Aldrin, Buzz

Trained at Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, Sunset Crater &  Lowell Observatory

Married in Phoenix

(Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr., 1930.01.20-    )  NASA Astronaut, second person to walk on the moon, Ph. D, Colonel, USAF Ret.

In preparation for exploration of the moon, Buzz Aldrin and the other Apollo astronauts received hands-on geography instruction which included field trips to the Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, and Sunset Crater in Arizona.  They visited the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff where they got their first close-up view of the moon through the telescope purchased by its founder Percival Lowell in 1896. 

Ali, Muhammad

Purchased home in Paradise Valley

(Cassius Marcellus Clay, 1942.01.17-    )  "The Greatest" professional boxer.

In July 2005, Muhammad Ali and his wife, Yolonda, purchased a $1.6 million dollar, six bedroom home in Paradise Valley.  The comparatively modest home for Paradise Valley--just $200,000 more than the median price of homes there--is in a gated community south of Camelback Golf Club, and just 2 miles from heavyweight champion Mike Tyson's home.

In 1997 the Barrow Neurological Center in Phoenix named the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center for Ali, who has visited the center frequently.  Ali has been treated for Parkinson's since 1982.

Allen, Rex

Born in Wilcox

Died in Tucson

(Rex Elvie Allen, 1922.12.31-1999.12.17)  Singing movie cowboy.

Rex Allen was the singing cowboy that replaced Roy Rogers at Republic Pictures.  In the title role for his first movie, The Arizona Cowboy (1950), he foiled a scheme to wreck an irrigation project and take farmer's land so that the villains could drill for the oil only they knew was there. 

Allen, Steve

Lived in Phoenix

Graduate of Phoenix Union High; Attended ASU

On-air personality on KOY Phoenix

(Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen, 1921.12.26-2000.10.30)  Author, composer, host, musician, poet, playwright, performer.

Born on the day after Christmas in New York City, Steve Allen came to Arizona when he transferred to Phoenix Union High School from Hyde Park in Chicago.  In spite of a late start he still received credit in the yearbook for the Annual Staff, Journal Staff, Mor Follies, Entertainment Committee, and Scribble and Blot.  His trademark glasses are missing from his senior picture. 

Ameche, Don

Lived in Scottsdale

Died in Scottsdale

(Dominic Felix Amici, 1908.05.31-1993.12.06)  Actor.

Like his brother Jim, Don started in New York radio, but traveled west to Hollywood to become a dapper leading man in movies of the 1930's and 40's. His most memorable role may be John Bickerson whose constant verbal sparing with his loud mouthed wife, Blanche, was heard on radio and a series of albums.

He retired to Scottsdale, but made a movie comeback in the 1980's with roles in Trading Places (1983) and Cocoon (1985). For his performance in Cocoon, he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He continued acting until days before his death of prostate cancer.

Ameche, Jim

Died in Tucson

(Dominic Felix Amici, 1908.06.15-1983.02.04)  Actor.

Jim Ameche was original Jack Armstrong in radio's Jack Armstrong, the All American Boy. Although the program ran from 1933 to 1951, he bowed out in 1938. He remained in New York working in radio while his brother Don went on to movies.

Anderson, Pamela

Almost arrested on Route 66

(Pamela Denise Anderson, 1967.07.01-    )  Actor.

Born on Vancouver Island, Canada, Pamela gained media attention while attending a British Columbia Lions football game.  Cameramen spotted her taut Labatt's Beer T-shirt in the stands and broadcast her image on the stadium's wide screen.  Fans cheered, and she was taken to the 50-yard line to be introduced to the crowd.  Labatt's signed her to a commercial contract as the company's "Blue Zone" girl. 

Andrews, Julie

Treated in Tucson

(Julia Elizabeth Wells, 1935.10.01-    )  Actor, singer.

The May 25, 1999 issue of the Globe claimed she was there because she was addicted to prescription drugs.  Her lawyers, threatening suit against the tabloid, say she was there to get counseling for ''problems with her singing voice as a result of throat surgery almost two years ago'' and ''the death of a beloved aunt who played a pivotal role in her childhood and professional development.''  She says that she simply wanted to help with "emotional issues surrounding my grief."  (The Globe later recanted and apologized for its story.)

Everyone can agree at least on one thing:  Julie Andrews was a guest at Tucson's exclusive Sierra Tucson clinic in 1999.

Arpaio, Sheriff Joe

Lives in Fountain Hills

(1932-    )  Maricopa County Sheriff.

Joseph Arpaio was elected sheriff of Maricopa County in 1992.  Things haven't been the same in the county jail since.  A champion of self promotion, the sheriff quickly became known as as "America's toughest sheriff."

Asner, Jules

Lived in Tempe

Graduated from McClintock High School in Tempe

(Jules White, 1968-    )  Model.

After graduating from McClintock High School in Tempe, Arizona in 1986, Jules went on to modeling and marriage. She married Edward Asner's son Matthew in 1992 and divorced him four years later. She was the original host of E!'s Wild On from 1997 to 1999. Her short movie resume (playing herself in two movies) may soon grow, since she married producer and director Steven Soderbergh (1963-    ) in 2003.

Astaire, Adele

Died in Phoenix

(1898.09.10-1981.01.25)  Dancer, singer.

The sister and original dance partner of Fred Astaire (1899-1987) had a stroke and died in Phoenix.

Astor, Mary

Married in Yuma

(Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke, 1906.05.03-1987.09.25)  Actor.

When Mary Astor had appeared in about two-thirds of the 123 motion pictures she would eventually make, she flew to Yuma to marry the third of her four husbands.  There, on February 18, 1936, the 30-year-old actress married the 24-year-old Mexican sports figure Manuel del Campo.  Mary flew back to Los Angeles where at first she denied the marriage, and Manuel flew to his home in Mexico where he continued to deny the marriage.  They were divorced in 1941.

Autry, Gene

Owned ranches in Florence and Winslow, and TV stations KOOL in Phoenix and KOLD in Tucson

(Orvon Gene Autry, 1907.09.29-1998.10.02)   Singing movie cowboy.

Gene Autry was the nation's most popular movie cowboy in the 1930's.  In 1942, against the opposition of his studio and facing the loss of a civilian income in the range of $600,000 a year, the 35 year old Autry enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps.  He was assigned to Special Service at Luke Field, west of Phoenix. 

Baldwin, Stephen

Lives in Tucson

(1966.05.12-    )  Actor.

The youngest of the four acting Baldwin brothers (the others being Alec, William, and Daniel) lives on a ranch in Tucson.  Clicks Billiards claims Stephen as a longtime regular visitor at their Tucson location at 3325 N. First Avenue.  In the late 1990's he partnered with businessman Anthony Martino to open Anthony's Cigar Emporium in Tucson. 

Balsam, Talia

Attended the Treehaven School in Tucson

(1960-    )  Actor.

The daughter of Martin Balsam (1914-1996) and Joyce Van Patten (1934-    ) attended boarding school at the Treehaven School in Tucson from approximately 1971 to 1974. She was married to George Clooney (1961-    ) from 1989 to 1993. She married actor John Slattery (1963-    ) in 1998.

Barger, "Sonny"

Imprisoned at the Federal Correctional Institution,  Phoenix

Lives in New River

(Ralph Barger, Jr., c. 1939-    )  Hells Angel icon, author, entrepreneur.

Sonny Barger is the world's most famous Hells Angel.  He is the founding member and President of the Oakland chapter who is credited with pulling the disparate clubs together in the 1960's and unleashing the club on a worldwide expansion drive.

In the late 1980's his biking career was interrupted for him to spend some quality time in the Arizona sun.  The four year hiatus wasn't exactly voluntary.  He was a guest at the federal prison in Arizona for conspiring to blow up the clubhouse of the Outlaws, a rival biker gang. 

Barrymore, John

Married in Yuma

(John Sidney Blyth, 1882.02.14-1942.05.29)  Actor, grandfather of Drew Barrymore.

On November 8, 1936, 54-year-old John Barrymore boarded a chartered plane in Los Angeles with his 21-year-old protégé Elaine Berrie.  When the plane landed in Yuma, the couple headed for the Justice of the Peace where they were married just after midnight.  The bride's parents arrived in Los Angeles from New York by plane the day before, and accompanied the couple on the Yuma trip where they acted as witnesses to the ceremony.  Almost immediately, the wedding party returned to Los Angeles by train.

At the time of the Yuma marriage, the ink was barely dry on the final divorce decree from Barrymore's third wife, Dolores Costello.  Dolores was a mere 21 years younger than Barrymore, and would become Drew Barrymore's grandmother.  His second wife, Blanche Oelrichs, and his first wife, Katherine Corri Harris,  were within a decade of his age.  He and Elaine divorced in 1940, but she would be the only of his three living ex's to attend his funeral.  Elaine was the first of his wives to use the Barrymore stage name and the first Barrymore to undress on stage.

Bauer, Jaime Lyn

Born in Phoenix

Born in Phoenix

Graduated from Phoenix Junior College

(Norma Marvhne Bauer, 1949.03.09-    )  Actor.

The former Miss Phoenix and runner-up in the Miss Arizona Pageant left town to become a soap maven. She was Lauralee Brooks on The Young and Restless (1973) from the start of the series until 1983, and reprieved the role in 1984 and 2002. She was the fifth embodiment of Laura Spencer Horton in Days of Our Lives (1965) from 1993 to 1999 and again in 2003.

Benét, Eric

Treated in Wickenburg

(Eric Benét Jordan, 1970.10.15-    )  R & B singer, musician, composer.

Eric Benét was treated for sexual addiction at The Meadows in Wickenburg in June, 2002, at the behest of his wife of just over a year, Halle Berry (1968-    ).  Halle first learned of Eric's infidelity just days after she won the Best Actress Oscar for Monster's Ball (2001), when he confessed to two affairs.

With the trust broken, Halle hired a private detective and learned that there were at least 10 affairs. Eric then confessed to a "sexual addiction" which started just six months after their marriage.  Reportedly, he did not initially feel that he was cheating since his first indiscretions were limited to oral encounters which, of course, would not be included in the Clinton definition of sex.

Still in love and forgiving but not forgetting, Halle suspended divorced action on the condition that Eric get treatment.  After release Eric was reported to be transformed into a dutiful house husband in an arrangement akin to house arrest.

Bennett, Michael

Died in Tucson

(Michael Bennett DiFiglia, 1943.04.08-1987.07.02)  Director, choreographer, author.

The director, co-producer, co-author and co-choreographer of the long running "A Chorus Line" died in Tucson of AIDS-related lymphoma.

Berlin, Irving

Composed at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix

(1888.05.11-1989.09.22)  Composer, lyricist.

One of this country's most popular, prolific and important composers, Berlin is reported by the Arizona Biltmore to have written White Christmas [published May 6, 1942] while sitting poolside at the hotel.  Others are less certain but think that it might have been composed during a visit to the hotel--or in New York--or maybe a bit at both places.  Berlin was a repeat visitor to the hotel, writing scores for the movies Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) and Carefree (1938) on a November 1937 stay, and for Second Fiddle (working title "When Winter Comes" 1939) on a return visit in January 1939. Of the hotel, Berlin said, "It's great here.  My only wonder is that it isn't even more popular than it is."

Bernhard, Sandra

Graduate of Saguaro High School in Scottsdale

(1955.06.06-    )  Comic, actor.

Sandra spent her early years in the Midwest as the daughter of a proctologist and an abstract artist. When she was 10, the family moved to Arizona. After graduating from Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Sandra went to a kibbutz in Israel, and then to Hollywood where she was a manicurist in Beverly Hills by day, and a stand up comic by night. She parlayed her routine into television appearances and specials, and even the occasional movie.

Biehn, Michael

Lived in Lake Havasu City

Attended U of A

Photo courtesy of The Official Michael Biehn Fan Club.

(1956.07.31-    )  Actor.

The Biehn family moved to Lake Havasu when Michael was 14. He won a drama scholarship to the University of Arizona but left after 2 years to try his hand in Hollywood. After small parts in a number of TV shows, he was cast in the title role to stalk Lauren Bacall in The Fan (1983).  In James Cameron's The Terminator (1984) he came from the future to save the world from Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Cameron liked him so much that he put him in Aliens (1986), The Abyss (1989) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) in which his scenes were cut, but restored in the special DVD edition.  His other films include Clockstoppers (2002), Chain of Command (2000), The Rock (1996), Tombstone (1991), and Navy SEALs (1990).

"Billy the Kid"

Lived in Globe area for 2 years

Killed his first man in Camp Grant

(Probably born Henry McCarty, aka William H. Bonney, William Antrim, Henry Antrim and Kid Antrim, 1859.11.23-1881.07.14)  West's most famous outlaw.

The west's most famous outlaw killed his first man on August 17, 1877 in George Adkins' Saloon in Camp Grant, midway between Globe and Tucson not far off what is now state route 77.  Billy had come to the Arizona Territory about two years earlier when he ran away from his stepfather's home in Silver City, NM, not wanting to face him following a prank involving petty theft from a laundry. 

Blake, Amanda

Lived in Phoenix

(Beverly Louise Neill, 1929.02.20-1989.08.16)  Actor.

Amanda Blake played Miss Kitty Russell, proprietor of Dodge City's Long Branch Saloon, for 19 years on Gunsmoke.

At her four-acre home site at 5105 E. Exeter Street in the Arcadia District of Phoenix, she operated a cat-house of different kind. There she kept a lion and 10 rare cheetahs. 

Blayne, Beverly

Died in Scottsdale

(Pearl Von Name, 1929.02.20-1989.08.16)  Actor.

As a silent movie star, Beverly appeared in 155 movies between 1912 and 1924. She married silent move heartthrob Francis X. Bushman (1883-1966) in 1918, but was divorced seven years later. She died in Scottsdale from a heart attack.

Bluth, Don

Lives in Phoenix

(1937.09.13-   )  Animator, producer, director.

Don was a chief animator at Disney after the death of Walt. (Notwithstanding rumors to the contrary, Walt Disney (1901-1965) was not put into cryogenic suspended animation upon his death--unlike Scottsdale "resident" Ted Williams.)

Amid rumors that the animation unit might be shut down, he and a number of other Disney animators formed their own company to produce The Secret of NIMH (1982), a creative success but box office failure.

He was more successful when he teamed with one time Phoenix resident Steven Spielberg to create An American Tail (1986) and The Land Before Time (1988).

When Fox decided to invest $100 million to animate pictures in the desert, Don Bluth headed up the effort. The Fox Animation Studio at 2747 East Camelback Road, Phoenix opened in 1993. They hired over 300 animators and technicians and began work on Anastasia (1997). The direct to video Bartok the Magnificent (1999) and Titan A.E. (2000) followed. Titan cost $75 million to make, but brought in only $17 million at the box office.

In the face of such losses, Fox decided to shut down the Phoenix studio in June 2000. Don remained in Phoenix forming Don Bluth Films, Inc. Dragon's Lair will be the first film of the new company and was set for release in the summer of 2003. You may check on the progress of the production at donbluth.com.

Bock, Fred

Died in Phoenix

(1918-2000.08.25)  WWII pilot.

On August 6, 1945, a B-29 named “Enola Gay” dropped the world's second atomic bomb, “Little Boy”, on Hiroshima, Japan. Three days later another B-29 named “Bockscar” dropped the more powerful “Fat Man” on Nagasaki, Japan, effectively ending World War II. "Bockscar" was named after it's regular pilot, Fred Bock. He was not on that mission since the crew of the "Greate Artiste" switched planes with them for that mission. The world's first atomic bomb, "The Trinity Device," was detonated from a tower in the New Mexico desert.

Bombeck, Erma

Lived in Paradise Valley

(Erma Louise Fiste Bombeck, 1927.02.21-1996.04/22)  Humorist, columnist and author.

Her book titles include The Grass Is Always Greener over the Septic Tank, Motherhood: The Second Oldest Profession, All I Know About Animal Behavior I Learned in Loehmann's Dressing Room, and I Lost Everything in the Post-Natal Depression.

Erma met her husband, Bill, when they were both teenagers working as copy clerks at Dayton newspapers. She became a feature writer at the Dayton Herald, but left to be a full time mother. She returned to write a column about family life in 1965, which was syndicated in 20 papers within a month.  When the family moved to Arizona for the climate in 1971, her column was appearing in 200 papers.

At the time of her death from complications of kidney transplant surgery, she and her husband of over 40 years were living in a tile-and-stucco Paradise Valley home overlooking Camelback Mountain. Her burial plot at Woodlawn Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio, includes a 29,000-pound boulder taken from an Arizona neighbor's property.  Bill said that he "wanted a piece of Phoenix" at his wife's grave to remember their 25 years in Arizona.

Bonaduce, Danny

Lived in Phoenix

Arrested in Phoenix

(1959.08.13-    )  Child actor, disk jockey, author, host.

Danny was the red headed child actor playing the bratty Danny Partridge on The Partridge Family from 1970 to 1974.  Opportunities being what they are for former child actors, Danny turned to radio, eventually landing a spot on Phoenix's Power 92 KKFR where he kept Partridge as his on air name. 

Bonanno, Joseph

Lived in Tucson

Died in Tucson

(1905.01.18-2002.05.12)  Mafia godfather.

Many famous figures in Arizona history came to the state for their health.  When the model for the title character in Mario Puzo's The Godfather was forced into "retirement" by an internal Mafia conflict in the 1960's he too came to Arizona for his health.

Bonds, Barry

Graduated from Arizona State University

(Barry Lamar Bonds, 1964.07.24-    )  Major League Baseball player.

When San Francisco Giant's slugger Barry Bonds hit his 699th home run off the JumboTron scoreboard at the Diamondback's home field on September 12, 2004, he was on the threshold of reaching the 700 home run milestone only two players had passed before him--Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714). 

Long before Bonds challenged Babe Ruth for the most career home runs, or Jose Canseco for most effective use of steroids, he spent three years playing for the Sun Devils.  Although he was drafted by the Giants in 1982, he chose to attend Arizona State University instead.  There he played college baseball before graduating in 1986. In two of the three years he was at ASU, he took the Sun Devils to the College World Series.  As a .347 career hitter at ASU, he ranks third in the Devil's all time list with 45 home runs.  His .616 slugging percentage ranks him 11th at ASU.  In 1999 he was enshrined in the Arizona State Sports Hall of Fame.

Bonds began his Major League career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986, but returned to his home state in 1993 when he joined the San Francisco Giants.

Borman, Frank

Lived in Tucson

(1928.03.14-    )  Astronaut.

Frank Borman was born in Gary, Indiana, and raised in Tucson.  He was a quarterback on the Tucson High School football team that won the Arizona state football championship in 1945.  He had his sights set higher than football, becoming an U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, and then a NASA astronaut.  He was the Commander of the 1968 Apollo 8 mission, making him one of the first three humans to orbit the moon. 

Boyer, Charles

Married in Yuma

Lived in Paradise Valley

Overdosed in Scottsdale

Died in Phoenix

(1897.08.28-1978.08.26)  Actor.

Charles Boyer was born in France, but became a major romantic lead in films of the 1930's and 40's, never losing his French accent.  In 1938 he played the suave jewel thief Pepe le Moko in the movie Algiers.  He made such an impression that a cartoon skunk, Pepe le Pew, was introduced by Warner Bros. to revisit the character.

In the 1956 I Love Lucy episode "Lucy Meets Charles Boyer," he played a Charles Boyer look-alike hired by Lucy to assuage Ricky's jealous streak.  Naturally, the look-alike turned out to really be Charles Boyer, much to Lucy's consternation.

Charles Boyer came to Hollywood in 1934 with his friend, actor Maurice Chevalier.  He met the English actress Pat Paterson (1911-1978) who had arrived in Hollywood only three months earlier.  Within a month of their meeting, the 34-year-old Boyer and the 22-year-old Paterson would elope and marry in Yuma.  Later, they would move from Hollywood to Paradise Valley.

Pat died in Phoenix from cancer in 1978.  Just two days after her death, Charles took an overdose of Seconal while at a friend's home at 6806 North Desert Fairways Drive, Scottsdale. He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix where he died. Their only child, Michael Boyer (1944-1965) also committed suicide. 

Brinley, Charles

Born in Yuma

(1880.11.15-1946.02.17)  Actor.

An actor in nearly 100 films between 1913 and 1939--uncredited in most of them--was born in Yuma.

Brooks, Jason

Attended the University of Arizona

(Jason Maxwell Brooks, 1966.05.10-    )  Actor.

The actor that played the evil Peter Blake from 1993 to 1998 on Days of Our Lives (1965-    ) studied business administration at the University of Arizona. Midway through his Days stint, he appeared bare chested on the cover of the December 1995 issue of Playgirl magazine. He moved on to play Sean Monroe on Baywatch (1989-    ) from 1999 to 2001.

Brown, Amanda

Born in Arizona

Graduate of ASU

(    -    )  Writer.

Amanda Brown was no stranger to the law when she wrote the manuscript for Legally Blonde.  Her father is the late Jack Brown who founded the Phoenix law firm Brown & Bain.  Her mother was a member of the second Harvard Law College class to admit women to their ranks.

Bruckheimer, Jerry

Lived in Tucson

Graduate of U of A

(1945.09.21-    )  Producer.

Bruckheimer is the quintessential Hollywood producer of the multi-million dollar blockbuster motion picture.  His productions include Black Hawk Down (2001), Pearl Harbor (2001), the TV series C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation (2000), Armageddon (1998), Crimson Tide (1995), Top Gun (1986), Flashdance (1983), American Gigolo (1980), and many others.

He graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in psychology.

Bush, George

Parachuted over Yuma

(George Herbert Walker Bush, 1924.06.12-    )  41^st President of the United States (1989-1993).

On Tuesday, March 25, 1997, former President George Bush strapped on a parachute and jumped out of a civilian plane flying 12,500 feet above the Army's Yuma Proving Ground.  After free falling for 8,000 feet, he deployed his chute and glided to a smooth landing at the training base used by the Army's precision parachuting team, the Golden Knights.

Cage, Nicolas

Honeymooned in Phoenix - twice

(Nicholas Kim Coppola, 1964.01.07-    )  Actor.

Nicholas and his first bride, Patricia Arquette, honeymooned at the Biltmore following their April 8, 1995 wedding.  He must have liked the accommodations since he returned to the Biltmore for a honeymoon with his second wife, Lisa Marie Presley, after their August 10, 2002 wedding.

Campbell, Glen

Lives in Phoenix and Flagstaff

(1936.04.22-    )  Musician, singer, actor.

By the time Glenn Campbell got to Phoenix, he was an established recording star (By the Time I Get to Phoenix, 1967; Gentle on My Mind, 1967; Wichita Lineman, 1968; Galveston, 1969; Rhinestone Cowboy, 1975), a veteran television star (The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, 1969-1972; The Glen Campbell Music Show, 1982-1983), a co-star with sometime Arizona resident John Wayne in True Grit (1969), and a star in a less than memorable movie (Norwood, 1970).

Carbajal, Michael

Lives in Phoenix

(1967.09.17-    )  Boxer, Olympic Silver Medallist, 4 time Junior Flyweight Champion.

Phoenix native Michael Carbajal was America's Junior Flyweight entry in the 1988 Seoul Olympics in South Korea.  In a controversial decision, he took the Silver medal after a match in which he dominated the Bulgarian boxer to whom the judges gave the Gold medal.  

Carter, Lynda

Born in Phoenix

Lived in Phoenix

Graduated from Arcadia High School

(Linda Jean Cordova, 1951.07.24-    )  Actor.

From 1976 to 1979 Lynda Carter was the title character in the Wonder Woman television series.  While she might be thought of as a one hit wonder, she can list a few more accomplishments, including the Miss Arizona and Miss USA titles in the early 1970's, 25 guest and acting appearances, two husbands and two children.

Linda was born and grew up in Phoenix.  She graduated from Arcadia High School in 1969.

Chavez, Cesar

Born near Yuma

(Cesar Estrada Chavez, 1927.03.31-1993.04.23)  Union leader, activist.

Cesar Chavez was born on a small farm outside Yuma that his grandfather homesteaded.  When he was 10, his father lost the farm in the Great Depression, and he began a life as a migrant worker.

In 1962, he founded National Farm Workers Association (NFWA).  In 1966, the NFWA merged with an AFL-CIO sponsored union to form the United Farm Workers (UFW).

Claus, Santa

Plummeted to his apparent death from a plane flying over Mesa

(c. 1823-1932.12.19)  Merry old pot bellied gentleman fond of red & white clothing.

In the winter of 1932, business activity along Main Street in the rural town of Mesa had slowed to a crawl.  The nation was in a depression and the 4,000 or so residents of the farming community were not spared. 

Cobb, Linda

Lives in Peoria

(    -    )  Author, radio/television personality, entrepreneur.

The Queen of Clean who holds court on the valley's Channel 3, and more recently on HGTV, moved to Peoria in 1995 with her husband, John.  The former owner of a cleaning and disaster restoration company began publishing a newsletter and became a local media darling. She appeared on a radio program at a time when valley visits of the infamous Queen of Mean, Leona Helmsey, were receiving media attention.  The radio personality dubbed her the "Queen of Clean," and the name stuck.

Cohn, Harry

Died in Phoenix

(1891.07.23-1958.02.27)  Movie mogul.

In 1929, Harry Cohn, his brother Jack Cohn (1989-1956) and friend Joe Brandt (1882-1939), formed Columbia Pictures. As the demanding studio head he became the epitome of the venomous mogul. He achieved infamy with quotes like "I don't get ulcers, I give 'em!"

Although possibly immune from ulcers, he did not have the same protection from heart disease. While wintering at the Arizona Biltmore resort he was strickened with a heart attack. He died in the ambulance as it sped toward St. Joseph's Hospital.

The studio feared that Harry would be no more popular in death than in life. To insure the presence of some mourners it ordered employees to attend the funeral.

Colbert, Claudette

Married in Yuma

(Lily Claudette Chauchoin, 1903.09.13-1996.07.30)  Actor.

The year after Claudette Colbert stared in It Happened One Night (1934) with Clark Gable, Miss Colbert traveled to Yuma to marry Dr. Joel Pressman.  Unlike many other Yuma celebrity marriages, this one lasted.  The Pressmans were still husband and wife at her death.  Her previous first marriage had succumbed after 7 years.

Condit, Gary

Has a home in North Phoenix

(1948.04.21-    )  U.S. Congressman.

While serving as the Democrat Representative for California's 18th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, Condit had the misfortune of having an affair with an intern for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons who mysteriously disappeared in April, 2001.  The body of intern Chandra Levy was not discovered until May, 2002. 

Cooper, Alice

Grew up in Phoenix

Lives in Paradise Valley

(Vincent Damon Furnier, 1948.02.04-    )  Musician, singer.

Vince was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of a minister.  The family moved to Phoenix when he was 13.  In high school, he formed a band which was eventually became "Alice Cooper" after a woman who was persecuted for witchcraft in Medieval Europe. 

Crabbe, Buster

Died in Scottsdale

(Clarence Linden Crabbe, 1907.02.17-1983.04.23)  Actor.

Buster lost the chance to be the first movie Tarzan in the Tarzan the Ape Man (1932) to Johnny Weissmuller (1904-1984). Buster did get to play Tarzan in Tarzan the Fearless (1933), and became the original movie Flash Gordon in 1936. Like Weissmuller, he had been an Olympic swimming champion, winning the gold medal in the 400-meter free-style at the 1932 Olympics.

Crane, Bob

Murdered in Scottsdale

Cronkite, Walter

Namesake for & participant in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, Tempe

(1916.11.04-    )  Newscaster, anchor "CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite" 1962-1981.

In 1983 the Walter Cronkite Endowment was established at ASU's journalism department when the former CBS managing editor and anchor became an active participant in school activities and permitted the use of his name for the endowment.  In 1984, the endowment trustees recommended that journalism school adopt Cronkite's name.  The journalism department was subsequently elevated to a school, and the Board of Regents approved the name, the "Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication." 

Cussler, Clive

Lives in Paradise Valley

(1931.07.15-    )  Adventure novelist.

The former advertising executive who first achieved literary success with Raise The Titanic has had a home in Paradise Valley since the mid 1980's.

Crystal, Billy

Phoenix visitor & investor

(1947.03.14-    )  Comic, actor.

An avid NY Yankee fan, Billy is a partial owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The two teams played each other in the 2001 World Series which Arizona won.

Danson, Ted

Lived outside Flagstaff

(1947.12.29-    )  Actor.

Best know for his role as bar owner Sam Malone in the long running television series Cheers (1982-1993), Ted Danson grew up around Flagstaff where his father, an archeologist and anthropologist, was a director of the Museum of Northern Arizona. 

Davis, Bette

Married in Yuma

(Ruth Elizabeth Davis, 1908.04.05-1989.10.06)  Actor.

On August 18, 1932, starlet Bette Davis married Harmon Nelson in Yuma.  Miss Davis omitted her occupation on the marriage license leading the local paper to omit mention of the celebrity marriage.  It corrected its error two days later.

The Nelson-Davis marriage lasted only until 1939 when it ended in divorce.  Bette liked the institution enough to try it 3 more times.

Davis, Dr. Loyal

Lived in Phoenix

Died in Phoenix

(1896-1982.08.19)  Physician, editor, adoptive father of Nancy Davis.

First Lady Nancy Davis Reagan was adopted by Dr. Loyal Davis after he married her mother, Edith.  Among numerous other positions, Dr. Davis was the Chair of the Department of Surgery at Northwestern University Medical School for 31 years. He was the Editor in Chief the Journal of the American College of Surgeons from 1938 until 1982.  Dr. Davis' retired to Phoenix where he lived with his wife Edith at 24 Biltmore Estates.

Davis, Patti

Attended The Orme School in Mayer

(Patricia Ann Davis Reagan, 1952.10.21-    )  Actor, author.

The rebellious daughter of former President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis (and sister of Ron Reagan and half-sister of Michael and Maureen Reagan) was attending boarding school at The Orme School in Mayer when her father was governor of California.

Dees, Rick

Has a home in Phoenix

(Rigdon Osmond Dees, III, 1950.03.14-    )  Radio DJ and talk show host.

Perhaps best known nationally for hosting the Weekly Top 40 on international radio (1984-2004), he was a top rated morning personality in Los Angeles' KIIS radio until his 22 year run ended when he was replaced by Ryan Seacrest.

Although his web site bio lists his residence as San Fernando Valley, The Arizona Republic reported his purchase of a $3.95 million home in Phoenix's Biltmore Mountain Estates in May, 2005. If Rick chooses to travel from Southern California by auto, he will be able to choose any of 9 stalls in his new garage in which to park it.

DeCamp, Rosemary

Born in Prescott

(1910.11.14-2001.02.20)  Actor.

One of the busier actresses of the 1940's and 50's, Rosemary DeCamp played supporting roles in dozens of movies, on television, and on radio. She might be best remembered as Marlo Thomas' mother on That Girl (1966-1971) or as Margaret MacDonald on The Bob Cummings Show (1955-1959).

In 1965 when Ronald Reagan was hosting Death Valley Days (1952-1975) he decided to run for governor of California. FCC rules did not allow him to appear in the show when it was broadcast in California during the election, so he called on Rosemary to take his place as host. When Reagan won the election, Robert Taylor took over as host, but the sponsor, 20 Mule Team Borax, kept Rosemary as their permanent spokesman.

DeGrazia, Ted

Lived in Morenci & Tucson

Graduate of University of Arizona

(Ettorino DeGrazia, 1909.06.14-1982.09.17)  Impressionist artist.

DeGrazia grew up in Morenci, Arizona, where he graduated from Morenci High School.  In 1932, he enrolled at the University of Arizona.  Although he dropped out before graduating, he returned to earn a B.A. in in music and art, and in 1945, a masters degree in art.  He opened his first gallery in Tucson at the end of World War II. 

