Martha Scott Powell (1912 - 2003)

Actress. Best remembered for her television roles including, ‘Jennifer Talbot’ on “General Hospital” from 1985 to 1986, ‘Margaret Millington’ on “Secrets Of Midland Heights” from 1980 to 1981, ‘Helen Elgin’ on “The Bionic Woman” from 1976 to 1977, and from 1954 to 1958 she was the host/narrator for the series, “Modern Romances.” She appeared in […]

Diana “Mousie” Powell (1919 - 1997)

Actress. Born in Asbury Park, New Jersey, she was nicked named “Mousie” and began her film career appearing in “All the King’s Horses” (1934). In 1940, she met and married actor William Powell, with whom she remained with for the rest of her life. Before retiring from performing in 1943, her most notable films included […]

Maureen Potter (1925 - 2004)

Actress. Born Marina Philomena Potter in Dublin. She has had a long and distinguished career in the Irish theatre, mainly as a comedienne but also as a straight actress. Among her most memorable roles were as ‘Maisie Madigan’ in “Juno and the Paycock.” (bio by: MC)  Family links:  Spouse:  John D. O’Leary (1922 – 2010)* […]

Luce Luz Potter (1914 - 2005)

Actress. She was an entertainer for over 40 years, appearing on stage, television and motion pictures. Her films included, “The Greatest Show of Earth,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Incredible Shrinking Man,” “Houdini” and others. She is best known for playing the Martian leader in the 1953 sci-fi thriller, “Invaders From Mars”. Cause of death, […]

Viola Adele Porter (1879 - 1942)

Actress. She was a frontier stage entertainer in the late 1800s to early 1900s. She is best known for being a part of western actor Jack Langrishe’s theater troupe which performed at the Langrishe Theatre in Deadwood, South Dakota and later in all the states on the west coast. (bio by: John “J-Cat” Griffith)

Nyree Dawn Porter (1936 - 2001)

Actress. Renowned for her portrayal of ‘Irene’ on TV’s “The Forsyte Saga.” (bio by: David Conway)

Henny Porten (1890 - 1960)

Actress. She had one of the longest careers of any German actress. As popular in the 1910s as Mary Pickford was in the U.S. Her best known film outside Germany is “Backstairs” (1921). Her first big hit, written by her sister, was “Das Liebesglucke der Blinden” (The Happy Love of a Blind Girl). Porten was […]

Elvire Popesco (1894 - 1993)

Actress. Born in Bucharest, Romania, she was stage performer making her big screen film debut in “Independenţa României” (1912). In 1919, she became the artistic theatre director of the Excelsior Theatre, which she managed and then starred in the movie “Ţigăncuşa de la iatac” (1923). Moving to Paris, France, she was director of Théâtre de […]

María Luisa Ponte (1918 - 1996)

Actress. Daughter of actors Enrique Ponte and Haydée Mancini Puggi, she began her career on stage at the age of seven. She played in several plays during her long career, becoming one of the best actresses on stage and later in cinema, often playing women of strong character. On stage, she triumphed on “Las Bicicletas […]

Aranmula Ponnamma (1914 - 2011)

Actress. A quitessentially typecast performer, she was the mother and grandmother to three generations of actresses and actors in around 500 Malayalam language films. A popular singer from around age 12, Ponnamma was a 29 year old school music teacher when asked to read for a stage production; though still young and attractive she played […]

Isabel de Pomés (1924 - 2007)

Actress. Born in Barcelona,  she was the daughter of famous actor Félix de Pomés. She began her career in the theatre and in 1940 entered films,  becoming a popular star in both comedic and dramatic roles. In 1952 she received an offer to work for Universal Pictures in Hollywood, but she refused to leave Spain. […]

Lucie Poitras (1970 - 1970)

French-Canadian actress. She appeared on television in the programs, “La Famille Plouffe” (1953), “Little Aurore’s Tragedy” (1952), “Whispering City” (1947) and “The Fortress” (1947). Poitras appeared in the films, “Waiting For Caroline” (1967), “Trouble Fete” (1964) and Il etait une guerre” (1959). (bio by: K)

Louise Plowright (1956 - 2016)

Actress. Her best known role was that of the “abrasive hairdresser” Julie Cooper in the television soap opera “EastEnders” from 1989 to 1990.   She trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and starred in various regional and touring productions of musicals.    She earned a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 2000 for Best […]

Dana Plato (1964 - 1999)

Actress. She is best remembered for her role as ‘Kimberly Drummond’ on the television sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes,” that aired on NBC from November 1978 to May 1985 and on ABC from September 1985 until March 1986. She is also remembered for her troubled life after “Diff’rent Strokes” when her career spiraled downward after becoming addicted […]

ZaSu Pitts (1894 - 1963)

Actress. Born Eliza Susan Pitts in Parsons, Kansas, she was named for her mother’s two sisters, each of whom wanted the child named after her, this resulted in ZaSu early in life. It didn’t require a Hollywood agent. She moved to Santa Cruz as a child where her talent was recognized and encouraged from her […]

Ingrid Pitt (1937 - 2010)

Actress. Born Ingoushka Petrov in Poland to a German father and a Polish-Jewish mother, she endured the horrors of imprisonment in a concentration camp during World War II, while a young child. After surviving the ordeal, she began her acting career in Germany, as a member of the famed “Berliner Ensemble”; she was mentored by […]

