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- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Sigourney Weaver has created a host of memorable characters, both dramatic and comic, ranging from Ripley in Alien to Dian Fossey in Gorillas in the Mist to Gwen/Tawny in Galaxy Quest and most recently, 14-year-old Kiri in Avatar: The Way of Water. With a career spanning over 50 years, Weaver has captivated audiences and won acclaim as one of the most gifted and versatile actresses on stage and screen.
Born and educated in New York City, Weaver graduated from Stanford University and went on to receive a master's degree from the Yale School of Drama. Her first professional job was in Sir John Gielgud's production of The Constant Wife working with Ingrid Bergman.
After a walk-on in Woody Allen's Annie Hall, Weaver made her motion picture debut in Ridley Scott's 1979 blockbuster Alien. She later reprised the role of Warrant Officer Ripley in James Cameron's 1986 Aliens; her performance earned her Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress. In 1992, she again brought Ripley back to life in David Fincher's Alien 3, which she co-produced, and in 1997 she starred in and co-produced Alien: Resurrection for director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. In 1985, Weaver starred in Ivan Reitman's Ghostbusters alongside Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd playing Dana Barrett and her possessed counterpart Zuul.
In 1988 Weaver portrayed primatologist Dian Fossey in Gorillas in the Mist and Katharine Parker in the Mike Nichols comedy Working Girl. Both performances earned her Academy Award Nominations, and she was awarded two Golden Globes for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. Other films include Peter Weir's The Year of Living Dangerously (1983) with Linda Hunt and Mel Gibson, Eyewitness (1981) with William Hurt, Half Moon Street (1986) with Michael Caine, Ridley Scott's 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) with Gerard Depardieu, Roman Polanski's gripping film adaptation of Death and the Maiden (1994), the thriller Copycat (1995) and Paul Rudnick's comedy Jeffery (1995). Weaver also starred in Showtime's live-action film Snow White (1997) based on the original Grimm's fairy tale, which earned her an Emmy nomination and a Screen Actors Guild nomination.
In 1997 Weaver joined the ensemble of Ang Lee's critically acclaimed film The Ice Storm alongside Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Elijah Wood and Christina Ricci. Her performance garnered her a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe nomination and a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She later gave a galvanizing performance in A Map of the World (1999), Scott Elliott's powerful drama based on the novel by Jane Hamilton, which earned her universal critical praise and a Golden Globe nomination for best actress. Also in 1999, Weaver appeared in the science fiction comedy Galaxy Quest directed by Dean Parisot alongside Tim Allen and Alan Rickman. She delighted audiences with her flair for comedy, and the film proved to be a hit of the 1999 holiday season. She followed this with the popular comedies Company Man (2000) written and directed by Douglas McGrath and David Mirkin's Heartbreakers (2001) opposite Gene Hackman, Jennifer Love-Hewitt and the late Ray Liotta.
In 2002 Weaver starred in the film version of The Guys, with Anthony LaPaglia, directed by Jim Simpson, and in 2003 she portrayed the cold-blooded, red-headed warden in the hit comedy Holes directed by Andy Davis. The next year, Weaver appeared in M. Night Shyamalan's The Village and received rave reviews for her performance in Imaginery Heroes written and directed by Dan Harris.
In 2006 she appeared in three films - as Babe Paley in Douglas McGrath's Infamous, in Jake Kasdan's The TV Set, and in Snow Cake opposite Alan Rickman. In the following years, Weaver lent her voice to Pixar's 2008 box office smash WALL-E as well as The Tale of Despereaux (2008) with Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman and Emma Watson. She also starred in the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler comedy Baby Mama (2008) and Andy Fickman's comedy You Again (2010) with Jamie Lee Curtis. In December 2009 Weaver starred as Dr. Grace Augustine in Jim Cameron's groundbreaking film Avatar, which went on to be the highest grossing film of all time. The film won a Golden Globe for Best Picture and an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
Other credits include Drew Goddard's The Cabin in the Woods (2012), Miguel Arteta's Cedar Rapids (2011), Paul (2011), Amy Heckerling's Vamps (2012), and Neil Blomkamp's Chappie (2015). In December 2016 she starred in Focus Features' A Monster Calls alongside Liam Neeson, Felicity Jones and newcomer, Lewis MacDougall, followed by Lionsgate's The Assignment (2017) with Michelle Rodriguez directed by Walter Hill.
After coming to New York in the fall of 1975, Weaver performed Off-Off Broadway in Christopher Durang's The Nature and Purpose of the Universe (1974), Titanic (1976) and Das Lusitania Songspiel (1980). She and Durang co-wrote Das Lusitania which earned them both Drama Desk nominations. She has appeared in numerous Off-Broadway productions in New York, working with writers such as John Guare, Albert Innaurato, Richard Nelson and Len Jenkin. In regional repertory she has performed works by Pinter, Williams, Feydeau and Shakespeare. Weaver also appeared in the PBS mini-series "The Best of Families" (1977) and John Cheever's The Sorrows of Gin (1979), adapted by Wendy Wasserstein for PBS.
Weaver received a Tony Award nomination for her starring role in Hurlyburly (1984) on Broadway, directed by Mike Nichols. She played Portia in the Classic Stage Company of New York's production of The Merchant of Venice (1986). In 1996 Weaver returned to Broadway in the Lincoln Center production of Sex and Longing, written by Christopher Durang. In the Fall of 2012, she starred in the Lincoln Center production of Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike which moved to Broadway in 2013. That year Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike took home the Tony award for Best Play.
Weaver originated the female lead in Anne Nelson's The Guys (2001) at The Flea where it was commissioned and directed by Jim Simpson. The Guys tells the story of a fire captain played by Bill Murray dealing with the aftermath of 9/11. In 2002 she starred in Neil LaBute's play The Mercy Seat opposite Liev Schreiber - which John Lahr of The New Yorker described as offering "performances of a depth and concentration that haven't been seen in New York for many seasons." Weaver also originated roles in two A.R. Gurney world premieres, Mrs. Farnsworth (2004) at the Flea Theater (New York Times 10 Best Plays for 2004), and Crazy Mary (2007) at Playwrights Horizons.
In television Weaver received Emmy, Screen Actors' Guild and Golden Globe nominations for her role as Mary Griffith in Lifetime's "Prayers for Bobby," which was also Emmy nominated for Outstanding Made for Television Movie. In 2012 she was seen in USA Network's miniseries "Political Animals," for which she received SAG, Golden Globe, and Emmy nominations. Weaver also appeared in the Marvel series "The Defenders," released globally on Netflix in August 2017.
Ms. Weaver was honored to receive the GLAAD Media Award for her work in "Prayers for Bobby" as well as the Trevor Life Award in 2011. She has been the Honorary Chair of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund for the last 33 years. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, and she also served on the Board of Human Rights First for 25 years. Weaver was proud to receive the National Audubon Society's Rachel Carson Award in 2009 for her environmental work. She was also a co-founder of the original Flea Theater on White Street which championed young artists and new work.
Weaver appeared in season 4 of the French television series "Call My Agent!" which was released globally on Netflix in 2021 and won the International Emmy for Comedy Series. Additionally, she starred in Philippe Falardeau's My Salinger Year which opened the 2020 Berlin International Film Festival. In April 2021 Weaver narrated James Cameron's "Secrets of the Whales," which debuted on Disney+ and garnered an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Narrator. The series also won the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.
Weaver's recent film work includes Phyllis Nagy's drama Call Jane alongside Elizabeth Banks, Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky's The Goos House alongside Kevin Kline. James Cameron's Avatar: The Way of Water premiered at the end of 2022 with Weaver playing Kiri, Grace Augustine's Na'vi daughter. A2 received "Best Picture" nominations for the Oscars, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice awards and has grossed almost 2.5 billion dollars. Upcoming projects include Amazon Studios' drama series, "The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart," which she also executive produced, and Paul Schrader's Master Gardener, opposite Joel Edgerton, which premiered at the 2022 Venice Film Festival.- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Considered by many critics to be the greatest living actress, Meryl
Streep has been nominated for the Academy Award an astonishing 21
times, and has won it three times. Meryl was born Mary Louise Streep in
1949 in Summit, New Jersey, to Mary Wolf (Wilkinson), a commercial
artist, and Harry William Streep, Jr., a pharmaceutical executive. Her
father was of German and Swiss-German descent, and her mother had English, Irish, and German ancestry.
Meryl's early performing ambitions leaned toward the opera. She became
interested in acting while a student at Vassar and upon graduation she
enrolled in the Yale School of Drama. She gave an outstanding
performance in her first film role,
Julia (1977), and the next year she was
nominated for her first Oscar for her role in
The Deer Hunter (1978). She went
on to win the Academy Award for her performances in
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and
Sophie's Choice (1982), in which
she gave a heart-wrenching portrayal of an inmate mother in a Nazi
death camp.
A perfectionist in her craft and meticulous and painstaking in her
preparation for her roles, Meryl turned out a string of highly
acclaimed performances over the next decade in great films like
Silkwood (1983);
Out of Africa (1985);
Ironweed (1987); and
A Cry in the Dark (1988). Her career
declined slightly in the early 1990s as a result of her inability to
find suitable parts, but she shot back to the top in 1995 with her
performance as Clint Eastwood's
married lover in
The Bridges of Madison County (1995)
and as the prodigal daughter in
Marvin's Room (1996). In 1998 she
made her first venture into the area of producing, and was the
executive producer for the moving
...First Do No Harm (1997).
A realist when she talks about her future years in film, she remarked
that "...no matter what happens, my work will stand..."- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Jessica Lange was born in 1949, in Cloquet, Minnesota, USA, where her father worked as a traveling salesman. She obtained a scholarship to study art at the University of Minnesota, but instead went to Paris to study drama. She moved to New York, working as a model, until producer Dino De Laurentiis cast her as the female lead in King Kong (1976). The film attracted much unfavorable comment and, as a result, Lange was off the screen for three years. She was given a small but showy part in Bob Fosse's All That Jazz (1979), before giving a memorable performance in Bob Rafelson's The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981), as an adulterous waitress. The following year, she won rave reviews for her exceptional portrayal of actress Frances Farmer in Frances (1982) and a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her work in Sydney Pollack's Tootsie (1982) (as a beautiful soap-opera actress). She was also outstanding as country singer Patsy Cline in Karel Reisz's Sweet Dreams (1985) and as a lawyer who defends her father and discovers his past in Music Box (1989). Other important films include Martin Scorsese's Cape Fear (1991) (as a frightened housewife) and Tony Richardson's Blue Sky (1994), for which she won a Best Actress Academy Award as the mentally unbalanced wife of a military officer. She made her Broadway debut in 1992, playing "Blanche" in Tennessee Williams "A Streetcar Named Desire".- Stephen McKinley Henderson was born on 31 August 1949 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. He is an actor, known for Fences (2016), Lady Bird (2017) and Dune (2021). He has been married to Pamela Reed Henderson since 22 April 1978.
- Actor
- Producer
- Art Department
Jeffrey Leon Bridges was born on December 4, 1949 in Los Angeles, California, the son of well-known film and TV star Lloyd Bridges and his long-time wife Dorothy Dean Bridges (née Simpson). He grew up amid the happening Hollywood scene with big brother Beau Bridges. Both boys popped up, without billing, alongside their mother in the film The Company She Keeps (1951), and appeared on occasion with their famous dad on his popular underwater TV series Sea Hunt (1958) while growing up. At age 14, Jeff toured with his father in a stage production of "Anniversary Waltz". The "troublesome teen" years proved just that for Jeff and his parents were compelled at one point to intervene when problems with drugs and marijuana got out of hand.
He recovered and began shaping his nascent young adult career appearing on TV as a younger version of his father in the acclaimed TV- movie Silent Night, Lonely Night (1969), and in the strange Burgess Meredith film The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go (1970). Following fine notices for his portrayal of a white student caught up in the racially-themed Halls of Anger (1970), his career-maker arrived just a year later when he earned a coming-of-age role in the critically-acclaimed ensemble film The Last Picture Show (1971). The Peter Bogdanovich- directed film made stars out off its young leads (Bridges, Timothy Bottoms, Cybill Shepherd) and Oscar winners out of its older cast (Ben Johnson, Cloris Leachman). The part of Duane Jackson, for which Jeff received his first Oscar-nomination (for "best supporting actor"), set the tone for the types of roles Jeff would acquaint himself with his fans -- rambling, reckless, rascally and usually unpredictable).
