Notable Passings

...Oscar-nominated actress Joan Lorring has passed away at the age of 88.

Lorring was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for THE CORN IS GREEN (1945), in which she starred with Bette Davis and John Dall.

Lorring's other film credits included two films with Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre, THREE STRANGERS (1946) and THE VERDICT (1946), as well as SONG OF RUSSIA (1944), THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY (1944), THE OTHER LOVE (1947), THE LOST MOMENT (1947), and GOOD SAM (1948). All three of the latter films will be released on DVD by Olive next month.

Lorring also worked on the stage and appeared in many TV series, including five guest appearances on ROBERT MONTGOMERY PRESENTS.

Lorring was married for decades to Dr. Martin Sonenberg, a prominent endocrinologist and cancer researcher. Dr. Sonenberg passed away in 2011.

...Herb Jeffries, known as Hollywood's first black singing cowboy, has died at the age of 100.

Two of Jeffries' films, TWO-GUN MAN FROM HARLEM (1938) and HARLEM RIDES THE RANGE (1939), were shown as part of a Turner Classic Movies tribute to Singing Cowboys in July 2011. He was billed in the films as Herbert Jeffrey.

Jeffries, whose parents were actually Sicilian and Irish but who had an Ethiopian great-grandparent, said he was glad to give "little children of dark skin...something to identify with."

Jeffries also sang with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

...Actress Ann B. Davis, known to millions as Alice, the maid on TV's THE BRADY BUNCH (1969-74), died today at the age of 88.

Oh, for the magical days when a middle-class Southern California family with one working parent and half a dozen children could afford a uniformed live-in maid and cook! Of course, that time period probably only ever existed on television...

Davis was also known for the role of Schultzy on THE BOB CUMMINGS SHOW (1955-59).