Anne Pitoniak (1922 - 2007)

Actress. She appeared on stage, in films and television,  and received Tony Award Nominations for her performances in the Broadway productions of ” ‘night, Mother” (1983) and “Picnic” (1994). After beginning her career during the 1940s on radio, she was seen in suc films as “The Survivors”  (1983),  “Agnes of God” (1985),  “Best Seller” (1987), […]

Marie-France Pisier (1944 - 2011)

Actress, Director, Author. She was a popular leading lady during the French “New Wave” era of the 1970s. Born in Dalat, Indochina (now Vietnam), the daughter of a French government official, she spent part of her childhood in New Caledonia before her family settled in Paris prior to her teenage years. She made her film […]

Concha Piquer (1906 - 1990)

Singer, Actress. She debuted in New York at the age of 14 and worked with Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson and Fred and Adele Astaire. She returned to Spain and become one of the most important singers of the Copla (Spanish songs). Among her songs “Ojos verdes”, “Tu ropita con la mía”, “Novio”, “La niña de […]

Minerva Pious (1903 - 1979)

Actress. Best remembered for her role as ‘Mrs Nussbaum’ on the Fred Allen radio show of the 1940s. Pious also starred in the films, “Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams” (1973), “Love In The Afternoon” (1957), “Joe MacBeth” (1955), “Love In The Afternoon” (1945), and provided her voice for “Pinocchio In Outer Space” (1964). In 1948 she […]

Nita Pike (1913 - 1954)

Actress. Also known as Anita Pike, she made her screen debut in “Palmy Days” (1931), followed by “Keyhole Katie” (1933). Her other film credits included “La Veuve Joyeuse” (1934), “Espionage” (1937), “They Gave Him a Gun” (1937), “Suez” (1938), “The Great Dictator” (1940), “Madame Curie” (1943) and “B.F.’s Daughter” (1948). She died in Los Angeles, […]

Mary Pickford (1892 - 1979)

Legendary Actress. Born Gladys Louise Smith on April 8, 1892 in Toronto Canada. The eldest of three children, Mary was devoted to her mother, Charlotte, who was left alone to raise the children when Mary’s father died in a work related accident. Mary was four years old. When the family moved to America, Mary helped […]

Sylvia Picker (1912 - 1981)

Radio, screen and television actress. Her most enduring role was that of Alan Ladd’s ditzy secretary, Suzi, on the radio drama “Box 13.” She also did the voice of Chuck Jones’ animated mouse, Snuffles, at times. First husband was screenwriter, Grant Garrett. (bio by: Scott G)  Family links:  Parents:  Herman Picker (1879 – 1924)  Anna […]

Shubha Phutela (1991 - 2012)

Model, Actress. Over a brief career she became one of the more familiar faces of her native land. The child of a well off family, she was born and raised in Ludhiana and educated privately. Spotted at a mall while in her mid-teens, she won a number of increasingly important beauty contests including Miss Cosmos […]

Kay Linaker Phillips (1913 - 2008)

Actress,  Screenwriter. She is best remembered for writing the screenplay for the 1958 classic horror film “The Blob”,  which gave Steve McQueen his first starring role. During her film career she played mostly supporting roles in more than 50 films in the 1930s and 1940s. Her credits  include “The Girl From Mandalay” (1936),”Charlie Chan at […]

Edna Phillips (1878 - 1952)

Actress. Born in Canada, her acting career was confined mostly to the stage, with the exception of the Hollywood films “The Man They Couldn’t Hang” (1912), “Ruggles of Red Gap” (1918), “A Pair of Sixes” (1918),  “It’s a Bear” (1919),  “A Regular Fellow” (1919),  and “Nothing But the Truth” (1920).  Phillips was the wife of […]

Dorothy Strible Phillips (1889 - 1980)

Actress of Stage and Screen. Married to actor/director/producer Allen Holubar. They were known as two of the screen’s most prominent players, her the star, he the director/producer. Dorothy was well known in Hollywood as one of the most warm-hearted, approachable stars in the business. After the advent of sound, Dorothy’s career gradually faded and she […]

Carmen Phillips (1937 - 2002)

Actress. She began her career on Broadway and made her film debut in “Party Girl” (1958). She went on to be one of MGM Films glamor girls appearing in “Some Came Running” (1958), “Ask Any Girl” (1959), “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies” (1960), “Oceans Eleven” (1960), “Ride the High Country” (1962) and “Easy Rider” (1969). […]

Mary Philips (1901 - 1975)

American stage and screen actress. Married first to actor Humphrey Bogart, then to actor Kenneth MacKenna.  Family links:  Parents:  Anna M. Hurley Philips (1882 – 1963)  Spouses:  Humphrey Bogart (1899 – 1957)  Kenneth MacKenna (1899 – 1962)Cause of death: cancer

Mary Philbin (1903 - 1993)

Actress.  A demure,  delicate-looking star of 1920s films, she is best remembered as the heroine ‘Christine Daae’ in the  Lon Chaney classic,  “The Phantom of the Opera” (1925).  She appeared in over 30 films,  including “Merry-Go-Round” (1923),  “Stella Maris” (1925),  “The Man Who Laughs” (1927),  “Drums of Love” (1928),  and “Love Me and the World […]