Blake Torney
Encyclopedia
Blake Torney is an American producer, director, actor and entertainer. His prestigious career includes theatre, film, television, and nightclubs. Blake has worked with film directors Alfred Hitchcock
, Franco Zefferelli, Hal Ashby
, John Frankenheimer
, Barry Levinson
and Paul Verhoven. His dancing and singing skills have enlivened audiences and given him the opportunity to work with Tom Jones
, Janis Joplin
, Michael Jackson
, and Sammy Davis Jr. among others. Blake is a 4th generation San Franciscan. Born in Northern California with his twin brother Kirkham Wright. Along with his older brother, musician Ned Torney, Blake has performed and recorded some of his, and Kirk's, original music. He's also an accomplished guitarist who sings and plays music with his son Orion FreedomSong and Django Gurley, performing at festivals and other venues. Since 1974, Blake has directed and performed children's educational projects with Bethany Argisle's "Moment Museum".
Blake is highly regarded for his technical acumen as a production manager and lighting designer. Working at the Magic Castle in Hollywood CA, and as technical director at Universal Studios
Wizardz theatre of illusion. For 12 years Blake was technical director, lighting designer, and emcee at the world famous Body Shop, on Sunset Blvd. Where Blake performed with the best variety artists, magicians and burlesque entertainers in the world.
Blake's taught acting and performing arts at the Sho Kosugi Institute in Hollywood CA. And from 2004 to 2008 taught special education at the Dubnoff Center for Child Development in Burbank CA. Among his altruistic endeavors Blake has produced and performed with Mimi Farina's Bread & Roses organization. Blake is also a voice actor who during the mid-to-late-1990's did voices and character in both Beetleborgs
and Power Rangers
.
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
, Franco Zefferelli, Hal Ashby
Hal Ashby
Hal Ashby was an American film director and film editor.-Birth and early years:Born William Hal Ashby in Ogden, Utah, Ashby grew up in a Mormon household and had a tumultuous childhood as part of a dysfunctional family which included the divorce of his parents, his father's suicide and his...
, John Frankenheimer
John Frankenheimer
John Michael Frankenheimer was an American film and television director known for social dramas and action/suspense films...
, Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson is an American screenwriter, film director, actor, and producer of film and television. His films include Good Morning, Vietnam, Sleepers and Rain Man.-Early life:...
and Paul Verhoven. His dancing and singing skills have enlivened audiences and given him the opportunity to work with Tom Jones
Tom Jones
Tom Jones is the name of:* Tom Jones , Welsh singer* Tom Jones , Australian politician representing Collie-Wellington district...
, Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, and Sammy Davis Jr. among others. Blake is a 4th generation San Franciscan. Born in Northern California with his twin brother Kirkham Wright. Along with his older brother, musician Ned Torney, Blake has performed and recorded some of his, and Kirk's, original music. He's also an accomplished guitarist who sings and plays music with his son Orion FreedomSong and Django Gurley, performing at festivals and other venues. Since 1974, Blake has directed and performed children's educational projects with Bethany Argisle's "Moment Museum".
Blake is highly regarded for his technical acumen as a production manager and lighting designer. Working at the Magic Castle in Hollywood CA, and as technical director at Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
Wizardz theatre of illusion. For 12 years Blake was technical director, lighting designer, and emcee at the world famous Body Shop, on Sunset Blvd. Where Blake performed with the best variety artists, magicians and burlesque entertainers in the world.
Blake's taught acting and performing arts at the Sho Kosugi Institute in Hollywood CA. And from 2004 to 2008 taught special education at the Dubnoff Center for Child Development in Burbank CA. Among his altruistic endeavors Blake has produced and performed with Mimi Farina's Bread & Roses organization. Blake is also a voice actor who during the mid-to-late-1990's did voices and character in both Beetleborgs
Big Bad Beetleborgs
Big Bad Beetleborgs is an American television series produced by Saban Entertainment. It aired for two seasons on Fox Kids between September 7, 1996 and March 2, 1998. Reruns later aired on UPN Kids during 1998-1999...
and Power Rangers
Power Rangers
Power Rangers is a long-running American entertainment and merchandising franchise built around a live action children's television series featuring teams of costumed heroes...
