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1-9 of 9
- Peggy Cummins was an Irish actress, appearing in several films between 1940 and 1961. Her best known role was that of trigger-happy bank robber Annie Laurie Starr in the film "Gun Crazy".
In December, 1925, Cummins was born under the name of "Augusta Margaret Diane Fuller" in Prestatyn, Denbighshire, Wales. Her parents were an Irish couple from Dublin, who visited Prestatyn during their vacation. They were reportedly seeking shelter from a storm there. Cummins' parents were Franklin Bland Fuller (1897-1943) and his wife, the actress Margaret Cummins (1889-1973). Through her father's side of the family, Cummins was a great-granddaughter of famed architect and novelist James Franklin Fuller (1835-1924).
Cummins was mostly raised and educated in Killiney, Dublin. As a child, she attended the Abbey School of ballet in Dublin. She was eventually spotted there and chosen for a non-speaking role in a performance of the play "The Duchess of Malfi" (1613/1614) by John Webster. Cummins played one of the play's murdered children and she was (in her words) "only seen in silhouette". This was her theatrical debut.
In 1938, Cummins made her London stage debut at the St James's Theatre. She performed in the role of Maryann, the juvenile lead in the children's review "Let's Pretend", In 1940, Cummins had her film debut in the drama "Dr. O'Dowd" . The film concerned Marius O'Dowd (played by Shaun Glenville) , an alcoholic doctor who has lost his license and the affection of his only son, but later attempts to befriend his young, estranged granddaughter Pat O'Dowd (Cummins).
Being only 15-year-old during her film debut's production, Cummins was (by agreement) limited to working 5 hours per day, and only under the supervision of a governess. The film was a success, and helped Cummins being cast in supporting roles in subsequent films. Meanwhile she continued her theatrical career. In 1943, Cummins played the 12-year-old Fuffy in a theatrical adaptation of the short story collection "Junior Miss" (1941) by Sally Benson. In 1944, Cummins played the leading role of Alice in a theatrical adaptation of the novel "Alice in Wonderland" (1865) by Lewis Carroll.
In 1944, Cummins played notable roles in the comedy film "English Without Tears" (1944) and the World War II-themed drama "Welcome, Mr. Washington". In 1945, Darryl F. Zanuck, head of 20th Century-Fox, brought Cummins to Hollywood. Cummins was considered for roles in both "Cluny Brown" (1946) and "Forever Amber" (1947), but was rejected for being "too young". Her first leading role in an American film was playing the blackmailer Belle Adair/Rose Lynton in the film noir "Moss Rose" (1947). The film was praised by the press but was a box office flop. Zanuck claimed that the losses from the film amounted to 1,300,000 dollars.
Cummins subsequently appeared in a handful of American films. She played Eleanor Apley, daughter of an upper-class Bostonian family, in the romantic comedy "The Late George Apley" (1947). She played Dora Winters, an escaped prisoner's love interest, in the thriller "Escape" (1948). She played Carey Greenway, the love interest of a Wyoming-based horse owner, in "Green Grass of Wyoming" (1948).
Cummins then returned to the United Kingdom to have a role in the romance film "That Dangerous Age" (1949), about a neglected wife who finds romance with a lover. Cummins played a supporting role to the film's female lead Myrna Loy. Cummins returned to the United States to play a femme fatale role as bank robber Annie Laurie Starr in the film "Gun Crazy" (1950). The film was released by the film studio United Artists,This was Cummins' last appearance in a film shot in the United States. In retrospect, the film has been considered culturally significant and chosen for preservation by the Library of Congress.
In the rest of the 1950s, Cummins mainly worked in British films. Among her best known roles in this period was the role of female lead Joanna Harrington in the cult-themed horror film "Night of the Demon" (1957). Receiving modest praise in its original release, their film has since been evaluated as one of the gems of the horror genre.
In the early 1960s, Cummins only appeared in comedies. They included the divorce-themed farce "Your Money or Your Wife" (1960), the crime comedy "Dentist in the Chair" (1960), and the veterinarian-themed comedy "In the Doghouse" (1961). "In the Doghouse" was Cummins' last film appearance, as she largely retired from acting at the age of 36. Her few subsequent appearances were guest-star roles in television.
From the 1970s onward, Cummins devoted her time to the national charity Stars Organisation for Spastics. She chaired the management committee of a holiday center for children with disabilities in Sussex. In 2008, the charity organization changed its name to Stars Foundation for Cerebral Palsy, with Cummins still among its volunteers.
In December 2017, Cummins suffered a stroke and died in London, where she had spend her last years. She died eleven days following her 92nd birthday. - Producer
- Director
- Actor
Neil Aspinall was born on 13 October 1941 in Prestatyn, Denbighshire, Wales, UK. He was a producer and director, known for Hendrix: Band of Gypsys (1999), The Beatles Anthology (1995) and The Beatles: Something (1969). He was married to Susan (Suzy) Mary Ornstein. He died on 23 March 2008 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.- Ruth Dunning was born on 17 May 1909 in Prestatyn, Flintshire, Wales, UK. She was an actress, known for The Grove Family (1954), Young and Willing (1954) and It's a Great Day! (1955). She was married to Jack Allen. She died on 27 February 1983 in London, England, UK.
