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1-50 of 56
- Producer
- Actor
- Writer
Thomas Jeffrey Hanks was born in Concord, California, to Janet Marylyn (Frager), a hospital worker, and Amos Mefford Hanks, an itinerant cook. His mother's family, originally surnamed "Fraga", was entirely Portuguese, while his father was of mostly English ancestry. Tom grew up in what he has called a "fractured" family. He moved around a great deal after his parents' divorce, living with a succession of step-families. No problems, no alcoholism - just a confused childhood. He has no acting experience in college and credits the fact that he could not get cast in a college play with actually starting his career. He went downtown, and auditioned for a community theater play, was invited by the director of that play to go to Cleveland, and there his acting career started.
Ron Howard was working on Splash (1984), a fantasy-comedy about a mermaid who falls in love with a business executive. Howard considered Hanks for the role of the main character's wisecracking brother, which eventually went to John Candy. Instead, Hanks landed the lead role and the film went on to become a surprise box office success, grossing more than $69 million. After several flops and a moderate success with the comedy Dragnet (1987), Hanks' stature in the film industry rose. The broad success with the fantasy-comedy Big (1988) established him as a major Hollywood talent, both as a box office draw and within the film industry as an actor. For his performance in the film, Hanks earned his first Academy Award nomination as Best Actor.
Hanks climbed back to the top again with his portrayal of a washed-up baseball legend turned manager in A League of Their Own (1992). Hanks has stated that his acting in earlier roles was not great, but that he subsequently improved. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Hanks noted his "modern era of movie making ... because enough self-discovery has gone on ... My work has become less pretentiously fake and over the top". This "modern era" began for Hanks, first with Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and then with Philadelphia (1993). The former was a blockbuster success about a widower who finds true love over the radio airwaves. Richard Schickel of Time magazine called his performance "charming", and most critics agreed that Hanks' portrayal ensured him a place among the premier romantic-comedy stars of his generation.
In Philadelphia, he played a gay lawyer with AIDS who sues his firm for discrimination. Hanks lost 35 pounds and thinned his hair in order to appear sickly for the role. In a review for People, Leah Rozen stated, "Above all, credit for Philadelphia's success belongs to Hanks, who makes sure that he plays a character, not a saint. He is flat-out terrific, giving a deeply felt, carefully nuanced performance that deserves an Oscar." Hanks won the 1993 Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Philadelphia. During his acceptance speech, he revealed that his high school drama teacher Rawley Farnsworth and former classmate John Gilkerson, two people with whom he was close, were gay.
Hanks followed Philadelphia with the blockbuster Forrest Gump (1994) which grossed a worldwide total of over $600 million at the box office. Hanks remarked: "When I read the script for Gump, I saw it as one of those kind of grand, hopeful movies that the audience can go to and feel ... some hope for their lot and their position in life ... I got that from the movies a hundred million times when I was a kid. I still do." Hanks won his second Best Actor Academy Award for his role in Forrest Gump, becoming only the second actor to have accomplished the feat of winning consecutive Best Actor Oscars.
Hanks' next role - astronaut and commander Jim Lovell, in the docudrama Apollo 13 (1995) - reunited him with Ron Howard. Critics generally applauded the film and the performances of the entire cast, which included actors Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, and Kathleen Quinlan. The movie also earned nine Academy Award nominations, winning two. Later that year, Hanks starred in Disney/Pixar's computer-animated film Toy Story (1995), as the voice of Sheriff Woody. A year later, he made his directing debut with the musical comedy That Thing You Do! (1996) about the rise and fall of a 1960s pop group, also playing the role of a music producer.
As of 2022, Hanks is 66-years-old. He has never retired from acting, and has remained active in the film industry for more than four decades.- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Julie Strain was born in Concord, California, as Julie Ann Strain. She was an actress, known for Sex Court, (1998), Heavy Metal 2000 (2000) and Double Impact (1991), and Battle Queen 2020. She grew up in Pleasant Hill California and graduated from Diablo Valley College, in that town. Appeared in over 100 movies, was one of the tallest actresses in Hollywood, and performed all her own stunts. Julie was crowned the Queen of the B-movies.- Producer
- Actress
- Writer
Natalie Nunn is an American reality television star best known for her breakout role in Oxygen's hit series "Bad Girls Club" which premiered to the highest number of viewers in the network's history. Her big personality and ability to draw massive ratings landed Natalie on several of the network's spin-offs; including BGC All-Star Battle, BGC: Redemption, Love Games, and hosting "Top Ten OMG's" & "Making it to the Mansion: ATL".
