Rugby Actors and Actresses
This is a list of actors and actresses who played rugby league or rugby union at some point in their life time. Work in progress, will continue to add photos and other information as they come to light. If you are aware of any actors/actresses missing from this list, please comment below.
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One of the British theatre's most famous faces, Daniel Craig, who waited tables as a struggling teenage actor with the National Youth Theatre, has gone on to star as James Bond in Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021).
He was born Daniel Wroughton Craig on March 2, 1968, at 41 Liverpool Road, Chester, Cheshire, England. His father, Timothy John Wroughton Craig, was a merchant seaman turned steel erector, and then became landlord of the "Ring O'Bells" pub in Frodsham, Cheshire. His mother, Carol Olivia (Williams), was an art teacher. Craig has English, as well as Irish, Scottish and Welsh, ancestry. His parents split up in 1972, and young Daniel was raised with his older sister, Lea, in Liverpool, then in Hoylake, Wirral, in the home of his mother. His interest in acting was encouraged by visits to the Liverpool Everyman Theatre arranged by his mother. From the age of six, Craig started acting in school plays, making his debut in the Frodsham Primary School production of "Oliver!", and his mother was the driving force behind his artistic aspirations. The first Bond movie he ever saw at the cinema was Roger Moore's Live and Let Die (1973); young Daniel Craig saw it with his father, so it took a special place in his heart. He was also a good athlete and was a rugby player at Hoylake Rugby Club.
At age 14, Craig played roles in "Oliver", "Romeo and Juliet" and "Cinderella" at Hilbre High School in West Kirby, Wirral. He left Hilbre High School at age 16 to audition at the National Youth Theatre's (NYT) troupe on their tour in Manchester in 1984. He was accepted and moved down to London. There, his mother and father watched his stage debut as Agamemnon in Shakespeare's "Troilus and Cressida". As a struggling actor with the NYT, he was toiling in restaurant kitchens and as a waiter. Craig performed with NYT on tours to Valencia, Spain, and to Moscow, Russia, under the leadership of director Edward Wilson. He failed at repeated auditions at the Guildhall, but eventually his persistence paid off, and in 1988, he entered the Guildhall School of Music and Drama at the Barbican. There, he studied alongside Ewan McGregor and Alistair McGowan, then later Damian Lewis and Joseph Fiennes, among others. He graduated in 1991, after a three-year course under the tutelage of Colin McCormack, the actor from the Royal Shakespeare Company. From 1992-1994, he was married to Scottish actress Fiona Loudon, their daughter, named Ella Craig (born 1992).
Craig made his film debut in The Power of One (1992). His film career continued on television, notably the BBC2 serial Our Friends in the North (1996). He shot to international fame after playing supporting roles in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) and Road to Perdition (2002). He was nominated for his performances in the leading role in Layer Cake (2004), and received other awards and nominations. Craig was named as the sixth actor to portray James Bond, in October 2005, weeks after he finished his work in Munich (2005), where he co-starred with Eric Bana under the directorship of Steven Spielberg. Craig's reserved demeanor and his avoidance of the showbiz-party-red-carpet milieu makes him a cool 007. He is the first blond actor to play Bond, and also the first to be born after the start of the film series, and also the first to be born after the death of author Ian Fleming in 1964. Four of the past Bond actors: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan have indicated that Craig is a good choice as Bond.
He was appointed Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG) by Queen Elizabeth II at the 2022 Queen's New Years Honours for his services to Film and Theatre.Played for Hoylake RFC. Much was made at the film casino royal's release about Daniel Craig's buff body. Being in such prime condition was not new to the actor, as at one point he had been a semi-professional rugby player.- Actor
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A leading man of prodigious talents, Peter O'Toole was born and raised in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, the son of Constance Jane Eliot (Ferguson), a Scottish nurse, and Patrick Joseph O'Toole, an Irish metal plater, football player and racecourse bookmaker. Upon leaving school, he decided to become a journalist, beginning as a newspaper copy boy. Although he succeeded in becoming a reporter, he discovered the theater and made his stage debut at age 17. He served as a radioman in the Royal Navy for two years, then attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, where his classmates included Albert Finney, Alan Bates and Richard Harris.
O'Toole spent several years on-stage at the Bristol Old Vic, then made an inconspicuous film debut in the Disney classic Kidnapped (1960). In 1962, he was chosen by David Lean to play T.E. Lawrence in Lean's epic drama Lawrence of Arabia (1962). The role made O'Toole an international superstar and received him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. In 1963, he played Hamlet under Laurence Olivier's direction in the premiere production of the Royal National Theater. He continued successfully in artistically rich films as well as less artistic but commercially rewarding projects. He received Academy Award nominations (but no Oscar) for seven different films.
However, medical problems (originally thought to have been brought on by his drinking but which turned out to be stomach cancer) threatened to destroy his career and life in the 1970s. He survived by giving up alcohol and, after serious medical treatment, returned to films with triumphant performances in The Stunt Man (1980) and My Favorite Year (1982). His youthful beauty lost to time and drink, O'Toole has found meaningful roles increasingly difficult to come by, though he remained one of the greatest actors of his generation. He had two daughters, Pat and Kate O'Toole, from his marriage to actress Siân Phillips. He also had a son, Lorcan O'Toole, by model Karen Brown.
On December 14, 2013, Peter O'Toole died at age 81 in London, England.O'Toole played rugby league as a child in Leeds and was also a rugby union fan, attending Five Nations matches with friends and fellow rugby fans Richard Harris, Kenneth Griffith, Peter Finch and Richard Burton
Richard Harris & Peter O'toole at munster rugby -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOU3gDncP4k- Actor
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Richard St John Harris was born on October 1, 1930 in Limerick, Ireland, to a farming family, one of nine children born to Mildred (Harty) and Ivan Harris. He attended Crescent College, a Jesuit school, and was an excellent rugby player, with a strong passion for literature. Unfortunately, a bout of tuberculosis as a teenager ended his aspirations to a rugby career, but he became fascinated with the theater and skipped a local dance one night to attend a performance of "Henry IV". He was hooked and went on to learn his craft at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), then spent several years in stage productions. He debuted on screen in Shake Hands with the Devil (1959) and quickly scored regular work in films, including The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959), The Night Fighters (1960) and a good role as a frustrated Australian bomber pilot in The Guns of Navarone (1961).
However, his breakthrough performance was as the quintessential "angry young man" in the sensational drama This Sporting Life (1963), which scored him an Oscar nomination. He then appeared in the WW II commando tale The Heroes of Telemark (1965) and in the Sam Peckinpah-directed western Major Dundee (1965). He next showed up in Hawaii (1966) and played King Arthur in Camelot (1967), a lackluster adaptation of the famous Broadway play. Better performances followed, among them a role as a reluctant police informer in The Molly Maguires (1970) alongside Sir Sean Connery. Harris took the lead role in the violent western A Man Called Horse (1970), which became something of a cult film and spawned two sequels. As the 1970s progressed, Harris continued to appear regularly on screen; however, the quality of the scripts varied from above average to woeful.
His credits during this period included directing himself as an aging soccer player in The Hero (1970); the western The Deadly Trackers (1973); the big-budget "disaster" film Juggernaut (1974); the strangely-titled crime film 99 and 44/100% Dead! (1974); with Connery again in Robin and Marian (1976); Gulliver's Travels (1977); a part in the Jaws (1975); Orca (1977) and a nice turn as an ill-fated mercenary with Richard Burton and Roger Moore in the popular action film The Wild Geese (1978).
The 1980s kicked off with Harris appearing in the silly Bo Derek vanity production Tarzan the Ape Man (1981) and the remainder of the decade had him appearing in some very forgettable productions. However, the luck of the Irish was once again to shine on Harris's career and he scored rave reviews (and another Oscar nomination) for The Field (1990). He then locked horns with Harrison Ford as an IRA sympathizer in Patriot Games (1992) and got one of his best roles as gunfighter English Bob in the Clint Eastwood western Unforgiven (1992). Harris was firmly back in vogue and rewarded his fans with more wonderful performances in Wrestling Ernest Hemingway (1993); Cry, the Beloved Country (1995); The Great Kandinsky (1995) and This Is the Sea (1997). Further fortune came his way with a strong performance in the blockbuster Gladiator (2000) and he became known to an entirely new generation of film fans as Albus Dumbledore in the mega-successful Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). His final screen role was as "Lucius Sulla" in Caesar (2002).
Harris died of Hodgkin's disease, also known as Hodgkin's lymphoma, in London on October 25, 2002, aged 72.Before teaching at hogwarts, professor dumbledore was a talented rugby player. Richard harris played several matches for Garryowen FC, as well as various junior sides. He remained a fan of the Munster team his entire life, and used to go and watch matches with Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton.
After his funeral, ivan harris spoke of how his brother was laid out wearing his Munster rugby jersey. It was richards dying wish. - http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Eulogy+to+star+Harris.-a095396924
Richard Harris & Peter O'toole at munster rugby -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOU3gDncP4k- Actor
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Probably best-remembered for his turbulent personal life with Elizabeth Taylor (whom he married twice), Richard Burton was nonetheless also regarded as an often brilliant British actor of the post-WWII period.
Burton was born Richard Walter Jenkins in 1925 into a Welsh (Cymraeg)-speaking family in Pontrhydyfen to Edith Maude (Thomas) and Richard Walter Jenkins, a coal miner. The twelfth of thirteen children, his mother died while he was a toddler and his father later abandoned the family, leaving him to be raised by an elder sister, Cecilia. An avid fan of Shakespeare, poetry and reading, he once said "home is where the books are". He received a scholarship to Oxford University to study acting and made his first stage appearance in 1944.
His first film appearances were in routine British movies such as Woman of Dolwyn (1949), Waterfront Women (1950) and Green Grow the Rushes (1951). Then he started to appear in Hollywood movies such as My Cousin Rachel (1952), The Robe (1953) and Alexander the Great (1956), added to this he was also spending considerable time in stage productions, both in the UK and USA, often to splendid reviews. The late 1950s was an exciting and inventive time in UK cinema, often referred to as the "British New Wave", and Burton was right in the thick of things, and showcased a sensational performance in Look Back in Anger (1959). He also appeared with a cavalcade of international stars in the World War II magnum opus The Longest Day (1962), and then onto arguably his most "notorious" role as that of Marc Antony opposite Elizabeth Taylor in the hugely expensive Cleopatra (1963). This was, of course, the film that kick-started their fiery and passionate romance (plus two marriages), and the two of them appeared in several productions over the next few years including The V.I.P.s (1963), The Sandpiper (1965), the dynamic Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and The Taming of The Shrew (1967), as well as box office flops like The Comedians (1967). Burton did better when he was off on his own giving higher caliber performances, such as those in Becket (1964), the film adaptation of the Tennessee Williams play The Night of the Iguana (1964), the brilliant espionage thriller The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965) and alongside Clint Eastwood in the World War II action adventure film Where Eagles Dare (1968).
His audience appeal began to decline somewhat by the end of the 1960s as fans turned to younger, more virile male stars, however Burton was superb in Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) as King Henry VIII, he put on a reasonable show in the boring Raid on Rommel (1971), was over the top in the awful Villain (1971), gave sleepwalking performances in Hammersmith Is Out (1972) and Bluebeard (1972), and was wildly miscast in the ludicrous The Assassination of Trotsky (1972).
By the early 1970s, quality male lead roles were definitely going to other stars, and Burton found himself appearing in some movies of dubious quality, just to pay the bills and support family, including Divorce His - Divorce Hers (1973) (his last on-screen appearance with Taylor), The Klansman (1974), Brief Encounter (1974), Jackpot (1974) (which was never completed) and Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977). However, he won another Oscar nomination for his excellent performance as a concerned psychiatrist in Equus (1977). He appeared with fellow acting icons Richard Harris and Roger Moore in The Wild Geese (1978) about mercenaries in South Africa. While the film had a modest initial run, over the past thirty-five years it has picked up quite a cult following. His final performances were as the wily inquisitor "O'Brien" in the most recent film version of George Orwell's dystopian 1984 (1984), in which he won good reviews, and in the TV mini series Ellis Island (1984). He passed away on August 5, 1984 in Celigny, Switzerland from a cerebral hemorrhage.Richard Burtons Last match:- http://wesclark.com/rrr/burton.html- Actor
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Gerard James Butler was born in Paisley, Scotland, to Margaret and Edward Butler, a bookmaker. His family is of Irish origin. Gerard spent some of his very early childhood in Montreal, Quebec, but was mostly raised, along with his older brother and sister, in his hometown of Paisley. His parents divorced when he was a child, and he and his siblings were raised primarily by their mother, who later remarried. He had no contact with his father between the ages of two and 16 years old, after which time they became close. His father passed away when Gerard was in his early 20s. Butler went on to attend Glasgow University, where he studied to be a lawyer/solicitor. He was president of the school's law society thanks to his outgoing personality and great social skills.
His acting career began when he was approached in a London coffee shop by actor Steven Berkoff, who later appeared alongside Butler in Attila (2001), who gave him a role in a stage production of "Coriolanus" (later, Butler played Tullus Aufidius in a big screen Coriolanus (2011). After that, Butler decided to give up law for acting. He was cast as Ewan McGregor's character "Renton" in the stage adaptation of Trainspotting. His film debut was as Billy Connolly's younger brother in Mrs. Brown (1997). While filming the movie in Scotland, he was enjoying a picnic with his mother near the River Tay when they heard the shouts of a young boy, who had been swimming with a friend, who was in some trouble. Butler jumped in and saved the young boy from drowning. He received a Certificate of Bravery from the Royal Humane Society. He felt he only did what anyone in the situation would have done.
His film career continued with small roles, first in the "James Bond" movie, Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), and then Russell Mulcahy's Tale of the Mummy (1998). In 2000, Butler was cast in two breakthrough roles, the first being "Attila the Hun" in the USA Network mini-series, Attila (2001). The film's producers wanted a known actor to play the part but kept coming back to Butler's screen tests and decided he was their man. He had to lose the thick Scottish accent, but managed well. Around the time "Attila" was being filmed, casting was in progress for Wes Craven's new take on the "Dracula" legacy. Also wanting a known name, Butler wasn't much of a consideration, but his unending tenacity drove him to hounding the producers. Eventually, he sent them a clip of his portrayal of "Attila". Evidently, they saw something because Dracula 2000 (2000) was cast in the form of Butler. Attila's producers, thinking that his big-screen role might help with their own film's ratings, finished shooting a little early so he could get to work on Dracula 2000 (2000). Following these two roles, Butler developed quite a fan base, and began appearing on websites and fancasts everywhere.
Since then, he has appeared in Reign of Fire (2002) as "Creedy" and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life (2003) as "Terry Sheridan", alongside Angelina Jolie. The role that garnered him the most attention from both moviegoers and movie makers, alike, was that of "Andre Marek" in the big-screen adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel, Timeline (2003). Butler played an archaeologist who was sent back in time with a team of students to rescue a colleague. Last year, he appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, The Phantom of the Opera (2004), playing the title character in the successful adaptation of the stage musical. It was a role that brought him much international attention. Other projects include Dear Frankie (2004), The Game of Their Lives (2005) and Beowulf & Grendel (2005).
In 2007, he starred as Spartan "King Leonidas" in the Warner Bros. production 300 (2006), based on the Frank Miller graphic novel, and Shattered (2007), co-starring Pierce Brosnan and Maria Bello, which aired on network TV under the title, "Shattered". He also starred in P.S. I Love You (2007), with Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank.
In 2007, he appeared in Nim's Island (2008) and RocknRolla (2008), and completed the new Mark Neveldine / Brian Taylor film, Gamer (2009). His next films included The Ugly Truth (2009), co-starring Katherine Heigl, which began filming in April 2008, The Bounty Hunter (2010), How to Train Your Dragon (2010), Chasing Mavericks (2012) and Olympus Has Fallen (2013). In recent years, he has appeared in films such as Gods of Egypt (2016), Geostorm (2017), Den of Thieves (2018), The Vanishing (2018) and Hunter Killer (2018). Butler is related to writer-director Mark Flood.- Actor
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Julian Dana William McMahon was born in Sydney, Australia, the second of three children of Lady Sonia McMahon (née Sonia Rachel Hopkins) and Sir Billy McMahon, the longest continuously serving government minister in Australian history, serving over 21 years as a government minister before serving as Prime Minister of Australia from March 1971 to December 1972. Sir Billy died March 31, 1988, age 80, four months before Julian's 20th birthday, and Julian's mother, Lady (Sonia) McMahon, died of cancer, three days after the 22nd anniversary of her husband's passing, in Sydney, on April 2, 2010, age 77, with Julian and his two sisters at her bedside.
Julian is of Irish and English descent. Julian started a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Wollongong, but after more time spent in the University bar than at classes, he became bored after one year and began a career in modeling, working primarily in commercials. In 1987, he began print modeling assignments in Los Angeles, New York, Milan, Rome and Paris. His appearance in a TV commercial promoting jeans in his home country made him popular enough to be cast as the lead in The Power, the Passion (1989), an Australian "Dynasty"-like series. After 18 months on "The Power, The Passion," Julian then joined the cast of Home and Away (1988), another successful Australian series, where he won a best actor award from a national magazine.
