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1-50 of 1,386
- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Winona Ryder was born Winona Laura Horowitz in Olmsted County, Minnesota, and was named after a nearby town, Winona, Minnesota. She is the daughter of Cynthia (Istas), an author and video producer, and Michael Horowitz, a publisher and bookseller. Her father's family is Ukrainian Jewish and Romanian Jewish. She grew up in a ranch commune in Northern California which had no electricity. She is the goddaughter of Timothy Leary. Her parents were friends of Beat poet Allen Ginsberg and once edited a book called "Shaman Woman Mainline Lady", an anthology of writings on the drug experience in literature, which included one piece by Louisa May Alcott. Ryder would later play the lead role of Josephine March in the adaptation of this author's novel Little Women (1994).
Ryder moved with her parents to Petaluma, California when she was ten and enrolled in acting classes at the American Conservatory Theater. At age 13, she had a video audition to the film Desert Bloom (1986), but did not get the role. However, director David Seltzer spotted her and cast her in Lucas (1986). When telephoned to ask how she would like to have her name appear on the credits, she suggested Ryder as her father's Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels album was playing the background. Ryder was selected for the role of Mary Corleone in The Godfather Part III (1990), but had to drop out of the role after catching the flu from the strain of doing the films Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990) and Mermaids (1990) back-to-back. She said she did not want to let everyone down by doing a substandard performance. She later made The Age of Innocence (1993), which was directed by Martin Scorsese, whom she believes to be "the best director in the world".- Actor
- Soundtrack
Rufus Sewell was born on the 29th of October 1967 in Twickenham, England. His mother, Jo, was Welsh, and was an artist and painter. His father, Bill Sewell, was an English-Australian animator who was born in Australia to British parents and died when Rufus was 10. He has one brother, Caspar. He attended London's Central School of Speech and Drama and left in June of 1989 after completing three years of training.
He made his London Stage debut in "Making It Better" for which he won the "Best Newcomer Award"; he also originated the role of Septimus Hodge in Tom Stoppards "Arcadia" and was nominated for an Olivier Award. On the Broadway stage, he debuted in "Translations" and received the Broadway Theater World Award. His film work has been equally varied and acclaimed from the junkie in Twenty-One (1991), the sweet bus driver in A Man of No Importance (1994), and the volatile artist in Carrington (1995). The lustful son in Cold Comfort Farm (1995), the protagonist hounded Dostoevsky-like in Dark City (1998), the star-crossed suitor in Dangerous Beauty (1998), to the the bitter, acidic, alcoholic coke-head of The Very Thought of You (1998), he has appeared in some of the most acclaimed theatre, film and television productions.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Ben Foster was born October 29, 1980 in Boston, Massachusetts, to
Gillian Kirwan and Steven Foster, restaurant owners. His younger brother is actor Jon Foster. His paternal grandparents
were from Russian Jewish families that immigrated to Massachusetts
(his grandfather became a prominent judge in Boston), while his
mother's family is from Maryland.
During his childhood, his family moved to Fairfield, Iowa, where he was raised. Fairfield had four community theaters. His passion for acting was
discovered early on, and after starring in the title role in "You're a
Good Man, Charlie Brown", put on by one of the community theaters, he
wrote, directed, and starred in his own play at age 12, a play that won
second place in an international competition. After attending
Interlochen Theater Arts Summer Program at age 14 in Interlochen,
Michigan, it was only a matter of time before Ben dropped out of high
school at age 16 and moved to Los Angeles, California, where he was
almost immediately snapped up for the Disney series
Flash Forward (1995), in which
two friends narrate the highs and lows of high school.
His film debut was a small role in the little-seen
Kounterfeit (1996), after
which he was solicited for several made-for-TV movies and appearances
on television series before reaching his next milestone,
Liberty Heights (1999), where he
played alongside Adrien Brody and
Joe Mantegna as a rebellious Jewish
teenager who engages in a forbidden relationship with a Black girl. His
first starring movie role was in the film
Get Over It (2001), where he starred
along with Kirsten Dunst as a lovelorn
teenager, and then the beautifully crafted
Bang Bang You're Dead (2002),
in which he played Trevor Adams, the starring role. Still, until 2005,
his parts for the most part were small but beautifully played, and then
he landed the role of Marshall Krupcheck in the movie
Hostage (2005), an intense piece of
acting that made people begin to take notice and recognize his
potential and talent.
Since then, he played major roles in many movies,
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006),
Alpha Dog (2006),
3:10 to Yuma (2007),
The Messenger (2009),
The Mechanic (2011),
Rampart (2011),
Kill Your Darlings (2013), and
Lone Survivor (2013).- Actress
- Soundtrack
Italia Ricci was born in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. Italia is an actor, known for Designated Survivor (2016), The Imperfects (2022) and Chasing Life (2014). Italia has been married to Robbie Amell since 15 October 2016. They have one child.- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Born and raised in South Africa, Jodi Balfour spent her early youth working in Cape Town's theatre and television industry. She graduated with a BA (hons) in Theatre & Performance from The University of Cape Town and, after her family moved to the west coast of Canada, began working internationally. Jodi now lives in Los Angeles, California.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Richard Dreyfuss is an American leading man, who has played his fair share of irritating pests and brash, ambitious hustlers.
He was born Richard Stephen Dreyfus in Brooklyn, New York, to Geraldine (Robbins), an activist, and Norman Dreyfus, a restaurateur and attorney. His paternal grandparents were Austro-Hungarian Jewish immigrants, and his mother's family was Russian Jewish.
Richard worked his way up through bit parts (The Graduate (1967), for one) and TV before gaining attention with his portrayal of Baby Face Nelson in John Milius' Dillinger (1973). He gained prominence as a college-bound young man in American Graffiti (1973) and as a nervy Jewish kid with high hopes in The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974). By the latter part of the 1970s Dreyfuss was established as a major star, playing leads (and alter-egos) for Steven Spielberg in two of the top-grossing films of the that decade: Jaws (1975) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). He won a Best Actor Oscar in his first romantic lead as an out-of-work actor in The Goodbye Girl (1977). Dreyfuss also produced and starred in the entertaining private eye movie The Big Fix (1978). After a brief lull in the early 1980s, a well-publicized drug problem and a string of box-office disappointments (The Competition (1980), Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981), The Buddy System (1984)), a clean and sober Dreyfuss re-established himself in the mid-'80s as one of Hollywood's more engaging leads. He co-starred with Bette Midler and Nick Nolte in Paul Mazursky's popular Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986). That same year he provided the narration and appeared in the opening and closing "bookends" of Rob Reiner's nostalgic Stand by Me (1986). He quickly followed that with Nuts (1987) opposite Barbra Streisand, Barry Levinson's Tin Men (1987) in a memorable teaming with Danny DeVito, and Stakeout (1987) with Emilio Estevez. Dreyfuss continued working steadily through the end of the 1980s and into the 1990s, most notably in Mazursky's farce Moon Over Parador (1988), Spielberg's Always (1989), Postcards from the Edge (1990) and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990). He appeared as a member of an ensemble that included Holly Hunter, Gena Rowlands and Danny Aiello in the romantic comedy Once Around (1991) and as a pop psychiatrist, the author of several successful self-help books, who is driven to the edge by nutcase Bill Murray in the popular comedy What About Bob? (1991). Dreyfuss has also remained active in the theater ("Death and Maiden", 1992) and on TV. In his next project he starred the thriller Silent Fall (1994) with John Lithgow and Linda Hamilton, being the film debut of Liv Tyler, Steven Tyler's daughter (Aerosmith's lead vocals). Just later Dreyfuss made Another Stakeout (1993), sequel of Stakeout (1987) where was team again with Emilio Estevez accompanied of Rosie O'Donnell, the adaptation of Neil Simon's play Lost in Yonkers (1993) and followed with a supporting turn as the querulous political opponent in The American President (1995). Dreyfuss received some of the best notices of his career as a determined, inspiring music teacher coping with a deaf son and the demands of his career in Mr. Holland's Opus (1995). Closing the 20th century he was in Sidney Lumet's Night Falls on Manhattan (1996) with Andy Garcia, the crime comedy Mad Dog Time (1996) as the mob boss Vic, the screwball comedy Krippendorf's Tribe (1998) about an anthropologist who creates a false lost New Guinea tribe for not losing his job in the university, TV movie Lansky (1999) about the infamous mob boss to end, the too TV movie Fail Safe (2000) playing The President, and The Crew (2000), about four older mobsters retired in Miami, partnering with Hollywood legends Burt Reynolds, Dan Hedaya and Seymour Cassel.