Natalie later went on to create and executive produce her very own talk show "Tea Party with Natalie Nunn", and the uber successful franchise series "Baddies" and "Bad Boys", partnering with the Zeus network and helping to make their app one of the top media streaming platforms in the United States. Her "Baddies" franchise spawned the spin-offs "Baddies ATL" and "Baddies South", while "Bad Boys" inspired "Bad Boys: Los Angeles" and "Bad Boys: Houston".
Natalie Nunn is a graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) where she attended on a full soccer scholarship.
Natalie has been cast on a number of shows; Celebrity Big Brother, Braxton Family Values, Marriage Bootcamp Reality Stars, The Mother/Daughter Experiment: Celebrity Edition, and Hair Battle Spectacular to name a few.- Larry Bryggman was born on 21 December 1938 in Concord, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), Spy Game (2001) and As the World Turns (1956). He has been married to Tracey Hanley Bryggman since 1999. They have two children. He was previously married to Jacqueline Schultz and Barbara Creed.
- David Oliver was born on 31 January 1962 in Concord, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Night of the Creeps (1986), A Year in the Life (1987) and A Year in the Life (1986). He died on 12 November 1992 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Actress
- Producer
- Executive
Sonya Eddy, a native of Concord, California, graduated from UC Davis. During her intense studies she began her acting career in the West Coast premiere of "Zora, Is My Name!" (written by the award-winning actress Ruby Dee). Sonya performed several roles in "Zora" including Big Sweet - a bawdy blues singer (Ruby Dee's personal favorite). Sonya continued forth to perform the role of the Courtesan in "Comedy of Errors" as well as performances in productions of "The Crucible", "Pericles", and the Witch in "Into The Woods". Ms. Eddy won an Arty Award for her powerful portrayal of Bloody Mary in "South Pacific".
Sonya's professional acting career in Los Angeles has spanned over a dozen years. Her roles include recurrings on "ER", "Joan of Arcadia", "Seinfeld", "The Drew Carey Show" and others. Having appeared in the Hallmark Movie of the Week "The Reading Room" opposite James Earl Jones, Ms. Eddy was also a series regular on Martin Short's "Primetime Glick" and has also appeared professionally in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" with John Goodman and Brenda Fricker at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. Most recently, Ms. Eddy can be seen in her recurring role on "General Hospital" as Epiphany Johnson - a no-nonsense head nurse. She will also bring Epiphany to SOAPnet's first serialized drama for primetime "General Hospital: Night Shift", which premieres in July, 2007. Ms. Eddy can also be seen as a guest star on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation".
Sonya's many guest appearances in other primetime shows include "In Case of Emergency", "Everybody Hates Chris", "Daybreak", "Malcolm In the Middle","Reba",and many others. Her guest star performances include "Strong Medicine", "Still Standing", and "The Hughleys".
In addition to her career successes, Ms. Eddy has recently become the only actor to have been cast twice on "ER". Her work can also be seen in over a dozen National commercials yearly.
Not to be omitted, her versatility as an all around performer can be seen in her most recent feature film roles in "Coach Carter" starring Samuel L. Jackson, "Bad News Bears" with Billy Bob Thornton, "Barbershop", "Daddy Daycare", "Matchstick Men", and "Surviving Christmas". Recently, Sonya completed filming "Year of the Dog" with Molly Shannon and Peter Sarsgaard.
Among Sonya's many special skills and talents she is also an accomplished Improv\Sketch artist, vocalist (2nd Soprano to 1st Tenor) and voice-over artist.- Actress
- Additional Crew
Meredith Patterson, affectionately known as "Merie," is a multi-talented actress, singer, dancer, writer, and producer who continues to inspire audiences worldwide. Most recently, Meredith has embraced roles as a producer and podcast host. She launched The Meredith Patterson Podcast, a platform for personal growth, mental health, and cultural insight, which has garnered a dedicated following. She is also the executive producer of Merie Productions, a company committed to creating innovative and inspiring content, including the critically acclaimed The Music of Fleetwood Mac tribute concert series.
