Editorials > Holiday Film Obituaries

The few days on either side of Christmas tend to be famished for worthy film news. This year was no different but a surprising number of industry notables passed away this week. Rather than write a new article for each of them, it seemed prudent to give a brief list with terse biographies. This is not meant to trivialize these respectable people but merely to condense their stories for the expedience of the living.

Frank Capra Jr. (1934-2007)- Son of legendary director Frank Capra, and a producer in his own right of such films as the 1968 Planet of the Apes.

Stu Nahan (1926-2007)- A sportscaster both in real life and in the movies, especially the Rocky series. 

Michael Kidd (1915-2007)- Choreographer who won five Tony Awards and one honorary Oscar in 1996 for lifetime achievement. Choreographed Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Hello, Dolly!.  

Pat Kirkwood (1921-2007)- Primarily a stage actress in Britain whose career spanned over sixty years.

Jeanne Carmen (1930-2007)- Model who was known for her relationship with Frank Sinatra as well as her golf tricks and subsequent golf hustling.

G.P. Sippy (1914-2007)- Gopaldas Parmanand Sippy was a prominent Indian producer who made the Bollywood blockbuster Sholay among many others.

Fred Dressler (1941-2007)- Cable programming executive at Time Warner. 

-David Morgan