McMahon later performed on stage, appearing in a musical version of "Home and Away" in Britain as well as in "Love Letters" in Sydney and Melbourne. After a lead role in the feature film Wet and Wild Summer! (1993) with Elliott Gould, he moved to Hollywood so that he could read for more American projects. In 1992, he was cast as Ian Rain on NBC's daytime drama Another World (1964). He left "Another World" after two years, in order to expand his range and experience, appearing in several Los Angeles stage productions. He also appeared in the feature film Magenta (1997) before landing the role of Agent John Grant on Profiler (1996) for four seasons, .
In his free time, McMahon enjoys surfing, biking, and cooking. He is a fan of baseball, American football and basketball, and he collects classic books.- Actor
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Javier Bardem belongs to a family of actors that have been working on films since the early days of Spanish cinema.
He was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, to actress Pilar Bardem (María del Pilar Bardem Muñoz) and businessman José Carlos Encinas Doussinague. His maternal grandparents were actors Rafael Bardem and Matilde Muñoz Sampedro, and his uncle is screenwriter Juan Antonio Bardem. He got his start in the family business, at age six, when he appeared in his first feature, "El picaro" (1974) (A.K.A. The Scoundrel). During his teenage years, he acted in several TV series, played rugby for the Spanish National Team, and toured the country with an independent theatrical group. Javier's early film role as a sexy stud in the black comedy, Jamón, Jamón (1992) (aka Ham Ham) propelled him to instant popularity and threatened to typecast him as nothing more than a brawny sex symbol. Determined to avert a beefcake image, he refused similar subsequent roles and has gone on to win acclaim for his ability to appear almost unrecognizable from film to film. With over 25 movies and numerous awards under his belt, it is Javier's stirring, passionate performance as the persecuted Cuban writer, Reynaldo Arenas, in Before Night Falls (2000) that will long be remembered as his breakthrough role. He received five Best Actor awards and a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal.Represented Spain -> http://www.rugbyunplugged.com/images/Javier%20Bardem%20Spain%20rugby.jpg- Actor
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Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch was born and raised in London, England. His parents, Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton (born Timothy Carlton Congdon Cumberbatch), are both actors. He is a grandson of submarine commander Henry Carlton Cumberbatch, and a great-grandson of diplomat Henry Arnold Cumberbatch CMG. Cumberbatch attended Brambletye School and Harrow School. Whilst at Harrow, he had an arts scholarship and painted large oil canvases. It's also where he began acting. After he finished school, he took a year off to volunteer as an English teacher in a Tibetan monastery in Darjeeling, India. On his return, he studied drama at Manchester University. He continued his training as an actor at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art graduating with an M.A. in Classical Acting. By the time he had completed his studies, he already had an agent.
Cumberbatch has worked in theatre, television, film and radio. His breakthrough on the big screen came in 2004 when he portrayed Stephen Hawking in the television movie Hawking (2004). In 2010, he became a household name as Sherlock Holmes on the British television series Sherlock (2010). In 2011, he appeared in two Oscar-nominated films - War Horse (2011) and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011). He followed this with acclaimed roles in the science fiction film Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), the Oscar-winning drama 12 Years a Slave (2013), The Fifth Estate (2013) and August: Osage County (2013). In 2014, he portrayed Alan Turing in The Imitation Game (2014) which earned him a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, British Academy of Film and Television Arts and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Cumberbatch was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2015 Birthday Honours for his services to the performing arts and to charity.
Cumberbatch's engagement to theatre and opera director Sophie Hunter, whom he has known for 17 years, was announced in the "Forthcoming Marriages" section of The Times newspaper on November 5, 2014. On February 14, 2015, the couple married at the 12th century Church of St. Peter and St. Paul on the Isle of Wight followed by a reception at Mottistone Manor. They have three sons, Christopher Carlton (born 2015), Hal Auden (born 2017), and Finn (born 2019).Benedict cumberbatch posing for a a group photo - https://i.imgur.com/QQ1q54R.jpg- Actor
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Thomas William Hiddleston was born in Westminster, London, to English-born Diana Patricia (Servaes) and Scottish-born James Norman Hiddleston. His mother is a former stage manager, and his father, a scientist, was the managing director of a pharmaceutical company. He started off at the preparatory school, The Dragon School in Oxford, and by the time he was 13, he boarded at Eton College, at the same time that his parents were going through a divorce. He continued on to the University of Cambridge, where he earned a double first in Classics. He continued to study acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, from which he graduated in 2005.
Whilst at University of Cambridge, he was seen by the Hamilton Hodell agency in the play "A Streetcar Named Desire" and was signed. Following this, he was cast in his first television role in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (2001). Hiddleston won his first film role as Oakley in Joanna Hogg's award-winning first feature, Unrelated (2007). His breakthrough role came when he portrayed the nemesis Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe feature film Thor (2011). He reprised the character in The Avengers (2012), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), and Avengers: Infinity War (2018).
He has also appeared in Steven Spielberg's War Horse (2011), The Deep Blue Sea (2011), Woody Allen's romantic comedy Midnight in Paris (2011), and the romantic vampire film Only Lovers Left Alive (2013). On television, he appeared on the BBC series The Hollow Crown (2012), in the adaptations of Shakespeare's "Henry IV" and "Henry V". In theatre, he has been in the productions of "Cymbeline" (2007) and "Ivanov" (2008). In December 2013, he starred as the title character in the Donmar Warehouse production of "Coriolanus" which played until February 2014. He won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Newcomer in a Play for his role in "Cymbeline" while also being nominated for the same award the same year for his role as Cassio in "Othello".He played rugby at Cambridge University but gave it up for his love of acting.
Posing for a rugby photo:-
http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/33300000/Tom-Hiddleston-Rugby-Team-tom-hiddleston-33312062-500-500.jpg- Actor
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Dwayne Douglas Johnson, also known as The Rock, was born on May 2, 1972 in Hayward, California. He is the son of Ata Johnson (born Feagaimaleata Fitisemanu) and professional wrestler Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles). His father, from Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada, is black (of Black Nova Scotian descent), and his mother is of Samoan background (her own father was Peter Fanene Maivia, also a professional wrestler). While growing up, Dwayne traveled around a lot with his parents and watched his father perform in the ring. During his high school years, Dwayne began playing football and he soon received a full scholarship from the University of Miami, where he had tremendous success as a football player. In 1995, Dwayne suffered a back injury which cost him a place in the NFL. He then signed a three-year deal with the Canadian League but left after a year to pursue a career in wrestling.
He made his wrestling debut in the USWA under the name Flex Kavanah where he won the tag team championship with Brett Sawyer. In 1996, Dwayne joined the WWE and became Rocky Maivia where he joined a group known as "The Nation of Domination" and turned heel. Rocky eventually took over leadership of the "Nation" and began taking the persona of The Rock. After the "Nation" split, The Rock joined another elite group of wrestlers known as the "Corporation" and began a memorable feud with Steve Austin. Soon the Rock was kicked out of the "Corporation". He turned face and became known as "The Peoples Champion". In 2000, the Rock took time off from WWE to film his appearance in The Mummy Returns (2001). He returned in 2001 during the WCW/ECW invasion where he joined a team of WWE wrestlers at The Scorpion King (2002), a prequel to The Mummy Returns (2001).
Dwayne has a daughter, Simone Alexandra Johnson, born in 2001, with his ex-wife Dany Garcia, and daughters, Jasmine, born in 2015, and Tiana Gia, born in 2018, with his wife, singer and songwriter Lauren Hashian.Played a few games before grid iron took centre stage.- Actor
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Russell Ira Crowe was born in Wellington, New Zealand, to Jocelyn Yvonne (Wemyss) and John Alexander Crowe, both of whom catered movie sets. His maternal grandfather, Stanley Wemyss, was a cinematographer. Crowe's recent ancestry includes Welsh (where his paternal grandfather was born, in Wrexham), English, Irish, Scottish, Norwegian, Swedish, Italian, and Maori (one of Crowe's maternal great-grandmothers, Erana Putiputi Hayes Heihi, was Maori).
Crowe's family moved to Australia when he was a small child, settling in Sydney, and Russell got the acting bug early in life. Beginning as a child star on a local Australian TV show, Russell's first big break came with two films ... the first, Romper Stomper (1992), gained him a name throughout the film community in Australia and the neighboring countries. The second, The Sum of Us (1994), helped put him on the American map, so to speak. Sharon Stone heard of him from Romper Stomper (1992) and wanted him for her film, The Quick and the Dead (1995). But filming on The Sum of Us (1994) had already begun. Sharon is reported to have held up shooting until she had her gunslinger-Crowe, for her film. With The Quick and the Dead (1995) under his belt as his first American film, the second was offered to him soon after. Virtuosity (1995), starring Denzel Washington, put Russell in the body of a Virtual Serial Killer, Sid6.7 ... a role unlike any he had played so far. Virtuosity (1995), a Sci-Fi extravaganza, was a fun film and, again, opened the door to even more American offers. L.A. Confidential (1997), Russell's third American film, brought him the US fame and attention that his fans have felt he deserved all along. Missing the Oscar nod this time around, he didn't seem deterred and signed to do his first film with The Walt Disney Company, Mystery, Alaska (1999). He achieved even more success and awards for his performances in Gladiator (2000), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, and A Beautiful Mind (2001).Played rugby union and rugby league and is also co-owner of the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league team. For the movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003), Russell Crowe had the crew of his ship play rugby together while they were not filming so they could bond and better work as a team.- Actor
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Ian Roberts was born on 31 July 1965 in London, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Superman Returns (2006), The Osiris Child (2016) and Fantasy Island (2020).Former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 1990s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he played club football with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Wigan Warriors, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and North Queensland Cowboys.
http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2008/10/19/va1237517328409/38-Ian-Roberts-(rugby-league).-6306996.jpg- Producer
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Matthew Paige Damon was born on October 8, 1970, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Kent Damon, a stockbroker, realtor and tax preparer, and Nancy Carlsson-Paige, an early childhood education professor at Lesley University. Matt has an older brother, Kyle, a sculptor. His father was of English and Scottish descent, and his mother is of Finnish and Swedish ancestry. The family lived in Newton until his parents divorced in 1973, when Damon and his brother moved with his mother to Cambridge. He grew up in a stable community, and was raised near actor Ben Affleck.
Damon attended Cambridge Rindge and Latin School and he performed in a number of theater productions during his time there. He attended Harvard University as an English major. While in Harvard, he kept on skipping classes to pursue acting projects, which included the TNT original film, Rising Son (1990), and prep-school drama, School Ties (1992). It was until his film, Geronimo: An American Legend (1993), was expected to be a big success that he decided to drop out of university completely. Arriving in Hollywood, Matt managed to get his first break with a part in the romantic comedy, Mystic Pizza (1988). However, the film did not do too well and his film career failed to take off. Not letting failure discourage him from acting, he went for another audition, and managed to get a starring role in School Ties (1992). Up next for Matt was a role as a soldier who had problems with drug-addiction in the movie, Courage Under Fire (1996). Matt had, in fact, lost forty pounds for his role which resulted in health problems.
The following year, he garnered accolades for Good Will Hunting (1997), a screenplay he had originally written for an English class at Harvard University. Good Will Hunting (1997) was nominated for 9 Academy Awards, one of which, Matt won for Best Original Screenplay along with Ben Affleck. In the year 1998, Matt played the title role in Steven Spielberg's film, Saving Private Ryan (1998), which was one of the most acclaimed films in that year. Matt had the opportunity of working with Tom Hanks and Vin Diesel while filming that movie. That same year, he starred as an earnest law student and reformed poker player in Rounders (1998), starring opposite Edward Norton and John Malkovich. The next year, Matt rejoined his childhood friend, Ben Affleck and fellow comedian, Chris Rock, in the comedy Dogma (1999).
Towards the end of 1999, Matt played "Tom Ripley", a working-class young man who tastes the good life and will do anything to live it. Both Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow also starred in the movie. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) earned mixed reviews from critics, but even so, Matt earned praise for his performance. Matt lent his voice to the animated movie, Titan A.E. (2000) in the year 2000, which also earned mixed reviews from the public. He also starred in two other movies, All the Pretty Horses (2000) and the golf comedy-drama, The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000), starring alongside Will Smith. In the year 2003, he signed on to star in The Informant! (2009) by Steven Soderbergh and the Farrelly Brothers' Stuck on You (2003). He also starred in Gerry (2002), a film he co-wrote with his friends, Gus Van Sant and Casey Affleck. One of Matt's most recognizable work to date is his role in the "Bourne" movie franchise. He plays an amnesiac assassin, "Jason Bourne", in The Bourne Identity (2002), The Bourne Supremacy (2004) and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007). Another praised role is that as "Linus Caldwell" in the "Ocean's" movie franchise. He had the opportunity to star opposite George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and Don Cheadle in Ocean's Eleven (2001). The successful crime comedy-drama eventually had two other sequels, Ocean's Twelve (2004) and Ocean's Thirteen (2007). Among other highly acclaimed movies that Matt has been a part of are Terry Gilliam's The Brothers Grimm (2005), George Clooney's Syriana (2005), Martin Scorsese's The Departed (2006) and Robert De Niro's The Good Shepherd (2006).
In his personal life, Matt is now happily married to Argentine-born Luciana Barroso, whom he met in Miami, where she was working as a bartender. They married in a private civil ceremony on December 9, 2005, at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau. The couple have four daughters Alexia, Luciana's daughter from a previous relationship, as well as Isabella, Gia and Stella. Matt is a big fan of the Boston Red Sox and he tries to attend their games whenever possible. He has also formed great friendships with his Ocean's co-stars, George Clooney and Brad Pitt, whom he works on charity projects with. He and actor Ben Affleck have remained lifelong friends and collaborators.Played a few games prior to his role in invictus. This is the second movie you can see Matt Damon playing rugby. He also plays rugby in The Departed.Clint Eastwood-During the making of the film invictus, Clint Eastwood became a fan of rugby. While in South Africa, he would watch hours of rugby every night and come in the next morning and talk about the games. Eventually, he began to enjoy the games.
Invictus Trailer:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlZTzsC8e4g- Actor
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Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill was born on the Bailiwick of Jersey, a British Crown dependency in the Channel Islands. His mother, Marianne (Dalgliesh), a housewife, was also born on Jersey, and is of Irish, Scottish and English ancestry. Henry's father, Colin Richard Cavill, a stockbroker, is of English origin (born in Chester, England). Henry is the second youngest son, with four brothers. He was privately educated at St. Michael's Preparatory School in Saint Saviour, Jersey before attending Stowe School in Buckinghamshire, England.
His interest in acting started at an early age with school play renditions of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and Sonny LaTierri in "Grease". He also starred and directed Shakespeare's "Hamlet" in the BBC documentary "40 Minutes". It was at age 17 when Henry was discovered by casting directors at school who were looking for a young boy to play Albert Mondego in The Count of Monte Cristo (2002). He went on to star in Vendetta (2001), appear in BBC's The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2001), the television film Goodbye, Mr. Chips (2002), and the television series Midsomer Murders (1997).
When Henry was 20 years old, he gained starring roles in I Capture the Castle (2003), Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005), Red Riding Hood (2006) and Tristan + Isolde (2006). He also had a minor role in the fantasy-adventure epic Stardust (2007) alongside Sienna Miller and Ben Barnes. During 2007-2010, Henry had a leading role on the television series The Tudors (2007) as Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. The series was a success and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 2007 and won an Emmy Award in 2008. Entertainment Weekly named him "Most Dashing Duke".
He also starred in Blood Creek (2006) and Woody Allen's comedy film Whatever Works (2009). On January 30, 2011, it was announced that Henry Cavill had been cast as the next Superman in Man of Steel (2013), making him the first non-American actor to play Superman. The movie was directed by Zach Snyder, produced by Christopher Nolan, and scripted by David S. Goyer. On November 7, 2011, Henry starred in Tarsem Singh's fantasy-adventure epic Immortals (2011) alongside Mickey Rourke, Freida Pinto and Luke Evans. On September 7, 2012, Henry starred in the action-thriller Cold Light of Day (2003) alongside Bruce Willis and Sigourney Weaver.
On June 10, 2013, Man of Steel (2013) kicked off its world premiere in New York City followed by London, Bailiwick of Jersey, Sicily, Madrid, Shanghai, Sydney and Tokyo. The movie became the highest-grossing Superman film to date, and the second-highest-grossing reboot of all time behind The Amazing Spider-Man (2012). Glamour magazine ranked him the #1 "Sexiest Man". In August 2014, Henry became the Ambassador for Durrell Wildlife Park and created a website and social media called #CavillConservation to help raise funds and awareness for his love of animals and conservation. On November 3, 2014, it was announced that Cavill, his brother Charlie, and London-based producer Rex Glensy, have formed their own British production company, Promethean Productions.
On August 7, 2015, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) began its premiere tour with a people's premiere at the famous Somerset House in London, followed by its world premiere in New York City, then Toronto, and Rio de Janeiro. Cavill reprised his role as Superman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017).Played as a flanker in his rugby days but stopped playing due to injury.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svr7w53Gqt4- Actor
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Jonny (sometimes credited as Johnny) Lee Miller was born on November 15, 1972, in Kingston, England, UK. He is the son of actors Anna Lee and Alan Miller and the grandson of actor Bernard Lee. After appearing in many high school plays at his selective state grammar school, Jonny dropped out at 17 to pursue acting full time. Although he was reportedly quiet and shy in high school, he certainly expresses himself well in all his films. His very first popular film was Hackers (1995), alongside Angelina Jolie and Matthew Lillard. Later his co-star Angelina became his wife. They were divorced three years later. Interesting fact is that his entire family is well into acting, all the way back to his grandparents. He has a partnership in the production company Natural Nylon, which also includes Jude Law and Ewan McGregor, his co-star in Trainspotting (1996).Played a few seasons for Santa Monica Rugby Club and used to show up at a few games with then gal-pal Angeline Jolie- Music Artist
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Kris Kristofferson was born in Brownsville, Texas, to Mary Ann (Ashbrook) and Lars Henry Kristofferson. His paternal grandparents were Swedish, and his father was a United States Air Force general who pushed his son to a military career. Kris was a Golden Gloves boxer and went to Pomona College in California. From there, he earned a Rhodes scholarship to study literature at Oxford University. He ultimately joined the United States Army and achieved the rank of captain. He became a helicopter pilot, which served him well later. In 1965, he resigned his commission to pursue songwriting. He had just been assigned to become a teacher at USMA West Point. He got a job sweeping floors in Nashville studios. There he met Johnny Cash, who initially took some of his songs but ignored them. He was also working as a commercial helicopter pilot at the time. He got Cash's attention when he landed his helicopter in Cash's yard and gave him some more tapes. Cash then recorded Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down", which was voted the 1970 Song of the Year by the Country Music Association. Kris was noted for his heavy boozing. He lost his helicopter pilot job when he passed out at the controls, and his drinking ruined his marriage to singer Rita Coolidge, when he was reaching a bottle and half of Jack Daniels daily. He gave up alcohol in 1976. His acting career nose-dived after making Heaven's Gate (1980). In recent years, he has made a comeback with his musical and acting careers. He does say that he prefers his music, but says his children are his true legacy.ex-player and also founder of the santa monica rugby club- Actor
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Writer, actor, comedian, doer of good works, excellent good friend to the famous and not, Fry lives in his London SW1 flat and his Norfolk house when not traveling. Famous for his public declaration of celibacy in the "Tatler" back in the 1980s, Emma Thompson has characterised her friend as "90 percent gay, 10 percent other."
Stephen Fry was born in Hampstead, London, to Marianne Eve (Newman) and Alan Fry, a physicist and inventor. His maternal grandparents were Hungarian Jewish immigrants, while his father's family was of English background. He grew up in Norfolk and attended Uppingham School and Stout's Hill. After his notorious three months in Pucklechurch prison for credit card fraud, he attended Queens College, Cambridge in 1979, finishing with a 2:1 in English in 1981/2. While at Cambridge, he was a member of the Cherubs drinking club, and Footlights with Thompson, Tony Slattery, Martin Bergman, and Hugh Laurie (to whom he was introduced by E.T.). His prolific writing partnership with Laurie began in 1981 with resulting Footlights revues for (among others) Mayweek, Edinburgh Festival, and a three month tour of Australia. In 1984, Fry was engaged to do the rewrite of the Noel Gay musical "Me and My Girl," which made him a millionaire before the age of 30. It also earned him a nomination for a Tony award in 1987. (Sidenote: It was upon SF's suggestion that Emma Thompson landed a leading role in the London cast of this show.) Throughout the 1980s, Fry did a huge amount of television and radio work, as well as writing for newspapers (e.g. a weekly column in the "Daily Telegraph") and magazines (e.g. articles for "Arena"). He is probably best known for his television roles in Blackadder II (1986) and Jeeves and Wooster (1990).
His support of the Terence Higgins Trust through events such as the first "Hysteria" benefit, as well as numerous other charity efforts, are probably those works of which he is most proud. Fry's acting career has not been limited to films and television. He had successful runs in Alan Bennett's "Forty Years On," Simon Gray's "The Common Pursuit" with John Sessions, Rik Mayall, John Gordon Sinclair, and others. Michael Frayn's "Look Look" and Gray's "Cell Mates" were less successful for both Fry and their playwrights, the latter not helped by his walking out of the play after only a couple of weeks. Fry has published four novels as well as a collection of his radio and journalistic miscellanea. He has recorded audiotapes of his novels (an unabridged version of "The Liar" was released in 1995), as well as many other works for both adults and children.- Tall, dark, and handsome, Italian actor Cesare Danova (pronounced Chez-a-ray Da-NO-va) was a true Renaissance man. As a boy, it appeared he might become a professional athlete. But his family wanted him to become a doctor. Cesare, by his own account, studied medicine with such diligence that he suffered a nervous breakdown shortly before he was to take his degree. While recuperating, he was sent by a friend to see Dino De Laurentiis, the famous Italian producer, who was so impressed that he gave Danova a screen test. Thinking it was a joke, Danova insisted on seeing the screen test for himself. Soon, he was cast as the lead in La figlia del capitano (1947) (The Captain's Daughter). Thus began his career as an Italian Errol Flynn. In almost 20 European films, Danova played the dashing lead, riding horses, jumping through windows, dueling, and romancing beauties such as Gina Lollobrigida.
Known for his aristocratic bearing, he often played noblemen. The six-foot-four Danova was also an expert athlete. A devotee of strenuous daily workouts from age 12, Danova was a fencing champion by age 15 and a member of the Italian National Rugby Team by age 17. In addition to playing golf, tennis, and croquet, Danova was an amateur swimming champion, an expert horseman and polo player, and a master archer. He won the Robin Hood Trophy when he shot and embedded one arrow inside another arrow within the target's bull's eye. He was also a licensed pilot who flew his own planes (Beechcraft, Piper, Cherokee, and Cessna).
A descendant of famed medieval artist Filippo Lippi, Danova collected antiques and paintings. Describing himself as a fair painter, he taught himself to draw by studying a 75-cent how-to-draw book. Danova owned a library of over 3,000 books, each written in one of the five languages he knew-Italian, English, Spanish, French, and German.
Danova loved the theater and appeared onstage in Rome, Venice, Spain, New York, and Los Angeles. He was in the habit of carrying a small leprechaun good luck charm (and a shamrock ) he'd bought in Ireland, The actor traveled to the Emerald Isle many times. 'I love Ireland and I go there every chance I get,' he once said.
With almost 20 European films under his belt, Danova was spotted by MGM's head of talent in the German-backed 'Don Giovanni'(1955), his first film shown in the U.S. Impressed, the studio signed Danova to a long-term contract in June of 1956, and he traded his flourishing career in Europe for Hollywood. Rumors abounded that MGM had found its Ben-Hur (a role coveted by Tony Curtis and Kirk Douglas, among others) for the upcoming super-epic remake by director William Wyler. The studio said it expected big things from Danova but that it was too soon to say whether he'd play the lead until he'd perfected his English. Still, it was no secret that Danova had been brought to America by Wyler to be groomed for the lead role. Hollywood columnist Bob Thomas referred to Danova as the 'new Italian sensation' and others compared him to 'Tyrone Power (I)' and Robert Taylor, a glamour boy to fill the shoes of Rudolph Valentino.
When Danova arrived, he didn't speak English and insisted on not learning his lines by rote. He spent the next six months learning the language, a not-terribly-difficult feat for a man with a self-professed love of words who already spoke four languages. With a background in classical acting, and his newfound English fluency, Danova was ready for his big break. But just as filming was to get underway in March, 1957, Wyler decided he didn't want an actor with an accent playing Ben-Hur (1959) and, instead, chose Charlton Heston (who would win the best actor Oscar for the role). Danova was shocked - the role would almost certainly have made him an international star.
Although Wyler didn't want Danova, MGM did. The studio said it expected important things from him when they signed him. But now they had no definite alternative plans for him. Danova's career idled for the next two years. MGM kept him on its payroll, paying him well for doing nothing at all. Danova admitted that, although he was not bitter, the lack of work day after day was enough to drive him crazy. He stayed busy reading, writing, taking diction lessons, building furniture, and playing with his two small sons, Fabrizio and Marco, by English actress Pamela Matthews, whom he had wed in 1955.
Finally, with MGM's consent, Danova made his American debut in Los Angeles opposite Paul Muni in a musical version of Grand Hotel (1932). When it flopped, he traveled to Cuba to appear in Catch Me If You Can (1959), a film starring Gilbert Roland and Dina Merrill. Financed by soon-to-be-deposed Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, it was apparently never released. Danova's American film debut was as the lover of Leslie Caron in the now-forgotten The Man Who Understood Women (1959), starring Henry Fonda.
When Danova first came to America, he was quoted as saying that he wished to lose his accent so that he would be able to play the role he most wanted, that of an American cowboy. In 1958, he got his wish. He made his American television debut in a first-season episode of The Rifleman (1958) called 'Duel of Honor,' the first of three appearances. United Press International summed up Danova's reversal of fortune this way: "Televiewers will have the opportunity to see the man who almost played the title role in Ben-Hur (1959) - but in place of a chariot he'll be bouncing around in a stage coach...Danova, a ruggedly handsome Italian import, is making his American debut in ABC-TV's The Rifleman (1958). It's quite a comedown from his original intent to star in the most expensive movie in history."
Cesare Danova got a second chance at stardom when he was cast as Cleopatra's court advisor, Apollodorus, in the Cleopatra (1963), starring Elizabeth Taylor. As originally scripted, Danova's character was to be Cleopatra's lover, servicing her when she wasn't being romanced by costars Rex Harrison and Richard Burton. "I'm sort of the third man-the real lover," Danova was quoted as saying.
But then the torrid, real-life love affair between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton became a worldwide media sensation. The resulting scandal, since both stars were married but not to each other, generated badly needed public interest in the troubled, bloated, fantastically over-budget production. Le Scandale (as the French dubbed it) upstaged everything about the film not related to Taylor & Burton. As a result, Danova's performance was now a distraction and most of it was cut, dashing predictions that Danova "should be in big demand after this one."
In October 1963, not quite two-and-a-half months after Cleopatra's release, Pamela and Cesare Danova were divorced. The Associated Press headline stated merely: Wife Divorces Cleopatra Slave.
In his early years in America, Danova turned down the opportunity to appear as a series regular on TV for fear of being typecast and locked out of movies altogether. When he finally accepted, it was for the WWII ensemble cast Garrison's Gorillas (1967), a show patterned somewhat after The Dirty Dozen (1967). Danova said he accepted because he was the first to be cast and his was the best part. He appeared as actor, a con man, expert at disguises and spreading disinformation behind the lines among the Nazis. Although he took pains to distinguish the two roles, Danova's character was obviously similar to that played by TV contemporary Martin Landau on Mission: Impossible (1966). In any event, Garrison's Gorillas (1967) did not last beyond the 1967-1968 season.
In time, as movie roles became fewer, Danova did a great deal of television work. Two of his most memorable later screen roles (and the ones for which he is best remembered) were as Mafia Don Giovanni Cappa in Mean Streets (1973), directed by Martin Scorsese, and as corrupt mayor Carmine DePasto in National Lampoon's Animal House (1978).
Cesare Danova died of a heart attack on March 19, 1992, shortly after his 66th birthday, during a meeting of the Foreign Language Film committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), at its Los Angeles headquarters.Represented Italy - Actor
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Thomas Mark Harmon was born on September 2, 1951, in Burbank, California, to football player and broadcaster Tom Harmon and actress and artist Elyse Knox (née Kornbrath). Harmon played college football and found success as one of TV's hunkiest actors. While many of his roles have relied on good looks, Harmon was impressive on St. Elsewhere (1982) as the suave doctor who contracted AIDS.
His sisters are Kelly Harmon, the Tic Tac model; and Kristin Harmon, a painter and ex-wife of musician Ricky Nelson. He is the uncle of musicians Matthew Nelson and Gunnar Nelson of the band Nelson, and actress Tracy Nelson. In 1987, Harmon and his wife, actress Pam Dawber, sued his sister Kristin Harmon, for custody of her youngest son, Sam.played prep school rugby at Harvard School in Studio City and one season of rugby at UCLA at fullback.- Actor
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Paul Stephen Rudd was born in Passaic, New Jersey. His parents, Michael and Gloria, both from Jewish families, were born in the London area, U.K. He has one sister, who is three years younger than he is. Paul traveled with his family during his early years, because of his father's airline job at TWA. His family eventually settled in Overland Park, Kansas, where his mother worked as a sales manager for TV station KSMO-TV. Paul attended Broadmoor Junior High and Shawnee Mission West High School, from which he graduated in 1987, and where he was Student Body President. He then enrolled at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, majoring in theater. He graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts-West in Los Angeles and participated in a three-month intensive workshop under the guidance of Michael Kahn at the British Drama Academy at Oxford University in Britain. Rudd helped to produce the Globe Theater's production of Howard Brenton's "Bloody Poetry," which starred Rudd as Percy Bysshe Shelley.Rugby Scene - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIC8wm3gzJY- Actor
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Rahul Bose, born in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, is a multi-talented Indian actor, director, screenwriter, social activist, and rugby player. Known for his versatility and intense performances, Rahul Bose has made significant contributions to Indian cinema and is recognized for his commitment to both artistic and social causes.
Rahul Bose began his acting career in the late 1990s with the critically acclaimed film "English, August" (1994), where he played the lead role of Agastya Sen. This marked the beginning of a career characterized by unconventional choices and a dedication to meaningful storytelling.
Throughout his career, Rahul Bose has been associated with a range of films that address diverse themes. Notable performances include his roles in "Mr. and Mrs. Iyer" (2002), "Chameli" (2003), and "15 Park Avenue" (2005), where he showcased his ability to portray complex and layered characters.
Apart from acting, Rahul Bose has ventured into directing and screenwriting. His directorial debut, "Everybody Says I'm Fine!" (2001), explored the lives of characters in a Mumbai hair salon and received positive reviews for its unique narrative.
In addition to his creative pursuits, Rahul Bose is actively involved in social activism. He is known for his work in areas such as education, healthcare, and disaster relief. He founded the NGO "The Foundation" in 2007, focusing on the development of rural India.
Rahul Bose's commitment to sports is also noteworthy. He has represented India in rugby and has been a vocal advocate for the promotion of sports at the grassroots level.
Rahul Bose continues to be a prominent figure in Indian cinema, balancing his acting career with social and sporting endeavors. His work reflects a dedication to diverse and meaningful storytelling, and he remains an influential personality in the realms of art and activism.Indian cinema star Rahul Bose takes months out of his film career every year to play for the Indian National Rugby Team.
http://www.bollywood.com/rahul-bose-plays-rugby-coach-kashmiris- Actor
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Along with fellow actors Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi and Vincent Price, Boris Karloff is recognized as one of the true icons of horror cinema, and the actor most closely identified with the general public's perception of the Frankenstein Monster from the classic Mary Shelley novel "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus". William Henry Pratt was born on November 23, 1887, in Camberwell, London, England, UK, the son of Edward John Pratt Jr., the Deputy Commissioner of Customs Salt and Opium, Northern Division, Indian Salt Revenue Service, and his third wife, Eliza Sarah Millard.
He was educated at London University in anticipation that he would pursue a diplomatic career; however, he emigrated to Canada in 1909, joined a touring company based out of Ontario and adopted the stage name of "Boris Karloff." He toured back and forth across the U.S. for over 10 years in a variety of low budget theater shows and eventually ended up in Hollywood, reportedly with very little money to his name. Needing cash to support himself, Karloff secured occasional acting work in the fledgling silent film industry in such films as The Deadlier Sex (1920), Omar the Tentmaker (1922), Dynamite Dan (1924) and Tarzan and the Golden Lion (1927), in addition to a handful of film serials (the majority of these, sadly, are all lost films). Karloff supplemented his meager film income by working as a truck driver in Los Angeles, which allowed him enough time off to continue to pursue acting roles.
His big break came in 1931 when he was cast as the Frankenstein Monster in the Universal production of Frankenstein (1931), directed by James Whale, one of the studio's few remaining auteur directors. The aura of mystery surrounding Karloff was highlighted in the opening credits, as he was listed as simply "?". The film was a commercial and critical success for Universal, and Karloff was instantly established as a hot property in Hollywood. He quickly appeared in several other sinister roles, including Scarface (1932) (filmed before Frankenstein (1931)), the black-humored The Old Dark House (1932), as the titular Chinese villain of Sax Rohmer's Dr. Fu Manchu novels in The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932), as the undead Im-ho-tep in The Mummy (1932) and as the misguided Prof. Morlant in The Ghoul (1933). He thoroughly enjoyed his role as a religious fanatic in John Ford's The Lost Patrol (1934), although contemporary critics described it as a textbook example of overacting.
He donned the signature make-up, neck bolts and asphalt spreader's boots again to play the Frankenstein Monster twice, the first time in the sensational Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and the second time in the less thrilling Son of Frankenstein (1939). Karloff, on loan to Fox, appeared in one of the best of the Warner Oland Charlie Chan films, Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936), before beginning his own short-lived detective film series as Mr. Wong. He was a wrongly condemned doctor in Devil's Island (1938), shaven-headed executioner "Mord the Merciless" in Tower of London (1939), another misguided scientist in The Ape (1940), a crazed scientist surrounded by monsters, vampires and werewolves in House of Frankenstein (1944), a murderous cab-man in The Body Snatcher (1945) and a Greek general fighting vampirism in the Val Lewton thriller Isle of the Dead (1945).
