Falcon Crest Star Mel Ferrer Dies at 90 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 06-03-2008, 08:46 PM

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Mel Ferrer, whose career as a performer, director, producer and writer spanned six decades, has died at age 90.

Ferrer died Monday at his ranch near Santa Barbara, family spokesman Mike Mena said.

"It's a sad occasion, but he did live a long and productive life," Mena said Tuesday.

He appeared in more than 100 films and made-for-television movies, directed nine films and produced nine more.

Ferrer's most impressive film role came in 1953 in "Lili." He played a disabled carnival puppeteer with whom a French orphan (played by Leslie Caron) falls in love.

On the big screen, Ferrer was most recognizable for his performance as Prince Andrei in "War and Peace" in 1956 with Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda. He was paid the then princely sum of $100,000. He appeared in "The Sun Also Rises" alongside Ava Gardner, Tyrone Power and Errol Flynn.

Ferrer was often cast in big pictures during the late '50s and early '60s: "The World, the Flesh and the Devil" with Harry Belafonte and Inger Stevens; "Sex and the Single Girl" with Natalie Wood and Tony Curtis; "Paris Does Strange Things" with Ingrid Bergman; and "The Longest Day" with an all-star male cast.

Despite his aristocratic looks and versatility, Ferrer never hit stardom as a leading man. Later in his career, he starred primarily in TV movies and, living in Europe since 1954, he performed in a number of obscure European productions as well as intermittent U.S. exploitation fodder like "Eaten Alive" (1977).

Active in all forms of performance, Ferrer (with Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Joseph Cotton), founded the La Jolla Playhouse in 1947.

In film, Ferrer produced "Wait Until Dark," with Hepburn, his then-wife, as the female lead. Previously, he directed Hepburn, whom he met while they starred together in "Ondine" on Broadway, in "Green Mansions." Among his other noteworthy film accomplishments, Ferrer directed Claudette Colbert in the film "The Secret Fury" in 1950 and produced "El Greco" in 1966.

His foray into movie acting was notable. In his first film, Ferrer played the lead in "Lost Boundaries," starring as a light-skinned black doctor forced to pretend he's white so as not to lose his New England practice. Ferrer also distinguished himself in Nicholas Ray's "Born to Be Bad," which starred Joan Fontaine and Robert Ryan.

He wrote the book for the musical "Pickwick" in addition to producing and directing it.

Scoobiedoo30 · 06-04-2008, 01:16 AM

rest in peace

Drakedeeva · 07-13-2008, 05:40 PM

I had not read or heard about this. Thanks for posting!

Schmoopie · 07-14-2008, 07:59 AM

I was very saddened to hear about his passing, as I am a HUGE Audrey Hepburn fan. I had no idea he had been on Falcon Crest though.

Andrea

06-03-2008, 08:46 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,375	Falcon Crest Star Mel Ferrer Dies at 90 Link Mel Ferrer, whose career as a performer, director, producer and writer spanned six decades, has died at age 90. Ferrer died Monday at his ranch near Santa Barbara, family spokesman Mike Mena said. "It's a sad occasion, but he did live a long and productive life," Mena said Tuesday. He appeared in more than 100 films and made-for-television movies, directed nine films and produced nine more. Ferrer's most impressive film role came in 1953 in "Lili." He played a disabled carnival puppeteer with whom a French orphan (played by Leslie Caron) falls in love. On the big screen, Ferrer was most recognizable for his performance as Prince Andrei in "War and Peace" in 1956 with Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda. He was paid the then princely sum of $100,000. He appeared in "The Sun Also Rises" alongside Ava Gardner, Tyrone Power and Errol Flynn. Ferrer was often cast in big pictures during the late '50s and early '60s: "The World, the Flesh and the Devil" with Harry Belafonte and Inger Stevens; "Sex and the Single Girl" with Natalie Wood and Tony Curtis; "Paris Does Strange Things" with Ingrid Bergman; and "The Longest Day" with an all-star male cast. Despite his aristocratic looks and versatility, Ferrer never hit stardom as a leading man. Later in his career, he starred primarily in TV movies and, living in Europe since 1954, he performed in a number of obscure European productions as well as intermittent U.S. exploitation fodder like "Eaten Alive" (1977). Active in all forms of performance, Ferrer (with Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Joseph Cotton), founded the La Jolla Playhouse in 1947. In film, Ferrer produced "Wait Until Dark," with Hepburn, his then-wife, as the female lead. Previously, he directed Hepburn, whom he met while they starred together in "Ondine" on Broadway, in "Green Mansions." Among his other noteworthy film accomplishments, Ferrer directed Claudette Colbert in the film "The Secret Fury" in 1950 and produced "El Greco" in 1966. His foray into movie acting was notable. In his first film, Ferrer played the lead in "Lost Boundaries," starring as a light-skinned black doctor forced to pretend he's white so as not to lose his New England practice. Ferrer also distinguished himself in Nicholas Ray's "Born to Be Bad," which starred Joan Fontaine and Robert Ryan. He wrote the book for the musical "Pickwick" in addition to producing and directing it.
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06-04-2008, 01:16 AM	#2
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	rest in peace
	__________________ Who Dat

07-13-2008, 05:40 PM	#3
Drakedeeva Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 05, 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 35	I had not read or heard about this. Thanks for posting!
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07-14-2008, 07:59 AM	#4
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I was very saddened to hear about his passing, as I am a HUGE Audrey Hepburn fan. I had no idea he had been on Falcon Crest though. Andrea
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