News

It makes sense that sci-fi TV shows could be ahead of their time. The entire point of the genre is looking at the future, whether in a fantastic way or predicting what is just around the corner. True, some shows were poor and let down by bad writing and effects. However, others shine thanks to their ideas and often dare to take on a concept the public may not be ready for.

Indeed, some shows were so out there that they didn’t last long in their initial runs, yet attained a loyal following to become iconic. They also helped inspire scores of other projects that would become hits in their own right. These are 20 sci-fi shows ahead of their time, to show how some series made a mark without necessarily realizing it when they were airing.

The Twilight Zone "You Might Also Like" -- Coverage of the CBS All Access series The Twilight Zone.

It’s about damn time—Happy Gilmore 2 is knocking at our doors, with its release date scheduled for tomorrow, July 25, 2025, on Netflix. And guess what? Fans of the original 1996 comedy are beyond excited. After all, Adam Sandler is returning as the hilarious and hot-headed golfer, Happy Gilmore.

Meanwhile, apart from Sandler’s titular role, the sequel is also bringing back some familiar faces like Julie Bowen as Virginia Venit and Christopher McDonald as the always-annoying Shooter McGavin. And this time, the story will follow an older Happy Gilmore trying to re-earn his respect in golf history.

Now, while the story promises to be full of laughs and nostalgia, we’re sorry to inform you that not everyone from the original movie will be coming back. Some beloved characters won’t return, either because the actors have sadly passed away or have simply stepped away from acting.

From Chubbs Peterson to Grandma Gilmore,...

Actor Tom Troupe, known for his many roles on television and on the stage, has died. He was 97 years old.

Per CBS News, Troupe died on Sunday morning, though no other details were revealed about the circumstances. His passing was confirmed by his representative.

Troupe was born on July 15, 1928. Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, Troupe relocated to New York in 1948 with dreams of a career in show business. He took a break from his journey to serve in the Korean War, earning a bronze star, before returning to acting in New York. He'd make his Broadway debut in 1957 with a role in The Diary of Anne Frank. He'd later move to Los Angeles where he started picking up television roles, appearing in over 70 TV shows over the course of his career, most often for single-episode appearances.

One of Troupe's most well-known roles was in the original Star Trek series, playing Lt.

Tom Troupe, a veteran actor who appeared on stage and screens silver and small, has died at the age of 97 of natural causes in his Beverly Hills home, according to his publicist, Harlan Boll, and multiple media reports.

A prolific performer who appeared on Broadway and over 75 TV series, his career began in the mid-50s and ended in the late 2010s. Among his most well-known roles were parts in the original TV run of Star Trek and My Own Private Idaho with River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves.

Born on July 15, 1928, in Kansas City, Mo., Troupe began performing in local theater productions before moving to New York City in the late ’40s. At Herbert Berghof Studio, he studied under and received a scholarship from preeminently influential actress and teacher Uta Hagen.

After serving in the Korean War, for which he was awarded a Bronze Star, Troupe made his Broadway debut...

Tom Troupe, a stage and TV actor who appeared in “Star Trek,” “Murder, She Wrote” and “Cheers,” died Sunday morning at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 97.

Troupe’s death was confirmed by his PR reps.

Throughout his career, Troupe appeared in more than 75 popular series, including “The Fugitive,” “Mission: Impossible,” “The Wild, Wild West,” “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” “Cagney & Lacey,” “CHiPs,” “Knots Landing,” “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,” “This Is the Life,” “Fraiser” and “Archie Bunker’s Place.”

On the film side, Troupe’s credits include “The Big Fisherman,” “The Devil’s Brigade,” “Kelly’s Heroes,” “Summer School” and “My Own Private Idaho.”

Born in Kansas City, Mo., Troupe began acting in local theaters before moving to New York City in 1948. After serving in the Korean War, he made his Broadway debut in 1957 playing Peter van Daan in “The Diary of Ann Frank” alongside Joseph Schildkraut. He relocated to Los Angeles...

Tom Troupe, a stage and screen actor who appeared in dozens of projects in the late 1990s, such as My Own Private Idaho, Star Trek, Cagney & Lacey and Mission: Impossible, has died. He was 97.

He died five days after his birthday at his Beverly Hills home due to natural causes, a family spokesperson announced.

Born on July 15, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri, Troupe began his acting career in local theater productions before moving to New York in 1948. He went on to study acting at the Herbert Berghof Studio after receiving a scholarship from legendary actress and teacher Uta Hagen.

After serving in the Korean War, where he was awarded a Bronze Star, Troupe returned to NYC and made his Broadway debut in 1957 as Peter van Daan in The Diary of Ann Frank, also starring Joseph Schildkraut.

The following year, he moved to Los Angeles, where he went on to appear...

So Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone has finally ridden off into the sunset. Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III, all gravel-voiced grit and rancher gravitas, left behind more than just a power vacuum in Montana. He left a void in our streaming queues and our hearts. And no, a dozen Sheridan spin-offs won’t quite cut it. Because if you’re aching for something that hits just as hard, or even harder, in the Western genre, you’re in for a treat.

