Ezra Knight has been reelected president of SAG-AFTRA’s New York Local in a landslide victory that also gave his running mates a clean sweep of the election. Knight received nearly 73% of the votes cast in a four-person race for president. His four vice presidential running mates – Linda Powell, Anthony Rapp, Jim Kerr and Liz Zazzi – were also elected.
Knight is the leader of the local’s ruling Usan party that endorsed the unity slate led by SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher, who also won landslide victories last night.
Knight was also the top vote-getter in the NY local’s national board races, and here too his Usan running mates won every race, including Avis Boone, Christine Bruno, Samantha Mathis, Michael Gaston, Phoebe Jonas, Samantha Macivor and Jim Kerr.
Usan was formed by New York members of SAG and AFTRA who were dedicated to the merger and to “Uniting Screen Actors Nationwide.
Knight is the leader of the local’s ruling Usan party that endorsed the unity slate led by SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher, who also won landslide victories last night.
Knight was also the top vote-getter in the NY local’s national board races, and here too his Usan running mates won every race, including Avis Boone, Christine Bruno, Samantha Mathis, Michael Gaston, Phoebe Jonas, Samantha Macivor and Jim Kerr.
Usan was formed by New York members of SAG and AFTRA who were dedicated to the merger and to “Uniting Screen Actors Nationwide.
- 9/9/2023
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
SAG-AFTRA’s upcoming election is taking shape, with the union’s ruling party – headed by presidential candidate Fran Drescher – today unveiling its full slate of candidates.
Yvette Nicole Brown is running for president of the Los Angeles local, and Ezra Knight is running for president of the union’s New York local – each as part of the ruling parties’ Unite for Strength and Usan slate. Brown, a national board member, is nominated for an Emmy for A Black Lady Sketch Show, and Knight, who co-starred for many years on Law & Order, is the New York local’s vice president and a national board member.
“I believe nothing in our union works unless we are all working together,” Brown said. “As L.A. president I will advocate for each and every member and lead with kindness and respect. It’s been a tough time for us as work here in...
Yvette Nicole Brown is running for president of the Los Angeles local, and Ezra Knight is running for president of the union’s New York local – each as part of the ruling parties’ Unite for Strength and Usan slate. Brown, a national board member, is nominated for an Emmy for A Black Lady Sketch Show, and Knight, who co-starred for many years on Law & Order, is the New York local’s vice president and a national board member.
“I believe nothing in our union works unless we are all working together,” Brown said. “As L.A. president I will advocate for each and every member and lead with kindness and respect. It’s been a tough time for us as work here in...
- 7/16/2021
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
It was a clean sweep today for supporters of SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris at the union’s biennial convention, where delegates elected eight of her allies to serve as the union’s national vice presidents. All eight are listed as supporters of hers on her Unite for Strength slate’s website.
As reported here earlier, Rebecca Damon, one of Carteris’ staunchest allies, was re-elected executive vice president – the 160,000-member union’s second-highest elected office. Seven other Carteris supporters were elected to the national vice presidencies, including:
• Clyde Kusatsu, National Vice President, Los Angeles
• Liz Zazzi, National Vice President, New York
• Michele Proude, National Vice President, Mid-Sized Locals
• Suzanne Burkhead, National Vice President, Small Locals
• William Charlton, National Vice President, Actors/Performers
• Bob Butler, National Vice President, Broadcasters
• Dan Navarro, National Vice President, Recording Artists/Singers
Quite a ruckus was raised during Charlton’s nomination, when Peter Antico, a...
As reported here earlier, Rebecca Damon, one of Carteris’ staunchest allies, was re-elected executive vice president – the 160,000-member union’s second-highest elected office. Seven other Carteris supporters were elected to the national vice presidencies, including:
• Clyde Kusatsu, National Vice President, Los Angeles
• Liz Zazzi, National Vice President, New York
• Michele Proude, National Vice President, Mid-Sized Locals
• Suzanne Burkhead, National Vice President, Small Locals
• William Charlton, National Vice President, Actors/Performers
• Bob Butler, National Vice President, Broadcasters
• Dan Navarro, National Vice President, Recording Artists/Singers
Quite a ruckus was raised during Charlton’s nomination, when Peter Antico, a...
- 10/12/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
SAG-AFTRA convention delegates have narrowly re-elected Rebecca Damon to a two-year term as executive vice president of the performers union over David Jolliffe.
The margin was five votes in an election that took place Friday on the second day of the biennial SAG-aftra National Convention at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. The four-day event is closed to the news media.
The exec VP slot is the second-highest elected post in SAG-aftra and shall act in the place of the president if the president is absent. Damon’s re-election is a victory for the Carteris supporters, who operate the Unite for Strength and United Screen Actors Nationwide slates.
Damon has been in the exec VP post since April, 2016, succeeding Gabrielle Carteris in the slot. Carteris became president after Ken Howard died, serving the final 16 months of his term and was re-elected in 2017 over Esai Morales and...