His start in the 21st century was with the adaption of Luis Sepúlveda's novel The Old Man Who Read Love Stories (2001), playing an old man to must to hunt a female jaguar turned crazy. It was followed by the supporting apparition in the comedy Who Is Cletis Tout? (2001) and another TV movie about 1981 Ronald Reagan's shooting The Day Reagan Was Shot (2001). After the short-lived TV series The Education of Max Bickford (2001) about a teacher in a women's college where his daughter is student, Dreyfuss returned to cinema in Silver City (2004) and the box-office bomb Poseidon (2006) with Kurt Russell, Emmy Rossum and Josh Lucas. Playing former vice-president Dick Cheney in the Oliver Stone's biopic W. (2008) and Irv, the cunning tourist in Greece turned in assistant of a troubled tour guide in My Life in Ruins (2009), Dreyfuss participated in low-budget productions as Leaves of Grass (2009) and The Lightkeepers (2009), for making a cameo in the wild and crazy Piranha 3D (2010) about prehistoric men-eater piranhas that make a bloodbath in a spring break. Returning to first line playing evil Alexander Dunning in the actioner RED (2010), his further productions included Paranoia (2013) as Liam Hemsworth's father partnering Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman, road movie Cas & Dylan (2013) opposites Tatiana Maslany and the biopic TV mini-series Madoff (2016) about the infamous multi-billion-dollar and hustler Bernie Madoff. Tireless and always implied in new projects, Dreyfuss played George, the funny online date of Candice Bergen in Book Club (2018), the comedy and road movie The Last Laugh (2019) with Chevy Chase, and the set in wilderness thriller Daughter of the Wolf (2019) with Gina Carano and Brendan Fehr. Making his 73rd birthday in 2020, Dreyfuss is an example of talent, diversity and love for his work, touching not only all the genres in cinema but leaving an unforgettable footprint at any of them.- Actress
- Soundtrack
A native of Bournemouth in the UK, Janet Montgomery moved to London
when she received a scholarship at a dance school. One of her first
acting jobs was a guest star role on the critically-acclaimed UK teen
drama series, Skins (2007), as Nicholas Hoult's love interest.
Upon moving to Los Angeles, Montgomery was quickly cast in the Dark Castle film, The Hills Run Red (2009). In addition to guest-starring on FX's The League (2009), she recurred on the HBO series, Entourage (2004) as E's assistant and Drama's girlfriend. She was also a series regular on the Fox series, Human Target (2010), with Mark Valley and Jackie Earle Haley. More recently, Montgomery was the lead of CBS's Made in Jersey (2012).
Montgomery played one of the dancers, opposite Natalie Portman, in Darren Aronofsky's Oscar-nominated psychological thriller, Black Swan (2010). She also starred in Jesse Peretz's Our Idiot Brother (2011), opposite Paul Rudd and Elizabeth Banks.
Other recent projects include Dancing on the Edge (2013), with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Matthew Goode, as well as Spies of Warsaw (2013), opposite David Tennant. She just completed shooting the lead of the independent film, If You See Her (2014),
and is about to start shooting the female lead in Salem (2014), the first original series for WGN.- Eisley was born on October 29, 1993, in Los Angeles, California, to musician David Glen Eisley and actress Olivia Hussey. Her grandfather was actor Anthony Eisley. Eisley and her mother appeared together in the movie Headspace (2005). After small roles in various independent films, Eisley gained a major role in The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008). She played Ashley Juergens, younger sister of teen mother Amy Juergens.
Eisley starred as Sawa in the action film Kite (2014), opposite Samuel L. Jackson. At the end of 2014, she filmed Social Suicide (2015), a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet. At the beginning of 2015, she also filmed the dark fantasy film The Curse of Sleeping Beauty (2016) as Briar Rose. Eisley also appears in the film adaptation of V.C. Andrews' book My Sweet Audrina (2016) in the title role of Audrina. - Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Maria Sten is an actress, writer and filmmaker from Copenhagen, Denmark. Of Danish, Swedish, Congolese ethnicity, Maria started her career as a professional dancer and model. She also holds the title of Miss Denmark 2008.
Maria was a fellow in The Black List / ATX TV Festival Writing Program 2017 and The Black List / Women In Film Episodic Labs 2017. Maria also stars as the lead in the 4th season of Syfy's Channel Zero.
She debuted her first short - which she wrote, directed, produced and starred in - at Uptown Short Film Festival and
LA Shorts Fest 2016.
Maria's passion as a storyteller lies with "stories that matter"; facilitating inclusion and female empowerment, and lending a voice to people who don't have one.
Maria is represented by Grandview and CAA.- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Gabrielle Union was born on October 29, 1972, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Theresa (Glass), who managed a phone company, and Sylvester E. Union, a military sergeant and business executive. When she was eight, her family moved to Pleasanton, California, where she grew up and attended high school. There, Union was an all-star point guard and a year-round athlete participating in soccer, basketball, and track. She graduated from Foothill High School (Class of 1991).
After high school, Gabrielle attended college at University of Nebraska, where she played on the soccer team; and then later transferred to Cuesta College. Eventually, she ended up at UCLA. On her way to law school, just planning on being a working stiff, things started to happen during her senior year. Gabrielle had a college internship at a L.A. modeling agency, she thought it would be an easy way to pick up some extra credits. Little did she know that clients were eyeing the help. Upon the completion of the internship, she was asked to become a client with the agency. Gabby thought of it as a great way to pay off a stack of college loans, and modeled until her agent found that she could actually act. Her first audition/job was landed without any headshots, on Saved by the Bell (1989). Since then, she has gone on to have many small but substantial film roles and has guest-starred on several hit TV shows, all before landing the role of "Dr. Courtney Ellis", on CBS' short-lived medical drama City of Angels (2000).
Although she plays parts that are opinionated and strong, Gabrielle believes that, "Hollywood needs to recognize all shades of African-American beauty." Gabrielle is a 1996 graduate of UCLA with honors in sociology.- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Tracee Joy Silberstein known professionally as Tracee Ellis Ross, is an American actress, singer, television host, producer and director. She is known for her lead roles in the television series Girlfriends (2000-2008) and Black-Ish (2014-2022). She owns Pattern Beauty, a hair-care line for curly hair.