While Karloff continued to appear in a plethora of films, many of them were not up to the standards of his previous efforts, including appearances in two of the hokey Bud Abbott and Lou Costello monster films (he had appeared with both of them in an earlier, superior film, Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff (1949), of which theater owners often added his name to the marquee), the low point of the Universal-International horror film cycle. During the 1950s he was a regular guest on many high-profile TV shows, including The Milton Berle Show (1948), Tales of Tomorrow (1951), The Veil (1958), The Donald O'Connor Show (1954), The Red Skelton Hour (1951) and The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956), just to name a few, and he appeared in a mixed bag of films, including Sabaka (1954) and Voodoo Island (1957). On Broadway, he appeared as the murderous Jonathan Brewster in the hit play "Arsenic and Old Lace" (his role, or rather the absence of him in it, was amusingly parodied in the play's 1944 film version) and 10 years later he enjoyed a long run in another hit play, "Peter Pan," perfectly cast as both Captain Hook and Mr. Darling.
His career experienced something of a revival in the 1960s thanks to hosting the TV anthology series Thriller (1960) and indie director Roger Corman, with Karloff contributing wonderful performances in The Raven (1963), The Terror (1963), the ultra-eerie Black Sabbath (1963) and the H.P. Lovecraft-inspired Die, Monster, Die! (1965). Karloff's last great film role before his death was as Byron Orlok, an aging and bitter horror film star on the brink of retirement who confronts a modern-day sniper in the Peter Bogdanovich film Targets (1968). In 1970, he played the blind sculptor Franz Badulescu in Cauldron of Blood (1968) which was produced, directed and written by Edward Mann, who had also come to the art of film from the stage and the theater. His TV career was capped off by achieving Christmas immortality as both the voices of the titular character and the narrator of Chuck Jones' perennial animated favorite, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966). Four low-budget Mexican horror films starring an ailing Karloff were then released in the two years after his death; however, they do no justice to this great actor. In retrospect, he never took himself too seriously as an actor and had a tendency to downplay his acting accomplishments. Renowned as a refined, kind and warm-hearted gentleman with a sincere affection for children and their welfare, Karloff passed away on February 2, 1969 from emphysema. Respectful of his Indian roots and in true Hindu fashion, he was cremated at Guildford Crematorium, Godalming, Surrey, England, UK, where he is commemorated by a plaque in Plot 2 of the Garden of Remembrance.- Music Artist
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Has a twin brother called Rupert and an older sister, Emma. William's mother, Annabel, runs a market garden and lives with his father, Robin, a business man. He represented his school, Wellington College, in rugby, football, basketball, athletics, long jump and triple jump. William went to Exeter University at 19 and received a 2.2 in politics.
Apart from his musical career he has also appears in the BBC film Mrs Henderson Presents and during the early months of 2007 has been appearing as Nicky Lancaster in Noel Coward's The Vortex in Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre.- Actor
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Daniel Jacob Radcliffe was born on July 23, 1989 in Fulham, London, England, to casting agent Marcia Gresham (née Jacobson) and literary agent Alan Radcliffe. His father is from a Northern Irish Protestant background, while his mother was born in South Africa, to a Jewish family (from Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Germany). Daniel began performing in small school productions as a young boy. Soon enough, he landed a role in David Copperfield (1999), as the young David Copperfield. A couple of years later, he landed a role as Mark Pendel in The Tailor of Panama (2001), the son of Harry and Louisa Pendel (Geoffrey Rush and Jamie Lee Curtis). Curtis had indeed pointed out to Daniel's mother that he could be Harry Potter himself. Soon afterwards, Daniel was cast as Harry Potter by director, Chris Columbus in the film that hit theaters in November 16, 2001, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001). He was recognized worldwide after this film was released. Pleasing audiences and critics everywhere, filming on its sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), commenced shortly afterwards. He appeared again as Harry in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) directed by Alfonso Cuarón, and then appeared in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) directed by Mike Newell. Shortly afterwards, he finished filming December Boys (2007) in Adelaide, Australia, Kangaroo Island, and Geelong, Australia which began on the 14 November 2005 and ended sometime in December. On January 27, 2006, he attended the South Bank Awards Show to present the award for "Breakthrough Artist of the Year" to Billie Piper. Daniel reprised his famous character once again for the next installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007). In February 2007, he took on his first stage role in the West End play Equus, to worldwide praise from fans and critics alike. Also that year, he starred in the television movie My Boy Jack (2007), which aired on 11 November 2007 in the UK.
After voicing a character in an episode of the animated television series The Simpsons in late 2010, Radcliffe debuted as J. Pierrepont Finch in the 2011 Broadway revival How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, a role previously held by Broadway veterans Robert Morse and Matthew Broderick. Other cast members included John Larroquette, Rose Hemingway and Mary Faber. Both the actor and production received good reviews, with USA Today commenting: "Radcliffe ultimately succeeds not by overshadowing his fellow cast members, but by working in conscientious harmony with them - and having a blast in the process." Radcliffe's performance in the show earned him Drama Desk Award, Drama League Award and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations. The production itself later received nine Tony Award nominations. Radcliffe left the show on 1 January 2012. His first post-Harry Potter project was the 2012 horror film The Woman in Black, adapted from the 1983 novel by Susan Hill. The film was released on 3 February 2012 in the United States and Canada, and was released on 10 February in the UK. Radcliffe portrays a man sent to deal with the legal matters of a mysterious woman who has just died, and soon after he begins to experience strange events from the ghost of a woman dressed in black. He has said he was "incredibly excited" to be part of the film and described the script as "beautifully written".
In 2013, he portrayed American poet Allen Ginsberg in the thriller drama Kill Your Darlings (2013), directed by John Krokidas. He also starred in an Irish-Canadian romantic comedy film The F Word directed by Michael Dowseand written by Elan Mastai, based on TJ Dawe and Michael Rinaldi's play Toothpaste and Cigars and then he starred in an American dark fantasy horror film directed by Alexandre Aja Horns. Both of the films premiered at the 38th Toronto International Film Festival. Radcliffe also performed at the Noël Coward Theatre in the stage play revival of Martin McDonagh's dark comedy The Cripple of Inishmaan as the lead, Billy Claven, for which he won the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actor in a Play. In 2015, Radcliffe starred as Igor in a science fiction horror film Victor Frankenstein (2015), directed by Paul McGuigan and written by Max Landis, which was based on contemporary adaptations of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein. In 2016, he appeared as a wealthy villain in the mystery/action film Now You See Me 2 (2016), and as an oftentimes mobile corpse in the indie fantasy Swiss Army Man (2016).
Now being one of the world's most recognizable people, Daniel leads a somewhat normal life. He has made friends working on the Harry Potter films, which include his co-stars Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.- Lincoln Lewis is an Australian actor who began acting at thirteen, appearing in shows like The Sleepover Club, Mortified and H2o before making his way to the big screens in 2005 with films Aquamarine and Voodoo Lagoon. However, it wasn't until appearing on Home and Away in 2007 that he became a household name, winning a Logie for his role as Geoff Campbell, lasting 567 episodes until leaving to star in the largely popular film adaptation of Tomorrow, When the War Began - Released worldwide in 2010.
Following this, Lewis become a regular on Australian TV, with roles in Neighbours, Underbelly: Razor, House Husbands, SLiDE, Gallipoli, Tricky Business, Rescue: Special Ops, as well as making appearances as himself on Dancing with the Stars, Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation, Hell's Kitchen Australia, and Australia's Next Top Model.
Through the years, Lincoln's other film titles include the shark horror film Bait, Aussie rom-com Spin Out, sci-fi film After Earth - starring Will and Jaden Smith, and 33 Postcards alongside Guy Pearce which for his role, Lincoln won "Male Star of tomorrow" award at the Gold Coast's 2011 Australian International Movie Convention.
More recently, Lincoln starred alongside Travis Fimmel in Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan and in late 2020 Lincoln starred alongside Australian icon, John Jarratt, in paranormal horror film The Possessed. Throughout 2021, Lincoln starred in action film Black Site alongside Michelle Monaghan, Jason Clarke and Jai Courtney while at the same time preparing for Channel Seven's "All Stars" season of Dancing with the Stars. Concluding 2021 shooting alongside Brian Brown and Greta Scacchi in "Darby and Joan".Son of the great rugby league immortal, wally lewis. Lincoln played rugby league whilst in his youth. - Actor
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Ross Kemp was born on July 21, 1964 in Barking, Essex, England. His mother, Jean, was a hairdresser and his father, John, was a policeman with the Metropolitan Police force. He has a brother named Darren who is a documentary producer for the BBC.
Ross attended Shenfield High School, where he is remembered as an excellent athlete. He wanted to be an actor from a young age and went on to study drama at the Webber Douglas Academy. He has rarely been out of work since leaving the academy in 1985, appearing on stage, in films, on television and in various adverts.
His first credited television appearance was in 1986, playing Graham Lodsworth in "Emmerdale Farm" (now "Emmerdale"). His most famous role to date was his award-winning portrayal of hardman Grant Mitchell in the popular BBC series "EastEnders".- Writer
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Bram Stoker was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1847, and gained fame for his novel "Dracula" about an aristocratic vampire in Transylvania. The sequel, "Dracula's Guest," was not published for 17 years after the publication of "Dracula," two years after Stoker's death. Stoker also wrote "The Mystery of the Sea" and "Famous Imposters." He was the stage manager for actor Sir Henry Irving and wrote "Personal Reminiscences of Henry Irving," after Irving's death.- Actor
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Gérard Depardieu was born in Châteauroux, Indre, France, to Anne Jeanne Josèphe (Marillier) and René Maxime Lionel Depardieu, who was a metal worker and fireman. Young delinquent and wanderer in the past, Depardieu started his acting career at the small traveling theatre "Café de la Gare", along with Patrick Dewaere and Miou-Miou. After minor roles in cinema, at last, he got his chance in Bertrand Blier's Going Places (1974). That film established a new type of hero in the French cinema and the actor's popularity grew enormously. Later, he diversified his screen image and became the leading French actor of the 80s and 90s. He was twice awarded a César as Best Actor for The Last Metro (1980) and Cyrano de Bergerac (1990), also received an Oscar nomination for "Cyrano" and a number of awards at international film festivals. In 1996, he was distinguished by the highest French title of "Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur". He married Elisabeth Depardieu in 1971, and they divorced in 1996; she appeared with him in Jean de Florette (1986) and Manon of the Spring (1986); their children Guillaume Depardieu and Julie Depardieu are both actors.ex-player and vice-president of Bordeaux-Begle rugby club in france.- Actor
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In 1995 he began his first one man show, the same year he met Bruno Salomone, Eric Collado, Emmanuel Joucla and Eric Massot with whom he created the "Nous Ç Nous". In 1999, he became "Loulou" in Un gars, une fille (1999). This part permitted him to show his talent to a larger public. Since the end of "Un gars, une fille" in 2003, he has appeared in many films.https://i.imgur.com/we91JuW.jpg- Gérard Lanvin was born on 21 June 1950 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is an actor and writer, known for Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1 (2008), The Prize of Peril (1983) and The Taste of Others (2000). He has been married to Jennifer since 19 May 1984. They have two children.https://i.imgur.com/EJycFKl.jpg
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Kad Merad was born on 27 March 1964 in Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria. He is an actor and writer, known for Welcome to the Sticks (2008), The Chorus (2004) and Baron noir (2016).https://i.imgur.com/tb1J7Ii.jpg- Actor
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Kevin Nealon is an American comedian and actor known for Saturday Night Live, Stanley the Gatekeeper from Little Nicky, Mr. Cheezle from Grandma's Boy, Doug Wilson from Weeds and the voice of Glenn Martin DDS. He acted in many other films starring Adam Sandler including Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, and Eight Crazy Nights.- Actor
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Matthew "Matty" Nable is a former Rugby League footballer turned actor. After playing in the Winfield Cup Premiership for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and South Sydney Rabbitohs during the 1990s, he wrote and starred in the rugby league-centered drama The Final Winter in 2007. He is a good friend and frequent collaborator of former Newcastle Five-Eighth turned actor Matthew Johns in television as well. Nable grew up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney and also, as a young boy, spent two years at Portsea, Victoria when his father, a soldier, was stationed there. His father had also worked as a trainer for the Australian national rugby league team and his brother, Adam Nable, would become a professional player as well. Matt rose through the junior ranks at the Manly-Warringah club and made half-a-dozen appearances for the first-grade team, later switching to the South Sydney Rabbitohs for a stint. After another season in England where he played for Carlisle before moving to the London Broncos.Matt Nable rose through the junior ranks at the Manly-Warringah sea eagles and made five appearances for the Graham Lowe coached team in 1991 and 1992. Following this he wouldn't appear in the premiership until 1995 when he played three games for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
After another season in England where he played for Carlisle before moving to the London Broncos. Nable retired from football aged 23
The Final Winter trailer:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqnH1VGTUdE- Actor
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Barry Robert Pepper was born on April 4, 1970, in Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada. He has two older brothers named Alex and Doug Pepper. The Peppers didn't stick around Campbell River for too long. They had been building a ship in their backyard for years. When Barry was five years old, the ship was done and the family set sail. The ship, named "The Moonlighter," was a 50-foot craft that would be their home for the next five years. They navigated through the South Pacific islands, using only a sextant and the stars as guides. While visiting such exotic locales as Fiji and Tahiti, Barry was educated through correspondence courses and sometimes enrolled in public schools. He grew up around Polynesian children and credits them for his love of dance, music and other expressive arts. Barry had plenty of time to practice his newfound loves, too. Without television as entertainment on the ship, the family relied on games and sketch acting for fun. When the five-year cruise was over, the Peppers returned to their native Canada, where they set up shop on a small island off the West Coast near Vancouver. They built a farm on the outskirts of a small artists' town, which was populated mainly by hippies, poets, musicians and other craftsmen. While in high school, Barry was enthusiastic about art and excelled in sports. In addition to playing volleyball, he was an excellent rugby player. He graduated in 1988 from George P. Vanier High School in Courtenay and then enrolled in college and majored in marketing and graphic design, but after getting involved with the Vancouver Actors Studio, he changed his course. Once again, he was using "the stars" to navigate. Barry landed his first role on Madison (1993) (a sort of Canadian 90210) and other prominent television series before moving on to more prestigious roles in the US. Television movies followed, most notably the mini-series Titanic (1996), which costarred George C. Scott. Still, Barry's career really wasn't taking off. He was a hard-working actor, but not a star. That all changed in 1998. After a string of big screen duds, Pepper obtained his breakthrough role as a Bible-quoting sniper in Steven Spielberg's WW II drama Saving Private Ryan (1998). With the success of the film came sudden stardom for its cast--complete with photo spreads, interviews and even some Oscar buzz. Barry followed the film with a small but noteworthy role in the blockbuster, Enemy of the State (1998) opposite Will Smith and Gene Hackman. Next he co-starred in an Oscar-worthy film starring Tom Hanks: Stephen King's The Green Mile (1999). Barry received much critical acclaim in 2001 for his portrayal of Roger Maris in the made-for-cable drama about the 1961 home run race between Maris and Mickey Mantle called 61* (2001).- Actor
- Producer
Sean Hardy Faris was born in Houston, Texas, to Katherine (Miller) and Warren Stephen Faris. He is of English, German, Scottish, and Irish descent. Sean moved to Ohio at age twelve, and has been honing his craft in Los Angeles since moving four years upon his high school graduation. He received an MTV Movie Award for his lead role in Summit Entertainment's hit Never Back Down, and starred as Betty White's grandson and Jennifer Love Hewitt's love interest in the CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame telefilm The Lost Valentine. In addition to his central role in the rugby-inspired feature Forever Strong, he appeared as Dennis Quaid's eldest son in Paramount's hit remake of the classic Yours, Mine & Ours and previously starred as the hunky object of affection in MGM's comedy romp Sleepover. Next on the horizon is the crime thriller Pawn in which he stars opposite Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker, and the coveted title role in The Story of Bonnie & Clyde. In direct contrast, Faris starred as the lead in FOX's acclaimed drama series Reunion which followed six close friends from their high school graduation to their 20th reunion. He previously led the cast of ABC's dramatic series Life As We Know It. Based upon British author Melvin Burgess' controversial novel Doing It, the acclaimed show chronicled the sexual antics of a group of high school friends in Seattle. For his role as sensitive jock Dino Whitman, he was heralded as a breakout talent by the likes of Daily Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. A more recent foray into television included a multi-episode arc on The CW's top-rated Vampire Diaries. No stranger to television, Faris has also guest-starred on such shows as Smallville, One Tree Hill, and Boston Public. His big screen debut featured him alongside the likes of Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett in Michael Bay's epic Pearl Harbor.- Actor
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John Jarratt was born on 5 August 1951 in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. He is an actor and writer, known for Wolf Creek (2005), Django Unchained (2012) and Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975).- Actor
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Hani is an Arab American actor, writer and director of Palestinian descent. He was born in Bethlehem and spent the beginning years of his childhood in Beirut, Lebanon. At age 9 he attended Fettes College for Boys in Edinburgh, Scotland and then Hurtwood House in Surrey, England where he completed his school. His interest in acting started at an early age with school play renditions of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night Dream" and "Much Ado About Nothing". He was 12 when Andrew Lloyd Webber came to his school to cast his play "Joseph and His Technicolor Dreamcoat" for it's Edinburgh premiere. Hani was selected to be in the choir and went on to be in the production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" as well.
