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- Actor
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Lead and supporting actor of the American stage and films, with sandy colored hair, and pale complexion. He won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Deer Hunter (1978), and has been seen in mostly character roles, often portraying psychologically unstable individuals, though that generalization would not do justice to Walken's depth and breadth of performances.
Walken was born in Astoria, Queens, New York. His mother, Rosalie (Russell), was a Scottish emigrant, from Glasgow. His father, Paul Wälken, was a German emigrant, from Horst, who ran Walken's bakery. Christopher learned his stage craft, including dancing, at Hofstra University & ANTA, and picked up a Theatre World award for his performance in the revival of the Tennessee Williams play "The Rose Tattoo". Walken then first broke through into cinema in 1969 appearing in Me and My Brother (1968), before appearing alongside Sean Connery in the sleeper heist movie The Anderson Tapes (1971). His eclectic work really came to the attention of critics in 1977 with his intense portrayal of Diane Keaton suicidal younger brother in Annie Hall (1977), and then he scooped the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award in 1977 for his role as Nick in the electrifying The Deer Hunter (1978). Walken was lured back by The Deer Hunter (1978) director Michael Cimino for a role in the financially disastrous western Heaven's Gate (1980), before moving onto surprise audiences with his wonderful dance skills in Pennies from Heaven (1981), taking the lead as a school teacher with telepathic abilities in the Stephen King inspired The Dead Zone (1983) and then as billionaire industrialist Max Zorin trying to blow up Silicon Valley in the 007 adventure A View to a Kill (1985). Looking at many of Walken's other captivating screen roles, it is easy to see the diversity of his range and even his droll comedic talents with humorous appearances in Biloxi Blues (1988), Wayne's World 2 (1993), Joe Dirt (2001), Mousehunt (1997) and America's Sweethearts (2001). Most recently, he continued to surprise audiences again with his work as a heart broken and apologetic father to Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can (2002).- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Born in America, and raised in Ireland and England, actor Patrick McGoohan rose to become the number-one British TV star in the 1950s to 1960s era. His parents moved to Ireland when he was very young and McGoohan acquired a neutral accent that sounds at home in British or American dialogue. He was an avid stage actor and performed hundreds of times in small and large productions before landing his first TV and film roles. McGoohan is one of few actors who has successfully switched between theater, TV, and films many times during his career. He was often cast in the role of Angry Young Man. In 1959, he was named Best TV Actor of the Year in Britain. Shortly thereafter, he was chosen for the starring role in the Secret Agent (1964) TV series (AKA 'Secret Agent in the US), which proved to be an immense success for three years and allowed the British to break into the burgeoning American TV market for the first time. By the series' 3rd year, McGoohan felt the series had run its course and was beginning to repeat itself. McGoohan and Lew Grade - the president of ITC (the series' production company), had agreed that McGoohan could leave Danger Man to begin work on a new series, and turned in his resignation right after the first episode of the fourth year had been filmed ("Koroshi"). McGoohan set up his own production company and collaborated with noted author and script editor George Markstein to sell a brand new concept to ITC's Lew Grade. McGoohan starred in, directed, produced, and wrote many of the episodes, sometimes taking a pseudonym to reduce the sheer number of credits to his name. Thus, the TV series The Prisoner (1967) came to revolve around the efforts of a secret agent, who resigned early in his career, to clear his name. His aim was to escape from a fancifully beautiful but psychologically brutal prison for people who know too much. The series was as popular as it was surreal and allegorical, and its mysterious final episode caused such an uproar that McGoohan was to desert England for more than 20 years to seek relative anonymity in LA, where celebrities are "a dime a dozen."
During the 1970s, he appeared in four episodes of the TV detective series "Columbo," for which he won an Emmy Award. His film roles lapsed from prominence until his powerful performance as King Edward I (Longshanks) in Mel Gibson's production of Braveheart (1995). As such, he has solidified his casting in the role of Angry Old Man.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Robert Davi is an award-winning actor, screenwriter, director, producer and jazz vocalist.