She is the daughter of actress and Motown recording artist Diana Ross and Robert Ellis Silberstein. She began acting in independent films and variety series. She hosted the pop-culture magazine The Dish on Lifetime. From 2000 to 2008 she played the starring role of Joan Clayton in the UPN/CW comedy series Girlfriends, for which she received two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series. She also has appeared in the films Hanging Up (2000), I-See-You.Com (2006), and Daddy's Little Girls (2007), before returning to television playing Dr. Carla Reed on the BET sitcom Reed Between the Lines (2011), for which she received her third NAACP Image Award.
Since 2014, Ross has played the starring role of Dr. Rainbow Johnson in the ABC comedy series Black-Ish . Her work on it has earned her three NAACP Image Awards and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy. She has also received nominations for two Critics' Choice Television Awards and five Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. In 2019, she co-created a prequel spin-off of Black-Ish titled Mixed-Ish . In 2020, she starred in and recorded the soundtrack album for the musical film The High Note.- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Cleopatra Coleman is an Australian film and television actor and former contemporary and ballet dancer. With a career shifting between many genres she is known for playing complex and bold characters and prides herself on showcasing challenging female characters and subculture. Cleo was raised in the alternative community of Byron Bay, Australia to which she attributes her openness and creativity.- Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, the middle of three
siblings, Johnny began performing from the age of 5 at a small
performing arts school, making his debut as a Chanukah candle.
Pursuing the acting profession, he appeared with success in many TV and
film projects, handling both drama and comedy with finesse.
Johnny was what used to be called a Renaissance Man. He was not only a
superb actor, but excelled in the other arts as well. He was a prolific
writer, poet and painter.
He also was a philanthropist, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars
to worthy causes, as well as being an active member of a number of
charitable organizations.
He had seen too many of his friends succumb to the curse of drug abuse,
and so he became an outspoken advocate against drugs, using his
celebrity status to speak to large groups of educators and law
enforcement officials about the dangers of street and psychiatric drug
abuse.
He created friends everywhere he went. And he went everywhere. Europe,
Asia, South America. He slept with natives in grass huts in Southeast
Asia, and was the first white man allowed passage to a sacred lake in
Laos.
Of his many talents, one that he treasured was the mentoring of other
artists. Many successful performers, some of whom have reached the top
of their profession have ascribed their success to Johnny.
His most recent work includes Sons of Anarchy (two seasons), Felon, The
Runaways, 186 Dollars to Freedom and Lovely Molly.
In late October 2011 he suffered head injuries from a motorcycle accident. Immediately thereafter his thinking and behavior took a serious turn for the worse. He was arrested on January 3, 2012 for allegedly trespassing at a neighbor's home. He was beaten violently in the head approximately 17 times before the police arrived, causing further injuries. In jail, following additional head injuries he was diagnosed by the prison medics as suffering from internal bleeding in the brain. Despite the diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury and despite never testing positive for drugs that year he was treated for psychosis and chemical dependency. Two more arrests followed, including near drowning (another traumatic brain incident). Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury include impaired judgement, sensitivity to light, and sudden inexplicable violent behavior. Typical of the misperception on the part of law enforcement officials was the often-quoted remark by the probation official who expressed that Johnny suffered from mental health issues as well as chemical dependency. Prior to his injuries Johnny had never had a brush with the law. And the toxicology report following his death revealed absolutely no drugs whatsoever in his system.
In late May of 2012 the Santa Monica Superior Court allowed his admission to Ridgeview, a drug rehab center in Alta Dena, California. Though a drug rehab facility, the rest and quiet were a tonic for him, and he gradually, over the summer, regained himself. He wrote, in a journal entry, "Felt more whole today. . .more complete. Like parts of myself had been stolen in my sleep and scattered all over the world and they've begun to return. So I think better, my thoughts aren't being sent off on their own." He began planning for a return to acting, via the stage, and spoke of possibly bringing Shakespeare to inner city kids. In August he tragically accepted the DA's offer to serve "just a couple more days in jail," in exchange for his freedom. The "couple days" became nearly two months, during which he suffered additional abuse and a violent downturn in spirits and health. Finally released in late September, he died in sad and disturbing circumstances on September 26, 2012. - Actress
- Soundtrack
This year, actress-on-the-rise Farrah Mackenzie is positioned to take the entertainment industry by storm. She has established herself as a seasoned player in film and television, captivating audiences worldwide through the dynamic and emotionally complex characters brought to life on screen.
Farrah has starred in Chuck Lorre's "The Big Bang Theory" and CBS' new comedy series, "United States of Al" opposite Adhir Kalyan, Parker Young and Dean Norris. The series follows the friendship between Riley (Young), a Marine combat veteran struggling to readjust to civilian life in Ohio, and Awalmir, aka Al (Kalyan), the interpreter who served with his unit in Afghanistan and has just arrived to start a new life in America. Farrah stars as Hazel, Riley and Vanessa's (Kelli Goss) smart, fearless, and adventurous daughter.
In 2020, Farrah starred opposite John Cusack, Rainn Wilson, and Sasha Lane in Amazon's thriller series "Utopia." Created and Executive Produced by Gillian Flynn ("Gone Girl," "Sharp Objects"), the twisted thriller followed a group of young comic book fans who discover the conspiracy in a graphic novel is real and embark on a high stakes adventure to save humanity. Farrah shined as Alice, an adopted foster child who is bright and curious, with an unrelenting resolve when thrown into this dangerous world.
Additional credits for Farrah include starring as Stella Parton in NBC's "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" and the Emmy-nominated, "Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love." Both television films were based on Dolly Parton's childhood growing up in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains in the 1950's, with a large family.
In film, Farrah was seen in Magnolia Pictures' "Please Stand By" appearing as a younger Dakota Fanning. She also appeared in Steven Soderbergh's "Logan Lucky" (Fingerprint Releasing) opposite Channing Tatum and Katie Holmes, as Tatum and Holmes' daughter, Sadie Logan. Additional film credits include the 2020 Cinequest Festival selection "Ascension" (California Pictures), indie drama "Amanda McKay," "You Get Me" (Netflix), "Apartment 407" (Gravitas Ventures) and "Nanny Cam" (Lifetime).
Born in Los Angeles to actors, Angela Little ("Walk Hard") and Andy Mackenzie ("Sushi Girl"), and granddaughter to DGA Award winning and Emmy Award nominated director, Will Mackenzie, Farrah was immersed in the arts from the time she was born. At five years old, she appeared in her first project, the indie fantasy short, "The Heart's Eye View" with her parents. She has been working ever since.
Aside from acting, Farrah has stated a love for reading including being a big Harry Potter fan. She loves to spend time in the outdoors, and with her family.- Producer
- Writer
- Actor
Michael Schur was born on October 29, 1975 in West Hartford, Connecticut, USA as Michael Herbert Schur. He is a TV series creator, a writer, and producer known for series such as The Office (2005), Parks and Recreation (2009), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013) and The Good Place (2016). He has been married to J.J. Philbin since October 9, 2005. They have two children.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Andrew was born on 29 October 1979 in Bradford, West Yorkshire,
England, UK to dad Alan and mum Susan. He has a sister, Sarah-Jane, who
is also an actor. He studied at Leeds Performing Arts School and
started out in musical theatre. He is now a veteran TV actor and has
been in a catalogue of all that is best in British television.- Actress
- Director
- Producer
In Joely Fisher's recent unflinching memoir, she comes clean and bares her soul
about growing up in what she describes as "The Fishbowl".Daughter of Hollywood legendary crooner Eddie Fisher and entertainment icon Connie Stevens, Joely was raised in the Los Angeles area educated in a dozen LA schools, continuing on to the Université de Paris/Sorbonne and Emerson College in Boston. From the time she hit the boards in the multi-purpose room in her Catholic elementary school musical, Mama said, "I couldn't stop her with a train".
