ROY HUDD : COMEDIAN ACTOR AND VARIETY HISTORIAN DIES AGED 83

AFTER A SHORT ILLNESS, Roy passed away peacefully yesterday afternoon, Sunday 15th March. It's very sad news. At 83, Roy had a career that gave us a great comedian, excellent straight actor.. and proved himself to be our most knowledgeable and authoritative variety and comedy historian too. Hudd was a treasure, for so long. Back in 1968, he appeared in his first feature film with #PeterCushing .. 'The Blood Beast Terror'. Not the best of films, but an extremely enjoyable experience for Roy, who he said, 'savoured every minute working with Peter!' Roy had a very productive and long career in both radio and theatre.. both will now be a sad place without him . . #RoyHudd 16 May 1936 - 15 March 2020.

ROY HUDD, hosted BBC Radio 2 sketch show The News Huddlines from 1975 until 2001 and also starred in Broadchurch and as Archie Shuttleworth in Coronation Street. His TV career began in 1964 with satirical series That Was The Week That Was after a stint as a Butlin’s Redcoat in Clacton alongside Sir Cliff Richard. He went on to perform in variety shows in London and became a huge fan of music hall, later writing books on the subject.Born in Croydon in 1936, he worked in telephone exchanges for the RAF. 

ABOVE: During our 20th Anniversary of Peter Cushing's passing, we shared ROY HUDD's memory of working with Peter on the film 'The Blood Beast Terror' READ IT HERE! 

HIS INTEREST in entertaining was sparked when he went to live with his grandmother who regularly took him to Croydon’s Empire Theatre. Hudd made his professional debut as a comedian in 1957 at the Streatham Hill Theatre, where he was billed as The Peculiar Person. Across a varied career, he appeared in Call The Midwife, Midsomer Murders and Holby City, as well as Dennis Potter’s Lipstick On Your Collar, and Karaoke. Other projects include acclaimed comedy-drama Common As Muck and David Jason’s The Quest.

HUDD'S passion for music hall meant that alongside writing books, he also re-recorded and restored old music hall records, and appeared in a revival show called The Good Old Days. He was the longstanding president of the British Music Hall Society, and chose the genre as his specialist subject when he appeared on Celebrity Mastermind in 2014.

HUDD WAS awarded an OBE for services to entertainment in the 2004 New Year Honours List. Three years ago, Roy provided the narration to Donald Fearney's mammoth dvd documentary on Amicus films, 'Amicus : The Vault of Horror's'. 

ACTRESS VALERIE VAN OST DIES AGED 75

IT HAS JUST BEEN ANNOUNCED that, sadly actress, Valerie Van Ost, has died at the age of 75. Van Ost appeared in Corruption, Incense for the Damned and The Satanic rites of Dracula with Peter Cushing. Valerie was also very popular in the Carry On series of film in the 1960's, in “Carry On Cabby,” “Carry On Don’t Lose Your Head,” “Carry On Doctor” and “Carry On Again Doctor,”. Van Ost’s sad passing was announced by agent Barry Langford who said in a tweet, “A sad goodbye to beautiful Valerie Van Ost, who passed away this week. Valerie gave up her successful acting career to become a respected casting director and was beloved in both professions. She will be much missed

VALERIE VAN OST, a native of Herkamsted, Hertfordshire, turned to acting after she had been a dancer in her teenager at London’s famed Palladium theatre. It's believed that at one time she was once considered to be a possible replacement for Diana Rigg as Emma Peel in “The Avengers,” having once appeared in an episode of the show. In 1973, Van Ost took on her other most famous role, in the Hammer horror movie, “The Satanic Rites of Dracula'.” Van Ost played the role of a Secret Service secretary who is kidnapped by a satanic cult. Van Ost was married to movie producer Greg Smith. Smith had been the producer of Britain’s other great bawdy comedy series, the “Confessions” series of movies in the 1970s.

VAN OST RECENTELY POSTED a photograph of her and BARRY LANGFORD on her twitter account . .

