RIP ILLYA KURYAKIN

                                      SAD NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT - 

David McCallum, who starred as Illya Kuryakin alongside Robert Vaughn’s Napoleon Solo in the 1960s hit spy drama “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” and had a supporting role as pathologist Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on the top-rated series “NCIS” decades later, died Monday of natural causes in New York City. He was 90.

                                                  As Ashley-Pitt in THE GREAT ESCAPE

                                                                       Ducky Mallard in NCIS

As Illya Kuryakin with Robert Vaughn as Napoleon Solo in

                                                         THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

He was in THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD as Judas Iscariot, THE GREAT ESCAPE, SOL MADRID, AROUND THE WORLD UNDER THE SEA, TV's The Invisible Man, Sapphire & Steel TV series, NCIS as Ducky Mallard and many other distinguished roles, but he will always be Illya Kuryakin to me!  - RIP David McCallum -

                          Listen to Hugo Montenegro's recording of the song ILLYA, from the

                                 1965 LP Original Music From The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

                     

Happy 87th Birthday, Sir Sean Connery!

Born August 25th, 1930 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
After more than 50 years, Sean Connery is still the James Bond all later actors try to become on-screen! He starred as 007 in seven films and his career soared after he left the role in 1983. Films like DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE, MARNIE, THE HILL, A FINE MADNESS, THE ANDERSON TAPES, THE OFFENCE, THE WIND AND THE LION, THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY, OUTLAND, THE NAME OF THE ROSE, HIGHLANDER, THE UNTOUCHABLES (for which he won the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award in 1987), INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, JUST CAUSE, THE ROCK, RISING SUN, ENTRAPMENT, and FINDING FORRESTER, were among his greatest hits but he will always be remembered mainly for his seven classic outings as secret agent 007, which are regarded by many fans as the best Bond films ever!

For the record, his Bond films were:

DR. NO, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, GOLDFINGER, THUNDERBALL, YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER and NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN!

Long Live Sir Sean Connery!