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1-50 of 109
- Actor
- Writer
Bill Patton was born on 2 June 1894 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for The Last Chance (1926), Smoking Trails (1924) and Fangs of Fate (1925). He was married to Emily and Birdie. He died on 12 December 1951 in Gardena, California, USA.- Rocky Lundy was born on 7 April 1945 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for The Law and Mr. Jones (1960), The Storm Rider (1957) and Blondie (1957). He died on 2 January 1969 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- George Bell is a cowboy actor who has been constantly overlooked by western enthusiast. Starting in the 1940s, Bell was a regular in western movies that were filmed at Republic where Bell could be seen menacing the good guys as a part of the gang that were terrorizing the local citizens or he could be seen riding in a sheriff's posse.
During the 1950s, Bell was so widely respected among his peers that he was frequently taken on location in various films. This was never more evident during the filming of the Gary Cooper movie "Distant Drums" where he and two other cowboy extras were chosen to join the primary cast and to portray soldiers where they were taken on location to Florida for 2 months. When he got back, he continued to appear in a various assortment of movies that were filmed at Republic and Warner Brothers.
By the late 1950s, the age of the television western had arrived. There were countless westerns on the air and they all needed cowboys to fill their posse scenes. This couldn't have come at a better time for Bell because the once dominate Republic Studios had fallen into disrepair under the mismanagement of Herbert Yates and eventually was forced to close down. Bell found himself working various television westerns including a significant amount of work appearing a barfly or a henchman in many different Warner Brothers television productions.
During the early 1960s, Warner Brothers started to divest itself from the television western market and Bell went on to appear for a few more years in shows like "Gunsmoke," "Bonanza", and "The Virginian". Eventually in 1964, George Bell decided to retire after more than 30 years as an on screen cowboy leaving behind a lasting legacy that encompassed the golden era of westerns. - Actor
Jack Chase was born on 27 January 1915 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an actor. He died on 23 August 1972 in Spokane, Washington, USA.- Grady Nutt was born on 2 September 1934 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for The Grady Nutt Show (1981), Hee Haw (1969) and The Nashville Palace (1980). He was married to Eleanor Wilson. He died on 23 November 1982.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Carolyn Sue Jones was born in 1930, in Amarillo, Texas, to homemaker Chloe (or Cloe) Jeanette Southern (1906-1979), and Julius Alfred Jones (1897-1979), a barber. Her sister was Bette (later Mrs. Moriarty). Carolyn was an imaginative child, much like her mother; she and her mother shared the same birthday (April 28).
In 1934, her father abandoned the family and her mother moved them in with her own parents, also in Amarillo. As a child, Carolyn suffered from severe asthma. Although she loved movies, she was often too sick to attend, so she listened to her favorites, Danny Kaye and Spike Jones and read as many movie fan magazines as she could. She dreamed of attending the famed Pasadena Playhouse and received many awards at school for speech, poetry, and dramatics. In 1947, she was accepted as a student at the Pasadena Playhouse, and her grandfather agreed to pay for her classes. She worked in summer stock to supplement her income, graduating in 1950.
She gave herself a complete head-to-toe makeover, including painful cosmetic nose surgery to make herself ready for movie roles. Working as an understudy at the Players Ring Theater, she stepped in when the star left to get married. She was seen by a talent scout from Paramount and given a screen test, which went well. She made her first appearance in The Turning Point (1952). She did some other work during her 6-month contract, but when it ended, Paramount, suffering from television's impact, let it lapse. She quipped, "They let me and 16 secretaries go!"
She started working in television but kept busy on stage as well. There, she met a fellow Texan, a young man named Aaron Spelling, and they became a couple. She made a breakthrough in the 3-D movie House of Wax (1953) and garnered excellent reviews. Aaron was still struggling, so he felt he wasn't able to propose to Carolyn; she finally proposed to him. They were married in April 1953. Neither was earning much, but they really enjoyed each other and their life. Many saw them as an ideal couple. She decided against having children as she felt she could not juggle the demands of both a career and a family.