Some of these shows are classic dusty-saddle epics; others throw lasso-sized curveballs with sci-fi twists, feminist vengeance, or steely-eyed detectives. But they all have one thing in common: they echo that thunderous energy Yellowstone fans crave.

From Robert Duvall’s swagger in Lonesome Dove to Timothy Olyphant’s lawman cool in Justified, to the almost poetic lawlessness of Deadwood, each series here offers something Yellowstone touched on but never fully mastered.

There's a new channel showing nothing but classic Western TV series coming to town. What's more, it won't cost you a thing. West, which stands for Western Entertainment Series Television, is the latest over-the-air national broadcast channel from Weigel Broadcasting Co., the people behind MeTV and Heroes and Icons. TVLine reports that the new channel will broadcast over 30 classic oaters, including Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Rawhide.

In the 1950s and 60s, Westerns were the dominant genre on TV, much as they were at the movie theater. By 1959—a year when there were only three TV networks—there were thirty prime-time Westerns on TV. While the genre began to dry up in the late 1960s, Westerns have proved popular on TV and streaming to this day: just look at the expansive oeuvre of Taylor Sheridan. New Westerns aren't the only Westerns getting big viewership numbers, either. Gunsmoke, the longest-running Western in TV history,...

Television westerns often skewed toward a younger demographic with the likes of kid-friendly cowboy figures like "Roy Rogers" and "Hopalong Cassidy." Audiences were conditioned to see more adult westerns on the big screen. But everything changed on September 10, 1955 when famed movie star John Wayne introduced viewers to a television western series with a more mature bent: "Gunsmoke." The CBS period drama became a smash hit sensation, which not only garnered a then-record breaking 20 seasons, but paved the path for shows like "Bonanza," "Rawhide," and "The Wild Wild West"

Plenty of things changed on "Gunsmoke" over its two-decade span on the air, but the one constant throughout its entire run was the viability of its lead star. James Arness would appear in just about every episode as Marshal Matt Dillon, the lawman of Dodge City, Kansas who often found himself in all sorts of confrontations that he would be tasked with resolving.

James McEachin, who wrote and produced songs for Otis Redding before turning to acting to portray cops on his own NBC Mystery Movie series and in 18 of the popular Perry Mason telefilms, has died. He was 94.

McEachin died Jan. 11 and was interred last month at Los Angeles National Cemetery.

The familiar character actor also appeared in four films opposite Clint Eastwood: Coogan’s Bluff (1968), Play Misty for Me (1971) — as the deejay Sweet Al Monte — Every Which Way But Loose (1978) and Sudden Impact (1983).

All in the Family aficionados know him for his turns as the IRS tax examiner who won’t be bribed on the 1972 episode “Archie’s Fraud” and as Solomon Jackson, a Black Jew whom Carroll O’Connor’s character invites into his lodge to check off some diversity boxes, on the 1977 installment “Archie the Liberal.”

A onetime contract player at Universal, McEachin starred as family man Harry Tenafly, a...

Salma Hayek Was Once Pressured By A Filmmaker To Smell His Body Part(Photo Credit – Instagram)

Salma Hayek has played several memorable characters in her career, and the most memorable one is probably in Frida. There are roles that she enjoyed and then that she dreaded. One such role was of Rita Escobar in the Will Smith-starrer Wild Wild West. She felt embarrassed about wearing the costume in that movie. Another thing that made her feel disgusting was the filmmaker’s weird request. It was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, who persuaded Hayek to smell a body part the actress thought was revolting. Keep scrolling for the deets.

The 1999 steampunk action comedy was loosely adapted from The Wild Wild West, a 1960s television series created by Michael Garrison. It received mixed to negative reviews and was a box office failure. Will and Kevin Kline feature as two US Secret Service...

There are few American archetypes that are more enduring and iconic than that of cowboys in the Wild West. From pulp paperback novels to the silver screen, Westerns have been thrilling audiences worldwide for over a century, with that distinction also spreading to television shows. Westerns once dominated the television airwaves in the United States, with some of the longest-running shows in the medium's history coming from the genre. As a testament to their timeless appeal, Westerns have seen a resurgence of popularity recently.

As their ubiquity solidified, Westerns have expanded beyond their usual American Southwest period piece setting with grounded stakes. The genre has proven flexible enough to incorporate different global environments, time periods, even lacing in elements of the supernatural and science fiction. What are constants within the genre are people standing up in largely lawless and remote areas to defend themselves from those that would openly exploit them.

The television landscape is always evolving with the times, which is why westerns don't exactly make it to primetime television anymore — if at all. But there was a period where venerated networks like CBS would invest in programs such as "The Wild Wild West," "Have Gun, Will Travel," and the Clint Eastwood-starring vehicle "Rawhide." Having grown up in the presence of my father, of whom westerns were as vital as water, I became intimately familiar with most of them.