After graduating from school, Hani moved to the United States to continue his education, where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees. His dedication and passion for acting and storytelling never wavered. Shortly thereafter Hani was discovered by casting director Judith Holstra when she cast him in his first movie role with Mariel Hemingway.- Actor
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"Shall We Begin!", the battlecry of The undefeated Gaul Crixus first bought Manu Bennett's voice & acting career to international attention. Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011) spoke a universal language that slowly but surely captured a massive audience. The the show lost lead actor Andy Whitfield to cancer, Bennett's pivotal role, transitioning from Spartacus' nemesis to a slave rebel leader, he was credited for maintaining throughout, the heart & strength of the series. Producer/Director Peter Jackson then employed Bennett to portray Orc Leader "Azog - The Defiler". At the World Premiere of The Hobbit, Peter Jackson told press that Bennett's was the "The Breakout Performance". Although many Tolkein fans failed to recognize him beneath the CGI veneer, Bennett's looming presence, hunting down Thorin Oakenshield & culminating in the ultimate face-off, where both characters die, Bennett entered the catalogue of the great cinematic Villain Performances. DC Comic soldier of fortune, Slade Wildon aka Deathstroke had slumbered for two decades until Bennett reprised the role on the CW series Arrow. Many DC fans declared Bennett as the best villain on the hit series when he established a heartfelt dominant core relationship with Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell). The two befriended upon the Island of Lian Yu before an incident with a super-drug called Mirakuru transformed Slade into the archetypal good guy/bad guy Deathstroke. Originally penned by Marv Wolfman & illustrated by George Perez, Deathstroke has now become a hot property for the DC Universe with Tony Daniels illustrating the new series of Deathstroke comic books & a Warner Bros Deathstroke feature film pending. When MTV shifted their focus toward producing original series they selected Bennett to portray the Dark Druid Allanon in the newly acquired Shannara Chronicles Series. Bennett had just the right mix of stoicism, angst & dramatic suave sought by the Shannara producers & author Terry Brooks. Manu Bennett is of Maori, Scottish, English, French & Finish ancestry. Bennett was born in Auckland, New Zealand. Bennett's great grandfather Frederick Augustus Bennett was the first Maori Bishop of the Anglican Church in New Zealand. Bennett's namesake Manuhuia Bennett (grandfather) was also ordained an Anglican Bishop. The Bennett name has roots dating back to a French Benedictine Monastery established in Northumbria in Northern England circa 500AD. The monastery was subsequently turned into a defensive fort named Chillingham Castle. With the advent of surnames circa 1000AD, the name Bennett was derived from Benedictine.
Manu Bennett's father Charles Edward Tiwha (Ted) Bennett was a popular New Zealand singer who recorded a No.1 hit "Clap Your Hands" & several other hits in the early 1960's. Bennett's mother Jean Clark was a bikini model from Australia who paraded the very first two piece bikini for designer Paula Stafford. Bennett's parents met during the Spring Blossom Festival in Hastings New Zealand. Bennett has two older siblings, Stephen & Rachel. The Bennett family moved to Australia in 1970. Jean Bennett nee Clark, was the winner of the Miss Paradise Beach, a swimsuit title held on the Gold Coast of Australia. Bennett's first acting job was on a series titled Paradise Beach, where he played stud, surf lifesaver, iron man Kirk Barsby. Bennett's mother, Jean, died in a car accident in 1985. His brother Stephen suffered injuries in a separate car accident & died only two weeks later.
During his schooling Manu Bennett trained as a dancer & musician & well as playing Rugby Union. Bennett was selected for the First XV for Te Aute College a Maori Boy school know for their strong rugby union history. On return to Australia Bennett was selected for the NSW Schoolboys Rugby Union Team & to trial for the Australian National Team. Bennett was prevented from attending the National trial outs due to a prior commitment to a ballet production of Swan Lake in which he had to perform the male lead. In the the 90's Bennett had to choose between a ballet scholarship in New York or an acting scholarship at The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. Bennett decided to pursue his acting career & attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in Los Angeles.
Manu has appeared on various TV dramas & feature films, including multiple award winning "Lantana," opposite Anthony La Paglia. His first physical role was with appearing opposite Jon Cena on "The Marine". WWE was impressed with Bennett so gave him a role in their second feature film The Condemned starring opposite "Stone Cold" Steve Austin & Vinnie Jones. Rob Tapert cast Bennett as Marc Antony in Xena Warrior Princess, then opposite Josh Hartnett in the Vampire Horror 30 Days Of Night, then was pivotal in Bennett getting the role of Crixus in the series Spartacus.
Previous TV credits include starring roles in successful New Zealand productions "Shortland Street," "Street Legal," "Mataku," "Creature Of Quest," "Going Straight," and as Marc Antony opposite his "Spartacus" co-star Lucy Lawless in Tapert and Raimi's hit series "Xena: Warrior Princess."- Actor
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In 2019 Billy Campbell won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Actor for his role in the CTV/HULU television series "Cardinal" for the second year in a row, as well as being nominated for a 2018 International Emmy Award for Best Actor in a series. He is also known for his work as a co-lead in the critically acclaimed AMC series "The Killing", the Lifetime MOW "Lizzie Borden Took an Ax," DirecTV's Neil LaBute drama, "Full Circle," as well as the title role in Nat Geo Channel's "Killing Lincoln", which garnered record-breaking ratings. Other feature film credits include Disney's "The Rocketeer," "Ghost Town" opposite Ricky Gervias, "Bram Stoker's Dracula" directed by Francis Ford Coppola and the male lead in "Enough" opposite Jennifer Lopez.
Billy Campbell is best known for starring in the beloved ABC drama "Once and Again," for which he earned a Golden Globe Awards nomination in the Best Actor - Drama Series category, as well as a People's Choice Award in the Favorite Male Performer in a New Television Series category.
Among his stage credits, Campbell starred in "A Winter's Tale" at The Old Globe, San Diego in 2014, as well as "Fortinbras," for which he received a 1996 Ovation Award for best actor in LA theatre, along with "Comedy of Errors" and "Much Ado about Nothing" at the Old Globe, San Diego.Played for the Virginia RFC, Santa Monica Rugby Club and Chicago Lions.- Actor
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David Rodman Annable was born on September 15, 1979, in Suffern, New York, to Tammi and Rodman John Annable. He has one sister named Rebecca and a half-sister named Stacy. His mother is Jewish and his father has English, German, Irish and French ancestry. Dave grew up in Walden, a small town in upstate New York.
Growing up, he enjoyed playing baseball, rugby and hockey. Dave even played for the local Plattsburgh team. He is also a big fan of the New York Giants, New York Mets and the New Jersey Devils. While he was still in New York, he attended SUNY Plattsburgh. Dave participated in the student-run Plattsburgh State Television, both acting and behind the camera. Among the shows that he hosted were "Late Night with Dave Annable", "Cardinal Sports", "Stay Tuned", "Cardinal Hockey", "On Campus Live" and "The Roommate Game".
Dave had a semester of college left and often commuted for commercial auditions, which took 8 hours from Plattsburgh by bus. Dave then decided to tell his parents that he considered dropping out of college to become a full-time actor. Although his parents did not approve of his decision at that time because college was very important in their family, they still gave Dave the support he needed.
He eventually attended the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City, generally associated with the Meisner technique of Sanford Meisner. There, he studied acting with Richárd Pintér. The 5'9" star appeared in a number of commercials which included "Reebok", 'Wendy's", "Starbust" and "Pepsi". He was also a featured actor in a "Mountain Dew" commercial with former NASCAR Rookie of the year, Kasey Kahne.
Dave first gained attention from the public when he played the role of "Aaron Lewis" on the short-lived television series, Reunion (2005), which aired on Fox in 2005. "Reunion" was a teen drama/murder mystery series which explored occurrences in the lives of twenty former high school friends from 1986 through 2005, and recounted events leading up to the murder of one of the major characters. Before starring in "Reunion", Dave already had guest roles on Third Watch (1999), Other People's Business (2003) and Spellbound (2002) as well as Little Black Book (2004).
He received his breakout role in 2006, when he was offered a regular starring role on the ABC family drama, Brothers & Sisters (2006). The show was about the trials and travails of the Walker family, with every family secret unveiled. He was among the first actors cast on the show before they began signing bigger names such as Calista Flockhart, Sally Field and Rob Lowe.
Dave played the role of "Justin Walker", a psychologically damaged Afghan war veteran suffering with drug problems. In fact, Dave mentioned in an interview that he had to lose 11 kg. to play the role because they needed someone skinny to portray his character's addiction problem. Dave also won a Prism Award for Best Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline for his role in Brothers & Sisters (2006).
In a recent interview, Dave mentioned that he has actually promised his mother that he would graduate after watching his younger sister graduate from Cornell University. Dave is taking online classes in Communications and will be graduating in May 2009. He also mentioned that he will be giving the commencement speech on his graduation day.
Despite all of his accomplishments in the showbiz industry, Dave is in fact still very humble. He enjoys spending time with his family and making people laugh.- Actor
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Bill Jacobson grew up in the small Northwest city of Tacoma. He first started acting at the age of 10 doing school theater on a regular basis. His acting teachers always looked to Bill to help carry the performances and felt he had something special that could lead him to discover his talents even more. As he grew to a man he kept up with his acting but slowed down to pursue his interest in athletics. He played high school football where he developed into a promising player. Upon graduating high school he attended Washington State University, where he majored in Journalism and minored in Psychology. His parent didn't have a lot of money and so he was accepted on the work study program and between that and a lot of loans managed to get through almost five years of school. While in school he discovered rugby and fell in love with the game. He also re-discovered his passion for acting and started focusing more on Theatre. He graduated College and started working in the corporate world in the sales arena. He seemed to have a skill in relationship building with his clients and became quite successful.
In 1994 Bill had an opportunity to be transfered to Los Angeles with a large company as a territory sales manager. He didn't hesitate, packed his bags and moved down to beautiful Southern California. The next couple of years he focused on the job that brought him there but started feeling anxious about his true passion, acting. He was so close to it, surrounded by it that it started to consume him. He started taking more and more acting classes, putting together head shots, his resume, and started slowly seeking an agent. By 1998 he quit his corporate job, burnt his power ties and started acting. Within the first year of freedom, He joined The Screen Actors Guild, got an agent and landed his first film. Since then Bill has done countless indie films, National commercials, and has co-starred and guest-starred on countless TV shows. He is married and proud father of two very young but spirited rug rats named Jacqueline and Liam. His goal in his career is to inspire his audiences and bring them to that magical place that good projects can do.- Actor
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Christopher Crosby Farley was born on February 15, 1964, in Madison, Wisconsin, to Mary Anne (Crosby) and Thomas Farley, who owned an oil company. Among his siblings are actors Kevin P. Farley and John Farley. He was of Irish heritage. Farley studied theatre and communications on Marquette University. After finishing university he was in the cast of the Second City Theatre, where he was discovered by the producer of the great comedy show Saturday Night Live (1975), Lorne Michaels. Farley worked on Saturday Night Live (1975) for five years during which he appeared in movies like Wayne's World (1992), Coneheads (1993), Billy Madison (1995) and finally Tommy Boy (1995), with his comic partner and SNL cast member David Spade. The duo later made one more movie called Black Sheep (1996). From that time on, Farley was one of the big comedy stars, and his fame was growing and growing.
After some more time, he made another "lone" movie, Beverly Hills Ninja (1997), which featured former SNL member Chris Rock. Farley was made even more famous, but with his growing fame, his problems grew bigger as well; he didn't want to be the "fat guy who falls down" any longer. Farley had several other problems, too, with alcohol and drug dependency. On December 18th, 1997, he died from a heroin (opiate) and cocaine overdose in his apartment in Chicago, where his body was found by his brother John the next day. Farley's weight of 296 pounds was a contributing factor in his death, but according to his autopsy the alcohol, marijuana and Prozac that was also found in his body, were not. Less than two months prior to his death, he had appeared alongside Chevy Chase on what would be Farley's only SNL show as host. Not unlike his idol John Belushi, he was credited for one more appearance after having left SNL and died at age 33. His death cause was also the same. In the year after Farley's departing, the movie Almost Heroes (1998), where he plays the leading role alongside Matthew Perry was released. He also makes cameo appearances in Dirty Work (1998)- Stunts
- Actress
Stuntwoman, not only was a rugby player but was the Assistant Coach of the USA National Women's Rugby team for many years.- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
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Jess Harbeck is known for A League of Their Own (2022), Reboot (2022) and The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021). Jess has been married to Nicole Harbeck since 7 April 2014.Played fullback for the University of Colorado women's rugby team- Actress
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- Camera and Electrical Department
Natalie Rose Curfman was born and raised in the small town of Kingston, located on the Pudget Sound. Through her childhood of being raised on a successful pony farm, she gained a flair for entertainment. She carried her compassion for performance through high school and college. At Central Washington University Natalie Rose dedicated her efforts towards acting for stage and the critical studies of film. Her extracurricular activities were vast, and included vigorous sports such as rugby, in which she excelled. After graduating in 2008, Natalie Rose headed to Los Angeles California, where she resides as a working actress.- Rebeka Choudhury is a New York based actress born in Bangladesh and raised in the United States.
She was most recently seen on the CBS drama series, Blue Bloods. Her former TV work includes a role in Political Animals on USA, alongside Ciaran Hinds. Additionally, she's had a recurring role on the NBC medical drama, Do No Harm.
Rebeka began her training at William Esper Studio under Suzanne Esper. While working on her craft, she dabbled in commercial/print work and since, has been featured in commercials for brands such as Verizon, Amazon, Listerine, and Target.
Rebeka received a Bachelor's of Science in Finance & Economics from Fordham University with extracurriculars in Rugby and dance.
When she is not in front of the camera, Rebeka can often be seen with a passport in one hand and a camera in the other. She continues to broaden her craft with work through various acting classes and her coach. - Writer
- Producer
- Actress
Miranda Kwok is a writer-actor-producer best known as the Creator, Showrunner and Executive Producer of the U.S. television series adaptation "The Cleaning Lady," based on the original Argentine series "La Chica Que Limpia." Produced by Warner Bros. and FOX Entertainment, Kwok developed "The Cleaning Lady" for the Fox Network.
Previously, Kwok served as a Writer/Supervising Producer for "The 100" on the CW Network, working on the Warner Bros. series for four years from Season 4 to Season 7.
Kwok is an alum of the WGA Showrunner Training Program, the WGA Writer Access Project, the CBS Writers Mentoring Program, and Film Independent's Project: Involve, through which she earned a full tuition scholarship at The Los Angeles Film School for their Feature Development Program. With her first screenplay "Song of Silence," Kwok won the Grand Prize in the Slamdance Screenplay Competition. With her first TV spec script, Kwok landed her first staff writer position on "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" on the Starz Network.
Kwok also served as a writer and story consultant on several theme park attractions and immersive experiences, including Wanda Movie Park's 4D Film "Streets of Fury" and 5D Film "Ultimate Energy" which was produced by Industrial Light and Magic.
Kwok is a motorcyclist, black belt martial artist, and trained crisis counselor. She is an alum of Claude Watson School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Psychology from the University of Toronto.- Nathaniel Dean graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (Sydney) in 1999.
Since then, Dean has appeared in multiple theatre productions, TV & film roles globally. His film credits include Ridley Scott's Alien: Covenant, Jennifer Kent's The Nightingale and Walking on Water, for which he received the Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2002. In 2004 he was nominated for the AFI Award in cult Australian film, Somersault. Dean's other notable film credits include Candy and The Final Winter.
Included in Nathaniel's numerous television credits are Anzac Girls, Puberty Blues, Parer's War, Old School, Bikie Wars, Wild Boys, Underbelly, East West 101, Rain Shadow, All Saints, City Homicide, Killing Time, Satisfaction and Always Greener.
Nathaniel began his theatre career at the Sydney Theatre Company in the iconic play The One Day of The Year.
Dean starred as Macbeth in the 2018 production by The Australian Shakespeare Company and has also appeared in The Effect for the Melbourne Theatre Company, as well as Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire and Tommy Murphy's Gwen in Purgatory at Belvoir to name just a few.
In 2013 he played the lead role of William Thornhill in the acclaimed production The Secret River, in which he was nominated for a Helpmann Award for Best Actor for his performance. He reprised this role in two other remounts touring the country including playing outdoors at the Adelaide Festival. In 2019 the production had its international debut at the Edinburgh International Arts Festival and The National Theatre in London, both receiving rave reviews.
Nathaniel is sought-after professional voice artist working prolifically on national campaigns in Australia and internationally including Canon, Holden, Playstation and Cricket Australia, to name a few.
His has a production company with projects in the pipeline for both Theatre and Television. - André René Roussimoff was born in a small farming community in Grenoble, France to Boris and Marian Rouismoff. His parents and four siblings were all of normal size, but André suffered from acromegaly, a hormonal disorder that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone. As the Giant grew up (very quickly, as he reached the height of 6' 3" by the age of 12) he began to often disagree with his parents. He left home at 14 and obtained a job with a furniture-moving firm and began to play rugby. At 17 he was seen training at a gym by several professional wrestlers. Impressed by his size, they taught him some basic wrestling skills and built a friendship with him. Later, when one of the wrestlers was injured, André stepped in for him. He would wrestle for nearly thirty more years. By his early 20s André had wrestled in Algeria, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, England, Scotland, and most of non-Communist Europe but had not found fame. In 1971 he came to North America under the name Jean Ferre and was mildly popular in Canada. Then he met a New York based booker by the name of Vincent J. McMahon (often incorrectly referred to as "Vince McMahon Sr") who renamed him "Andre the Giant," and billed him as 7' 4" (Andre was really closer to 7'). Soon Andre the Giant became a national sensation and was a much sought after wrestler. In addition he participated in television, movies, and commercials. With his wealth the Giant bought a ranch in Ellerbe, North Carolina where he would live during his rare time off and after he retired from wrestling in 1990. He died while in France after attending his father's funeral. André was cremated and his ashes were spread across his ranch. He is survived by his one daughter.