- John Prescott was born on 31 May 1938 in Prestatyn, Denbighshire, Wales, UK. He is an actor, known for Gavin & Stacey (2007), The Cars That Made Britain Great (2016) and One Rogue Reporter (2014). He has been married to Pauline Prescott since 11 November 1961. They have two children.
- Composer
- Actor
- Music Department
Born Prestatyn, North Wales in 1957. Educated at Charterhouse School, Surrey, England. 1976 Signed to ATV Music 1978 Musical Director of Rocky Horror Show in London West End. 1983 In the musical group "The Waterboys" Waterboys CDs: 1984:A Pagan Place, 1985:This is The Sea. 1985 Left "The Waterboys" and formed "World Party" World Party Discography: 1986:Private Revolution 1990:Goodbye Jumbo 1993: Bang! 1997:Egyptology 2000: Dumbing Up Grammy nomination: 1990 for Goodbye Jumbo UK Q Award for album of the year (Readers Vote): 1990: Goodbye Jumbo Misc: 1988: Opened Seaview Studios in London England 1994: Score for Reality Bites (1994) Has contributed songs (original and cover versions) to many films including: Clueless (1995) _Armageddon (1998)_ _The MatchMaker (1997)_ Say It Isn't So (2001) _Sidewalks Of New York (2001)_ amongst others. Cover Versions: 2000: She's The One (written originally for the film of the same name) taken to Number #1 in UK by Robbie Williams. 2001: Founding Seaview Television- a production company for Film, Video and Music. 2002: Produced first World Party DVD entitled "'til I Got You"- Producer
- Director
- Editor
Huw Wheldon was born in Prestatyn in North Wales in May 1916. After attending Friar's School, Bangor, he studied at the London School of Economics. In 1939, at the outbreak of war, he volunteered, eventually joining the Royal Ulster Rifles. He landed in Normandy by glider on D-Day and won the Military Cross on D Day + 1. He finished the war as a Major. After the war he taught philosophy and politics to soldiers at Mount Carmel in what was still Palestine. In 1947 he became Director of the Arts Council in Wales and in 1951 was awarded the O.B.E. for his work as the Arts Council officer for the Festival of Britain. He then joined the BBC. He moved rapidly from publicity into production, making programs with General Brian Horrocks, Professor Robert Mackenzie and Orson Welles, among others. He was personally thanked by Prime Minister Harold Macmillan for the guidance and advice offered to the Premier in his live addresses to the nation. In 1958 Wheldon became Editor (a designation chosen by himself) of the first arts magazine program on British television, 'Monitor'. Wheldon gathered about him an astonishing ray of talents, including John Schlesinger and Ken Russell. John Boorman, too, has remarked on Wheldon's influence. In a TV interview after Wheldon's death Russell described 'Monitor' as "the British Film School". In 1964 Wheldon left the program, having "interviewed everyone I wanted to" and began his distinguished career as a television administrator. As Controller and then Managing Director of BBC television he oversaw what has come to be recognized as the 'golden age' of BBC television, during which were produced such series as 'Civilization', 'America' and 'The Ascent of Man', much original drama, such as Ken Loach's 'Cathy Come Home' and situation comedy of lasting merit, such as 'Steptoe and Son' (turned into 'Sanford & Son' in the USA) and 'Till Death Us Do Part' (which in America became 'All in the Family'). Compulsory retirement in 1976 was followed by a return to program making, with the 13 hour 'Royal Heritage', a major documentary about the Library of Congress and 'Destination D-Day' about the brilliant deceptions visited upon German intelligence by the British secret service prior to the Normandy invasions. Wheldon was knighted in 1976, for services to television. A BAFTA Award bears his name and a Huw Wheldon lecture is given each year under the auspices of the Royal Television Society. Wheldon was a colossus of the industry and his influence continues. He claimed to be the inventor of the term "narrowcasting". He died in 1986. His memorial service was held in Westminster Abbey.- Actor
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Mike Peters was born on 25 February 1959 in Prestatyn, Denbighshire, Wales, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Dom Hemingway (2013), Bachelor Party (1984) and Untamed Heart (1993).- Barry Flanagan was born on 11 January 1941 in Prestatyn, North Wales. He was married to Sue Lewis. He died on 31 August 2009 in Santa Eulalia, Ibiza.
- Barry Flanagan was born on 11 January 1941 in Prestatyn, Denbighshire, Wales, UK. He was an actor, known for The Last Time (2002), Flanagan's Wake (2012) and Art & the 60s (2004). He was married to Sue Lewis. He died on 31 August 2009 in Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain.