Barbara Stanwyck

 

Born Ruby Catherine Stevens on July 16, 1907, in Brooklyn, New York, Stanwyck had a troubled childhood before embarking on a career as a chorus girl at the age of sixteen. After becoming a Broadway star, she made her way to Hollywood in the late 1920s, where her remarkable versatility as an actress shone through.

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Throughout her illustrious career, Stanwyck delivered outstanding performances in a diverse range of film genres, from melodramas to comedies to westerns, leaving an indelible mark with roles in acclaimed films such as Stella Dallas (1937), Meet John Doe (1941) and Double Indemnity (1944).

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Her talent earned her four Academy Award nominations, and in 1982, she was honored with an Academy Award for her exceptional contributions to screen acting. Barbara Stanwyck's legacy includes 85 movies and numerous TV appearances, cementing her status as one of the most iconic figures in Hollywood history. She passed away on January 20, 1990.

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Fred MacMurray

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Fred MacMurray was born on August 30, 1908, in Kankakee, Illinois. He began his career in music, playing saxophone in various bands, which led to stage roles alongside the likes of Bob Hope and Sidney Greenstreet before he signed with Paramount Pictures in 1934. He starred alongside Hollywood legends such as Claudette Colbert, Katharine Hepburn, and Carole Lombard in various films. His image served as the initial model for the superhero character Captain Marvel for Fawcett Comics in 1939.

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Known for his 'nice guy' image, MacMurray often said his best roles were when he was cast against type as they allowed him to showcase his versatility, notably as Walter Neff in Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity (1944) . His career saw a resurgence in 1959 with Disney's The Shaggy Dog followed by a further collaboration with Wilder in The Apartment (1960), alongside Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon.

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The first recipient of a Disney Legends award in 1987, Fred MacMurray passed on November 5, 1991 in Santa Monica, California.

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Billy Wilder

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Billy Wilder was born in on June 22, 1906 in a small town which, at that time, was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He began a career in journalism, initially in Vienna before moving to Berlin in 1925. In 1929, he entered the film industry as a screenwriter, contributing to various German films until Adolf Hitler's rise to power in 1933 prompted him to leave the country, aware that his Jewish heritage would cause problems. He first moved to Paris and later to the United States, arriving in Hollywood in 1934.

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Although not initially proficient in English, Wilder continued to work as a screenwriter, establishing connections with the support of fellow emigree Peter Lorre, which facilitated his entry into American cinema.

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He began collaborating with Charles Brackett which led to the creation of classic comedies like Ninotchka (1939) and Ball of Fire (1941). In 1942, their partnership expanded into producing and directing, resulting in acclaimed films such as The Lost Weekend (1945), and Sunset Boulevard (1950). Brackett wasn't involved with Double Indemnity (1944) as he refused to work on a film that he felt dealt with disreputable characters. 

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When working independently, Wilder's films often took on a more caustic and cynical tone, exemplified by Ace in the Hole (1951). Nevertheless, he also produced comedic gems like Some Like It Hot (1959) and The Apartment (1960), the latter earning him Best Picture and Director Oscars. Billy Wilder retired in 1981 and passed away on March 27, 2002.