- Born and raised in St Helens, Merseyside, England.
Before becoming an actor, Phil excelled in the sport of Rugby League where he played for Blackbrook, Lancashire, St Helens and Warrington. His Dad, Alan played professional rugby for St Helens and Warrington Rugby League Clubs.
At 19 after suffering an injury during a tackle that curtailed his playing career. Phil turned to acting.Played for Blackbrook, Lancashire, St Helens and Warrington. - Nathan Ampofo is known for King Lear (2014).Played rugby for London Broncos, Saracens and later Harlequins
- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Tokyo-born Masashi Nagadoi received a B.A. in International Studies and Economics Business from Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota with International Economics Honor Society (Omicron Delta Epsilon) in 1987, and worked as a management business consultant at Arthur Young International (now Ernst&Young) in Los Angeles before attending UCLA's Graduate Film School. He completed the Spanish Language and Cultural Program in Guadalajara, Mexico in the Summer of 1985, and then in the Winter of 1986, proceeded to study European arts, focusing on Impressionism and architecture in England and France. Selected an All-Minnesota Rugby Football team member as scrum-half in 1986 and 1987, he competed in the Mid-West National Championship in Kentucky in 1986. At UCLA, he was a recipient of the Motion Picture Association of America Award in 1992. He received a M.F.A. in the Spring of 1994. Since the graduation, he has directed a short film, promotional video, and produced numerous Television shows, documentaries, commercials and multimedia projects for the Japanese market. At present he is developing several feature-length projects.All-Minnesota Rugby Football team member as scrum-half- Daniel Logan, born in New Zealand, started acting when he was 10 years old. He got his break when Auckland children's rugby teams were being scouted to find a boy for a TV commercial. After auditioning with hundreds of other young rugby players, Daniel got the part, his first acting role, playing a little boy who gets knocked into the mud by Auckland rugby star Michael Jones. He was noticed by other casting agents and that break led to more commercials and TV appearances, including a recurring role in episodes of the New Zealand medical series "Shortland Street" and a guest appearance in international hit "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys."
Daniel also starred in the short film, "Falling Sparrows" and provided the lead & supporting voices in 2 animated series' "Tamota" and "Takapu." He also had a part in "The Legend of Johnny Lingo." At the top of this young actors growing resume sits "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones," with the coveted role of Boba Fett.
Playing Boba Fett required more then a love of action, it also required patience. Daniel recalls being next to blue and green screen back drops through seemingly endless special effects takes. At one point, a series of 82 different shots of Daniel were done for a special effects sequence of clones that would only last a few seconds on-screen. He knows all the work was worth it, and is very proud and honored to be a part of the Star Wars legacy. - Actor
- Writer
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Robert began his acting career when he was eight years old by enrolling in an after school drama program sponsored by Trinity Repertory Company. Later that year he landed a role as Turkey Boy in Trinity's production of A Christmas Carol. Since that time Robert has performed a variety of roles on stage. Recently, Robert has turned his efforts to film. Robert's first principal role was in Bride Wars where he played Robert. Shortly thereafter he earned a role as Young Dave's Pal in the movie Sorcerer's Apprentice.
Robert's role as Rowley in Fox's three-movie franchise Diary of A Wimpy Kid (2010,2011) is perhaps his most recognized role to date. The third installment, Dog Days, was released in August 2012.
Robert landed his first voiceover role as Bob in the Tim Burton directed movie Frankenweenie which was released in October 2012. In April 2012, Robert played Young Curly in the movie The Three Stooges. In 2013, Robert played Kyle in the Faxon/ Nash directed movie The Way, Way Back. Also during 2013, Robert had his first experience in motion-capture 3D CGI as he played Derek in the motion-capture version of Tarzan. In 2015, Robert played Jake alongside Bailey Madison in the Indie feature Annabelle Hooper and The Ghosts of Nantucket. In 2016, Robert landed the role of Jack Black's son Dave in the feature film The Polka King. The film also also stars Jenny Slate, Jackie Weaver and Jason Schwartzman.
In addition to theater, and film, Robert currently is a returning guest star on CBS's Elementary, where he plays the role of one of Sherlock's "irregulars" known as Mason. He has s also appeared on television as a guest star on ABC's The Middle, and as the lead on two episodes of The Hub Network's The Haunting Hour.
Robert is passionate about reading, acting, history, watching movies, and reading and writing his own screenplays. He also loves swimming, tennis, and playing video games.
Robert is a freshman at Brown University majoring in theater, film studies and screenwriting.- Actor
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Composer
Trey Loney is an American actor, born in La Jolla, California. He started acting at the age of nine, and had his first major starring role as Bartleby Livingstone in Disney's Super Buddies, alongside John Ratzenberger and Jason Earles. Trey considers being able to work at something he loves to be a privilege and doesn't take any opportunity for granted.- Actor
- Sound Department
- Soundtrack
Ricardo Antonio Hoyos is a Canadian born actor. He was born November 27, 1995. He has green eyes and dark brown hair. He can play the guitar. Surprisingly, Ricardo has dual citizenship in the USA and Canada. He has worked on many shows including the famous Canadian show Degrassi as a skate-boarder named Zig. He is a fan of Entourage, Seinfeld, Michael Jackson, Drake and The Beatles. He enjoys playing rugby and his favourite color is green.- William Tapley trained at RADA. He grew up in Australia and England, finishing schooling in the US.
He has enjoyed a lot of work on TV, film and in the theatres of England and London's West End, notably leading the casts of record-breaking shows 'Dirty Dancing' and 'Mamma Mia!'
He represented Britain in the 1996 Camel Trophy (off-road driving), making the first ever motorised crossing of the Borneo jungle. He later led many expeditions across the Sahara, and through the countries of northwest Africa. A keen traveller, William has visited over 50 countries.
A keen sportsman to this day, he has played a lot of rugby (clubs have included London Wasps and Harlequins), breaking a many a bone; rides motorbikes; sails yachts (won the 1999 President's Cup in Fiji) and represented his regiment - the Honourable Artillery Company - in rugby, cricket, combat shooting, Nordic skiing and biathlon.
A cancer survivor, William is dedicated to his children and their upbringing.Plays rugby (clubs have included London Wasps and Harlequins) - Jonathan was born in Yorkshire and went to school in Skipton "the Gateway to the Dales." His first loves in life were, Rugby Union (he played for Upper Wharfedale) Football (life long Leeds United supporter) and the Theatre. Thanks to Mr Thomas a dedicated English teacher who nurtured in him a love of drama he auditioned for, and joined, the National Youth Theatre. He appeared in the West End of London in classic early 70s NYT productions of Shakespeare's Henry V, and Peter Terson's Zigger Zagger among others. After graduating with honours in Theatre Studies at Warwick University he trained as an actor at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Jonathan made his professional debut as an actor in 1980 at the Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich and after a year playing in fourteen different shows from Shakespeare to Pantomime with a few musicals thrown in, he went to Southampton to play Falstaff in Henry IV part 1. In 1981 he made his TV debut alongside Ian Lavender in a David Nobbs sitcom called The Hello Good-bye Man for the BBC.
At this time he met Alan J.W. Bell, the Producer/Director of Last of the Summer Wine and this meeting gave him the opportunity to star as the much loved Crusher/ Milburn in this TV show for the remainder of the eighties. He also appeared in First of the Summer Wine, a successful spin off from the original show.
In the last 40 years Jonathan has appeared as a regular character in TV shows such as Emmerdale (Albert Mistlethwaite), Casualty (DC Newby), The Bill (Dennis Weaver), The Governor (Bert Threlfall) and also as a leading guest in Heartbeat, Peak Practice, London's Burning, Silent Witness, Dempsey and Makepeace, Ultimate Force and Dalziel and Pascoe, among many others. Made for TV movies have included Ruth Rendell's Secret House of Death, The Gentleman Thief (alongside Nigel Havers and Sir John Mills), The Great Dome Robbery, and The Day Britain Stopped.
In the Theatre he appeared in the West End as Frank Rowley in the original production of Up'n'Under (1984 comedy of the Year) also as Miss Trunchbull in the original production of Roald Dahl's Matilda, alongside Timothy West and Jack Shepherd in Its Ralph by Hugh Whitemore at the Comedy Theatre, As Bottom in Midsummer Nights Dream at the globe and most Recently as Dad in East, written and directed by Steven Berkoff, at the Vaudeville Theatre, the National Theatre and also international tours to Paris and Milan. He has appeared in Rep in York, Coventry, Bristol, Birmingham, Farnham, Leeds, Windsor and Manchester. He has written and directed and appeared in Pantomimes alongside Ken Dodd, Charlie Williams, Lulu, Linda and Bernie Nolan, Steven Lewis, Bill Owen among many others. Most recently he played Don Vito Corleone in Echoes of Artemesia in Florence, Rome, and London
He has made over fifty TV commercials showing world wide, advertising everything from Burgers to Beer and is a familiar face to the public right across the world.
Jonathan worked on two blockbuster Hollywood movies, Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man's Chest released in July 2006 and Pirates of the Caribbean, At World's End, released in May of 2007. He is the villainous Olgilvey Head Gunner aboard the Flying Dutchman, nemesis of Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl.Jonathan was born in Yorkshire and went to school in Skipton "the Gateway to the Dales." His first loves in life were, Rugby Union (he played for Upper Wharfedale) Football (life long Leeds United supporter) and the Theatre. Thanks to Mr Thomas a dedicated English teacher who nurtured in him a love of drama he auditioned for, and joined, the National Youth Theatre. He appeared in the West End of London in classic early 70s NYT productions of Shakespeare's Henry V, and Peter Terson's Zigger Zagger among others. After graduating with honours in Theatre Studies at Warwick University he trained as an actor at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Jonathan also enjoys chatting about his long and successful career in Acting and speaks to audiences all over the UK with his one man show "From Holmfirth to Hollywood".
He is also a successful portrait artist and prints of his paintings are sold in many countriesrugby fan and played for Upper Wharfedale in england - Born in Vancouver and raised in Squamish, British Columbia, Daniel grew up in an athletic household. The middle of three boys, Daniel excelled at a number of different sports including ski racing, snowboarding, football and rugby. However, in addition to his vast interest in athletics, Daniel always had a passion for the arts. He took drama classes and performed in school and local theatre productions while his athleticism earned him a Football Scholarship to Gannon University. Unfortunately, his sports career was cut short due to a devastating injury while on the field. It was at this crucial crossroad that Daniel decided to move back to Vancouver and focus his attention on his other passion, acting. Daniel's breakout role came shortly after he made the transition from college star to actor, when Bryan Singer cast him alongside Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Sir Ian McKellen, and Halle Berry in the superhero film X2 (2003), as Colossus, the strongest member of the X-Men team. Daniel's character was brought back in the film's sequel X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). He has since showcased his extraordinary talents on numerous television shows including Stargate SG-1 (1997), Supernatural (2005), and Psych (2006). However, it is Daniel's role as Felix in the popular Summit Entertainment film franchise The Twilight Saga that has given this actor international recognition. Off screen, Daniel has the same strength and physicality as his well-known characters. A glorified outdoorsman, this 6'6'' actor spends a great deal of time enjoying recreational activities including skiing, snowboarding, riding motor bikes and motor cycles, mountain biking and is a huge supporter of the Canadian National Rugby team, where his brother Jaime plays as a forward.
Daniel has appeared in blockbuster films from hit series: The Twilight Saga and X-Men. Next up, see him reprise his role as Felix, the all-powerful Volturi guard in The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010), as he is once again bringing the larger than life character to the big screen in the last two installments of the Saga, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011) and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012). Additionally, Daniel has a leading role in the independent thriller Rites of Passage (2012). He shares the screen with seasoned actors Christian Slater, Stephen Dorff and Wes Bentley in the film about a young anthropology student seeking a traditional ceremony to mark his entry into manhood. He also has a role in the highly anticipated drama The Baytown Outlaws (2012) alongside Billy Bob Thornton, Paul Wesley and Eva Longoria. The movie, which was on the 2009 "Black List" of Hollywood's best unproduced movie projects, is about a federal agent who comes into a small Southern town to investigate the Oodies - three redneck brothers who get more than they bargained for after agreeing to help a woman get her son back from his seemingly abusive father.ex player and brother Jaime plays for the Canadian National Rugby team. - Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Geno Segers is an actor and voice-artist possessing an active background in many fields of entertainment and athletics. He is best known for the role "Chayton Littlestone" in Cinemax's "Banshee (2013)". His first taste of the entertainment field began with a suggestion by a friend to try voice-work. Possessing a naturally-rich bass quality, Geno first auditioned for voice-ads for a radio station in New Zealand. His voice gained him attention enough to attract an agent's ear. This led to Segers being cast in the role of Mufasa in Disney's Australian stage production of "The Lion King".
While attending school at Western Carolina University (WCU), the 6'4" Geno played football which later led to him playing for the American National Rugby League. During this time playing in rugby, Geno later moved to New Zealand where he played for Richmond Rovers Rugby League team.
Geno Seger's also has a foundation called "Hold It On The Road", where through motivational speaking he encourages the youth to make good life decisions today, to impact their future tomorrow.Represented the USA- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Stunts
Mini Bio: David Lee Valle has been working exclusively in the Louisiana film industry for 10 years and recently moved back to his home state of Massachusetts. He has a BFA degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Criminal Justice Degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Kalamazoo Michigan.
David grew up in Boston. After graduating college he moved to Michigan where he served as a Public Safety Officer prior to his career in the film industry.
David has worked on a variety of productions from small independent films like "Beasts of the Southern Wild" to major film productions recently "Snitch" and "Olympus has Fallen." David has also worked as a tactical and weapons instructor on a variety film and television productions. He continues his love of acting and has recently started performing in theater productions.ex player of the University Rugby Club in Massachusett USA- Actor
- Producer
Adam Fogerty was born on 6 March 1969 in Oldham, Lancashire, England, UK. He is an actor and producer, known for The Gallows Pole (2023), Snatch (2000) and Legend (2015).English actor and former boxer and rugby league player. He is the son of Terry Fogerty, a rugby league player during the 1960s and '70s who played at club level for Halifax, Wigan and Rochdale Hornets, and at international level for Great Britain.- Martin has been an Actor for 33 years and in that time has played a variety of roles on TV, Film and Stage including being a regular in Coronation Street, Soldier Soldier, Family Affairs, Bramwell and The Bill.
Additionally he's had guest appearances in Waking the Dead, My Family, The Katherine Tate Show, Class of 76, Holby City, The Gill Mayo Murders, Hotel Babylon, Max And Paddies Road To Nowhere, Rose And Maloney, The Grid, Grass and Midsomer Murders.
Martin has just finished filming The Last Planet Directed by Terrence Malick (2020) In 2018 Martin's performance of Micky in feature film Sink was met with outstanding national reviews from the critics. Martin also won Best Actor for his portrayal of Mike in the BAFTA nominated film Rite. He also appeared as Slim Biggins, a tough New York gangster, in Guy Ritchie's Revolver.
Martin has extensive stage experience including performing at Shakespeare's Globe in As You Like It, as Bottom in Midsummer Night's Dream at Nottingham Playhouse, as Lepidus in Anthony and Cleopatra at Liverpool Playhouse & Chichester Festival Theatre, as Sing Song in Car Thieves at Birmingham Rep and as One Round in the Ladykillers National Tour.
Martin is the only Shakespearean actor to have represented his country in two professional sports having won the title of Heavyweight Boxing Champion of London in 1979 before being drafted into the Olympic squad to box for his country. Martin additionally played professional rugby representing Wales against England and Australia in the 80's.
Martin plays rhythm guitar and toured as the lead singer in a Blues Band for 15 years. He also survived on the circuit as a stand up comedian for 3 years! - Actor
- Director
- Writer
Ewan Bailey was born in 1966 in Sussex, England. He studied acting at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. He was the founder of a small theatre company Rubbaball that took several comedy plays to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Then went on to write and perform for numerous radio comedy shows for the BBC - including the British Comedy Award Winning series The Sunday Format. As well as acting for film, TV, radio and stage. He also works extensively in the voice industry. In recent years he has started to write, produce and direct short films through his company Ewan Bailey Films. One of which won several international awards and was long-listed by BAFTA. He lives in London with his family.Represented Scotland- Actor
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Steve was born in Perth in 1967. His family soon moved to Sydney where he completed his schooling. After two years working his way around Australia on a motorbike he studied acting at Penrith (Theatre Nepean) in Sydney's outer west. His first job was a TV commercial for Arnott's Ruffles which was banned a day after its release for sacrilege. Since then Steve has had guest and lead roles on most of the Aussie serials and has featured in several movies both here and internationally (see IMDb listings).
On stage Steve has been seen in Death Of A Salesman, Summer Of The Seventeenth Doll, Paul, The Spook, Buried Child and Waiting For Godot for Company B Belvoir, plus shows for the Sydney Theatre Company (The War Of The Roses, The Serpent's Teeth, Gallipoli, Tales From the Vienna Woods {all for STC Actors' Company}, Holy Day and Don's Party) and for Griffin (The Return {by Reg Cribb - the stage version of Last Train To Freo}and Songket). Steve was a member of the elite STC's Actors' Company from 2007-09.
