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Chris Parnell

Cast · Known for Rick and Morty, Archer, Hotel Transylvania

​Thomas Christopher "Chris" Parnell (born February 5, 1967) is an American comic actor best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1998–2006 and currently for his recurring role as Dr. Leo Spaceman on NBC's Emmy Award-winning comedy series 30 Rock. Parnell is currently one of the lead voices on the FX animated comedy Archer. In 2010, Parnell starred alongside his former SNL castmate Horatio Sanz in the Comedy Central series Big Lake. After performing as a company player with The Groundlings for a number of years, Parnell was hired to join the cast of Saturday Night Live as a featured player on September 26, 1998, and was promoted to repertory player the following season. In the summer of 2001, budget cuts and hiring four new cast members required Lorne Michaels to dismiss two cast members; he chose to lay off Parnell and Jerry Minor over Horatio Sanz, Rachel Dratch, and Maya Rudolph. While on SNL, Parnell appeared in numerous sketches, and commercial parodies, and performed memorable impressions of various celebrities. One of his most popular sketches is Lazy Sunday, a rap video he shot with Andy Samberg about buying cupcakes and going to see The Chronicles of Narnia. He has also performed raps about hosts Jennifer Garner, Britney Spears, Kirsten Dunst and Ashton Kutcher. In the summer of 2006, Lorne Michaels announced that four cast members would be fired due to budget cuts, but he did not say who. On September 22, 2006 it was announced that three cast members had been fired: Parnell, Horatio Sanz, and Finesse Mitchell. This effectively made him the only SNL performer to have been fired twice by Lorne Michaels, though Parnell did say in a 2008 interview with The Sound of Young America podcast that he was okay with being let go this time, because he was considering leaving after that season anyway, but added that he probably would have stayed one last season if he was asked back. He had been with SNL for eight seasons; at the time only four people (Darrell Hammond, Tim Meadows, Kevin Nealon, and Al Franken) have been cast members longer. He has since made uncredited cameo appearances on the show, most recently in 2008 parodying newscasters Tom Brokaw, Jim Lehrer, and Bob Schieffer. Parnell and his former SNL castmate Horatio Sanz recently starred together in Big Lake, a 2010 sitcom on Comedy Central from executive producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. He also recently appeared as Dr. Drummer/Santa in the SyFy Holiday Special episode from the television show Eureka, which aired on December 7, 2010 (Season 4 Episode 10).

Bob Balaban

Robert Elmer Balaban, Born: August 16, 1945, Chicago, Illinois, U.S (Height: 5' 5" [1.65 m]). is an American actor, author, comedian, director, and producer. He is best known for his appearances in the Christopher Guest mockumentary comedies Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006), as well as his roles in the films Midnight Cowboy (1969), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Altered States (1980), 2010 (1984), Deconstructing Harry (1997), and Capote (2005). Balaban has also directed three feature films, in addition to numerous television episodes and films. He is also an author of children's novels. Balaban began his career in the 1960s, appearing in small roles in films and television shows. He made his breakthrough role in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy, playing a young hustler who befriends an aging rodeo cowboy. In the 1970s, Balaban appeared in a number of popular films, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Altered States (1980), and 2010 (1984). He also continued to work in television, appearing in recurring roles on the shows Lou Grant and Designing Women. In the 1990s, Balaban began a long and fruitful collaboration with filmmaker Christopher Guest. He appeared in all of Guest's mockumentary comedies, including Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006). Balaban's performances in these films were widely praised, and he earned a reputation as one of the most reliable comedic actors in Hollywood. In addition to his work in film and television, Balaban has also directed three feature films: The Last Shot (1999), Bernie (2011), and A Little Help (2010). He is also a successful author of children's novels, and he has won several awards for his writing. Balaban is a respected and versatile actor who has enjoyed a long and successful career in the entertainment industry. He is known for his sharp wit, his impeccable comedic timing, and his ability to create memorable characters. He is a true Renaissance man, and he is sure to continue to entertain audiences for many years to come. Balaban has been nominated for numerous awards throughout his career. He has won two Primetime Emmy Awards, for his work on the television shows Lou Grant and Designing Women. He has also been nominated for two Tony Awards, for his performances in the Broadway plays The Norman Conquests and The Plough and the Stars. Balaban is a recipient of the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Balaban is married to Lynn Grossman, and they have two children together. He is a resident of New York City.

Alvy Moore

Jack Alvin "Alvy" Moore (December 5, 1921 – May 4, 1997) was an American light comic actor best known for his role as scatterbrained county agricultural agent Hank Kimball on the CBS television series Green Acres. His character would often make a statement, only to immediately negate the statement himself and then negate the corrected statement until his stream of statements was interrupted by a frustrated Oliver Wendell Douglas portrayed by Eddie Albert. One such statement was, "Good morning, Mr. Douglas! Well, it's not a good morning ... but it's not a bad morning either!" He became an actor and furthered his training at the Pasadena Playhouse, succeeding David Wayne in the role of Ensign Pulver opposite Henry Fonda's Mister Roberts on Broadway, and later toured with the play for 14 months. He made his screen debut playing the quartermaster in Okinawa (1952).[4] Moore appeared in guest and supporting roles in a number of movies and television shows, including "My Little Margie" in 1952, as Dillard Crumbly, an efficiency expert fresh out of Efficiency College, The Mickey Mouse Club, where he hosted "What I Want to Be" segments as the Roving Reporter. He had a small role as a member of Marlon Brando's motorcycle gang in the 1953 film The Wild One, and a similar bit part the same year as one of the Linda Rosa townspeople in The War of the Worlds. Moore co-starred with Dick Powell and Debbie Reynolds in the 1954 film Susan Slept Here, in which he displayed his natural gift for physical comedy. In 1955 he co-starred with Brian Keith and Kim Novak in 5 Against the House. In the early 1960s he was cast in the recurring role of Howie in 11 episodes of the CBS sitcom Pete and Gladys, with Harry Morgan and Cara Williams.[4] In 1962 Moore was cast as the Swiss-American botanist David Douglas, for whom the Douglas fir tree is named, in an episode of the western anthology series Death Valley Days. Keenan Wynn co-starred as Douglas' friend Josh Tavers, and Iron Eyes Cody played an Indian chief who threatens to kill the two men.[6] Moore made a brief appearance as a cab driver in the 1964 Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Wednesday Woman." He also appeared in two episodes of another CBS sitcom, The Dick Van Dyke Show, "The Impractical Joke" and "The Case Of The Pillow." He was also a guest star on The Andy Griffith Show and later on Little House on the Prairie (TV series). He was an actor, producer, and uncredited scriptwriter for A Boy and His Dog. He attended DisCon II, the 1974 World Science Fiction Convention, to help promote the film. One of his last television appearances was a brief guest shot on the sitcom Frasier. In the 1980s Moore appeared in many cult horror films, including Scream (1981), Mortuary (1983), They're Playing With Fire (1984), Intruder (1989), and The Horror Show (1989).

