Who is Rich Koz from 'Svengoolie'? Wife, Net Worth, Family (2024)

• Rich Koz is an American actor and TV show host, best known for his work on "Son of Svengoolie" and "Svengoolie".
• He has collaborated with radio legend Dick Orkin on "Chicken Man Returns for the Last Time Again".
• He was awarded multiple local Emmy awards and was admitted to the NATAS/Emmy “Siler Circle” for "outstanding contributions to Chicago television".
• He is celebrated every Halloween in Chicago since 2014, and was honored by the Museum of Broadcast Communications in 2019.
• His net worth is estimated to be around $3 million as of mid-2020.

Who is Rich Koz?

Rich Koz is an American actor and television show host, who is best known to the world as Svengoolie in the TV show “Son of Svengoolie”, which first aired from 1978 to 1982. and then starting again in 1995 under the name “Svengoolie”, among numerous other contributions to the show business industry.

Rich Koz Wiki- Age, Childhood, and Education

Born Richard Koz on the 12th March 1952, in Park Ridge, Illinois USA, he hasn’t shared anything from his childhood, not even the names of his parents. After high school, he enrolled at Northwestern University, from which he obtained a degree in communications.

Today at 11A watch the 1955 horror film, Creature with the Atom Brain, with @Svengoolie on The U! #Svengoolie pic.twitter.com/2hqo0iwUBy

— WCIU, The U (@wciu) August 15, 2020

Career Start

Rich began his career on the high school radio station, WMTH-FM at Maine East in his hometown. After a while, he attracted the attention of Jerry G. Bishop, the original Svengoolie, and the host of the show “Screaming Yellow Theatre”. Rich began sending content for the show, and in a short period, he was officially called up to the show. A great honor, Rich took every chance that came his way, and they worked together on the show until it was canceled in 1973.

Nevertheless, this didn’t cut the rope on their collaboration, as the two started working on their own show, aired in the mornings on WMAQ radio in Chicago.

Furthermore, Rich also began working on commercials and syndicated features with Dick Orkin, a radio legend, such as “Chicken Man Returns for the Last Time Again”.

His colleague Bishop left Chicago for San Diego in 1978, but before leaving, he made a deal with Rich so that the latter could start his own show “Son of Svengoolie”. The show made its debut in 1979 on WFLD-TV, and in its first stint lasted until 1986. During the years that it aired, the show won Rich a bunch of local Emmy awards, and it was syndicated to Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit and San Francisco as well.

However, when ownership of the station changed, Rich Koz was removed from the program by the new owner was Rupert Murdoch and his subsidiary Fox News.

“The Koz Zone”

Three years later, Rich returned to WFLD, which is now Fox 32, but under the new name and new show. At first, they didn’t have a name for the new creation, but those fans who wanted to send letters were told to send to “Lose Weight by Selling Real Estate, No Money Down”. The show featured cartoons, with Koz the host of the show, and doing sketch comedy items that would be played in the middle of the cartoon.

The show eventually became known as “Koz Zone for Kids”, winning Rich his next local Emmy award. In addition, he was the host of the morning show on WCKG radio, and did live co-hosting of 4th July and New Year’s Eve programming, while also being hired as the weekend and fill-in weather anchor for Fox 32 News.

Rise to Prominence

Svengoolie returned to the screen in 1995, and Rich was selected as one of the faces of the independent station WCIU-TV, channel 26.

Before launching the show, he received permission by the original Svengoolie, Jerry G. Bishop to start using the name “Svengoolie”. The show continued in its old format – Rich would air horror and sci-fi films of B production, and while airing he would make comedic comments and offer trivia related to the film. He was becoming more popular with every new show, winning regional Emmy awards, while he has also been admitted to the NATAS/Emmy “Siler Circle” for “outstanding contributions to Chicago television.

