Born on this day – Julian Sands:

Julian Sands

Actor

January 4, 1958 – circa January 2023

Exact date of death unknown

Credits:

Double Soul (2023); Seneca: On the Creation of Earthquakes (2023); The Ghosts of Monday (2022); The Ghosts of Borley Rectory (2021); Benediction (2021); The Survivalist (2021); Death Rider in the House of Vampires (2021); Sweeney Todd and the String of Pearls (2021); Bobbleheads: The Movie (2020); Yeh Ballet (2020); Into the Dark (2019); The Garden of Evening Mists (2019); The Painted Bird (2019); Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm (2019); What/If (2019); Medici (2018); The Keeper (2018); Elementary (2018); The Blacklist (2018); Stiff Upper Lip Jeeves: The Radio Play (2018); Moonraker: The Radio Play (2018); Walk Like a Panther (2018); Toy Gun (2018); Crooked House (2017); Borley Rectory (2017); Will (2017); Man in an Orange Shirt (2017); The Escape (2017); Honey Flood (2016); Surfing (2016); Thunderball: The Radio Play (2016); The Chosen (2016); The Persian Connection (2016); We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story (2015); Sariel (2015); A Postcard from Istanbul (2015); Gotham (2015); Banshee Origins (2014); Six Weeks (2014); Me (2014); GHB: To Be or Not to Be (2014); The Village (2014); Crossbones (2014); Crónica de Castas (2014); On Her Majesty's Secret Service: The Radio Play (2014); Rosamunde Pilcher (1994); Banshee (2014); The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar (2014); Cesar Chavez (2014); Dexter (2013); All Things to All Men (2013); Extraordinary Tales (2013); Suspension of Disbelief (2012); Person of Interest (2012); Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012); The Nightshift Belongs to the Stars (2012); From Russia with Love: The Radio Play (2012); Hirokin: The Last Samurai (2012); Star Wars: The Old Republic (2011); The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011); NTSF:SD:SUV (2011); The Maiden and the Princess (2011); Above Suspicion (2011); Assisting Venus (2010); Smallville (2009–2010); Golf in the Kingdom (2010); The Good Life (2010); Second Chance (2009); Beyond Sherwood Forest (2009); Heidi 4 Paws (2009); Castle (2009); Blood and Bone (2009); Bollywood Hero (2009); Demetra's Dream (2008); Cat City (2008); Lipstick Jungle (2008); Stargate: The Ark of Truth (2008); Ocean's Thirteen (2007); Ghost Whisperer (2007); Blood Ties (2007); Marple (2007); The Haunted Airman (2006); 24 (2006); Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2006); The Trail (2006); Her Name Is Carla (2005); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2005); Stargate SG-1 (2005); Kenneth Tynan: In Praise of Hardcore (2005); Ring of the Nibelungs (2004); Romasanta (2004); The L Word (2004); Easy Six (2003); The Medallion (2003); Napoléon (2002); Ozzy & Drix (2002); Jackie Chan Adventures (2000–2002); The Scoundrel's Wife (2002); Rose Red (2002); Hotel (2001); Vatel (2000); Timecode (2000); Love me (2000); The Million Dollar Hotel (2000); Mercy (2000); The Phantom of the Opera (1998); The Loss of Sexual Innocence (1998); Long Time Since (1998); One Night Stand (1997); End of Summer (1997); Strangers (1996); The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest (1996); Chicago Hope (1996); Never Ever (1996); Adventures from the Book of Virtues (1996); The Tomorrow Man (1996); Biker Mice from Mars (1995); Leaving Las Vegas (1995); The Great Elephant Escape (1995); Mario and the Magician (1994); Witch Hunt (1994); Lamerica (1994); The Browning Version (1994); Warlock: The Armageddon (1993); Boxing Helena (1993); America (1992); Tale of a Vampire (1992); The Turn of the Screw (1992); Crazy in Love (1992); Naked Lunch (1991); Husbands and Lovers (1991); Grand Isle (1991); The Wicked (1991); Impromptu (1991); Blood Royal: William the Conqueror (1990); Arachnophobia (1990); Night Sun (1990); Tennessee Waltz (1989); Manika, une vie plus tard (1989); Warlock (1989); Murder by Moonlight (1989); Wherever You Are... (1988); Vibes (1988); Siesta (1987); Basements (1987); Gothic (1986); Harem (1986); A Room with a View (1985); The Doctor and the Devils (1985); The Holy Experiment (1985); Romance on the Orient Express (1985); After Darkness (1985); The Sun Also Rises (1984); The Box of Delights (1984); The Killing Fields (1984); Oxford Blues (1984); A Married Man (1983); Privates on Parade (1983); Play for Today (1982).

On this day in movie history - Leaving Las Vegas (movie & novel):

Leaving Las Vegas

directed and written by Mike Figgis,

based on the semi-autobiographical novel by John O'Brien,

was released in the United States on October 27, 1995.

Music by Mike Figgis.

Cast:

Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands, Richard Lewis, Steven Weber, Kim Adams, Emily Procter, Stuart Regen, Valeria Golino, Graham Beckel, Albert Henderson, Shashi Bhatia, Carey Lowell, Anne Lange, Thomas Kopache, Vincent Ward, Lucinda Jenney, French Stewart, Ed Lauter, Waldemar Kalinowski, Mike Figgis, David Kriegel, Bill Thompson, Marek Stabrowski, R. Lee Ermey, Mariska Hargitay, Danny Huston, Laurie Metcalf, David Brisbin, Shawnee Smith, Paul Quinn, Julian Lennon, Tracy Thorne, Bob Rafelson, Susan Barnes, Marc Coppola, Michael A. Goorjian, Jeremy Jordan, Davidlee Willson, Xander Berkeley, Sergio Premoli, Gordon Michaels, Lou Rawls, Sunit Gupta, Camille King, Greg Miller.

Recommended reading:

Leaving Las Vegas

By John O’Brien.

Published by Grove Press.

First published 1990.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 080212593X

ISBN-13: 978-0802125934

Description:

Leaving Las Vegas, the first novel by John O’Brien, is a disturbing and emotionally wrenching story of a woman who embraces life and a man who rejects it. Sera, a prostitute, and Ben, an alcoholic, stumble together and discover in each other a respite from their unforgiving lives. A testimony to the raw talent of its young author, Leaving Las Vegas is a compelling story of unconditional love between two disenfranchised and lost souls – an overlooked American classic.

“There is not a false note in the novel . . . O’Brien has a strong tradition behind him here, that of American naturalism, and he fits into it well. From Stephen Crane to Hubert Selby, Jr. . . . [O’Brien] achieves real power in his writing. You seldom encounter it anymore, but when you do you know you’ve been properly whacked by a real talent.” – New York Daily News.

“Here is that rarest jewel, a really fine novel. It’s a magical piece of work, one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. John O’Brien has a very great talent.” – Larry Brown, author of Joe and Big Bad Love.

“This book is not only dark and dire, it is crushing. How can a novel so absolutely devoid of hope be so gripping? The portrait of Sera and Ben is a tour de force – masterful and relentless. Leaving Las Vegas is the strongest and most extreme look at alcohol I’ve ever read. This book moved and bothered me and weeks later it is still in my mind. I think O’Brien is simply terrific.” – Ron Carlson, author of Plan B for the Middle Class.

“A brutal and unflinching portrait of the low life in the city of high rollers, Leaving Las Vegas is both shocking and curiously exhilarating. John O’Brien was a stunningly talented writer who created poetry from the most squalid materials. This is a beautiful and horrifying novel.” – Jay McInerney, author of Brightness Falls.