Fred Feast

Scarborough born actor Fred Feast was best known for his role as the idle Rovers Return potman Fred Gee in the long running soap opera Coronation Street from 1975 to 1984. Prior to showbusiness, Feast was a PT instructor in the Parachute Regiment, driving instructor, butcher, trawlerman, dolphin trainer, computer systems analyst, nightclub owner, personal shopper, publican and maître d' at a Michelin star Algarve restaurant. He entered showbusiness as a variety artist and stand up comic, and appeared in TV plays such as Alan Bennett's A Day Out, Ken Loach's Days of Hope and Jack Rosenthal's Another Sunday and Sweet FA, alongside serials such as Sam and the sitcom Nearest and Dearest. He left Coronation Street in 1984 due to repeated bouts of ill health (depression) and a fear of becoming typecast or set in his ways. Instead he took on a three year stint on the BBC rural drama All Creatures Great and Small as knackerman Jeff Mallock. One of his last roles was that of Arthur the pigeon fancier in the 1998 film Little Voice, shot in his native Scarborough.

Vance Gerry

Writer · Known for The Jungle Book

Regarded as one of the most creative and talented story artists in the animation industry, Gerry joined the Walt Disney Studios in 1955 after studying at the Chouinard Art Institute. He rose quickly through the ranks to become a layout artist. He contributed to the television shows "Goofy's Cavalcade of Sports" and "How to Relax"; the short features "The Truth About Mother Goose" and "Donald in Mathmagic Land"; and the features "101 Dalmatians" and "The Sword in the Stone." Gerry moved to the studio's story department on "The Jungle Book," Walt Disney's last animated feature. Looking back on that collaboration, Gerry said, "There was an aura about Walt: When he came into the room, you felt it. He focused very closely on what the characters would do and say." Gerry later made major contributions to "Dalmatians," "The Aristocats," "Robin Hood," "The Rescuers," "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" and "The Fox and the Hound." In "The Rescuers," he drew the storyboards, a shot by shot blueprint, for the sequence in which kidnapper Madame Medusa primps before a mirror while cruelly dismissing Penny's wish to return to the orphanage: "Adopted? What makes you think anyone would want a homely little girl like you?" In the book "Before the Animation Begins: The Art and Lives of Disney Inspirational Sketch Artists," animation historian John Canemaker noted that Gerry needed only a few drawings to establish the type of shot, the mood of the sequence, the character's expressions, etc. Working from Gerry's sketches, animators developed their characters' actions: when Medusa would pull off her false eyelashes; how Penny would bow her head in resignation. Gerry told Canemaker how he liked to work. "I'd just as soon start with a title of a picture and start dreaming into it," he said. "A script is restricting because it tells you too much. I'd rather start earlier than that and look for possibilities for animation and entertainment, rather than story elements or structure." Gerry later received a story adaptation credit for "The Great Mouse Detective" and worked on the storyboards for "Fantasia/2000." Gerry shifted to visual development and character design in 1995, and contributed to "Pocahontas," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Tarzan" and "Home on the Range." Gerry also operated the Weatherbird Press, which published fine books. -http://articles.latimes.com/2005/mar/11/local/me-gerry11

Eric Hicks

The middle child of Crawford, one of Canada's last remaining orthopedic shoe makers and mother Anita, police officer and tattoo artist. His parents of English, Irish, Scottish and German ancestry raised him in the beautiful valley town of Lumsden, Saskatchewan. Eric first caught interest in acting at the age of 8 while watching the film "The Garden" being shot in his family home. A year later he found himself with a small part on the Jamie Foxx movie "Held Up" (Trimark). Getting the chance to watch Jamie Foxx act and perform his own stunts changed Eric forever. His parents soon bought him a camcorder and he started making his own home videos. What started out as insane stunts to impress friends and family soon turned into a life long passion.

Stogie Kenyatta

Jamaican born & Brooklyn bred of Kenyan Ancestry; Actor, Comedian, Writer, Director, Stogie has been an working artist for the last 2 plus decades, known for his lucrative touring One Man Broadway style solo show on Paul Robeson. Classically trained at the Afro American studio in Harlem, the Henry St. Settlement, and Al Fann Theatrical ensemble. A finalist in the N.Y. State theater competition with artistic director, John Houseman. A Basketball scholarship athlete, he came West to attended Film School at California St. University. Studied privately with Ivan Markota at the Van Mar Academy. Has written 2 Novels, directed several Short films, Cable Commercials as well as Music Videos, has Film & TV acting credits from Soap Operas, Movies & Sit-com, Co-headlined USO Stand-up Comedy tour in Okinawa & Tokyo, Japan. Starred in the International feature film "Joseph" about the "African 400 Year of Return" shot in Kingston, Jamaica, Cape Coast & Accra, Ghana. The Writer/Artist of acclaimed One Man Broadway style Show "The World is my Home - The Life of Paul Robeson". Performed over 450 shows with his wife of 26 years Meechi Kenyatta who is his Stage Manager & Sound Engineer. In the last 20 years he's appeared at US Embassies & Universities in 21 countries including the South of France, and London, Birmingham, England the Gulf of Mexico and a dozen Caribbean Islands . Winner of the NAACP Theater Award for Best Solo Show. It is the #1 multicultural Pan-African touring show in the USA. He's written several screenplays that are in different stages of development including the Urban Basketball drama "The gods stopped smiling" & will be directing his passion piece; the offbeat dark comedy "Promise of Paradise"