Columbia Pictures saw her and wanted to test her for the part of prostitute Alma Burke in From Here to Eternity (1953), but she got extremely sick with pneumonia and the part went to Donna Reed, nine years older, who won an Academy Award. Jones did, however, achieve success in the science-fiction classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), a subtle allegory of the times (McCarthyism). And the famous filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock cast her in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) opposite James Stewart and Doris Day. Meanwhile, Aaron had little success as an actor and Carolyn pushed him to become a writer, even threatening to leave him. She constantly promoted his scripts whenever she could and he was ultimately hired by Dick Powell. Carolyn, meanwhile, was successful once more in The Bachelor Party (1957) (famous line, "Just say you love me--you don't have to mean it!"). For this role, she surprised cast members by dyeing her hair black and cutting it short. This stunning look served her well for a number of roles. For her eight minutes on screen, she received glowing reviews and was nominated for an Academy Award but lost. However, she did win the Golden Globe Award and the Laurel Award for Marjorie Morningstar (1958). She followed this with an impressive appearance in King Creole (1958), generally regarded as Elvis Presley's best film. She then gave arguably her best performance ever in Career (1959), but the film was not commercially successful. She played a serious role in this, leaving the kooky role she might have played to Shirley MacLaine.
As Aaron's career soared, the marriage started to fail. They separated in October 1963 and amicably divorced in August 1965, with Carolyn asking for no alimony. They remained friends. She worked at various roles including two episodes of Burke's Law (1963) for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. Soon, she got the part for which she will best be remembered, that of Morticia Addams in The Addams Family (1964). She spent two years in this role. Her costume was designed to copy the cartoon drawings and no doubt inspired such imitators as Cassandra Peterson (Elvira, Mistress of the Dark). The show went head-to-head with The Munsters (1964) and Bewitched (1964).
The show was a hit and she received all the fame she had craved. However, the network decided to cancel the show, despite its success, after only two years. Typecast as Morticia but without the income that a few more years would have provided, she found life difficult and roles few. While acting on the road, she married her voice coach, Herbert Greene, a well-known and respected Broadway conductor and musical director, and they moved together to Palm Springs, California. After seven years, she left him and returned to Hollywood, determined to try to restart her career. She was surprisingly successful and performed in several shows, including Wonder Woman (1975), where she played Hippolyta, the mother of Wonder Woman (Lynda Carter) and Wonder Girl (Debra Winger). She also appeared in the landmark miniseries Roots (1977). She appeared in four episodes of Fantasy Island (1977) and one episode of The Love Boat (1977), two shows produced by her former husband, Aaron Spelling. In 1979, both of Jones's parents died; her mother from pancreatic cancer. She took on the role of Myrna Clegg on the soap Capitol (1982) from 1982 to 1983, despite having been diagnosed with colon cancer in 1981. She underwent aggressive treatment for the cancer, but it returned during her time on the show and she was told it was terminal.
She played some scenes despite being confined to a wheelchair and working in great pain. Knowing time was short, she married her boyfriend of five years, Peter Bailey-Britton, in September 1982. She died on August 3, 1983, aged 53. She had told her sister Bette that she wanted her epitaph to be "She gave joy to the world." She certainly had many friends who loved her greatly, and many fans who enjoyed her wonderful performances.- Producer
- Director
Oil millionaire who bought the rights to "The Lone Ranger". Also produced "Lassie and "Sgt. Preston of the Yukon". He built the Disneyland Hotel, founded Los Angeles' PBS station KCET and turned the Queen Mary and Howard Hughes' experimental airplane, "The Spruce Goose", into tourist attractions in Long Beach, California. The Spruce Goose was later moved to Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.- Actress
Jorja Curtright was born on 14 August 1923 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. She was an actress, known for M (1951), The Cases of Eddie Drake (1952) and Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955). She was married to Sidney Sheldon. She died on 11 May 1985 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Jay Youngblood was born on 21 June 1955 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (1973), WWF on MSG Network (1973) and Mid South Wrestling (1981). He died on 2 September 1985 in Melbourne, Australia.
- Script and Continuity Department
Virginia Lucille Jones was born on 23 April 1909 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. She is known for Omnibus (1967), One Moment Please (1956) and This Is Your Life (1950). She was married to Benjamin Abraham Price and Oliver Hardy. She died on 8 October 1986 in Burbank, California, USA.- Kimberly Kendall was born on 30 April 1968 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. She died on 4 May 1990 in Amarillo, Texas, USA.