Denny, Reginald

Lives in Lake Havasu City

(1945-    )  Truck driver, riot victim.

Reginald Denny came to the attention of millions of television viewers when he had the misfortune of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.  The place was Florence and Normandie in South-Central Los Angeles.  The time was around 6:45 PM on April 29, 1992, within hours after the acquittal of four Los Angeles policemen an charges of beating Rodney King.  It was then and there that outrage at the verdict had erupted into a riot. 

Denver, John

Lived in Tucson

(Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., 1943.12.31-1997.10.12)  Singer, composer, actor.

The son of an Air Force officer, eleven year old Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. was given his grandmother's guitar while the family was living in Tucson.  He took guitar lessons, joined a boy's choir and, when his family was living in Texas, ran away from home to California.  After returning to Texas and graduating from high school, he again headed for California.  He changed his name and replaced Chad in the Chad Mitchell Trio before going out on his own in 1969.

His career was on a real Rocky Mountain High (1972) in 1975 when he was named the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year and the American Guild of Variety Artists' Singing Star of the Year.  His career had stalled by 1997 when the amateur-built experimental plane he was piloting crashed into Monterey Bay killing its only occupant.  The FAA attributed the crash to pilot error in an unfamiliar plane.

Depp, Johnny

Stopped for speeding in Tucson

(John Christopher Depp II, 1963.06.09-    )  Actor.

On Tuesday, October 22, 1991, when Johnny was in Tuscon for the filming of the movie Arrowtooth Waltz (1993, re-titled Arizona Dream) he took his 1991 black Porsche for a spin.  Around 10:30 pm DPS radar clocked him traveling 93 mph westbound on a section of Interstate 10 near South Kino Parkway in Tucson with a posted 55 mph speed limit.  Before he was pulled over, he was clocked at 100 mph.  Since the 28 year old actor had no identification with him, he was taken to the Pretrial Services office of Superior Court where he was released after posting a $305 bond.

Derickson, Uli

Lived in Tucson

Died in Tucson

(Ulrike Patzelt Derickson, 1944.08.08-2005.02.18)  Heroic flight attendant.

On June 14, 1985, Uli Derickson was a flight attendant for TWA preparing for the 10:00 AM departure of Flight 847 from Athens, Greece.  Two Lebanese passengers managed to board the flight with pistols and grenades they had smuggled through airport security.  The men would soon use the weapons to hijack the flight as it headed toward Rome, Italy.  A third hijacker had been bumped from the flight and was arrested by the Greek government. 

Devine, Andy

Born in Flagstaff

Grew up in Kingman

Attended ASU

(Jeremiah Schwartz, 1905.10.07-1977.02.18)  Actor.

Although best known as the comic sidekick in countless westerns, Andy Devine had a film career starting in silent movies and spanning 183 films.

Andy was born in Flagstaff on October 7, 1905, where his father worked for the railroad. The following year, the family moved to Kingman to operate the 

Dhiegh, Khigh

Died in Mesa

(1910-1991.10.25)  Actor.

The actor best know for playing the recurring villain "Wo Fat" on the popular detective show, Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980) died in Mesa of kidney and heart failure.  Although he often portrayed Asians, he was actually of Anglo-Egyptian-Sudanese ancestry.

Dillinger, John

Captured in Tucson

(John Herbert Dillinger, 1903.06.22-1934.07.22)  FBI Public Enemy Number One.

When asked where the infamous bank robber John Dillinger was captured, most people would say outside of the Biograph Theater in Chicago.  That would not be correct.  John Dillinger was killed in Chicago in an FBI shootout following his escape from jail; Dillinger and most of his gang were captured in Tucson.

Dorr, Goldthwaite Higginson, III

Lives in Phoenix

(c. 1932-    )  Former Phoenix Art Museum director.

The Coen brothers gave the protagonist of their 2004 film The Ladykillers the fanciful name of Goldthwaite Higginson Dorr, III, and cast Tom Hanks to play that role.  In the remake of a 1955 British movie bearing the same title, the Hanks character and his gang move into the home of an elderly lady whom they think they can easily dispose of when their robbery plot is done.

While the name may sound totally made up, Goldthwaite Higginson Dorr, III, was actually the director of the Phoenix Art Museum from 1969 to 1973, and still lives in Phoenix.  He came to Phoenix after serving as the director of museums in Portland, Maine and Santa Barbara, California, as well as the Minneapolis Museum of Art.  The Coen brothers grew up in Minnesota where much of their classic 1996 movie Fargo was set.  They remembered the Dorr name from their childhood and used it in their screenplay.  They were not aware that the real Dorr was living in Phoenix.

Dorrance, Bennett

Lives in Paradise Valley

Graduate of the University of Arizona

(c. 1947-    )  Heir to Campbell's Soup fortune.

Bennett is listed as number 185 on Forbes Magazine's list of the 400 wealthiest Americans for 2002, along with fellow Arizonans David and Peter Sperling.  The three are the highest ranking Arizonan appearing on the list.

Bennett's grandfather, John T. Dorrance, founded Campbell Soup.  When his father, John Jr., died in 1989, his older brother, John III, became an Irish citizen to avoid U.S. taxes.  The family still controls half of the shares of the Campbell Soup Company stock.  Bennett's personal wealth was listed by Forbes as $1.1 billion. 