Some of the films that he aired and which helped him reach the stardom he enjoys today, are “Creature from the Black Lagoon” from 1954, “Revenge of the Creature” (1955), “Creature with the Atom Brain” (1955), “The Birds” (1963), among many others. In addition to Emmy awards, he also has eight Rondo Statuette Awards, won for being the Favorite Horror Host, and given by the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards. Since the first episode on WCIU-TV, Rich has hosted over 165 episodes, and from 2011 onwards, his show has also aired on the popular MeTV classic TV network, which has only further increased his popularity.

Rich Koz Net Worth, Height, Weight, and Appearance

Rich Koz has been a successful TV show host, and is one of the legends in the horror genre. His net worth has increased by a large margin, and according to sources, Rich Koz’s wealth is estimated to be around $3 million, as of mid- 2020.

Rich stands at 6ft (1.85m) tall, but his weight is unknown in the media. His eyes are brown and he has dark brown hair.

Rich Koz Personal Life, Marriage, Wife, Children

Rich, although continuously on the small screens, hasn’t talked much about his personal life, but he has rather been focused on his work. However, it is known that he has a wife, though he has never revealed her name.

She was the one that saved him in 2012 when he had a heart attack; she called the paramedics and he was rushed to the hospital and eventually came out after a bypass, having initially been reviewed. He had suffered his first heart attack in 2002, but had returned to work in just two months.

Rich Koz Legacy

Rich has become a Chicago Legend, and in addition to being awarded Silver Circle, he is celebrated every Halloween from 2014 onwards in Chicago, since the state of Illinois and city of Chicago declared it Rich Koz/Svengoolie Day. Furthermore, he was honored by the Museum of Broadcast Communications in 2019.

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15 Comments

1. 

   Offended

   February 13, 2021 at 11:02 pm

   Gross! Offensive! Should be taken off the air

   Reply

   • 

     Tina

     March 28, 2021 at 12:20 am

     I’m offended at Offended….. they need a life. Horror movies are fun, and every area of the country should have a version of this show. Humans LIKE to be scared every once in a while, especially in a safe activity like watching a movie. The presentation of the knowledge of the history of the films is brilliant, as all of the local Emmys and honors presented to Rich Koz proves. See at once and as often as you are free…you will learn things!

     Reply

     • 

       Paula

       September 3, 2021 at 11:39 pm

       Dear Offended, The movies featured w Sven are great cheeky nostalgia, takes me back to Sunday movie viewing w my Dad. Like Dad would say “it’s easier to be critical, than it is to be correct”.

       Reply

   • 

     Bettie

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     September 19, 2021 at 2:08 am

     You have the right to express your opinion. This IS America and we have this freedom. You also have the freedom turn off those programs that offend you. God bless America!

     Reply

   • 

     Valerie

     January 19, 2022 at 4:00 am

     Hey MR OFFENDED. Svengoolie is about as offensive as a tree…………Rich is one decent host and he even warns people about upcoming scenes in films that may be too gruesome for certain audiences. This dude cares about his fans.

     Reply

   • 

     Karen

     October 2, 2022 at 2:34 pm

     The solution to be offended is to stop watching. Turn the channel. Offended people do not have .ore rights than people who enjoy scary movies and svengoolie.

     Reply

   • 

     Susan M

     September 10, 2023 at 6:02 am

     I’m coming to the party late, but why in the world are you offended?

     Reply

2. 

   Marlene Goodman

   April 18, 2021 at 3:05 am

   I know Rich Koz from when I, too, was a broadcaster for WMTH-FM radio at Maine East High School in Park Ridge, IL. Back then, Rich was a big fan of the Three Stooges and the Marx Brothers, which influenced his humor. Rich started throwing rubber chickens around in the radio station and the rest is history. One time he was making a video for his radio & TV class and I happened to be at the station. He asked me to help him do something for his video and asked me to walk over to the desk at the front of the room & duck down behind it. Ok. I did that and there was Rich crouched behind the desk. I crouched down, he stood up, straightened his shirt collar and declared,
   “Whew! It feels good to get out of that costume. “ He was a funny writer even back then.

   Reply

3. 

   Jon Stock

   October 31, 2021 at 2:00 am

   I LOVE Rich Koz / Svengoolie !!