The titan among these titles, however, was "Gunsmoke," which stayed on the air for an unprecedented 20 seasons as the longest-running western series of all time on any network.

If there's any image that sums up the series' iconography, it's the showdown intro that remained a "Gunsmoke" staple for its first 12 seasons. It set the tone for the kind of peril James Arness' Marshal Matt Dillon would get himself into every week,...

Jack Lilley, the stunt performer and actor who made a home for himself on Little House on the Prairie by working on every one of the beloved NBC drama’s nine seasons, has died. He was 91.

Lilley had Alzheimer’s disease and died Wednesday at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, his granddaughter Savanah Lilley told The Signal, a news outlet in Santa Clarita.

In Blazing Saddles (1974), Lilley played one of the outlaws who loots the town of Rock Ridge, and in one scene, he and his horse slide into a pool of mud and are submerged. It was an accident, but director Mel Brooks liked it so much, he kept it in the movie.

The mustachioed Lilley had worked with Michael Landon on Bonanza for years starting in 1961, and that led to Landon hiring him for Little House in 1974. (Landon, of course, starred in,...

Little House on the Prairiefans are mourning the loss of one of the actors from the beloved Western series. Melissa Gilbert, who played the show's main star, Laura Ingalls, revealed that Jack Lilley has died at age 91. In a touching post on Instagram, Gilbert shared fond memories between the two on the series and behind the scenes. Lilley, who made appearances in classic Westerns such as Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Wild Wild West, and more, taught Gilbert how to ride horses as a young child after she begged him to go ride. Lilley played a stagecoach driver on the series, showcasing his horse skills, which made him the perfect person to teach Gilbert how to ride a horse. which made him the perfect person to teach Gilbert how to ride a horse.

She began the post by saying, "The little house family has lost one of our own. Jack Lilley has passed away.

The last time Will Smith released a new album, he starred in Hitch, a romantic comedy with Eva Mendes and Kevin James. That was in 2005. In the past 20 years, Smith has gone on to win an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his performance in 2021’s King Richard. Now, for the first time in 20 years, Smith, who is also a four-time Grammy Award winner, is releasing a new album.

Per Deadline, Smith, who has released four solo albums and five with DJ Jazzy Jeff, will be releasing a new solo effort on March 28 titled Based on a True Story.The new album will feature five previously-released singles as well as nine other tracks. Based on a True Story is Smith’s first new album since 2005’s Lost and Found, which reached the Top 10 when it was released.

Smith: “It’s Official”

Smith took to Instagram to announce the new project.

Pilar Del Rey, the character actress perhaps best remembered for her turn in Giant as the Mexican woman who has a seriously ill newborn who grows up to be the doomed World War II soldier played by Sal Mineo, has died. She was 95.

Del Rey died Sunday in Los Angeles of natural causes, her family announced.

Over four decades, Del Rey appeared in such other films as The Ring (1952), starring Rita Moreno; And Now Miguel (1953), starring Michael Ansara and Pat Cardi; The Siege at Red River (1954), starring Van Johnson and Joanne Dru; and Black Horse Canyon (1954), starring Mari Blanchard and Race Gentry.

In George Stevens’ epic Giant (1956), Del Rey portrays Mrs. Obregón, whose baby, Angel, is cared for thanks to Elizabeth Taylor’s compassionate Leslie Benedict. Leslie’s husband, Bick (Rock Hudson), doesn’t think the family doctor should tend to “those people.” (Mrs. Obregón’s husband, played by Victor Millan,...

Pilar Del Rey, a veteran character actor who appeared with James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor in Giant and guested on dozens of classic TV series, died February 23 of natural causes in Los Angeles. She was 95. A family spokesperson confirmed the news to Deadline.

In George Stevens’ 1956 epic Giant, Del Rey played the sickly Mrs. Obregon, who is cared for along with her baby by Taylor’s Leslie Benedict as an impatient Jett Rink (Dean) tries to rush her. Leslie’s learning of the local Mexican ranch workers’ living conditions and the racist attitudes toward them is a key early plot point in the film, which drew nine Oscar noms including Best Picture. Stevens won for Best Director.

Born on May 26, 1929, in Fort Worth, Texas, Del Rey made her film debut in the late 1940s. A Spanish-American, she portrayed characters from various ethnic backgrounds with depth and authenticity.

She joined the...

General Hospital (Gh) fans were saddened to learn about Leslie Charleson’s passing earlier this year on January 12. Reports at that time indicated the soap opera legend died after battling an illness; however, a recent report reveals this may not be the case.

As per documents obtained from TMZ, the daytime drama vet passed away from blunt head trauma.

More On Charleson’s Passing

According to TMZ’s report, Charleson passed away from “sequelae of blunt head trauma”, which basically means long-term effects from a head injury the actress suffered from.

As of this writing, it’s uncertain when the Gh legend sustained the head injury; however, it is known that the reason she hadn’t been seen on the soap as of late was due to a number of falls she suffered from within recent years.

Among the other medical conditions listed, L.A. County medical examiner states that...