Le Marquand co-wrote, directed, produced and starred in the hugely successful theatre show He Died With A Felafel In His Hand (based on the book by John Birmingham - not to be confused with the film of the same name) which has been playing pretty much continuously somewhere in the world since its premiere at the Bridge Hotel in Rozelle in 1995 - cities include Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, New York, Toronto, Edinburgh and Wagga Wagga.
Steve lives on the Central Coast of NSW with his partner, Pippa Grandison and their daughter Charlie. Steve takes his cricket and rugby league quite seriously (he barracks for the Penrith Panthers).ex Player and fan of the penrith panthers- From an early age Jordan was encouraged to be immersed in nature. Archery, firearms use, spear fishing, diving, angling and skippering the family boat were all part of Jordan's childhood along side his practicing piano from the age of 5.
By the time the family moved to Melbourne Jordan was an accomplished singer, pianist and fiercely competitive rugby player, representing the State of Victoria at the Australian National Championships in July 2010.
Jordan lived in Singapore and is studying Musical Theatre at Lasalle College of the Arts (graduating 2014 May). Outside of his studies he has embraced recent opportunities such as playing major supporting roles in 2 films, Faeryville (premiering at Sundance 2014) and Fragrant Rice (2014 release) as well as a supporting role in EP1 of the HBO TV series 'Serangoon Road'.
Most recently Jordan finished principal photography on the big budget film 'Joker Game' in Feb '14.
In closing, by the age of only 22 Jordan has lived in 3 vastly different parts of the world and developed a relaxed confidence and maturity beyond his years.Represented Victoria at the Australian National Championships 2010 - Producer
- Actor
Born and raised in Traverse City, Michigan, Carter is the youngest of four children. He began learning carpentry skills at the age of 11. He continued working in construction and carpentry on and off throughout high school and college. He attended Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, where he played rugby and earned a degree in Nutrition. Carter is an expert at kayaking and sailing and hits the water whenever he can.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Higgins was born May 9, 1947 in East Northamptonshire, England to parents who had emigrated from Ireland just before World War II in search of economic opportunity. His parents lived in London during the Blitz. Eventually, they left London for Northamptonshire so that his father could obtain work as a builder for American army bases. Young Anthony completed his studies at a state school and then intended to be a journalist. He worked as a butcher in Bedford and then as a "navvy," a builder's helper, in the small town of Grendon, near Northampton. At the age of 16, he obtained a job on a local paper but, by law, he had to be over 17 before he could work so he spent the time learning shorthand and typing. Then, a friend took him to a weekend drama course run by the distinguished Shavian actress, Margaretta Scott. She encouraged him to consider a career as an actor. He said, "It felt right so I decided to pursue it." Higgins won a scholarship to the Birmingham School of Speech and Dramatic Arts in 1964 and studied there for three years. He made his first professional appearance at the Birmingham Repertory Theater Company in Shakespeare's "A Winter's Tale" as a walk-on while still at school. He then joined the company full time and was assigned principal roles nearly at once. His portrayal of Romeo, opposite Anna Calder-Marshall as Juliet, received rave reviews throughout England. He also played Cassio in "Othello," and Louis Debedat in "The Doctor's Dilemma." He then worked onstage in classics and contemporary plays in Chichester and London. However, it was a theatrical portrayal of Edmund Tyrone in Eugene O'Neill's, "A Long Day's Journey Into Night" in Birmingham that led to Higgins' cinema debut for director John Huston under the name, Anthony Corlan, (his mother's maiden name), in "A Walk with Love and Death" (1969). The film takes place during Europe's 100 Years War and was shot in Vienna and the Vienna Woods. The film is notable for the debut of Huston's daughter, Angelica. Corlan plays Robert, a nobleman, wearing authentic looking armor. It was Huston who taught him how to ride horses. Higgins rides with style in many subsequent films. Later, he would own a racehorse in Ireland.
After appearing in "A Walk with Love and Death," the actor was in several television plays for the BBC, including an original drama, "The Blood of the Lamb," for "The Wednesday Play" and "Mary, Queen of Scots" for "Play of the Month." He then made two films for television, one an episode of "Journey to the Unknown" with Janice Rule, and the other, a segment of "Strange Report," with Anthony Quayle. His next feature film role was in "Something for Everyone," also known as "The Cook," (1970), after auditioning for director Hal Prince and producer John Flaxman in London. This was stage director Prince's first flirtation with film, with a script by Hugh Wheeler, author of "Sweeney Todd." Higgins plays a quiet, sheltered young German royal, Helmuth, with Angela Lansbury as his mother. Helmut is forced into an arranged marriage with Annaliese, played by German actress, Heidelinde Weis. He discovers the darker motives that lurk beneath Michael York's gleaming blonde appearance against brilliant cinematography in the shadow of King Ludwig's Castle, in Neuschwanstein, Germany. In 1972, Higgins acted in "Vampire Circus" as a circus performer who changes into a panther-vampire. The film has become a cult classic. It was banned in Britain (because of its bestiality). The actor has said that it is the last of the great vampire films produced under the Hammer banner. There is a badly edited version for sale in the United States; an uncut edition has been seen in Europe that is much clearer. "Flavia, the Moslem Nun," (1974), with Brazilian born Florinda Bolkan, gave Higgins an opportunity to work in Italy. The DVD is a great piece of cinema history rescued by high technology and enhanced by a recent interview with Ms. Bolkan, who became an international screen legend in her own time. The story is derived from actual events in the 1400s that culminated in "The Martyrdom of the 800" in Otranto. The exotic soundtrack is by Academy Award winning composer, Nicola Piovani ("Life is Beautiful"). If one can get past the explicit physical mutilation of animals and humans and the insults to the Catholic Church, the script can be seen as supportive of feminism. Director Gianfranco Mingozzi's vision is representative of the wild cinema of the sexual revolution of the 70s in which auteurs were bursting to break free from the establishment. "Flavia" has haunting performances by Bolkan, Maria Casares, (the princess in Cocteau's "Orpheus") and Higgins. He is dazzling as the Moslem commander with no name who initiates Flavia as a sexual being, encourages her to carry out a bloody revenge and then disillusions her. That Higgins does not speak much is of no consequence. He communicates some of his best acting with movements and facial expressions, particularly, with his eyes. He can say volumes with one mesmerizing gaze.
The actor flourished on stage, television and screen throughout the 70s. Notably, he starred as a Roman soldier looking for his vanished father in Caledonia, in BBC Scotland's miniseries, "Eagle of the Ninth" with Patrick Malahide in 1977. However, Higgins has said that he is most proud to have been a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company's original London cast of "Piaf," a biography of the French singer, Edith Piaf, written by Pam Gems, which starred Jane Lapotaire in 1979. The play was resurrected to rave reviews in London in 1994 but without any of the original players. Higgins won Best Actor of 1979 from Time Out magazine for his work with The Royal Shakespeare Company that year. He acted in mainly new work with the RSC but he also played Lucentio in "The Taming of the Shrew" opposite Zoe Wanamaker as his sweet Bianca. Older London stage audiences may discern that among his many stage to television appearances in the 80s was the role of Camille in "Danton's Death." The play by George Buechner ran at the National Theater in London for a year and was then produced for television by the BBC. Zoe Wanamaker played opposite him once more. As the actor matured in his thirties, his persona grew more interesting with more unusual works. Higgins' face is often recognized for his having played the artist in "The Draughtsman's Contract," (1982), opposite the brilliant Shakespearean actress, Janet Suzman. The film is suggestive of classical restoration drama with a mysterious plot, elegant landscape shots of England's County Kent and a Purcell-like soundtrack by Michael Nyman. Director Peter Greenaway has said that he cast Higgins in the lead because he best expressed a combination of arrogance and innocence. Higgins gives a subtle depiction of the outcast, the son of a tenant farmer, who turns out to be too trusting and is tragically deceived. After Draughtsman's initial release, many viewers wondered what the lead actor would do next but Higgins does not generally pursue publicity. Although he appeared at the Edinburgh Festival with the cast, he did not do many interviews. "Draughtsman" experienced resurgence in 1994 and the actor's face was plastered on larger than life posters across the high walls of London's underground tube stops. His face has often been well utilized to represent a variety of ethnic origins. It is an oval face with a long thin nose and high, almost oriental cheekbones. It is usually framed by dark, wavy hair, sometimes ending at his collar. His balanced brows can look calm but lying dormant behind his deeply inset, hazel eyes is a prospective fire. Behind the face lies great inventiveness that has not always been allowed to surface but when it does, the effect can be striking. Higgins seems to have unlocked a storeroom of intensity by taking on the role of Stephan, a hard-luck Polish immigrant to 1920s Paris in the Merchant-Ivory film, "Quartet" (1981). The film, based on the novel by Jean Rhys, is sharply directed by James Ivory and has a heart-felt script by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala ("Le Divorce"). Isabelle Adjani garnered a Cannes Film Festival award for Best Actress for her gut-wrenching performance as Stephan's defenseless wife. Stephan is an impetuous man, who takes the dishonest road to acquiring wealth, with a small amount of shiftiness and a large amount of charm. Higgins infuses the role with detailed mannerisms such as holding his cigarette by cupping the end with his fingers, as many Slavic men do.
Higgins' height (6' 2"), dark looks and air of moral strength have frequently rendered him romantic roles. He sometimes appears to be aloof but a warmth sneaks out. The tough guy who softens for a vulnerable female might be what he is all about. Thus, it seems only natural that an actor whom he greatly admires is Robert Mitchum. Indeed, in another era, Higgins himself might have fit nicely into film noir. Higgins stars in a dark mystery film, "Sweet Killing," (1993), which was filmed in Montreal and also features F. Murray Abraham. Female admiration of Higgins became universal with his winsome portrayal of Abdullah, in "Lace," (1984-5), a cleverly written television miniseries by Elliot Baker, based on the popular English novel by Shirley Conran. Angela Lansbury, Brooke Adams and Arielle Dombasle are outstanding. Most critics condemned Phoebe Cates for her unconvincing acting but unanimously praised Higgins' persuasive performance as an Arabian prince, who is the lynch pin of the plot. The film also captures glamorous scenery of the French Alps, Chamonix and other jet-set locales; it has wonderful women's fashions, particularly hats, by Barbara Lane; it is the ultimate "chick flick." Higgins, astonished to hear that it is frequently repeated on cable in the U.S., has reacted, "It was great fun to do, actually. It has no pretense to be Strindberg. It is glamorous trash. Still, we had great character actors in it like Anthony Quayle, an old friend, who is now dead; and the director, Billy Hale, and I hit it off in a big way." Far from charming in "Reilly, Ace of Spies," (1983), the actor plays a cold Communist assassin in the British miniseries with Sam Neill in the title role; Higgins' innocence seen in previous roles is totally obscured here. In 1986, he acted with Jeanne Moreau in Agatha Christie's mystery, "The Last Séance," for Granada TV. "Max, Mon Amour," a feature film for the daring director Nagisa Oshima ("Realm of the Senses") followed in 1986. It has an outrageous plot about a bored wife (Charlotte Rampling) with a chimpanzee as her lover. Higgins plays her British diplomat husband who invites the ape to live with them in Paris.
Higgins continued to work in France to play Napoleon's elder brother in "Napoleon and Josephine," with Armand Assante and Jacqueline Bisset in the title roles in 1987. It gave Higgins the opportunity to work again with Jane Lapotaire as mother Bonaparte. After Napoleon cuts up Europe for his family, Joseph satirically delivers a memorable aside, "Louis gets Holland and all I get is disease-ridden Naples." Lavishly photographed in Europe and North Africa, the television miniseries has subtle humor; it airs occasionally on cable in the U.S. A tendency of Higgins' style has been to hold something back, compelling the viewer to wonder what else he has stored up, adding mystery to his character. In "Darlings of the Gods," an Australian television film, (1991), he may have held back a bit much in the lead as Laurence Olivier, opposite Mel Martin as Vivien Leigh, to the disappointment of some critics. Still, the film aired around the world, received good ratings and repeated several times. In spin offs of the Sherlock Holmes legend, Higgins is the only actor besides Orson Welles to have played both Moriarty ("Young Sherlock Holmes" 1985) and Holmes ("Sherlock Holmes Returns" 1993). Both works display his skills in fencing and oration of long monologues; both versions proved popular in several countries, among them Germany. Higgins is fluent in German. German artist and photographer, Heide Lausen, whom he met while working on "Something for Everyone" in Germany, widows him. He has one daughter, who was born in 1974 and raised in Bavaria. He is often recognized for having played a stereotypical Nazi villain in Stephen Spielberg's, "Raiders of the Lost Ark," (1981). However, of the television film, "One Against the Wind," also known as "Mary Lindell," (1991), starring Judy Davis, Higgins has said that he enjoyed playing a non-typical German SS officer, who had been classically educated in England, because it was not a hackneyed image. "The Bridge," (1992), based on the Whitbread award winning novel by Maggie Hemingway, is an engaging film that takes place in the 19th century with actress Saskia Reeves struggling against sociological constraints. Here, his power simmers rather than explodes, as he plays a husband, who makes a shrewd move to eliminate his wife's lover. In a scene with his daughters at the breakfast table, one can sense that his character might do anything to prevent his family from breaking apart.
A family role that Higgins took on enthusiastically was that of Johann Strauss, Sr. in "The Strauss Dynasty," (1991). The award winning television miniseries, which was filmed in Austria and Hungary over eight months, contains a cast of hundreds. The scope covers the entire Strauss family and the music and politics of their time. The twelve-hour program aired successfully in Europe and Australia in the 90s. The actor shows great range in this role, growing from young adored "Waltz King" conductor of Vienna to world weary, exhausted composer. The series shines with many international stars, enlightening history and music by the Strausses. Higgins grew up in a large musical and creative family of five brothers and one sister in Northamptonshire. Before Higgins was born, his father sang with a band in Cork in the 1930s. His mother was the local church organist and would sometimes accompany him on piano. Later, his father went to New York and studied opera but he returned to Ireland after six years. Anthony plays flugelhorn; he had an instrument especially crafted for him in Germany. He has said that his mother taught him to read even before he went to school. He is a voracious reader; he writes, having used an old manual typewriter prior to the computer era. He also has a penchant for classical music, jazz and fine art; when in New York, he likes to visit the Frick Museum and the Pierpont Morgan Library. He has always had a passion for athletics, having played rugby in his youth, then cricket and now it is golf. The actor's search for cutting-edge productions led him to "Nostradamus" (1994), an eccentric version of the 16th century visionary filmed in Romania. Tcheky Karyo plays the title role and Higgins brings up the ranks as King Henry II of France. Diana Quick (Higgins' mistress in "Max, Mon Amour") plays Diane de Poitier alongside Amanda Plummer as his quirky queen, Catherine de Medici. Higgins plays Henry as extremely effective politically and a great athlete. Higgins' research found that jousting was his other great love as evidenced from the time, effort and money that went into his armor, which is embossed with exquisite scenes from classical history and still exists as an extraordinary artifact.
One of Higgins' best moments onscreen is as Korah, a Hebrew in "Moses" (1996), a television miniseries that aired internationally with Ben Kingsley in the title role. After initial skepticism, Korah silently communicates religious rapture as manna slowly falls from heaven on his ecstatic face, revealing a believer in the end. In the middle 1990s, it seems that there was a chic rush for heterosexual male stars to play roles as HIV-stricken patients, i.e., witness Jeremy Irons in "Stealing Beauty." Higgins brings an understated dignity to the role of a Cuban choreographer in the AIDS-related film, "Alive and Kicking," also known as "Indian Summer" (1996). The film stars Jason Flemyng as his student and has a hopeful conclusion by author Martin Sherman ("Bent"). Higgins returned to the stage in November 1996 with the title role in "Max Klapper - A Life in Pictures." He received excellent notices as a post WWII German film director opposite Emily Lloyd as the actress whom he regards as his creation. The event marked the reopening as a live theater of the Electric Cinema in London, where, curiously, during WWII the theater's manager was suspected of sending messages to German Zeppelins from the roof. Higgins fervently plays Marcel, a Hungarian archaeologist in the Irish feature film, "The Fifth Province," (1997), with Ian Richardson, with whom he previously appeared in "Danton's Death" on British television. Higgins has been particularly commended for the scene where he digs furiously for treasure that was buried by the high kings of Ireland. The script is by the Irish Times-Aer Lingus prize winning, hilarious novelist, Nina Fitzpatrick (Fables of the Irish Intelligentsia). The film sometimes surfaces on Sky TV. In the late 90s, Higgins continued to appear on British television in various roles and slipped into the snakeskins of seriously degenerated criminals in the television crime dramas, "The Governor I," "Supply and Demand I," and "Trial and Retribution III" (now available on DVD in Region 2). All were written by Lynda LaPlante ("Prime Suspect"), who was, coincidentally, an extra in "The Draughtsman's Contract." However, the actor becomes orderly again in 2001, as he plays a talent agent of dubious trust in "The Last Minute," directed by Stephen Norrington ("League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"). The theme is the unworthiness of fame in trendy London. The hero, labeled as "the next big thing," rebels against the agent and descends into hell before finding out how to value his life.