Owning a casual carefree handsomeness and armed with a perpetual grin and sly charm, he started immediately on an intriguing 70s sojourn into offbeat filming. Chief among them were his boxer on his way up opposite a declining Stacy Keach in Fat City (1972); his Civil War-era conman in the western Bad Company (1972); his redneck stock car racer in The Last American Hero (1973); his young student anarchist opposite a stellar veteran cast in Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh (1973); his bank-robbing (also Oscar-nominated) sidekick to Clint Eastwood in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974); his aimless cattle rustler in Rancho Deluxe (1975); his low-level western writer who wants to be a real-life cowboy in Hearts of the West (1975); and the brother of an assassinated President who pursues leads to the crime in Winter Kills (1979). All are simply marvelous characters that should have propelled him to the very top rungs of stardom...but strangely didn't.
Perhaps it was his trademark ease and naturalistic approach that made him somewhat under appreciated at that time when Hollywood was run by a Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino-like intensity. Neverthless, Jeff continued to be a scene-stealing favorite into the next decade, notably as the video game programmer in the 1982 science-fiction cult classic Tron (1982), and the struggling musician brother vying with brother Beau Bridges over the attentions of sexy singer Michelle Pfeiffer in The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989). Jeff became a third-time Oscar nominee with his highly intriguing (and strangely sexy) portrayal of a blank-faced alien in Starman (1984), and earned even higher regard as the ever-optimistic inventor Preston Tucker in Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988).
Since then Jeff has continued to pour on the Bridges magic on film. Few enjoy such an enduring popularity while maintaining equal respect with
the critics. The Fisher King (1991), American Heart (1992), Fearless (1993), The Big Lebowski (1998) (now a cult phenomenon) and The Contender (2000) (which gave him a fourth Oscar nomination) are prime examples. More recently he seized the moment as a bald-pated villain as Robert Downey Jr.'s nemesis in Iron Man (2008) and then, at age 60, he capped his rewarding career by winning the elusive Oscar, plus the Golden Globe and Screen Actor Guild awards (among many others), for his down-and-out country singer Bad Blake in Crazy Heart (2009). Bridges next starred in Tron: Legacy (2010), reprising one of his more famous roles, and received another Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his role in the Western remake True Grit (2010). In 2014, he co-produced and starred in an adaptation of the Lois Lowry science fiction drama The Giver (2014).
Jeff has been married since 1977 to non-professional Susan Geston (they met on the set of Rancho Deluxe (1975)). The couple have three daughters, Isabelle (born 1981), Jessica (born 1983), and Hayley (born 1985). He hobbies as a photographer on and off his film sets, and has been known to play around as a cartoonist and pop musician. His ancestry is English, and smaller amounts of Scots-Irish (Northern Irish), Irish, Swiss-German, and German.- Actor
- Music Department
- Producer
It seems the second generation of acting Carradines -- David, Keith and
Robert -- are proudly continuing the family tradition and begetting a
third generation of talent. The dynasty began with veteran Hollywood
patriarch John Carradine, the son of a
surgeon and a correspondent for the Associated Press. Keith was a
child, born of John's second marriage to actress
Sonia Sorel.
Lanky, laid-back and highly likable, Keith Ian Carradine was born in
San Mateo, California, on August 8, 1949. His parents divorced when
Keith was six. Following in the footsteps of older half-brother and
mentor David Carradine, Keith studied
theater arts at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado,
but dropped out after only one semester to pursue his career. Soon
after, he auditioned for "Hair" in Los Angeles and made his Broadway
debut in the 1969 rock musical, playing the role of Claude for an
extended period of time. Keith next appeared with his father in a stage
production of "Tobacco Road" (1970) in Florida.
The following year Keith broke into films with a part in the
Kirk Douglas/Johnny Cash
western A Gunfight (1971). Legendary
director Robert Altman was quite
taken by Keith's work in the film and gave him a part in his own movie
McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971),
which sparked the first of many endeavors together. Keith also made a
strong showing on TV, making his mini-movie debut with
Man on a String (1972),
and appearing with brother David in the TV movie pilot and various
episodes of the cult series
Kung Fu (1972)
as the teenage version (seen in flashbacks) of David's character Kwai
Chang Caine.
Keith continued to impress in Altman's films. He played one of three
convicts in the critically-acclaimed movie
Thieves Like Us (1974), but
scored Oscar gold with his next Altman film,
Nashville (1975) -- not with his acting
but with his songwriting. His composition "I'm Easy" won both the Oscar
and Golden Globe for "Best Song". Keith also earned a Grammy nomination
in 1976 for his contribution to "Nashville" in the "Best Original Score
Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special" category.
Keith first association with Altman's protégé,
Alan Rudolph, occurred filming
Welcome to L.A. (1976), to which
he again contributed his music talent. Keith's rangy handsomeness and
low-keyed acting style were on full display as he increased his
popularity with appearances in such films as
Ridley Scott's
The Duellists (1977);
Louis Malle's first American film, the
visually-striking Pretty Baby (1978),
that made a controversial star out of young
Brooke Shields; and the comedy/romance
An Almost Perfect Affair (1979).
One acting trick that worked was pairing all three Carradine brothers
in The Long Riders (1980), which
recalled the infamous lives of brothers Cole, Jim and Bob Younger, and
boasted three other sets of acting brothers (Keach, Quaid and Guest) as
various other outlaw siblings.
Keith's acting reviews throughout much of his career would be decidedly
mixed -- some would find his unassuming, introspective acting too
listless while others found it beautifully realized and understated.
Many of his best notices came from the Altman and Rudolph films,
appearing in two of Rudolph acclaimed 80s works --
Choose Me (1984) and
The Moderns (1988). He also
persevered on TV with award-worthy work. His role in the mini-series
Chiefs (1983) netted an Emmy
nomination, while his recurring role as Wild Bill Hickok in
Deadwood (2004) earned a Golden
Satellite nomination and his work in the made-for-TV-film
Half a Lifetime (1986)
scored a CableACE nomination. Regular series work came late in his
career, starring in
Fast Track (1997),
Outreach (1999) and
Complete Savages (2004), all
of which were short-lived.
Keith's career was revitalized on the 80s and 90s stage. In addition to
strong roles in "Another Part of the Forest" (1982) and "Detective
Story" (1984), he won the Outer Critics Circle Award for his excellent
work in
1982's "Foxfire" opposite
Jessica Tandy
and Hume Cronyn_ and then roped a Tony and
Drama Desk nomination as humorist Will Rogers in the Broadway musical
"The Will Rogers Follies" (1991). Most recently (2005) he starred in
the American premiere of David Hare's
satire "Stuff Happens" as none other than George W. Bush while
expounding on the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Keith continues to write and compose. Hosting The
History Channel's
Wild West Tech (2003) and
appeared on a season of the hit cable series
Dexter (2006) and had a recurring role on the hit sitcom Charity, Dr. Finlay (1965). More recently he played the role of President Conrad Dalton in Madam Secretary (2014) starring Téa Leoni's Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord.
Millennium films include Wooly Boys (2001), a top-billed role in Falcons (2002), The Adventures of Ociee Nash (2002), Our Very Own (2005), Bobby Z (2007), Cowboys & Aliens (2011), The Family Tree (2011), After the Fall (2014), Dakota's Summer (2014), Bereave (2015), A Quiet Passion (2016) and The Old Man & the Gun (2018).
Keith has been married twice. Of his two children born from his first
union to actress Sandra Ann Will Carradine, who played
opposite him in the film
Choose Me (1984), son
Cade Carradine recently portrayed Lord
Oxford in the film Richard III (2007)
and daughter Sorel Carradine has been
seen on TV. Keith and Sandra eventually divorced and he married actress
Hayley DuMond in 2006; they met while
appearing in the film
The Hunter's Moon (1999).
Keith's daughter Martha Plimpton, a
highly gifted actress on her own, was a child from his relationship to
actress Shelley Plimpton, whom he met
when both were cast members in "Hair" back in 1969.- Actor
- Producer
- Music Department
Humanitarian and actor Richard Gere was born on August 31, 1949, in Philadelphia, the second of five children of Doris Anna (Tiffany), a homemaker, and Homer George Gere, an insurance salesman, both Mayflower descendants. Richard started early as a musician, playing a number of instruments in high school and writing music for high school productions. He graduated from North Syracuse Central High School in 1967, and won a gymnastics scholarship to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, where he majored in philosophy. He left college after two years to pursue acting, landing a lead role in the London production of the rock musical "Grease" in 1973. The following year he would be in other plays, such as "Taming of the Shrew." Onscreen, he had a few roles, and gained recognition in Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977). Offscreen, he spent 1978 meeting Tibetans when he traveled to Nepal, where he spoke to many monks and lamas. Returning to the US, on Broadway he portrayed a concentration-camp prisoner in "Bent," for which he received the 1980 Theatre World Award. Back in Hollywood, he played the title role in American Gigolo (1980), establishing himself as a major star; this status was reaffirmed by An Officer and a Gentleman (1982). In the early 1980s, Richard went to Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador (amidst ongoing wars and political violence); he traveled with a doctor and visited refugee camps. It is said that Richard was romantically linked with Tuesday Weld, Priscilla Presley, Barbra Streisand and Kim Basinger. In 1990 Richard teamed up with Julia Roberts to star in the
blockbuster Pretty Woman (1990); his cool reserve was the perfect complement to Julia's bubbling enthusiasm. The film captured the nation's heart, and won the People's Choice award for Best Movie. Fans clamored for years for a sequel, or at least another pairing of Julia and Richard. They got that with Runaway Bride (1999), which was a runaway success (Richard got $12 million, Julia made $17 million, the box office was $152 million, which shows what happens when you give the public what it wants!). Offscreen, Richard and Cindy Crawford got married December 12, 1991 (they were divorced in 1995). Afterwards, Richard started dating actress Carey Lowell. They had a son, Homer James Jigme Gere, on February 6, 2000. Richard was picked by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world in 1991, and as their Sexiest Man Alive in 1999. He is an accomplished pianist and music writer. Above all, Richard is a humanitarian. He's a founding member of "Tibet House," a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan culture. He has been an active supporter of "Survival International" for several years, a worldwide organization supporting tribal peoples, affirming their right to decide their own future and helping them protect their lives, lands and human rights (these tribes are global, including the natives of the Amazon, the Maasai of East Africa, the Wichi of Argentina, and others). In 1994 Richard went to London to open Harrods' sale, donating his £50,000 appearance fee to Survival. He has been prominent in their charity advertising campaigns.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Music Department
Victor Garber has been in some of the most memorable projects of the past four decades. Victor has recently appeared in The Slap (2015), The Flash (2014), Motive (2013) and Web Therapy (2011). He is currently staring in Greg Berlanti's new DC Comics Superhero series "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" for Warner Bros/CW.
He has shared in two Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® nominations for Outstanding Motion Picture Cast, the latest for Milk (2008), and previously as a member of the cast of Titanic (1997) as well as winning with the cast of Argo (2012). Garber received three Emmy® nods for his role on Alias (2001) and has also earned Emmy® nominations for Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001), and his guest roles on Frasier (1993) and Will & Grace (1998).
He is also an accomplished stage actor, whose extensive credits encompass lead roles in both plays and musicals, and has earned four Tony Award® nominations, for his work in Damn Yankees (1994-1995), Lend Me a Tenor (1989-1990), Little Me (1982) and Deathtrap (1978-1982. Victor also starred in the 1998 Tony Award winning Best Play, Art.- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Brooke Adams was born on February 8, 1949 in New York City, to Rosalind (Gould), an actress, and Robert Kaufmann Adams, a former CBS vice president. She was educated at the prestigious High School for the Performing Arts and the School of the American Ballet.
Starting her career on the stage, her film career took off with a break through role opposite Richard Gere and Sam Shepard in Terrence Malick's Days of Heaven (1978). She also starred in Philip Kaufman's Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), and repeated her off-Broadway role in the film version of Kevin Wade's romantic comedy Key Exchange (1985). Other film credits include Gas Food Lodging (1992), The Dead Zone (1983) opposite Christopher Walken, Cuba (1979) with Sean Connery, and Tell Me a Riddle (1980). She produced and starred in Made-Up (2002), written by her sister Lynne Adams.
Her stage credits include The Heidi Chronicles on Broadway, Key Exchange at the Orpheum, Split at The Second Stage, The Old Neighborhood at A.R.T. If Memory Serves at the Pasadena Playhouse, The Philanderer at Yale Rep, The Cherry Orchard at The Atlantic Theatre Co. and Lend Me a tenor on Broadway with her husband Tony Shalhoub directed by Stanley Tucci. She has most recently starred in Samuel Becket's Happy Days with her husband Tony Shalhoub.
