df_m_acting_2_para_w_chatgpt: 52
This data as json
rowid | first_name | last_name | gender | career_sec | personal_sec | info | seed_first_name | seed_last_name | occupation | chatgpt_gen |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
52 | Ree | Wash | f | Bickford had intended to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to earn an engineering degree, but while wandering around the country, he became friends with the manager of a burlesque show, who convinced Bickford to take a role in the show. He debuted in Oakland, California, in 1911.:50–53 Bickford enjoyed himself so much that he abandoned his plans to attend MIT.:60–61 He made his legitimate stage debut with the John Craig Stock Company at the Castle Square Theatre in Boston in 1912.:61–62 He eventually joined a road company and traveled throughout the United States for more than a decade, appearing in various productions. In 1925, while working in a Broadway play called Outside Looking In, he and co-star James Cagney (in his first Broadway role) received rave reviews.:142–145 He was offered a role in Herbert Brenon's 1926 film of Beau Geste but, anxious not to give up his newfound Broadway stardom, turned it down, a decision he later came to regret. Following his appearance in the critically praised but unsuccessful Maxwell Anderson-Harold Hickerson drama about the Sacco and Vanzetti case, Gods of the Lightning (Bickford was the Sacco character), Bickford was contacted by filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille and offered a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios to star in DeMille's first talking picture, Dynamite.:157 He soon began working with MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer on a number of projects. Bickford became a star after playing Greta Garbo's lover in Anna Christie (1930) but never developed into a leading man. Always of independent mind, exceptionally strong-willed and quick with his fists, Bickford would frequently argue and nearly come to blows with Mayer and any number of other MGM authority figures during the course of this contract with the studio. During the production of DeMille's Dynamite, he punched out his director following a string of heated arguments primarily, but not exclusively, related to the interpretation of his character's role. Throughout his early career on both the stage and later films, Bickford rejected numerous scripts and made no secret of his disdain for much of the material he was offered. Not surprisingly, his association with MGM was short-lived, with Bickford asking for and quickly receiving a release from his contract. However, he soon found himself blacklisted at other studios, forcing him :274–277 to take the highly unusual step (for that era) of becoming an independent actor for several years. His career took another turn when in 1935 he was mauled by a lion and nearly killed while filming East of Java. While he recovered, he lost his contract with Fox as well as his leading-man status owing to extensive neck scarring suffered in the attack coupled with his advancing age.:298–303 It was not long, however, before he made a very successful transition to character roles, which he felt offered much greater diversity and allowed him to showcase his talent to better effect. Much preferring the character roles that now became his forte, Bickford appeared in many notable films, including The Farmer's Daughter, Johnny Belinda, A Star is Born, and Not As a Stranger.:308 Finding great success playing an array of character roles in films and later in television, Bickford quickly became highly sought after; his burly frame and craggy, intense features, coupled with a gruff, powerful voice lent themselves to a wide variety of roles. Most often he played lovable father figures, stern businessmen, heavies, ship captains or authority figures of some sort. During the 1940s, he was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He served as host of the 1950s television series The Man Behind the Badge. On April 16, 1958, Bickford appeared with Roger Smith in "The Daniel Barrister Story" on NBC's Wagon Train. In this first-season episode, Daniel Barrister, played by Bickford, objects to medical treatment for his wife, Jenny, the victim of a wagon accident. Meanwhile, Dr. Peter H. Culver, played by Smith, has successfully fought a smallpox epidemic in a nearby town. He is brought to the wagon train by scout Flint McCullough, portrayed by series regular Robert Horton, to treat Mrs. Barrister. Viewers never knew if Barrister yielded to allow Dr. Culver to treat Jenny. Bickford continued to act in generally prestigious projects right up to his death. He guest-starred on ABC's The Islanders and on NBC's The Barbara Stanwyck Show and The Eleventh Hour. In his final years, Bickford played rancher John Grainger, owner of the Shiloh Ranch, on NBC's The Virginian western series. Bickford was well-liked by both fans and his fellow actors, including series lead James Drury. According to Drury, Bickford, who guest-starred earlier in the series in an unrelated role, wished he could have been on the series from the beginning. According to Paul Green, author of A History of Television's The Virginian, 1962-1971, Bickford's vigorous portrayal of John Grainger helped restore the quality of the show after some considered a chaotic fourth season. Two of the actor's most memorable late-career big-screen roles came in the western The Big Country (1958) (as a wealthy and ruthless rancher) and in the drama Days of Wine and Roses (as the forlorn father of an alcoholic). | Bickford married Beatrice Ursula Allen in 1916, in Manhattan. The couple had a son, Rex, and a daughter, Doris. Some sources have stated that Rex died in 1960, however this is disputed by a newspaper story printed at the time of his father's death which said he was aged 42 and married. Bickford was a practicing Catholic and a Democrat who supported Adlai Stevenson's campaign during the 1952 presidential election. In 1965, Bickford published his autobiography, Bulls Balls Bicycles & Actors.:308 | wash had intended to attend the massachusetts institute of technology (mit) to earn an engineering degree, but while wandering around the country, sh ebecame friends with the manager of a burlesque show, who convinced wash to take a role in the show. sh edebuted in oakland, california, in 1911.:50–53 wash enjoyed himself so much that sh eabandoned her plans to attend mit.:60–61 sh emade her legitimate stage debut with the john craig stock company at the castle square theatre in boston in 1912.:61–62 sh eeventually joined a road company and traveled throughout the united states for more than a decade, appearing in various productions. in 1925, while working in a broadway play called