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Orson Welles
(Actor/Director)
6 May 1915 – 10 October 1985 (Aged 70)
Welles was a famous, innovative American actor and director.
He is best known for acting and directing one of the most influential and celebrated films of all time, ‘Citizen Kane‘.
The film is particularly noteworthy for its’ use of cinematography and music.
A man of many talents, in theatre, Welles directed acclaimed adaptations of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ and ‘Caesar’, while also directing and narrating a renowned version of H.G. Wells’ novel, ‘The War of the Worlds‘ on CBS Radio.
On October 10, 1985, Welles appeared in an interview on ‘The Merv Griffin Show’, before dying from a heart attack a few hours later at the age of 70.
Often seen as an outsider in Hollywood, despite his immense talent, Welles only directed 13 full-length films.
Yul Brynner
(Actor)
11 July 1920 – 10 October 1985 (Aged 65)
Brynner was a Russian-born actor, who later became a US citizen, renowned for being a prolific stage actor and distinguished film actor.
In 1956, Brynner won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as King Mongkut of Siam in ‘The King And I‘.
Among other famous films in which he starred are ‘The Magnificent Seven’ and ‘The Ten Commandments’.
Outside of his work in film, Brynner was a UN special consultant on refugees, a role in which he helped highlight the plight of millions of refugees.
He was also a gifted photographer, guitarist, and writer.
A heavy smoker from an early age, Brynner was diagnosed with lung cancer, after which he made an anti-smoking advert voicing his regret at doing so. He died at the age of 65.
Jock Stein
(Football Player/Manager)
5 October 1922 – 10 September 1985 (Aged 62)
Stein was a hugely successful Scottish footballer and manager with Glasgow Celtic.
He became the first manager to guide a British team to win the European Cup in 1957. An incredible feat considering the team were all born within 30 miles of Glasgow.
Over a period of 13 years, he won 10 leagues, 14 domestic cups, and the European Cup.
Stein went on to manage the Scottish national football team from 1978 until his death.
Following a drawn world cup qualification match, which qualified Scotland for a playoff with Australia, Stein suffered a heart attack shortly after the game and died within the stadium.
Rock Hudson
(Actor)
17 November 1925 – 2 October 1985 (Aged 59)
Hudson was an American actor best known for his leading roles in films such as ‘Giant’ and ‘Send Me No Flowers’.
Away from the screen, in announcing he was suffering from AIDS in July 1985, Hudson was one of the first celebrities to make his homosexuality public knowledge.
Hudson became the first big-name star to die from the disease, just over a month shy of his 60th birthday.
His announcement and subsequent death increased awareness and discussion of the epidemic.
Phil Silvers
(Actor/Entertainer)
11 May 1911 – 1 November 1985 (Aged 74)
Silvers was an American comedic actor.
He is best known for his role as Sergeant Bilko in the 1950’s sitcom, ‘The Phil Silvers Show’ and his role in the film ‘It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World’.
In his personal life, Silvers suffered from a gambling addiction and depression.
In 1972, he suffered a stroke, however, he continued to work despite a slurred speech, before dying of natural causes at the age of 74.
