitt. His career is something I look up to, I just want to be that guy. He’s always part of projects that have a lot of soul and that’s what I want to do as an actor.

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Steven Soderbergh

Born: January 14, 1963 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Married to: Jules Asner (10 May 2003 – present)
Betsy Brantley (2 December 1989 – 1994) (divorced) (1 child)

I think it’s a real privilege to make a living doing this job. It’s a great job – the best I can think of, actually. You walk into a room and say, “I’m imagining this,” and they give you millions of dollars to go out and make it real. That’s a pretty good gig. I have certain standards – sometimes I hit them and sometimes I don’t. I don’t think being precious is really good for any artform. So I believe in being really prepared, working hard, doing everything I can think of to improve it, but staying on budget, staying on schedule, and when it’s over, it’s over and I’m onto the next thing. I’m really dispassionate about it, in…

Lawrence Kasdan

Born: January 14, 1949 in Miami, Florida, USA

Has never directed Harrison Ford in a movie, despite having written four movies in which Ford appears: Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) and Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). He did, however, direct River Phoenix in I Love You to Death (1990). Phoenix had played the young Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).

Won the prestigious “Hopwood Prize” for creative writing from the University of Michigan’s Hopwood Program. Hopwood was a Michigan alumnus who left a bequest in his will establishing the awards. The Hopwood Program at Michigan now administers the Arthur Miller Award of the U-M Club of New York Scholarship and the Kasdan Scholarship in Creative Writing, among other award/scholarship programs. Kasadan delivered…