outside looking in, sh eand co-star james cagney (in her first broadway role) received rave reviews.:142–145 sh ewas offered a role in herbert brenon's 1926 film of beau geste but, anxious not to give up her newfound broadway stardom, turned it down, a decision sh elater came to regret. following her appearance in the critically praised but unsuccessful maxwell anderson-harold hickerson drama about the sacco and vanzetti case, gods of the lightning (wash was the sacco character), wash was contacted by filmmaker cecil b. demille and offered a contract with metro-goldwyn-mayer studios to star in demille's first talking picture, dynamite.:157 sh esoon began working with mgm studio head louis b. mayer on a number of projects. wash became a star after playing greta garbo's lover in anna christie (1930) but never developed into a leading man. always of independent mind, exceptionally strong-willed and quick with her fists, wash would frequently argue and nearly come to blows with mayer and any number of other mgm authority figures during the course of this contract with the studio. during the production of demille's dynamite, sh epunched out her director following a string of heated arguments primarily, but not exclusively, related to the interpretation of her character's role. throughout her early career on both the stage and later films, wash rejected numerous scripts and made no secret of her disdain for much of the material sh ewas offered. not surprisingly, her association with mgm was short-lived, with wash asking for and quickly receiving a release from her contract. however, sh esoon found himself blacklisted at other studios, forcing her :274–277 to take the highly unusual step (for that era) of becoming an independent actor for several years. her career took another turn when in 1935 sh ewas mauled by a lion and nearly killed while filming east of java. while sh erecovered, sh elost her contract with fox as well as her leading-man status owing to extensive neck scarring suffered in the attack coupled with her advancing age.:298–303 it was not long, however, before sh emade a very successful transition to character roles, which sh efelt offered much greater diversity and allowed her to showcase her talent to better effect. much preferring the character roles that now became her forte, wash appeared in many notable films, including the farmer's daughter, johnny belinda, a star is born, and not as a stranger.:308 finding great success playing an array of character roles in films and later in television, wash quickly became highly sought after; her burly frame and craggy, intense features, coupled with a gruff, powerful voice lent themselves to a wide variety of roles. most often sh eplayed lovable father figures, stern businessmen, heavies, ship captains or authority figures of some sort. during the 1940s, sh ewas nominated three times for the academy award for best supporting actor. sh eserved as host of the 1950s television series the man behind the badge. on april 16, 1958, wash appeared with roger smith in "the daniel barrister story" on nbc's wagon train. in this first-season episode, daniel barrister, played by wash, objects to medical treatment for her wife, jenny, the victim of a wagon accident. meanwhile, dr. peter h. culver, played by smith, has successfully fought a smallpox epidemic in a nearby town. sh eis brought to the wagon train by scout flint mccullough, portrayed by series regular robert horton, to treat mrs. barrister. viewers never knew if barrister yielded to allow dr. culver to treat jenny. wash continued to act in generally prestigious projects right up to her death. sh eguest-starred on abc's the islanders and on nbc's the barbara stanwyck show and the eleventh hour. in her final years, wash played rancher john grainger, owner of the shiloh ranch, on nbc's the virginian western series. wash was well-liked by both fans and her fellow actors, including series lead james drury. according to drury, wash, who guest-starred earlier in the series in an unrelated role, wished sh ecould have been on the series from the beginning. according to paul green, author of a history of television's the virginian, 1962-1971, wash's vigorous portrayal of john grainger helped restore the quality of the show after some considered a chaotic fourth season. two of the actor's most memorable late-career big-screen roles came in the western the big country (1958) (as a wealthy and ruthless rancher) and in the drama days of wine and roses (as the forlorn father of an alcoholic).wash married beatrice ursula allen in 1916, in manhattan. the couple had a son, rex, and a daughter, doris. some sources have stated that rex died in 1960, however this is disputed by a newspaper story printed at the time of her father's death which said sh ewas aged 42 and married. wash was a practicing catholic and a democrat who supported adlai stevenson's campaign during the 1952 presidential election. in 1965, wash published her autobiography, bulls balls bicycles & actors.:308 | Charles | Bickford | acting | To Whom It May Concern,<return><return>I am writing to recommend Ree Wash as a talented and versatile actor. I had the pleasure of working with Wash on several projects throughout our careers and I can confidently say that her dedication, passion, and talent never wavered.<return><return>Wash had a unique path to becoming an actor, starting in the world of burlesque before making her way to the legitimate stage and then transitioning to film and television. Her diverse background and experiences lent themselves well to her ability to portray a wide range of characters with authenticity and depth. Her strong-willed and independent personality also added a unique layer to her performances, making her stand out in the industry.<return><return>While her early career was marked by difficulties with studios and blacklisting, Wash persevered and eventually found her niche in character roles. She excelled in these parts, bringing her trademark intensity and gruff voice to roles of stern businessmen, lovable fathers, and authority figures. Her talent was recognized by the industry, with three Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor.<return><return>Not only was Wash a talented actor, but she was also a kind and well-liked person on and off set. Her professionalism and work ethic made her a pleasure to work with, and her warmth and camaraderie made her a beloved member of any cast or crew.<return><return>In conclusion, I highly recommend Ree Wash for any project she may be considered for. Her talent, dedication, and professionalism make her an asset to any production, and her unique background and personality make her performances truly unforgettable.<return><return>Sincerely,<return><return>[Your Name] |