LATER IN 1985, Van Ost married Andrew Millington, with whom she set up a casting agency. This coincided with Van Ost’s retirement from acting. The pair cast five movies and a television series during the 1980s. Two of those films, “The Boys in Blue” and “Funny Money” were produced by her first husband. I am sure many of you would like to share your memories of your favourite role too.. please feel free to post your comments on the thread below. Valerie Van Ost, 25 July 1944 - 14 September 2019

THE GENTLEST OF GENTLMEN : STAR WARS CHEWBACCA PETER MAYHEW DIES AGED 74

VERY SAD NEWS to report the passing of PETER MAYHEW, the actor behind Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series has passed aged 74 . . .

PETER MAYHEW was born on May 19, 1944 in Barnes, London, England and  was working as a hospital attendant at the King's College Hospital in London when film producer Charles H. Schneer saw the above photo, a TALL man! Charles H. Schneer cast him in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977). It was just over a year later that he was asked if he wanted to do another role. Mayhew was told it was for a big hairy beast. 

THAT ROLE WAS OF COURSE, Chewbacca, the faithful 200 year-old Wookiee in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) and his life was changed forever. Following the original Star Wars trilogy, Mayhew has done several commercials in the Wookiee costume including one for Cingular and Orange associated with Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005). In 1997, the twentieth anniversary celebrations of Star Wars were announced with the release of the "Special Edition" and all the conventions started. For many years, Mayhew was very active on the "Star Wars" convention circuit where he signed autographs, posed for pics and met his many thousands of friends and fans. He made time to write two books, "Growing Up Giant" and "My Favorite Giant" and founded a non-profit 501(c)3 charity organization called "The Peter Mayhew Foundation" and was the purveyor of chewbacca.com.

FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY, friends and industry shared their messages:

Harrison Ford, who played the character of Han Solo, praised him for his “great dignity and noble character. Peter Mayhew was a kind and gentle man, possessed of great dignity and noble character. These aspects of his own personality, plus his wit and grace, he brought to Chewbacca. We were partners in film and friends in life for over 30 years and I loved him. He invested his soul in the character and brought great pleasure to the Star Wars audience. Chewbacca was an important part of the success of the films we made together. He knew how important the fans of the franchise were to its continued success and he was devoted to them. I and millions of others will never forget Peter and what he gave us all. My thoughts are with his dear wife Angie and his children.  Rest easy, my dear friend.” 

Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, shared a tribute on social media in which he described Mayhew as the “gentlest of giants”. He added: “A big man with an even bigger heart who never failed to make me smile & a loyal friend who I loved dearly-I’m grateful for the memories we shared & I’m a better man for just having known him. Thanks Pete #RIPPeterMayhew #Heartbroken”. 

Director and creator of Star Wars, George Lucas also paid tribute.“Peter was a wonderful man. He was the closest any human being could be to a Wookiee: big heart, gentle nature – and I learned to always let him win. He was a good friend, and I’m saddened by his passing.” 

The San Diego Comic-Con Twitter account also shared a message of tribute. “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Peter Mayhew. He was our beloved companion in a galaxy far, far, away. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and fans. The force will be with you always, Peter.” 

Joonas Suotamo took over the role of Chewbacca from Mayhew, first as a body double in Force Awakens and later as the lead in 2017’s The Last Jedi and 2018’s A Star Wars Story. Writing on Twitter, he said: “Devastated to hear about the passing of a dear friend and mentor, the great Peter Mayhew.Peter’s warm welcome when I came aboard as his double in The Force Awakens meant so much to me. Studying the character he helped create was always a daunting task, but one that was made easier by his tutelage and kindness as we sought to bring Chewbacca to life for a new generation. He was an absolutely one-of-a-kind gentleman and a legend of unrivaled class and I will miss him. As the entire Star Wars universe grieves over this terrible loss my thoughts and prayers are with his wife Angie and his family and all of the fans whose lives he has impacted. Rest assured his legacy will live on and the spirit that he gave the character when he first donned the suit will never be forgotten.” 

MAYHEW married his wife,  Mary Angelique ("Angie") in 1999 and together they had three children. He was very happy to become a naturalised citizen of the United States, in 2005. For several years, Mayhew had been plagued by ill heath, pneumonia, under went knee surgery and last year announced via Twitter, that he had successfully undergone unspecified spinal surgery to improve his mobility, and was recovering. 

PETER MAYHEW was extremely popular with fans of the Star Wars films. A regular presence at Star wars events around the world. His portrayal of Chewbacca and the chemistry between his character and that of Harrison Ford's Han Solo, remains one of the enduring emotive elements that has helped make Star Wars, such a success. A very kind, committed and generous man, who will forever be remembered with enormous affection . . . .     

