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Hedy Lamarr, the woman many critics and fans alike regard as the most beautiful ever to appear in films, was born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler in Vienna, Austria. She was the daughter of Gertrud (Lichtwitz), from Budapest, and Emil Kiesler, a banker from Lemberg (now known as Lviv). Her parents were both from Jewish families. Hedwig had a calm childhood, but it was cinema that fascinated her. By the time she was a teenager, she decided to drop out of school and seek fame as an actress, and was a student of theater director Max Reinhardt in Berlin. Her first role was a bit part in the German film Geld auf der Straße (1930) (aka "Money on the Street") in 1930. She was attractive and talented enough to be in three more German productions in 1931, but it would be her fifth film that catapulted her to worldwide fame. In 1932 she appeared in a Czech film called Ekstase (US title: "Ecstasy") and had made the gutsy move to appear nude. It's the story of a young girl who is married to a gentleman much older than she, but she winds up falling in love with a young soldier. The film's nude scenes created a sensation all over the world. The scenes, very tame by today's standards, caused the film to be banned by the U.S. government at the time.

Hedy soon married Fritz Mandl, a munitions manufacturer and a prominent Austrofascist. He attempted to buy up all the prints of "Ecstasy" he could lay his hands on (Italy's dictator, Benito Mussolini, had a copy but refused to sell it to Mandl), but to no avail (there are prints floating around the world today). The notoriety of the film brought Hollywood to her door. She was brought to the attention of MGM mogul Louis B. Mayer, who signed her to a contract (a notorious prude when it came to his studio's films, Mayer signed her against his better judgment, but the money he knew her notoriety would bring in to the studio overrode any moral concerns he may have had). However, he insisted she change her name and make good, wholesome films.

Hedy starred in a series of exotic adventure epics. She made her American film debut as Gaby in Algiers (1938). This was followed a year later by Lady of the Tropics (1939). In 1942, she played the plum role of Tondelayo in the classic White Cargo (1942). After World War II, her career began to decline, and MGM decided it would be in the interest of all concerned if her contract were not renewed. Unfortunately for Hedy, she turned down the leads in both Gaslight (1940) and Casablanca (1942), both of which would have cemented her standing in the minds of the American public. In 1949, she starred as Delilah opposite Victor Mature's Samson in Cecil B. DeMille's epic Samson and Delilah (1949). This proved to be Paramount Pictures' then most profitable movie to date, bringing in $12 million in rental from theaters. The film's success led to more parts, but it was not enough to ease her financial crunch. She made only six more films between 1949 and 1957, the last being The Female Animal (1958).

Hedy retired to Florida. She died there, in the city of Casselberry, on January 19, 2000.

After wartime naval service, Alan North began his show business career as a stage manager in New York. He first worked on Broadway in "Plain and Fancy", doubling up as understudy for the small part of Isaac Miller. The play had a successful run between 1955 and 1956 (461 performances) and this led to further acting work in diverse productions, ranging from musical comedy to straight dramatic parts, both on and off Broadway. Alan last appeared as a quaint curmudgeonly character in "Lake Hollywood" at the Signature Theater in 1999.

Early in his career, Alan, an avid baseball fan, hosted a television program for the Baltimore Orioles as well as doing a regular sports broadcast at WRC-TV in Washington. However, he did not become a regular feature on the screen until the early 1970's, when he appeared in two big budget films, Plaza Suite (1971) and Serpico (1973). After that, Alan became a more familiar presence on the small screen, invariably portraying cops, priests and academics. He is most fondly remembered as the perpetually vague Chief Ed Hocken in the hilarious, sadly short-lived, spoof Police Squad! (1982), starring Leslie Nielsen. Alan was given some very funny lines to deliver and he did so in a perfect dead-pan manner. He was not afforded the chance to repeat his role for the 'Naked Gun' series (the studio insisted on a higher marquee value actor, casting Academy Award-winner George Kennedy instead).

Alan North died of cancer at the age of 79 in January 2000.

Chuck Courtney was born on 23 July 1930 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for Billy the Kid Versus Dracula (1966), The Rookie (1990) and Pet Sematary (1989). He was married to Geraldine Courtney. He died on 19 January 2000 in North Hollywood, California, USA.

Victor Brooks was born on 11 November 1918 in Woolwich, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Goldfinger (1964), Department S (1969) and The Day of the Triffids (1963). He died on 19 January 2000 in Dorset, England, UK.