Morgan Stevens

Born October 16, 1951, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Stevens headed to Hollywood soon after graduating college. He appeared as Paul Northridge in one episode of The Waltons and in three reunion movies, including A Wedding on Walton’s Mountain, in which his character married Erin Walton (played by Mary Elizabeth McDonough). His first major role was playing teacher David Reardon during two seasons of the TV show Fame. Stevens appeared in 20 episodes during season 2, then appeared as an occasional guest star when the show was syndicated, writing a third season episode, 'Catch A Falling Star.' While working on Fame, Stevens also had one shot roles on The Love Boat, The Return of Marcus Welby M.D., Airwolf, and the original Magnum P.I. among other shows. He also costarred in the TV movie Roses are for the Rich All of that came to a halt in August 1989, when Morgan had a minor car accident and was arrested on suspicion of DUI by the Los Angeles police. While in custody, he was severely beaten, suffering a broken nose, fractured cheek, dislocated jaw and nerve damage to his face. A blood alcohol test cleared him of the DUI charge, and his treatment was later settled in a lawsuit against LAPD. Morgan returned to acting in 1992, playing “Nick Diamond” in seven episodes of the TV hit Melrose Place. But work became sporadic, and his last appearance was in 1999 in an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger.

Pete Schrum

Cast · Known for Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Attending a catholic school, Peter "Pete" Schrum realized that he wanted to be an actor. Born in 1934, Peter started doing play acting and drama all over the place. He was enthused to work and loved doing stage. He and lifelong friends vowed to become actors one day. Peter was the only one to uphold the promise. Every so often, Peter would be out of work and laugh about some of his characters. Most memorable for playing the shotgun-firing bartender, Lloyd, in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). Schrum took up the job of the Coca-Cola Santa Claus, then stopped working for years. Pete's last film, Hulk (2003) was released in mid 2003. You can spot him as Sgt. Crowe.

Diana Muldaur

Cast · Known for Star Trek: The Next Generation

Diana Muldaur (born August 19, 1938) is an American actress. Born in New York City, she studied at the University of California, Berkeley, and began her career in the 1960s. Muldaur gained prominence through her work on television, appearing in notable series such as "The Twilight Zone," "The Streets of San Francisco," and "L.A. Law," where she portrayed the character of Rosalind Shays. Her film credits include roles in "The Last of the Mobile Hot Shots" and "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three." She is also well-known for her role as Dr. Kate Pulaski in the iconic series "Star Trek: The Next Generation." In addition to her screen work, Muldaur has an extensive background in theater, performing in productions both on and off Broadway. Her performances have earned her critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base. Beyond her acting career, Muldaur has also made significant contributions as a director and producer.

Sonoko Kato

is a Japanese professional wrestler. She made her debut in April 1995, working for Gaea Japan, where she became one half of the inaugural AAAW Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. After becoming a two-time winner of the High Spurt 600 Tournament, Kato's career came to a halt following multiple injuries. After being sidelined for five years, Kato returned to the ring in October 2006, following the folding of Gaea Japan, and found a new home in the Oz Academy promotion, where she is a former two-time Oz Academy Openweight Champion and a four-time Oz Academy Tag Team Champion. Kato has also wrestled in the United States for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and in Mexico for Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (AAA). Kato finally returned to the ring at an independent event produced by Chigusa Nagayo on October 1, 2006. Kato then began working regularly for the Oz Academy promotion, which featured many other former Gaea Japan wrestlers On May 25, 2008, Kato made her Mexican debut for Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (AAA), taking part in a five-way elimination Reina de Reinas Tournament match, from which she was eliminated by Martha Villalobos.The following July, Kato and Chikayo Nagashima made it to the finals of a tournament to determine the inaugural Oz Academy Tag Team Champions, before losing to Carlos Amano and Dynamite Kansai.Kato and Nagashima eventually won the title from Aja Kong and Hiroyo Matsumoto on February 22, 2009. During the next eighteen months, Kato and Nagashima won the title two more times, becoming three-time champions together. Kato won the title for the fourth time on January 15, 2012, this time teaming with Aja Kong.After a seven-month reign, they lost the title to Akino and Ayumi Kurihara. On January 12, 2014, Kato received a shot at the Oz Academy Openweight Championship, but was defeated by the defending champion, Akino.The following June, Kato underwent a shoulder surgery, which would sideline her for an estimated six months. She returned to the ring on January 11, 2015.On February 8, Kato formed a new stable with Akino, Kagetsu and Kaho Kobayashi, which was on April 15 named "Mission K4" (MK4).On August 23, Kato won the first singles title of her twenty-year career, when she defeated Hiroyo Matsumoto in a Last Woman Standing match to win the vacant Oz Academy Openweight Championship. On October 10, Kato returned to the United States, when she made her debut for Shimmer Women Athletes, taking part in their two-day tenth anniversary weekend. After four successful title defenses, Kato was stripped of the Oz Academy Openweight Championship on April 24, 2016, when her defense against Hiroyo Matsumoto ended in a no contest. On July 18, Kato defeated Mayumi Ozaki to regain the vacant Oz Academy Openweight Championship. On November 13 at Oz Academy's 20th anniversary event, Kato lost the Oz Academy Openweight Championship to Hiroyo Matsumoto in her second defense