From his portrayal of the opera singing baddie in "The Goonies" and one of the most popular James Bond villains Franz Sanchez in "License to Kill" to FBI Special Agent Big Johnson in "Die Hard" or Al Torres in "Showgirls" to most recently Leo Marks in "The Iceman " Robert Davi is one of the film industry's most recognized tough guys. He has also starred in the small screen in hit shows like Profiler, Stargate Atlantis, Criminal Minds and CSI. With over 140 film and TV credits he has frightened us, romanced us, made us cry or split our seams laughing. He is also one of the top vocalists of our day in interpreting the Great American Songbook, thrilling audiences by playing top venues like the Venetian in Las Vegas where he headlines or for 10,000 people at the Harry Chapin Theater in East Meadow, Long Island or the Orleans in Vegas where he gave 3 sellout shows with Don Rickles. His debut album Davi Sings Sinatra- On the Road to Romance produced by Phil Ramone shot to number 6 for more than several weeks on Billboard's Jazz Charts.
In his early acting years, Davi attended Hofstra University on a drama scholarship. He then moved to Manhattan, New York where he studied with the legendary acting coach Stella Adler, who became his mentor. Davi became a lifetime member of the Actors Studio, where he studied with acting teacher Lee Strasberg. Always perfecting his craft, Davi studied under Sandra Seacat, Larry Moss, Milton Katselas, Martin Landau, Mala Powers and George Shdanoff, the creative partner and collaborator with Michael Chekhov.
Robert Davi was born in Astoria, Queens, to Maria (Rulli) and Sal Davi. His father was an Italian immigrant and his mother was of Italian descent. Davi was introduced to film when he was cast opposite Frank Sinatra in the telefilm, "Contract on Cherry Street." Later, his work as a Palestinian terrorist in the award-winning television movie, "Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami" brought him critical acclaim and caught the eye of legendary James Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli and writer Richard Maibaum, who cast Davi as Colombian drug lord and lead villain Franz Sanchez in the Bond film "License to Kill." Today, Davi is one of the top Bond villains of all time ranking at the top on many lists. Davi also received critical acclaim within the industry for his provocative portrayal of Bailey Malone in "Profiler." The show struck a chord with audiences, paving the way for such shows as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Without a Trace," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Criminal Minds" and many others. In 2004, Davi joined the cast of television's "Stargate: Atlantis," which earned Davi many science fiction fans. He has also shown his comedic strength in films such as "The 4th Tenor" with Rodney Dangerfield and "The Hot Chick," produced by Rob Schneider and Adam Sandler.
Having appeared in more than 100 motion pictures, some of Davi's most notable film credits span 30 years and include cult-classics and blockbuster hits with roles as Jake Fratelli in "The Goonies," Max Keller in "Raw Deal," Special Agent Big Johnson in "Die Hard," Al Torres in "Showgirls," Leo Marks in "The Iceman" with Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, Ray Liotta, Chris Evans and James Franco, and most recently, with Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger among a large A-list cast in "Expendables 3." He has worked with such directors as Steven Spielberg, Richard Donner, Blake Edwards, John McTiernan, Paul Verhoeven and Patrick Hughes. In addition, he has worked on film projects with acting talent such as Marlon Brando, Roberto Benigni, Bruce Willis, Clint Eastwood, Christopher Walken, Benicio Del Toro, Danny Glover and Catherine Zeta Jones, to name a few.
In 2007, Davi produced, directed, co-wrote, and starred in "The Dukes," which tells the story of a once-successful Doo Wop group who fall on hard times. The film won nine awards including the coveted Coup de Coeur award. Davi was also awarded Best First-time Director and Best Screenplay in the Monte Carlo Festival of Comedy by the legendary director Ettore Scola where Prince Albert presented him with the awards. Davi was the only first-time director in the Premiere Section of the International Rome Film Festival along with Sean Penn, Robert Redford, Sidney Lumet, Julie Taymor and others.
In October of 2011, Davi released his debut album, Davi Sings Sinatra: On the Road to Romance (produced by Grammy award-winning producer Phil Ramone) to rave reviews. Within weeks of its highly anticipated release, the album soared onto Billboard Magazine's Top 10 Jazz Chart taking the number 6 spot for several weeks. In response to the release, the legendary Quincy Jones stated, "As FS would say, 'Koo, Koo.' Wow! I have never heard anyone come this close to Sinatra's sound - and still be himself. Many try, but Robert Davi has the voice, tone, the flavor and the swagger. What a surprise. He absolutely touched me down to my soul and brought back the essence and soul of Ol' Blue Eyes himself." In support of the album release, Davi is touring the U.S. with his live stage show, receiving standing ovations. He has performed at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas for a three-night engagement, the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza with a 55-piece orchestra, the National Italian-American Foundation's (NIAF) special tribute to the 25th anniversary of its Lifetime Achievement Award to Frank Sinatra at the Washington Hilton in D.C., the Soboba Casino in San Jacinto, Calif., with David Foster at the Beverly Hilton, and in August of 2013, at Long Island's Eisenhower Park for more than 10,000 people. In November of 2013, Davi released the Christmas single, "New York City Christmas."
Besides working in film, television, and music and raising his five children, four dogs and two cats, Davi keeps busy volunteering his time with such charities as The Dream Foundation, Exceptional Children's Foundation, Heart of a Child Foundation, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Youth Foundation, The Humane Society of the United States, Heart of a Horse, NIAF, The Order 'Sons of Italy' in America (OSIA), and UNICO. Since its inception in 1998, Davi has been the National Spokesperson for i-Safe America, which is regarded by many internet experts as the most complete internet safety program in the country and is available in grades K-12 in all 50 U.S. states.
Among his numerous awards for career achievement and community involvement, Davi has received the George M. Estabrook Distinguished Service Award from the Hofstra University Alumni Association (past recipients include Francis Ford Coppola and William Safire). In 2000, Davi was awarded the FBI's Man of the Year Award in Los Angeles. In 2004, Davi was named KNX radios' "Citizen of the Week" for saving a young girl from a fire in her home. The same year, he also received the Sons of Italy's Royal Court of the Golden Lion Award, including a $20,000 donation to a foundation in which he is involved. In addition, he received the 2004 STEP Award (Science, Technology and Education Partnership). In 2007, Davi was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Italian Board of Governors in New York, where New York State recognized his value as an artist and community leader. In 2008, he received the Italo-Americano Award from the Capri-Hollywood Festival. In 2011, Davi was awarded the "Military Order of the Purple Heart" (MOPH) Special Recognition Award for dedication and service honoring America's service members, veterans, and their families. In June of 2013, Davi was honored with a star on the Italian Walk of Fame in Toronto, Canada.
Davi is on The Steering Committee for George Washington University's Homeland Security Policy Institute and is the only entertainer among 28 members, which consists of mainly Senators and former heads of the FBI and CIA. Davi has developed Civilian Patrol 93, which is at Homeland Security, where a lesson plan is being written.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Born in the Astoria section of Queens, New York City, Ethel Merman surely is the pre-eminent star of 'Broadway' musical comedy. Though untrained in singing, she could belt out a song like quite no one else, and was sought after by major songwriters such as Irving Berlin and Cole Porter. Having debuted in 1930 in "Girl Crazy, " she is yet remembered for her marvelous starring appearances in so many great musicals that were later adapted to the silver screen. Among the film versions, Merman herself starred in Anything Goes (1936) and Call Me Madam (1953). That wonderfully boisterous blonde, Betty Hutton, had the Merman lead in both Red, Hot and Blue (1949) and Annie Get Your Gun (1950). Besides Betty Hutton, other Merman screen stand-in roles include Lucille Ball, (in Du Barry Was a Lady (1943)), Ann Sothern, (in Panama Hattie (1942)), Vivian Blaine (in Something for the Boys (1944)) and Rosalind Russell (in Gypsy (1962)). (Russell could never render Stephen Sondheim and Jule Styne's "Everything's Coming Up Roses" the way the immortal Merman did, over and over again.) Ethel Merman's lifetime facts: her dare of birth, was on Thursday, January 16th, 1908 & her life expired on Wednesday, February 15th, 1984. Thursday, January 16th, 1908 & Wednesday, February 15th, 1984, differ 27,789 days, equaling 3,969 weeks & 6 days.- Actor