Triple threat, Joely Fisher stands out as a star of television, musical theatre, and motion pictures. Her "sensational and sexy" turn as Sally Bowles in Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall's critic darling revival of "Cabaret" on Broadway as well as the National touring company earned her rave reviews. Joely made her Broadway debut as "Rizzo"in "Grease!."
However, it was her 5 seasons as "Paige Clark ,"Ellen's best friend ,the monstrously ambitious, seductive Hollywood executive on the historic and groundbreaking ABC show, Ellen (1994), that introduced her to television audiences around the world, and earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She next starred opposite John Goodman in FOX's series Normal, Ohio (2000) playing the hilariously fascinating combo of a young caring mother who just happened to be a "bit of a slut." She spent two seasons starring in her own series Wild Card (2003) for Lifetime.
In 2005, Joely joined the cast of the hit television series Desperate Housewives (2004) where she played Felicity Huffman's tough and very complex boss Nina Fletcher. Fisher then returned to television opposite Brad Garrett for four seasons in FOX's 'Til Death (2006). Their incredible chemistry kept audiences rolling with laughter. Next, Joely reoccurred on ABC's Last Man Standing (2011) opposite Hector Elizondo.
Joely's film credits have placed her opposite some of the finest actors in film, like Jim Carrey in The Mask (1994), Steve Martin in Mixed Nuts (1994), and Nick Nolte in I'll Do Anything (1994). Her crowning achievement to date was starring with Matthew Broderick in the $100 million-grossing Disney film Inspector Gadget (1999).
She is a stand out in such indie films as Perfect Prey (1998), Slingshot (2005), Killing Winston Jones, and Search Engines (2016). Recently seen in The Tribes of Palos Verdes (2017) opposite Jennifer Garner as well as The Disappointments Room (2016), and By the Rivers of Babylon.
Her television movies include the lead in NBC's Thirst (1998), Showtime's Jitters (1997), ABC's Seduction in a Small Town (1997), and Cupid, Inc. (2012) for Hallmark.
No matter how much the focus of her career seems to be acting, the underlying accompaniment throughout is her love of singing and performing. She tells the tale of sleeping in the orchestra pit during one of mother Connie Stevens' performances, and by 12 she was singing all over the world, including a USO tour with Bob Hope during the Persian Gulf War, which led to her performance for President and Mrs. George H. W. Bush at the Kennedy Center. Joely has written, directed and performed multiple one-woman shows .She was even featured at a young age on the Tony awards, the Academy Awards, and was Miss Golden Globe.
In recent years Ms. Fisher has embarked on a directing career ranging in television shows, "Sunset Fever" a black comedy short as commentary on reality television and the Hollywood family, to the socially conscious PSA campaigns for IFAW the International Fund for Animal Welfare and for Welcome.US an organization started by Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg on Immigrant Heritage. Her first music video, "Sonte" by European artist Mirud has a million views and she is on a short list of women called upon to direct multi-camera television for the Disney Channel and this year will make her feature directorial debut with Oliver Storm and the Curse of Sinbad's Treasure, a family adventure film. Joely hopes to continue on this path and give the world delicious and compelling stories and lead the pack of women who make change in the world.
In her book she also writes in gut wrenching detail how the sudden loss of her sister, Carrie Fisher, inspired her creativity and the recognition that she could indeed write.
Joely has been married more than 2 decades to cinematographer and director Christopher Duddy. Together they have five children Cameron, Collin, daughter Skylar Grace, True Harlow 12 yrs old, and in 2008 they adopted Olivia "Luna "- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Lucy Kate Jackson was born in Birmingham, AL on October 29.1948. She attended the University of Mississippi but left during her sophomore year to begin studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She was a supporting cast member on Dark Shadows (1966) (Daphne, 1970-1971) and on The Rookies (1972) (Jill Danko, 1972-1976). She starred as one of the original Angels (Sabrina Duncan, 1976-1979) on the mega-hit show Charlie's Angels (1976). She delighted fans as the dauntless Amanda King in the television show Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983) which was partially owned by her production company, Shoot the Moon Enterprises. She appeared in numerous other film and television productions. She is an actor, director and producer.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Brendan Fehr was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He and his two
sisters were raised by his mother, a case manager at the Stony Mountain
Correctional Institute. In Vancouver for a wedding in 1997, he dropped
by Look Talent Management to inquire about quick-cash modelling
assignments. Manager Jim Sheasgreen suggested he try TV acting instead.
But a week later, he was up for a nine-line guest role on the
high-school-at-sea series Breaker High. Then only days away from
starting the University of Manitoba and planning to be a teacher, he
heeded his mother's counsel that if he wanted to try acting, he should
give it the full effort.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Daniel Louis Castellaneta is an American actor, voice actor, comedian and television writer. Castellaneta is best known for voicing Homer Simpson on the animated series The Simpsons (1989) (as well as other characters on the show such as Abraham "Grampa" Simpson, Barney Gumble, Krusty the Clown, Sideshow Mel, Groundskeeper Willie, Mayor Quimby, and Hans Moleman). Castellaneta also had voice roles in several other programs, including Futurama (1999), Sibs (1991) and Darkwing Duck (1991), The Adventures of Dynamo Duck (1990), The Batman (2004), Back to the Future (1991), Aladdin (1994), Taz-Mania (1991) and Hey Arnold! (1996). He also occasionally guest starred on shows like Friends (1994) and How I Met Your Mother (2005).
In 1999, he appeared in the Christmas special Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999) and won an Annie Award for his portrayal of the Postman. Castellaneta released a comedy album "I Am Not Homer", and wrote and starred in a one-person show titled "Where Did Vincent van Gogh?".- Director
- Actress
- Writer
Carlson Elizabeth Young is an American actress and filmmaker. She was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to Susan Young and Marshall Young, a geologist. She attended the University of Southern California, where she studied Creative Writing, before leaving to film the first season of Scream: The TV Series (2015). Most recently, she wrote, directed, and starred in The Blazing World (2018), a short film premiering at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Chelan Lauren Simmons was born in Vancouver, Canada. One
of three children (one older brother and an older sister), she has been
a natural performer since the age of 2. Her first movie role was as the
title creature's first victim, Laurie Ann Winterbarger, in
Stephen King's
It (1990). Her most recognizable
roles are in
Final Destination 3 (2006) as
Ashley Freund, and in
Carrie (2002) and
Monster Island (2004).
She has also guest-starred in episodes of
Smallville (2001) and
Supernatural (2005).- Actress
- Director
- Producer
Finola Hughes was born in London. She studied at Arts Educational Schools and
began her career in the Northern Ballet Company, after winning the Markova award. She went on to work in the West End, in the original cast of "Cats" and continued working with Andrew Lloyd Webber in "Song & Dance".