The margin was five votes in an election that took place Friday on the second day of the biennial SAG-aftra National Convention at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. The four-day event is closed to the news media.
The exec VP slot is the second-highest elected post in SAG-aftra and shall act in the place of the president if the president is absent. Damon’s re-election is a victory for the Carteris supporters, who operate the Unite for Strength and United Screen Actors Nationwide slates.
Damon has been in the exec VP post since April, 2016, succeeding Gabrielle Carteris in the slot. Carteris became president after Ken Howard died, serving the final 16 months of his term and was re-elected in 2017 over Esai Morales and...
- 10/12/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Gabrielle Carteris has been re-elected president of SAG-aftra, fending off challenges from Matthew Modine and three other contenders.
Carteris won handily with 13,537 votes, or 44% of ballots cast, to 10,682 for Modine and 5,048 for Jane Austin, 1,096 for Queen Alljahye Searles and 367 for Abraham Justice.
The results were announced early Thursday morning at 4 a.m. following one of the most bitter election campaigns in memory, including multiple accusations of misconduct.
Camryn Manheim won the secretary-treasurer post with 16,047 votes, or 53%, as Carteris’ running mate. She defeated Modine ally Jodi Long, who garnered 10,251 votes, followed by Chuck Slavin with 2,204 votes and Rob Stats with 1,790. The union mailed a total of 145,700 ballots, so the participation level was about 21%.
Carteris, best known for playing Andrea Zuckerman on “Beverly Hills 90210,” has been president since 2016. She and her allies in the moderate-leaning Unite For Strength and United Screen Actors Nationwide have been in control of SAG-AFTRA and SAG for a decade.
Carteris won handily with 13,537 votes, or 44% of ballots cast, to 10,682 for Modine and 5,048 for Jane Austin, 1,096 for Queen Alljahye Searles and 367 for Abraham Justice.
The results were announced early Thursday morning at 4 a.m. following one of the most bitter election campaigns in memory, including multiple accusations of misconduct.
Camryn Manheim won the secretary-treasurer post with 16,047 votes, or 53%, as Carteris’ running mate. She defeated Modine ally Jodi Long, who garnered 10,251 votes, followed by Chuck Slavin with 2,204 votes and Rob Stats with 1,790. The union mailed a total of 145,700 ballots, so the participation level was about 21%.
Carteris, best known for playing Andrea Zuckerman on “Beverly Hills 90210,” has been president since 2016. She and her allies in the moderate-leaning Unite For Strength and United Screen Actors Nationwide have been in control of SAG-AFTRA and SAG for a decade.
- 8/29/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris and seven of her supporters are threatening to file a lawsuit against their opponents over recent allegations of misconduct by Carteris.
United Screen Actors Nationwide, which endorses Carteris, issued the threat Thursday against presidential challenger Matthew Modine and 19 of his allies running on the Membership First slate, including Ed Asner, Diane Ladd, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Martin Sheen.
Pamela Jeffrey of the New York firm of Levy Ratner wrote a cease-and-desist letter in response to a July 29 threat from attorney Robert Allen to file a lawsuit on behalf of unnamed members if Carteris was not removed from the ballot. Allen accused Carteris of allegedly using insider information to take credit for SAG-aftra’s new deal with Netflix and alleged that she has been using union resources to promote her candidacy via official SAG-aftra videos.
Jeffrey called the allegations baseless and accused the 20 members — many...
United Screen Actors Nationwide, which endorses Carteris, issued the threat Thursday against presidential challenger Matthew Modine and 19 of his allies running on the Membership First slate, including Ed Asner, Diane Ladd, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Martin Sheen.
Pamela Jeffrey of the New York firm of Levy Ratner wrote a cease-and-desist letter in response to a July 29 threat from attorney Robert Allen to file a lawsuit on behalf of unnamed members if Carteris was not removed from the ballot. Allen accused Carteris of allegedly using insider information to take credit for SAG-aftra’s new deal with Netflix and alleged that she has been using union resources to promote her candidacy via official SAG-aftra videos.
Jeffrey called the allegations baseless and accused the 20 members — many...
- 8/1/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris and members of her slate are fighting back against Matthew Modine and his slate’s threat of a “frivolous” lawsuit over her alleged use of guild resources, including “insider and highly confidential information,” to advance her candidacy — a claim she vehemently denies. Modine’s team even demanded that Carteris be removed from the ballot in the upcoming election.
In a letter to Modine and his team, Pamela Jeffrey, an attorney representing Carteris and her slate, wrote:
“Our clients demand that you immediately cease and desist from using costly litigation at the expense of SAG-aftra and its members as a tool to advance your own personal political agenda,” wrote “If you do not publicly retract or disavow in writing the threat of a frivolous and unwarranted lawsuit and other demands, my clients have informed me that they will consider other appropriate action to protect the...