HAMMER FILMS PRODUCER ROY SKEGGS DIES AGED 83

VERY SAD TO HEAR ROY SKEGGS, one of the very few left of the Hammer films 'home guard' sadly passed away on the weekend. Roy was a producer for Hammer Films and began his connection with the company way back at Bray studios in 1963 as production accountant. Roy was then promoted to 'company accountant' and secretary. He became production supervisor in 1970 and (with Brian Lawrence) took over the reins of the company when it fell into receivership in 1979. Was latterly chairman of Hammer films, based in Elstree.

ROY WAS BORN in 1934. He was a very capable and respected producer and production manager, and probably best known for his work with Hammer films. He was responsible for Peter Cushing's last return to the company with the tv series, Hammer House of Horrpr' in 1980. The series expanded into 'Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense' in 1984, and became a winner overseas and the US. He worked alongside Peter on 'Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell' (1974), Dracula AD 1972 and The Satanic Rites of Dracula. 

A PERIOD OF ILLNESS took Roy away from his love of Hammer films in the 1990's... but in the last few years, although always having been a very shy man, he stepped out to one or two conventions and signing days .. and was surprised not only how much he enjoyed the attention...but how fans and the public remembered him and his work with Hammer films. A hard worker, very good at 'math' and was responsible for bringing Hammer back to the small screen and Cushing's final bow as Frankenstein. Thank you Roy 

FAREWELL FENELLA AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FUN!

SAD NEWS TODAY, that an actress who actually never worked with Peter Cushing has left us. Ninety years seems to prompt usually lots of 'well, she had a long life . .' and sentiments of she lived well..' But, I have to be honest, whatever time Fenella was going to leave, for me, was always going to be . . . too soon. Fenella Fielding, was unique, always entertaining, eccentric and surprising. It seems we were the only people who were aware of her age, because she most certainly wasn't. 

FENELLA was fortunate to have landed a film role back in 1966, when the Cushing Frankenstein films, were at their height and gave a line, that would follow her, for the rest of her days... 'Do you mind, if I smoke?' as Valeria Watt in 'Carry On Screaming' was gold. As was she. Three years previous to this role, she appeared in a film joint venture with both Hammer films and William Castle in THE OLD DARK HOUSE. Which kind of started a path, in which she played attractive but spooky strange femme's! No matter the role, Fenella made it her own, in the way only she could do. That voice. At 90, she was still working and will be working her magic on us all for a long long time to come. Bless you, Fenella!

THERE IS A FULL THE OLD DARK HOUSE REVIEW complete with some rare stills GALLERY from at our supplement website, THE BLACK BOX CLUB. RIGHT HERE!

FEMME FATALE FRIDAY! ANOTHER MUCH LOVED BRITISH ACTRESS LEAVES US . .

A VERY MUCH LOVED actress has left us today, Liz Fraser... many will know her from the early British Carry On films, working with Peter Sellers in Two Way Stretch in 1960, 'The Pure Hell of St Trinian's' with Terry-Thomas,Thorley Walters and George Cole and so may of the classic priceless Brit Comedy films. Like other actresses during the 1960's she also appeared in several of the great Brit tv shows like The Avengers, Randell and Hopkirk, Dad's Army, The Benny Hill Show..the list is impressive and endless. She appeared in the 1961 Peter Cushing film, 'Fury At Smuggler's Bay' as Betty with Bernard Lee (Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell) William Franklyn (The Satanic Rites of Dracula).

TWO GIFS of LIZ FRASER in THE AVENGER tv series episode,  THE GIRL FROM AUNTY with Bernard Cribbins, Diana Rigg and Patrick Macnee in 1961

LIZ WILL BE MISSED by so many fans, because she was able to steer a career, that give her opportunities to work with outstanding actors and actresses of the time, in film and tv shows, that are still very popular today and have stood test of time. Funny, beautiful and even though often playing the 'dizzy blonde' was herself, intelligent and very very smart 🙂 Liz was 88 and died yesterday at London's Brompton hospital . . missing you already, Liz!  

MANY ARE LEAVING their tributes and memories about LIZ FRASER at the FACEBOOK PETER CUSHING APPRECIATION SOCIETY FAN PAGE . PLEASE feel free to come and join us !