Nicole Matthias

is an American female professional wrestler currently using the ring name Nicole Savoy. She is best known for her ongoing work with SHIMMER Women Athletes where she is a one-time Heart Of SHIMMER Champion and current SHIMMER Champion in her first reign. Professional wrestling career Early career Savoy made her in-ring debut on November 5, 2011 in Primal Conflict Wrestling's PCW A Night To Remember V event, where she defeated Jessie Kaye. She returned to the ring on September 8, 2012 debuting in Vendetta Pro Wrestling at the 2012 September 2 Remember event. There, Savoy entered the 2012 Luna Vachon Memorial Lunacy Cup Vendetta Vixxens Battle Royal won by Amanda. During her rookie years Savoy wrestled in several California promotions including Fighting Spirit Pro, Battleground Pro Wrestling, PREMIER Wrestling, Big Time Wrestling, Gold Rush Pro Wrestling and others. Big Time Wrestling (2013-2014, 2016) Savoy made her debut on July 19, 2013 at BTW International Incident in a match lost to Winter. She returned on May 17, 2014 at BTW WrestleFest, defeating Kikyo Nakamura in a match specially officiated by Molly Holly. She later returned on October 24 during the 18th Anniversary event, defeating Laura Palmer in a match specially officiated by Amy Dumas. Her last match was on February 19, 2016 at BTW Dangerous Damsels in a loss to Beatrice Domino All Pro Wrestling (2013-2018) On October 5, 2013, Savoy debuted at APW One Scary Night where she defeated Savanah Riley. She returned on June 12, 2015 at APW 2nd Annual War At The Shore where she teamed with Reno SCUM (Adam Thornstowe & Luster The Legend) in defeating Ryan McQueen & The World's Cutest Tag Team (Candice LeRae & Joey Ryan) in a tag match. She returned on September 26 at QPW/APW Renowned, where she defeated Laura James. Returning on October 30 at APW Halloween Hell 2015, Savoy challenged Thunder Rosa for Gold Rush Pro Wrestling's Lady Luck Championship, but did not succeed in winning the title. Savoy returned on May 13, 2016 at APW Friday The 13th, where Savoy defeated Holidead. On August 19 at APW Bay Area Bash, Savoy defeated Thunder Rosa. On August 18, 2017, Savoy returned at APW Civic Slam, defeating Candice LeRae in singles action. Savoy returned on St. Patrick's Day, 2018 for APW Kick Rocks, where she lost to Tenille Dashwood. Three months later Savoy returned on June 22 at APW Bay Area Bash where she defeated Shotzi Blackheart. She returned on July 6 at APW/PWR King Of Indies, defending Pro Wrestling Revolution's World Women's Championship against Taya in a title match that ended in a No-Contest finish.

Sam McCurdy

Cinematographer · Known for Peacemaker

Sam McCurdy, ASC, BSC, is a British director of photography. Born and raised in the United Kingdom, McCurdy studied fine art and photography before being drawn to motion pictures, initially shooting short films and music videos during his college years and working his way up through the camera ranks at Pinewood Studios and beyond. His early collaborations with director Neil Marshall on genre projects such as Killing Time (1998), Combat (1999), Dog Soldiers (2002), The Descent (2005) and Doomsday (2008). McCurdy's work in television began in the early 2000s and includes contributions to British series such as Wire in the Blood (2006–2008), Merlin (2011–2012), Last Tango in Halifax (2012) and Fresh Meat (2012). He gained wider international recognition with his cinematography on the Game of Thrones (2011) episode "Blackwater," which earned him nominations from the British Society of Cinematographers and the Best Cinematography Award for Television Drama, as well as recognition from the Online Film & Television Association alongside his fellow cinematographers on the series.  Throughout the late 2010s and into the 2020s, McCurdy contributed significantly to high‑profile television productions, including Lost in Space (2018–2021), for which he shot the pilot and many subsequent episodes, Into the Badlands (2015–2019), Pennyworth (2019), Carnival Row (2019, 2023) and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023). His work on the critically acclaimed FX/Hulu series Shōgun (2024) was particularly celebrated; McCurdy shot multiple episodes including "Crimson Sky," and received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (One Hour), the American Society of Cinematographers' Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in an Episode of a One‑Hour Series, and nominations from the British Society of Cinematographers for his camera work on that episode.  In addition to his television work, McCurdy's feature film cinematography encompasses projects such as A United Kingdom (2016) and a range of genre films, including The Legend of Hercules (2014) and Knights of Badassdom (2013). He has also worked on documentary and special-format projects, including Le Mans: 3D (2017) and the miniseries Le Mans: Racing Is Everything (2017). He has been a member of the British Society of Cinematographers since 2009 and of the American Society of Cinematographers since his invitation to join.  In his professional pursuits, McCurdy has discussed the role of the cinematographer as shaping visual storytelling through lighting, camera movement and collaboration with directors and crews, drawing on a broad range of influences and experiences across the mediums of film and television.

Harold Goodwin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Harold Goodwin (December 1, 1902 – July 12, 1987) was an American film actor who performed in over 225 films. Born in Peoria, Illinois, Goodwin began his film career while still in his teens in the 1915 film short Mike's Elopement. One of his most popular roles of the silent era was that of Ted Brown in the 1927 Buster Keaton comedy College. Goodwin followed up with a role in another Keaton film The Cameraman in 1928 opposite Keaton and actress Marceline Day. He worked steadily through the silent film era and transitioned into the talkie era as a popular character actor. One of his most notable roles of the era was that of Detering in the 1930 Lewis Milestone directed World War I drama All Quiet on the Western Front. In his later years, Goodwin mainly acted in the Western film genre and often worked as a stuntmen for film studios. In the 1960s, Goodwin made many guest appearances of the NBC television series Daniel Boone starring Fess Parker and Ed Ames. Goodwin made his last film appearance in the low-budget horror film The Boy Who Cried Werewolf before retiring from the film industry. He died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA in 1987 after being shot for adultery.

