Ned Beatty, an Oscar-nominated character actor who was in three episodes of THE ROCKFORD FILES dead at 83

                                                         You're HURTING my hand!

 The Rockford Files (TV Series)

Leon Fielder / Al Brennan

- Return to the 38th Parallel (1976) ... Al Brennan

- Profit and Loss, Part 2: Loss (1974) ... Leon Fielder

- Profit and Loss, Part 1: Profit (1974) ... Leon Fielder

Ned Beatty, an Oscar-nominated character actor whose many films include "Deliverance" and "Superman," has died at the age of 83.

"Ned passed away from natural causes Sunday morning, surrounded by his family and loved ones," Shelter Entertainment Group Talent Manager Deborah Miller told CNN in an email.

Beatty's first film role gained him lasting notice in the 1972 film "Deliverance" as one of four Georgia men who go on a harrowing canoe trip. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for 1976's "Network," played the bumbling Otis in 1978's "Superman," and had countless other theater, TV and movie roles.

He was once hailed by Daily Variety as the "busiest actor in Hollywood," according to his agency, Shelter Entertainment Group.

Beatty was born and raised in Kentucky, fishing and working on farms, according to the agency.

"He started as a professional performer at age ten when he earned pocket money singing in gospel quartets and a barber shop," the agency said.

After Beatty had long theater stints in Abington, Virginia; in Washington D.C.; and on Broadway, film director John Boorman selected him to play Bobby Trippe, who is sexually assaulted in the unflinching thriller "Deliverance," according to Shelter Entertainment.

Other films include "All the President's Men," "The Big Easy" and "Hear My Song," and more recently, "The Walker," "Charlie Wilson's War" and "Shooter," the agency listed. Ned also appeared in three episodes of the ROCKFORD FILES TV Series. 

Actor James Hampton who played Aaron Ironwood in the ROCKFORD FILES episode The Aaron Ironwood School of Success dead at 84

Actor James Hampton, best known as bugler Hannibal Dobbs on "F Troop," Caretaker in the original "The Longest Yard" and the father in "Teen Wolf," has died at age 84, James also played Aaron Ironwood in the ROCKFORD FILES episode The Aaron Ironwood School of Success

The Hollywood Reporter, citing a family source, revealed that Hampton died at his home in Fort Worth, Texas due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. 

Born in Oklahoma City in 1936, Hampton was mostly raised in Dallas until he attended the University of North Texas and was ultimately drafted into the U.S. Army. THR reports that he was in the cavalry at Fort Knox before being sent to active duty overseas. When he returned home, he studied acting with Sidney Lumet’s father, Baruch Lumet at the Knox Street Theater in Dallas. 

Eventually, he moved to New York and found a job on the Oscar-nominated movie "The Cliff Dwellers." Due to its success, he went to Los Angeles where he landed a role on the TV show "Gunsmoke" in 1963. On the show, he met Burt Reynolds, which launched a friendship and working relationship that would endure until Reynolds’ death in 2018.

The New York Post notes that Hampton and Reynolds starred opposite each other in films like "Hustle," "W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings" and "The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing." Hampton also directed 16 episodes of Reynolds’ TV show "Evening Shade," which ran from 1990 until 1994.

Independent of Reynolds, Hampton studied with Leonard Nimoy, who helped him land the part of Pvt. Hannibal Dobbs on "F Troop," which only ran two seasons (65 episodes) but lived on in syndication. 

Most recently, he published his autobiography in February titled "What? And Give Up Show Business?"

He is survived by his second wife, actress Mary Deese and children James, Andrea and Frank as well as grandchildren. The family has requested that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. 

Hampton played Fox’s father in the 1985 horror comedy "Teen Wolf."

The Rockford Files - Episode: The Great Blue Lake Land and Development Company (1975)

Above photo: Bartine Zane Burkett played feisty Mildred Jensen. She was 77 years old when she played this part. So far she is the only actor/actress I found who had a credited role in "The Rockford Files" who was born in the 1800's. 

UPDATE: 02/15/2021 From the comment section: I want to make a correction regarding the actress who played "Mildred" in The Great Blue Lake Land And Development Company. Her original name was Bartine Burkett and her married name was Bartine Zane. I knew her very well the last fourteen years of her life. She was my dear friend and I miss her very much. She made some films with Buster Keaton and Laurel And Hardy before they were a team. Some films and commercials can be found on Youtube. Thank you, Randall Sills Burbank, California

Above Photo: Bob Hastings who is 85 years old and still kicking played Paul Tanner. God Bless Bob!

Above photo: The late great Richard Shull played "Fast Harry DeNova", a slick talking salesman and con-artist.

 

Below Richard Shull in an United Airlines commercial.

 

 

Above photo: Another great actor who has since passed away, Dana Elcar played the local county sheriff, Sheriff Mitchell.

 

 Above Photos: Once again The Rockford Files manages to find a very beautiful and sexy actress to play a role in one of their episodes. Actress Mary Ann Chin as Billie Carlton. In 1975 when this episode was produced Mary Ann Chin spelled her name Mary Ann Chinn. If anybody knows what Ms. Chin is up to these days, please let me know.