- Soundtrack
This owl-faced comic actor enjoyed his first featured film role in the RKO production Too Many Girls (1940), in which he reprised the role of "JoJo Jordan" that he had played in the Broadway stage version of that musical. (Into the pantheon of pop-music standards came one that Bracken had introduced in "Too Many Girls", the melancholy "I Didn't Know What Time It Was"). But the then 20-year-old Eddie Bracken was by no means new to show business in general or Hollywood in particular. He had played in vaudeville and performed in nightclubs by the time he was 9, and had just later appeared on screen in four of the Hal Roach "Our Gang" comedy two-reeler film shorts. It was on account of his appearances in musicals and comedies as a shy, giggling, clumsy, stammering, sentimental, self-effacing, would-be hero that Bracken achieved popularity, not to say star status, among movie audiences of the 1940s. The director Preston Sturges served up those attributes of Eddie Bracken particularly well in two of Sturges's more memorable comedies. As "Norval Jones" in The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1943) (filmed in 1942; released 1944), Bracken portrays a man whose destiny others have foisted upon him. A certain "Trudy Kockenlocker" (played by Betty Hutton), having attended a party for military servicemen, later finds herself to be pregnant but has no recollection of who the father might be. So she persuades the always-befuddled Norval to take credit for the child and marry her. Somehow, Norval emerges a true hero in the end, but you'll have to see the film to discover why. As Norval Jones was physically unfit for military service, so also was "Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith", with Eddie Bracken in the role, in Preston Sturges's Hail the Conquering Hero (1944). Solely on the basis of his father's reputation as a World War I U.S. Marine hero, a group of saloon-hopping World War II-era U.S. Marines, led by a crusty senior-level sergeant (played to a tee by William Demarest), elevate the physical reject Truesmith into a modern, combat-decorated veteran, and then usher him into an election campaign for Truesmith's hometown mayoralty. The complications, including a love interest (in the person of actress Ella Raines, are by now well under way. As Eddie Bracken's age increased his popularity -- or perhaps that of the genre of film vehicles that was his forte -- decreased, and in 1953 he essentially retired from the screen, moving on to pursue theatrical ventures. But he would return to Hollywood eventually, and we have been fortunate to see him in character roles in theatrical and TV films through the 80's and 90's.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Tall, dark and handsome, not to mention a charismatic rebel of 1960s Hollywood, actor George Maharis (surname originally Maharias) was born in 1928 in Astoria, New York, one of seven siblings. His immigrant father was a restaurateur. Maharis expressed an early interest in singing and initially pursued it as a career, but extensive overuse of his voice and improper vocal lessons stripped his vocal cords, and he subsequently veered towards an acting career.
Trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse with Sanford Meisner and the Actor's Studio with Lee Strasberg, the "Method" actor found roles on television, including several episodes of Naked City (1958), and secured an early name for himself on the late 1950s off-Broadway scene, especially with his performances in Jean Genet's "Deathwatch" and Edward Albee's "Zoo Story". Producer/director Otto Preminger "discovered" Maharis for film, offering him a choice of five small roles in the upcoming film Exodus (1960), in which the actor eventually played an underground freedom fighter.
One of the episodes Maharis did of the police drama Naked City (1958), entitled "Four Sweet Corners", wound up being a roundabout pilot for the buddy adventure series that would earn him household fame. With the arrival of the series Route 66 (1960), the actor earned intense TV stardom and a major cult following as a Brando-esque, streetwise drifter named Buzz Murdock. Partnered with the fair-skinned, clean-scrubbed, college-educated Tod Stiles (Martin Milner, later star of Adam-12 (1968)), the duo traveled throughout the U.S. in a hotshot convertible Corvette and had a huge female audience getting their kicks off with the show. At the show's peak, Maharis parlayed his TV fame into a recording career with Epic Records, producing six albums in the process and peaking with the single "Teach Me Tonight".