In addition to her work in production, Meredith is a gifted singer-songwriter with over 25 original compositions. She independently produced her album, MerieNYC, available on iTunes, showcasing her deeply personal artistry and storytelling.
Meredith's passion for wellness led her to earn certification in Holistic Health from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC. She founded her company, Merie, where she provides coaching to entertainment professionals, helping them achieve balance in mind, body, and spirit while navigating the demands of the industry.
Her on-screen credits include guest-starring roles in The Good Wife, Person of Interest, Boston Legal, and Made in Jersey. Meredith's film appearances include Every Little Step, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Broken Flowers, A Secret Promise, and Company Man. She made her soap opera debut on Guiding Light and played the recurring role of Francesca on ABC's All My Children.
Meredith's stage career includes her Los Angeles theater debut in The Underpants at the Geffen Playhouse, for which she received glowing reviews. She also originated the role of Judy Haynes in the world premiere of Irving Berlin's White Christmas, a production she later performed on Broadway at The Marquis Theatre.
In 2003, Meredith starred as Miss Polly Browne in Julie Andrews' directorial debut of The Boy Friend, reprising the role Andrews herself originated on Broadway 50 years prior. Her performance earned widespread acclaim and marked the beginning of a meaningful connection with Ms. Andrews. This relationship led to Meredith's role in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement as Lady Alyssa Wells, a character inspired by Garry Marshall's family and Julie Andrews' own legacy.
Meredith made her Broadway debut in 2000 in The Green Bird, directed by Julie Taymor. The following year, she joined the original cast of the Tony Award-winning revival of 42nd Street. Three months after the show opened, she was cast in the starring role of Peggy Sawyer, a role she performed to critical acclaim from August 2001 to August 2002. Her performance was preserved in The Lincoln Center Archives. Meredith later made history as the first American actress to star in an English-speaking musical in Moscow, Russia, where she performed 42nd Street as Peggy Sawyer-and became the first actress to be billed above the title for the role.
Her journey began in the arts at the age of two, excelling in classical ballet, tap, and jazz. As a young talent, she competed in prestigious dance competitions like Tremaine and Show Stoppers. Her passion for performing expanded to singing at age eight and acting at age nine, leading to her stage debut at 13 in Concord Citi Arts' production of Cinderella.
At just 17, Meredith toured the country as a teacher for The Universal Dance Association, sharing her passion and expertise with aspiring dancers. Determined to achieve her dream of performing on Broadway, she moved to New York City at 18. Her talent and dedication quickly earned her a Barrymore Award nomination at 19 and starring roles in two national tours at 20. By 21, she had signed her first Equity contract with Madison Square Garden's A Christmas Carol, choreographed by Susan Stroman.
Meredith resides in Whitefish, Montana with her husband, Dustin Brayley, and their two sons, Maxwell and William. A devoted wife, mother, and artist, Meredith continues to inspire audiences worldwide through her creativity, resilience, and dedication to her craft.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Joseph Adams was born on 4 February 1956 in Concord, California, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Zero Day (2025), That Awkward Moment (2014) and When They See Us (2019).- Actor
- Producer
Dick DeCoit was born on 10 September 1946 in Concord, California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Days of Our Lives (1965), Room 222 (1969) and Yo Alien (2002). He has been married to Cheryl McWilliams since 5 November 1994.- Director
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Producer
Adam Newacheck is a Director/Producer who has worked on television shows such as WORKAHOLICS, ADAM DEVINE'S HOUSE PARTY and IDIOTSITTER. Adam's latest project is a feature film thriller, STRANGER IN THE WOODS, that releases worldwide on February 14, 2024. He has directed commercials for VERIZON, APPLE, MOUNTAIN DEW, CANN, BITGET, KIA, CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES and many others. With over a decade of directing experience, he's earned the opportunity to work with talent such as DENNIS QUAID, BEN STILLER, STEPHEN ROOT, DRAYMOND GREEN, KIRK COUSINS, ADAM DEVINE, BLAKE ANDERSON, TOPHER GRACE and JILLIAN BELL. Adam sets himself apart as a director with his interdisciplinary mindset to filmmaking. Upon graduation from film school, Adam began his career as an editor before becoming a camera operator, and over the last 20 years, he's broadened his skill set to DP, producer and writer.- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Mitch Mullany was born on 20 September 1968 in Concord, California, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for The Sweetest Thing (2002), Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher (1996) and The Breaks (1999). He died on 25 May 2008 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Alysha Umphress was born on 9 March 1982 in Concord, California, USA. She is an actress, known for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999), The Right Girl (2020) and Blue Bloods (2010).- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Dave Brubeck was born on 6 December 1920 in Concord, California, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for Inland Empire (2006), Baby Driver (2017) and Hannah and Her Sisters (1986). He was married to Iola Brubeck. He died on 5 December 2012 in Norwalk, Connecticut, USA.- Jamie Wild was born on 27 March 1975 in Concord, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Overboard (1987), Scandal Sheet (1985) and The Dollmaker (1984).