   Reply

4. 

   Tthonas

   March 31, 2022 at 1:00 am

   These shows aren’t suitable for just everyone ….they are just too scary .

   Reply

   • 

     Mel Mack

     October 18, 2022 at 3:25 pm

     Too scary for whom? a three year old maybe?

     Reply

5. 

   Becky

   December 11, 2022 at 4:20 am

   I’ve Been watching svengoolie since 1970 -2022 with my husband and enjoyed watching the old time movies together we watched when we were In our teens till now. We’ve been married for 43 years now. And still enjoying your old time movies. There is one movie that i have never seen on your show. It’s called Island of The mushroom people is it still available to watch it would be a great surprise to be able to see it. Please let me know if the movie is still around. Thankyou svengoolie…..

   Reply

6. 

   Becky

   December 11, 2022 at 4:53 am

   I love the old time movies that are suitable to watch less blood and gore. And Rich Koz rocks he makes the show worth watching along with the show’s. Thanks svengoolie the coolie ghoulie. We love you Rich And have a merry Christmas and a happy new year! Or a nightmare before christmas. Take your pick.😇😈🎩🤔 yours truely the cat mom! Meow!

   Reply

7. 

   Susan

   September 10, 2023 at 6:11 am

   Svengoolie is the best thing since Morgus the Magnificent! Shout out from the Motor City!

   Reply

8. 

   Arkansaw Slick

   October 3, 2023 at 6:49 am

   I never miss his program. You have to admire the man. He has been doing this for 43 years. Usually folks slow down when they turn 70 years old but not Mr. Koz.

   Reply

Who is Amara La Negra?

Amara is an American singer, actress, dancer, author and TV host, but perhaps best known for her appearances in the reality TV show “Love & Hip Hop: Miami”, and its spinoff “Family Reunion: Love & Hip Hop Edition”, which landed her multi-album deals with BMG, and through which she has released the studio album “Unstoppable” in 2019.

Amara La Negra Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education

Diana Danelys De Los Santos was born on 4 October 1990 in Miami, Florida, USA, the daughter of Ana Maria Oleaga, a single mother who immigrated to the US from the Dominican Republic. There is no information on Amara’s father; according to reports, she is Afro-Latina.

Amara matriculated from high school, after which she studied mortuary science and then switched to business administration, but never finished her studies as she decided to pursue a career in music.

Career Beginnings

Amara started her career when she was a child, as she began singing and performing at a young age, participating in various talent shows and competitions, which helped her gain experience and exposure. One of her first appearances was in the Spanish-language television program “Sabado Gigante” – according to an interview conducted with DJ Vlad, she was the only black girl in the ensemble in over 50 years.

She remained in the show for six years, after which she was hired as a back-up dancer for such Latin artists as Celia Cruz and Tito Puente.

Amara continued to progress in her career, and in her teens joined the all-girl group, Amara. Unfortunately, the group quickly fell apart, but she wanted to keep the stage name, Amara, and simply added La Negra.

In 2013, Amara La Negra’s single “Ayy” was released, and gained popularity in the Latin music market. However, despite her talent, she faced discrimination in the music industry in her home country due to her dark skin and afro hair – Amara experienced a low point in her life when she became broke and homeless for three months in 2015. She washed up in public places, like McDonald’s and Walgreens, and felt ashamed of her situation.

Despite hardships, she continued to make music, and in 2016, released “Lo Que Quiero Es Beber,” followed by “Se Que Soy” the same year, and the following year “Pa Tu Cama Ni Loca”, a duet with 2Nyce.

Rise to Prominence

Tables turned for Amara in 2018, when she was chosen as a main cast member in the reality TV show “Love & Hip Hop Miami”.

Appearance in the show brought her significant success, as the focus on her music career and personal life helped her gain a wider audience and recognition of her talent. In particular, her storyline on the show addressed the issues of colorism and Eurocentrism within the Latin community, which drew attention from the media and fans alike.

