R.I.P.

Contrary to popular belief, I am not familiar with every single 60s starlet who flickered by on the big and small screens. One such actress is Collin Wilcox (pictured on right with Suzy Parker), who died from brain cancer on October 21, 2009. I only know the name from her appearance in the classic Twilight Zone episode, “Number 12 Looks Just Like You” with Suzy Parker and Pamela Austin and her co-starring role with Tisha Sterling in the cult movie The Name of the Game Is Kill (1968) with Jack Lord, Susan Strasberg, and female impersonator, T.C. Jones.

Recalling the movie, Tisha remarked in Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema:

“I worked with Jack Lord prior to working with him on this movie. Jack was really weird but he was a terrific fellow. He lived in the same building that I lived in. He was a very serious guy. He was always kind to me and looked after me like a father. Jack was also a very good artist and had a lovely wife who took care of him. Susan Strasberg was a Method actress so her technique would drive Jack crazy. T. C. Jones played our father. He was nice but also a bit strange. Collin Wilcox, on the other hand, was wonderful! We stayed friends for years after doing this movie. She introduced me to a macrobiotic diet. We lived close by to each other in Topanga Canyon.”

Though it was sad to hear of Collin Wilcox’s passing, it is nice that her obituary made the New York Times where I learned she had a small role in my favorite Jaws movie, Jaws 2. But a better read is an interview she gave to The Classic TV Blog in March of this year.

STUDENT PROTEST

Actress Diane Baker is no stranger to receiving poor notices throughout her career. She is one of my least favorite 60s starlets. I have always found her boring, bland, and one-note (to be fair some of my faves like Carol Lynley, Pamela Tiffin and Anjanette Comer could be described that way but for me they had a certain charisma and screen presence sorely lacking in Baker) plus the unprofessional way she treated a friend of mine who contacted her for an interview was really low down. She currently teaches screenwriting (huh?) at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Click here to read see how she rated. Ouch!

STARS ON DISPLAY

Another Hollywood Collectors Show has come and gone, and once again it was a star-studded event. Click here to see what celebrities were in attendance and to see photos of a few of them including Billie Jo, Bobbi Jo, and Betty Jo from Petticoat Junction: Gunilla Hutton, Lori Saunders, and Linda Kaye Henning. Below is a pic of them then, take a look for a pic of them now.

FROM U.N.C.L.E. TO NCIS

Practically every 60s starlet I have interviewed who appeared on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. had nothing but praise for David McCallum who played sexy blond Russian agent Illya Kuryakin. He was the friendly one compared to co-star Robert Vaughn who was described as being aloof and private. So it is nice to hear that McCallum is still going strong (and looks great) with a supporting role on the #1 rated series NCIS. Click here to read a recent interview with the actor.