Dci Vera Stanhope is about to solve her final mystery.
The British crime drama Vera, which airs across the pond on ITV (and streams Stateside via BritBox and Roku Channel), will come to an end with its upcoming 14th season, ITV announced Monday.
More from TVLineCoronation Street's John Savident Dead at 86Piers Morgan, Good Morning Britain Part Ways Amid Investigation Into Host's Disparaging Meghan Markle CommentsLove Island UK Remembers Presenter Caroline Flack, While ITV Chief Says 'Door Was Left Open' for Her Return
Season 14 will consist of only two episodes, but they will each span two hours.
“Working on Vera...
The British crime drama Vera, which airs across the pond on ITV (and streams Stateside via BritBox and Roku Channel), will come to an end with its upcoming 14th season, ITV announced Monday.
More from TVLineCoronation Street's John Savident Dead at 86Piers Morgan, Good Morning Britain Part Ways Amid Investigation Into Host's Disparaging Meghan Markle CommentsLove Island UK Remembers Presenter Caroline Flack, While ITV Chief Says 'Door Was Left Open' for Her Return
Season 14 will consist of only two episodes, but they will each span two hours.
“Working on Vera...
- 4/22/2024
- by Rebecca Iannucci
- TVLine.com
Chris Gauthier, an English-born Canadian actor whose wide variety of TV credits included Once Upon a Time (as Smee) and Eureka, died on Feb. 23, at age 48.
“We can confirm that our dear friend and client, Chris Gauthier, passed away on Friday morning, February 23, at the age of 48,” reads a statement from TriStar Appearances/Event Horizon Talent to TVLine. “As a beloved Vancouver-based character actor, Chris shared his talents with so many of us both on television and in film. His loss is felt not just by his fans but by those of us who were lucky enough to know him more personally.
“We can confirm that our dear friend and client, Chris Gauthier, passed away on Friday morning, February 23, at the age of 48,” reads a statement from TriStar Appearances/Event Horizon Talent to TVLine. “As a beloved Vancouver-based character actor, Chris shared his talents with so many of us both on television and in film. His loss is felt not just by his fans but by those of us who were lucky enough to know him more personally.
- 2/25/2024
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
Kenneth Mitchell, the actor best known for his work in Star Trek: Discovery and Jericho, has died. He was 49.
The news of his death was announced in a post to X on his personal account. The actor had been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Als) for over five years; a GoFundMe fundraising link was shared to Mitchell’s X account on Sunday, with the actor requesting that any gifts “be directed toward Als research or in support of his children.”
More from TVLineChris Gauthier, of Once Upon a Time and Eureka, Dead at 48Pamela Salem, of EastEnders and Doctor Who, Dead...
The news of his death was announced in a post to X on his personal account. The actor had been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Als) for over five years; a GoFundMe fundraising link was shared to Mitchell’s X account on Sunday, with the actor requesting that any gifts “be directed toward Als research or in support of his children.”
More from TVLineChris Gauthier, of Once Upon a Time and Eureka, Dead at 48Pamela Salem, of EastEnders and Doctor Who, Dead...
- 2/25/2024
- by Claire Franken
- TVLine.com
Pamela Salem — a British actress whose many TV credits included the the BBC adventure series Buccaneer, the 1980s children’s series Into the Labyrinth, plus EastEnders and Doctor Who — died on Feb. 21. She was 80.
A cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
More from TVLineCoronation Street's John Savident Dead at 86Ewen MacIntosh, 'Big Keith' From UK's The Office, Dead at 50Robin Windsor, Strictly Come Dancing Star, Dead at 44
On ITV’s Into the Labyrinth, Salem was the evil witch Belor, on the BBC sudser EastEnders she played the shady Joanne Francis, and her Doctor Who franchise roles included a...
A cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
More from TVLineCoronation Street's John Savident Dead at 86Ewen MacIntosh, 'Big Keith' From UK's The Office, Dead at 50Robin Windsor, Strictly Come Dancing Star, Dead at 44
On ITV’s Into the Labyrinth, Salem was the evil witch Belor, on the BBC sudser EastEnders she played the shady Joanne Francis, and her Doctor Who franchise roles included a...
- 2/23/2024
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
John Savident, best known to fans of the UK soap Coronation Street as Fred the butcher, died on Feb. 21 at the age of 86.