After making Staying Alive (1983) in LA, she moved to California in 1984 and began working on General Hospital (1963), winning an Emmy award in 1991. She continued to make TV series and various movies for the next few years, Jack's Place (1992), Aspen Extreme (1993), Blossom (1990), Charmed (1998), and returned to ABC daytime, in 1999, to join the cast of All My Children (1970) in New York. Once in NY, she began entering the Fashion World and returned to Los Angeles to begin a 4-year stint on the Style Network, with a fabulous makeover
show, How Do I Look? (2004). She returned for a brief sojourn to General Hospital (1963), and it's spin-off, "Night Shift". Finola lives in Santa Barbara with her husband, artist Russell Young, and their 3 children.- A resolute, blue-eyed brunette with attractive, slightly pinched
features, Geraldine Brooks was born to a Dutch couple on October 29,
1925, in New York City. Her parents had a theater-based background --
father, James Stroock, owned a top costume company and mother, Bianca,
was a costume designer and stylist. In dance shoes from age 2, her
closer relatives were also extensively involved in theater -- one aunt
being a former Ziegfeld Follies girl and another a contralto with the
Metropolitan Opera. Growing up surrounding by these theatrical types,
it was only natural that it rubbed off on her. She attended the Hunter
Modeling School as a young teen and graduated from Julia Richman High
School in 1942 as president of her drama club. Older sister,
Gloria Stroock, also became an actress,
primarily on TV.
In New York, Geraldine studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Art
and the Neighborhood Playhouse before apprenticing in summer stock
productions. In a pre-Broadway tryout of "Follow the Girls" in 1944,
Geraldine subsequently went with the show to Broadway in May of that
same year and enjoyed a nine-month run. Following her role as "Perdita"
in "A Winter's Tale" at the Theatre Guild, she was signed by Warner
Bros. and made her film debut promisingly as a second femme lead in the
mystery thriller Cry Wolf (1947)
starring Barbara Stanwyck and
Errol Flynn. At this time, she
shunned her odd-sounding last name of "Stroock" in favor of the more
euphonious marquee name of "Brooks", which was the name of her
father's costume company. Playing Flynn's cool, conniving niece who
gives trouble to Stanwyck, she gave added suspense to the film. In her
second movie, Possessed (1947), she is
again at odds with another powerhouse star, this time
Joan Crawford, but shows more
sensitivity against the manic Crawford character in this film-noir
chiller.
Geraldine moved to dramatic lead status with
Embraceable You (1948) opposite
Dane Clark, and played daughter to
real wife-and-husband team Fredric March
and Florence Eldridge in
An Act of Murder (1948), a drama
that dealt with the topic of euthanasia. Less impressive was the
standard Warner Bros. "B" western
The Younger Brothers (1949)
and her MGM loanout appearance in
Challenge to Lassie (1949).
Floundering a bit at this time and failing to strike a star-making
chord with audiences, she attempted a few continental film assignments,
one in which she played Anna Magnani's
younger sister, but grew quickly disillusioned there as well and
returned to America.
Focusing instead on stage and TV, including a Broadway stint in "Time
of the Cuckoo" starring Tony-winning
Shirley Booth, Geraldine eventually went
back to studying acting again. In 1956, she became a member of the
Actor's Studio and became a strong exponent of its method style.
Despite this renewed, enlightening acting technique, her film career
found no momentum at all. In fact, she appeared in only two films in
the oncoming years as brittle, harder-core ladies in
Street of Sinners (1957) and
Johnny Tiger (1966). Her greater
notices were to be found guesting on various popular TV series.
Particularly noteworthy were her roles on
Perry Mason (1957),
The Defenders (1961),
Bus Stop (1961) (for which she
earned an Emmy nomination), the pilot of
Ironside (1967) and the last final
climactic episode of
The Fugitive (1963). A regular
as Dan Dailey's secretary on the mildly
received
Faraday and Company (1973),
she also appeared in the 70s episodes of
Kung Fu (1972),
Cannon (1971),
Barnaby Jones (1973) and
McMillan & Wife (1971), the
last in which sister, Gloria Stroock, had
a recurring role as Rock Hudson's secretary.
Geraldine's later theater included her Tony-nominated role in
"Brightower" (1970) (despite it closing after only one performance) on
Broadway and as wife "Golde" in the musical "Fiddler on the Roof". Her
final movie part came in the rather ho-hum crime movie
Mr. Ricco (1975) alongside
Dean Martin. A short-lived series
regular as the matriarch of
The Dumplings (1976), a rare
comedic venture for her, and a stage production of
Jules Feiffer's "Hold Me!" in 1977 capped
her capable but somewhat unsatisfying career. She deserved much better
attention than she got, especially in films. Divorced from TV writer
Herbert Sargent after only three
years (1958-1961), she married author
Budd Schulberg (best known for his
screenplay of
On the Waterfront (1954)), in
1964. The couple moved to Los Angeles and opened a writers' workshop
together for the underprivileged. She also collaborated with Schulberg
on the book Swan Watch (1975), a study on the elegant birds in which
she also took photographs. In addition, she wrote poetry for children
although she herself never had any. Sadly, Geraldine died in 1977 at
age 51 of a heart attack while battling cancer, thus depriving the
entertainment industry of a valuable talent. She was survived by her
husband, mother and sister. - Actress
- Director
- Producer
Milena Govich is a director, actor, and musician who has helmed many episodes of TV, including The Equalizer (2021), Chicago Med (2015), FBI: Most Wanted (2020), Chicago Fire (2012), among others. She also served as Co-EP/Producing Director on Dick Wolf's CBS series FBI (2018), and is attached to direct two pilots in development. Milena was one of eight filmmakers selected for AFI's prestigious Directing Workshop for Women, as well as the exclusive Sony Pictures Television Diverse Directors Program. Her short film and TV series proof-of-concept called Unspeakable, starring Laura Vandervoort and Jeff Kober, had its World Premiere at SXSW and won Best Episodic at Seattle International Film Festival and Best Pilot at SoHo International Film Festival. Her short film Temporary (2017) has played all over the country, winning Best Narrative Short at Anthem Film Festival, Best Dark Comedy at Atlanta ShortsFest, and the Director's Choice Award at Sedona International Film Festival.
As an actor, Milena has appeared in close to 100 episodes of television. She first gained national attention in CBS's Love Monkey (2006), then as the prostitute/con-artist Candy on three seasons of Rescue Me (2004) (Denis Leary/FX). She also starred in the Dick Wolf series Conviction (2006), which led to her role as the first and only female detective on the Emmy-winning series Law & Order (1990). She has been featured or recurred on numerous other shows: K-Ville (2007) (Fox); The Defenders (2010) (CBS); Make It or Break It (2009) (ABC Family); and as Lori Stevens on the MTV drama Finding Carter (2014). Milena has also appeared in several movies, including Sordid Things (2009); A Novel Romance (2011), starring opposite Steve Guttenberg; Pass the Light (2015); #Lucky Number (2015), starring opposite Method Man; and the features Closure (2018), Be the Light (2020), and The Cleaner (2021).
A native of Norman, Oklahoma, Milena was valedictorian of her high school before completing a double major in vocal performance and pre-med, with minors in dance and violin at the University of Central Oklahoma, also graduating valedictorian. Soon after, she capitalized on her classical ballet training to appear on Broadway in the Sam Mendes/Rob Marshall production of 'Cabaret' at Studio 54. She began in the role of Lulu, featuring her singing, dancing, and playing violin, and was the understudy and eventual replacement for the lead role, Sally Bowles. Milena also danced on Broadway in the musical revival of 'The Boys From Syracuse' (choreographed by Tony winner Rob Ashford), and the Beach Boys musical 'Good Vibrations.' She starred as Millie in the first regional production of 'Thoroughly Modern Millie,' and starred in the title role of 'Sweet Charity' at the Lyric Theatre in NYC.
Milena resides in Los Angeles and is actively developing TV/film projects with her husband and producing partner, writer David Cornue.
www.milenagovich.com- Actor
- Additional Crew
One of England's most successful and enduring character actors, with a prolific screen career on television and in films, Robert
Hardy was acclaimed for his versatility and the depth of his performances.
