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Speedway 2 / 3
Elvis Presley's 1968 film "Speedway" was a car racing film. Actor
Bill Bixby co-starred with Elvis as his character Steve Grayson's
friend and business manager Kenny Donford. Kenny's lack of
bookkeeping skills lands them both in trouble with the IRS. Mr.
Bixby had previously worked with Elvis in the film "Clambake." The
only child of a department store owner, Mr. Bixby grew up in the San
Francisco area. He made his TV debut on the show "The Many Loves of
Dobie Gillis." After acting in several successful TV series of his
own including "My Favorite Martian, "The Courtship of Eddie's
Father," "The Magician," "The Incredible Hulk" and "Goodnight
Beantown," he concentrated on directing. He directed both TV movies
and TV series including the series "Blossom," which he worked on up
until just six days before his death of cancer in 1993. He is buried
at his widow's estate in Hawaii.
Gale Gordon played the IRS agent R. W. Hepworth. Known for his
stuffy characters such as Osgood Conklin of the "Our Miss Brooks"
and Mr. Wilson of the "Dennis The Menace" TV series, he might be
best remembered as Lucille Ball's nemesis on "The Lucy Show," "The
Lucille Ball Comedy Hour" and "Here's Lucy" among other projects he
did with her. Mr. Gordon got his first big break in radio on the
"Fibber McGee & Molly" show. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of
Fame in 1999. He also received four Emmy Award nominations for his
work in television.
William Schallert's role of Abel Esterlake was only one of the
hundreds of roles this actor has had in film and TV. The son of "Los
Angeles Times" drama editor and critic Edwin Schallert, William
Schallert began acting in the early 1940s. Among his credits is
playing the father on the "Patty Duke Show," which garnered him the
#39 spot in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All
Time." He played another father, Carson Drew, on the "Nancy Drew
Mysteries" and he was Genreral Robert E. Lee in the "North and
South" television mini-series. Also, his voice-over work can be
heard on many projects. He believes people most recognize him for
his role in the "Star Trek" episode "The Trouble With Tribbles." He
is a former president of the Screen Actors Guild.
Victoria Paige Meyerink played precocious Ellie Esterlake. The tiny
tot who played Ellie's little sister Annie Esterlake was Patti Jean
Keith, the granddaughter of director Norman Taurog. This was one of
many films for Mr. Taurog (his eighth one with Elvis), however, this
was Patti's only movie role. Charlotte Stewart played the oft weepy
Lori.
She then went on to her roles as the much loved teacher Ms. Beadle
in the TV series "Little House on the Prairie" and Betty Briggs in
the series "Twin Peaks." Ross Hagen played rival race car driver
Paul Dado.
He might be best remembered for his role of Bart Jason on the TV
series "Daktari." His credits also include writing, directing and
producing. Carl Ballantine was Birdie Kebner, the host of the
Hangout club. Actually an accomplished magician, he specialized in
his magic act as an inept magician whose tricks usually flopped.
Actor Poncie Ponce played pit crew member Juan. He had previously
been a regular on the "Hawaiian Eye" TV series.
Kathy Nelson's one and only movie role was as an uncredited waitress
in "Speedway." She changed course and went on to become the music
supervisor for many films including "Thelma & Louise," "Pulp
Fiction," "Apollo 13," "Runaway Bride," "The Sixth Sense,"
"Hannibal," "Pearl Harbor," "A Beautiful Mind," "Big Fat Liar" and
"The Bourne Identity" among others. |