During the middle of the series' third season peak, Maharis abruptly left the series with a number of reasons cited. Often quoted is that the virile, seductive image of a fast-rising star apparently got to him, and that he proved increasingly troublesome as he grew in stature. Tabloids reported that the actor purposefully instigated ongoing clashes with both producers and co-star Milner in order to leave the series and seek film stardom while the irons were hot. Maharis denied this, insisting that his working relationships on the set were solid and that any complaints were vastly overblown. He cited health reasons as the reason for his leaving, claiming that a long-term bout (and relapse) of infectious hepatitis, caught during a 1962 shoot of the series, forced him to abandon the show under doctor's orders. For whatever reason, Maharis left. His replacement, ruggedly handsome Glenn Corbett, failed to click with audiences and the series was canceled after the next season.
Back to working on films, the brash and confident actor, with his health scare over, aggressively pursued stardom with a number of leads, but the duds he found himself in -- Quick, Before It Melts (1964), Sylvia (1965), A Covenant with Death (1967), The Happening (1967), and The Desperados (1969) prime among his list of disasters -- hampered his chances. The best of the lot was the suspense drama The Satan Bug (1965), but it lacked box-office appeal and disappeared quickly. Moreover, a 1967 sex scandal (and subsequent one in 1974) could not have helped. In the 1970s Maharis returned to series TV in the short-lived The Most Deadly Game (1970), co-starring fellow criminologists Ralph Bellamy and Yvette Mimieux (who replaced the late Inger Stevens who committed suicide shortly before shooting was about to start). The decade also included a spate of TV movies, including the more notable The Monk (1969) and Rich Man, Poor Man (1976). In between these he appeared in Las Vegas nightclubs and summer stock, and was one of the first celebrities to pose for a nude centerfold in Playgirl (July 1973).
His last working years brought about the occasional film, most notably as the resurrected warlock in The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982) and an appearance in the horror thriller Doppelganger (1993). With his "bad boy" glory days behind him, Maharis' TV career ended rather routinely with guest parts on such popular but unchallenging shows such as "Fantasy Island" and "Murder, She Wrote". Later years were spent focusing on impressionistic painting. He has been fully retired since the early 1990s.- Actress
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Anthoula Katsimatides is an actor, writer, producer and voice-over artist. She has had the pleasure of working on screen with directors Ang Lee, Barry Levinson, Luc Besson, Ritesh Batra; actors Robert DeNiro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jane Fonda, Rose Byrne, Jane Seymour and other incredibly talented individuals.
Passionate about theatre work, Anthoula has performed off-Broadway opposite Tony nominated actors. She has developed a solo show and has had sold out performances at various solo theatre festivals in NYC. Awarded best autobiographical script by the United Solo festival, Anthoula is planning to tour with it nationwide and abroad.
Having earned a Bachelors degree in Business Administration at Baruch College, a Masters degree in Secondary Education at Queens College, and working in various fields before becoming an actor, Anthoula gained the skill sets of a producer. She is putting this to good use as a producer on her passion project the official documentary film about Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis.
Anthoula is a proud New Yorker and involved in many charitable endeavors. After September 11th, 2001, Anthoula worked at the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation on the massive rebuilding effort. She is currently a member of the board of directors of The National September 11th Memorial & Museum, serving voluntarily in memory of her brother John Katsimatides, who died on September 11, 2001. She is also an avid supporter of The Samaritans in NYC, an organization solely devoted to preventing suicide and helping people in crisis, in memory of her brother Michael who took his own life in May 1999.
A true artist at heart, Anthoula has been described as "endearing, vivacious, edgy, bursting with the desire to grab life!"
She does voice-overs & commercials & has her own radio show titled "Color Your Life" on Thursdays @7pm on Hellenic Public Radio Cosmos 91.5FM. For more, please visit anthoula and follow her on Twitter & Instagram: AnthoulaKats.- Actress
- Writer
Peggy Miley was born on 5 July 1941 in Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), Bandits (2001) and The Back-up Plan (2010).- Cinematographer
- Director
- Camera and Electrical Department
Gordon Willis was an American cinematographer. He's best known for his work on Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather films, as well asWoody Allen's Annie Hall (1977) and Manhattan (1979).