.
Live-Action Roles
- Big Bad BeetleborgsBig Bad BeetleborgsBig Bad Beetleborgs is an American television series produced by Saban Entertainment. It aired for two seasons on Fox Kids between September 7, 1996 and March 2, 1998. Reruns later aired on UPN Kids during 1998-1999...
/Beetleborgs MetallixBig Bad BeetleborgsBig Bad Beetleborgs is an American television series produced by Saban Entertainment. It aired for two seasons on Fox Kids between September 7, 1996 and March 2, 1998. Reruns later aired on UPN Kids during 1998-1999...
- Mums (in-costume and voice) - Power Rangers in SpacePower Rangers in SpacePower Rangers in Space is a television show that aired in 1998 as the sixth season and fourth installment of the Power Rangers franchise...
- Electrotramp (voice, uncredited), Destructoid (in-suit actor, uncredited) - Power Rangers: Lost GalaxyPower Rangers: Lost GalaxyPower Rangers Lost Galaxy is the fifth television series and seventh installment of the Power Rangers franchise that aired in 1999. It featured familiar elements from previous incarnations. It is based on the Japanese Super Sentai television series Seijuu Sentai Gingaman...
- Freaky Tiki (voice), Horn (voice), Gasser (voice) - Wake, Rattle, and RollWake, Rattle, and RollWake, Rattle, and Roll is a live-action/animated television show produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and Four Point Entertainment that premiered in the fall of 1990. The show's title was inspired by the song "Shake, Rattle and Roll"...
- Dr. Drain (character) - Somebodies Daughter - DJ (character)
- MoonwalkerMoonwalkerMoonwalker, also known as Michael Jackson: Moonwalker, is an American anthology film released in 1988 by singer Michael Jackson....
- Trooper - dancer - Platinum BlondePlatinum BlondePlatinum Blonde may refer to:* Platinum Blonde , a 1931 film starring Jean Harlow* Platinum Blonde , a Canadian New Wave music band, popular in the 1980s* Platinum blonde, a color of hair...
Club Owner (character) - Ray Male Heterosexual Dance Hall Dancer
- 52 Pick Up Host DJ (character)
- American Crude Host Emcee (character)
Theatre
- ACT, San Francisco CA
- Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee WI
- Starlight Musicals, San Diego CA
- Little Fox Theatre, San Francisco CA
- Escondido Performing Arts Center, Escondido CA
- San Jose Civic, San Jose, CA
- San Jose Center for the Arts, San Jose, CA
- ScottishRite, LA, CA
- Alex Theatre, Glendale, CA
- Civic Auditorium, Bakersfield, CA
- Lancaster Performing Arts Center, Lancaster, CA
- Amadore Theatre, Pleasanton, CA
Video Game Roles
- Psychic DetectivePsychic Detective (video game)Psychic Detective is the title of a 1995 video game that used extensive amounts of live-action footage and featuring dozens of professional character actors....
- Mansion Guest (character and voice)
Crew work
- Total RecallTotal RecallTotal Recall is a 1990 American science fiction action film. The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside, Ronny Cox & Mel Johnson, Jr.. It is based on the Philip K. Dick story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale”...
- Bottin Effects Crew - BugsyBugsyBugsy is a 1991 American crime-drama film which tells the story of mobster Bugsy Siegel. It stars Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Harvey Keitel, Ben Kingsley, Elliott Gould, Joe Mantegna, Bebe Neuwirth, and Bill Graham....
- Bottin Effects Crew - Greg Wilsons Allakazam - Production Supervisor
- Ed Alonzos Abracadabra - Stage Manager
- El Capitan Tarzan - Technical Director
- TBS shows Ray Pierce - Production Supervisor
- Chipper Lowell Productions - Lighting design/stage manager
- Ballyhoo Royale Burlesque - Lighting design/stage manager