Born in Cheltenham in
1925, he studied at Oxford University and, in 1949, he joined the
Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon. Television viewers
most fondly remember him as the overbearing Siegfried Farnon in
All Creatures Great and Small (1978)
but his most critically acclaimed performance was as the title
character of
Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (1981).
His portrayal of Britain's wartime leader was so accurately observed
that, in the following years, he was called on to reprise the role in
such productions as
The Woman He Loved (1988)
and
War and Remembrance (1988).
Unlike some British character actors, Hardy was not a Hollywood name and his work in films was therefore restricted to
appearances in predominantly British-based productions such as
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965),
Frankenstein (1994) and
Sense and Sensibility (1995). However, in the 21st century, Hardy came to the attention of a whole new generation for his performances in the hugely successful Harry Potter films, while also continuing to make regular appearances in British television series. His co-star from All Creatures Great and Small (1978), Peter Davison, quite simply described Hardy as an "extraordinary" actor who would "never do the same thing twice" when he was acting with him. He was awarded the CBE for services to acting. He died in August 2017.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Born in Dayton, Ohio, Damian (who's of Mexican, Italian, Irish and Native American descent) grew up as the second eldest of 5 children; 2 brothers and 2 sisters. His father,Rico Chapa, owned a bar across the street, in Columbus, OH, from a go-go bar, owned by someone he knew; Larry Flynt, who'd soon go on to publish Hustler Magazine.
As a teen, Damian sold aluminum siding, and ran a go-go joint when he wast 17, for his Uncle Johnny. Johnny was shot several times, and was considered a "gangster". Chapa's other uncle, Enrique was a 'hired hit man' in Texas.
In his early 20's, Chapa developed a serious alcohol and substance abuse problem due to his difficult childhood. One day, he decided; 'enough was enough', and built up the courage and strength to seek help through meetings. Chapa denied to take the artistic path instead of the troubled path in front of him. Chapa has since been successfully sober for over 25 years.
Damian served in the U.S. Navy for 3 years, traveling the world on 3 different ships Including the U.S.S. Henry B. Wilson Guided missile destroyer.
After serving in the military, Damian decided to follow in the footsteps of his favorite actor, Montgomery Cliff, and began a career in acting.
Chapa who left for New York at a very early age to Brooklyn decided to stay in the Big Apple to follow his dream of acting: He had his first. acting job in New York as a stand-in for Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach" music video. This was his first step, and soon shot 2 films. His first starring role was In Blood In, Blood Out (1993), as Miklo Velka (for which he achieved worldwide notice and legions of fans, particularly within the Latino community, As well as having gone on to become the highest-grossing Latin film in history), followed by Undersiege with Tommy Lee Jones and Steven Seagull (1992). Chapa Followed up starring along side Chris Tucker in Money talks and then Playing the lead as Lyle Menendez in Menendez A killing in Beverly Hills with Beverly D'Angelo and Edward James Olmos.
Damian attended the 18th Street Theater in New York for many years, and was coached by master director Robert Easton at one time. Robert Easton said that (at the time) Chapa was one of the best young actors of our time.
Damian has also worked behind the camera. Damian opened a production company, and named it in honor of his eldest brother, Rico ('Rico Films'), who tragically had died of cancer at the age of 30, He later changed the name to New York International Pictures.
In 1995, both Damian Chapa and Leonardo DiCaprio were in the running to do competing James Dean biopics. The James Dean Foundation, who held rights for the project, endorsed Chapa over DiCaprio.
Unfortunately, the project came to a screeching halt, when all its producers were murdered at a street light in Culver City, California, as outlined in the book Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by Rod Lurie
In 2011, whilst filming a scene for his film, Brando Unauthorized, Damian was involved in a motorcycle accident, which nearly killed him. He suffered several injuries,including a broken hand and facial bruising. As a result, the production was temporarily delayed, however, after 8 hours he got back on his feet and resumed filming. A clip of the accident can be seen in the film, during the acid trip scene.
Damian subsequently won Best Director and Best Feature awards at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival for his film Brando Unauthorized (2011).
Damian had 4 children. His eldest son - Ricco Chapa - is also an actor, and he gave another son - Luke Chapa - the middle name "Scorsese" after his favorite film director, Martin Scorsese. Damian's youngest son Gabriel Chapa is also starting a very young acting career.
Amongst the actors Damian's,directed are Stacy Keach and Rachel Hunter in 4 films, Robert Wagner and Joe Estevez in 3 films, and Faye Dunaway, David Carradine, Brad Dourif and Gary Busey in 2 films. Robert Davi and Danny Trejo more recent.
Last year Damian's starred in a film he directed; Streets of East LA. The film features, Angus Macfadyen, and Damian Chapa.
Damian's manager is Chuck Binder whose long-time clients have included Sharon Stone and the late David Carradine. Chapa is also represented in Europe by Beatriz Oliete who landed Chapa a role in the New Woody Allen film.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Jon Avery Abrahams is an American actor. His most notable film roles include Bobby in Scary Movie (2000), Denny Byrnes in Meet the Parents (2000), and Dalton Chapman in the House of Wax (2005). Abrahams was born in New York City. He attended Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn. Abrahams' great-uncles were actor Mack Gray - long time confidant of entertainers George Raft, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra - and stuntman and fight coordinator Joe Gray. His father is the artist Martin Abrahams.- Anne Benton was born on 29 October 1932 in Albany, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Men Into Space (1959), Checkmate (1960) and Perry Mason (1957). She was married to Bernard McDonald. She died on 8 November 2005 in Portland, Oregon, USA.
- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Aksel Hennie is a Norwegian actor, writer and director. He has acted in
a number of successful Norwegian movies, and has received several
awards. Hennie grew up in Lambertseter in Oslo. In his late teens he
was sentenced for tagging, and became an outcast in the community for
confessing to the police. This personal story contributed much of the
background for the movie Uno. The conviction against Hennie was in fact
one of the first such cases in Norway. Hennie was admitted to the
Norwegian National Academy of Theatre after applying four times. He
graduated in 2001, and has since acted both at Teatret in Molde from
2001 to 2002 and at Oslo Nye Teater from 2002 till now where he has
been in plays such as Hamlet, and The woman who married a turkey. His
main success, however, has been as a film actor. He made his debut
starring in the feature film Jonny Vang in 2003. Though the director,
Jens Lien, originally thought Hennie was too young for the role, the
actor convinced him he was the right man for the film. The same year he
also acted in the movies Buddy and Ulvesommer, and the next year he
made his debut as a director and writer with the movie Uno, in which he
also acted.[5] For this film Hennie, and his co-star Nicolai Cleve
Broch, went into hard physical training for six months to perform
convincingly as bodybuilders. He won the Amanda Award (the main
Norwegian film award) for "The Best Direction" (for the movie Uno in
2005), and that same year he was also among the nominees for "Best
Actor" and "Best Film". He also won an Amanda award as "Best Actor" for
the movie Jonny Vang in 2003. He was named one of European films
"Shooting Stars" by European Film Promotion in 2004. In 2001 he was
also named "Theatre talent of the year" by the newspaper Dagbladet. In
2008 Hennie starred in the movie Max Manus, where he played the role of
the Norwegian war hero by that name. The movie had a large budget by
Norwegian standards, and was met with great expectations.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Christopher Wiehl is an actor, producer & writer. In 2021, Christopher was named Chief Creative Officer with Subject Entertainment, based in Austin, Texas. As an actor, Christopher has appeared in numerous films and television series over the past 2 decades. Including Showtime's critically-acclaimed series, Masters of Sex (2013), and NBC long running drama Law & Order: SVU. He also starred as a series regular on several network shows, Bull (2000), First Monday (2002) and Playmakers (2003). He has recurred on ABC's Revenge (2011), Switched at Birth (2011), and Private Practice (2007), among other programs. A graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in dramatic arts. During his college career, he starred in stage productions of "Henry V", "The Owl and the Pussycat", and "Lonestar".- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Derek Theler is an American actor and model born in Alaska. He grew up playing sports, loved riding motorcycles and graduated from Colorado State with a degree in Pre medicine. He appeared as a model in commercials for Nike, Coke Zero, Kayak, Arby's, State Farm and Verizon ad. His most notable role is Danny Wheeler on Baby Daddy (2012), in which he appeared 100 episodes .- Actress
- Music Department
Clara Wong was born in Skokie, Illinois, USA. She is an actress, known for Billions (2016), Louie (2010) and The Eyes of My Mother (2016).- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Daniel Gregory Feuerriegel (born October 29, 1981) is an Australian actor who is based in Los Angeles, California, United States. He has acted in a number of Australian television series and first came to international notice with his role as a gladiator recruit "Agron" in the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Spartacus: Vengeance and Spartacus: War of the Damned.