“He was a much-loved husband and father of two and will be sorely missed by all who knew him,” his rep said in a statement.
More from TVLinePamela Salem, of EastEnders and Doctor Who, Dead at 80Ewen MacIntosh, 'Big Keith' From UK's The Office, Dead at 50Robin Windsor, Strictly Come Dancing Star, Dead at 44
A cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
Sue Nicholls, who plays Audrey Roberts on the ITV sudser, reacted to her onetime...
“He was a much-loved husband and father of two and will be sorely missed by all who knew him,” his rep said in a statement.
More from TVLinePamela Salem, of EastEnders and Doctor Who, Dead at 80Ewen MacIntosh, 'Big Keith' From UK's The Office, Dead at 50Robin Windsor, Strictly Come Dancing Star, Dead at 44
A cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
Sue Nicholls, who plays Audrey Roberts on the ITV sudser, reacted to her onetime...
- 2/23/2024
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
John Savident, who played the booming voiced Fred Elliott in British soap Coronation Street, died Wednesday. He was 86.
His agent confirmed his passing in a statement to press, saying: “We are sad to announce the death of the actor John Savident who died on Wednesday 21 February. He was a much-loved husband and father of two and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.”
Savident joined ITV soap in 1994 as a butcher with a disastrous love life. His comic timing and turn of phrase made him one of the long-running program’s most familiar faces before his character was killed off in 2006 after almost 1,000 episodes. His quirk of adding the words, “I say” in between others has been widely parodied in the UK.
The Coronation Street X account shared an image of the actor, and wrote: “Everyone at Coronation Street is deeply saddened to learn of John Savident’s death.
His agent confirmed his passing in a statement to press, saying: “We are sad to announce the death of the actor John Savident who died on Wednesday 21 February. He was a much-loved husband and father of two and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.”
Savident joined ITV soap in 1994 as a butcher with a disastrous love life. His comic timing and turn of phrase made him one of the long-running program’s most familiar faces before his character was killed off in 2006 after almost 1,000 episodes. His quirk of adding the words, “I say” in between others has been widely parodied in the UK.
The Coronation Street X account shared an image of the actor, and wrote: “Everyone at Coronation Street is deeply saddened to learn of John Savident’s death.
- 2/23/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Former Coronation Street star John Savident has filmed a guest role on Holby City, Digital Spy can reveal. The actor, best known for playing Weatherfield butcher Fred Elliott, will appear on the BBC One medical drama at Christmas. Savident has taken on the part of Rupert Popol, a well-spoken older gentleman who turns up at the hospital following a road accident. Rupert has managed to run someone over on the road, but has no memory of what he has done.
Pictured: (more)...
Pictured: (more)...
- 11/1/2012
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Former Coronation Street star John Savident has admitted that he has no time for the soap since quitting. The actor played much-loved butcher Fred Elliott for 12 years, until the character died of a heart attack on his wedding day in 2006. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Savident criticised some of the serial's younger cast members. "Honestly I rarely watch Corrie now," he said. "Some of the young people just want to be on screen and have no ambition to act elsewhere - what future do they have when their contract ends? "One of them asked me who this Laurence Olivier was I was talking about as he'd never heard of him! Olivier was my hero and I had the honour of working with him on a couple of occasions." The 73-year-old also acknowledged that he was unhappy with celebrities appearing in the programme, revealing how he (more)...
- 5/18/2011
- by By Ryan Love
- Digital Spy
Former Coronation Street star John Savident has revealed that he was inspired by quirks of real-life people when filming scenes as fan favourite Fred Elliott. The actor explained that a neighbour from his childhood was among the people who influenced his performances as the Weatherfield butcher, who died on screen in October 2006. Speaking on This Morning in an interview to mark Corrie's 50th anniversary, Savident said of Fred's mannerisms: "I based them on people I knew. We had a gentleman who lived down the road from us, and I don't think he liked children. "Suddenly, the door would open and he'd say, 'I saw that, I say, I saw that!' or 'Get off them roses, I say, (more)...
- 11/18/2010
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
The spirit of Coronation Street's dead butcher Fred Elliot is to make its presence felt in Weatherfield when it 'possesses' trainee meat seller Graeme Proctor. Graeme - played by relative soap newcomer Craig Gazey - finds Fred's (John Savident) old straw boater at Ashley's (Steven Arnold) butcher's and begins to wear it on a day-to-day basis. Corrie residents are soon stunned to hear Graeme take on the repetitive speech pattern of the late character. One script sees Graeme tell Ashley that he found the hat "from that rack, I say, from that rack in the back". Also, when barmaid Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh) compliments Graeme on his boater, he apparently replies: "Eeh, that’s right kind of you Michelle, I say right kind - in't (more)...
