Remembering George Raft on the 40th anniversary of his passing. George Raft was an was an American film actor identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930’s and 1940’s.
With a career spanning almost 6 decades, some of Raft’s biggest on screen hits were: “Scarface,” “Black Widow” and “Ocean’s Eleven.” But he will always be remembered by most as the iconic Spats Colombo, the murderous gangster out to get Joe and Jerry in the comedy classic: “Some Like It Hot.”
Remembering Walter Matthau who passed away July 1st 2000.
Walter Matthau was an American Oscar winning actor and comedian appearing in over 100 film and tv credits with a career spanning over 6 decades.
Some of Matthau’s biggest films hits include: “Charade,” “Hello, Dolly!” “Charlie Verrick” and “The Taking Of Pelham 123.” He also struck up a lifelong friendship and on screen partnership with Jack Lemmon and together they made 10 films together, including: “The Odd Couple,” “Grumpy Old Men,” “The Front Page” and “The Fortune Cookie” for which Matthau won an Academy Award for ‘Best Actor in a Supporting Role.’
Although his name isn’t instantly thought of when it comes to Marilyn, they do have a connection. Matthau was one of the original choices for the role of “Richard Sherman” in “The Seven Year Itch” and even went as far as to record a screen test (linked below.)
The role eventually went to Tom Ewell and the rest is history.
Although it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Richard Sherman, as Tom Ewell did such a fantastic job, I’m sure Walter Matthau would have put his own unique stamp on it!
Matthau passed away at the age of 79 on July 1st 2000. He is buried at Westwood Memorial Cemetery in Los Angeles with his wife Carol, not too far away from Jack Lemmon and of course… Marilyn.
Today we are remembering the multi talented and legendary Jack Lemmon, who passed away on this date in 2001.
Jack needs absolutely no introduction, as I can safely say that he is regarded as one of Marilyn’s most beloved co-stars having acted alongside her in the iconic 1959 comedy “Some Like It Hot.”
Of course, he was so much more than “Daphne” the bull fiddle playing musician on the run from the Mob.. he had a lengthy and highly asteemed career spanning 6 decades, he was a two time Academy Award winner and up until recently, held the record for the most number of Golden Globe nominations in history (beaten only by Meryl Streep.)
Some of his film credits include: “The Apartment,” “The Odd Couple,” “The China Syndrome,” “Days Of Wine And Roses,” “Save The Tiger,” “Grumpy Old Men” and “Glengarry Glen Ross,” to name but a few.
It’s no coincedence that “Some Like It Hot” Director and writer Billy Wilder once said “Happiness is working with Jack Lemmon”, he was regarded as one of the nicest, hardest working and most respected Actors in the business. In turn, he never had an unkind word to say about any of his fellow co stars throughout the years and always especially spoke highly of Marilyn. He was once quoted as saying:
“Marilyn had an incredible charisma that was so rare, I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like it. She had a lot of talent as an actress and she used that talent to the best of her ability as well as her skills as a comedienne, which worked out marvelously for her as with that combined, she created that certain magic on film. I loved working with her and a lot of people say that is clear in our scenes together. I absolutely adored her and we got on wonderfully.”