On television, she has appeared in Thirtysomething (1987), Moonlighting (1985), Family (1976), The Lion of Africa (1987), Special People (1984), the miniseries Lace (1984) and Lace II (1985), 5 episodes of Monk (2002), BrainDead (2016) on CBS and is writing, producing, directing, and starring in a web-series, All Downhill from Here (2015).- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Bill Nighy is an award-winning British character actor. He was born William Francis Nighy on December 12, 1949 in Caterham, Surrey, England, to Catherine Josephine (Whittaker), a psychiatric nurse from Glasgow, and Alfred Martin Nighy, who was English-born and managed a garage in Croydon.
At school, he gained 'O'-levels in English Language and English Literature and enjoyed reading, particularly Ernest Hemingway. On leaving school he wanted to become a journalist but didn't have the required qualifications. He eventually went on to work as a messenger boy for the Field magazine. He stayed in Paris for a while because he wanted to write "the great novel", but he only managed to write the title. When he ran out of money, the British consul shipped him home.
Nighy wound up training at Guildford School of Dance and Drama in London, and has since then worked consistently in film, television, and on stage.
Nighy is perhaps best-known to international audiences for his memorable performance as washed-up pop singer Billy Mack in Love Actually (2003), which won him a BAFTA for best supporting actor. He has also made appearances in major franchises: he played vampire leader Viktor in Underworld (2003), Underworld: Evolution (2006) and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009), did the performance capture and voice for Davy Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007), and made a brief appearance as Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010).
Nighy's recent film credits include roles in I Capture the Castle (2003), Shaun of the Dead (2004), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), The Constant Gardener (2005), Notes on a Scandal (2006), Hot Fuzz (2007), Valkyrie (2008) and The Boat That Rocked (2009). He has also provided voice work for many animated movies in the past few years including Flushed Away (2006), Astro Boy (2009), Rango (2011) and Arthur Christmas (2011).
With supporting turns in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), Wrath of the Titans (2012) and Total Recall (2012), 2012 was a busy year for Nighy. There are no signs of slowing down either, as he next appeared in Jack the Giant Slayer (2013), About Time (2013), and I, Frankenstein (2014).
Nighy has also had an active career on the small screen, beginning with Agony (1979), and his first widely-recognized role was in 1991 mini-series The Men's Room (1991). He has also made a habit of working on television with Harry Potter director David Yates: projects together include State of Play (2003), The Young Visiters (2003), The Girl in the Café (2005) and Page Eight (2011). Nighy won a Golden Globe for his performance in Gideon's Daughter (2005).
Nighy actually began his career on the stage, and has earned acclaim for his work in numerous plays including "The Vertical Hour," "Pravda". "A Map of the World", Tom Stoppard's Arcadia in 1993, and David Hare's Skylight. He received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance in 2001 play "Blue/Orange."
Bill's partner was actress Diana Quick (he asked her to marry him but she said: "don't ask me again"; he called her his wife because anything else would have been too difficult). They have a daughter, Mary Nighy, who is studying at university and contemplating an acting career. She has already begun to appear on TV dramas and radio programs.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Jacqueline Robbins was born on 9 September 1949 in Rochester, Minnesota, USA. She is an actress, known for The Wicker Man (2006), A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017) and Two Sentence Horror Stories (2017).- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Youngest of 2 children, and only son born to Terrence and Marie Duffy. Patrick was born in
Montana, where his parents owned local taverns, and raised in Everett, Washington, since age 12. He wanted to become a professional athlete, and became a
certified scuba diver while in his teens. However, his involvement in
his high school's drama department led him to apply to the Professional
Actors Training Program at the University of Washington, Seattle. He
was one of 12 people accepted, from over 1,200 applicants. He ruptured
both of his vocal cords during his senior year of college, but he
created the position of actor-in-residence, where he worked as an
interpreter for ballet, opera, and orchestra companies in Washington.
He also taught mime and movement classes. Around this time, he met his
wife, Carlyn, a ballet dancer with the First Chamber Dance Company of
New York. Carlyn introduced Patrick to Buddhism, which he has practiced
for the past 30 years. The couple married in a Buddhist temple in 1974.
They then moved to New York, where Patrick appeared in Off-Broadway
plays, and supported himself and his wife by working as a carpenter.
The couple then moved to Hollywood, where he drove a florist's delivery
truck, and landed small roles in film and television. His son, Padraic Duffy,
was born in 1974/5. In 1976, Patrick was working as a house painter
when he landed the role of "Mark Harris" in the TV series Man from Atlantis (1977). Two
years later, he won the role of "Bobby Ewing" on Dallas (1978). His second
son, Conor Duffy, was born in 1979/80. In 1986, his parents were murdered
by 2 teenagers who raided their tavern in Montana. Patrick has
continued to work, however, starring in a variety of TV movies, and as
"Frank Lambert" on his third TV series, Step by Step (1991). Since SBS was canceled
in 1997, Patrick has continued to pursue his TV career, which includes
2 Dallas reunion movies and the revival series Dallas (2012). Widowed in 2017, he splits his time between Los Angeles
and southern Oregon.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Best known for his starring role as Det. Sonny Crockett on the hugely successful TV series Miami Vice (1984), Don Johnson is one of the stars who really defined the 1980s. As James "Sonny" Crockett he went toe-to-toe with drug dealers, pimps, prostitutes, assassins, illegal arms-dealers and crooked cops on a weekly basis from 1984 to 1989, appearing in a grand total of 110 episodes. The show, which was executive-produced by four time Oscar-nominated director, producer and writer Michael Mann, paired Johnson with the equally cool Philip Michael Thomas as Det. Ricardo Tubbs and the calm and stoic presence of Edward James Olmos as Lt. Martin Castillo. It revolutionized television with its modern fashion, pop music, unique style and use of real locations. Johnson typically wore $1000 Armani, Versace and Hugo Boss suits over pastel cotton T-shirts, drove a Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona (later a Ferrari Testarossa) and lived on an Endeavour 42-foot sailboat named "St. Vitus' Dance" with his pet alligator Elvis. He also had full use of an offshore powerboat. Still, "Miami Vice" had not only style but substance, and his portrayal of the Vietnam veteran turned vice detective turned Sonny Crockett into the world's favorite cop. For his work on "Miami Vice" Johnson won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series in 1986, and was nominated in the same category a year later. He also picked up an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in
1985.
Johnson was born in Flat Creek, Missouri, the son Eva Lea "Nell" (Wilson), a beautician, and Wayne Fred Johnson, a farmer. As a kid, he wanted to become a professional bowler. Later, after a few brushes with the law at a young age, he discovered acting. After working on the stage for a while he ventured into films and television, but was not able to break into stardom despite, among other things, starring in the sci-fi cult classic A Boy and His Dog (1975).
Johnson starred in four failed TV pilots before landing his career-high role on "Miami Vice", which propelled him to superstardom. He directed four highly praised episodes of the show. He balanced his work on the series by appearing in a praised TV-movie adaption of the William Faulkner novel The Long Hot Summer (1985) and the feature Sweet Hearts Dance (1988) with Susan Sarandon. After the series
ended he focused solely on his film career. Although movies like Dead Bang (1989), The Hot Spot (1990) and Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991) did not fare well with the critics, quite a few of them have obtained a considerable cult following, with fans praising them as all being quality contributions to their genre. His film work has given Johnson the opportunity to work with legendary filmmakers like John Frankenheimer,
Sidney Lumet and Dennis Hopper.
After working steadily, Johnson returned to TV in 1996 with the cop show Nash Bridges (1996). The show, which Johnson created and produced, did very well. It co-starred Cheech Marin and Jodi Lyn O'Keefe. Johnson played the title role, a captain in the San Francisco PD's Special Investigations Unit. He was again paired with a flashy vehicle, this time an electric-yellow 1971 Plymouth Barracuda convertible. After "Nash Bridges" went off the air Johnson kept a low profile, but continued to appear in films and on television. He starred in the failed WB courtroom drama Just Legal (2005), which was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and traveled to Europe to make the Norwegian screwball comedy Lange flate ballær II (2008) and the Italian films Bastardi (2008) and Torno a vivere da solo (2008). As a supporting actor, he's been seen in mainstream films such as Machete (2010), Django Unchained (2012) and Knives Out (2019).
Johnson had two pre-fame marriages that were annulled within a matter of days. In the early 1970s, he lived with rock groupie Pamela Des Barres. In 1972, Tippi Hedren, his co-star in The Harrad Experiment (1973), allowed him to date her daughter Melanie Griffith despite the fact she was only 14 and he was 22; the relationship culminated in a six-month marriage during 1976. From 1981 to 1985, he lived with actress Patti D'Arbanville and they had one son together. After short-lived liaisons with Cybill Shepherd, Barbra Streisand and a barely legal Uma Thurman, he remarried Griffith in 1989. The couple divorced again in 1996, after she left him for Antonio Banderas. Johnson was engaged to "Nash Bridges" co-star O'Keefe, but broke it off before they made it to the altar. Since 1999 he's been married to former debutante Kelley Phleger, with whom he has three children.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Born in Bristol, England, Veronica is the older sister of the popular
child actress Angela Cartwright. In
her early career, Veronica was cast in a number of popular movies such
as William Wyler's
The Children's Hour (1961),
Spencer's Mountain (1963) and
Alfred Hitchcock's
The Birds (1963). As such, she was cast
as "Jemima Boone" in the popular television series
Daniel Boone (1964), which ran
from 1964 to 66. Her career after "Daniel Boone" may have been
influenced by Hitchcock, since she appeared in both the remake of
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
and the horror classic Alien (1979). On
television, she appeared twice as Lumpy's younger sister, "Violet
Rutherford" and once as "Peggy MacIntosh" on
Leave It to Beaver (1957)
and had a small role in the television movie
Still the Beaver (1983).
Cartwright also appeared in
Robert Kennedy and His Times (1985),
Tanner '88 (1988) and had a
recurring role on L.A. Law (1986).
Her big screen features included
The Right Stuff (1983),
Flight of the Navigator (1986)
and
The Witches of Eastwick (1987).
Veronica worked on the stage in "Electra", "Talley's Folly",
"Homesteaders", "Butterflies are Free" and "The Triplet Connection".
Alternating between television and big screen movies in the 90s,
Cartwright has appeared in such films as
Hitler's Daughter (1990)
and
Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995).- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
David Russell Strathairn was born on January 26, 1949 in San Francisco, California. He is the son of Mary Frances (Frazier), a nurse, and Thomas Scott Strathairn, Jr., a physician. He has two siblings, Tom and Anne. His ancestry includes English, Scottish, Irish, Portuguese, Hawaiian, and one sixteenth Chinese (the latter three from his paternal grandmother).
Strathairn attended Williams College, where he demonstrated great interest in the theatre, and first befriended John Sayles, with whom he would later frequently collaborate. Strathairn graduated college and traveled to Florida to visit with his grandfather, but the grandfather died while Strathairn was en route. Strathairn, finding himself freshly arrived and without friends in Florida, decided instead to join the Ringling Brothers Clown College and subsequently worked as a clown for six months in a traveling circus.
Relocating to New York State, he spent several years hitch-hiking across America to work in local theaters during the summers. During one of these summers Strathairn reunited with Sayles, and this eventually resulted in his role in the highly regarded Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980), Sayles' directorial debut. Thereafter Strathairn developed an extensive resume of supporting roles, which became increasingly substantial as his stature in the industry grew; notable films include Lovesick (1983), Silkwood (1983), L.A. Confidential (1997), and A Map of the World (1999). Sayles frequently casts Strathairn, whose performances can be seen in Sayles' The Brother from Another Planet (1984), Matewan (1987), Eight Men Out (1988), City of Hope (1991), and Passion Fish (1992). Perhaps most notable of his collaborations with Sayles is his superb performance co-starring with Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio in Limbo (1999).
After a string of successful supporting roles in the early 2000s, Strathairn found himself thrust into the role of leading man with his performance as Edward R. Murrow in George Clooney's Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005) Taking on the role of the iconic newsman in the black-and-white drama, Strathairn garnered numerous award mentions including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Following the success of that film, Strathairn traveled easily between low-budget independent films - The Notorious Bettie Page (2005), The Sensation of Sight (2006), My Blueberry Nights (2007), and Howl (2010) among them - and big-budget Hollywood productions, including We Are Marshall (2006), The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008), both The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) and The Bourne Legacy (2012), and Steven Spielberg's biopic Lincoln (2012), in which he plays Secretary of State William Seward.
Strathairn has also worked extensively in television, and first became familiar to television viewers as the title character's boss in the series
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (1987). In addition to narration work for many PBS shows, Strathairn has appeared in the TV series Big Apple (2001), The Sopranos (1999), Monk (2002), and headed the cast of the science-fiction series Alphas (2011). His work in television films has brought him an Emmy Award for Temple Grandin (2010) and an Emmy nominations for Hemingway & Gellhorn (2012).