In a letter to Modine and his team, Pamela Jeffrey, an attorney representing Carteris and her slate, wrote:
“Our clients demand that you immediately cease and desist from using costly litigation at the expense of SAG-aftra and its members as a tool to advance your own personal political agenda,” wrote “If you do not publicly retract or disavow in writing the threat of a frivolous and unwarranted lawsuit and other demands, my clients have informed me that they will consider other appropriate action to protect the...
- 8/1/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
“Riverdale” star Marisol Nichols and Patrick Fabian of “Better Call Saul” are among the notable actors seeking SAG-AFTRA national board seats as allies of president Gabrielle Carteris through the Unite For Strength faction.
Other prominent national board candidates for Ufs included Kate Flannery (“The Office”), Yvette Nicole Brown (“Mom”) along with incumbent board member Lisa Vidal (“Being Mary Jane”) and “The Walking Dead” star Michael Cudlitz, first reported by Variety on July 9.
Ufs also announced earlier this week that Camryn Manheim is running for SAG-aftra secretary-treasurer — the third-highest elected post in the union — as part of the slate for the re-election of union president Carteris. Election ballots will be mailed to dues-current members on July 29 and will be tabulated on August 28. SAG-aftra represents about 160,000 performers.
Carteris, who has been president since 2016, is facing challenges for the post from Matthew Modine and current secretary-treasurer Jane Austin. Unite for Strength...
Other prominent national board candidates for Ufs included Kate Flannery (“The Office”), Yvette Nicole Brown (“Mom”) along with incumbent board member Lisa Vidal (“Being Mary Jane”) and “The Walking Dead” star Michael Cudlitz, first reported by Variety on July 9.
Ufs also announced earlier this week that Camryn Manheim is running for SAG-aftra secretary-treasurer — the third-highest elected post in the union — as part of the slate for the re-election of union president Carteris. Election ballots will be mailed to dues-current members on July 29 and will be tabulated on August 28. SAG-aftra represents about 160,000 performers.
Carteris, who has been president since 2016, is facing challenges for the post from Matthew Modine and current secretary-treasurer Jane Austin. Unite for Strength...
- 7/12/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Unite for Strength, the ruling party of SAG-AFTRA, announced its slate of candidates today in the union’s upcoming elections.
Michelle Hurd, currently serving on the national board, will be running for president of the Los Angeles local; Clyde Kusatsu and Ellen Crawford will be running for vice president slots. Kusatsu is currently the national vice president from La, and Crawford is a national board member. As previously reported, Camryn Manheim will be running for national secretary-treasurer as president Gabrielle Carteris’ running mate.
Two candidates are challenging Carteris for president: Jane Austin, currently the guild’s national secretary-treasurer who’s running for president as an independent, and Matthew Modine, who is running at the top of the ticket for Membership First. His slate has yet to be announced.
In New York, Rebecca Damon, national executive vice president and New York president, is running for re-election as New York president.
Michelle Hurd, currently serving on the national board, will be running for president of the Los Angeles local; Clyde Kusatsu and Ellen Crawford will be running for vice president slots. Kusatsu is currently the national vice president from La, and Crawford is a national board member. As previously reported, Camryn Manheim will be running for national secretary-treasurer as president Gabrielle Carteris’ running mate.
Two candidates are challenging Carteris for president: Jane Austin, currently the guild’s national secretary-treasurer who’s running for president as an independent, and Matthew Modine, who is running at the top of the ticket for Membership First. His slate has yet to be announced.
In New York, Rebecca Damon, national executive vice president and New York president, is running for re-election as New York president.
- 7/12/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Gabrielle Carteris is seeking re-election as president of SAG-aftra, a post she’s held since 2016. She’ll be running at the top the union’s majority party, Unite for Strength.
Matthew Modine, running at the top of the union’s opposition party, Membership First, was the first to announce that he will challenge her for the presidency. Ballots will be mailed to members on July 29 and tabulated August 28.
“While our employers are consolidating and attempting to squeeze our earnings,” Carteris said, “we have proven that a united front is our best weapon in fighting for fair wages, safety on sets and protection of all our members — especially those who are most vulnerable. As SAG-AFTRA President, I’ve seen firsthand the power of our members. With fierce determination we won the Interactive strike, revolutionized the Commercials contract, and transformed High Budget Streaming residuals. We’ve set the stage for...
Matthew Modine, running at the top of the union’s opposition party, Membership First, was the first to announce that he will challenge her for the presidency. Ballots will be mailed to members on July 29 and tabulated August 28.
“While our employers are consolidating and attempting to squeeze our earnings,” Carteris said, “we have proven that a united front is our best weapon in fighting for fair wages, safety on sets and protection of all our members — especially those who are most vulnerable. As SAG-AFTRA President, I’ve seen firsthand the power of our members. With fierce determination we won the Interactive strike, revolutionized the Commercials contract, and transformed High Budget Streaming residuals. We’ve set the stage for...
- 5/16/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.