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Billy Bob Thornton was born on August 4, 1955 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Virginia Roberta (Faulkner), a psychic, and William Raymond (Billy Ray) Thornton, an educator, high school history teacher, and basketball coach (now deceased). He is the older brother of James Donald (Jimmy Don) (born in 1958 and now deceased) and John David (born in 1969). He has been married six times and has four children: daughter Amanda Brumfield, with Melissa Lee Gatlin (now Parish); sons William and Harry, both with Pietra Dawn Cherniak; and daughter Bella with Connie Angland.

Billy Bob began his artistic career as a musician, playing drums and singing in a band called Tres Hombres, which once opened for Hank Williams Jr.. In 1981, he moved to Los Angeles with childhood friend Tom Epperson to pursue an acting and writing career. On the side, Billy Bob also sought work as a singer and drummer. He and Epperson tried for years to sell their scripts but no one was buying. During those rough times, Billy Bob neglected his health and subsequently landed in the hospital with heart problems due to malnutrition. In 1992, Billy Bob starred in One False Move (1991), a movie he co-wrote with Epperson. The team finally received attention because of this work, which was very well received in Hollywood. His popularity increased steadily, especially after Sling Blade (1996) which he wrote, directed and in which he starred.

Alan Walbridge Ladd was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the only child of Ina Raleigh (aka Selina Rowley) and Alan Harwood Ladd, a freelance accountant. His mother was English, from County Durham. His father died when he was four. At age five, he burned his apartment playing with matches, and his mother moved them to Oklahoma City. He was malnourished, undersized and nicknamed Tiny. His mother married a house painter who moved them to California--a la "The Grapes of Wrath"--when he was eight. He picked fruit, delivered papers, and swept stores. In high school he discovered track and swimming. By 1931 he was training for the 1932 Olympics, but an injury put an end to those plans. He opened a hamburger stand called Tiny's Patio, and later worked as a grip at Warner Brothers Pictures. He married his friend Midge in 1936, but couldn't afford her, so they lived apart. In 1937, they shared a friend's apartment. They had a son, Alan Ladd Jr., and his destitute alcoholic mother moved in with them, her agonizing suicide from ant poison witnessed a few months later by her son. His size and coloring here regarded as not right for movies, so he worked hard at radio, where talent scout and former actress Sue Carol discovered him early in 1939. After a string of bit parts in "B" pictures--and an unbilled part in Orson Welles' classic Citizen Kane (1941)--he tested for This Gun for Hire (1942) late in 1941. His fourth-billed role as psychotic killer Raven made him a star. He was drafted in January 1943 and discharged in November with an ulcer and double hernia. Throughout the 1940s his tough-guy roles packed audiences into theaters and he was one of the very few males whose cover photos sold movie magazines. In the 1950s he was performing in lucrative but unrewarding films (an exception being what many regard as his greatest role, Shane (1953)). By the end of the 1950s liquor and a string of so-so films had taken their toll. In November 1962 he was found unconscious lying in a pool of blood with a bullet wound near his heart, a probable suicide attempt. In January 1964 he was found dead, apparently due to an accidental combination of alcohol and sedatives.

Jimmie lived in Valley City, Ohio as a very young boy, and then moved to Elyria, Ohio, as an adolescent. He got his start in acting performing in the All School play, "The Great Sabastions". He graduated from Elyria High School in 1963.

Trish Stewart was born on 14 June 1946 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. She is an actress, known for Salvage 1 (1979), CHiPs (1977) and The Streets of San Francisco (1972).

Christopher J. Hanke was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. Christopher J. is an actor, known for I Know This Much Is True (2020), A Million Little Things (2018) and Breaking Fast (2020).

Roger Clinton was born on 25 July 1956 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. He is an actor, known for Fred Claus (2007), Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings (1993) and Spy Hard (1996). He has been married to Molly Martin since 26 March 1994. They have one child.

Dave Wasson was born on 11 September 1968 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for The Cuphead Show! (2022), Star vs. the Forces of Evil (2012) and Oh Yeah! Cartoons (1998).