Strathairn married nurse Logan Goodman in 1980, and the couple have two children.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Born in Chicago, Oscar nominee and Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Tom Berenger was born Thomas Michael Moore and raised in a working class Roman Catholic family of Irish descent. His father was a printer for the Chicago Sun-Times. Tom attended the University of Missouri to study journalism. There, he first auditioned for a role in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" at the college theater on a whim and a bet with a roommate; he won the role of "Nick", the second male lead.
After several stints in regional theater, Berenger attended Herbert Berghof's Studio School for Acting in New York City. There, he pursued a professional acting. He selected "Berenger" as his professional name, after a school friend, as there was already a "Tom Moore" in Actors' Equity. His film debut was in Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977), followed by roles in such films as The Big Chill (1983), Eddie and the Cruisers (1983), Platoon (1986), Someone to Watch Over Me (1987), Shoot to Kill (1988), Betrayed (1988), Last Rites (1988), Major League (1989), Shattered (1991), Gettysburg (1993), The Substitute (1996), Sniper (1993), Rough Riders (1997), Inception (2010), Hatfields & McCoys (2012), among many others.- Actress
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Pam Grier was born in Winston-Salem, NC, one of four
children of Gwendolyn Sylvia (Samuels), a nurse, and Clarence Ransom
Grier Jr., an Air Force mechanic.
Pam has been a major African-American star from the early
1970s. Her career started in 1971, when
Roger Corman of New World Pictures launched
her with
The Big Doll House (1971),
about a women's penitentiary, and
The Big Bird Cage (1972). Her
strong role put her into a five-year contract with
Samuel Z. Arkoff of American-International Pictures, and she became a leading lady in
action films such as Jack Hill's Coffy (1973) and
Foxy Brown (1974), the comic strip
character Friday Foster (1975)
and William Girdler's 'Sheba, Baby' (1975). She continued
working with American-International, where she portrayed
William Marshall's vampire
victim in the Blacula (1972) sequel,
Scream Blacula Scream (1973).
During the 1980s she became a regular on
Miami Vice (1984) and played a
supporting role as an evil witch in
Ray Bradbury's and Walt Disney Pictures'
Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983), then returned to action as
Steven Seagal's partner in
Above the Law (1988). Her most
famous role of the 1990s was probably
Jackie Brown (1997), directed by
Quentin Tarantino, which was an homage
to her earlier 1970s action roles, She occasionally did supporting
roles, as in Tim Burton's
Mars Attacks! (1996),
In Too Deep (1999) and a funny
performance in Jawbreaker (1999). She also appeared in
John Carpenter's
Ghosts of Mars (2001) and
co-starred with Snoop Dogg in
Bones (2001). Her entire career of over
30 years has brought only success for this beautiful and talented
actress.
A sister of Grier's died from cancer in 1990 and the son of that sister
committed suicide because of his mother's illness. Pam herself was
diagnosed with cancer in 1988 and given 18 months to live, which has had
an effect on how she has chosen to live. She has never been wed,
although she has been romantically linked to
Richard Pryor and
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the
past.- Actress
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Shelley Lee Long was born at 7:15 am on Tuesday, August 23, 1949 in Indian
Village, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA, the only child of Ivadine (Williams), a schoolteacher, and Leland Long, a teacher who had previously worked in the rubber industry. Shelley attended school at Kekionga Junior High for grades 6-9 and at
South Side High School for grades 10-12. She enrolled at Northwestern
University in 1967 as an undergraduate studying drama. Her first job
was at the university as a meal plan checker. She left Northwestern to
pursue a dual career in acting and modeling. She also had a brief marriage to her first husband that ended in divorce. In Chicago, she became a
member of the celebrated Second City troupe, in addition to writing,
producing and co-hosting a popular Chicago magazine program called
"Sorting It Out" in 1975. The show ran for three years on a local NBC
station and won three Emmy Awards for Best Entertainment Show.
She met her second husband, Bruce Tyson (a securities broker), on a
blind date in 1979. They were married in October, 1981. In 1982, she
played the character Diane Chambers in the new NBC comedy series,
Cheers (1982). She played the part for five years, winning an Emmy for
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1983, winning Golden
Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1983,
for Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 1985 and a Quality TV Award for
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1986. She gave birth to a
daughter, Juliana, on March 27, 1985. On her summer hiatus from "Cheers", Long made feature films, receiving a Golden Globe nomination as Best Actress for Irreconcilable Differences (1984). In 1987, she starred in the hit comedy Outrageous Fortune (1987) with Bette Midler. Soon after, she left "Cheers" after five years to embark on a film career. However, her films Hello Again (1987) and Troop Beverly Hills (1989) were not hits, and she returned to television appearing in the final episode of Cheers in 1993. That same year, she appeared in her own television series "Good Advice" (1993) which was canceled. She returned to feature films playing Carol Brady in the The Brady Bunch Movie (1995). The film became a hit and spawned a sequel, A Very Brady Sequel (1996), which wasn't a hit. She returned to television playing the title role in "Kelly Kelly" (1998), which was canceled after a few episodes. She also played Diane Chambers a few times on "Frasier", the spinoff of Cheers. Her personal life took a huge blow when her husband divorced her in 2004 after more than 20 years of marriage. She recovered and continued on with her career, appearing in guest-starring roles on television, including a recurring role on Modern Family (2009). She supported her daughter Juliana Long Tyson's decision to follow in her footsteps as an actress. She also encouraged Juliana to get married, which she did in 2015, to management consultant Ryan Kissick. Shelley herself never remarried after her two divorces but continues to work in television.- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Erik Estrada was born on 16 March 1949 in New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for CHiPs (1977), Loaded Weapon 1 (1993) and National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002). He has been married to Nanette Mirkovich since 20 September 1997. They have one child. He was previously married to Peggy Rowe and Joyce Miller.- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Shelley Alexis Duvall was born in Fort Worth, Texas, the first child to Bobbie Ruth
(Massengale, 1929-2020), a real estate broker, and Robert Richardson Duvall (1919-1994), a lawyer. At the time of her birth, her mother was visiting her grandmother in Fort Worth, though Duvall was raised in Houston. During her
childhood, Shelley's mother humorously gave Shelley the nickname "Manic
Mouse", because she would often run around her house and tip over
furniture. Shelley however was more than a mouse, but rather quite the
little artist. Her favorite thing to do when she was very young was
draw. She also has three brothers: Scott, Shane, and Stewart.
Shelley graduated from Waltrip High School in Texas and at first became
a cosmetics salesperson. It was in 1970 when Shelley was discovered by
talent scouts at a local party. Director Robert Altman wanted to cast
Shelley in a film that he was making during the time. Shelley had
experience in acting in high school plays at the time and took Altman's
offer and she appeared in her first film Brewster McCloud. Altman was
so fascinated by her performance that she appeared in his next films
including: McCabe and Mrs. Miller in 1971, Thieves Like Us in 1974, and
Nashville in 1975. Aside from these three successful films, Duvall's
acting blossomed in her leading role as Mille Lammoroux in 3 Women in
1977. Duvall's acting was so superb that she won Best Actress at the
1977 Cannes Film Festival. Shelley also starred as Bernice in Joan
Micklin Silver's Bernice Bobs Her Hair in 1976, and had a cameo in
Woody Allen's Annie Hall in 1977. In the same year, Shelley also hosted
an episode of Saturday Night Live.
When the 1980s hit, Duvall's career was just beginning. She is famously
known for playing the role of "Wendy Torrance" in Stanley Kubrick's The
Shining with Jack Nicholson. During the making of this film, Kubrick
psychologically tormented Duvall, causing her immense stress and affecting her mental state. He would often ignore her entirely during filming or would put in her situations which caused her immense fear and distress. The most
obvious example is when Kubrick shot the famous "baseball bat scene"
with Duvall and Nicholson 127 times, which is the world record for most
number of takes in any film set.
In January of 1979, Robert Altman would offer Duvall yet another role
in one of his films. Only the role was a certain role that Altman
believed she was born to play. That certain role was "Olive Oyl" in the
real life version of Popeye. Shelley was skeptical at first on
accepting the role, due to bad memories as a child of negatively being
called "Olive Oyl" in grade school. She fortunately decided to take the
role and performed admirably. Shelley also sings several songs in this
film. The most famous ones would be "He's Large" and "He Needs Me"
which also appeared in the film Punch Drunk Love.
As the 1980s rolled on, Shelley's career never slowed down. She
appeared as a supporting actress in Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits in
1981; she played "Susan Frankenstein" in Tim Burton's
Frankenweenie (1984) , and
co-starred in the hit comedy film Roxanne in 1987 starring Steve
Martin. From 1982 to 1986, Shelley continued her filming career but
from a different aspect. Since Shelley was 17, she had a collection of
a variety of illustrated classic fairy tale books. During the making of
Popeye, she showed her collection to Robin Williams. One particular
fairy tale she showed Robin was "The Frog Prince". Picturing Robin as
the real life Frog Prince, Shelley created Platypus Productions, her
own production company. Shelley went to Showtime with the idea for
airing a television program that was based on fairy tales. She produced
Fairy Tale Theater which Showtime aired that was a hit television
series that was based on several classic fairy tales. Fairy Tale
Theatre was on television from 1982-1987. Each episode was a one-hour
series and there were a total of twenty six episodes, all hosted by
Shelley Duvall. Shelley also starred in four out of the twenty six
episodes. In 1985, Ms. Duvall created Tall Tales and Legends that was
aired for three years until it ended in 1988. Similar to Fairy Tale
Theatre, Tall Tales and Legends was also a one-hour series hosted,
produced, and guest starred by Duvall. Although it only consisted of
nine episodes, Shelley was nominated for an Emmy from the series. In
the late 1980s and early 1990s, Shelley discovered Think Entertainment;
another production company which helped Shelley create more programs
and movies that were made for television that aired on common cable
channels. Shelley produced three more programs from these production
companies that aired on Showtime: Nightmare Classics, Shelley Duvall's
Bedtime Stories, and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. Her Bedtime Stories program
earned her a 2nd Emmy Nomination. Shelley sold Think Entertainment in
1993 and retired as a producer.
In 1989, Shelley met Dan Gilroy while filming the Disney Channel movie Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme (1990), the two fell in love and they have been together ever since.
Shelley Duvall's later career found her a number of different roles.
She appeared in the family comedy Home Fries in 1998 playing "Mrs.
Jackson", Drew Barrymore's character's mother. Other comedic films
Shelley appeared in were Suburban Commando in 1991, and Changing Habits
in 1997. She also had cameos in several TV series' such as: Frasier,
L.A. Law, The Ray Bradbury Theater, Wishbone, and several others.
Shelley returned to the horror genre when she played "Martha Stewart"
in The 4th Floor in 1999 and played the role of "Mrs. Stein" in Big
Monster On Campus in 2000; which consisted of both the comedy and
horror genre.
Since 2002, Shelley Duvall has not acted in any films, but lives a
quiet and peaceful life in Blanco, Texas. She has lived in Blanco since
1994, after her home in Los Angeles got damaged by an earthquake. For
the last couple years, there have been several rumors about Duvall
being a "recluse" and not being in touch with reality. However, a
recent interview in 2010 was conducted by MondoFilm VideoGuide that had
heavy proof that Shelley is as normal and aware of reality as ever. She
has also noted in this interview that she takes care of several animals
at her home in Texas and writes a lot of poetry, and that returning to
acting is always a possibility.- Shera Danese was born on 9 October 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She is an actress, known for Risky Business (1983), John Q (2002) and Alpha Dog (2006). She was previously married to Peter Falk.
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Immortalized as Cosmo Kramer on the classic sitcom Seinfeld (1989), West Coast comedy star Michael Richards was born on July 24, 1949, and raised in South Los Angeles, California, to Phyllis (Nardozzi), an Italian-American medical records librarian, and William Richards, an electrical engineer. Michael displayed an early talent for performance as a top Forensic League competitor during grade school. He went on to star in multiple high school and college productions while working as an ambulance attendant and hospital orderly. Michael trained as a medic in the US Army during the Vietnam War, was appointed writer and director of plays on drug abuse and race relations for the Army's V-Corp Training Roadshow. He attended the California Institute of the Arts and was mentored by famed performance art guru Allan Kaprow. He graduated from Evergreen State College in Washington with his BFA in drama.
After first performing with the San Diego Repertory Company, he subsequently returned to L.A. where he was discovered by Budd Friedman, founder of the Improv comedy club and talent manager Charles H. Joffe. Also a trained theater actor under the tutelage of Stella Adler, Michael starred in regional productions, Off-Broadway, and in London's West End. In addition to his comedic roles, Michael performed regularly in comedy clubs during the late 1970s and 1980s while driving a school bus by day.