Patricia Owens

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Patricia Owens (17 January 1925, Golden, British Columbia - 31 August 2000, Lancaster, California) was a Canadian-born American actress, working in Hollywood. She appeared in about 40 films and 10 TV episodes in a career lasting from 1943 to 1968. Canadian-born actress Patricia Owens moved to England with her parents in 1933, and ten years later, at age 18, she made her motion-picture debut in Val Guest's musical comedy Miss London Ltd. The following year, she had a small role in Harold French's social satire English Without Tears. Her career continued in this manner for the next few years, Owens getting ever-larger roles in generally better movies (though not always—the same year in which she worked in the Launder-Gilliat production of The Happiest Days of Your Life, one of the funniest movies ever made in England, she also appeared in the abysmal Old Mother Riley, Headmistress). Her career took a giant step upward when she was seen by a 20th Century Fox executive while performing in a theatrical production of Sabrina Fair and was offered a screen test. The result was a contract with the studio and a move to Hollywood. Her first American film was Island in the Sun (1957) for Fox, and then Owens was loaned out to Warner Bros. to play opposite Marlon Brando in the drama Sayonara (1957), one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the year. Owens spent the rest of 1957 working mostly on loan-out, but it was a 1958 Fox production that secured her place in motion picture history—as Helene Delambre, the wife of scientist Andre Delambre in The Fly (1958), co-starring with David Hedison and Vincent Price. Owens carried much of the film's story and drama, which were told in flashback from her character's point-of-view. The Fly was one of the most successful science fiction movies of the decade; the image of Owens unmasking her stricken husband and screaming at what she sees—and the shot of her horrified visage seen in a "fly's eye" view—became one of the defining moments in the genre. Unfortunately for Owens, she never got another movie half as good as The Fly, from Fox or anyone else, and in 1961 was reduced to working in the threadbare, backlot POW/jungle chase drama Seven Women from Hell. Owens made occasional television appearances, on series such as Perry Mason and Burke's Law, but these were relatively infrequent. Owens also starred in one of the 17 episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents directed by Hitchcock himself, "The Crystal Trench" (1959). By 1965, she was working in Black Spurs, one of producer A.C. Lyles' B-Westerns, renowned for their use of aging genre stars, and Owens retired from movies after portraying Richard Egan's love interest in the low-budget espionage thriller The Destructors (1968). Her last professional appearance was in a 1968 episode of Lassie. She was the third wife of screenwriter and producer Sy Bartlett. Description above from the Wikipedia article Patricia Owens (actress), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Leif Erickson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Leif Erickson (born William Wycliffe Anderson) was an American stage, film, and television actor. Erickson was born in Alameda, California, near San Francisco. He worked as a soloist in a band as vocalist and trombone player, performed in Max Reinhardt's productions, and then gained a small amount of stage experience in a comedy vaudeville act. Initially billed by Paramount Pictures as Glenn Erickson, he began his screen career as a leading man in Westerns. Erickson enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. Rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer in the Naval Aviation Photographic Unit, he served as a military photographer, shooting film in combat zones, and as an instructor. He was shot down twice in the Pacific as well as receiving two Purple Hearts. Erickson was in the unit that filmed and photographed the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. Over four years service, he shot more than 200,000 feet of film for the Navy. Erickson's first films were two 1933 band films with Betty Grable before starting a string of Buster Crabbe Western films based on Zane Grey novels. He would go on to appears in films such as The Snake Pit, Sorry, Wrong Number, Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd, Invaders from Mars, On the Waterfront, A Gathering of Eagles, Roustabout, The Carpetbaggers and Mirage. One of his more notable roles was as Deborah Kerr's macho husband in the stage and film versions of Tea and Sympathy. He appeared with Greta Garbo, as her brother in Conquest (1937). He played the role of Pete, the vindictive boat engineer, in the 1951 remake of the famed musical Show Boat. His final appearance in a feature film was in Twilight's Last Gleaming (1977). Erickson appeared frequently on television; he was cast as Dr. Hillyer in "Consider Her Ways" (1964) and as Paul White in "The Monkey's Paw—A Retelling" (1965) on CBS's The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. However, he is probably best known for The High Chaparral, which aired on NBC from 1967 until 1971. He portrayed a rancher, Big John Cannon, determined to establish a cattle empire in the Arizona Territory while keeping peace with the Apache. Erickson guest-starred in several television series, including Rawhide, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Marcus Welby, M.D., Medical Center, Cannon, The Rifleman, The Rockford Files, and the 1977 series Hunter. His final role was in an episode of Fantasy Island in 1984. Erickson was married to actress Frances Farmer from 1936 until 1942. The same day that his divorce from Farmer was finalized, June 12, 1942, he married actress Margaret Hayes. They divorced a month later. He married Ann Diamond in 1945. They had two children, William Leif Erickson (born 1946 - died 1971 in a car accident) and Susan Irene Erickson (born 1950). Erickson died of cancer in Pensacola, Florida, on January 29, 1986, aged 74 CLR

Jim Neidhart

Cast · Known for WWF Superstars

James Henry Neidhart was an American professional wrestler known for his work in the WWF during the 80s and 90s. He gained prominence primarily as a member of The Hart Foundation, the tag team alongside his brother-in-law Bret Hart, with whom he won the WWF World Tag Team Championship twice. Neidhart was also part of the famous Hart wrestling family through his marriage to Ellie Hart, daughter of Stu Hart. Before becoming a wrestler, Neidhart was a standout athlete in high school, setting a shot put record. After a brief stint in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, he moved to Calgary to train with Stu Hart and join Stampede Wrestling, where he won the International Tag Team Championship twice. Neidhart made his WWF debut in 1985, initially as a singles wrestler. However, his real success came when he teamed up with Bret Hart to form The Hart Foundation. Together, they dominated the tag team division, winning the WWF World Tag Team Championship in 1987. Throughout their careers, they faced other major teams like Demolition and Strike Force, and their tag move, the Hart Attack, became iconic. In 1991, Neidhart briefly teamed with Owen Hart to form The New Foundation, but his time in the WWF ended in 1992 when he was fired for refusing a drug test. After leaving WWF, he had stints in WCW and ECW, but his career in those companies was less prominent. Neidhart returned to WWF briefly in 1994 as part of the heel side alongside his brother-in-law Owen Hart, reuniting in a new version of The Hart Foundation and facing off against wrestlers like Stone Cold Steve Austin. In 1997, after one final return to WWF, Neidhart left the company and retired more definitively. In his later years, Neidhart appeared at several independent events, with his last match taking place in 2016. Despite personal issues, including drug arrests, and his battle with the passing of time, Neidhart left behind a significant legacy in the wrestling world. On August 13, 2018, he passed away at the age of 63 after an accident at his home. His death was attributed to a head injury after he fell while trying to adjust the thermostat. WWE paid tribute to Neidhart, remembering his contributions to wrestling and his legacy as one of the greats in WWF history.