Shani Rigsbee (Shani) is a Recording Artist - Singer, Composer and Producer whose work appears in major motion pictures and she has performed at some of the world's most prestigious venues. The recent end title credit song "Rise" from Warner Bros' American Wrestler, and her song "El Llamar de Pasión - Call of the Wild" featured in the Academy Award Winner for Best Picture, Crash are examples of songs she has composed and performed. She was also the Featured Vocalist in the 20th Century Fox epic, One Night With the King and her songs, voice and persona have been featured in numerous feature films such as The House of Sand and Fog (Dreamworks) where she also appeared on screen and in The Keeper - The Legend of Omar Khayyam (Guide Company Films) with Academy Award Winner Vanessa Redgrave, in which she also played the exotic Court Entertainer and was also the Executive Producer of the soundtrack. She has also appeared in and provided music for many other independent feature films and television shows and was the featured Vocalist for Sony Playstation's Parasite Eve, a mega popular International Hit. On screen, Shani has played a variety of roles from a sultry femme fatale to a seductive ancient temptress and her recent role of a Detective in Guardian Angel where she also serves as Co-Executive Producer. Her debut film role was the feature film Crossworlds with Rutger Hauer, Josh Charles and Jack Black. Several episodic television credits exist in her archives as a young girl in her early days in Los Angeles.

As a Recording Artist and Performer, she has toured the world from Los Angeles' Greek Theatre to London to Dubai and everywhere in between. She created a Production company, Cherokee Productions LLC with Cherokee Music Group being the music company through which she releases her music. One special, humanitarian project, "We Hear Your Voice" was an original song penned and Produced by Shani featuring some of the World's greatest voices giving voice to the people throughout the globe in solidarity and unity. Top Producers and musicians in the music industry have lent their support in this special project. She continues to Produce both Music and Film ventures with the latest being "City of Crows", a political thriller with supernatural elements contrasting. Shani serves as Producer and a featured actor, as well as creating the end title theme song.

Dawn Hudson has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 2011.

Dawn Hudson was the Executive Director of Film Independent (formerly IFP/Los Angeles) since 1991. Under her leadership, Film Independent has grown seven-fold, from a 900-member organization to its current membership of 5,000. Revenues have also increased an average of 25% per year. Film Independent is dedicated to cultivating the careers of independent filmmakers, increasing the audience for independent films, and increasing diversity within the film industry.

In 2001, Film Independent acquired the Los Angeles Film Festival, now the largest film festival in Southern California, with attendance of more than 80,000. The Los Angeles Film Festival and the 25-year-old Spirit Awards remain Film Independent's two signature events. The organization also produces 250 educational and screening events annually.

Prior to Film Independent, Hudson was Editor-in-chief of St Louis magazine and a freelance magazine writer. She received her B.A. from Harvard University, and did graduate work in political science at the Institut des Etudes Politiques in Grenoble, France, and at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Hudson serves on the Advisory Board of the Latino Entertainment Media Institute.

Bobby Bones was born on 2 April 1980 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for Bandslam (2009), Bobby Bones Presents: Comedically Inspirational (2025) and Make It Up As We Go (2020). He has been married to Caitlin Parker since 17 July 2021.

Steve Barton was born on 26 June 1954 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. He was an actor, known for Another World (1964), Tatort (1970) and Tierärztin Christine III: Abenteuer in Südafrika (1998). He was married to Sallie Ann 'Denny' Berry. He died on 21 July 2001 in Bremen, Germany.

Buxom, svelte, and leggy blonde knockout Kalin Olson was born on December 29, 1975 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She's of Norwegian descent. Her great grandfather Culbert Olson was a former governor of California. Kalin was a tomboy growing up. Olson graduated from Lake Hamilton High School in Pearcy, Arkansas in 1994. She started her modeling career as a contestant in beauty pageants. After winning the Miss Hawaiian Tropic pageant, Kalin won a trip to Hawaii which in turned launched her modeling career in both America and Europe. Olson was the Playmate of the Month in the August, 1997 issue of "Playboy." She's appeared in several "Playboy" videos and posed for a handful of newsstand special editions. Moreover, Kalin has done print ads for Captain Morgan. Olson lives on the West Coast.