Inspired by the physical comedy of such legends as Charles Chaplin and Jacques Tati, he paid his dues on the comedy circuit until comedian Billy Crystal noticed him and gave him a break on one of his comedy specials. Michael earned a regular spot on the sketch comedy series Fridays (1980), where he created the character of Battle Boy who liked to blow up army soldiers. He also appeared in such minor slapstick films such as Young Doctors in Love (1982) and Transylvania 6-5000 (1985).
Michael worked regularly as a dramatic "heavy" in television throughout the 1980s in shows such as "Miami Vice," "St. Elsewhere," and "Hill Street Blues." Following a recurring role on the offbeat comedy series Marblehead Manor (1987), everything finally came together for the elastic-faced comedian in 1989, after being cast as Cosmo Kramer, Jerry Seinfeld's wired, convulsive, frizzy-mopped neighbor and pal on Seinfeld (1989). The frenzied character earned him three Emmy awards, SAG awards, and instant cult status. He followed this success with his own short-lived series, the comedy mystery as a private investigator in The Michael Richards Show (2000) and the role of Micawber in a TV version of David Copperfield (2000).
Subsequent film credits include the cult classic UHF (1989), Problem Child (1990), Airheads (1994), Unstrung Heroes (1995) and Trial and Error (1997), a top-billed comedy role. TV work into the millennium has been very sporadic; however, he appeared as himself in several episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000), and played a regular role in Kirstie Alley's brief comedy series Kirstie (2013) with fellow TV comedy veteran and Rhea Perlman. He also made an isolated film appearance in the romantic comedy Faith, Hope & Love (2019).- Actress
- Soundtrack
Leggy, brunette-maned pin-up actress Caroline Munro was born in Windsor, Berkshire, England, and lived in Rottingdean near Brighton where she attended a Roman Catholic convent school. By chance, her mother and a photographer entered her picture in a "Face of the Year" competition for the British newspaper The Evening News and won. This led to modeling chores, her first job being for Vogue Magazine at age 17. She moved to London to pursue top modeling jobs and became a major cover girl for fashion and television commercials while there.
Decorative bit parts came her way in such films as Casino Royale (1967) and Where's Jack? (1969). One of her many gorgeous photo ads earned her a screen test and a one-year contract at Paramount where she won the role of Richard Widmark's daughter in the comedy/western A Talent for Loving (1973). She first met husband/actor Judd Hamilton filming this movie but they later divorced. Also in 1969, she became
the commercial poster girl for "Lamb's Navy Rum", a gig that lasted ten years. She had no lines as Vincent Price's dead wife in
The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) and Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972) which, in turn, led to a Hammer Studios contract and such low-budget spine-tinglers as
Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972) and Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974). More noticeable roles came outside the studio as the slave girl/love interest in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973), the princess in At the Earth's Core (1976), and a lethal Bond girl in the top-notch The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Her voluptuous looks sustained her for a bit longer but the quality of her roles did not improve with higher visibility. Later 70's and 80's roles included the lowergrade Starcrash (1978), Maniac (1980) and Slaughter High (1986), the last-mentioned written and directed by second husband George Dugdale, whom she married in 1990. He died in 2020.
Following her marriage, she was less seen. The septuagenarian continued to perform sporadically on camera, primarily in England and often in the horror genre. Subsequent lead and supporting movie roles have included Heaven's a Drag (1994), Domestic Strangers (1996), Flesh for the Beast (2003), Vampyres (2015), Cute Little Buggers (2017) and House of the Gorgon (2019) which also featured her daughter, actress Georgina Dugdale.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Ed Begley Jr. was born on 16 September 1949 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for A Mighty Wind (2003), Pineapple Express (2008) and Whatever Works (2009). He has been married to Rachelle Carson-Begley since 23 August 2000. They have one child. He was previously married to Ingrid Taylor.- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Joyce Robbins was born on 9 September 1949 in Rochester, Minnesota, USA. She is an actress, known for The Wicker Man (2006), A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017) and Cut Bank (2014).- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Brent Spiner, whose primary claim to fame is his portrayal of the
beloved android Data on the television series
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987),
was born and raised in Houston, Texas. His parents, Sylvia (Schwartz) and Jack Spiner, owned and operated a furniture store, and were both from Jewish immigrant families (from Austria, Hungary, and Russia). Jack died of kidney
failure at age 29, when Brent was 10 months old. When he was 6 years
old, his mother married Sol Mintz, who adopted Brent and his older
brother Ron. Although his mother divorced Mintz after 7 years of
marriage, Brent retained his adopted father's last name until 1975, when
he took back his birth name.
Spiner first began pursuing his interest in acting while in high
school. There his inspirational drama teacher, Cecil Pickett, gave a
great start to the careers of a remarkable group of aspiring young
actors (and directors), including Spiner,
Cindy Pickett (Cecil's daughter),
Randy Quaid,
Dennis Quaid,
Trey Wilson,
Robert Wuhl and
Thomas Schlamme, all of whom
later attained success in Hollywood. After graduation, Spiner followed
his mentor to the University of Houston and other local colleges, while
also launching his professional acting career in theater (The Houston
Music Theater and other regional theater) and in film
(My Sweet Charlie (1970),
which was shot on location in Texas). After a couple of false starts in
New York and Hollywood, Spiner eventually established himself as a
stage actor in New York, appearing in a number of off-Broadway and
Broadway plays, such as "A History of the American Film" (1978), "Leave
It to Beaver is Dead" (1979), "Sunday in the Park with George" (1984),
and "Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (1985). While in
New York, he had a bit part in Woody Allen's
Stardust Memories (1980) and
starred in an independent film called
Rent Control (1981). The play
"Little Shop of Horrors "brought Spiner to Los Angeles in 1984, where
he eventually took up permanent residence.
In 1986, after a number of character parts in television series and
movies, such as
Robert Kennedy and His Times (1985),
Crime of Innocence (1985),
Manhunt for Claude Dallas (1986),
and Family Sins (1987),
Spiner snagged the role that would bring him international fame: Data,
the endearing android, whom Spiner played "by tapping into his inner
child."
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987),
the sequel to the original television series
Star Trek (1966), became hugely
popular, moving to the big screen for four films (so far) after its
7-year run on television. Aside from these films, Spiner has made cameo
appearances in a number of films directed by his friend and old
schoolmate Thomas Schlamme, such
as Miss Firecracker (1989),
Crazy from the Heart (1991),
and
Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long (1995),
and has appeared in small roles in more recent films, such as
Dude, Where's My Car? (2000)
and
The Master of Disguise (2002).
Arguably his most popular film portrayal was Dr. Brakish Okun in
Independence Day (1996), a role
that elicited his unique eccentricity and sense of humor. He reprised the character in the sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence (2016).- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Tony Award and Emmy Award winner Judith Light made her professional stage debut in 1970 and made her Broadway debut in the 1975 revival of A Doll's House starring Liv Ullmann and Sam Waterston. She made her television breakthrough in the daytime soap opera One Life to Live (1968). She assumed the role of Karen Woleck (originated by Kathryn Breech (1976-77), and for a brief period, replaced by Julia Duffy (1977)). Light's extensive theater experience added multidimensional facets to the character, and the performance earned the actress two consecutive Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Light departed from her character in 1983 - to star in ABC's new prime-time sitcom Who's the Boss? (1984) - the role of Karen Woleck was not recast, instead, she departs for an off-screen life in Canada, coinciding with Light's departure from the series. After Light's success on daytime, she landed the leading role of assertive advertising executive Angela Bower on the ABC sitcom Who's the Boss? (1984). The actress co-starred with Tony Danza, who played her housekeeper (and eventual lover). Also featured were Alyssa Milano, Danny Pintauro and Katherine Helmond. The series ran for eight seasons and had constant success. Light also lent her craft to the short lived sitcoms Phenom (1993) and The Simple Life (2003), and several made-for-TV productions, including the biographical drama The Ryan White Story (1989) (in which she portrayed Jeanne White, the mother of HIV/AIDS positive teenager Ryan White); the actress also portrayed Alabama murderer Audrey Marie Hilley in Wife, Mother, Murderer (1991).
In 1999, Light returned to her theater roots for the off-Broadway production of Pulitzer Prize-winning play Wit (2001); the actress received rave reviews as a college professor battling ovarian cancer-and reprised the role for the national tour. Light returned to television in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999); the actress assumed the recurring role of Judge Elizabeth Connelly, making her first appearance during the third season episode Guilt (2002), which was broadcast on March 29, 2009. The character appeared in 25 more episodes of the series, making her last appearance in season 12 episode Behave (2010). Light also appeared in the ABC comedy-drama Ugly Betty (2006), in which Light's performance as the recurring Claire Meade resulted in a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. In 2014, she began starring as Shelly Pfefferman in the critically acclaimed Amazon Studios dark comedy-drama series Transparent (2014), for which she received Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy, and Critics' Choice Television Award nominations.- Actress
- Art Department
- Director
As a kid, Sissy Spacek climbed trees, rode horses, swam, and played in
the woods. She was born Mary Elizabeth Spacek on December 25, 1949, in
Quitman, Texas, to Virginia Frances (Spilman) and Edwin Arnold Spacek,
Sr., a county agricultural agent. Her father's family was of Czech and
German origin.
Sissy attended Quitman High School and was homecoming queen. After
graduating, she embarked on an acting career, gaining interest in the
profession through her cousin, actor Rip Torn.
Sissy relocated to New York, and through him, enrolled in the New York
branch of the Actors Studio. She studied acting at the Lee Strasberg
Institute while also pursuing work as a model and singer, appearing in
West Village showcases such as the Bitter End for $10 a night. Sissy
eventually broke into film and one of her first roles was as Holly in
the classic Badlands (1973). The art
director on that film was Jack Fisk, with whom
she would marry in 1974 and ultimately collaborate on eight films.
Sissy followed this landmark film with a star-making and Oscar
nominated performance in Carrie (1976), in
which she played a humiliated prom queen who goes postal with her
telekinesis. Sissy has had an enduring and award winning career in
movies and television, which includes an Oscar as Best Actress for
Coal Miner's Daughter (1980).
The parents of two grown daughters, Sissy and Jack live on a large
horse ranch in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Even
though she continued to appear in film and television during the late
1980s and 1990s, Sissy devoted most of those years to her family. Then,
in 2001, Sissy returned to the big screen in a major way with a
powerful performance in
In the Bedroom (2001), which not
only earned her a sixth Best Actress Oscar nomination, but a win for
Best Actress at the Golden Globes, Independent Spirit Awards, and
numerous critics association awards. Sissy continues to work steadily
as an actress, but in 2012, her credits expanded even further to
include a memoir, My Extraordinary Ordinary Life.- Actress
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Lindsay Wagner makes little distinction between her life as an actress,
advocate, mother or author. What unites these various parts is a
commitment through her work and her personal life to exploring and
advancing human potential.
Lindsay first came to prominence in the critically-acclaimed role of
Susan Fields in
The Paper Chase (1973), but
received household recognition worldwide when she broke the mold for
women on television with her iconic portrayal of Jaime Sommers. As she
collaborated with the writers,
The Bionic Woman (1976)
became an inspiration around the world and, in 1977, Lindsay won the
Emmy for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series".
Her now-strong influence in the media and a desire to use that as a way
to communicate ideas to help people in their personal journey is
demonstrated in so many of the films in which she starred, such as:
The Incredible Journey of Doctor Meg Laurel (1979),
the struggle between naturopathic and allopathic healthcare (1979);
I Want to Live (1983),
the moral dilemma regarding capital punishment (1983);
Child's Cry (1986), child
sexual abuse (1986);
The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story (1988),
some root complexities of terrorism (1988);
Evil in Clear River (1988),
the quiet rise of the Neo-Nazi movement in America (1988);
Shattered Dreams (1990),
on family violence, which she also co-produced (1991);
Fighting for My Daughter (1995),
highlighting the problem of teen prostitution (1995);
Thicker Than Water (2005),
expressing compassion for the animal kingdom and the importance of
family (2005);
Four Extraordinary Women (2006),
the emotional effect of breast cancer on family members (2006). As a
result of the volume of her successful productions, she was often
referred to as the "Queen of TV Movies".
Lindsay has long been acknowledged as one of the top leading
spokespersons in the United States, a role she took very seriously with
regard to the impact it would have on the public, which in turn
reinforced her position as a respected voice in the community. She was
given a Genii Award as "Performer of the Year" in 1985. Lindsay has
co-authored a bestselling vegetarian cookbook, "The High Road to
Health" (1990) and "Lindsay Wagner's New Beauty: The Acupressure
Facelift" (1986). She has recently released a meditation CD, "Open to
Oneness".
