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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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James D. Bissell to Marlon Brando
Karen Black Biography (1939?-)
Original name, Karen Blanche Ziegler; born July 1, 1939 (some sources say 1942), in Park Ridge, IL; daughter of Norman A. and Elsie (a novelist; maiden name, Reif) Ziegler; married Charles Black, 1960 (divorced); married Robert Burton, April 18, 1973 (divorced, October, 1974); married L. Minor "Kit" Carson(a writer and director), July 4, 1975 (divorced); married Steven Eckelberry (a film editor), September 27, 1987; children: (third marriage) Hunter Minor Norman; (fourth marriage) Celine. Addresses: Agent: Ellis Talent Group,4705 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Valley Village, CA 91607.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Female
- Occupation
- Actress, writer, producer, composer
- Birth Details
- July 1, 1939?
- Park Ridge, Illinois, United States
Famous Works
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CREDITS
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Film Appearances
- Painted woman, The Prime Time (also known as Hell Kitten),Essanjay, 1960
- Amy Partlett, You're a Big Boy Now, Warner Bros., 1966
- Ellen, Hard Contract, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1969
- Karen, Easy Rider, Columbia, 1969
- Rayette Dipesto, Five Easy Pieces, Columbia, 1970
- Olive, Drive, He Said, Columbia, 1971
- Jenny Simms, A Gunfight (also known as Gunfight), Paramount, 1971
- Parm, Born to Win (also known as Born to Lose and Addict), United Artists, 1971
- Mary Jane Reid (The Monkey), Portnoy's Complaint, Warner Bros., 1972
- Sue, Cisco Pike, Columbia, 1972
- Elizabeth Lucy, The Pyx (also known as The Hooker Cult Murders and La Lunule), Cinerama, 1973
- Laura, Little Laura and Big John, Crown International, 1973
- Daisy, Rhinoceros, American Film Theatre, 1974
- Bett Jarrow, The Outfit, United Artists, 1974
- Myrtle Wilson, The Great Gatsby, Paramount, 1974
- Nancy Pryor, Airport, 1975, Universal, 1974
- Gloria, Law and Disorder, Columbia, 1974
- Faye Greener, The Day of the Locust, Paramount, 1975
- Connie White, Nashville, Paramount, 1975
- Fran, Family Plot, Universal, 1976
- Susan Winters, Crime and Passion (also known as Ace Up My Sleeve and Frankensteins Spukschlob), American International Pictures,1976
- Marian Rolf, Burnt Offerings, United Artists, 1976
- Judy Drinkwater, Capricorn One, Warner Bros., 1978
- Clarisse, The Rip Off (also known as The Squeeze,
Diamond Thieves,
L'ultimo colpo,
The Rip-Off,
Rip Off--The Diamond Connection,
Gretchko,
Der Diamantencoup,
Controrapina, and The Heist), Worldvision, 1978
- Maya, In Praise of Older Women (also known as En hommage aux femmes de trente ans), Avco-Embassy, 1979
- Kate Neville, Killer Fish (also known as Deadly Treasure of thePiranha,
The Naked Sun,
Treasure of the Piranha, O peixe assassino, and Killer fish agguato sul fondo), Associated Films,1979
- Paula Herbert, The Last Word (also known as Danny Travis),International, 1979
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To Noumero (also known as 1922 and The Number), 1979
- Amy, Miss Right (also known as La donna giusta), Image Entertainment, 1980
- Emilienne D'Alencon, Chanel Solitaire, United Film, 1981
- Valentine Colby, Separate Ways, Crown, 1981
- Joanne, Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, Cinecom, 1982
- Mrs. Gladys Fitzpatrick, Growing Pains (also known as Bad Manners), New World, 1982
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Breathless, Orion, 1983
- Zee, Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?, World Wide Classics, 1983
- Mary Turner, Killing Heat (also known as The Grass Is Singing and Graeset sjunger), Mainline, 1984
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There's Something Wrong in Paradise, 1984
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A Stroke of Genius, 1984
- Karen, Martin's Day, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1985
- Rachel Wade, Savage Dawn, Media, 1985
- Linda Magnusson, Invaders from Mars, Cannon, 1986
- Karin, Cut and Run (also known as Amazonia,
Amazon: Savage Adventure,
Straight to Hell, and Inferno in Diretta), New World, 1986
- Gloria, Flight of the Spruce Goose (also known as Lot Swierkowej Gesi), 1986
- Herself, The Road to Freedom: L. Ron Hubbard and Friends (short),Church of Scientology, 1986
- Laura Lawrence, Hostage, Noble, 1987
- Ellen Jarvis, It's Alive III: Island of the Alive (also known as Island of the Alive), Warner Bros., 1987
- Zelma Laidlaw, Dixie Lanes (also known as After These Yearsand Indian Summer), Miramax, 1988