- Music Department
- Actor
Gene Estes was born on 3 October 1931 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Short Cuts (1993), Stakeout on Dope Street (1958) and Paternity (1981). He died on 17 March 1996 in North Hollywood, California, USA.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Herb Abrams was born on 9 July 1955 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) (1990), UWF Rampage (1993) and Club Life (1986). He died on 23 July 1996 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.- Editor
- Actor
- Producer
Wayne Hudgins was born on 19 June 1950 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an editor and actor, known for Will Rogers: Look Back in Laughter (1987), Cinderella Liberty (1973) and As the World Turns (1956). He died on 18 December 1997 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Dorothy Babb was born on 17 June 1926 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. She was an actress, known for Earl Carroll Sketchbook (1946), Give Out, Sisters (1942) and How's About It? (1943). She died on 13 May 1998 in Thousand Oaks, California, USA.- Bobby Duncum Jr. was the son of Bobby Duncum Sr., and he debuted as a wrestler for the Texas-based Global Wrestling Federation in September 1992. He went on to have successful runs in All Japan Pro Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling, but he is best known for his appearances in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He began a program with WCW World Television Champion Chris Jericho, but was unable to win the belt. However, 1999 would be a turning point in his career as he turned heel and aligned himself with Curt Hennig, Kendall Windham, and Barry Windham as the West Texas Rednecks, a group that feuded with rappers Master P and the No Limit Soldiers. Once they recorded the song "Rap is Crap", they earned recognition from Southern fans despite them being heels. He died of an accidental drug overdose on January 24, 2000, aged 34.
- Writer
- Director
William Dale Jennings was born on 21 October 1917 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was a writer and director, known for The Cowboys (1972), One Got Fat (1963) and The Cowboys (1974). He died on 11 May 2000 in La Mirada, California, USA.- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Ann Doran appeared in over 500 motion pictures and 1000 television shows, by one count. Starting at the age of four, she appeared in hundreds of silent films under assumed names so her father's family wouldn't find out. Rarely a featured player (although Charles Starrett's Rio Grande (1938) is a notable exception), she provided many a wonderful performance in support of the leads.- Ann Lee was born on 8 August 1918 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. She was an actress, known for Boots Malone (1952), Mr. & Mrs. North (1952) and Trial (1955). She was married to Jack A Harris. She died on 19 August 2003 in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
- Lynn Mathis was born on 24 November 1953 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for The Life of David Gale (2003), Nocturne (1999) and Walker, Texas Ranger (1993). He died on 19 October 2003 in Dallas, Texas, USA.
- Carl D. Parker was born on 23 February 1930 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Phenomenon (1996), Mathnet (1987) and Square One Television (1987). He died on 6 February 2004 in Stockton, California, USA.
- Actress
Ruby Jo Savage was born on 28 May 1915 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. She was an actress. She was married to Emmett E. Bergholz. She died on 30 March 2005 in Simi Valley, California, USA.- Kelly Moran was born on 26 October 1958 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was married to Laura Annette Britten Moran. He died on 25 October 2005 in Amarillo, Texas, USA.
- Barbara Whitaker was born on 29 April 1934 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. She was an actress, known for Eddie Presley (1992). She was married to Nathan Duane Whitaker Sr.. She died on 18 March 2007 in Lubbock, Texas, USA.