We need help with the location of this gas station in this scene.

(See below photos)

UPDATE FROM COMMENT SECTION: 02/23/2021

The gas station and service buildings were in Acton, Ca. as was the Sheriff's office. The address of the gas station was 31918 Crown Valley Road. The Sheriff's office was on the opposite corner of the gas station in Acton. It's no longer there, but you can see it clearly in the Matt Helm movie "The Silencers" which was filmed (in part) in Acton as well.

THANK YOU BRIAN

                          

Episode: "The Great Blue Lake Land and Development Company " (1975)

B-J's Complete Service Shop - Most likely the sign for this gas station was a prop and not the real name of the gas station. 

 

The above three photos shows Jim Rockford stopping at a rural gas station and grocery mart. The address plate on the building reads 31918 and I believe that is the actual address for the building/business.

This episode had three main filming locations:

Palmdale, CA, Santa Clarita, CA and

Lake Los Angeles, CA.

So I would imagine this old time gas station was once located in one of these three locations.

 

We do not have a location for this old County Sheriff's Office. It may also be a building on the set of Universal Pictures Studios and not a real sheriff's office. 

The Rockford Files - Episode: Heartaches of a Fool - Filming Locations (1978) Paradise Cove and more....

 

 Above Photo:

The late Taylor Lacher

played

Country singer Charlie Strayhorn (Willie Nelson Voice)

 

 

 

Above Photos:

Joseph "Rocky" Rockford unknowingly drives a load of smuggled meats from Mexico

 

 

 Above Photos:

Rocky can be seen driving past the above street sign:

9200 Rayford Drive

The street now ends there due to the Westchester Parkway being built after the filming of this scene.

 

 

 

 Above Photos:

Rocky is forced off the road by trucking union thugs and his truck flips.

BLOOPER: In the bottom photo you can see the stunt man with a black helmet in the driver seat instead of Rocky Rockford.

 

 

 

 

Above Photos:

A little humor here by the the Rockford Files writers... The hospital Rocky is taken to is called "PAINE HOSPITAL" in reality it is really Los Angeles' Good Samaritan Hospital on Wilshire Blvd.

 

 

James Jeter as  Sheriff Milburn

John Davey as Deputy Harnsworth

 

 

 

 

 

Above Photos:

Filming scenes of Joseph Rocky Rockford in his hospital bed.

 

 

The very sexy and beautiful Lynne Marta as

Country singer Charlie Strayhorn's wife

Carrie Strayhorn - these two played a torn married couple fantastically! 

 

 Joe E. Tata who usually plays Jim Rockford's bail bondsman

actually plays Charlie Strayhorn's agent/manager

Norman Abbott Kline

 

Maybe somebody can help me out with this guy.

Anybody know who Mr. Hair is?

 

Mark Roberts as Hillman Stewart

 

 

The late Leo Gordon as Union Thug Clark Streeter

James Shigeta as Clement Chin

 

 

The late Don 'Red' Barry as Shorty McCall

Sadly Don committed suicide in 1980

 

 Charlie Strayhorn's jet - Tail Number: N778GA (1978)

 

Los Angeles Chinatown (1978)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above Five Photos:

Norman Alden as Roland Eddy

This filming location was in Burbank California

The house address is 5356 as seen on the mailbox but

the street is unknown. This area was probably all knocked down for

upscale housing since the filming.

 

 

  

Above Three Photos: 

Exterior and interior filming at Malibu's Paradise Cove Restaurant & Bar back in 1978.

Jim Rockford's mobile home was parked next to this restaurant while filming the Rockford Files for many of the episodes.

 

Cenooco Celestial Noodle Company

9839 Bellanca Avenue, Los Angeles, California

 

Cenooco Celestial Noodle Company

9839 Bellanca Avenue, Los Angeles, California

 

INCA Company

9625 Bellanca Ave. Los Angeles, CA

 

 You can see the painted sign for long time Los Angeles Nightclub

"Carolina West" located at 5601 W Century Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA

We just heard about this 2014 death - James Shigeta who played the Chinese Mobbed Up "Clement Chin" in the 1978 Episode of the ROCKFORD FILES titled "Heartaches of a Fool"

James Shigeta, like James Garner, was a Korean War Veteran.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE POSTING REGARDING THE "HEARTACHES OF A FOOL" EPISODE

 

 

Born: James Saburo Shigeta

 

June 17, 1929 - July 28, 2014 

 

Mini Bio (1)

Hawaiian-born James Shigeta was, for a time, the biggest East Asian U.S. star the country had known for decades. His up-and-down career reflected the country's changing interest in films with East Asian themes, but, when called upon, he filled both A-movie starring roles and minor T.V. guest appearances with the same cool and classy style. An aspiring song-and-dance man early in his career, he had a series of romantic leading roles in the late fifties, culminating in his most important one, the lead in Ross Hunter's glitzy production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical, Flower Drum Song (1961). Supporting parts followed, his last showy turn coming again from Ross Hunter, with star billing and his own production number in the ill-fated musical remake of Lost Horizon (1973). Along the way, there have been many notable T.V. guest appearances showcasing Shigeta's facility with both sympathetic and villainous roles. His status as the foremost East Asian leading man of twentieth century U.S. film will endure undiminished by an erratic career.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: David Durrett

Trivia (9)

One of six children born to a Honolulu contractor, he was educated at New York University where he majored in English.