Off-screen, Lindsay is passionate about the study and sharing of
holistic healing modalities, integrating mind, body and spirit. For 25
years, she has been the Honorary Chair of ICAN (Inter-Agency Council on
Child Abuse and Neglect). She has also been heavily involved in human
rights, domestic violence, animal welfare and the environment. From
2003-2006, in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's
Department, Lindsay co-facilitated a counseling group for convicted
batterers and their families. Her work utilized a range of
psychological and spiritual techniques.
For the public, Lindsay facilitates experiential "Quiet the Mind & Open
the Heart" workshops and retreats. These programs are designed to help
overcome our own personal challenges, while accessing the peace and joy
that is naturally within us. Lindsay offers these programs to the
public as well as special interest groups as a way of sharing, that
which has greatly impacted her life.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
One of England's most versatile character actors, Jim Broadbent was
born on May 24, 1949, in Lincolnshire, the youngest son of furniture
maker Roy Laverick Broadbent and sculptress Doreen "Dee" (Findlay)
Broadbent. Jim attended a Quaker boarding school in Reading before
successfully applying for a place at an art school. His heart was in
acting, though, and he would later transfer to the London Academy of
Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Following his 1972 graduation, he began
his professional career on the stage, performing with the Royal
National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and as part of the
National Theatre of Brent, a two-man troupe which he co-founded. In
addition to his theatrical work, Broadbent did steady work on
television, working for such directors as
Mike Newell and
Stephen Frears. Broadbent made his film
debut in 1978 with a small part in
Jerzy Skolimowski's
The Shout (1978). He went on to work
with Frears again in The Hit (1984) and
with Terry Gilliam in
Time Bandits (1981) and
Brazil (1985), but it was through his
collaboration with Mike Leigh that
Broadbent first became known to an international film audience. In 1990
he starred in Leigh's
Life Is Sweet (1990), a domestic
comedy that cast him as a good-natured cook who dreams of running his
own business. Broadbent gained further visibility the following year
with substantial roles in
Neil Jordan's
The Crying Game (1992) and
Mike Newell's
Enchanted April (1991), and he
could subsequently be seen in such diverse fare as
Woody Allen's
Bullets Over Broadway (1994),
Widows' Peak (1994),
Richard Loncraine's highly acclaimed
adaptation of Shakespeare's
Richard III (1995) and
Little Voice (1998), the last of
which cast him as a seedy nightclub owner. Appearing primarily as a
character actor in these films, Broadbent took center stage for Leigh's
Topsy-Turvy (1999), imbuing the
mercurial W.S. Gilbert with emotional complexity and comic poignancy.
Jim's breakthrough year was 2001, as he starred in three critically and
commercially successful films. Many would consider him the definitive
supporting actor of that year. First he starred as Bridget's dad (Colin
Jones) in
Bridget Jones's Diary (2001),
which propelled Renée Zellweger to an
Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Next came the multiple
Oscar-nominated film (including Best Picture)
Moulin Rouge! (2001), for which he
won a Best Supporting Actor BAFTA award for his scene-stealing
performance as Harold Zidler. Lastly, came the small biopic
Iris (2001), for which he won the Oscar
for Best Supporting Actor as devoted husband John Bayley to
Judi Dench's Iris Murdoch, the British
novelist who suffered from Alzheimer's disease. The film hit home with
Jim, since his own mother had passed away from Alzheimer's in 1995.- Writer
- Director
- Producer
The most internationally acclaimed Spanish filmmaker since Luis Buñuel was
born in a small town (Calzada de Calatrava) in the impoverished Spanish
region of La Mancha. He arrived in Madrid in 1968, and survived by
selling used items in the flea-market called El Rastro. Almodóvar
couldn't study filmmaking because he didn't have the money to afford
it. Besides, the filmmaking schools were closed in early 70s by
Franco's government. Instead, he found a job in the Spanish phone
company and saved his salary to buy a Super 8 camera. From 1972 to
1978, he devoted himself to make short films with the help of of his
friends. The "premieres" of those early films were famous in the
rapidly growing world of the Spanish counter-culture. In few years,
Almodóvar became a star of "La Movida", the pop cultural movement of
late 70s Madrid. His first feature film, Pepi, Luci, Bom and Other Girls Like Mom (1980), was made in 16 mm and
blown-up to 35 mm for public release. In 1987, he and his brother
Agustín Almodóvar established their own production company: El Deseo, S. A. The
"Almodóvar phenomenon" has reached all over the world, making his films
very popular in many countries.- Actress
- Producer
The second daughter of manufacturing executive Oscar Blum and his wife Dorothy, Tanya Roberts was born 1949 in Manhattan and grew up in the elite Westchester County suburbs Scarsdale and Greenburgh. Tanya reportedly dropped out of high school, got married and hitchhiked around the country until her mother-in-law had the marriage annulled. She met psychology student Barry Roberts while waiting in line to see a movie. A few months later, she proposed to him in a subway station, and they were married. She studied acting under Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen. In her early years in New York, she supported herself as an Arthur Murray dance instructor and by modeling. She appeared in off-Broadway productions of "Picnic" and "Antigone", and in television commercials for Ultra Brite, Clairol and Cool Ray sunglasses.
In 1977, Tanya and her husband -- by then a scriptwriter -- moved to Hollywood. She began appearing in made-for-TV films including Pleasure Cove (1979), Zuma Beach (1978), and Waikiki (1980). Her film debut was in The Last Victim (1976). After appearing in several minor films, her first big break came when she was selected as the last Angel on the final season of Charlie's Angels (1976), and was featured on the cover of People magazine (02/09/1981). The attention she garnered helped secure her most significant film roles: The Beastmaster (1982) (and posed for the cover and an inside spread in Playboy magazine to promote the film), the title role in Sheena (1984) and as a Bond girl in A View to a Kill (1985). She continued to appear in films, though mainly direct-to-video and direct-to-cable features. She was featured in the CD computer game The Pandora Directive (1996) and had a recurring lead role in the television series That '70s Show (1998). Widowed in 2006, Tanya Roberts died of sepsis from a urinary tract infection in 2021.- Actor
- Stunts
- Producer
Deep Roy was born on 26 January 1949 in Nairobi, Kenya. He is an actor and producer, known for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and The NeverEnding Story (1984).- Actor
- Producer
- Stunts
Known as an Actor's Actor, the Four time Golden Globe Nominee, Emmy Award Winning Actor ( Gotti 1996 ) Assante has received acclaim for his work for close to Five decades. Internationally he has been the recipient of Twelve Lifetime Achievement Awards in the past ten years.
Full Biography at ArmandAssante.net- Actor
- Writer
- Music Department
John Belushi was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA, on January 24, 1949,
to Agnes Demetri (Samaras) and Adam Anastos Belushi, a restaurant
owner. His father was an Albanian immigrant, from Qytezë, and his
mother was also of Albanian descent. He grew up in Wheaton, where the
family moved when he was six. Though a young hellion in grade school,
John became the perfect all-American boy during his high school years
where he was co-captain of the Wheaton Central High School football
team and was elected homecoming king his senior year. He also developed
an interest in acting and appeared in the high school variety show.
Encouraged by his drama teacher, John decided to put aside his plans to
become a football coach to pursue a career in acting.
After graduation in 1967, John performed in summer stock in rural
Indiana in a variety of roles from "Cardinal Wolsey" in "Anne of a
Thousand Days" to a comic detective in "Ten Little Indians". In the
fall of his freshman year at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater,
John changed his image into a bad-boy appearance by growing his hair
long and began to have problems with discipline and structure of
attending classes.
Dropping out of Wisconsin, John spent the next two years at the College
of DuPage, a junior college a few miles from his parents' Wheaton home,
where his father began persuading him to become a partner in his
restaurant, but John still preferred acting. While attending DuPage,
John helped found the "West Compass Players", an improv comedy troupe
patterned after Chicago's famous "Second City" ensemble.
In 1971, John made the leap to "Second City" itself where he performed
in various on-stage comic performances with others, who included
Harold Ramis and
Joe Flaherty. John loved his life
at "Second City" where he performed six nights a week, perfecting the
physical "gonzo" style of comedy he later made famous.
A year later, John and his live-in girlfriend from his high school
years, Judith Belushi-Pisano,
moved to New York because John had joined the cast of National
Lampoon's Lemmings, an off-Broadway rock musical revue that was
originally booked for a six-week run but played to full crowds for
nearly 10 months.
In 1973, John was hired as a writer for the syndicated National
Lampoon's Radio Hour which became the National Lampoon Show in 1975.
John's big break came that same year when he joined the ground-breaking
TV variety series
Saturday Night Live (1975)
which made him a star. The unpredictable, aggressively physical style
of humor that he began on "Second City" flowered on SNL.
In 1978, while still working on
Saturday Night Live (1975),
John appeared in the movie
Goin' South (1978) which starred and
was directed by Jack Nicholson.
It was here that director
John Landis noticed John and decided
to cast him in his movie National Lampoon's
National Lampoon's Animal House (1978). John's minor
role as the notorious, beer-swilling "Bluto" made it a box-office smash
and the year's top grossing comedy. Despite appearing in only a dozen
scenes, John's performance stole the movie, which portrays college
fraternity shenanigans at a small college set in the year 1962.
In 1979, John along with fellow SNL regular
Dan Aykroyd quit the series to pursue movie
projects. John and Dan Aykroyd appeared in
minor roles in Steven Spielberg's
financially unsuccessful 1941 (1979) and,
the following year, in John Landis'
The Blues Brothers (1980).
Around this time, John's drug use began escalating. Cocaine, which was
ubiquitous in show-business circles in the 1970's, became his drug of
choice. After he first experimented with cocaine in the mid 1970s, John
almost immediately became addicted to it. His frequent cocaine sniffing
binges became a source of friction between him and Judy, whom he
married in 1976.
John's love for blues and soul music inspired the "Blues Brothers". He
and Aykroyd first appeared as Joliet Jake and Elwood Blues, a pair of
white soul men dressed in black suits, skinny ties, fedora hats and
Rayban sunglasses, as a warm-up act before the telecasts of
Saturday Night Live (1975).
Building on the success of their acts and the release of their album "A
Briefcase Full of Blues", John and
Dan Aykroyd starred in the movie, which gave
John a chance to act with his favorite musical heroes including
Ray Charles,
James Brown and
Aretha Franklin.
Although John's reputation for being an off-screen party animal is
legendary, his generous side is less well known. Using some of his
money, he bought his father a ranch outside San Diego for him to live.
John helped set up some of his Chicago friends with their own
businesses and even financially helped his younger brother,
Jim Belushi, who followed his older
brother's path to both "Second City" and
Saturday Night Live (1975).
In 1981, John appeared in the movie
Continental Divide (1981),
playing a hard-nosed Chicago newspaperman who finds romance in Colorado
with eagle expert Blair Brown. That
same year, John and Dan Aykroyd appeared
again in the movie Neighbors (1981),
which gave them a chance to reverse roles, with John playing a
straight-arrow family man whose life is turned upside down when a wild
family man (Aykroyd) moves in next door.
In January 1982, John began work on the screenplay for another movie to
be titled "Noble Rot". Also, John had checked into a bungalow at the
Chateau Marmont, a popular celebrity hotel in Los Angeles. John's drug
use had been steadily increasing for over a year now, which alarmed his
wife and friends, but he continued to promise Judy that he would quit
someday. On March 5, 1982, John Belushi was found dead in his hotel
room at the age of 33. The local coroner gave the cause of death as a
lethal injection of cocaine and heroin. Several years later, John's
drug dealing/drug user companion during his final weeks, Cathy Evelyn Smith,
was tried and sentenced to three years in prison for supplying John
with the drugs. Close friend
James Taylor sang "That Lonesome
Road" at a memorial service at Martha's Vineyard cemetery where John
was buried.- Actress
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Gates McFadden was born on 2 March 1949 in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Star Trek: Picard (2020), Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Labyrinth (1986). She is married to John Talbot. They have one child.- Zoë Wanamaker is an American expatriate actress, who has spend most of her career in the United Kingdom. She has worked extensively in the theatre. She has been nominated for 9 Laurence Olivier Awards, wining twice. She has also been nominated for 4 Tony Awards, without ever winning. In television, she is known for the main role of Susan Harper in the long-running sitcom "My Family" (2000-2011).
In 1949, Wanamaker was born in New York City. Her father the American film director Sam Wanamaker (1919 -1993). Sam was born in Chicago to Ukrainian-Jewish immigrants. Wanamaker's mother was the Canadian actress Charlotte Hollan, who was also of Jewish descent. Wanamaker's paternal grandfather was the tailor Maurice Wanamaker, whose original family name was "Watmacher".
Sam Wanamaker was a veteran of World War II, and an adherent of communism. In the early 1950s, the United States was experiencing the Second Red Scare. Communists, real or suspected ones, were seen as potential foreign agents and were targeted by political purges. In 1952, Sam was blacklisted in the United States. He decided to settle in the United Kingdom with his family. Zoë consequently settled in the United Kingdom at the age of 3.