Amara still faced challenges and obstacles during the show, such as her conflict with producer Young Hollywood over her afro hair, but she remained resilient and determined to pursue her music career. Her hard work and perseverance paid off, as she landed a multi-album deal with BMG, and released two singles which became hits – “Insecure” and “What A Bam Bam”, which peaked at No. 8 on Billboard’s Latin Pop Digital Songs Sales chart in March 2018.

Amara La Negra is Love & Hip Hop: Miami’s most exciting new star. https://t.co/32l4WI1CNX pic.twitter.com/pJqscirosx

— The FADER (@thefader) January 3, 2018

Amara’s success on “Love & Hip Hop Miami” also led to several opportunities, including performances at the 2019 Hispanic Heritage Awards and Premios Juventud, as well as acting roles in the BET movie “Fall Girls” and the Spanish language film “Bendecidas”. Overall, her appearance on the show helped propel her music career forward, and raised awareness about critical social issues.

She released her debut album “Unstoppable” in 2019, and since then, the single “Andale”, which featured Khao.

In addition to her appearance in “Love & Hip Hop: Miami”, she has appeared in “Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood”, and was a panelist in the show “Hip Hop Squares”. Moreover, she served as a backstage correspondent in the show “Tu Raca Me Suena”, and since 2022, she’s been the main cast member of the “Family Reunion: Love & Hip Hop Edition”, which is the spin-off show from the original “Love & Hip Hop” franchise, and in which cast members from different cities are brought to the reunion-style show. Amara’s appearance allowed her to reconnect with past cast members, and continue to showcase her talent and personality to a broader audience.

Most recently, she was seen in the show “GMA3: What You Need to Know” (2023).

In addition to her work in reality TV shows, she’s released several other notable songs, including “Celebra”, which featured Messiah, then “Otro Amor” with Miriam Cruz, and “There’s No Way”, among others

Net Worth

According to authoritative sources, Amara La Negra’s net worth is estimated at $2 million, as of early 2023.

Personal Life, Dating, Boyfriend, Single, Children

In regard to her personal life, Amara dated Bachata singer EmJay in April 2019, revealing their romance through Instagram; however, they broke up in March 2020.

Then in 2021, Amara came forward and announced her pregnancy with twin girls. However, at the time, she didn’t say anything about the father.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CpN4E-AuBCO/?hl=en

Who is Amara La Negra’s twin’s father?

She kept the identity of her twins’ father a secret throughout the pregnancy but has since made a revelation, identifying the father as Allan Mueses, a Dominican businessman involved in the real estate industry in Miami. She further added that the two dated throughout the recording of the series “Love & Hip Hop Miami”.

She has named her twin girls Sumajestad Royalty and Sualteza Empress De Los Santos.

Appearance and Body Measurements

Amara La Negra is known for her afro-black hair, and has brown eyes. She stands at a height of 5ft 7ins (1.7m), weighs approximately 140lbs (64kgs), with vital statistics of 35-25-35, and bra size 40C.

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Who is Julia Jones?

Julia is an American actress, prhaps best known for her role as Leah Clearwater in the “Twilight” film series, while she’s appeared in a number of other notable roles throughout her career.

Julia Jones Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education

Julia Jones was born on 23 January 1981, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, the daughter of Frank Jones and Penny Wells. She is of mixed Choctaw, Chickasaw and African-American ancestry on her father’s side, and English through her mother.

She grew up in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, and attended Boston Ballet School from when she was four years old.

Julia matriculated from the historic Boston Latin School, which is the oldest public school in the USA. After which she enrolled at Columbia University, from which she earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 2005.

Career Beginnings

Julia started her career in 2003, with a minor role in the romantic comedy-drama film “The Look”, which starred Carrie Southworth, Andersen Gabrych and Neal Dodson.

The following year, Julia starred with Eddie Spears and Russell Means in Ricky Schroder’s award-winning sports drama film “Black Cloud”, which tells the story of a young Native American boxer who struggled to balance his cultural identity with his dreams of becoming a boxing champion.

