July 3

• 2012 – Andy Griffith, TV favorite known best for his role of “Sheriff Andy Taylor” in “The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series).” He also appeared in the genre fare “The Demon Murder Case”, “Salvage 1 (TV Series)”, “Winter Kill” and more. He passed away at 86.
• 2006 – Jack Smith who hosted the TV series “You Asked For It,” passed away at the age of 89. He played a bit part as a reporter in the original “King Kong.”
• 2006 – Arthur Haggerty a.k.a. “Captain” Haggerty,” passed away at the age of 74. You may remember him as the “fat zombie” aboard the boat in the opening of “Zombie” (a.k.a. “Zombi 2″). He also appeared in “Night of Dark Shadows”
• 1989 – Jim Backus who played “Thurston Howell III” on “Gilligan’s Island,” and was the voice of “Mr. Magoo,” passed away at the age of 76. He also appeared in the films “Zotz!” and “Macabre.”
• 1981 – Ross Martin who was most well known for playing “Artemus Gordon” on the TV series “Wild Wild West,” and who appeared in the films “Conquest of Space” and “The Colossus of New York,” passed away at the age of 61.
• 1980 – Walter Ladengast who appeared in the film “Dead Eyes of London,” and played “Doctor Van Helsing” in the 1979 version of “Nosferatu,” passed away one day shy of his 81st birthday.
• 1973 – Make-up artist Wally Westmore of the famed Westmore clan, passed away at the age of 67.