- Richard Morgan was born on 24 April 1931 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was a writer, known for Land of the Lost (1974), Mission: Impossible (1966) and Emergency! (1972). He was married to Barbara. He died on 2 February 2008 in Hawthorne, California, USA.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Cyd Charisse was born Tula Ellice Finklea on March 8, 1922, in Amarillo, Texas. Born to be a dancer, she spent her early childhood taking ballet lessons and joined the Ballet Russe at age 13. In 1939, she married Nico Charisse, her former dance teacher. In 1943, she appeared in her first film, Something to Shout About (1943), billed as Lily Norwood. The same year, she played a Russian dancer in Mission to Moscow (1943), directed by Michael Curtiz. In 1945, she was hired to dance with Fred Astaire in Ziegfeld Follies (1945), and that uncredited appearance got her a seven-year contract with MGM. She appeared in a number of musicals over the next few years, but it was Singin' in the Rain (1952) with Gene Kelly that made her a star. That was quickly followed by her great performance in The Band Wagon (1953). As the 1960s dawned, musicals faded from the screen, as did her career. She made appearances on television and performed in a nightclub revue with her second husband, singer Tony Martin. Cyd Charisse died at age 86 of a heart attack on June 17, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.- Cinematographer
- Actor
- Camera and Electrical Department
Barry Abrams was born on 7 March 1944 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was a cinematographer and actor, known for Friday the 13th (1980), The Children (1980) and A Stranger Is Watching (1982). He died on 4 August 2009 in the USA.- Camera and Electrical Department
- Sound Department
Jim Givens was born on 15 August 1951 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He is known for Play Dead (1983), Deep in the Heart (1983) and 8 Seconds (1994). He died on 30 October 2009 in Dallas, Texas, USA.- Ernestine Mercer was born on 25 March 1924 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. She was an actress, known for 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag (1997), Casper (1995) and The Young and the Restless (1973). She died on 27 May 2011 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Jeff West was born on 6 March 1955 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Almost (2002). He died on 5 August 2011 in Snyder, Texas, USA.
- Justin Tarr was born on 14 April 1940 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Bullitt (1968), Massacre Harbor (1968) and The Rat Patrol (1966). He died on 26 July 2012 in Hawaii, USA.
- Jack Hanlon was born on 15 February 1916 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for The Shakedown (1929), Ten Years Old (1927) and Hide-Out (1930). He was married to Jean. He died on 13 December 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
- Stanley Marsh was born on 31 January 1938 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Plutonium Circus (1994), Road Does Not End (2006) and Art & Soul (2011). He was married to Gwendolyn O'Brien and Wendy. He died on 17 June 2014 in Amarillo, Texas, USA.
- Glyn Stout was born on 29 December 1937 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was married to Sandra Sue Laden and Lori Kay Stout. He died on 12 November 2015 in Los Gatos, California, USA.
- Sage Pistocco was born on 27 December 1995 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Revelation Road: The Black Rider (2014). He died on 5 December 2020 in Amarillo, Texas, USA.
- Born May 28th, 1958 in Amarillo, Texas, Randal 'Barry' Orton, arrived in Kansas City, Mo. three days later with his mother, Rita, at the wheel of the car. This served as an early sample of what life would hold for the newborn, Barry, as his father, Bob Orton Sr., 'The Big O' was a professional wrestler and the family rarely spent more than a few years in any one geographical region. On February 9, 1964 in their Tampa, Florida living room, Barry and his family watched with millions of other Americans as The Beatles made their U.S. debut on _"Ed Sullivan Show, The" (1955)_. That proved to be a defining moment for our subject, cementing his aspirations of working in the performing arts.
On his 6th birthday, Barry chose a guitar over a rowboat. His first play followed when he played 'Old King Cole' in a first grade production of Mother Goose. Playing his first nightclub gig at age 13, Barry, went on to play in several prominent club bands across the country. In 1976 after being disappointed by a "near miss" record deal, he found himself once again in Tampa, Florida, this time being trained by his father and brother, "The Ace" Cowboy Bob Orton, to follow in his family's footsteps into the world of professional wrestling. This initiated an inner struggle which saw him rebound between the worlds of wrestling and rock & roll for the next decade and a half. In 1991, Barry landed the role of 'Wild Thing' in the local Vegas TV show 'Vegas Rocks.' This led to a local commercial and an (uncredited) part in Honeymoon in Vegas (1992).
After struggling with inner demons and the music industry for the next several years, Barry resurfaced as a serious pupil in the craft of acting. After Killer's Mind (1999) as a ritual to signify new beginnings and to remove himself from "the shadows", Barry redefined his identity by adopting the name Barrymore Barlow, in part to honor one of his favorite character actors, Lionel Barrymore and in part because, "it sounds groovy." Following an overnight reign as World Champion in the now defunct WOW (World Organized Wrestling), Barry went to New York to study Classical Theater at the Robert Patterson Studio and was cast in several independent and studio features and shorts. He also found work in stunt coordination and fight choreography. He is currently working on a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at UNLV (University of Nevada Las Vegas) and continues to pursue his career as a uniquely charismatic character actor. - Set Decorator
- Art Director
- Editorial Department
Judy Summers was born on 22 February 1948 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. She was a set decorator and art director, known for Bloodbath at the House of Death (1984), Adam (1983) and The Sky's No Limit (1984). She was married to Fred Schultze. She died on 4 November 2021 in Houston, Texas, USA.- Mickey Perez was born on 26 June 1987 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He died on 15 June 2022 in Texas, USA.