Then in 2008, she played the role of Cherokee Kisum in the film “Hell Ride” – directed by Larry Bishop and produced by Quentin Tarantino, it’s a neo-western biker film, and Jones’ role was a supporting character in the story.

Two years later, Jones played the role of Cassie in the 2010 film “Jonah Hex” which also starred Josh Brolin, John Malkovich and Megan Fox, and was directed by Jimmy Hayward; the movie is about a scarred bounty hunter who is on a mission to stop a terrorist who is trying to unleash Hell on Earth.

Twilight Success

Julia Jones gained significant recognition for her role as Leah Clearwater in the “Twilight” film series, which is based on the popular young adult book series written by Stephenie Meyer. Leah is a member of the Quileute tribe, and a close friend of the protagonist, Bella Swan.

Jones appeared in three of the six “Twilight” movies: “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”. “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1”, and “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2”. Although her performance in the films didn’t win her any awards, it earned her critical acclaim and a loyal fan following.

Other Projects and Continued Success

In 2011 she co-starred as April Cordova in the drama film “California Indian”, alongside Gary Farmer, Mark Boone Junior, and Timothy Andrew Ramos, while in 2012, she had the supporting role in the award-winning romantic comedy film “Missed Connections, which starred Jon Abrahams, Mickey Sumner and Waris Ahluwalia.

She continued with notable roles in films with Native American themes, such as the drama “Winter in the Blood” with Chaske Spencer, David Morse, and Gary Farmer as the main stars.

Two years later, she played the recurring role of Gabriella Langton in four episodes of the television series “Longmire”. Gabriella is a paralegal who works for Walt Longmire, the sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming.

Then in 2017, Julia played the role of Wilma Lambert in the film “Wind River”, directed by Taylor Sheridan. The movie follows a wildlife officer played by Jeremy Renner, who teams up with an FBI agent (played by Elizabeth Olsen) to investigate the murder of a young Native American woman on a reservation in Wyoming.

Jones’s portrayal of local Native American woman Wilma Lambert, who helps the investigators navigate the community and its traditions, was praised for its authenticity. “Wind River” was a critical and commercial success, receiving numerous award nominations and winning several, including Best Director and Best Picture at the Cannes Film Festival. The movie also starred Graham Greene, Gil Birmingham and Jon Bernthal. She also won the Bronze Wrangler at the Western Heritage Awards and the BAM Award.

The following year, Julia starred as Angelique Mott in the film “Angelique’s Isle”, directed by Michelle Derosier and Marie-Hélène Cousineau. The film is based on a true story of Angelique, a young Anishinaabe woman, and her voyageur husband as they’re stranded on an island in Lake Superior during the copper rush of 1845. She received wide praise for her work on the film, and won the American Indian Movie Award in the category of Best Actress.

In recent years, Julia continued with TV roles. In 2019 she joined the main cast of the Amazon Prime legal drama series “Goliath”, with Billy Bob Thornton in the lead role, playing the role of Stephanie Littlecrow, a Native American activist and community organizer.

The same year, she guest-starred as Omera in the sci-fi western fantasy action series “The Mandalorian”, while from 2021 to 2022, she was Sally, a recurring character in the TV sitcom “Rutherford Falls”.

LIVE from New York City!

Michael C. Hall And Julia Jones At The #Dexter: New Blood NYC Premiere! https://t.co/i2LnLIHhIb#DexterNewBlood #DexterReturns pic.twitter.com/NcONve2YcD

— Dexter Daily (@DexterDaily) November 1, 2021

Most recently, Julia was chosen for the starring role of Sheriff Angela Bishop in the TV action crime-drama series “Dexter: New Blood”, a continuation of the popular series “Dexter”, which originally aired from 2006 to 2013. Her character was tasked with investigating a string of gruesome murders that are linked to the show’s titular character, Dexter Morgan. She earned a Saturn Award nomination in the category for Best Supporting Actress in a Network/Cable Television Series.

She is currently working on the upcoming sports drama film “Rez Ball”, in which she will star with Amber Midthunder and Jessica Matten.