- Mom, The Invisible Kid, Taurus, 1988
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Platinum Blonde, 1988
- Rita, Night Angel (also known as Hellborn), Paragon Arts, 1988
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The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway (also known as Hemingway, festa e morte), 1988
- Ruth Wilson, Out of the Dark, New Line Cinema, 1989
- Belle, Homer & Eddie, Skouras, 1989
- Tiffany Powers, Judgement (also known as Hitz), 1989
- Homeroom teacher, Zapped Again!, ITC Entertainment, 1990
- Sybil Lullmer, The Children (also known as Meine liebe Rose), Hemdale Home Video, 1990
- Mrs. Trowbridge, Overexposed (also known as Facade), Concorde, 1990
- Mrs. Granger, Twisted Justice, Seymour Borde, 1990
- Mrs. Gordon, Mirror, Mirror, Academy, 1990
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Fatal Encounter, 1990
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Test Positive (also known as A Different Life), Alltime Productions, 1991
- Dr. Julia Harcourt, Haunting Fear, Troma, 1991
- Ella Purdy, Evil Spirits, Prism Entertainment, 1991
- Sally Rich, Club Fed, Prism Entertainment, 1991
- Rula, Rubin and Ed, IRS Releasing, 1991
- Kim Martino, Quiet Fire, PM Home Video, 1991
- Tarot, The Roller Blade Seven, 1991
- Barrett, The Killer's Edge (also known as Blood Money), PMHome Video, 1991
- Auntie Lee, Auntie Lee's Meat Pies, Columbia/TriStar Home Video, 1991
- Karen Thompson, Children of the Night, Columbia/TriStar Home Video, 1992
- Herself, The Player, Fine Line Features, 1992
- Tarot, The Legend of the Rollerblade 7, 1992
- Inspector Wilson, Dead Girls Don't Tango, 1992
- Blanche, Caged Fear (also known as Hotel Oklahoma,
Innocent Young Female, and Jail Force), New Line Home Video, 1992
- Mrs. Sorrel, Final Judgement, Concorde, 1993
- Mrs. Elliot, The Double O Kid, Prism Entertainment, 1993
- Maria Vandermeer, The Trust, Quadrangle Films, 1993
- Carla, Bound and Gagged: A Love Story, Northern Arts Entertainment, 1993
- Tarot, Return of the Roller Blade Seven, 1993
- Michelle, Tuesday Never Comes, 1993
- Evelyn, The Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse Shirley (alsoknown as Dr. Boris and Ms. Duluth), Rapid Film Group, 1994
- Herself, Jonas in the Desert (documentary), Silver Cine, 1994
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Too Bad About Jack, 1994
- Nehor, Plan 10 from Outer Space, Phaedra Cinema, 1995
- June Rhodes, Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering (also known asDeadly Harvest), Dimension Films, 1996
- Rose Walsh, Cries of Silence (also known as Sister Island),Showcase Entertainment, 1996
- Millicent, Crimetime, Trimark, 1996
- Mrs. Tender, New York Crossing, 1996
- Schubert, Every Minute Is Goodbye (also known as Death before Sunrise and Devotion), 1996
- Ro-Kell, Dinosaur Valley Girls, Bruder Releasing, 1996
- Bettie, Movies Money Murder (also known as Breaking Up with Paul), 1996
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Modern Rhapsody, Rainbow Films, 1997
- Mother Coer and Lady Byron, Conceiving Ada (also known as Leidenschaftliche Berechnung), Fox Lorber Associates, 1997
- Herself, Who Is Henry Jaglom? (documentary), First Run Features,1997
- Courtney Whitmer, Invisible Dad, A-pix Entertainment, 1997
- Rose Van Horn, Dogtown (also known as Howling at the Moon),1997
- Alex, Men, Hillman-Williams Productions/Shonderosa Productions, 1997
- Jessica Martin, Malaika (also known as Tons of Trouble), 1997
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Light Speed, Santelmo Entertainment, 1998
- Jude, Charades (also known as Felons and First Degree), Fries Film Group, 1998
- Lucy Roman, Fallen Arches, Saraghina Film, 1998
- The mother, Bury the Evidence, 1998
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Downtown Darlings, 1998
- Honey Child, I Woke Up Early the Day I Died (also known as Ed Wood's "I Woke Up Early the Day I Died" and I Awoke Early the Day I Died), Cinequanon Pictures, 1998
- Dental assistant, Waiting for Dr. MacGuffin, Vanguard Films Home Video, 1998
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Stripping for Jesus, 1998
- Mother, The Underground Comedy Movie, 1998
- Dr. Gabrielle Kessler, Stir, 1998
- Herself, Karen Black: Actress at Work, 1999
- Herself, Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage (documentary; also known asShaking the Cage), Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, 1999
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Decoupage 2000: Return of the Goddess, 1999
- Aunt Eloise, Mascara, Phaedra Cinema, 1999
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Sugar: The Fall of the West, 1999
