It is that time of year when reflecting on things and remembering those who have passed away is quite normal. I just wanted to highlight a few people who have passed in 2023.
William Friedkin
25th of August 1935 - 7th of August 2023
William David Friedkin was an American film, television and opera director. He was also a producer and screenwriter.
Friedkin Directed “The Boys in the Band” (1970) which is viewed as a landmark in queer cinema. The tragically overlooked “Sorcerer” (1977) which is now being recognised as the masterpiece it always has been, The controversial thriller “Cruising” (1980) and the stunning Neo-Noir thriller “To Live and Die in L.A. which is all enough to have made me a fan but he also made “The French Connection” (1971) and “The Exorcist” (1973).
Linda Haynes
4th of November 1947 - 17th of July 2023
Lynda Haynes was an American actress who appeared in several films in the 1970’s and 80’s before she retired to pursue a non-acting career.
I first heard of her while reading Quentin Tarantino's book Cinema Speculation and how he always wanted to lure her out of retirement to appear in one of his projects. Mainly because of her performance in the 1977 revenge-o-matic thriller “Rolling Thunder” (not the easiest film to get a hold of) I finally got to see the film this year and she is remarkable in it. I then discovered she had passed away so we will never have her appear in a Tarantino movie.
We will always have Rolling Thunder.
Owen Rotzman
22nd of September 1939 - 6th of January 2023
Was an American Cinematographer who shot “The French Connection” (1971),
“The Exorcist” (1973),“The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” (1974), “Three Days of the Condor” (1975), “Network” (1976), “Tootsie” (1982) as well as many others but that is one hell of a CV.
Glenda Jackson
9th of May 1936 - 15th of June 2023
Glenda May Jackson CBE was an English actress and politician who throughout her acting career was awarded two Academy Awards, three Emmys and a Tony as well as a BAFTA and a Golden Globe and 30 more awards. For me she will be best remembered for her role as Gudrun Brangwen in Ken Russell’s seminal classic “Women in Love” (1969).
Wilmer C. “Bill” Butler
7th of April 1921 - 5th of April 2023
Bill Butler was an American cinematographer who passed away this year two days before his 103rd birthday. He shot a lot of movies in his career but he does have “Jaws” (1975) and “The Conversation” (1974) to his name and that's kinda enough to be a legend really. (people seem to think he shot "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" but I don't think he did)
Murray Melvin
10th of August 1932 - 14th of April 2023
Murry Melvin was an English actor who appeared in more than 40 films and was still acting in 2016 at the age of 83.
In my opinion his two most significant roles were playing Rev. Samuel Runt in Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece Barry Lyndon and deeply creepy Father-Canon Jean Mignon in Ken Russell’s The Devils what everyone should know by now is one of my faviote films of all time.
Murray Melvin is also in one of the best episodes of BBC series Johnothan Creek “The Black Canary” which was the 1998 christmas special. Worth checking out.
Ricou Ren Browning
16th of Febuary 1930 - 27th Febuary 2023
Ricou Ren Browning was an american stunt performer, filmmaker and actor.
He is most famous for is innovative underwater stunt work and he actually portrayed the Gill-man in the Universal Horror classic “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (1954)
Brian Tufano
1st of December 1939 - 12th of Januanry 2023
Brian Tufano was an English cinematographer who shot amongst others “Quadrophenia” (1979), “Shallow Grave” (1994), “Trainspotting” (1996), “A Life Less Ordinary” (1997), Billy Elliot (2000). He also shot second unit on Blade Runner (1982).
Piers Haggard
18th of March 1939 - 11th of January 2023
Piers Inigo Haggard, OBE was an English film, television and theatre director.
His most significant work (in my opinion) was that he directed the British Folk Horror classic “The Blood on Satan’s Claw” (1971)
