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Champagne For One
''Champagne for One'' is a Nero Wolfe detective novel by Rex Stout, first published by the Viking Press in 1958. The back matter of the 1995 Bantam edition of this book includes an exchange of correspondence between Stout and his editor at Viking Press, Marshall Best. A letter from Stout to Best, dated July 1958, shows that Stout suggested as a title both "Champagne for One" and also "Champagne for Faith Usher." Best's reply states that Viking was quite satisfied with "Champagne for One." Plot introduction Archie Goodwin sits in for a friend at a charity dinner dance for unwed mothers, and one of the guests drops dead on the dance floor. Plot summary Archie Goodwin receives a phone call from an acquaintance, Austin “Dinky” Byne, asking for a favour. Byne routinely acts as a chaperone for an annual dinner hosted by his aunt, Louise Grantham Robilotti, which is given in honour of four young unwed mothers living at Grantham House, a charity supported by her late husband. Byne c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rex Stout
Rex Todhunter Stout (; December 1, 1886 – October 27, 1975) was an American writer noted for his detective fiction. His best-known characters are the detective Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin, who were featured in 33 novels and 39 novellas between 1934 and 1975. In 1959, Stout received the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award. The Nero Wolfe corpus was nominated Best Mystery Series of the Century at Bouchercon XXXI, the world's largest mystery convention, and Rex Stout was nominated Best Mystery Writer of the Century. In addition to writing fiction, Stout was a prominent public intellectual for decades. Stout was active in the early years of the American Civil Liberties Union and a founder of the Vanguard Press. He served as head of the Writers' War Board during World War II, became a radio celebrity through his numerous broadcasts, and was later active in promoting world federalism. He was the long-time president of the Authors Guild, during which ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lee Goldberg
Lee Goldberg is an American author, screenwriter, publisher and producer known for his bestselling novels ''Lost Hills'' and ''True Fiction'' and his work on a wide variety of TV crime series, including '' Diagnosis: Murder'', ''A Nero Wolfe Mystery'', ''Hunter'', '' Spenser: For Hire'', ''Martial Law'', '' She-Wolf of London'', ''SeaQuest'', ''1-800-Missing'', '' The Glades'' and ''Monk''. Career Goldberg began his career as a journalist, covering local news and the police beat for the ''Contra Costa Times'' (later renamed the ''East Bay Times'') and ''UPI'', and writing feature articles, interviews and reviews for various national publications, including the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', ''Los Angeles Times'', ''Newsweek'' and ''American Film'' among others. He attended UCLA, where he was a reporter and feature writer for the ''Daily Bruin'' student newspaper, in addition to his aforementioned journalism work. There he befriended Lewis Perdue, the paper's journalism advisor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nicky Guadagni
Nicky Guadagni (born August 1, 1952) is a Canadian actress who has worked on stage, radio, film and television. Life and career Originally from Montreal, Nicky Guadagni majored in drama at Dawson College and went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Her first role after graduation was playing Miranda, with Paul Scofield as Prospero, in a production of '' The Tempest'' in the West End of London. Her theatre work in Canada includes ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' at Stratford Third Stage; ''Zastrozzi'' and ''Criminal Genius'' at the Factory Theatre; ''Hamlet'' and ''Mother Courage'' for the National Arts Centre; ''The Seagull'' and ''The Member of the Wedding'' at Tarragon Theatre; and ''OD on Paradise'' at Theatre Passe Muraille. Guadagni has been nominated for five Gemini Awards for her work on television, and received the award in 1998 (Best Supporting Actress, ''Major Crime'') and 2004 (Best Actress in a Guest Role, '' Blue Murder'', "Eyewitness"). She w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Conrad Dunn
