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Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 5, 1934, actor Zakes Mokae was initially a jazz saxophonist. Moving to England in 1961, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and became one of the most distinguished thespians in South Africa for over two decades.

Mokae was one of the few actors capable of crossing the divided racial sections, punctuated by his collaborations with white writer Athol Fugard. Together they founded the radical theater group The Rehearsal Room in the 50s that specifically dealt with his country's injustices. In fact, over the years his performances in "The Blood Knot," "Boesman and Lena," "A Lesson from Aloes" and "Master Harold...and the Boys," have been universally applauded.

He fled the racist apartheid policies in South Africa in 1969 and migrated to America, subsequently winning a Tony award in 1982 for "Master Harold..." and proceeded to perform in American films to somewhat lesser acclaim, including A Dry White Season (1989), A Rage in Harlem (1991) and Waterworld (1995). TV appearances included strong appearances on such programs as "Law & Order," "Dream On," "Oz," "X-Files," "The West Wing" and "Monk."

In later years, Mokae moved to Las Vegas and served as artistic director for the Nevada Shakespeare Company. 75-year-old Mokae died there from complications of a stroke on September 11, 2009.

During the 1960s, Carroll was a basketball prodigy and a fountain of untapped talent. He was also progressively becoming an addict. Through his teenage years, he discovered love, loss, pain, and joy, which is recounted in his memoir, "The Basketball Diaries", which tells the story of being lost; searching for something of substance and meaning; and about the beauty of innocence and the darkness of its loss. As copies of the diary began to make the rounds in the literary underground, Carroll was lauded as an important writer as people began to praise his talent. Kerouac and Burroughs dubbed Carroll "a born writer".

By 1978, "The Basketball Diaries" was published and Carroll was a genuine literary icon. In 1973, he published "Living in the Movies", and moved to California. However, the purity he sought was not achieved until the origination of his second diary, "Forced Entries: The Downtown Diaries". The diary recalls his years working under the wing of Andy Warhol at the latter's legendary Factory, the entries also illustrate Carroll's battle with heroin addiction.

After touring with rocker Patti Smith, Carroll explored the idea of starting his own band. What eventually was conceived was The Jim Carroll Band. The band released three records under the Atlantic Records banner. Throughout the 1980s/1990s, Carroll continued to publish poetry and spoken word albums as well as a greatest hits compilation of his band.

In 1995, Scott Kalvert released a biopic of Carroll's life. The film property had been purchased by numerous directors who had all failed to produce it. It was finally released with Leonardo DiCaprio playing Carroll. Despite a strong lead performance in the film, ultimately it did not capture the beauty and brutal honesty of Carroll's book. Certain events were changed, characters invented and entire plot devices added. Carroll was quoted as having been "unpleased" with the final product. After this, he published another compilation of poetry and recorded his first straight rock album of all new material in almost 20 years.

Carroll continued to tour through live readings and book signings. He remained in his native Manhattan, where he experienced a lifetime wrought with exploration and self-discovery until his death there at age 60 in 2009.

The gift of provoking laughter came early to Larry Gelbart and has never deserted him. His distinguished career as a writer of comedy reads like a history of the art over the last 40 years. His writing credits date back to the Golden Age of radio, thanks in part to his father. The elder Gelbart was a barber in Beverly Hills who made it a point to tell his clients, such as Danny Thomas, what a funny 15-year-old son he had. As a result of his father's being his unofficial agent, Larry became a professional comedy writer before finishing high school. Shortly after being signed by the William Morris Agency, he joined the writing staff of "Duffy's Tavern," working for the man generally considered to be the hardest taskmaster in radio, Ed Gardner. "Seventy writers went through the mill while I was there," recalls Gelbart. "I was lucky because I was young and everybody wanted me to make good. They were all my godfathers." Gelbart left "Duffy's Tavern," to write for the "Joan Davis Show." While doing that he was called into the Army. He served with Armed Forces Radio Service for one year and 11 days, but it was a most productive period. He wrote for the Army's "Command Performance," while continuing to write for Joan Davis and Jack Paar, who was then a summer replacement for Jack Benny. He then went on to write for Jack Carson and Bob Hope, both on radio and television, and he also contributed to the Red Buttons TV show. In 1953 he joined the staff of TV's Your Show of Shows (1950), writing skits for Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca in company with such fellow master wits as Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner and Neil Simon. For that series Gelbart won the Sylvania Award and two Emmy Awards. In the 1960s he began writing for the theater. He wrote "My L.A." and "The Conquering Hero," and with Burt Shevelove tried his hand at rewriting Plautus. The result was "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," a smash Broadway musical comedy starring Zero Mostel that earned Gelbart and Shevelove a 1962 Tony Award. When "Forum" moved to London, Gelbart and his family went with it. During his nine-year stay there, he wrote the comedy film The Wrong Box (1966), a play called "Jump," and several television scripts. Gelbart came back to Los Angeles to write the television series M*A*S*H (1972) He was responsible for 97 segments of that show, one of television's most literate and entertaining efforts. Four years later he again dipped into the classics and transformed Ben Johnson's "Volpone" into a Broadway success, "Sly Fox," directed by Arthur Penn and starring George C. Scott. Gelbart's screen credits include The Notorious Landlady (1962), Not with My Wife, You Don't! (1966), Oh, God! (1977), Neighbors (1981), Movie Movie (1978) (directed by Stanley Donen) and Tootsie (1982), which earned him an Academy Award nomination and best screenplay honors from the New York, Los Angeles and National Film Critics organization.