Discovered as a singer by TV's Ted Mack & the Original Amateur Hour (1948), where he won first place and an annual scholarship prize. This led to Vegas and nightclub appearances. Pat Boone and Ann-Margret are other celebrities who benefited from Ted Mack's popular show.

Speaks fluent Japanese, French and Italian.

The first Asian-American to crack the old Hollywood studio star system, albeit briefly, groomed as a romantic leading man.

On April 18, 2005, he was awarded a Visionary Award from East West Players, the nation's premier Asian American theatre organization.

Chosen by Goldsea Asian American Daily as one of the "100 Most Inspiring Asian Americans of All Time".

His publicist was Jeffrey Leavitt.

Upon his death, he was cremated and his ashes were scattered into the pacific ocean.

The Monday, September 1, 2014, issue of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported by Rob Shikina that services were held on Sunday, August 31, 2014, at Hosoi Garden Mortuary in Nuuanu and also reported that "Shigeta, a Marine during the Korean War, will be inurned in a private ceremony Tuesday at the National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific at Punchbowl".

Personal Quotes (2)

I think an actor's life is necessarily self-involved. And that's what I would like to get away from.

I have never personally referred to myself as a star. When asked I always say, 'I'm an actor, a working actor.' I think the term 'star' is a vastly overused expression. That term has been used in reference to me but it is not of my own choice.

 

The Rockford Files - Episode: Backlash of the Hunter Parts 1 & 2 - Some Great L.A. Area Landmarks - Gazzarri's On The Strip - Peacock Bar - #9 Pacific Palisades bus with the Holiday Inn Hotel - The Lobster Restaurant - Continental Hyatt House - Red Roulette Room - Cyrano Dinner Lounge - Tail o' the Pup Hotdog Stand - Mayfair Theater - UPDATE: The Peacock Bar location (at least the exterior shots/scenes) has been identified by Eitan Alexander - The name of the restaurant / bar was named the MEDITERRANIA located at 55 / 51 North La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA - Today in 2015 it is The Stinking Rose - 55 N La Cienega Blvd but it was recently sold....

ABOVE PHOTO: GAZZARRI'S ON THE STRIP, HOLLYWOOD

9039 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood

It was one of Hollywood's biggest dance clubs

Gazzarri's on the Sunset Strip - 9039 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood

Founded by Bill Gazzarri (above photo) who died in 1991.

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LOCATION UPDATE: An alert blog viewer nails the location of the "Peacock Bar"

A GIANT THANK YOU TO Eitan Alexander

This one we need help with, the exterior shot of this restaurant shows "Peacock Bar" but the interior shots show the wait staff wearing shirts that say "Butterfield's"... Anybody know what the real name of this place is and where it is located or once located?

The Peacock Bar location (at least the exterior shots/scenes) has been identified by Eitan Alexander

In the two below scene photos from a 1971 episode of the TV series "Mod Squad" the exterior of the Peacock Bar can be seen. The name of the restaurant / bar was named the MEDITERRANIA located at 55 / 51 North La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA

Today in 2015 it is The Stinking Rose - 55 N La Cienega Blvd but it was recently sold....

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ABOVE PHOTO: The #9 Pacific Palisades bus with the Holiday Inn Hotel in the background

Above Photo: The Lobster Restaurant which was located by the SANTA MONICA BEACH-AT THE PIER (Pacific Palisades)

The Continental Hyatt House featuring the Red Roulette Lounge

8401 West Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, CA

ABOVE PHOTO: Exterior shot of the pharmacy that was once located at 7500-7508 Sunset Blvd

Drug Store Interview: 7500-7508 Sunset Blvd

Actor Bill Mumy

ABOVE PHOTO: Originally I had this location at Cyrano Restaurant: 8840 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048 but I was corrected by a viewer. This episode was filmed before they moved Cyrano to Beverly Blvd. The correct address would have been 8711 Sunset Boulevard - Thanks to James for that info... his late mother used to work at the Cyrano Restaurant when it was on the Sunset Strip.

ABOVE PHOTO: 1970's bikini shop once located at 320 N. LaCienega Blvd. West Hollywood, CA

Above Photo: Sarah’s Bikini Shop: 320 N La Cienega Blvd, West Hollywood, CA

ABOVE PHOTO: Tail o' the Pup - 311 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California. The iconic hot dog stand is no longer in use in Los Angeles. It has been saved and there has been talk about bringing it back to the street.

ABOVE TWO PHOTOS: The Mayfair Theater located at 216 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA. - Martyn Green & Gene Bell were the 1970's headliners at the Mayfair Theater