Ken Patera

Kenneth Wayne Patera is an American retired professional wrestler, Olympic weightlifter, and strongman competitor from the United States. Ken Patera, from a Czech-American family, was strong and extraordinarily athletic, with many people in his family also successful in athletics. His brother, Jack Patera, played football for the Baltimore Colts and was the head coach for the Seattle Seahawks from 1976 until 1982. His brother, Dennis Patera, played for the San Francisco 49ers. Ken played football at Cleveland High School in Portland, Oregon, and wrestled at 193 pounds. Track and field was his first love, however, and he competed in the high hurdles and high jump, but a serious ankle injury forced him to switch to the shot put and discus in high school. Ken grew to become one of the nation's premier track and field weight throwers, competing at Brigham Young University. After his disappointing 6th-place finish in the shot-put at the 1968 Olympic trials, he turned his full and complete attention towards Olympic weightlifting. Before becoming a professional wrestler, Patera was a highly decorated Olympic weightlifter. He won several medals at the 1971 Pan-American Games (including gold in the weightlifting total), and finished second in the 1971 World Weightlifting Championships just behind Vasily Alekseyev. On his native soil, Patera won four consecutive U.S. Weightlifting Championships in the super heavyweight class from 1969 to 1972. He was the first American to clean and jerk over 500 lbs (227 kg), which he accomplished at the 1972 Senior Nationals in Detroit. He is also the only American to clean and press 500 lbs (227 kg), and was the last American super heavyweight for years to excel at weightlifting at an international level.[6] At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, Patera was expected to be a serious competitor to Vasily Alekseyev, but he failed to total and was not among the medal recipients. Vasily Alekseyev even stated to the media that Patera was even stronger than him, illustrated by a 550-pound overhead push press (off the racks) that Patera had allegedly done in practice. Nevertheless, when it came to competing, Alekseyev was always the winner. After the clean and press (a lift in which Patera was disproportionately talented) was eliminated from competition, Patera retired from weightlifting.

Philippe Lafond

Philippe Lafond is a Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with WWE as Phil LaFon and with All-Japan Pro Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling under the ring name Dan Kroffat The duo joined Extreme Championship Wrestling in late 1996, having a series of matches against Sabu and Rob Van Dam. At Fright Fight '97, Lafon and Furnas were defeated by Shane Douglas and Chris Candido. At Holiday Hell '97, Sandman, Tommy Dreamer, Al Snow and Taz defeated Lafon, Rob Van Dam, Sabu and Doug Furnas. They won the ECW World Tag Team Championship from The Full Blooded Italians on December 5. Their reign would not last long, however, as they went on to lose the belts to Chris Candido and Lance Storm the next day. Prior to the team's tag team title success LaFon had made an unsuccessful attempt to dethrone ECW Champion "The Franchise" Shane Douglas in singles competition. On the January 7, 1998 episode of ECW Hardcore TV, LaFon, Doug Furnas, Rob Van Dam and Sabu lost to Al Snow, Taz, Sandman and Tommy Dreamer in a Eight-Man Tag Team Match. Lafond and Furnas also formed a short-lived stable of "invaders" from WWE with Lance Wright, Brakkus and Droz. A few months later, both men made their WWE debuts on November 17 at the WWE Survivor Series pay-per-view. After failing to win the WWE World Tag Team Titles the duo began a slow heel turn and developed an anti-American wrestle fan gimmick similar to that of The Hart Foundation. at In Your House 13: Final Four, Lafon and Furnas got a shot at the WWE World Tag Team Championship where they defeated Owen Hart and The British Bulldog by disqualification but they did not win the titles. A few months into his WWE run, he was in a car crash. At WrestleMania 13, Lafon and Furnas competed in a Four-way elimination match to determine #1 contenders for the WWE World Tag Team Championship which was won by The Headbangers. At In Your House 14: Revenge of the 'Taker, Lafon and Furnas competed in a dark match where they defeated The Godwinns. He returned in the fall of 1997 as full fledged heels most notably as a part of Team Canada at WWE Survivor Series: Gang Rulz in his hometown of Montreal. LaFon would make a few more appearances with Furnas afterwards, mostly on Shotgun Saturday Night (notably with one match being against the then-unknown Hardy Boyz), before they were later sent to ECW. Lafond still is involved in wrestling today as the Head Trainer of Monster Pro Wrestling (MPW) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. On March 6, 2010 in Edmonton, he returned to the ring to compete with MPW after five years of being in retirement, due to nagging knee and shoulder injuries