- Transportation Department
- Actor
- Stunts
Dan Berryman was born on 10 September 1959 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Paul (2011), Seraphim Falls (2006) and Odd Thomas (2013). He was married to Rosanna C. Vazquez. He died on 7 March 2024 in Ignacio, Colorado, USA.- Actress
- Producer
- Stunts
Arden Cho was born on 16 August 1985 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Teen Wolf (2011), Chicago Med (2015) and The Honor List (2018).- Actor
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Editor
Derek Cecil was born on January 15, 1973 in Amarillo, Texas. He graduated from the University of Houston and the American Conservatory's Advanced Theater Training Program in San Francisco, California. He is a founding member of New York's Rude Mechanicals Theater Company and has acted and directed as a member of the company.
Cecil gained national exposure when he starred opposite Mark Ruffalo in UPN's short-lived TV series The Beat (2000). The series dealt with the lives of two uniform police officers in New York City and was from Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) executive producers Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana. Following a recurring role on the Fox series Pasadena (2001), Cecil took on another starring television role with ABC's experimental Push, Nevada (2002). Cecil played IRS agent Jim Prufrock on the show, which offered viewers a cash prize for solving its fictional mystery. Derek Cecil continues to divide his time between theater, television, and film.- Francie Swift was born on 27 March 1969 in Amarillo, Texas, USA. She is an actress, known for Two Weeks Notice (2002), Thoroughbreds (2017) and Cop Out (2010). She has been married to Bradley Adam Blumenfeld since 10 July 2004.
- Actress
- Producer
Born in Amarillo Texas, raised in Tulsa Oklahoma, and the youngest of 3 girls, Paula Trickey attended East Central High School in Tulsa. Paula found her love for acting at the tender age of 8. At a time of grief in her family home, Paula performed and wrote plays in hopes to entertain and cheer up her family. This fueling Trickey's love for acting combined with her strong ambition and drive even at this early age led to many plays and theatrical productions from elementary school and throughout high school. While in high school, Paula started doing local commercials and pageants and, in 1985, was crowned Miss Oklahoma in the All-American Teen Pageant (a Miss USA production) only to lose in the finals to an unknown Halle Berry. Following high school, Paula moved to Dallas where she studied acting and enjoyed much success with commercials and local film productions. With a strong sense of confidence and an invaluable array of experience, Paula moved to Los Angeles in 1986. After arriving in Los Angeles, Trickey landed a 5 season run on Pacific Blue (1996), portraying a by-the book Police Sgt. Cory McNamara. She had also been a series regular on NBC's Trade Winds (1993), and has recurred on such shows as The O.C. (2003), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990), Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) and Renegade (1992). She has done several movies of the week. Past Tense (2006) with the Lifetime Network and, with the Hallmark Network, such as Gone But Not Forgotten (2005), McBride: Murder Past Midnight (2005) and A Carol Christmas (2003) and feature films such as The Base (1999), A Kiss Goodnight (1994) and Mr. Saturday Night (1992).- Harry E. Northup has made a living as an actor for 30 years, acting in 37 films, including Mean Streets (1973), Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), Taxi Driver (1976) (1976 Palme d'Or winner at Cannes), Fighting Mad (1976) (starring role), Citizens Band (1977), Blue Collar (1978), Over the Edge (1979) (starring role), Tom Horn (1980), Used Cars (1980), Kansas (1988), The Silence of the Lambs (1991) (Oscar winner for Best Picture), Philadelphia (1993), Bad Girls (1994), Beloved (1998), and a remake of The Manchurian Candidate (2004).