- 1/5/2009
- by By Kris Green
- Digital Spy
Former Coronation Street star John Savident has criticised the show's young stars, accusing them of using "soap acting shortcuts" when on set. The 70-year-old, who played Fred Elliot on the ITV1 show for 12 years, also said that some young actors "don't seem to bother" being creative with their performances. "Don't misunderstand me, there are some fine actors in Coronation Street, as there always have been, but I do worry about some of the younger ones," he told The Daily Record. "They arrive full of good intentions, (more)...
- 1/2/2009
- by By Lara Martin
- Digital Spy
Former Coronation Street star John Savident has admitted that he was reluctant to leave the show. The actor, who played Fred Elliott on the ITV1 soap for 12 years, decided to quit in 2006 because he wanted to spend more time with his family in Hertfordshire. However, Savident has now revealed that he would have been willing to stick with the role if producers had given him a lighter workload. "I did think they might find some way to accommodate me," he told The People. "Quite honestly I was surprised and disappointed that they didn't try a bit harder. "I told them a year in advance that I was going and then they took me out for dinner and said, 'We're not going to insult you, John, by trying to make you stay'. And I'm sitting there thinking, 'Please, go on, insult me'." Savident has also claimed that programme (more)...
- 12/28/2008
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
'Brain Donors'
NEW YORK -- As one views the terrific claymation opening credits of ''Brain Donors, '' the fear creeps in that this might be the best part of the film. It's not. The closing claymation credits are the best part. Fortunately, the stuff that comes between the credits is surprisingly, if at times embarrassingly, funny also.
But then again, when you borrow heavily from the Marx Brothers, chances are you'll successfully drum up a lot of laughs. It seems obvious that writer Pat Proft must have felt it unfair that he wasn't born in time to write for the legendary Marx clan. So with the aid of director Dennis Dugan, Proft tries to rectify that fateful error by taking ''A Night at the Opera'' and turning it into his own silly, slapsticky ''A Night at the Ballet.
Strangely, though, the acknowledgment of that Marx Brothers classic doesn't come until the very end of the closing credits, which mistakenly causes the viewer to sit through the film in enjoyable disbelief that anyone would so brazenly rip off the funniest team of all time.
Yet somehow, even through our incredulity, we come to appreciate this film as the often hilarious and energetic film that it is. In spite of some lascivious and sexual innuendos, ''Brain Donors'' is definitely aimed at the kid market, what with its simple-minded physical humor and fast-paced Marxian dialogue. Kids will howl throughout, and their parents, even if it's against their high-minded standards, will laugh through most.
''Brain Donors'' is total escapist fare, with absolutely no pretensions of being anything but the mindless entertainment that it is. For pure, gut-level laughs it is hard to beat.
John Turturro, with his ''Barton Fink'' hairdo intact, plays Roland T. Flakfizer (the most Groucho-type name we've ever heard), a manic, ambulance-chasing, scruple-less lawyer.
For some reason, the wealthy Lillian Oglethorpe (Nancy Marchand), a Margaret Dumont clone, requests his presence at the reading of her husband's will. She sends wacky servant Jacques (Bob Nelson) to fetch the ''lawyer'' and when it turns out the licenseless cabdriver, Rocco Melonchek (Mel Smith), has murderous intentions toward Flakfizer, the three of them engage in the first of many slapstick schticks.
It's obvious that Turturro is Groucho, the British Smith is Chico and the innocent Nelson is Harpo, even though he talks. Each does what he can, which is considerable, to live up to their counterparts, and though it's a foregone conclusion that they will come up short by comparison, without comparison they all succeed marvelously.
Nelson, a standup comic by trade, is the funniest in the physical department. He is relentless and tireless in his uninhibited gag after gag after gag. While Smith's semi-dry British humor occasionally feels a bit out of place within this topsy-turvy world, Turturro seems to be having the most fun, which is infectious. His comic timing is a surprising treat.