Chris Case was born on 7 November 1967 in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Retired at 35 (2011), Titus (2000) and Roommates (2009).

Karmyn Tyler was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Odis and Sue Tyler and grew up in the Ark-La-Tex town of Texarkana. She was the youngest of 5 children.

Karmyn's interest in acting began when she performed in a children's theatre program in Texarkana playing a wolf. At the age of 5, she started singing in church. By her preteens, she had performed all over the state of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma in churches, festivals, and Opry houses. At 12, she opened for Cajun comedian, Justin Wilson and she competed on Ed McMahon's Star Search in high school. In 1995, she won the title of Miss Louisiana-America and after her year of service, she began her commercial acting career in Dallas, Texas with Ivett Stone.

Music has always been a huge part of Karmyn's life. Her mother, Suzie, played piano for southern gospel groups and country singers including Coleman McDuff, Connie Smith and appeared with The Happy Goodman Family. With the death of Karmyn's father, Suzie has written her love story, Against All Odds, We Found the Perfect Love, published by Elm Hill Publishing (Division of Harper Collins) approximate release date, July, 2021

Her cousin, Tony Edwards, is the Principal Timpanist for the Austin Symphony Orchestra.

In 2004, Karmyn released a solo album of American songbook songs that was played internationally. Her version of Summertime (from that album) was nominated for a Grammy and in 2005, her original song Drifting was nominated. Her musical influences are Ella Fitzgerald, Linda Ronstadt, Karen Wheaton, June Christy, Anita O'Day, and Eva Cassidy.

Gertrude Howard was born on 13 October 1892 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. She was an actress, known for I'm No Angel (1933), The Wet Parade (1932) and His Captive Woman (1929). She died on 30 September 1934 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Ray Myers was born on 21 June 1889 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. He was an actor and director, known for The Light in the Window (1910), War on the Plains (1912) and Martin Eden (1914). He died on 4 November 1956 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

A pioneer in country music, Patsy the yodeling cowgirl grew up in Hope, Arkansas. In 1930 she moved to California with an older brother, won a talent contest, and began performing on radio. She joined a group called the Montana Cowgirls, and that group's leader, Stuart Hamblen, renamed her Patsy. Moving on to Chicago in 1933, she joined the Prairie Ramblers and moved with them to Manhattan in 1935. When her husband was transferred to California, the family moved west and she went into temporary retirement in the 1950s, returning to the tour circuit with country-western, folk, and bluegrass concerts in the 1960s through the 1980s.

Lillian Cook was born on 16 May 1898 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. She was an actress, known for The Blue Bird (1918), The Submarine Eye (1917) and Camille (1915). She died on 14 March 1918 in New York City, New York, USA.

Henry Glover was an A&R man and record producer in the 1950s and 1960s with various labels, most notably King and Roulette. Probably the first African-American director of A&R for a major independent label (King/Federal). Produced artists such as Little Willie John, Hank Ballard & The Midnighters, Joey Dee and The Starliters, The 5 Royales and The Essex.

Dave Ellis Grim had several roles in college and community theater in the late 80's and early 90's in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Since that time, however, he has made his mark in Arkansas as a vocalist and sports broadcaster. He has only recently begun film acting. Grim has relocated to Louisiana to continue his acting career.

Christopher Crane was born on 25 July 1968 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. He is an actor and executive, known for The White River Kid (1999), Chasing the Dragon (2000) and War Eagle, Arkansas (2007).

Agnes Demby was born on 20 November 1901 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. She was married to Owney Madden. She died on 14 December 1991 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA.

A.W. Sweatt was born in 1922 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. He was an actor. He died on 11 January 1944.

Irby Mandrell was born on 11 October 1924 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. He is known for Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (1980), Family Feud (1988) and This Is Your Life (1987). He was married to Mary Mandrell. He died on 5 March 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Joan Meredith was born on 28 January 1907 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. She was an actress, known for The Count of Luxembourg (1926), The Truthful Sex (1926) and Blue Blood (1925). She died on 13 October 1980 in Los Angeles, California, USA.