In 1998, Feuerriegel graduated from Villanova College, a Catholic college located in the Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo, Queensland. He studied acting at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. He graduated in 2002.
He featured in the 2005 controversial short 'Boys Grammar' which also starred Jai Courtney and Adam J. Yeend. He joined the cast of 'Small Claims: White Wedding'.
In 2006 he appeared in 'Burke & Wills' and short film True, the same year he starred as a recurring character on the hit series 'McLeod's Daughters' where he played Leo Coombes for five episodes, also appeared in the series 'Stupid Stupid Man' where he played Kim in the episode "The Reunion". He joined the cast of 'Between the Flags' (short film) in 2007. In 2008 he appeared in a recurring role on the hit series 'Home and Away' where he played the journalist Gavin Johnson. the same year he guest starred in an episode of 'The Strip', along with Aaron Jeffery. In 2009 he played Brendan in the Australian series 'All Saints', earlier, in 2006 he played Cameron "Indy" Jones in the series. In 2010 he played Agron, a gladiator recruit, in the Starz hit series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Feuerriegel continued this role in 2012 through the second season of the show, entitled Spartacus: Vengeance, and the show's third and final season, entitled Spartacus: War of the Damned, in 2013.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Scott Thomson was born on 29 October 1957. He is an actor, known for Twister (1996), Police Academy (1984) and Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982).- Debra Christofferson was born on 29 October 1954 in Spearfish, South Dakota, USA. She is an actress, known for 9-1-1 (2018), Outcast (2016) and Carnivàle (2003).
- Nina Toussaint-White is an English actress. Toussaint-White was raised in Plumstead, south east London, Toussaint-White was educated at Plumstead Manor School and Negus Sixth Form Centre, and subsequently trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, Clapham, on their three-year B.A. acting course. She made her professional debut in a 2007 episode of Casualty, followed by an appearance in The Bill, a year later.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Michael was born in Nottingham where he was educated at Becket Roman Catholic Grammar School, West Bridgeford in Nottingham where he was known as Jimmy - his real name is Michael James - and where he was caned some 130 times. While that might have been a record, the one that went into the record books was scoring 60 of the under-13 football team's 120 goals in a season. In between canings and scoring goals, he acquired a great love of literature and the English language from a teacher at Becket Grammar School which he left at 17 with an A level in philosophy and became an accountant with the coal board. Before he took his accountancy finals, he left the Coal Board and went to work in the Nottingham Fish Market where the language he learned was a revelation to him.- Bob Ross was born on 29 October 1942 in Daytona Beach, Florida, USA. He was married to Lynda Lucille Freeman, Jane Ross and Vicky Ross. He died on 4 July 1995 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Director
- Animation Department
- Writer
Ralph Bakshi worked his way up from Brooklyn and became an animation legend. He was born on October 29, 1938, in Haifa, Israel, the son of Mina (Zlotin) and Eliezar Bakshi, and is of Krymchak Jewish descent. He was raised in Brownsville, after his family came to New York to escape World War II. Bakshi attended the Thomas Jefferson High School and was later transferred to the High School of Industrial Arts and graduated with an award in cartooning in 1957.
At the Terrytoons studio, he started as a cel polisher then graduated to cel painting. Practicing nights and weekends, he quickly became an inker and then an animator. There, he worked on such shows as Mighty Mouse, Heckle and Jeckle, Deputy Dawg, Foofle and Lariat Sam. At 28 he created and directed a series of superhero spoof cartoons called The Mighty Heroes.
In 1967, Bakshi moved to Paramount Studios. Working with producer Steve Krantz, Bakshi worked on episodes of the Spider-Man TV series and several short films. In the 1970s, Bakshi set out to produce films using his innovative vision for how animated films should be. Krantz suggested Robert Crumb's "Fritz the Cat" comic book as Bakshi's first feature. The two set out to meet with Crumb and get the film rights. In 1972, the film premiered and was extremely successful, as the first feature-length animated film to receive an X rating by the American rating system (when it was distributed worldwide, it generally received lower ratings the equivalent of an R rating, and was released as being unrated on DVD).
The success of "Fritz the Cat" allowed Bakshi to produce films featuring his own characters and ideas, and so "Heavy Traffic" and "Coonskin" were produced, both of which were extremely controversial, but were praised by critics. During the same period, he shot and completed another feature titled "Hey Good Lookin'" for the Warner Brothers studio, who didn't think that a combination of live-action and animation would sell, and forced Bakshi to go back and animate the live action sequences.
During this period, Bakshi also produced two very successful fantasy films, "Wizards" and part one of an animated film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings." Although these films were financially successful, they were misunderstood by critics, and United Artists, the studio that produced "The Lord of the Rings" refused to fund the second part, or sequel to Bakshi's ambitious adaptation.
During the 1980s, animation went into a decline. "American Pop," done using the same style of realistic animation as "The Lord of the Rings" was not successful financially, and critics did not see the point of the film being animated. The finished version of "Hey Good Lookin'" was released during the same year as "American Pop," but was also unsuccessful financially. Bakshi's last film of the decade, "Fire & Ice," a collaboration with famed artist Frank Frazetta, was a flop.
Bakshi produced several television features with mixed results before returning to film with what would eventually become "Cool World" - the script was rewritten several times during production without Bakshi's knowledge until it came to the point where Bakshi did not recognize his own work. The film was critically scorned, and was a box office flop. Fans feel that the film is not a true Bakshi film.
Since then, the Internet and DVD releases of Bakshi's work have brought him a new generation of fans and increased interest, encouraging Bakshi to produce another film. "Last Days of Coney Island" is in production. Bakshi lives in New Mexico. A three-day retrospective was held at American Cinematheque at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California and the Aero Theater in Santa Monica, California in April, 2005.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
McCouch grew up in Chappaqua, NY and received a Bachelor of Arts Honors
Degree in theater from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY where he also
played varsity lacrosse and rugby. McCouch went on to receive a
graduate degree from the British American Drama Academy, Oxford-Yale
program in London.
