Louis Heyward who wrote for many TV shows in the 1950s and was head writer for "The Ernie Kovacs Show" died of complications from pneumonia at the age of 81.
In 1953, he created "Winky Dink and You," a Saturday morning children's show with a twist. Viewers at home could help the animated boy called Winky Dink and his dog Woofer by buying a 50-cent kit that included a "magic screen." The clear sheet of plastic was placed over the television screen so that viewers could help the characters cross a stream, for example, by drawing in a bridge with "magic crayons." The show ran for many years in syndication. Heyward also briefly produced "The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show" in the 1950s.
Dudley Moore - (March 27th, 2002)
66-year-old comedian Dudley Moore, the diminutive British actor, writer and musician best known for his Oscar-nominated role as a slurring drunk billionaire in 1981's "Arthur", has died of pneumonia as a complication of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare degenerative Parkinson's-like disease that affects the brain and causes slurred speech, problems with walking, imbalance and difficulty in swallowing.
Moore was an accomplished pianist and a celebrated comedian best remembered in Britain for his legendary pairing with Peter Cook in their inspired "Dud and Pete" comedy double act as well as such hit films as "The Wrong Box," "Bedazzled" and "The Bed-sitting Room". In the United States and the rest of the world, he was better known for his role in Hollywood blockbusters, "Foul Play" and "10." He later earned two Golden Globe awards for his roles in "Micki and Maude" and "Arthur" as well as an Oscar nomination for playing the drunken playboy.
Milton Berle - (March 27th, 2002)
Legendary comedian and cross-dressing host of "The Texaco Star Theater" and the top-rated "The Milton Berle" Show," died after a lengthy illness coupled with a diagnoses of colon cancer at the age of 93.
"Uncle Miltie," as he was known by his fans was the master of television in the 1940's and earned the second moniker, "Mr. Television" for his early support of the medium. He won an Emmy for his time on "The Texaco Star Theater." He made a number of movies in the 1960s, most notably "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" in 1963. Other films included "The Oscar," "The Happening," "Who's Minding the Mint?," "Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows," "For Singles Only," "Hieronymus Merkin," "Lepke" and "The Muppet Movie."
"Too many people simply give up too easily," he once said. "You have to keep the desire to forge ahead, and you have to be able to take the bruises of unsuccess. Success is just one long street fight."
Billy Wilder - (March 27th, 2002)
Director Billy Wilder, creator of such classic American films as "Sunset Boulevard," and "Double Indemnity" died at age of 95. He was suffering from failing health and was reported to be battling a bout of pneumonia.
As co-writer, director and producer of the 1960 film "The Apartment" Wilder collected three Oscars and was the first filmmaker to win three Academy Awards for the same film. His other classics include "Stalag 17," "The Lost Weekend," "Sabrina," and "Witness for the Prosecution" as well as the Marilyn Monroe comedies "The Seven Year Itch," and "Some Like it Hot."
In "The Fortune Cookie," he was the first to pair Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, creating one of the screen's all time most beloved and memorable comic teams.
Wilder received 21 Academy Award nominations and won six Oscars.
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