Voluptuous, flame-haired Margie Hart would find semi-fame as a burlesque dancer in New York during WWII. One of eight children born to a farmer, the Missouri-born entertainer who was christened Margaret Bridget Bryan left home young and found work as a chorine at age 16 in Chicago, then studied "exotic dancing" at the Garrick Theatre in St. Louis once she was of age.

Changing her name to the more burlesque-friendly "Margie Hart" while working the burlesque circuit, she was billed "The Poor Man's Garbo" as she didn't sing, dance or even talk but just quickly stripped...and quite well. In New York she entertained at New York's Minsky's Gaiety and caused quite a stir. Often times during her act she would often bring the house down...literally...as the joints she performed in were often raided. While performing her 1942 "Wine, Women and Song," in fact, many a business closed thanks to her "overzealous" acts of indecency.

Margie's infamous court cases caught the eyes and ears of Hollywood and she was brought West to star in her own movie by Monogram, Lure of the Islands (1942). Playing an Irish native girl named Tana O'Shaughnessy, her acting skills were rather laughable and the movie was lambasted by the critics. This film would prove to be her first and last.

Getting the last laugh, an undaunted Margie persevered, taking a sudden interest into actually going "legit." She changed her name to "Bridget Hart," took singing and acting classes, and started to find work appearing in both light comedies and heavy dramas, including "Cry Havoc" in 1943, followed by "Red, Hot and Blue," "Light Up the Sky" and "Rain," the last as Sadie Thompson.

Married twice with two children, Margie later tried to make ends meet by opening a dress shop and buying, fixing up and reselling old buildings in the Los Angeles area. She met former USC football player John "Big John" Ferraro in the mid 1970s. He eventually became Los Angeles City Council's president. and the couple finally married in 1982. Margie suffered an aneurysm and paralyzing stroke shortly after the marriage. Again undaunted, the former ecdysiast continued to be the bawdy, lovably outrageous "Molly Brown" of the Los Angeles elite circuit, holding large parties and fundraisers for her husband at their Bel-Air house.

Margie's health declined sharply in the 1990s and the 86-year-old died on January 30, 2000 in Los Angeles Her husband died a year later of cancer.

Bettino Craxi was born on 24 February 1934 in Milan, Lombardy, Italy. He died on 19 January 2000 in Hammamet, Tunisia.

George M. Cohan Jr. was born on 18 January 1914 in New York, USA. He was an actor, known for CBS Children's Film Festival (1967), Robert Q's Matinee (1950) and Winter of the Witch (1969). He died on 19 January 2000 in Jupiter, Florida, USA.

Lars Bagge was born on 7 May 1935 in Stockholm, Sweden. He was a composer and actor, known for Let the Right One In (2008), Troll (1971) and Partaj (1969). He was married to Kerstin Bagge. He died on 19 January 2000 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.

Josh Clayton-Felt was born on 18 May 1967 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Point Break (1991), Kingpin (1996) and How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008). He died on 19 January 2000.

Vojislav Despotov was born on 3 November 1950 in Zrenjanin, Serbia, Yugoslavia. Vojislav was a writer, known for Divlji svetac (1989). Vojislav died on 19 January 2000 in Belgrade, Serbia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Sevim Çaglayan was born in 1934 in Konya, Turkey. She was an actress, known for Sevenler ölmez (1963), Sokaktan gelen kadin (1961) and Kan ve kursun (1966). She was married to Yilmaz Gündüz. She died on 19 January 2000 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Petina (pronounced (PEH-tin-ah) was born to an important Russian family. Her father, General Stephen Petin, was Czar Nicholas II's personal escort. Her family fled to China during the revolution, and Penina received her first formal training there. Petina debuted with the New York Metropolitan Opera in 1933, and her career with the Met spanned over 20 years. A contralto, she also appeared extensively on stage, notably in Leonard Bernstein's "Candide", for which she won a Tony nomination in 1957.

Petina eventually married Dr. Frank Bussey and retired from the stage. She died in 2000.

Ingvar Borild was born on 22 March 1911 in Täby, Sweden. He was a cinematographer, known for Göingehövdingen (1953), Kvinna i leopard (1958) and Time of Desire (1954). He died on 19 January 2000 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Simone Alma was born on 21 December 1908 in Raon-l'Étape, Vosges, France. She was an actress, known for La forêt qui tue (1927) and Club for Sale (1951). She died on 19 January 2000 in Fréjus, Var, France.