Max Wagner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Max Wagner (November 28, 1901 – November 16, 1975) was a Mexican-born American film actor who specialized in playing small parts such as thugs, gangsters, sailors, henchmen, bodyguards, cab drivers and moving men, appearing more than 400 films in his career, most without receiving screen credit. Newspaper gossip columnists noted his rise from playing "Gangster #4", with no lines, and not carrying a gun, to "Gangster #2", with both lines and a gun. Wagner was one of five children, all boys, of William Wallace Wagner, a railroad conductor, and Edith Wagner, a writer who provided dispatches for the Christian Science Monitor during the Mexican Revolution. When he was 10 years old, his father was killed by rebels and the family moved to Salinas, California, where he met John Steinbeck, who became a lifelong friend. Steinback based the character of the boy in his novel The Red Pony on Wagner. Under the name "Max Baron", Wagner acted in many Spanish-language versions of English-language films, which studios made as a matter of course in the early days of sound films, He also served as a Spanish language coach for other actors, and appeared in many of the "Mexican Spitfire" films starring Lupe Vélez, where he also served to monitor Velez's Spanish ad-libs for profanity. Other series that Wagner appeared in include the Charlie Chan films, and Tom Mix serials, as well as others made by Mascot Pictures Corporation. In the 1940s, Wagner was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in six films written and directed by Sturges, beginning with The Palm Beach Story In 1940 during the filming of "The Mad Doctor", Wagner was credited for driving 50,000 miles as an on-screen taxi driver on the studio back lots of Hollywood. Since his appearance as a cab driver in Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935), producers often cast him as a wise-cracking or henchman taxi driver. "I was cast as a taxi driver about five years ago", Wagner told a reporter. "And I was typed." In 1952, Wagner began to appear on television, in episodes of such shows as The Cisco Kid, Zane Grey Theater and Perry Mason, playing much the same kind of parts he played in the movies. He was a regular cast member on the western television series Gunsmoke, making nearly 80 appearances between 1959 and 1973. He also appeared in many episodes of The Rifleman, Bonanza, Cimarron Strip, The Wild Wild West and Maverick, including a guest-starring role in the 1959 Rifleman episode "Blood Brother." He also had roles in the original Star Trek and The Twilight Zone series. He appeared in more than 200 television episodes between 1952 and 1974. Notable film roles for Wagner include a supporting role in the cult science fiction classic Invaders from Mars (1953), an actor playing a gangster in the film-within-a-film segment of Bullets or Ballots (1936), and the bull farm attendant in the Laurel and Hardy comedy The Bullfighters (1945). Late in his career, he appeared in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). He also occasionally composed music, such as the Mexican folk ballad "Pedro, Rudarte y Simon" in the Western film The Last Trail (1933). Wagner died of a heart attack in Hollywood in 1975.

Stuart Rosenberg

Stuart Rosenberg (August 11, 1927 – March 15, 2007) was an American film and television director, whose notable works included the movies Cool Hand Luke (1967), Voyage of the Damned (1976), The Amityville Horror (1979), and The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984). He was noted for his work with actor Paul Newman. Rosenberg was born in Brooklyn, New York City, the son of Sara (née Kaminsky) and David Rosenberg. He studied Irish literature at New York University in Manhattan, and began working as an apprentice film editor while in graduate school. After advancing to film editor, he then transitioned into directing with episodes of the syndicated TV series Decoy (1957–59). It was the first police series on American television built around a female protagonist. Over the next two years, Rosenberg directed 15 episodes of the ABC police-detective series Naked City, also shot in New York City. Fifteen episodes of The Untouchables followed, eight of the anthology series Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, five of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and three of The Twilight Zone, along with episodes of Adventures in Paradise, The Barbara Stanwyck Show, Ben Casey, Rawhide with Clint Eastwood, and Falk's The Trials of O'Brien, among other shows. He won a 1963 Emmy Award for directing "The Madman", one of his 19 episodes of the courtroom drama The Defenders. Following the Lutheran-financed U.S.-German co-production Question 7 (1961), filmed in West Berlin, Germany, Rosenberg shot the 1965 TV-movie, Memorandum for a Spy and the 1966 telefilm Fame Is the Name of the Game before making his major-studio debut with the Paul Newman hit Cool Hand Luke (1967). Rosenberg had come across Donn Pearce's chain gang novel and developed the film with actor Jack Lemmon's production company, Jalem. Years later, Rosenberg would replace Bob Rafelson on another prison movie, Brubaker (1980) starring Robert Redford. Other Rosenberg films include The April Fools (1969), with French actress Catherine Deneuve in her American debut opposite Jack Lemmon; the Newman movies WUSA (1970), Pocket Money (1972) and The Drowning Pool (1975); the Walter Matthau police-detective thriller The Laughing Policeman (1973); the Charles Bronson action picture Love and Bullets (1979); and another action movie Let's Get Harry (1986), for which Rosenberg used the Directors Guild of America pseudonym Alan Smithee. He was famous for straight dramas and, especially, crime films. The most acclaimed movie he did after 'Cool Hand Luke' was The Pope of Greenwich Village with Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke, and Daryl Hannah. He made his last film, the independent drama My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys, in 1991. In 1993, Rosenberg became a teacher at the American Film Institute. Among his students were those who would go on to make names for themselves: Todd Field, Darren Aronofsky, Mark Waters, Scott Silver, Doug Ellin and Rob Schmidt. Rosenberg died in 2007 of a heart attack at his home in Beverly Hills, California. He was survived by his wife, Margot Pohoryles, whom he had met at NYU; son Benjamin Rosenberg, a first assistant director; as well as four grandchildren. His students' films The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Alphabet Killer, and The Wrestler that were released in 2008 were dedicated in memory of him.

