February 1936 in Film & Television History

Events in Film & TV

Film Release

Feb 5 "Modern Times", silent film directed by, written by and starring Charlie Chaplin, is released

Feb 7 Felix the Cat, animated film released by Van Beuren Studios licensed from Otto Messmer

Olympic Gold

Feb 15 Sonja Henie of Norway becomes the most successful Olympic figure skater ever by winning her 3rd consecutive gold medal at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Winter Games; beats Cecilia College of Great Britain by 6.4 points

Feb 17 The world's first superhero, The Phantom, a cartoon strip by Lee Falk, makes his first appearance in comics
Feb 22 Sonja Henie of Norway follows up her Winter Olympics victory with an incredible 10th consecutive women’s World Championship figure skating gold medal in Paris, France

Birthdays in Film & TV

Feb 2 Duane Jones, American actor (Night of the Living Dead), and theater director, born in New York City (d. 1988)
Feb 4 David Brenner, American stand-up comedian and TV talk show host (Nightlife) known as a pioneer of observational comedy, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2014)
Feb 4 Gary Conway, actor (Burke's Law, Land of the Giants), born in Boston, Massachusetts
Feb 9 Clive Swift, British stage, wireless, and screen actor (Frenzy; A Passage to India; Keeping Up Appearances), born in Liverpool, England (d. 2019)

Burt Reynolds (1936-2018)

Feb 11 American actor (Deliverance, Evening Shade, Strip Tease, Cannonball), born in Lansing, Michigan

Feb 12 Joe Don Baker, American actor (Eischied, Walking Tall, Fletch), born in Groesback, Texas
Feb 12 Paul Shenar, American actor (Carrington-Roots), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Feb 14 Andrew Prine, American actor (V, W.E.B., Wide Country), born in Jennings, Florida
Feb 17 John Leyton, British actor and singer ("Johnny Remember Me"), born in Frinton-on-Sea, England
Feb 20 Larry Hovis, American actor (Hogan's Heroes - "Sgt. Carter"; Gomer Pyle), born in Wapito, Washington (d. 2003)
Feb 20 Marj Dusay [Marjorie Mahoney], American actress (Guiding Light - "Alexandra"; Bret Maverick - "Kate"), born in Russell, Kansas (d. 2020)
Feb 24 Jess Conrad [Gerald James], British stage and screen actor and pop singer, born in Brixton, South London, England
Feb 26 Manmohan Desai, Indian filmmaker (Amar Akbar Anthony, Suhaag), born in Bombay, British India (d. 1994)
Feb 27 Virginia Maskell, English actress (Suspect, Doctor in Love, Man Upstairs), born in Shepherd's Bush, London (d. 1968)
Feb 29 Alex Rocco, American actor (The Godfather, The Famous Teddy Z), born in Cambridge, Massachusetts (d. 2015)