Harry has acted in 43 television shows, including ER (1994) (guest star), The Court (2002) (recurring role), "In Cold Blood" (CBS mini-series), The Deliberate Stranger (1986), The Day the Bubble Burst (1982), and Knots Landing (1979) (recurring role).
Harry has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1976.
Harry is that rare American actor who is also an accomplished poet. He has had nine books of poetry published: Amarillo Born (Victor Jiminez Press, 1966); the jon voight poems (Mt. Alverno Press, 1973); Eros ASsh (Momentum Press, 1976); Enough The Great Running Chapel (Momentum Press, 1982); the images we possess kill the capturing (the jesse press, 1988); The Ragged Vertical (Cahuenga Press, 1996); Reunions (Cahuenga Press, 2001); Greatest Hits, 1966-2001 (Pudding House Press, 2002); and Red Snow Fence (Cahuenga Press, 2006).
Harry received his B.A. in English from California State University, Northridge, where he studied verse with Ann Stanford.
Harry Northup's professional and private papers, manuscripts, journals, scripts, correspondence, ephemera, etc., were purchased by U.C.S.D., La Jolla, on Nov. 18, 2002, and are housed in the Mandeville Special Collections Library, U.C.S.D., 0175-S, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, Ca. 92093-0175, for instruction, research and preservation.
His son Dylan lives in Wisconsin.
Harry lives in East Hollywood with his wife Holly Prado Northup, a writer and teacher. - Actor
- Soundtrack
Country-folk singer/songwriter Jimmie Dale Gilmore is best known for his unusual fusion of traditional honky-tonk, Hank Williams-ish country stylings with lyrics influenced by Eastern mysticism and philosophy. Born and raised among country musicians in the Texas panhandle, Gilmore grew up in Lubbock, a city known for its university and surrounded by 100 miles of dusty cotton fields; a place that has produced some of Texas' most critically acclaimed musicians, including the great Buddy Holly, the singer Mac Davis, folk songstress Nanci Griffith, Dixie Chick Natalie Maines, country superstar Waylon Jennings, Jesse "Guitar" Taylor, and Gilmore's friends and collaborators, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock. Part Cherokee, Gilmore's look and style have always been somewhat unusual for the honky-tonk milieu. Gilmore briefly attempted a music career after high school, forming the now-legendary Flatlanders with Hancock and Ely, but by 1974 his growing interest in spirituality led him to leave Texas behind - and music along with it - to join a Taoist community in Denver, Colorado. In the '80s, having developed an aesthetic that merged his love of country with his spiritual interests, Gilmore moved to Austin, Texas to re-initiate his music career, and within a few months was playing regularly around town. He released two independent label records in the late '80s before Elektra released his breakthrough album "Spinning Around the Sun" in 1993. The album made numerous end-of-the-year 'best of' lists in the media, and Gilmore's career was given an extra boost by high profile fans such as David Letterman and Natalie Merchant. Gilmore's reputation was further enhanced by the reissue of an out-of-print Flatlanders record made in Nashville in 1972, released by Rounder records in 1991 under the title 'More a Legend Than a Band.' He has continued to release solo records, and in 2002, reunited with high school buddies Butch Hancock and Joe Ely (the Bruce Springsteen of Texas), to reform the Flatlanders.