Douglas, Michael

Treated in Tucson

To all those emails: The picture is indeed of Michael's father Kirk.

(Michael Kirk Douglas, 1944.12.09-    )  Actor, producer.

At the insistence of his first wife who was tired of his womanizing, Michael Douglas checked into Tucson's pricey Sierra Tucson Centre reportedly for treatment of sexual addiction in 1992.  The treatment may not have taken since she filed for divorce three years later.  Douglas later married Catherine Zeta Jones who shares his birthday, less 25 years. 

Downey Jr., Robert

Treated in Tucson

(Robert John Downey Jr., 1965.04.04-    )  Actor.

Robert Downey, Jr. has been in and out of so may drug treatment programs that one might question a facility's credentials if Robert hasn't been one of its patients. 

Downs, Hugh

Lives in Scottsdale

(1921.02.14-    )  Announcer, host.

Hugh Downs, a descendant of Davey Crockett, clocked the most hours on network commercial television according to the 1985 Guinness Book of World Records.  In 2004 his record was surpassed by Regis Philbin.  Hugh started his career as announcer for a one toothed dragon, a blond and a bald kid--Kukla, Fran and Ollie (1947-1957). 

DuBois, Allison

Born in Arizona

Lives in Phoenix

(c. 1971-    )  Research medium, criminal profiler, author, title character and inspiration for NBC's Medium television series.

Allison is a self-proclaimed psychic, married to an aerospace engineer, living in North Phoenix with their three daughters.  On her web site [allisondubois.com], she explains what she does, "I can contact the deceased, I can profile the living and I predict future events."  So as not to inconvenience those in need of her services, readings could be conducted on the phone and by e-mail.  The Arizona Republic reported that the charge for such a reading was $250/hour.

Earp, Wyatt

Lived in Tombstone

Arrested for murder in Tombstone

(Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp, 1848.03.19-1929.01.13)  Deputy marshal.

Wyatt Earp arrived in Tombstone in 1879 with his two brothers, Virgil and Morgan.  Just two years later, on October 26, 1881, they and Doc Holiday would take on cowboys Tom and Frank McLaury, and Ike and Billy Clanton in the famous "gun fight at the OK Corral."  Following the fight, which actually took place on Freemont Street and not at the corral, Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton lay mortally wounded.  The unarmed Ike Clanton escaped injury when he ran off at the start of the shooting.  Doc, Virgil and Morgan were all wounded, but not seriously.  Wyatt was uninjured.

Wyatt and Doc were charged with murder, and just 3 weeks later they were brought to trial.  Thanks to a Justice Court Magistrate who was a friend of Wyatt and the unsavory reputation of the Clantons and McLaury's, there was found to be insufficient cause to bind them over for trial and they were released.

Eddy, Duane

Lived in Phoenix

(1938.03.26-    )  Guitarist, composer.

When Duane Eddy arrived in Phoenix as a teen in 1955, he had been playing a guitar for a dozen years.  Local disc jockey and promoter Lee Hazlewood saw a future for the boy with the twangy red Gretsch guitar and teemed up with him.  Hazelwood had Eddy and his band on a weekly Saturday night radio show on KCKY in Coolidge.  In 1957 they appeared on "The Hit Parade" hosted by Ray Odom on Phoenix television station KTVK.

Eden, Barbara

Born in Tucson

Lived in Tucson

(Barbara Jean Moorhead, 1916.08.23-    )  Actor.

Barbara Eden is best know for her role as the genie in I Dream of Genie which ran from 1965 to 1970.  Some of the success of the series must be attributed to the curvaceous Genie's scanty dress, which because of the NBC censors did not include revealing her belly button.

Barbara Eden was born in Tucson, but moved to San Francisco where she was a cheerleader at Abraham Lincoln High School.

Ehrlichman, John D.

Imprisoned near Safford

(1925.03.20-1999.02.14)  Aide to President Richard Nixon, felon, author.

The former domestic advisor to President Nixon entered the federal prison camp near Safford on October 28, 1976, to begin serving his 2-1/2 to 8-year sentence for his participation in the Watergate cover-up. 

Elam, Jack

Born in Miami

Lived in Phoenix

Graduated from Phoenix Union High School

(1916.12.13-2003.10.20)  Actor.

Even if you don't recognize the name, you would probably recognize the face.  Elam is the character actor distinguished by a grizzled appearance and a wandering eye.  His left eye was left sightless from a childhood fight. 

Engvall, Bill

Grew up in Winslow

(1957.07.27-    )  Comic.

Long before Bill got his big break and appeared with Johnny Carson on NBC's Tonight Show, or won won the American Comedy Awards Male Comic of the Year (1992), he was home in Winslow watching Wallace & Ladmo.  Every few months, the family would drive down to the big city to stay at the Kon-Tiki motel at Van Buren and 24th Street.

Espinoza, Louie

Lives in Chandler

(1962.05.12-    )  Boxer.

Louie Espinoza became Arizona's first world champion boxer when he won the World Boxing Association (WBA) junior featherweight title in 1987.  In his professional career, he had 52 wins, 12 losses, and 2 draws.

Esteban

Lives in Phoenix area

(Stephen Paul, 1948-    )  Guitarist.

Esteban grew up as Stephen, one of four children of a Pittsburgh steelworker.  He majored in music and English at Carnegie Mellon University, and went on to study under guitar maestro Andres Segovia in Spain.  Unable to pronounce "Stephen," Segovia called him the Spanish equivalent which eventually became his stage name.