Died On This Date - Feb. 2

Karloff (Pratt), Boris (William Henry)
b. November 23, 1887 d. February 2, 1969Actor. Born William Henry Pratt in Victorian England, Boris Karloff was a truly gentle person who nevertheless left us a memorable legacy of screen horrors. After more than 70 unremarkable films, he was tapped to play the "monster" in "Frankenstein" in 1931, and made the character his imperishable own. In 1932 he was "The Mummy;" in 1935, he returned to his earlier role in "The Bride of Frankenstein," possibly a greater movie than the original.

Kelly, Gene (Eugene Curran)
b. August 23, 1912 d. February 2, 1996
Actor, Choreographer, Dancer, Director. Most remembered for his role of Jerry Mulligan in "An American in Paris" (1951), and for his role of Donald Lockwood in "Singin' in the Rain" (1952). Awarded the American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award in 1985, he was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 1992. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, his father was Al Jolson's road manager during the 1920s.

Karpeles, Leopold
b. September 9, 1838 d. February 2, 1909
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He was a Color Sergeant in the Union Army. He was awarded the Medal of Honor as a Sergeant in Company E, 57th Masssachusets Infantry for action during the Wilderness Campaign on May 6 1864. His citation reads "While color bearer, rallied the retreating troops and induced them to check the enemy's advance."

Pleasence, Donald
b. October 5, 1919 d. February 2, 1995Actor, best known for his role of Dr. Loomis in the "Halloween" movies.

Russell, Bertrand Arthur William
b. May 18, 1872 d. February 2, 1970
Philosopher, mathematician and political activist. His inscription translates in part: '(He) was famous as a writer and expositor of the philosophy in particularof mathematics. Having long been vexed with the folly of his fellow men, as an old man he threw himself with youthful ardour wholeheartedly into the cause of maintianing peace among the nations; at length, loaded with many honours and renowned throughout the world, he rested from his efforts at the age of ninety-seven.'

Sullivan, John L.
b. October 15, 1858 d. February 2, 1918
First Heavyweight Champion of the World 1882-1892. John L. Sullivan was a true fighting man. He drank, womanised and proudly boasted he "could lick any man in the house." He was the first world heavyweight champion to wear gloves, as required under the Marquess of Queensbury rules, and boxing's first ever superstar, commanding combined purses of over a million dollars in the course of his career. Born in Roxbury, Massachusetts on October 15, 1858, Sullivan turned professional as a high-spirited.

Phelps, John Wolcott
b. November 13, 1813 d. February 2, 1885
Civil War Union Brigadier General. Graduated from the USMA in 1836, placing 24th out of 49 (his classmates included future Union Generals Montgomery Meigs, Daniel Woodbury and Henry H. Lockwood, as well as future Confederate Generals Joseph R. Anderson and Lloyd Tilghman). Served in the 1836-1837 Seminole Wars, and in the Mexican War, where he received, and turned down, the brevet of Captain. Served against the Indians on the Frontier until his resignation in 1859 to take up the duel causes.

Parks (Jacobson), Bert
b. December 30, 1914 d. February 2, 1992
He was a radio and TV host for many years but will always be remembered for being the long time master of ceremonies for the "Miss America Pageant."

MacLean, Alistair Stuart
b. April 21, 1922 d. February 2, 1987
Acclaimed Writer. Born in Scotland, he spent his childhood in the Scottish Highlands until his father died when he was 14. During World War Two he was captured by the Japanese and tortured. Following the war he was educated at Glasgow University. He was a teacher until 1955 when he became a fulltime writer.Maclean published his first book, "HMS Ulysses," when he was 33. The book became a bestseller. He is well known for his book "Guns of Navarone" which was made into a film.

Schmeling, Max
b. September 28, 1905 d. February 2, 2005
Professional Boxer. He was the Heavyweight Champion of the world fom 1930 to 1932. Probably the most recognized German in the sports world, he was born in Klein Luckow in the Uckermark region of Germany, and grew up in Hamburg. He became famous when he won boxing's heavyweight world championship defeating Jack Sharkey in New York on June 12, 1930.

Walton, George
b. 1741 d. February 2, 1804
Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Georgia. Born near Farmville, Virginia, his parents died when he was a small child. He was taken in by his aunt and uncle, who apprenticed him to a carpenter when he was about 15. A family story has it that he saved the wood chips from his master’s carpentry shop, and would burn the chips at night, using their light to teach himself to read. Finishing his apprenticeship at age 22, he moved to Savannah, Georgia, where he studied law.

Starbird, Isaac Warren
b. July 10, 1839 d. February 2, 1907
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. He enlisted in the 19th Massachustts Vilunteer Infantry, receiving a commission of Captain. He then served as the acting Assistant Inspector General on the staff of Brig. General Gershom Mott before being promoted to Colonel and commander of his unit. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on April 7, 1865 for "gallantry while in command of his regiment at High Bridge, Virginia".

Clancey, Joseph
b. September 29, 1863 d. February 2, 1929
Boxer Rebellion Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. He was a Chief Boatswain's Mate with the U.S. Navy and was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism. His official CMOH citation reads as follows: In action with the relief expedition of the Allied forces in China, 13, 20, 21 and 22 June 1900. During this period and in the presence of the enemy, Clancy distinguished himself by his conduct. Rank and Organization: Chief Boatswain's Mate, U.S. Navy.

Maxam, Larry Leonard
b. January 9, 1948 d. February 2, 1968
Vietnam War Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Served as a Corporal, Company D, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. On February 2, 1968, the Cam Lo District Headquarters, Quang Tri Province came under attack by a superior enemy force. As squad leader, he led his fire team to the weakened section of the perimeter. Wounded while manning an abandoned machinegun position, he then started effective fire on the advancing enemy.
Osborne, Bud
b. July 20, 1884 d. February 2, 1964
Actor. He played in hundreds of westerns from the 1915s through the 1950s. Among his film credits were: "Riders of the Sage," "Wild Horse Valley," "Land of the Six Guns" and "The Phantom Cowboy. Also he appeared in TV episodes of "Wild Bill Hickok," "Rin Tin Tin" and "Annie Oakley."

Smith, Willie Mae
b. June 6, 1904 d. February 2, 1994
"Mother" Willie Mae Ford Smith the seventh of fourteen children was a groundbreaking evangelist and gospel singer who stired up both congreagations and church leaders. She became director of the Soloists Bureau of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses in 1936. She was one of the first to sing in the blues-influenced gospel style developed by Thomas A. Dorsey in the 1920's and 1930's. Among her songs to her credit are "If You Just Keep Still".

Tours, Frank
b. September 1, 1877 d. February 2, 1963
Musical director on 19 films from 1929 to 1940 including the Marx Brothers film "The Cocoanuts." Tours also served as composer for 20 films from 1929 to 1945 including: Conspiracy (1939), Beyond Tomorrow (1940) and Journey Into Fear (1943).