Wanamaker received her early education at the King Alfred School, a co-educational independent school located in London. She later attended the Sidcot School, a co-educational boarding school located in the village of Winscombe, Somerset. Sidcot was a Quaker school, but was open to students from various faiths and cultures. Sidcot had served as a co-educational school since 1808. one of the earliest British schools of its kind.
Following her graduation, Wanamaker pursued a pre-diploma course at the Hornsey College of Art. Having decided to follow an acting career, Wanamaker was trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. The school had been operating since 1906, when founded by the teacher Elsie Fogerty (1865 -1945). The school was initially based around Fogerty's theories about teaching proper elocution.
In the early 1970s, Wanamaker was primarily a theatrical actress. In 1976, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. It is a prestigious theatrical company, headquartered in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. It specializes in performing the plays of William Shakespeare, though it has performed plays by many other playwrights. Wanamaker served as a member until 1984.
In 1979, Wanamaker won her first Olivier Award for her role in a revival of the play "Once in a Lifetime" (1930) by Moss Hart (1904 -1961) and George Simon Kaufman (1889-1961). The play is a satire of American show business. It depicts veteran vaudeville performers trying to re-establish their careers in the Hollywood film industry.
In the 1980s, Wanamaker frequently appeared in television films and other television production. She played an intelligence agent in the mini-series "Edge of Darkness" (1985), which combined elements from the genres of crime drama, political thriller, and science fiction. She was part of the cast of the historical drama series "Paradise Postponed" (1986), which depicts the changes experienced by British from the 1940s to the 1970s. She was part of the cast in the biographical film "Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story" (1987), based on the life and long-term problems of American heiress Barbara Hutton (1912 -1979). She had a one-shot role in the anthology series "Tales of the Unexpected" (1979-1988), which typically adapted short stories into its episodes.
In 1991, Wanamaker played manicurist Moyra Henson in the first season of the police procedural "Prime Suspect" (1991-2006). Henson's common-law husband is suspected serial killer George Marlow, and police authorities eventually realize that all the recent victims were Henson's clients. Wanamaker's role was critically well-received. She was nominated for the "British Academy Television Award for Best Actress" for this role, but the award was instead won by her co-star Helen Mirren (1945-).
In 1993, Wanamaker had a co-starring role in the drama film "The Countess Alice". In the film, she played Konstanza (nicknamed "Connie"), the German daughter of British aristocrat Countess Alice von Holzendorf (played by Wendy Hiller). Connie investigates her own past and realizes that the real Konstanza died in childhood. She is a child of obscure origins, who was secretly adopted by Alice as a replacement. The film was well-received at the time, though it is mostly remembered for Hiller's last role in a film.
In 1997, Wanamaker had a supporting role in the biographical film "Wide", based on the life of the writer Oscar Wilde (1854 -1900). She played the role of the novelist Ada Leverson (1862 -1933), a close friend of Wilde who offered him hospitality when he became an outcast. The film was well-received by critics. Wanamaker was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, but the award was instead won by rival actress Sigourney Weaver (1949-).
In 2000, Wanamaker gained a major television role, when cast as Susan Harper in the sitcom "My Family" (2001-2011). Harper was depicted as a tour guide who is married and has three children. Her so-called "control freak" nature often has her clash with her family. Her problems include being married to a husband who clearly does not care about her, and having immature kids.
In 2000, Wanamaker finally gained British citizenship, after residing in the country for 48 years. She also maintained her American citizenship. In January 2001, Wanamaker was appointed a "Commander of the Order of the British Empire" for her services to drama. This is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences.
In 2001, Wanamaker had a supporting role in the fantasy film "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", an adaptation of a novel by J. K. Rowling (1965-). Wanamaker played the role of Rolanda Hooch, a Quidditch referee and flying instructor for first-year students at the magic school Hogwarts. The film was a box office hit. Wanamaker did not appear in the film's sequels.
In 2005, Wanamaker had a role in the science fiction series "Doctor Who" (2005-) as the villain Lady Cassandra, who is obsessed with prolonging her own life. Wanamaker returned to this role in 2006.
Also in 2005, Wanamaker joined the cast of the mysteries series "Agatha Christie's Poirot" (1989-2013) as crime novelist Ariadne Oliver. Oliver was a recurring character created by writer Agatha Christie (1890-1976), and was intended as a self-portrait of Christie. Wanamaker played this role in 6 feature-length episodes, broadcast from 2005 to 2013. Oliver was depicted as a close friend and ally of detective Hercule Poirot (played by David Suchet).
In 2008, Wanamaker voiced the blind seeress Theresa in the role-playing video game "Fable II". Her character guides the game's protagonist through its story. The video game was quite successful. Wanamaker returned to this role in two of the game's sequels: "Fable III" (2010), and Fable: The Journey (2012). This has been Wanamaker's most prominent performance in voice acting.
In 2011, Wanamaker had a supporting role in the drama film "My Week with Marilyn", which depicted Marilyn Monroe brief stay in the United Kingdom during the shooting of the classic film "The Prince and the Showgirl" (1957). Wanamaker played the role of Paula Strasberg (1909-1966), Monroe's acting coach. The film performed well at the box office, and was critically acclaimed.
In 2015, Wanamaker joined the cast of the period drama series "Mr Selfridge" (2013-2016). The series was based on the life of retail magnate Harry Gordon Selfridge (1858-1947). Wanamaker played the role of Princess Marie Wiasemsky de Bolotoff, a Russian aristocrat who serves at the mother-in-law of Rosalie Selfridge.
In 2018, Wanamaker gained the major role of Queen Antedia in the historical fantasy series "Britannia" (2018-).Antedia was depicted as the Queen regnant of the Regni tribe, a Celtic tribe struggling against the rival Cantii tribe.
As of 2021, Wanamaker is 72-years-old. She has never retired from acting, and continues to appear regularly in television. She is quite familiar to the British public, through decades of notable roles. - Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Additional Crew
Roger Deakins is an English cinematographer best known for his work on the films of the Coen brothers, Sam Mendes, and Denis Villeneuve.
He is a member of both the American and British Society of Cinematographers.
Deakins' first feature film in America as cinematographer was Mountains of the Moon (1990). He began his collaboration with the Coen brothers in 1991 on the film Barton Fink. He received his first major award from the American Society of Cinematographers for his outstanding achievement in cinematography for the internationally praised major motion picture The Shawshank Redemption (1994).
He is also known for his work in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007), No Country for Old Men (2007), True Grit (2010), Skyfall (2012), Sicario (2015), and Blade Runner 2049 (2017).
Deakins also worked as one of the visual consultants for Pixar's animated feature WALL-E.
In 2018 he won an Oscar for best cinematographer for his work in Blade Runner 2049.- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
A fireball of talent and a musical force to be reckoned with, singer/actress Patti LuPone was born on April 21, 1949 in Northport on Long Island, New York, of Italian heritage. Her parents, Orlando Joseph LuPone, a school administrator, and mother Angela Louise (Patti), a librarian, eventually divorced. She was christened Patti in honor of her great-grand-aunt, the renowned 19th-century opera singer Adelina Patti.
Trained in dance, her early days as a teen were spent as part of a 60s sibling group called "The Lupone Trio," which was comprised of Patti and older twin brothers William and Robert LuPone, the latter moving on to a daunting career of his own. A graduate of Northport High School, she attended the Drama Division of The Juilliard School and became part of its first graduating class, which also included future stars Kevin Kline and David Ogden Stiers.
In 1972 the legendary John Houseman reshaped said graduating class and formed The Acting Company, which earned a strong reputation on tour as a classical repertory group. Gaining invaluable acting experience, she stayed with the company until 1975. Making her NY theater debut in "The School for Scandal" (1972), she went on to play major roles in "The Hostage," "The Lower Depths," "The Three Sisters" (her Broadway debut), "Measure for Measure," "Scapin," "Edward II," and "The Time of Your Life," among others. However, it was in musicals that she would reign supreme. She played Lucy in a version of "The Beggar's Opera" (1973) and went on to earn distinction in "The Robber Bridegroom" (Tony nomination) (1975), "The Baker's Wife" (1976) and "Working" (1978).
Her incredible pipes and assured countenance eventually earned her the role of a lifetime with "Evita" (1979). As Argentina's calculating and beloved Eva Peron, Patti grabbed the international spotlight with a rare dramatic fury and brilliance. Her electrifying performance earned her both the Tony and Drama Desk awards, and the resulting stardom officially launched her film and TV career.
Minor roles in King of the Gypsies (1978) and 1941 (1979) led to a co-starring role with Tom Skerritt in the vigilante crimer Fighting Back (1982).
Continuing to show off her singing prowess, she originated the role of Fantine in the London production of "Les Misérables" and became the first American to win the prestigious Olivier Award (for her work in both "Les Miz" and "The Cradle Will Rock") in 1985. She nabbed a second Drama Desk Award and another Tony nomination for her Reno Sweeney in "Anything Goes" (1987).
Twice nominated for Emmy awards on TV, she impressed as Lady Bird opposite Randy Quaid's President Lyndon Baines Johnson in the mini-movie LBJ: The Early Years (1987) and scored a resounding hit on the dramatic series Life Goes On (1989) as Libby Thatcher, the loving, protective mother of a son (played by Chris Burke) afflicted with Down Syndrome. This groundbreaking program was the first of its kind to center its theme around a mentally handicapped character. The show ran a durable four seasons and its title song, "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La Da" by Lennon/McCartney, featured Patti's vocals. A round of guest shots over the years have included "Law & Order," "Frazier," "Touched by an Angel," "Will & Grace" (hilariously spoofing her diva image), and a recurring spot on the critically-acclaimed Oz (1997). On film she was well represented by Witness (1985) and in Driving Miss Daisy (1989) as Dan Aykroyd's materialistic wife and minor nemesis to Jessica Tandy.
The concert stage has been a commanding venue for Patti over the years with a number of successful one-woman singing showcases such as "The Lady with the Torch," "Matters of the Heart" and "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda," winning an Outer Critics Circle Award for her "Patti LuPone on Broadway" in 1995. Stage concert versions of "Pal Joey," "Passion," "A Little Night Music," "Can-Can" and "Candide" have greatly added to her enduring popularity, in addition to her three solo evenings at Carnegie Hall. Powerhouse leads in "Sunset Boulevard" (1993) and "Master Class" (1996) have ensured her diva-like place as one of America's contemporary singing immortals. She earned another Tony nomination more recently for her inventive spin on the monstrous Mrs. Lovett in "Sweeney Todd" (2005). Since then she has added to her Broadway musical gallery as Rose in "Gypsy" (2008) and as Helena Rubinstein in "War Paint" (2017). She also played the aggressive, scene-stealing role of Joanne ("The Ladies Who Lunch") in a film concert version of Company (2011).
Broaching the millennium and beyond, occasional film appearances have included supporting roles in Family Prayers (1993), Summer of Sam (1999), City by the Sea (2002), Union Square (2011), Parker (2013), The Comedian (2016) and Last Christmas (2019). On the smaller screen, she lent her assertive presence in recurring fashion with 30 Rock (2006), American Horror Story (2011), Penny Dreadful (2014), Anthem: Homunculus (2019) and Pose (2018) and a sturdy role in the mini-series Hollywood (2020).
Married since 1988 to camera operator Matthew Johnston, Patti has one son, Josh, who appeared in a small role in Patti's concert version of "Passion."- Reed began her on-screen acting career appearing as a cast regular on the CBS drama series The Andros Targets (1977), and with minor roles in the films The Long Riders (1980), and Melvin and Howard (1980). Shortly after, New York Times awarded her positive reviews for her work in the poorly received, yet entertaining film The Clan of the Cave Bear (1986); in the film, Reed is Iza, a formidable neanderthal woman who is descended from a line of renowned medicine women. Later, Robert Altman awarded Reed with a role in his HBO political mockumentary miniseries Tanner '88 (1988). Her performance as T.J Cavanaugh, a fictional presidential campaign manager, earned her an ACE Award for Actress in a Dramatic Series. It was in the box office smash Kindergarten Cop (1990) that Reed received much-deserved exposure with the comedic role of Phoebe, Arnold Schwarzenegger's hypoglycemic police partner. Reed continues to appear in film and television projects; however is more often found on stage; a well-reputed stage actress, her performances have earned two Drama Desk Awards, Featured Actress - Play (1978, 1979), and an Obie Award, Sustained Excellence - Performance (1984).