His work on the first two Godfather films turned out to be groundbreaking in its use of low-light photography and underexposed film, as well as in his control of lighting and exposure to create the sepia tones that denoted period scenes in The Godfather Part II (1974).
In the seven-year period up to 1977, Willis was the director of photography on six films that received among them 39 Academy Award nominations, winning 19 times, including three awards for Best Picture. During this time he did not receive a single nomination for Best Cinematography.
He directed one film of his own, Windows (1980). His last film as a cinematographer was The Devil's Own (1997), directed by Alan J. Pakula.
Willis died of cancer on May 18, 2014, ten days before his 83rd birthday, at the age of 82.- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Lena Farugia was born and raised in New York. She studied at Thomas More College (Fordham) and Columbia University. She started her professional career in New York, then married a South African filmmaker and moved to South Africa, where she made a professional career as an actress, writer, director and producer on movie and television projects. Memorable roles include: Dr. Ann Taylor in _The Gods Must Be Crazy II_ (1989) (directed by Jamie Uys), and Elizabeth Carter in The Sandgrass People (directed by Koos Roets); both roles as female lead.- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
George Katt, a versatile award-winning actor, was born and raised in New York City. He began his training and career in theatre on the New York City stages.
The dedication to his craft and his ability to transform into a diversity of characters have earned him success in film and television with award-winning accolades and recognition in popular film festival circuits, playing a variety of leading man and character parts.
In 2008, his work was vastly acknowledged and earned him the Best Breakthrough Actor Award at the NY International Independent Film Festival for his leading performance opposite Danny Trejo in the feature film Valley of Angels. Katt showcased his range and talents in the film as the young Zachary Andrews (a street-smart Los Angeles peddler that becomes entangled in a way of life he desperately seeks an out from) with an honest vulnerability, intricacy and immersed performance.
On television, Katt guest-stars on hit shows including NBC's Blindspot, CBS' Blue Bloods and CBS' Unforgettable. He has also guest starred, recurred in roles and makes appearances on shows for HBO, CBS, WB, ABC, NBC, FOX, A&E, Comedy Central, IFC, and Showtime networks.
In film, Katt stars in leading and strong supporting roles in award-winning, domestic and internationally distributed films ranging from independent to studio releases in a variety of genres.
Starring roles include the award winning Alienated opposite the late Taylor Negron, House of Bodies playing Oscar-Nominated Peter Fonda's son in the film (also starring opposite Oscar Nominated actors Terrence Howard & Queen Latifah), Percentage with Ving Rhames, Macy Gray, Omar Gooding and produced by Queen Latifah Also, the award-winning feature films Turnabout with Peter Greene & Waylon Payne, The Maladjusted, In Montauk, Red Sheep, In the Gray with Lee Arenberg & Martin Klebba, Red Right Return with Leo Fitzpatrick, Inside Llewyn Davis with John Goodman, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, Bastards of Young with Lucy Walters and Jessica Rothe, Darkest Before Dawn produced by Jay Z and others.
Feature films slated for worldwide release and film festival circuits include Broadway 4D directed by Bryan Singer and Gary Goddard with Hugh Jackman, Lea Solonga and Christina Aguilera, Swinger with Mille Dinesen from the hit show Rita and starring roles in the upcoming Boundary, Leaving Hope, Turned Out, and Benji the Dove with Lynn Cohen.
Katt made a featured appearance in Martin Scorsese's The Irishman starring Robert Deniro & Al Pacino, wrapped filming the leading role of Jack Riley in the drama Imitate the Sun, and is in preparation to star in the feature film drama Embracing the Sunrise (a drama based on true events transpiring in 1969 opposite Oscar-Nominee Sally Kellerman.
