| June 18 |
| 1904 -- Keye Luke is born in Guangzhau, China, but his family emigrates to the U.S. when he is just three years old. A graphic artist by trade, he goes to work in RKO's advertising department, designing posters, but in 1934 the call is made by an RKO director for an actor to portray 'an intelligent Chinese' in the Greta Garbo picture 'The Painted Veil.' The following year he becomes 'Number One Son' in the long-running Charlie Chan film series. (How long running? The first actor to portray Chan, Warner Oland, was 25 years older than his Number One Son. The last actor, Gilbert Roland, was actually four months younger.) Keye is also the original Kato to The Green Hornet of film (1940). That same year he succeeds Boris Karloff in 'The Phantom of Chinatown,' the finale of the Mr. Wong series. A younger generation of film fans will best remember Keye Luke as the mysterious 'grandfather' of the Mogwai in 1984's 'Gremlins.' Keye also had a prolific television career, guesting in a multitude of series. Imdb.com notes that in 1973 he had a recurring role in three different series: 'Anna and the King;' the animated 'The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan' (in which he voiced the patriarch); and of course 'Kung Fu' in which he portrayed blind Master Po and found reason to call young Caine 'grasshopper' any number of times. Keye Luke died of a stroke on January 12, 1991. He was 86 years old. In 1914, actor E.G. (Everett Gunnar) Marshall (below) was born in Owatonna Minnesota. Two of his better known TV roles are those of lawyer, Lawrence Preston on The Defenders in the 1960s, and as neurosurgeon, Dr. David Craig on The Bold Ones: The New Doctors in the 1970s. He also played a doctor on Chicago Hope in the 90's. He was the original host of the popular nightly radio drama The CBS Radio Mystery Theater, which ran on stations across the U. S. between 1974 and 1982. He died of lung cancer Aug 24, 1998 at age 84. 1947 -- Linda (Robinson) Thorson, who might have fared just fine on 'The Avengers' had she not had the unenviable task of replacing Diana Rigg, is born in Toronto, Canada. Linda, who's still active in television and film, came up with her professional name by shortening the name of her second husband, Barry Bergthorson. 1956 -- Nanette Fabray, aunt of actress Shelley Fabares, appears for the final time on NBC's 'Caesar's Hour.' Replacing Imagene Coca after 'Your Show of Shows,' Nanette wins three Emmys in her two years: Best Continuing Performance by a Comedienne in a Series and Best Comedienne (1956) and Best Continuing Performance by a Comedienne in a Series in 1957. 1961 -- 'Gunsmoke' airs for the last time -- on radio. 1978 -- Shirley MacLaine and Lucille Ball, both former chorus girls, celebrate their musical roots in a repeat of their special 'Gypsy in My Soul' on CBS. 1989 -- (Rebecca) Renee Olstead is born on Father's Day in Houston, Texas. While the petite actress more than held her own in the CBS sitcom 'Still Standing,' we mention her here primarily because of her music. Her powerful voice sparkles on standards and jazz. Listen, when you get the chance. 2002 -- Hall Of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck succumbs to cancer. Though not as loquacious or as folksy as contemporary Vin Scully, Buck's determined, straight-ahead style has the auditory capstone of Kirk Gibson's 9th-inning home run shot off seemingly untouchable Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. Jack was 87 at the time of his death. |