Conrad Dunn is an American actor. He began his screen career with the role of Francis "Psycho" Soyer in ''Stripes'' (1981). Working for some ten years under the name George Jenesky, he achieved soap-opera stardom in ''Days of Our Lives'' as Nick Corelli, a misogynistic pimp who evolved from bad guy to romantic lead. He returned to the name Conrad Dunn and began working extensively in Canadian as well as U.S. film and television. He excels as a villain, and has found depth in such TV films as ''We the Jury'' (1996) and the miniseries ''The Last Don'' (1997–1998). For two seasons he portrayed the freelance detective Saul Panzer in the A&E TV series ''Nero Wolfe'' (2001–2002). Life and career Born and raised in Los Angeles, Conrad Dunn studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los Angeles and with Stella Adler in New York. After seeing him on the stage, a casting director asked him to read for the role of Francis "Psycho" Soyer in ''Stripes'' (1981), his first feature fi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kari Matchett
Kari Matchett is a Canadian actress. She is known for her roles as Colleen Blessed on ''Power Play (1998 TV series), Power Play'', as Joan Campbell on ''Covert Affairs'' and as Kate Filmore in the science fiction movie ''Cube 2: Hypercube''. She has also appeared in films such as ''Apartment Hunting'' (2000), ''Angel Eyes (film), Angel Eyes'' (2001), ''Men with Brooms'' (2002), ''Cypher (film), Cypher'' (2002), ''Civic Duty (film), Civic Duty'' (2006), ''The Tree of Life (film), The Tree of Life'' (2011), and ''Maudie (film), Maudie'' (2016). Early life and education Matchett was born in Spalding, Saskatchewan. She attended high school at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute in Lethbridge, Alberta. She attended the National Theatre School of Canada, National Theatre School in Montreal and the Moscow Theatre School. Matchett performed on stage for three years at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario. Career In Canada, her first major role was on ''The Rez'', and her first ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marian Seldes
Marian Hall Seldes (August 23, 1928 – October 6, 2014) was an American actress. A five-time Tony Award nominee, she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for '' A Delicate Balance'' in 1967, and received subsequent nominations for ''Father's Day'' (1971), '' Deathtrap'' (1978–82), ''Ring Round the Moon'' (1999), and '' Dinner at Eight'' (2002). She also won a Drama Desk Award for ''Father's Day''. Her other Broadway credits include '' Equus'' (1974–77), '' Ivanov'' (1997), and ''Deuce'' (2007). She was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2010. Early life Seldes was born in Manhattan, the daughter of Alice Wadhams Hall, a socialite, and Gilbert Seldes, a journalist, author, and editor. Her uncle was journalist George Seldes. She had one brother, Timothy. Seldes's paternal grandparents were Russian Jewish immigrants, and her mother was from a "prominent WASP family," the "Ep ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Tolkan
James Stewart Tolkan (born June 20, 1931) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Mr. Strickland in ''Back to the Future'' (1985) and ''Back to the Future Part II'' (1989), and as Marshall Strickland in '' Back to the Future Part III'' (1990). Other memorable film roles include ''Love and Death'' (1975), '' Top Gun'' (1986), '' Masters of the Universe'' (1987) and '' Dick Tracy'' (1990). Early life Tolkan"Miss Welles Wed to Actor" ''''. August 29, 1971. was born in Calumet, Michigan, the son of Dale Nichols and Ralph M. Tolkan, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Colin Fox (actor)
Colin Fox (born November 20, 1938) is a Canadian character actor. Career His acting credits include playing Jean Paul Desmond and Jacques Eloi Des Mondes (the latter speaking to his descendant from the portrait) in '' Strange Paradise'' (CBC/Syndicated, 1969–70), as well as voice work in various animated series, and in other roles in film, television and on the stage. He created the role of Walter Telford, an attorney on the series High Hopes. His most famous role may be that of Anton Hendricks in the TV series '' PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal''. He also appeared in Shining Time Station episode, "Schemer's Special Club" as the misogynistic and racist Nicklear Club President and owner Mr. Hobart Hume III. Fox is well known for his portrayal of Swiss chef Fritz Brenner in the A&E TV original series, ''A Nero Wolfe Mystery'' (2001–2002), and the series pilot, '' The Golden Spiders: A Nero Wolfe Mystery'' (2000). Fox's Fritz is a complex person, like the Fritz port ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nero Wolfe Supporting Characters