In his free time, Katt enjoys reading, writing, boxing training (both his father and grandfather were professional boxers), film-making, playing guitar, writing music, volunteering for various programs that help feed children and the homeless (Food Bank 4 NYC, No Kid Hungry, The Bowery Mission) and supports non-profit cancer research charities and projects.
After losing his own father to a battle with cancer, George onwardly dedicates his work and outlook on life in honor of his father's artistry, spirit and memory.
George is also the Founder and Artistic Director of The Indies Lab in NYC a multicultural ensemble of seasoned professional actors, writers, directors and filmmakers driven by a commitment to artistic excellence, creative exploration, and passion for significant work to nurture artistic growth and to develop vital new works in independent cinema, television and stage.- Camera and Electrical Department
- Art Department
Harry Ford was born on 5 June 1951 in Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. He is known for Carlito's Way (1993), Smoke (1995) and A Bronx Tale (1993). He was married to Denise Ford. He died on 17 June 2001 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA.- Shirleyann Kaladjian was born in Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress, known for The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022).
- Actor
- Transportation Department
- Set Decorator
Frank Bonsangue also known as Frankie the butcher was born and raised in Astoria, Queens. He has appeared in many Films, TV shows and commercials. He has also appeared in many cooking shows including the Food Networks Hot Off The Grill Show with Bobby Flay as a series regular, Frankie The Butcher, Meat Expert and Co-Host [over 60 shows]. Frank is very grateful for Bobby Flay for giving him the exposure on his show. Frank is very passionate about what he does as an Actor and has a passion for Food and loves cooking. Frank attended and graduated from Long Island City High School. His family has been in the meat business since 1910 and was located in the heart of Greenwich village. Frank left the family business the North Pole Meat Market in 1988 to work in the Famous Waldorf Astoria hotel as a Buyer for meat, fish and poultry. Frank decided to go back to school and take a broadcasting course at announcer training studios [something he always wanted to do], where he discovered acting. He also took various Acting classes throughout the city, including Stella Adlers Acting Conservatory, Michael Howard Studio and Young Actors Workshop where he studied with Acting Coach and former High school English teacher Bernard Rachel who is a dear friend today and always encouraging never to give up. Frank appeared in a few Off-Broadway plays and did some dinner Theater such as Tony and Tina's wedding. He starred in [5 years] and was co-writer in the Off-Broadway Dinner theater Show The Godfathers Messhugener Wedding [N.Y. Dinner Theater].
Frank started Acting professionally in 1995 and hasn't stopped since. Frank also works [when he's not acting] as a Teamster in the Theatrical 817 local union. Frank still occasionally works as a butcher usually during the holidays. He loves Italian music and of course Italian food. Frank is really grateful to be able to do what he loves to do for a living and thanks God for making all of this possible. One day at a time, he couldn't have planned it better.- Special Effects
- Visual Effects
- Director
Dave Bossert was born on 15 August 1960 in Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. He is a director, known for Spider-Man (2002), Beauty and the Beast (1991) and Hercules (1997). He is married to Nancy Levey-Bossert. They have two children.- Jay Black was born on 2 November 1938 in Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Contract on Cherry Street (1977), The Clay Cole Show (1959) and Upbeat (1964). He was married to Kathleen Izzo, Marsha Garbowitz and Andi Francis . He died on 22 October 2021 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA.
- Iris Apfel was born on 29 August 1921 in Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. She was married to Carl Apfel. She died on 1 March 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida, USA.
- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
New York based actor Kelly Karavites was born in Astoria, Queens, New York City to a large Greek family involved in what else, the diner business. After serving 2 years in the U.S. Army as an enlisted man he was appointed by his congressman and the Secretary of the Army to cadet at the United States Military Academy. Despite this tremendous honor, he later opted for an honorable discharge and he pursued acting studies at New York's Herbert Berghoff Studio in Manhattan over the years. During this same time he studied for and received his Bachelor's degree from the City University of New York working in career fields as diverse as advertising, financial services and academia. Over the last several years, Kelly has performed in numerous Off Broadway stage performances, countless stand up comedy performances, and several independent films in roles very worthy of the term character actor. Kelly considers no other career suitable for his inquiry into the human condition better than acting. There is no cure.- Actor
- Art Director
- Set Decorator
Jesse Grey Walken was born on 3 October 1969 in Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and art director, known for Snide and Prejudice (1997), Secret Agent 420 (2005) and Get a Job (1998).- John Brody was born on 24 November 1972 in Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor, known for DeVanity (2011), Crucifix Wizard (2008) and Greed (2006).
- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Editor
Dominick Sivilli was born on 20 January 1987 in Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. He is a cinematographer and editor, known for Resilient (2023), The Moose Head Over the Mantel (2017) and Tales of Poe (2014).- Malcolm Brodrick was born on 3 December 1944 in Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor, known for Man on Fire (1957), That Night! (1957) and Combat! (1962).
- Actor
- Writer
RJ Vaillancourt was born on 29 April 1990 in Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Love in NY (2018), The Equalizer (2021) and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017).- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Roy Carlo was born in Astoria NYC on September 24, 1959. His father Joseph (1931-2013) was from Brooklyn and a decorated Korean War veteran, having served in combat at Pork Chop Hill with the 7th Infantry until he was wounded in the spring of 1953. His great-grandfather Anthony emigrated from Sorrento Italy in 1880 and lived on President St. in the Red Hook section. He was hired by Washington Roebling to help construct the Brooklyn Bridge by hanging the cables. His grandfather Louis served in WWI first as a cook, then as an infantryman in 1917.
His mother Susan (1930-2015) was born in Yonkers NY to immigrant parents from Bari Italy. They returned there for three years, then back to NYC to the Italian section of East Harlem around the block from Burt Lancaster and the famous RAO's restaurant. By the late 30's the family crossed the bridge to Astoria, where his maternal grandmother Vita would work at the same garment company with Tony Bennett's mother Anna, also a seamstress. Susan would attend Julia Richman High School in Manhattan with Lauren Bacall (aka Betty Perske), walking over the 59th St. bridge everyday to 2nd Ave. Eventually she, her three sisters and one brother, married and raised their own families. She was an aggressive and very capable business woman, who besides being a terrific mother to four children, started businesses and bought and sold real estate with her husband. This enabled them to provide very well for their family, with most of Roy's childhood spent in the Flushing & Whitestone neighborhoods of Queens. It was during his school years when he realized his talent for writing.
Roy began his career submitting sketches to SNL in the fall of 1980 when they held an open call for writers and performers. He was given an interview and asked to return with more samples. By the time he was ready in January, NBC had fired Lorne Michael's replacement Jean Doumanian and the door was closed. After several more years of writing spec scripts, it was decided the best way to break in was as a production company, which is when he started Astoria Films in 1996. Through connections in LA, they were able to secure various gigs with major studios for motion pictures and series being shot in NYC including Sleepers, Donnie Brasco, Mickey Blue Eyes, Two Weeks Notice, Vanilla Sky, Little Black Book as well as the first season of The Sopranos. His screenplay PAISAN was honored by NIAF (National Italian American Foundation) in DC for its contribution in honoring the sacrifices made by American soldiers of Italian heritage during WWII, as well as producer John Daly (Terminator, Platoon) who was planning to produce it at MGM before his death in 08, calling it a masterpiece and potential epic.
Through a partnership with RPM Media, he was Executive Producer on Compulsive Traveler for CBS Television, featuring travelogues from around the world as well as feature film STEALING CHANEL starring Adam Lavorgna, Lydia Hearst, Margaret Colin, John Rothman and Carol Alt. It was sold to Lifetime TV and still airs worldwide on their affiliated networks. As of 2020, Astoria Films and its television division Basement Studios, have developed an aggressive slate of original productions which are listed on IMDB. Next to start will be the updated NYC remake to Vittorio De Sica's post-war masterpiece UMBERTO D. starring Dominic Chianese in the title role.- Additional Crew
Beverly Kizer was born on 10 May 1951 in Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. She is known for The Guest (2014), The Signal (2014) and Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009). She died on 18 November 2022 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.