- Ma, Paradise Cove, 1999
- Herself, The Independent, New City Releasing, 2000
- Mrs. Mary Harp, Oliver Twisted, RGH/Lions Share Pictures, 2000
- Aunt Summer, Red Dirt, RGH/Lion Share Pictures, 2000
- Mrs. Springle, The Donor, RGH/Lions Share Pictures, 2000
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Inviati speciali, 2000
- Herself, Plotting "Family Plot" (documentary), Universal Studios Home Video, 2001
- Bambi LeBleau, Gypsy 83, Small Planet Pictures, 2001
- Aunt Judy, Hard Luck, Film Kitchen, 2001
- Magnificent Martha, Soulkeeper (also known as The Chosen Ones), First Look Pictures Releasing, 2001
- Dirty Dick, Teknolust, ThinkFilm, 2002
- Mrs. Buttleman, Buttleman, 2002
- Mrs. Melnick, A Light in the Darkness, 2002
- Herself, Fans and Freaks: The Culture of Comics and Conventions (documentary), 2002
- Herself, Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (documentary), Shout! Factory, 2003
- Mother Firefly, House of 1000 Corpses, Lions Gate Films, 2003
- Chantelle, Paris, DEJ Productions, 2003
- Dr. McDermott, Summer Solstice, Echelon Entertainment, 2003
- Aunt Nelly, Curse of the Forty-Niner (also known as Curse of the 49er and Miner's Massacre), DEJ Productions, 2003
- Marianne Brown, America Brown, TLA Releasing, 2004
- Sara, Birth of Industry (short), 2004
- Sandra/Eleanor, Firecracker, 7 Arts, 2004
- Herself, Wamego: Making Movies Anywhere (documentary short), Dikenga Films, 2004
- Molly, Dr. Rage, Skouras Ventura Film Partners, 2005
- Grace's mom, My Suicidal Sweetheart, 2005
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Hollywood Dreams, 2006
- Mrs. Leider, Whitepaddy, Big Six Films, 2006
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Suffering Man's Charity, 2006
- Also appeared in Animal Behavior;
A Stroke of Genius.
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Film Work
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Producer
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Charades (also known as Felons and First Degree), Fries Film Group, 1998
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Television Appearances
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Series
- Marcia Garroway, The Second Hundred Years, ABC, 1967-68
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Miniseries
- Ernestine Crawford, Mr. Horn, CBS, 1979
- Rose Vanda, Power, NBC, 1980
- Herself, Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City" (also known as Tales of the City), PBS, 1994
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Movies
- Julie Aldrich/Millicent, Larrimore/Therese, and Larrimore/Amelia, Trilogy of Terror (also known as Tales of Terror and Terrors of theDoll), ABC, 1975
- Miriam Oliver/Sandy, The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver, NBC, 1977
- Anne, Because He's My Friend (also known as Love Under Pressure), 1978
- Officer Evelyn Carter, Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop (also known as The Other Side of Fear), 1979
- Helen, Where the Ladies Go, ABC, 1980
- Janus, The Blue Man (also known as Eternal Evil), 1985
- Mrs. Tender, Un Angelo a New York (also known as New York Crossing), 1996
- Social worker, My Neighbor's Daughter (also known as Angel Blue), Lifetime, 1998
- Jessica Martin, Malaika, HBO, 1999
- Magnificent Martha, Soulkeeper, Sci-Fi Channel, 2001
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Pilots
- Jenny Honker, Hastings Corner, NBC, 1970
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Specials
- Presenter, The 44th Annual Academy Awards, NBC, 1972
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Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes, CBS, 1978
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Worlds Beyond, 1986
- Performer, The 14th Annual Circus of the Stars, CBS, 1989
- Mrs. Trowbridge, Overexposed, 1990
- Miss Kuchembacker, "Ralph S. Mouse," ABC Weekend Specials, ABC, 1991
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The Hunger: An MTV Sneak Preview, MTV, 1997
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Alfred Hitchcock: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 1999
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Canned Ham: Bowfinger, Comedy Central, 1999
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Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Primetime Special, NBC, 1999
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The Big Show (also known as The Big Show: Toronto InternationalFilm Festival), CBC, 2001
- Herself, Wanderlust (documentary), Independent Film Channel, 2005
- Also appeared in Full Circle Again, Canadian television.
