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  • Joan Fontaine, Film Actress, Dies At Age 96

    Joan Fontaine, Film Actress, Dies At Age 96

    Well, it was a rough weekend for classic Hollywood. People tend to say that things happen in 3’s, and over the weekend, three members of the Hollywood community died, with Joan Fontaine being the latest to pass away.

    Joan Fontaine was an actress who acted during the classic Hollywood period, and had starring roles in multiple Hitchcock films, which earned her recognition at the Academy Awards.

    The news of her death was confirmed by Fontaine’s assistant, Susan Pfeiffer, stating that she died of natural causes on Sunday at her home in Carmel, California. She was born on October 22, 1917 in Tokyo, Japan.

    She was one of the last remaining links to the Golden Age of film in the 1930s’ and 1940’s, and won a best actress Oscar for her role in Suspicion. She was also nominated for an Oscar for Rebecca, and was seen in several other films including Ivanhoe, Something To Live For, and Letter From An Unknown Woman.

    Joan Fontaine has not been seen on the big screen since 1966 in The Witches, but she was in select episodes of several television series and TV movies.

    She has been described as having an on-stage presence that could seem radiantly shy, believably insecure, gazing into the middle distance with a hesitancy that drew you immediately to her side.

    In addition to Joan Fontaine, Peter O’Toole, known for his role in Lawrence Of Arabia, also passed away over the weekend. Billy Jack star Tom Laughlin died as well. The actors were 81, and 82, respectively.

    Throughout her life, she was married and divorced four times, the first being to actor Brian Aheme. She is also the younger sister of Olivia De Havilland, a well-known actress of the same time period, who won Oscars for both The Heiress and To Each His Own.

    Both Fontaine and her sister were born in Tokyo, although were brought to California at a young age after their mother removed them due to their father’s affair with the Japanese maid.

    Throughout their film careers, the sisters remained bitter rivals with one another, and were even nominated against each other in the case when Joan Fontaine won the award for Suspicion. In 1978, she published her autobiography, No Bed of Roses, which detailed also detailed the long-running feud that she had with de Havilland.

    In an eventful weekend for classic Hollywood’s actors, Joan Fontaine has passed away, and will be remembered as one of the shining stars of her time.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Tom Laughlin, Star Of “Billy Jack,” Dies At Age 82

    Another silver screen legend has passed away. Tom Laughlin, the star of the groundbreaking film Billy Jack, has died. The well-known actor died Thursday at Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, California.

    His daughter, Teresa Laughlin said that the cause of death was due to complications from pneumonia. He was 82 when he died.

    Tom Laughlin’s hit film Billy Jack was released in 1971 after a long struggle to get the film made on a low budget, and went on to become a big hit. He wrote, directed, and produced the film, in addition to starring in the title role, in a way that was not done at the time.

    His wife was also a part of his film-making process, and he created Billy Jack with his wife and collaborator, Delores Taylor.

    The film told the story of an ex-Green Beret who defends a progressive school against the racists of a conservative Western community. It became a hit for those involved in the counterculture. It became a favorite for those in the anti-war movement due to its message, and the character of Billy Jack was half-white, half Native American, and a Vietnam veteran who had come to hate war.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqXvqaBw_iA

    While Billy Jack was his most famous film, Tom Laughlin also appeared in The Big Sleep, The Delinquents, South Pacific, and several others. Billy Jack also spawned several sequels including Billy Jack Goes To Washington, a remake of Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.

    In addition to being a filmmaker, like his Billy Jack character, he was an opponent of nuclear energy, and a longtime advocate for Native Americans. He also formed a bond with Marlon Brando, a fellow actor-activist.

    Hollywood also lost another legendary actor over the weekend, when the news was announced today of the death of Peter O’Toole, an actor most known for Lawrence Of Arabia.

    Laughlin was in his mid-30’s when he created the film. It initially flopped at the box office, but has become an inspiration for independent filmmakers in the way Tom Laughlin was able to get it made. Recently, he had written books, and had attempted to make another Billy Jack movie.

    While he attempted and failed to make another film in relation to Billy Jack, there would be the interest, but then something would always happen. His daughter talked about the situation, and stated “One of the prime reasons that he couldn’t get a deal was his failing health and, I think, his inability to come to terms with that. In his mind’s eye, he remained Billy Jack.”

    Tom Laughlin will always be remembered for his role in Billy Jack, and will be missed by all who loved his classic film, and as a member of Hollywood.

    Image via Youtube