Alison Doody

Cast · Known for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Alison Doody (born November 11, 1966) is an Irish actress and model. She is the youngest of three children. She was educated in a convent, where she gained a passion for the arts. She later studied at the National College of Fine Arts in Dublin, but left because she lacked the motivation and thought she would take a year off to think it out. Meanwhile, while sitting in a café with friends, she was approached by a still photographer who asked her if she would be interested to model. Thinking she could use the pocket money, she said yes. Modeling proved to be both fun and lucrative, and very soon she did it professionally. Her modeling contracts led to commercial work, which would take her around the world. One day, a casting director saw her work and suggested she try acting instead. She was sent to London at age 19, where she quickly won an audition to appear in the new James Bond film, A View to a Kill (1985). She so loved acting that she pursued a career in that direction. After her first film, she shot a few TV dramas in London and in Dublin, but her big break came when she was cast as Austrian seductress Dr. Elsa Schneider in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Apparently she made a huge impression on Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, who loved her great sense of humor and her Grace Kelly looks. After Indiana Jones, which introduced her to Hollywood and to the United States, she was chosen to replace Cybill Shepherd as spokeswoman for L'Oréal. After that she shot a few B-movies in the United States, but at one point felt she missed Ireland too much, so she went back to Dublin. In 1994, she put her career on hold to spend more time with media heir Gavin O'Reilly, whom she had been dating for two years. In 1996 they married, and later had two children. In 2002, she was asked to cameo in the 'Michael Caine (I)_ comedy Les acteurs (2003), and there she regained a lust for the movie industry. The following summer, she shot Allan Quatermain et la pierre des ancêtres (2004) with co-starPatrick Swayze, and it's then that the whole ball started rolling again. In 2005, she and her husband divorced and she decided to re-launch her stalled career, but she quickly realized how difficult it was to break into this kind of business for a second time, especially after ten years away from the camera. Recently she appeared in the short film Benjamin's Struggle (2005), directed by newcomer James Breese, and played a role in the well-known British series Meurtres en sommeil (2000). In a recent interview, she said she was thrilled to be acting again, but added that she wasn't willing to accept anything for the sake of working. She is determined to find the right part, but she also wants to do different things: "I'm fed up playing the nasty Nazi. I'd like to do something quite extreme."

Michael Jai White

Cast · Known for Drive Through Fire, Why Did I Get Married Again?

Michael Jai White (born November 10, 1967) is an American actor and professional martial artist, who has appeared in numerous films and television series. He is the first African-American to portray a major comic book superhero in a major motion picture, having starred as Al Simmons, the protagonist in the 1997 film Spawn. White was born in Brooklyn, New York and moved as a teen to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he graduated from Central High School in 1988. White started martial arts training at the age of seven and is now an accomplished martial artist, holding seven legitimate black belts in Shotokan, Tae Kwon Do, Kobudo, Goju Ryu, Tang Soo Do, Wushu and Kyokushin, with a specific focus in Kyokushin (although his style incorporates aspects of many different martial arts forms). His first major starring role and breakout performance was in the 1995 HBO film Tyson, as heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson. In 1997, he portrayed the eponymous character in the 1997 movie Spawn. His work in Spawn earned him a nomination for the Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Best Male Newcomer. White starred opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in Universal Soldier: The Return. In 2001, he also starred opposite fellow martial artist Steven Seagal in Exit Wounds. In 2003, he starred in Busta Rhymes' and Mariah Carey's music video "I Know What You Want". Since 2003, in addition to his on screen roles, White has been doing voice work, including Static Shock, Justice League, and the Spawn animated series. White showcases his martial arts skills in the direct-to-DVD film Undisputed II: Last Man Standing. He also appears in Michelle Yeoh's Silver Hawk in 2004. His film, Why Did I Get Married? opened at number one at the box office on October 12, 2007. White played the role of the mob boss Gambol in the 2008 film The Dark Knight. He also starred in the film Blood and Bone and the Blaxploitation homage Black Dynamite, both released in 2009. White wrote the scripts for both Black Dynamite and his upcoming 3 Bullets in which he stars with Bokeem Woodbine. White will make his directorial debut and star in Never Back Down 2, which is slated for a 2011 release. In August 2005 he wed his girlfriend of two years, Courtenay Chatman. The couple have a daughter named Morgan Michelle who was born on December 24, 2008. Michael has two sons from a previous relationship. He is an avid chess player, as seen in his movie Blood and Bone.

Sanaa Lathan

Cast · Known for Nip/Tuck

Sanaa McCoy Lathan (/səˈnɑ/ born September 19, 1971) is an American stage, film, television, and voice actress. She is the daughter of actress Eleanor McCoy and film director Stan Lathan. She earned bachelor's degree in English from University of California, Berkeley, and a master's degree in drama from Yale. She is best known for her roles as Robyn in The Best Man films and subsequent TV miniseries on Peacock, Naomi Hicks on Netflix's Hit & Run, Violet Jones in Nappily Ever After, Ashe Akino on Fox's drama Shots Fired, Deputy Director Natalie Austin in Now You See Me 2 (2016), Leah Vaughn in The Perfect Guy (2015), Jenelle Wilson on Showtime's drama The Affair, Mona Fredricks on Starz' drama Boss, Andrea in Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (2008), Beneatha Younger in ABC's film adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun (2008), Kenya McQueen in Something New (2006), Ann Merai Harrison in Out of Time (2004), Sidney 'Sid' Shaw in Brown Sugar (2002), Monica Wright in Love & Basketball (2000), Zora Banks in Disappearing Acts (2000), Alicia in The Wood (1999), Vanessa Brooks - the mother of Wesley Snipes' title character - in Blade (1998), and Briana Gilliam on NBC's sitcom Lateline. She had recurring roles on HBO's Succession and FX's Nip/Tuck, and starred on NBC's short-lived sitcom Built to Last. In 2022, she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, for her work on the television series Succession. Her other movie credits include With/In Vol 1 (2021) and Vol 2 (2022), American Assassin (2017), Contagion (2011), Powder Blue (2009), AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004), and more. She voiced Catwoman on HBO's animated series Harley Quinn, and Donna Tubbs on The Cleveland Show and on all Family Guy appearances. In 2004, she starred on Broadway as Beneatha Younger in A Raisin in the Sun with Sean Combs, Audra McDonald, and Phylicia Rashad, and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress. She later reprise her role in the 2008 film adaptation. In 2010, she starred in the all-black performance of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Novello Theatre in London. She earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her recurring role on Succession. She received an NAACP Image Award Nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her performance in Brown Sugar. She received a NAACP Image Award nomination for her performance in The Best Man. She earned an Essence Award for Best Actress for her performance in Disappearing Acts. She earned the 2001 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress, and a BET Award for her performance in Love & Basketball. In 2000, she was named by Ebony magazine as one of its 55 Most Beautiful People and was honored by Essence magazine and Black Entertainment Television. In 2022, she made her directorial debut with the film On the Come Up, in which she also has a supporting role.