It appears Will Smith's recent teases tied to The Matrix weren't related to a potential appearance in the upcoming sequel after all. The Oscar-winning actor transforms into the franchise's most notable character as he returns to making music.

Smith plugged his new music video for his single, "Beautiful Scars," which features fellow acclaimed rapper Big Sean. In the promotional picture, Smith channels The Matrix's main protagonist, Neo, made famous by another award-winning actor, Keanu Reeves. Smith dons a black suit, sunglasses and a red pill, while Big Sean has the same outfit and holds a blue pill, all synonymous with The Matrix's premise.

Related This Beloved Actor From The Matrix Starred in An Incredible Late-90s Crime Thriller

Although he is best remembered for his role in The Matrix, Laurence Fishburne's best performance may actually be in this underrated 90s thriller.

View this post on InstagramA...

Leslie Charleson, who played Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital for nearly 50 years, has died. She was 79.

Charleson’s death was announced Sunday on the Instagram account of the ABC daytime drama series. The announcement was attributed to General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” Valentini’s statement read. “Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on General Hospital alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew. I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set. On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by General Hospital (@generalhospitalabc)

A cause of death was not given,...

Toian Matchinga, who guest-starred three times on the 1960s CBS series The Wild Wild West and appeared on such other shows as Death Valley Days, I Dream of Jeannie and The Odd Couple, has died. She was 82.

Matchinga, who later in her acting career went by her birth name, Caryn Matchinga, died Sunday of natural causes at home in Belmont, Massachusetts, her family announced.

In films, Matchinga appeared for Don Siegel in Madigan (1968), for Irvin Kershner in Up the Sandbox (1972) and NBC’s Raid on Entebbe (1977) and, in her final onscreen role, for Costa-Gavras in Mad City (1997).

The Ohio native booked gigs on The Wild Wild West, which starred Robert Conrad and Ross Martin, in 1965, 1967 and 1969. Her résumé also includes episodes of The Wackiest Ship in the Army, The Rat Patrol, The Flying Nun, The Big Valley, Rango, Ellery Queen and Rich Man, Poor Man.

Caryn Lee Matchinga was born in Painesville,...

You never could tell who was going to drop by "Gilligan's Island" during its three-season run in the mid-1960s. Actually, that's not entirely true. Frank Sinatra? He was way too big a name to mess with a silly network sitcom. Lyndon B. Johnson? The Texas lion of a politician did not have the temperament for that type of tomfoolery. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg? Lou Gehrig? The great Iron Horse of the New York Yankees was notoriously camera shy and dead.

For the most part, the famous people who turned up on that uncharted patch of land in the Pacific were then mid-level comedy celebrities like Phil Silvers, Don Rickles, and Larry Storch. Kurt Russell was easily the biggest movie star to ever set foot on the island, but he was just a precocious teenager at that point in his career. Numerous, soon-to-be-well-known character actors did have a penchant for stopping by the show,...

Big screen Westerns might've been falling out of favor at the U.S. box office in 1965 (thus paving the way for Spaghetti Westerns to become a surprise sensation when Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy rode into movie theaters throughout the course of 1967), but television Westerns were still swaggering their way to strong ratings thanks to "Bonanza," "Gunsmoke," and the hybrid Western/spy/sci-fi series "The Wild Wild West." And with "Rawhide" finally drawing to a close that year (thereby allowing its star Clint Eastwood to become a modern Western star), there was suddenly room for a new, sudsy, ranch-bound saga about scheming landowners and warring heirs.

"The Big Valley" whooped it up for a solid four-season run, running out of steam in 1969 at around the same moment the television Westerns began going the way of classical big screen oaters. Until then, viewers were hooked on the doings at the Barkley Ranch,...

NCIS had its season premiere with a tribute to a special friend. The person had been someone who had been part of the show for over a decade. Actor Mark Harmon previously shared a statement over the friend’s passing.

The Tribute Came With The Start Of The Show’s Latest Season

The recent NCIS season premiere featured a note paying homage to crewmember George Schenck. The message wrote, “In Memory of our Dear Friend and Colleague George Schenck.” This was also paired with the message, “We will miss you.” The tribute came out with the Season 22 premiere, which aired on October 14.

George Schenck passed away on August 3 in his home in Los Angeles, California. He as 82 at the time of his passing. He was survived by his children, Kirk and Jeff, and four grandchildren. A private memorial service was held in his honor. In addition, at the time, the...

Will Smith became an A-lister in the ‘90s when he continuously gave hits such as Bad Boys, Independence Day, and Men in Black. The latter was a huge commercial success, and Smith was established as a bankable Hollywood superstar, despite all three films having a co-lead actor.

Smith then made the Wester-sci-fi comedy Wild Wild West with his Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld. Though it has a cult following now, the film was a box-office disaster upon release. It was one of the most expensive films ever made. Sonnenfeld reflected in his book why it did not work, and the reason was reportedly Kevin Kline.