Gilmore's first film appearance was a brief cameo in 1993's 'The Thing Called Love,' an account of young singer/songwriters trying to break into the Nashville music scene, directed by Peter Bogdanovich and starring then-unknown Sandra Bullock and River Phoenix in one of his final roles. In 1996, Gilmore was recruited by his producer, T-Bone Burnett, to appear in the new Coen Brothers film, 'The Big Lebowski,' on which Burnett was also working as musical director (One of the world's foremost authorities on traditional American music, Burnett has collaborated on several Coen films, and was largely responsible for the massively successful 'O Brother, Where Art Thou' soundtrack). Gilmore appears as Smokey, the 'pacifist' bowler whom John Goodman's Walter threatens to shoot for allegedly stepping 'over the line' when throwing a strike. The inside joke, of course, is that, as a practicing Taoist, Gilmore is himself a pacifist. Gilmore was also recruited by fan and friend Billy Bob Thornton to contribute to the soundtrack and appear briefly in "Monster's Ball" singing in a honky-tonk; he has also contributed original music for the soundtrack of Robert Redford's "The Horse Whisperer."- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Born and raised in Amarillo, Texas, Bradley knew from a very young age he wanted to pursue a career in the television/film industry. At the age of 17, Bradley had already created and was producing a nationally syndicated radio drama/series titled "Just South of Normal," which aired weekly on over 300 radio stations worldwide. By the time he was 19, Bradley had worked on dozens of TV/Radio commercials, television programs, and industrial videos, where he gained valuable experience in the industry. In 2001 Bradley worked as the 2nd 2nd AD on his first feature film, then soon after auditioned for his first role in a feature film where he was cast as the lead role in the movie, "Sterling: The Secret Of The Lost Medallion". Since then, Bradley has produced, directed, and starred in several feature films, including "A Greater Yes: The Story of Amy Newhouse", "Meant To Be", "Christmas Angel", "The Greater Sins Of Lucas Blackstone", "Revelation Road: The Black Rider" and "Dancer & The Dame". He has worked with many veteran actors including Billy Gardell (Mike & Molly), Angus MacFadyen (Braveheart/ We Bought A Zoo), Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The Adventures of Superman), Erika Eleniak (Beverly Hillbillies/ Baywatch), Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Della Reese (Touched By An Angel), Haylie Duff (Napoleon Dynamite/ 7th Heaven), and Teri Polo (Meet The Parents). Bradley not only stars in, but is Co-Creator & Executive Producer of the new TV series "Dad Dudes," which co-stars Joyce Giraud (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills), and Jerry Mathers (Leave It To Beaver). Bradley has multiple film and television projects in development. Bradley lives in Los Angeles where he works full time in the television/film industry.- Actress
- Producer
Payton Spencer was born in Amarillo, Texas, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for What About Brian (2006), NCIS (2003) and ZZZ (2024).- Dustin was born in Amarillo, TX. He attended the famed Interlochen Arts Academy and then moved to New York when he was 18. After his apprenticeship with Williamstown Theater Festival he made his Broadway debut in the 1999 revival of The Rainmaker, directed by Scott Ellis and starring Woody Harrelson. For the past two decades he has performed throughout the country appearing in regional theater, commercials, television, and film. Dustin also is an audiobook narrator for Hachette and Audible. He resides in Falmouth, Maine with his husband and their son.
- Alec McClure was born in Amarillo, Texas, USA. He is known for Lars and the Real Girl (2007), M.V.P. (2008) and Queer as Folk (2000).
- Les Brandt was raised on the Great Plains of Amarillo, Texas in the northern most region near historic Palo Duro Canyon. Was in choir from 7th grade to 11th grade as a 1st Tenor and had hopes of a singing career as a child. He began acting immediately after graduating high school and credits his beginning training to mentor Adam Roarke at The Film Actors Lab in Dallas, TX. Brandt continued training at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, NY and studied with Michelle Danner at Larry Moss/Edgemar Studio as well as The Groundlings, both in Los Angeles, CA. Brandt has guest starred on numerous network shows and movies throughout his career. Brandt also has a strong commercial work history with some of the most highly recognizable brands, advertising agencies, directors and actors as his latest project was opposite Oscar Winning actress Julianne Moore for a new national L'Oreal campaign also starring Helen Mirren, Jane Fonda Isabelle Adjani, Iris Berben and Vanessa Williams. The Home Depot, Old Spice (The Legend) Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Scott's Lawn, Yoplait GoGurt, a couple of Nissan spots one with Blake Shelton. Additionally, he worked with Oscar winner John Mathieson (Gladiator), and director Daniel Kleinman on the international spot for Monster.com. Brandt debuted on daytime television with a three-year contract in 1995 on the Amercian New York-based NBC soap opera "Another World"," and then was recurring on the NBC soap opera "Days of Our Lives," for a few years in Los Angeles, CA. Recently married Nicole Tia Brandt and now have two baby girls. An avid animal-lover, Brandt spends his free time supporting local rescue organizations. Loves Taoism, is vegetarian, and is passionate about motorcycles, classical and heavy-metal music. Takes physical fitness very seriously has been working-out 3 to 4 days a week every week, every month, every year since July 1987.