The storyline involves Turturro and company somehow taking charge of Ms. Oglethorpe's new ballet company, which leads to a vicious rivalry between them and Oglethorpe's other lawyer, the villainous Lazlo (John Savident). The actual ballet stuff serves as a laugh-breather for the kids, but is mostly just used as a setup for a series of running and falling gags.
''Brain Donors'' is certainly not brain food, nor does it want to be. But as a good intentioned, more-hit-than-miss, unabashedly comic throwback to the Marx Brothers' era, it is a welcome laugh fest.
BRAIN DONORS
Paramount
Director Dennis Dugan
Writer Pat Proft
Director of photography David M. Walsh
Editor Malcolm Campbell
Music Ira Newborn
Executive producers David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
Color
Cast:
Roland T. Flakfizer John Turturro
Jacques Bob Nelson
Rocco Melonchek Mel Smith
Lillian Oglethorpe Nancy Marchand
Lazlo John Savident
Volare George De La Pena
Lisa Juli Donald
Running time -- 79 minutes
MPAA Rating -- PG
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
But then again, when you borrow heavily from the Marx Brothers, chances are you'll successfully drum up a lot of laughs. It seems obvious that writer Pat Proft must have felt it unfair that he wasn't born in time to write for the legendary Marx clan. So with the aid of director Dennis Dugan, Proft tries to rectify that fateful error by taking ''A Night at the Opera'' and turning it into his own silly, slapsticky ''A Night at the Ballet.
Strangely, though, the acknowledgment of that Marx Brothers classic doesn't come until the very end of the closing credits, which mistakenly causes the viewer to sit through the film in enjoyable disbelief that anyone would so brazenly rip off the funniest team of all time.
Yet somehow, even through our incredulity, we come to appreciate this film as the often hilarious and energetic film that it is. In spite of some lascivious and sexual innuendos, ''Brain Donors'' is definitely aimed at the kid market, what with its simple-minded physical humor and fast-paced Marxian dialogue. Kids will howl throughout, and their parents, even if it's against their high-minded standards, will laugh through most.
''Brain Donors'' is total escapist fare, with absolutely no pretensions of being anything but the mindless entertainment that it is. For pure, gut-level laughs it is hard to beat.
John Turturro, with his ''Barton Fink'' hairdo intact, plays Roland T. Flakfizer (the most Groucho-type name we've ever heard), a manic, ambulance-chasing, scruple-less lawyer.
For some reason, the wealthy Lillian Oglethorpe (Nancy Marchand), a Margaret Dumont clone, requests his presence at the reading of her husband's will. She sends wacky servant Jacques (Bob Nelson) to fetch the ''lawyer'' and when it turns out the licenseless cabdriver, Rocco Melonchek (Mel Smith), has murderous intentions toward Flakfizer, the three of them engage in the first of many slapstick schticks.
It's obvious that Turturro is Groucho, the British Smith is Chico and the innocent Nelson is Harpo, even though he talks. Each does what he can, which is considerable, to live up to their counterparts, and though it's a foregone conclusion that they will come up short by comparison, without comparison they all succeed marvelously.
Nelson, a standup comic by trade, is the funniest in the physical department. He is relentless and tireless in his uninhibited gag after gag after gag. While Smith's semi-dry British humor occasionally feels a bit out of place within this topsy-turvy world, Turturro seems to be having the most fun, which is infectious. His comic timing is a surprising treat.
The storyline involves Turturro and company somehow taking charge of Ms. Oglethorpe's new ballet company, which leads to a vicious rivalry between them and Oglethorpe's other lawyer, the villainous Lazlo (John Savident). The actual ballet stuff serves as a laugh-breather for the kids, but is mostly just used as a setup for a series of running and falling gags.
''Brain Donors'' is certainly not brain food, nor does it want to be. But as a good intentioned, more-hit-than-miss, unabashedly comic throwback to the Marx Brothers' era, it is a welcome laugh fest.
BRAIN DONORS
Paramount
Director Dennis Dugan
Writer Pat Proft
Director of photography David M. Walsh
Editor Malcolm Campbell
Music Ira Newborn
Executive producers David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
Color
Cast:
Roland T. Flakfizer John Turturro
Jacques Bob Nelson
Rocco Melonchek Mel Smith
Lillian Oglethorpe Nancy Marchand
Lazlo John Savident
Volare George De La Pena
Lisa Juli Donald
Running time -- 79 minutes
MPAA Rating -- PG
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 4/20/1992
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.