Net Worth

According to authoritative sources, Julia Jones’s net worth is estimated at $1 million, as of early 2023.

Personal Life, Dating, Married, Husband, Children

When it comes to her personal life, Julia is very secretive about it. According to reports, she’s currently single and focused on her career. In the past, she dated “How I Met Your Mother” star Josh Radnor.

Appearance and Body Measurements

Julia Jones has dark brown hair and brown eyes. She stands at a height of 5ft 8ins (1.73m), weighs approximately 125lbs (56kgs), with vital statistics of 34-24-35, and bra size 34B.

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Who is Donald Pleasence?

Donald Pleasence was a British actor who appeared in more than 200 film and TV roles in his career, but is perhaps best remembered as Dr. Sam Loomis in the horror franchise “Halloween”, in addition to numerous other notable roles that he secured during his career.

Donald Pleasence Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education

Donald Henry Pleasence was born on 5 October 1919, in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England. His father, Thomas Stanley Pleasence, was a railway stationmaster, and his mother Alice was a keen amateur actress.

Pleasence attended Ecclesfield Grammar School in Sheffield, and then worked as a clerk at Swinton railway station. However, he wanted to become a professional actor and in 1939 joined the Jersey Repertory Company. Unfortunately, when war broke out he had to join the army. He initially refused, but eventually joined the Royal Air Force in 1940 after the bombing of London.

He served until the end of World War II, and was held as a prisoner of war in a German camp for several months before war’s end.

Stage Career

Pleasence then returned to acting, and worked in repertory theatre companies in Birmingham and Bristol. Throughout the 1950s, he appeared on stage as Willie Mossop in Hobson’s Choice at the Arts Theatre in London in 1952, and in 1956 as Dauphin in “The Lark”, a play by Jean Anouilh. In 1960, Pleasence received critical acclaim for his performance as the tramp in Harold Pinter’s “The Caretaker” at the Arts Theatre, which he reprised in a 1990 revival.

Pleasence continued to work in theatre during the 1960s, including performances in Anouilh’s Poor Bitos from 1963 to 1964, and Robert Shaw’s “The Man in the Glass Booth” in 1967, and won the London Variety Award for Stage Actor of the Year in 1968 for his role in the latter. In 1970, Pleasence appeared in a double bill at the duch*ess Theatre, of Pinter plays “The Basem*nt” and “Tea Party”.

Television Career

David made his on-screen debut was in the television film “The Dybbuk”, while his first major role was in the British comedy-drama film “The Beachcomber” (1954), directed by Muriel Box and starring Donald Sinden, Robert Newton, Glynis Johns and Paul Rogers.

The same year, he was seen as Syme in the BBC version of the “1984”, based on the novel by George Orwell, then from 1956 to 1958, he portrayed Prince John in the ITV series “The Adventures of Robin Hood”.

Before the decade ended, Donald also starred as Hurst in the film “Look Back in Anger” (1959).

He enjoyed massive success throughout the ’60s, appearing in both horror and comedy films, while also working on a number of TV series.

He also made two appearances in the British spy series “Danger Man” alongside Patrick McGoohan in 1960 and 1961, while in 1962, he made his American TV debut in “The Twilight Zone”.

In 1963 he starred as Dr. Crippen in the film of the same name, about an American homeopath and salesman who was convicted and executed for the murder of his wife. Three years later, he starred in the mystery-thriller film “Eye of the Devil”, directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Deborah Kerr, David Niven, and Sharon Tate in her film debut.

The same year he starred in the sci-fi action adventure film “Fantastic Voyage”, co-starring Raquel Welch, Edmond O’Brien and Stephen Boyd, which follows a submarine crew shrunk to microscopic size and goes into the body of a scientist whose brain is damaged, and they are tasked to repair it. He then went straight into “The Great Escape” as ‘The Forger’, with a multitude of stars depicting the huge escape of Allied prisoners from a German POW Camp.