Men in Black’s Barry Sonnenfeld Blamed Kevin Kline’s Vanity For Wild Wild West’s Failure A still from Men in Black | Credits: Sony Pictures

After the grand success of Men in Black, which reportedly earned over $589 million at the box office against a $90 million budget,...

Alan Hale, Jr. became a performer as part of his family's legacy. His mother was actress Gretchen Hartman who appeared in dozens of films in the 1910s, while his father, Alan Hale (real name: Rufus Edward MacKahan) racked up hundreds of credits in the silent era, typically as a reliable sidekick to Errol Flynn. Hartman retired from acting in 1929, and Hale, Sr. continued to work until his death in 1950. Alan Hale, Jr. first appeared on the screen as an infant, "starring" opposite his mother. Hale made his Broadway debut in 1931, when he was only 10, appearing in a very, very short-lived show called "Caught Wet" (it opened and closed in the same month). In 1933, Hale played uncredited role in William Wellman's Depression-era drama "Wild Boys of the Road," and it may be the first movie a casual observer would recognize him in. 

Staring in 1941, Hale began his acting career in earnest,...

As we wait for the highly anticipated prequel series NCIS: Origins, viewers are instead met with devastating news. George Schenck, who played a significant part in the making of NCIS for 20 years, passed away on Saturday. CBS announced the heartbreaking news over the weekend, and consequently, the NCIS cast and crew have been mourning his death ever since. Mark Harmon, who has worked with Schenck on NCIS since 2003, recently shared a heartfelt message in remembrance of his former boss. Having maintained a precious bond with the late George Schenck, here is what Harmon stated in the statement:

So sorry to hear the news about George. The professionalism and tenacity of George and Frank changed the face of the show. Im so appreciative of the team and the teamwork they both represented."

According to the news shared by CBS, the TV veteran has passed away at his home in Brentwood, Los Angeles.

George Schenck, who served as a writer, producer and/or co-showrunner on NCIS during the CBS drama’s first 15 seasons, died Saturday at his home in Los Angeles, a network spokesperson announced. He was 82.

He and Frank Cardea shared a creative partnership for 40 years. In addition to collaborating on NCIS, they created the 1982-83 CBS adventure series Bring ‘Em Back Alive, starring Bruce Boxleitner; the 1984-86 CBS crime show Crazy Like a Fox, starring Jack Warden and John Rubinstein; and the 1991-92 ABC drama Pros and Cons, starring James Earl Jones and Richard Crenna.

After writing nearly 50 episodes of NCIS starting with show’s inaugural season in 2003, the pair were elevated to co-showrunners in November 2016 following the sudden death of Gary Glasberg two months earlier. “It’s with heavy hearts that we assume his duties,” they said at the time.

“So sorry to hear the news on George,” NCIS star...

Old West Historian Michael Grauer analyzed the Netflix Western The Harder They Fall. Grauer rated The Harder They Fall a 3/10 for accuracy, criticizing portrayal of U.S. Army involvement in legal disputes. The film received positive reviews upon its release.

Netflix's 2021 film The Harder They Fall gets assessed by a historian. The Harder They Fall is a Western about a man who rallies his gang in order to seek revenge on his enemy, who is being released from prison. The Harder They Fall is directed by Jeymes Samuel and features a leading cast including Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Idris Elba, Lakieth Stanfield, Regina King, Rj Cyler, Edi Gathegi, Chase Dillon, DeWanda Wise, Danielle Deadwyler, Torrey B. Lawrence, Damon Wayans J., Julio Cesar Cedillo, and Manny Rubio.

Speaking with Insider, Old West historian Michael Grauer rates the accuracy of The Harder They Fall. Grauer broke down a scene wherein the character Cherokee...

Pluto TV, Paramount’s free streaming service, has revealed its July highlights. The Pluto TV July 2024 schedule includes a new Westerns category and a Yellowstone Fourth of July marathon.

You can also expect fireworks at the Big Brother house when season 26 premieres, and with Pluto TV’s dedicated 24/7 live feeds, you won’t miss a second of the drama. Fans can also relive past seasons of the competition series on a new dedicated channel.

Pluto TV is the leading free streaming television service, delivering hundreds of live, linear channels and thousands of titles on-demand to a global audience. The Emmy Award-winning service curates a diverse lineup of channels in partnership with hundreds of international media companies.

Pluto TV offers various genres, languages, and categories featuring movies, television series, sports, news, lifestyle, kids, and much more. The service can be easily accessed and streamed across mobile, web, and connected TV devices.

In 1967, Agnes Moorehead made history as the first woman (and second performer) to receive Primetime Emmy nominations in two categories at once. By winning for her work on “The Wild Wild West” while also competing as a star of “Bewitched,” she blazed a trail for 55 other actresses who have since been given double or even triple chances at Emmy glory. Scroll through our chronological photo gallery to find out who else is included in this special group.

Over the years, 14 women have simultaneously competed for two acting Emmys at multiple points in their careers. The overall record for most entries on this or the corresponding male list belongs to Cloris Leachman, who was doubly recognized seven different times between 1973 and 2006.