McCouch spent four seasons with the Williamstown Theater Festival, MA
(1988-1992), where he performed in Arturo Ul, The Visit, Three Penny
Opera, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Inherit the Wind and The Moonstone.
In 1992, he performed in Electra with the Almeida Theater in London. He
also appeared in The Royal Court's Women Beware Women. His next project
was three years on Another World where he played Dr. Morgan Winthrop.
Next came the blockbuster hit Armageddon, where McCouch played Munition
Specialist Gruber.
Recent performing credits include seven years on As the World Turns
where McCouch received an Emmy Nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
His portrayal of Dusty Donovan was a fan favorite. Other great
performances; The Apostles/Fox, Dope/FX, Momentum/Miramax,
Throttle/Dimension, Legacy/Alliance Atlantis, UPN, All Souls/Sci Fi,
UPN, The Agency/CBS, Airtight/Sony, Viacom, Beverly Hills
90210/Spelling, Forbidden Island/Spelling, Cosby Mysteries/NBC.
Grayson McCouch now plays Don, Adriana's single father and a surgeon,
on the Nick at Nite new drama series, Hollywood Heights.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Dillon Casey was born on 29 October 1983 in Dallas, Texas, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Backpackers (2013), The Vow (2012) and Nikita (2010).- Director
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Isao Takahata was born on 29 October 1935 in Ise, Japan. He was a director and writer, known for Pom Poko (1994), Grave of the Fireflies (1988) and The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013). He died on 5 April 2018 in Tokyo, Japan.- Born in 1943 in Hampstead, London, Margaret Nolan had a career as a glamour model under the name of Vicky Kennedy, even posing for Playboy magazine. Entering films in 1963 in Saturday Night Out (1964) saw her catapulted into Goldfinger (1964). Often cast mainly for her fabulous buxom figure and good looks, Margaret was perfectly cast in Carry on Girls (1973), made six "Carry On..." performances in all and was very successful in all of her roles, displaying good comedy acting skills. Nolan is probably best remembered for her role as 'Dink' in Goldfinger (1964), and for her "Carry On..." film roles. Margaret Nolan died on October 5, 2020, aged 76, in London from cancer.
- Zheyuan Chen was born on 29 October 1996 in Guangdong, China. He is an actor, known for Handsome Siblings (2020), Mr. Bad (2022) and Hidden Love (2023).
- As a baby, Osmanski was flown halfway around the world to meet her
adoptive parents. Growing up in Olympia, Washington, she loved writing
plays but never thought about being in them. After graduating from
Principia College in three years with a degree in Creative Writing and
Studio Art, Osmanski began a career as a graphic designer. After a year
in Boston, she married her college sweetheart, and the two relocated to
San Francisco. After seeing a notice for auditions for a local
production of "Our Town," she auditioned for the play and was cast in
the lead role. Osmanski received her MFA from UC San Diego, one of the
top three professional actor training programs in the country. Her
professional theater experience includes the San Jose Repertory
productions of "The Matchmaker," "Major Barbara" and "Red Ladder," the
San Jose Repertory Theatre production of "Be Aggressive," and Los
Angeles' Mark Taper Forum's productions of "Lily Plants a Garden" and
"The Unbearable Truth," as well as A Noise Within's production of
"Romeo and Juliet." After relocating to Los Angeles, Osmanski has
worked steadily in theater, television and film, booking commercials as
well as lead roles in small, independent films. Osmanski also puts her
English degree to good use by tutoring students for the ISEE and the
SAT. - Actress
- Additional Crew
- Script and Continuity Department
Lorelei King was born on 29 October 1953 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. She is an actress, known for Notting Hill (1999), Alien: Covenant (2017) and The Saint (1997). She was previously married to Vincent Marzello.- Mariona Tena was born on 29 October 1982 in Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. She is an actress, known for Hanna (2019), El nudo (2019) and Seis hermanas (2015).
- Cherilyn Rae Wilson is a film and television actress known for Mad Men, The Social Network and True Blood. Based in Los Angeles, CA, Cherilyn studied Acting at Playhouse West in Hollywood as well having graduated with Honors from California State University Northridge in Political Science and Political Theory. She has lived and performed in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles.
Cherilyn was raised in Marin County, California.
Cherilyn founded Chronic Compassion Support Circle, a Los Angeles based Support Community for individuals and families coping with and Chronic Illness. Cherilyn has a passion for aquatic healing arts and is a licensed practitioner in the modality of Water Release Therapy©. - Actor
- Writer
- Director
Jack Shepherd was born in Leeds, on October 29th, 1940. His father was
a cabinet maker and his mother an infant school teacher. He was
educated at Roundhay School, Leeds and went on to study fine art at
Kings College, Newcastle. After gaining a BA in Fine Art, he first
studied acting at the Central School and then at the Drama Centre
London, a drama school he helped found.
He worked at the Royal Court theatre from 1965 to 1969, and here he was
involved in the first production of "Saved" by
Edward Bond, and also "Narrow Road
To the Deep North" and "Early Morning" by the same author. He won the
"Most promising actor of year" in 1967, for his performance in
David Storey's restoration of
"Arnold Middleton".
During the 1970s, he went on to appear and star in many television
dramas, including:
Ready When You Are, Mr. McGill (1976)
by Jack Rosenthal,
All Good Men (1974),
Through the Night (1975),
the series Bill Brand (1976) (all
by Trevor Griffiths) and in
1977 appeared in
Count Dracula (1977).
In 1971, he teamed up with the actor
Richard Wilson and together
they ran a drama studio in north London. Their intention was to provide
workshops for professional actors to meet and develop their skills.
Shepherd and Wilson took the classes on alternate weeks, each taking
part in the others. It was during these times that Shepherd developed
an interest in devising plays for theatre. He wrote "The Sleep of
Reasons" which was produced at the Edinburgh festival in 1974; in 1982
he wrote "Real Time"; in 1983 he wrote the play "Revelations";
"Underdog" and "Clapperclaw" were both written for the BBC. Most
recently, in 1998 he wrote "Half Moon".
He was a member of the National Theatre from 1978 to 1986 and was a
regular member of Bill Bryden's
company in Cottlesloe. He appeared in "American Buffal" as Teach, and
won "best actor" for his performance as Roma in "Glengarry Glen Ross".
He appeared as Hickey in "The Iceman Cometh" and a variety of biblical
characters in the mysteries which were recently revived to celebrate
the millennium.
During the 80s and 90s, he continued to work in television. Some of his
work includes:
Escape from Sobibor (1987),
Blind Justice (1988),
Ball-Trap on the Cote Sauvage (1989),
A Day in Summer (1989)
and, most famously, the part of Detective Superintendent Charles
Wycliffe, in Wycliffe (1993) (from
1994-1998). His work has not been exclusive to theatre and television.
He has appeared in several films throughout his long career; these
include:
The Virgin Soldiers (1969),
Lights and Shadows (1988),
Twenty-One (1991) and
Wonderland (1999). Quite recently,
Richard Wilson and Shepherd were re-united in the ITV six-part comedy
series High Stakes (2001).
Not only does he act and write, he has also directed many stage plays,
notably "Two Gentlemen of Verona" for the opening season at The Globe,
"King Lear" at Southwalk Playhouse, "The School of Night" by Peter
Whelan at Chichester and "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Most recently,
Shepherd has been seen in the ITV hit drama
The Jury (2002) and in the BBC
adaptation of Tony Parsons'
Man and Boy (2002).
Shepherd is an accomplished jazz musician, favouring the saxophone, but
has also been known to play piano and flute in some of his television
appearances.