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Episodic
- Claudia Stone, "The Ransom," The Invaders, ABC, 1967
- Carla, "Days of Grace," The Big Valley, ABC, 1967
- Lorraine Chapman, "The Satellite," The F.B.I., ABC, 1967
- Patricia Dunne, "The Prisoner," The Iron Horse, 1967
- Elaine, "License to Kill--Limit Three People," Mannix, 1968
- Alethea Staunton, "The Devil's Surrogate," Judd for the Defense, 1968
- Susan Decker, "Log 132: Producer," Adam-12, 1968
- Monica, "Give Till it Hurts," The Name of the Game, 1969
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The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (also known as The Bestof Carson), NBC, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976
- Barbara Sanders, "Bad Connection," Ghost Story (also known as Circle of Fear), 1972
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The Dean Martin Show (also known as The Dean Martin Comedy Hour), NBC, 1972
- Host, Saturday Night Live (also known as SNL), NBC, 1976, 1981
- Herself, America 2-Night, syndicated, 1978
- Herself, Breakaway, BBC, 1984
- Sheila Sheinfeld, "Enter Romance," E/R, 1984
- Sheila Sheinfeld, "Merry Wives of Sheinfeld: Parts 1 & 2," E/R, 1985
- Kay Mason, "Hired Help," The Hitchhiker, HBO, 1985
- Dr. Sydney Dunn, "One Good Bid Deserves a Murder," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1986
- "Suffer Little Children," Worlds Beyond, 1986
- Sea witch, "The Little Mermaid," Faerie Tale Theatre (also known as Shelley Duvall's "Faerie Tale Theatre"), Showtime, 1987
- Carla Ray, "A Dish Best Served Cold," In the Heat of the Night, NBC, 1988
- Helen Jackson, "Victims of Circumstance," Miami Vice, 1989
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The Pat Sajak Show, CBS, 1990
- Lorraine Pitzer, "Watching the Detectives," Moon over Miami, ABC,1993
- Miss Gati, "Menage a Trois," The Hunger, Showtime, 1997
- Doreen Jablonsky, "One Christmas, to Go," Party of Five, Fox, 1998
- Crystal Garcia, Rude Awakening, Showtime, 1998
- Evie Long, "Cycle of Violence," Profiler, NBC, 1998
- Crystal Garcia, "The Grateful Living," Rude Awakening, Showtime, 1999
- Crystal Garcia, "One Birthday at a Time," Rude Awakening, Showtime, 1999
- Herself, "Celine and Brandon," Switched!, ABC Family, 2003
- Vera Morgan, "Con-Text," Law & Order: Criminal Intent (also known as Law & Order: CI), NBC, 2003
- Patricia Sommers, "An Adventure," Russkie v. Gororde Angelov (alsoknown as A Force of One and Russians in the City of Angels), 2003
- Herself, "Jack Nicholson," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 2004
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Stage Appearances
- Understudy Adele McDougall, Linda Lehman, and Liz Michaelson, Take Her, She's Mine, Biltmore Theatre, New York City, 1961
- Zinnia, We're Civilized, Jan Hus Playhouse, New York City, 1962
- Olivia, Twelfth Night, Hecksher Theatre, New York City, 1963
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The Uncommon Denominator, Mermaid Theater, New York City, 1963
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The Playroom, Brooks Atkinson Theater, New York City, 1965-66
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Happily Never After, Eugene O'Neill Theatre, New York City, 1966
- Hilda Brady, Keep It in the Family, Plymouth Theatre, New York City, 1967
- Joanne, Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, Martin Beck Theatre, New York City, 1982
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A View of the Heart, Ars Nova Theatre, New York City, 2004
- Also appeared with the Hecscher House Company in several Shakespearean plays.
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WRITINGS
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Screenplays
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Movies Money Murder (also known as Breaking Up with Paul),1996
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Malaika (also known as Tons of Trouble), 1997
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Men, Hillman-Williams Productions/Shonderosa Productions, 1997
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Going Home, 1997
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Charades (also known as Felons and First Degree), Fries Film Group, 1998
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Edna McCoy's Festival, 1999
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The Invention of Dr. Morel, 2000
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Film Scores
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Nashville, Paramount, 1975
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Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?, World Wide Classics, 1983
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Film Songs
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The Pyx (also known as La Lunule and The Hooker Cult Murders), 1973
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Television Writing
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Movies
- Additional story credits, Malaika, HBO, 1999
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Television Episodes
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Trauma Center, 1983
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
Periodicals
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Interview, May, 1975
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Time Out (London), January 26, 1984
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