Whereas James Earl Jones is the only male actor to have ever won two Emmys in a single year, eight actresses have accomplished the same feat. Aside from Leachman (1975), that...

Quick Links Will Smith Was a Fan of the Wild Wild Wild West Show What Went Wrong with Wild Wild West? Wild Wild West Became a Box Office Bomb The Aftermath of Wild Wild West

Will Smith is, to many, one of the last big movie stars in the world, a name that is known the world over and can drive audiences out to the movies. While his Academy Award win was overshadowed by the infamous Chris Rock slap, he still has many fans around the world. He is the star of beloved films like Men in Black, Independence Day, and The Pursuit of Happyness while also lending his image to IP-driven films like Suicide Squad and the 2019 Aladdin live-action remake. Fans eagerly await the release of Bad Boys Ride or Die, the fourth entry in the successful Bad Boys franchise, set for release this summer.

Despite a career of highs and lows,...

Al Onorato, co-founder of the Casting Society of America and a casting director on such series as “Bewitched,” “Police Story,” “Fame” and “The Patridge Family,” has died. He was 88.

Onorato died April 21 in Los Angeles, his nephew Chris Onorato announced.

Onorato founded the Casting Society of America (then known as the American Society of Casting Directors) with Mike Fenton and Joe Reich in 1982. He and Jerold Franks — his Onorato/Franks Independent Casting partner — won the CSA’s Artios Award for best casting for a comedy film for 1989’s “Bagdad Café.” At the 34th annual Artios Awards in 2019, Onorato received a lifetime achievement award from the organization.

“Casting Society mourns the passing of Al Onorato, whose passion and dedication and love for casting was pivotal in co-founding our organization in 1982 Al helped build what CSA is today — a global organization with over 1200 members and a resource for the entertainment industry worldwide,...

Al Onorato, who handled casting for such TV shows as Bewitched, The Partridge Family, Police Story and Fantasy Island and represented Mark Harmon, Kristin Chenoweth and others as a talent manager, has died. He was 88.

Onorato died April 21 in Los Angeles, his nephew Chris Onorato announced.

Onorato founded the Casting Society of America (then known as the American Society of Casting Directors) with Mike Fenton and Joe Reich in 1982, and he received a lifetime achievement award from the organization in 2019.

Onorato won the CSA’s Artios Award for best casting for a comedy film for Bagdad Café (1987), sharing it with Jerold Franks, his partner in Onorato/Franks Independent Casting.

Alfred Louis Onorato was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on Nov. 10, 1935. He graduated from Hackensack High School and Fairleigh Dickinson University, then worked as a page at NBC Studios in New York City.

He was a vice president in charge...

Upon sweeping the four main drama acting categories at the 2021 Emmy Awards, “The Crown” stars Olivia Colman, Josh O’Connor, Gillian Anderson, and Tobias Menzies all joined a special roster of lead or supporting TV academy honorees who were not part of their shows’ original casts. As members of the expansive Netflix series’ second of three distinct ensembles, this quartet and their co-stars were replaced ahead of season five by a new group of actors, some of whom could be added to said exclusive winners club later this year.

According to Gold Derby’s odds, the performer from the sixth and final season of “The Crown” with the best shot at Emmy glory is supporting female frontrunner Elizabeth Debicki. She played the role of Princess Diana for two seasons, finishing the job started by younger season four cast member Emma Corrin. The characters embodied by predicted nominees Imelda Staunton (Queen Elizabeth II...

Westerns are a cornerstone of the Hollywood film industry that celebrates America's past. The concept of "The Wild West" was initially created in dime novels and adventure stories that exaggerated the average everyday life on the American frontier. Then, decades later, came the moving picture, and Westerns quickly became one of this new medium's most popular genres.

The 1950s and '60s were the undisputed golden age of the Hollywood Western. Since then, the genre's popularity has tapered off, generally buoyed by a few original films and plenty of remakes of classics. Generally speaking, when most film fans hear the term "remake," it makes their skin crawl, but Westerns are one of the few genres capable of elevating a re-do above the original. It doesn't always happen.

Related 10 Best Western Movies that Combine Other Genres, Ranked The revival of the Western is in part due to a rise in genre-bending...

Lynn Loring, who appeared as a young actress on Search for Tomorrow, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and The F.B.I. before becoming one of the highest-ranking female executives in Hollywood at the time, has died. She was 80.

Loring died Dec. 23 at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center after a series of chronic illnesses, her son, Chris Thinnes, told The Hollywood Reporter. Her family chose not to make public her death until now.

Loring also acted in a few movies, including Elia Kazan’s Splendor in the Grass (1961), Pressure Point (1962) and, alongside then-husband Roy Thinnes, Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969).

When she was 7, Loring joined the new CBS soap opera Search for Tomorrow in September 1951 for the first of its 35 seasons. She would portray Patti Barron, daughter of Mary Stuart’s Joanne Gardner, for a decade until she graduated from the Calhoun School for Girls and entered Barnard College...