In the 1967 James Bond film “You Only Live Twice”, Donald Pleasence played the iconic role of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the head of the terrorist organization SPECTRE, one of the most recognizable villains in the James Bond franchise, known for his distinctive bald head, scarred face, and white Persian cat.

In the film, Bond is sent to Japan to investigate the disappearance of American and Soviet spacecraft, which are being held captive in a secret SPECTRE base hidden inside a volcano. It is there that Bond comes face to face with Blofeld for the first time.

On this day in 1966, Donald Pleasence had his first day shooting as Blofeld for YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE. pic.twitter.com/mPDZDHhAgG

— James Bond (@007) November 21, 2021

Rise to Prominence

Donald received wide praise for his portrayal of a Bond villain and continued his career in a stunning fashion. In 1972, he was Thomas Cromwell, a powerful statesman who served as chief minister to King Henry VIII of England in the biopic “Henry VIII and His Six Wives”. The following year, he was Malachi, a reclusive scavenger in the film “Malachi’s Cove”, based on the short story by Anthony Trollope, co-starring Veronica Quilligan.

Two years later, he was Lucas Deranian in the Disney film “Escape to Witch Mountain”, co-starring Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann.

Donald next played the role of Pontius Pilate in the 1976 film “The Passover Plot”, a biblical drama that explores the controversial theory that Jesus deliberately faked his own death and resurrection, with co-stars including Zalman King, Dan Hedaya, and Harry Andrews.

In the 1978 horror film “Night Creature”, Pleasence played the role of Axel MacGregor, a wealthy landowner who becomes the target of a vengeful swamp creature after he allows his land to be developed and destroyed, with co-stars including Nancy Kwan and Rossano Brazzi.

“Halloween” Franchise Success

Pleasence’s performance as Dr. Sam Loomis in the 1978 horror classic “Halloween” is widely regarded as one of the defining roles of his career. Pleasence plays the role of Dr. Loomis, a psychiatrist who has been treating Michael Myers since he was a child, and who becomes convinced that Myers is a dangerous and unstoppable force of evil.

He went on to appear in “Halloween” sequels, and the archive footage of Donald portraying Dr. Loomis was used for the latest “Halloween Kills” in 2021.

Career in the ’80s and ’90s

He continued to work in a variety of genres through the 1980s and ‘90s. One of Pleasence’s most notable roles from this period was in the 1981 film “Escape from New York”, directed by John Carpenter, in which Pleasence plays the President of the United States, who is kidnapped and held hostage in the maximum-security prison of New York City. The film also starred Kurt Russell as the main protagonist Snake Plissken, and featured a talented ensemble cast including Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine and Adrienne Barbeau.

Pleasence also appeared in another John Carpenter film, the 1987 horror movie “Prince of Darkness”. In this film, Pleasence plays a priest who investigates a mysterious cylinder containing a swirling green liquid that turns out to be a gateway to hell. The film starred Donald’s daughter Angela Pleasence, as well as Jameson Parker and Lisa Blount.

In addition to his film work, Pleasence also made numerous appearances on television in the two decades. He appeared in several made-for-TV movies, including the 1988 film “The Great Escape II: The Untold Story”, in which he reprised his role as Flight Lieutenant Colin Blythe “The Forger” from the classic 1963 film.

His last on-screen appearance was in the horror-mystery film “Fatal Frames” (1996), with Stefania Stella, Rick Gianasi and David Warbeck in the lead roles.

Net Worth

According to sources, Donald Pleasence’s net worth was estimated at $10 million at the time of his death.

Personal Life, Marriage, Wife, Children

Donald was married four times. His first wife was Miriam Raymond, from 1941 to 1958, with whom he had two children. From 1959 to 1970, he was married to Josephine Crombie, with whom he also had two children.

From 1970 until 1988, he was married to Meira Shore, with whom he had one child, while his fourth wife was Linda Kentwood, with whom he was married from 3 January 1989 until he died in 1995.

Donald Pleasence passed away on 2 February 1995 in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France, from complications of heart failure after he had a heart valve replacement surgery; he was 75 years old. His remains were cremated.

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