- Writer
- Actor
- Producer
William C. Martell is the West Coast Editor of Scr(i)pt Magazine where he has written the "Independents" screenwriting column for over a decade. He's also a contributor to Writer's Digest Magazine, wrote the Screenwriting 101 column for the Independent Film Channel Magazine, and was the only non-nominated screenwriter mentioned on "Siskel & Ebert's If We Picked The Winners" Oscar show in 1997. In 1998 he wrote "The Secrets of Action Screenwriting". He was on the jury of the Raindance Film Festival (London) in 2001 (with director Mike Figgis and actress Saffron Burrows) and again in 2004.
Mr. Martell has been interviewed in Variety (February 24, 1997), featured in The Hollywood Reporter's first Writers Special Issue (February 1994), was the cover interview in The Hollywood Scriptwriter(October 1996), and was interviewed in the first issue of ScreenTalk Magazine (Denmark).- Kaylee Goncalves was born on 8 June 2001 in Concord, California, USA. She died on 13 November 2022 in Moscow, Idaho, USA.
- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Lacey Rae was born on 17 April 1982 in Concord, California, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Alabama Snake (2020), The Onania Club and 9 Ways to Hell (2022).- Allan Cavan was born on 25 March 1880 in Concord, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Officer Thirteen (1932), Old Louisiana (1937) and Rebellion (1936). He died on 19 January 1941 in Hollywood, California, USA.
- Choreographer
- Director
- Actor
Desi Jevon was born on 21 July 1978 in Concord, California, USA. He is a director and actor, known for Winter Grew Cold (2019), An East Side Story: Last Call (2021) and An East Side Story: The Dame. (2020).- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Bill is an actor, writer, producer, director, and streamer, and appears weekly on the Rolling in the Netherdeep on the Severed Studios channel on Twitch. He has written, directed, and been voice-over talent on numerous video games including the Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo franchises for over 30 years. Bill is also an accomplished musician, composer, and founding member of the folk band The Poxy Boggards. He plays numerous instruments including the bass guitar, saxophone, tuba, recorders, whistles, and is an award-winning vocalist.- Editorial Department
- Editor
- Additional Crew
John Damien Ryan was born on 16 August 1972 in Concord, California, USA. He is an editor, known for Reign of Fire (2002), Kangaroo Jack (2003) and Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001). He has been married to Janice Zeller Ryan since 11 October 2008. They have two children.- Art Department
- Writer
- Actor
R. Dean McCreary was born on 15 September 1965 in Concord, California, USA. He is a writer and actor, known for The Pope's Exorcist (2023), Under Suspicion (2000) and The Code (2009).- Writer
- Editor
- Director
Nick Palmer was born on 31 July 1981 in Concord, California, USA. He is a writer and editor, known for Sounds (2006), Mr. Christmas (2012) and Dockweiler (2008).- Scott Carson was born on 21 June 1969 in Concord, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Dead Men Walking (2005) and Killers (1997).
- Director
- Writer
- Visual Effects
Robin Phillips was born on 9 February 1985 in Concord, California, USA. He is a director and writer, known for Valiant (2014), The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience (2019) and Shoot the Saxophone Player (2017).