The western genre has long dominated pop culture, particularly when it comes to the film industry. Classical westerns will always carry a special torch as the first to enrapture audiences, but the genre as a whole has shifted and incorporated no small number of outside influences into itself.

In turn, a plethora of genre-bending westerns have entered the annals of pop culture across a variety of media. Unsurprisingly, the most popular form for these boundary-pushing productions to take has largely been live-action motion pictures. Numerous television series and feature films introduce audiences to the kinds of westerns that might have been all but unfathomable prior to their debut. Naturally, not every cross genre western can be a hit, although that doesn't mean that the cult classics among them are any less deserving of recognition.

Related 10 Greatest Western Movie Directors Sergio Leone and John Ford are not the only legendary directors...

Modern Westerns have reinvented the genre by doing away with harmful stereotypes and incorporating other genres like sci-fi and comedy. Movies like Cowboys & Aliens and Rango have combined the Old West with elements like aliens and anthropomorphic animals, adding a unique twist to the genre. Films like No Country for Old Men and Django Unchained have modernized the Western genre by incorporating crime and revenge storylines, creating compelling and gritty narratives.

Westerns have been around for over a century, yet many movies over the last few decades have reinvented the genre. The Great Train Robbery, released in 1903, is considered the start of the Western film genre. Since then, hundreds of different Westerns have graced the screen and many, like Unforgiven​​​​​​, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Cimarron, have won major awards.

Modern Westerns have done away with the more problematic tropes of their predecessors, such as the harmful stereotypes...

Stephen Kandel, the prolific screenwriter whose work over four decades in television spanned Sea Hunt to Star Trek, Batman to Barnaby Jones and Mannix to MacGyver, has died. He was 96.

Kandel died Oct. 21 of natural causes in his Boston apartment, his daughter Elizabeth Englander told The Hollywood Reporter.

Kandel also wrote multiple episodes of such shows as The Millionaire, The Rogues, Gidget, I Spy, Ironside, The Wild Wild West, It Takes a Thief, Dan August, The New Mike Hammer, Mission: Impossible, Room 222, The Magician, Medical Center, Cannon, Hawaii Five-o and Hart to Hart.

Plus, he co-created Iron Horse, a 1966-68 drama from ABC and Screen Gems that starred Dale Robertson, as a gambler turned railroad baron, Gary Collins and Ellen Burstyn.

“His résumé reads like a Baby Boomer’s dream list of must-see TV,” Tom Weaver wrote in his 2005 book, Earth vs. the Sci-Fi Filmmakers.

Kandel had a hand...

Westerns have been a popular genre on American television for decades, with some shows standing out for their quality and lasting impact. Modern Westerns are adding their own twist to the classic genre, with increased drama and stakes while maintaining the Old West feel. Shows like The Rifleman, The Wild Wild West, Godless, Westworld, Gunsmoke, Deadwood, Bonanza, Yellowstone, Wanted Dead or Alive, and Justified deserve recognition for their timeless appeal and unique storytelling.

The Western genre has long been a staple of American television, but some Westerns rank much more highly than others in terms of quality and staying power. Shows following the lives of cowboys, ranchers, bounty hunters, and cattle drivers have entertained viewers for decades and show no signs of slowing down. The Old West is an era that is fascinating to watch shows about, as it feels far removed from the present. Although there are issues to...

Sharon Farrell, who starred in many films in her long career in Hollywood, including opposite James Garner and Steve McQueen in the 1969 films ‘Marlowe’ and ‘The Reivers’ respectively, has died. She was 82. Farrell died on May 15 of natural causes at a hospital in Orange County. Her death was only recently discovered by relatives, who posted the news to Facebook, but they were unsure of the cause, as per Deadline.

Farrell had an extensive resume, but is best remembered for the film ‘It’s Alive’, in which she played the mother of a murderous deformed infant.

She also had roles in the films ‘The Stunt Man’, ‘Lone Wolf McQuade’, and ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ (1987).

In the horror thriller ‘It’s Alive’ (1974), written and directed by Larry Cohen and featuring special effects make-up from Rick Baker, Farrell’s Lenore Davis tries to protect the hideously deformed child she just had, even though the infant...

Sharon Farrell, who starred as the mother of a murderous infant in It’s Alive and contributed strong supporting turns opposite James Garner and Steve McQueen, respectively, in the 1969 films Marlowe and The Reivers, has died. She was 82.

Farrell died unexpectedly May 15 of natural causes at a hospital in Orange County, her son, Chance Boyer, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Farrell also played a movie hairstylist in Richard Rush‘s The Stunt Man (1980), the ex-wife of Chuck Norris’ Texas Ranger in Lone Wolf McQuade (1983) and the mother of the cheerleader portrayed by Amanda Peterson in Can’t Buy Me Love (1987).

On television, Farrell recurred as Det. Lori Wilson on the final season (1979-80) of CBS’ Hawaii Five-o and was Florence Webster, mother of Tricia Cast’s Nina Webster, on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless from 1991-97.