Born and raised in Hempstead, N.Y. He earned degrees from Brown University and the Yale School of Drama. He moved to New York, where he performed in an off-Broadway production of "Jeffrey" and "Playboy of the West Indies" at the Lincoln Center. Relocated to San Antonio, Texas for his television/film debut in the miniseries "Heaven and Hell: North and South, Part II." He returned to the New York stage to appear in "Richard II" at the Public Theatre and "Incommunicado." He was active in the Virginia Avenue Project, a theater outreach program for youth at risk.

Robert Chenault was born on 7 October 1924 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. He was a producer and director, known for ABC Afterschool Specials (1972), ABC Weekend Specials (1977) and Deceptions (1985). He was married to Cynthia Chenault and Maxine Doviat. He died on 11 September 2009 in Idaho, USA.

Yoshito Usui was born on 21 April 1958 in Shizuoka, Japan. He was a writer and actor, known for Keriyon Shin-chan: Oh, I'm Sorry! (2000), Ballad: Na mo naki koi no uta (2009) and Crayon Shin-chan: Unkokusai no Yabou (1995). He died on 11 September 2009 in Shimonita, Gunma, Japan.

Jurg Molenaar was born on 27 March 1930 in The Hague, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He was an actor, known for Spijkerhoek (1989), Medisch Centrum West (1988) and Baantjer (1995). He was married to Nienke Sikkema. He died on 11 September 2009.

Drew Billings was born on 27 May 1983 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Drew was a producer, known for My Brother Called King (2009), Hear, Hear! (2008) and Amerigo the Brave (2009). Drew died on 11 September 2009 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

Kubrick Ellis was born on 4 December 1997 in Kent, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Cashback (2006) and The Broken (2008). He died on 11 September 2009 in London, England, UK.

Nancy Eagles is known for The Brood (1979), Elf (2003) and Black Christmas (2006). She died on 11 September 2009 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Jürgen Klauß was born in 1944 in Breslau, Silesia, Germany [now Wroclaw, Dolnoslaskie, Poland]. He was a director and actor, known for Wege und Umwege (1976), Ohne Rückfahrkarte (1981) and Geschichten aus der Heimat (1983). He died on 11 September 2009 in Berlin, Germany.

Michelle Nance was born on 7 April 1989. She died on 11 September 2009 in Dallas, Texas, USA.

Juan Almeida was born on 17 February 1927 in Havana, Cuba. Juan was a composer, known for La guerra necesaria (1980). Juan died on 11 September 2009 in Havana, Cuba.

Roland W. was born on 3 April 1941 in Stuttgart, Deutsches Reich. He was married to Doris Wächtler. He died on 11 September 2009 in Schürdt, Westerwald, Germany.

Ramiro Musotto was an actor and producer, known for Rio 2007 Pan American Games Opening Ceremony (2007), Baile Barroco: Daniela Mercury no Carnaval do Bahia (2005) and Skank: MTV Ao Vivo Ouro Preto (2002). He died on 11 September 2009 in Brazil.

Sarane Alexandrian was born on 15 June 1927 in Baghdad, Iraq. He was married to Madeleine Novarina. He died on 11 September 2009 in Paris, France.

Pierre Cossette was born on 15 December 1923 in Valleyfield, Québec, Canada. He was a producer, known for The Switched-on Symphony (1970), The 30th Annual Grammy Awards (1988) and Stand Up and Cheer (1971). He was married to Dorothy Foy and Mary. He died on 11 September 2009 in Ormstown, Québec, Canada.

André Mathieu was born in 1942 in Saint-Honoré, Québec, Canada. He was a writer, known for Aurore (2005). He died on 11 September 2009 in Lac-Mégantic, Québec, Canada.

Jindrich Janda was born on 23 January 1926 in Svétec u Bíliny, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for Mein blauer Vogel fliegt (1975), Prodaná nevesta (1976) and Za volantem nepritel (1975). He died on 11 September 2009 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Gertrude Baines was born on 6 April 1894 in Shellman, Georgia, USA. She died on 11 September 2009 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Ernst Mühlemann was born on 17 June 1930 in Illhart, Switzerland. He died on 11 September 2009 in Ermatingen, Switzerland.

Juan Almeida Bosque was born on 17 February 1927 in Havana, Cuba. He died on 11 September 2009 in Havana, Cuba.