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Native New Yorker and Italianate Bruno Kirby tended towards assertive,
pushy, streetwise characters and was armed with a highly distinctive
scratchy tenor voice that complemented his slim eyes and droopy puss
and accentuated his deadpan comedic instincts on film and TV. The
well-regarded character actor was born Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu on April 28,
1949, in New York City, the son of Lucille (Garibaldi) and actor Bruce Kirby. He was raised in NY's Hell's Kitchen section.
In the late 1960s he moved with his family to California. His career
began to rev up in the early 1970s with a part in the TV pilot episode
of M*A*S*H (1972) and roles in the
films
The Young Graduates (1971),
The Harrad Experiment (1973),
Cinderella Liberty (1973) and
Superdad (1973). Most notable of all,
however, was his featured part as Young Clemenza alongside
Robert De Niro's young Vito Corleone in
The Godfather Part II (1974).
Bruno also played
Richard S. Castellano's son in the
short-lived ethnic sitcom
The Super (1972). Coincidentally,
Castellano played older Clemenza in the original
The Godfather (1972).
On stage in the 1980s and 1990s, Bruno appeared in "On the Money"
(1983) and "Geniuses" (1985) and later replaced
Kevin Spacey on Broadway in "Lost in
Yonkers" in 1991. In 1997 he showcased off-Broadway, playing writer
Alan Zweibel in "Bunny Bunny," Zweibel's
tribute to comedienne Gilda Radner and
their close 14-year friendship.
Bruno's close association with director
Rob Reiner and actor
Billy Crystal arguably led to the apex of
his film career. In the early 1980s he chummed around with both Reiner
and Crystal on a softball team, along with writer/actor/director
Christopher Guest. Bruno wound
up playing Crystal's best buddy in two of Crystal's biggest box-office
hits --
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
and City Slickers (1991). He also
appeared in Reiner's cult hit
This Is Spinal Tap (1984).
Other important film roles for him included his humorless lieutenant in
Good Morning, Vietnam (1987),
the refined salesman named "Mouse" in
Tin Men (1987) and
Marlon Brando's nephew in
The Freshman (1990), that more or
less amusingly parodied the "Godfather" association.
Bruno was equally effective in taut, heavier stories and supported such
up-and-coming stars as
Leonardo DiCaprio in the dark and
downbeat
The Basketball Diaries (1995)
and Johnny Depp in the mob family-styled
drama Donnie Brasco (1997). On TV
he was a regular on
It's Garry Shandling's Show. (1986),
played dogged prosecutor
Vincent Bugliosi in the miniseries
Helter Skelter (2004),
which was a reenactment of the
Charles Manson family horror, and
appeared on the more popular shows of the day, such as
Entourage (2004). He was married
for the first time to actress Lynn Sellers
in 2004 at age 55. His brother John is a well-known acting coach. An
occasional TV director to boot, Bruno was diagnosed with leukemia
shortly before his death on August 14, 2006, after having completed his
part in the film Played (2006) starring
Gabriel Byrne.- Actor
- Director
Steven Williams is an American actor in films and television. He is known for his roles as Captain Adam Fuller on 21 Jump Street, Lt. Jefferson Burnett on The Equalizer, Det. August Brooks on L.A. Heat, X on The X-Files, Russell "Linc" Lincoln in Linc's, and Rufus Turner in Supernatural.- Writer
- Producer
- Director
Nancy Jane Meyers is an American filmmaker. She has written, produced, and directed many critically and commercially successful films including Private Benjamin (1980), Irreconcilable Differences (1984), Baby Boom (1987), Father of the Bride (1991), Father of the Bride Part II (1995), The Parent Trap (1998), What Women Want (2000), Something's Gotta Give (2003), The Holiday (2006), It's Complicated (2009), and The Intern (2015).- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Equally at home on stage and on screen, award-winning actress Loretta Devine has created some of the most memorable roles in theatre, film and television.
Devine first captured national attention in the role of Lorrell, one of the three original "Dreamgirls" in Michael Bennett's classic award-winning Broadway musical of the same name. She followed that performance with a fiery portrayal of Lillian in Bob Fosse's critically acclaimed stage production "Big Deal." Subsequent work in George C. Wolfe's "Colored Museum" and "Lady Day at Emerson Bar and Grill," cemented Devine's status as one of the most talented and versatile stage actresses.
Film roles soon followed including a poignant turn as a single mother opposite Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett and Gregory Hines in Waiting to Exhale (1995) which earned Devine her first NAACP Image Award for 'Best Supporting Actress.' Devine also won an NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Penny Marshall's The Preacher's Wife (1996). Devine received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress for her work in "Women Thou Art Loosed." Devine was featured in the Academy Award-winning film "Crash" and the hit movie of "Dreamgirls." Some of her additional film credits include appearances in the successful "Urban Legend" franchise, "I Am Sam" opposite Michelle Pfeiffer and Sean Penn, "Kingdom Come," "What Women Want," "Punks," "Hoodlums," "Down in the Delta" and "Stanley and Iris."
Devine's more recent film credits include co-starring roles in "This Christmas" and "First Sunday" both of which opened Number 1 at the box office. Devine voiced the character of "Delta" in Disney's "Beverly Hills Chihuahua." She appeared with Chris Rock in Sony Screen Gems remake of "Death at a Funeral" and "Lottery Ticket" for Alcon/Warner Brothers. Devine portrayed "The Woman in Green" in Tyler Perry's adaptation of Ntozake Shange's "For Colored Girls." In 2011, Devine starred in two leading roles in the film "Jumping the Broom" with Paula Patton, Laz Alonso and Angela Bassett and in the Tyler Perry directed film "Madea's Big Happy Family," both films earned top spots at the box office, respectively. Devine followed up her box office hits with a strong lineup of independent films including Robert Townsend's "In The Hive" which earned Devine a NAACP Image Award nomination for "Best Actress in a Motion Picture", "You're Not You" alongside Hilary Swank, James Franco's "The Sound and the Fury" and the Kristen Wiig dramedy, "Welcome to Me."
On television, Devine became a critical darling in her Emmy award-winning role as "Adele" on ABC's hit medical drama "Grey's Anatomy." Devine's credits include numerous series roles on shows such as "The Cosby Show" spin-off "A Different World," Eddie Murphy's stop-motion animated series "The PJs," David E Kelly's "Boston Public," ABC's "Eli Stone" and alongside Jennifer Love-Hewitt on Lifetime's "The Client List." She most recently starred on NBC's critically acclaimed sitcom "The Carmichael Show" and co-starred in the 3rd season of BET's "Being Mary Jane" as the titular character's main antagonist, "Cece." Devine continues to voice "Hallie the Hippo" on Disney Channel's Peabody Award-Winning animated series, "Doc McStuffins," and will next star in the Netflix family series, "FAMILY REUNION" which will feature an all-black cast and crew.
With a career spanning three decades, Devine has earned much praise and accolades for her work on both the big and small screen. For her work as "Adele" on "Grey's Anatomy," Devine earned both a Primetime Emmy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, a Gracie Allen Award for "Outstanding Female Actor in a Featured Role," a nomination for "Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series" from the Critics' Choice Television Awards and a NAACP Image Award and a NAACP Image Award nomination. In total, Devine has won nine NAACP Image Awards and has received a record twenty-four nominations. Devine has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from both the Pan African Film Festival and the NAACP Theatre Awards and the Thespian Award from the LA Femme International Film Festival.
Devine graduated from the University of Houston and later received a Master of Fine Arts from Brandeis University. She also received a Doctorate of Humane Letters as well as a Distinguished Alumni Award from The University of Houston.
She currently resides in Los Angeles.- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Barbara was awarded a scholarship by the Fine Arts Foundation which
launched her career in New York City. As a soloist for the Harkness
Ballet, she danced at the White House and as a guest with the
Washington Ballet. Later she expanded her performing skills to Broadway
productions. While in New York, she won a five year contract with
Warner Brothers Studios. Her first movie, Finian's Rainbow, gave her
the cherished honor of dancing with Fred Astaire and she won two Golden
Globe nominations. Ms. Hancock has been on the staff at the Alliance
Theatre School since 1978 and has performed in many musicals there. Ms.
Hancock has taught at The Georgia Ballet, Brenau College, Theatre West
in Los Angeles, and the Performing Arts Center.- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Vernee Watson was born on 28 September 1949 in New York City, New York, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Christmas with the Kranks (2004), The Kid (2000) and General Hospital (1963). She was previously married to Van Johnson and Joe Duckett.- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Famed actress, comedian, singer, and dancer Vicki Lawrence has appeared in television shows, and in nightclubs. Her career included
shows with such popular actors as Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, and Tim Conway.
Lawrence was born Vicki Ann Axelrad in Inglewood, California, to Ann Alene (Loyd) and Howard Axelrad, a certified public accountant. Her interest in singing and dancing began at an early age. During high school, she was a cheerleader and voted Most Likely to Succeed by her class. From 1965 to 1967, Lawrence sang with the Young Americans musical group and appeared in The Young Americans, a film that won an Academy Award for Best Documentary.
Vicki Lawrence sealed her own fate as a famed actress and comedian by sending Carol Burnett a newspaper clipping showing their uncanny resemblance to each other, and asking if she could give some advice for a contest she was in called "Miss Fireball Contest" in California. Burnett, having a feeling about her, found her phone number and called Vicki. Burnett attended the event, hoping to find an entertainer who could play her kid sister on her variety show. Sure enough, Lawrence was chosen as the kid sister and was mentored by Ms Burnett and her career blossomed from there. In the fall of 1967, she made her debut on the first episode of The Carol Burnett Show. She spent 11 years with the show and earned one Emmy Award and five more nominations. In 1967, she also enrolled in UCLA to study theater arts. To enhance her singing career, she went to Vietnam to perform for U.S. troops with Johnny
Grant.
Her music career peaked in 1973, when she was awarded a gold record for her internationally known hit "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia." In 1974, Lawrence married CBS makeup artist Al Schultz, with whom she has had two children. When the Carol Burnett Show ended, Vicki Lawrence starred in her own comedy show, Mama's Family, which also featured Dorothy Lyman, Ken Berry, Beverly Archer, and Betty White; Carol Burnett also frequently appeared on the show. After ending her sitcom, Lawrence delved into hosting television shows.
She became the first successful female game show host when she hosted Win, Lose or Draw; she also hosted her own talk show, appropriately titled Vicki!, which ran from 1992-1994. Vicki Lawrence's credits cannot be limited to television alone. Her stage credits include Carousel, Hello Dolly, Annie Get Your Gun, No, No, Nanette and My Fat Friend. In the '90s, she performed in I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road. Her autobiography, Vicki! The True Life Adventures of Miss Fireball, recounts her musical, stage, and television career. She spends most of her time doing motivational speeches for women's groups and charities.- Michael Beck was born on 4 February 1949 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. He is an actor, known for The Warriors (1979), Xanadu (1980) and Megaforce (1982). He has been married to Carolyn Louise Brendel since September 1980. They have two children.
- Actor
- Writer
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James Albert Varney, Jr. was born in Lexington, Kentucky, to Nancy
Louise (Howard) and James Albert Varney, Sr. He became interested in
theater as a teenager, winning state titles in drama competitions while
a student at Lafayette High School in Lexington, Kentucky. At age 15 he
played Ebeneezer Scrooge in a local children's theater production of "A
Christmas Carol", and by 17 was performing professionally in nightclubs
and coffee houses. He chose Nashville rather than New York or Los
Angeles as a place to pursue his acting career and, with advertising
executive John R. Cherry III, turned
"Ernest P. Worrell" into a cash cow, making commercials for clients
ranging from soft drinks to food stores and, eventually, Disney. Even
though Ernest's catchphrase "KnowhutImean?" became a national craze
almost immediately, Jim worked in TV and film for more than a decade
before his famous alter-ego hit the big screen in
Ernest Goes to Camp (1987).- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Joyce Anne DeWitt was born the second oldest of four to parents Paul
and Norma DeWitt on April 23, 1949 in Wheeling, West Virginia but grew
up in Indiana. Joyce began taking acting lessons when she was in high
school. Although her father was hardly thrilled at his daughter's
ambition, she persuaded him to let her major in theater in college.
DeWitt soon moved to UCLA where she received her master's degree. After
college, she worked as a legal secretary while at the same time going
from audition to audition. Months passed before ABC offered her a
choice of two comedy pilots but gave her only 24 hours to decide on
which. After reading both scripts in a hurry, she chose the one about
one guy living with two girls
(Three's Company (1976)). She
chose well - the other show never sold. She had been in numerous
amounts of plays before but became familiar to everyone as the
sensible, down-to-earth, football jersey wearing, brunette roommate
Janet Wood.
DeWitt became famous and while many celebrities would automatically
welcome in the huge amounts of attention, she usually kept to herself
and didn't care too much for publicity.