Manny P. here…
“`Screen personas are not always accurate depictions of an actor’s private life. Take the case of Edward G. Robinson. His tough guy persona belied his cultured personality away from the screen. Celebrating Act 2 reveals all!
“`Until next time> “never forget”
Manny P. here… 
“`Dame Margaret Natalie Smith was a personal favorite actress of mine. I loved her in great cinema, such as in The V. I. P.’s, Death on the Nile, A Room with a View, Gosford Park, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and her Oscar-winning turn in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I fancied her comedies, such as Sister Act, Quartet and particularly, Murder by Death. I watched her on television each week on Downtown Abbey and I never missed an episode. I even supported her exemplary performances in inferior productions, including in The First Wives Club and her Oscar-winning role in California Suite. MAGGIE SMITH ->
“`At the Oxford University Dramatic Society, Smith began her stage career in 1952 as Viola in Twelfth Night. In 1956, she made her Broadway debut. Laurence Olivier invited Smith to become part of his new National Theatre Company, soon after it was formed at The Old Vic in 1962. Alongside Derek Jacobi and Michael Gambon, she was a fixture at the Royal National Theatre in the 1960s. Hollywood came calling and she never looked back.
“`A young generation of viewers emerged after Smith was cast in the Harry Potter series of movies. After co-starring in every episode of Downtown Abbey, she continued her role as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham in two big screen productions.
“`She received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five Baftas, four Emmys, three Golden Globes and a Tony Award. Smith was one of the few film performers to earn the Triple Crown of Acting.
“`It would be easy to include Maggie Smith in the Top Ten of all-time great British Actresses, alongside Wendy Hiller, Vivien Leigh, Greer Garson, Deborah Kerr, Elizabeth Taylor, Vanessa Redgrave, Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren and Judi Dench. Some might include Judith Anderson and Margaret Rutherford as well.
“`My first choice from such a treasured list remains Maggie Smith. She was eighty-nine.
Until next time> “never forget”
Manny P. here…
“`There are so many places in Hollywood to visit and Celebrating Act 2 has a rundown. John Coleman, Art Kirsch and I recommend some of our favorites!
“`Enjoy!
Until next time> “never forget”
Manny P. here… 
“`James Earl Jones was a sensational Broadway and movie actor, who may have been more famous with his voice than with his looks. He is best remembered for his audio performance as Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise, as Mufasa in The Lion King and as the vocal brand of CNN. He was one of the few performers to achieve the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony). JAMES EARL JONES ->
“`Jones made his Broadway debut in 1957 in Sunrise at Campobello. He gained prominence for acting in numerous productions with Shakespeare in the Park, including Othello, Hamlet and King Lear. He won a Tony for his role as a boxer in The Great White Hope, in which he reprised in the 1970 film adaptation, earning him Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.
“`Jones made his movie debut in Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove. Other notable film roles include: Claudine, The Comedians, Conan the Barbarian, Coming to America, Field of Dreams, The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger.
“`On television, Jones appeared in Dr. Kildare, Sesame Street, L. A. Law, Highway to Heaven, Third Rock From the Sun, Will and Grace, Mad About You, The Simpsons, Frasier, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory and the celebrated Roots.
“`In 2019, he was honored as a Disney Legend. In March 2022, Broadway’s Cort Theatre was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in his honor. After his passing. the NAACP, SAG-AFTRA and Major League Baseball paid tribute to the actor.
“`James Earl Jones was ninety-three.
Until next time> “never forget”
Manny P. here…
“`John Coleman, Art Kirsch and I spend treasured time on Celebrating Act 2 chatting about the life and times of screen siren, Gloria Grahame. She was sultry and vulnerable and a big favorite of our crew.
“`Enjoy!
Until next time> “never forget”
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