The Nero Wolfe stories are populated by a cast of supporting characters who help sustain the sense that each story takes place in familiar surroundings. Household Fritz Brenner Fritz Brenner is an exceptionally talented Swiss cook who prepares and serves all of Wolfe's meals except those that Wolfe occasionally takes at Rusterman's Restaurant. Fritz also acts as the household's majordomo and butler. Fritz's living quarters are in the basement of Wolfe's brownstone; here he keeps 289 cookbooks, the head of a wild boar he shot in the Vosges, and busts of Escoffier and Brillat-Savarin as well as a cooking vessel thought to have been used by Julius Caesar's chef. A reference to a war wound in 1935's ''The League of Frightened Men'' implies that Fritz fought in World War I. Archie and Fritz have an easygoing working relationship, and Archie often spends time in the kitchen, as he puts it, "chinning" with Fritz. Fritz's relationship with Wolfe is one of mutual respect, admiration an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bill Smitrovich
William Stanley Zmitrowicz Jr. (born May 16, 1947), known professionally as Bill Smitrovich ( ), is an American actor. Personal life Smitrovich was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Anna (née Wojna) and Stanley William Zmitrowicz, a tool and die maker. He is of Polish descent. Bill is a graduate of the University of Bridgeport (1972) and holds an MFA from Smith College (1976). He is married to Shaw Purnell from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They have a son, Alexander John, and a daughter Maya Christina, four years younger. Career Smitrovich has starred in a number of television series. His first prominent TV series role was in the 1980s series '' Crime Story'' as Det. Sgt. Danny Krychek. He went on to star in the hit drama series '' Life Goes On'' (1989–93). Smitrovich was the lead guest star in the pilot film of the 1980s crime drama hit series ''Miami Vice''. He also appeared in the final episode of ''NYPD Blue''. He has also been seen in ''The Henry Lee Project'' w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maury Chaykin
Maury Alan Chaykin (July 27, 1949 – July 27, 2010) was an American–Canadian actor, best known for his portrayal of detective Nero Wolfe, as well as for his work as a character actor in many films and television programs. Personal life Chaykin was born in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Irving J. Chaykin (1912–2007), was born in Brooklyn, and was a professor of accountancy at City College of New York. His mother, Clarice Chaykin (née Bloomfield, 1921–2012), was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but raised in Montreal, Quebec, since the age of three. She graduated from Beth Israel Hospital nursing school in Newark, New Jersey. Chaykin's maternal uncle, George Bloomfield (1930–2011), was a veteran Canadian director, producer, writer and actor who directed Chaykin in a number of projects for film and television. Raised in New York City, Chaykin studied drama at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. He subsequently moved to Toronto, Ontario, where h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Timothy Hutton
Timothy Tarquin Hutton (born August 16, 1960) is an American actor and film director. He is the youngest recipient of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, which he won at age 20 for his performance as Conrad Jarrett in ''Ordinary People'' (1980). Hutton has since appeared regularly in feature films and on television, with featured roles in the drama '' Taps'' (1981), the spy film ''The Falcon and the Snowman'' (1985), and the horror film ''The Dark Half'' (1993), among others. Between 2000 and 2002, Hutton starred as Archie Goodwin in the A&E drama series ''A Nero Wolfe Mystery''. Between 2008 and 2012, he starred as Nathan "Nate" Ford on the TNT drama series ''Leverage''. He also had a role in the first season of the Amazon streaming drama series '' Jack Ryan''. Early life Timothy Hutton was born in Malibu, California. His father was actor Jim Hutton; his mother, Maryline Adams (née Poole), was a teacher. His parents divorced when Hutton was three years old, and his ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