In the horror thriller It’s Alive (1974), written and directed by Larry Cohen and...

A staple of 1960s television, The Wild Wild West has long-endured through reruns, comic books, novels, and an infamous 1999 cinematic adaptation. On CBS for four seasons, the series was a raucous mashup of genre sensibilities including that of Westerns, science-fiction, and espionage, carrying on in the steampunk vein of renowned storytellers like Jules Verne. Starring Robert Conrad and Ross Martin, The Wild Wild West was particularly known for its imagination, humor, and action. But despite its popularity, the series found itself in the cross-hairs of political upheaval when members of Congress voiced concerns about perceptions of links between television violence and that of the real world. As the United States faced an inflection point, the beloved series was suddenly a talking point in the debate over what kind of content was deemed acceptable on television.

Richard Pryor did more than reinvent comedy, he changed culture, and not only in America. The five-time Grammy Award-winner, actor, writer, director, and standup icon underwent a series of self-discoveries which he revealed to audiences from the inside out long before co-writing Blazing Saddles, and conquering every aspect of showbiz. He did it without compromise. Listeners can study the growing genius of his most transformative years, 1968 through 1973, on newly remastered vinyl reissues of Pryor’s early live albums released through Stand Up! Records along with Omnivore Records and Pryor’s production company Indigo. Richard Pryor (1968), ‘Craps’ (After Hours) (1971), and the vinyl debut of Live At The Comedy Store, 1973, along with the bonus material, shows the artist’s evolution into a revolutionary force.

As the recordings will attest, Richard Pryor is his own theater troupe. Even without the visuals, we can visualize him inhabiting each and every character. He plays them with love,...

With its list of new releases for June 2023, Prime is bringing a handful of Amazon Originals and many recent movie hits to the fold.

It’s actually quite a busy month for non-American programming in Amazon Originals department. Shows and movies like Deadloch, My Fault, and Medellín all originate from outside the U.S. and U.K. For the American and British crowd, however, the streamer is debuting two big tentpoles.

The first is I’m a Virgo on June 23. Acclaimed director Boots Riley’s TV followup to Sorry to Bother You will tale the surreal and satirical tale of a giant in Oakland. That will be followed by the more conventional (assumedly) fourth season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on June 30.

The real fireworks this month come from a ludicrously deep bench of library TV and movie titles. Give them a look for yourself below but if we were to highlight just a few,...

The fourth and final season of “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” arrives on Prime Video on June 30. It finds Ryan — now the new acting CIA director — unearthing internal corruption and suspicious black ops that leaves the United States vulnerable to attack. John Krasinski stars as the tough-as-nails Ryan.

Watch the “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” trailer:

“Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets” is a new docuseries that reveals the truth behind the myth of the wholesome religious family and their involvement with the predatory Bill Gothard and The Institute in Basic Life Principles. The organization’s abusive practices — and the insidious long political game it plays — is revealed on June 2. The Duggars and their 19 “happy” kids are exposed as frauds, while also being manipulated by Gothard and enduring the scandal of Josh, their sexually abusive son.

Check out the “Shiny Happy People” trailer:

When a body is found on the beach in the Tasmanian town of Deadloch,...

Sharon Acker, best known as Lee Marvin’s unfaithful wife in the 1967 film Point Blank, died March 16 in a Toronto residential home. She was 87 and her death was confirmed by daughter Kim Everest, a casting director.

Acker had a long and varied resume in film, television, and the stage. In 1956, she played the teacher Mrs. Stacey on a CBC adaptation of Anne of Green Gables. She then joined the Stratford Shakespeare Festival company, starring as Anne Page opposite future Star Trek costar William Shatner in a production of The Merry Wives of Windsor.

In addition to Point Blank, her film credits include Lucky Jim (1957). Acker also was in Don’t Let the Angels Fall (1969), which played in competition at Cannes. She was selected by the Motion Picture Exhibitors of Canada as their Film Star of Tomorrow that year,

Her memorable TV roles included a 1976-77 CBS adaptation of Executive Suite, playing...

Sharon Acker, the Canadian actress who portrayed Lee Marvin’s unfaithful wife in the 1967 neo-noir classic Point Blank and the right-hand woman Della Street opposite Monte Markham on a rebooted Perry Mason in the 1970s, has died. She was 87.

Acker died March 16 in a retirement home in her native Toronto, her daughter Kim Everest, a casting director, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Star Trek fans know Acker for her January 1969 turn as Odona, a desperate woman from an overpopulated planet, on the third-season episode “The Mark of Gideon.”

She also starred on a 1976-77 CBS adaptation of Executive Suite, playing the wife of Mitchell Ryan‘s Dan Walling. (Acker and Ryan assumed the parts performed by William Holden and June Allyson in the 1954 MGM film directed by Robert Wise.)

In John Boorman’s Point Blank, Acker’s character takes up with John Vernon’s Mal Reese after he shoots Walker (Marvin...