One key to understanding Higgins' personality might be to recognize that his true love is the horn. In 2000, he commissioned British trumpeter Guy Barker, ("Great Expectations" 1998), to write a jazz soundtrack for a short film that Higgins wrote and directed, starring himself and British actress, Frances Barber, "Blood Count." It has been playing at European Film Festivals. In March 2003, Higgins lent his deep, but mellifluous, voice to narrate "Sounds in Black and White," Barker's homage concert to film noir, with the 60 piece London Metropolitan Orchestra at the Barbican Theater in London. In 2004, American television viewers can look forward to seeing him in an "Inspector Lynley Series II" episode on PBS' "Mystery Theater." A large part of Higgins' charisma is due to his voice, mannerisms and unique style that remain unruffled as he ages. He is not on the celebrity A list, the B list or even the Z list but he is high on many viewers' lists of interesting actors to watch because of his magnetism, intensity and unpredictability. The first decade of the new millennium has presented several new interesting British actors on the screen. However, many do not seem to have a strong classical stage training, which is Higgins' rock, and they often throw their lines away. Although not all of his roles have grandeur, people invariably comment about Higgins what he has said of Robert Mitchum, "Even in terrible movies, he is always good." Higgins' light may have reached millions of viewers but he never sold out for money. Some have called him a "career actor" but he has yet to receive the recognition of which his talent is worthy. Where is he? He is building a legacy as a character actor. Film history will show that he is a noteworthy one.- Actor
- Writer
- Music Department
A man who has many irons in the entertainment fire, hirsutely handsome Canadian actor, vocalist and jazz musician Don Francks (also known as "Iron Buffalo") was born Donald Harvey Francks on February 28, 1932, in Vancouver, British Columbia. One can, with confidence, add drummer, poet, motorcyclist, author and peace activist to his many lists of accomplishments. He grew up quite adept at athletics (soccer, lacrosse and rugby) and performed in vaudeville and in summer stock shows before relocating to Toronto. On stage from age 11, he landed an early job singing on the radio, then moved into television in 1954. While acting in both variety shows and dramas, he was also a writer and penned several documentaries and public affairs specials in both Toronto and Montreal. On the nightclub scene, Don was featured as a jazz vocalist, a DJ, a trombonist in a country western band and a member of a barbershop quartet called "Model-T Four".
In the mid-1960s, he focused on small screen acting and racked up a number of rugged, adventurous guest-star turns on TV episodes of The Wild Wild West (1965), Mannix (1967), The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) and Mission: Impossible (1966). A promising lead that could have led to stardom in the NBC series, Jericho (1966), was cut short when the show was bowled over by its ABC competition -- Batman (1966) -- and quickly canceled. He also appeared on- and off-Broadway, which included a stint with the musical, "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever".
Don contributed one strapping co-starring turn in a big-budgeted musical film during his less-than-a-decade stay in Hollywood. As the robust "Woody Mahoney", he dallied with the likes of beguiling Petula Clark, who played his lady love in Finian's Rainbow (1968). Their enchanting and sensuous duet on "That Old Devil Moon" is only one of the film's highlights. The film was not successful, however, in launching Don's movie career.
Afterwards, he moved his family to the Red Pheasant Indian Reserve, near North Battleford, Saskatchewan, and is an honorary Cree and named "Iron Buffalo". Since 1974, he has been living in Toronto with his wife, Lili Francks (Red Eagle), a member of the Plains Cree First Nation and also a dancer. Their children are voice artist and actress Cree Summer, best-known for her regular role on the TV sitcom, A Different World (1987), and actor/songwriter Rainbow Sun Francks.
In later years, Don gained some attention after being cast as "Walter", an arms expert, on the hit TV series, La Femme Nikita (1997). More recently, he traveled to Montreal for a part in the film, I'm Not There (2007), filmmaker Todd Haynes' meditative take on the famous singer-songwriter, Bob Dylan.
Don continued to perform in Canada in both films (He Never Died (2015) and The Second Time Around (2016)) and as a recurring presence of series TV (Hemlock Grove (2013) and Gangland Undercover (2015)) until the end. He passed away at age 84 on April 3, 2016, in Toronto, Ontario.- Actor
- Soundtrack
There are very few character actors from the 1930s, '40s or '50s who rose to the rank of stardom. Only a rare man or woman reached the level of renown and admiration, and had enough audience appeal, to be the first name in a cast's billing, a name that got marquee posting. Charles Coburn comes to mind, but there aren't many others. However, one who made it was Edmund Gwenn.
Gwenn was born Edmund Kellaway in Wandsworth, London, on September 26, 1877. He was the oldest boy in the family, which at that time meant he was the only one who really mattered. His father was a British civil servant, and he groomed Edmund to take a position of power in the Empire. However, early on, the boy had a mind of his own. For a while, his inclination was to go to sea, but that ended when one of his forebear's in the Queen's Navy was court-martialed for exceeding his "wine bill". In addition to that, Edmund had poor eyesight and perhaps most importantly, he was his mother's darling, and she kept having visions of shipwrecks and desert island strandings. As for the civil service, to the boy it seemed like a "continent of unexplored boredom".
He attended St. Olaf's College and would attend King's College in London as well. Surprisingly, he excelled at rugby and amateur boxing. Meanwhile, he developed a strong inclination to the stage, partly because of his admiration for the great English actor, Henry Irving. A major roadblock to that ambition, however, was his father, who, at that time, was stationed in Ireland. When Edmund broke the news to his father that he had chosen acting as a career, there followed "a scene without parallel in Victorian melodrama." His father called the theatre "that sink of iniquity." He predicted that, if Edmund went into theatre, he would end up in the gutter, and then literally "showed him the door." Years later his father would admit he had been wrong, but that didn't help the young man during an all-night crossing from Dublin to England during which he had time to reflect. He was penniless. His experience consisted of a few performances in amateur productions, and he knew that if he failed, there was no going back home.
However, in 1895, at the age of eighteen, he made his first appearance on the English stage with a group of amateurs just turned professional, playing two roles, "Dodo Twinkle" and "Damper", in "Rogue and Vagabond". For a long time afterward, he refused to go on stage without a false beard or some other disguise, fearing someone would recognize him and tell his father (it's a bit ironic, by the way, that Edmund's younger brother Arthur would also become an actor using the name of Arthur Chesney). During the next few years, roles were hard to come by but, by 1899, he made his first appearance on the West End in London in "A Jealous Mistake". This was followed by ten years in the hinterlands acting with stock and touring companies, gradually working his way up from small parts to juicier roles. While with Edmund Tearle's Repertory Company, which toured the provinces, he played a different role each night. It was excellent training, in that he acted in everything from William Shakespeare to old melodrama.
About this time, he married Minnie Terry, niece of the more famous actress Ellen Terry, a marriage that evidently was short-lived. Most sources list it as beginning and ending in 1901, perhaps only for a matter of days or even hours. From that point, Gwenn would remain a bachelor for the rest of his life. He seems to have preferred not going into any details about the marriage and divorce, and Minnie Terry, who outlived Gwenn, apparently never mentioned what happened, at least not publicly. That same year, however, he went to Australia and acted there for three years, not returning to London until 1904. There, he took a small part in "In the Hospital", which led to his receiving a postcard from George Bernard Shaw, offering him a leading role as "Straker", the Cockney chauffeur, in "Man and Superman". Gwenn accepted (by this time he was Edmund Gwenn) and the play was a success. Shaw became a sort of professional godfather for him. He appeared in "John Bull's Island", "Major Barbara", "You Never Can Tell", "Captain Brassbound's Conversion" and "The Devil's Disciple", all by Shaw. He spent three years in Shaw's company, years which he called "the happiest I've ever had in the theatre".
From 1908 until 1915, he performed in new plays by noted playwrights of the time, including John Masefield's "The Campden Wonder", 'John Galsworthy''s "Justice" and "The Skin Game", J.M. Barrie's "What Every Woman Knows" and "The Twelve Pound Look", as well as Henrik Ibsen's "The Wild Duck" and Harley Granville-Barker's "The Voysey Inheritance". By this time, World War I had started and Gwenn, despite his poor eyesight, was conscripted into the British Army. Most of his time during "The Great War" was spent drawing supplies up to the front lines, while under fire. He was so successful at this task that, after a year as a private, he received a steady stream of promotions until eventually becoming a captain.
After the War, he returned to the stage and, in 1921, made his first appearance in the US in "A Voice from the Minaret" and "Fedora". He would return to America in 1928 to replace his friend, Dennis Eadie, who had died while in rehearsal for "The House of Arrows", but for most of this time, he was in England doing more stage roles and two dozen British films.
His first appearance on screen was in a British short, The Real Thing at Last (1916) in 1916, while he was still in the army. His next film roles were in Shaw's How He Lied to Her Husband (1931) and J.B. Priestley's The Good Companions (1933). He was also in Unmarried (1920) in 1920 and a silent version of "The Skin Game" (The Skin Game (1921)) as "Hornblower", a role he would reprise in 1931 for a talking version (The Skin Game (1931)) directed by Alfred Hitchcock. From then on, Gwenn was to work steadily until the end of his life. He appeared in English stage plays and films, eventually doing more and more on Broadway and in Hollywood. For example, he played the amiable counterfeiter in "Laburnum Grove" in 1933 (later to become the film Laburnum Grove (1936) in which he would star) and then with the entire British company brought it to New York. He was also a huge success in "The Wookey" in 1942, playing a Cockney tugboat captain. That same year, he appeared as "Chebutykin" in Anton Chekhov's "The Three Sisters", with Katharine Cornell, Ruth Gordon and Judith Anderson. In such illustrious company, Gwenn was hailed by critics as "magnificent" and "superlatively good".
In 1935, RKO summoned him to Hollywood to portray Katharine Hepburn's father in Sylvia Scarlett (1935). From then on, he was much in demand, appearing in Anthony Adverse (1936), All American Chump (1936), Parnell (1937), and A Yank at Oxford (1938). In 1940, he was the delightful "Mr. Bennet" in Pride and Prejudice (1940), then made a 180-degree turn by playing a folksy assassin in Alfred Hitchcock's Foreign Correspondent (1940). The year 1941 brought Cheers for Miss Bishop (1941), One Night in Lisbon (1941), The Devil and Miss Jones (1941) and Scotland Yard (1941). Then came Charley's Aunt (1941), in which he romanced Jack Benny, masquerading as a woman. Other important films included A Yank at Eton (1942), The Meanest Man in the World (1943), The Keys of the Kingdom (1944) and Between Two Worlds (1944).
In 1945, he played villain "Albert Richard Kingby" in Dangerous Partners (1945). There is a peculiar scene in this film, which makes one wonder what director Edward L. Cahn was thinking. James Craig and Signe Hasso, the hero and heroine, are being held by the villainous Gwenn in a room, when Gwenn comes in to interrogate them. In the midst of this, the 33-year-old, 6'2" Craig punches the 68-year-old, 5'5" Gwenn in the belly and then forces the doubled-over Gwenn to release them. Admittedly, Craig and Hasso must escape, and Gwenn's character is pretty evil, but knocking the wind out of the old man makes Craig seem like a bully and far less sympathetic.
After "Dangerous Partners", Gwenn was in Bewitched (1945), She Went to the Races (1945), Of Human Bondage (1946), Undercurrent (1946), Life with Father (1947), Green Dolphin Street (1947) and Apartment for Peggy (1948). In Thunder in the Valley (1947), he played one of his most unlikable characters, a father who beats his son, smashes his violin and shoots his dog.
Then in 1947, he struck it rich. Twentieth Century-Fox was planning Miracle on 34th Street (1947). It had offered the role of "Kris Kringle" to Gwenn's cousin, the well-known character actor Cecil Kellaway, but he had turned it down with the observation that "Americans don't like whimsy". Fox then offered it to Gwenn, who pounced on it. His performance was to earn him an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor (at age 71) and, because it is rerun every Christmas season, he would become for many their all-time favorite screen Santa. Accepting the award, Gwenn said, "Now I know there is a Santa Claus". He beat out some stiff competition: Charles Bickford (The Farmer's Daughter (1947)), Thomas Gomez (Ride the Pink Horse (1947)), Robert Ryan (Crossfire (1947)) and Richard Widmark (Kiss of Death (1947)). As soon as he got the part, Gwenn went to work turning himself into Santa Claus. Though rotund, Gwenn didn't feel he was rotund enough to look like the jolly old elf most people expected after having read Clement Moore's "The Night before Christmas", in which Santa "had a broad face and a little round belly / That shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly." He could of course wear padding, but he resisted that as too artificial. So he put on almost 30 pounds for the role, a fair amount for a man of his short stature, and added nearly five inches to his waistline. The problem was that after the film was finished, Gwenn found it hard to lose the extra weight. "I've been stocky all my adult life," he said, "but now I must accept the fact that I'm fat." As was his nature, he didn't get upset, and instead was able to laugh about it. Six years later, when playing an elderly professor in The Student Prince (1954), he had a scene in which he entered the Prince's chamber, struggling with the buttons of a ceremonial uniform. The line he was given was, "I'm too old to wear a uniform," but Gwenn suggested a change which stayed in the finished film, "I'm too old and fat to wear a uniform."
Gwenn had lost his hair early on, and had no more concern about it than he did about his portliness. In a fair number of films, such as Pride and Prejudice (1940), he appears bald, but he also played many roles with a toupee if he felt that worked better for the character. He would select a hairpiece that helped achieve the look he was after for the role. As regards the rest of his appearance, Gwenn is commonly listed as 5'6" tall, which may have been accurate when he was a younger man, but by the time he was a Hollywood regular he appears to be at least two inches shorter. Plagued by weak eyesight since his youth, Gwenn wore a pince-nez for a while, and then glasses, off-screen and sometimes on. Though he enjoyed fine clothes, he does not seem to have been in the least bit vain about any physical shortcomings he may have had. He looked a bit like a benign clergyman, perhaps of the Anglican faith, an image enhanced by his soft, almost soothing voice. He once said he was "always short and stocky, and not a particularly handsome thing. I could never play romantic leads." After "Miracle on 34th Street," however, Gwenn was a star and constantly in demand, especially when the role called for a kindly eccentric.
Gwenn remained a British subject all his life. When he first moved to Hollywood, he lived at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. His home in London had been reduced to rubble during the bombings by the Luftwaffe in World War II. Only the fireplace survived. What Gwenn regretted most was the loss of the memorabilia he had collected of the famous actor Henry Irving. Eventually Gwenn bought a house at 617 North Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills, which he was to share with his secretary and "confidential man", Ernest C. Bach, and later with former Olympic athlete Rodney Soher.
The year 1950 brought a pair of interesting films. In Louisa (1950) he and Charles Coburn were romantic rivals for the hand of Spring Byington. In one scene Gwenn socks Coburn in the jaw, though Coburn later bests him in arm wrestling. Gwenn wins Byington's hand in the end. He was also delightful in Mister 880 (1950) as a kindly counterfeiter. Gwenn received his second Oscar nomination for his performance, though this time he lost out to George Sanders in All About Eve (1950) He did, however, win the Golden Globe Award.
In 1952 he appeared in Sally and Saint Anne (1952) as Grandpa Patrick Ryan, affecting an Irish brogue for the role. He played football coach Pop Doyle, teamed up with a chimpanzee, in Bonzo Goes to College (1952). "The Student Prince" followed in 1954, as did the science-fiction classic Them! (1954). This film raises an interesting observation. The year before, Cecil Kellaway had appeared in another sci-fi classic, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953). Watch the two films together and you'll see that the two cousins are playing essentially the same role, that of an elderly scientist with a lovely daughter who is able to provide the hero, and the audience, with some scholarly background on the dangers they face. The two actors could easily have switched roles. "Them!" is noteworthy, too, in that it was a particularly physically painful part for Gwenn. By this time he was 77 and suffering from advanced arthritis. Several scenes in the movie were filmed in the desert, where the temperature often reached 110 degrees. The costumer had outfitted him in a wool suit for some of the early scenes. Joan Weldon, who played his daughter, has noted that Gwenn was in great discomfort and almost certainly could not have continued without the help of his valet, Ernest.
The next year Gwenn was in It's a Dog's Life (1955) and The Trouble with Harry (1955). His film work has some interesting patterns. "Dog's Life" was at least the third time Gwenn made a film centered on a dog. He had already co-starred with Pal as Lassie in Lassie Come Home (1943) and Challenge to Lassie (1949). "Harry" was Gwenn's fourth picture directed by Alfred Hitchcock, the others being "The Skin Game", Strauss' Great Waltz (1934) and "Foreign Correspondent". Gwenn's last feature film was The Rocket from Calabuch (1956), shot in Spain and released in 1958, when he was 81. As for TV, his most memorable role may have been as a snowman that comes to life in a Christmas night telecast on The Ford Television Theatre (1952) from a story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, "Heart of Gold".
Gwenn's final days were spent at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, California. Having endured terrible arthritis for many years, he had suffered a stroke, and then contracted pneumonia, from which he died at age 81 on September 6, 1959. His body was cremated, and his ashes were originally stored in a private vault at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles. In March 2023, Gwenn's misplaced urn was found in the vault by Hollywood Graveyard creator Arthur Dark and researcher Jessical Wahl. Dark and Wahl created a GoFundMe campaign to fund moving Gwenn's urn to a publicly accessible location and, on December 3, 2023, Gwenn's urn was reinurned in the Cathedral Mausoleum at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Gwenn had appointed Rodney Soher as the executor of his will, in which he had left Minnie Terry one-third of his estate, his sister Elsie Kellaway a third, and Ernest Bach a third, in addition to his clothes, shoes, linens, ties and luggage. However, for some reason, while he was spending his last days at the Motion Picture Home, Gwenn signed a codicil to his will, in which he said he had given Bach the lump sum of $5000, and that was all he was to receive. After Gwenn's death, Bach challenged the codicil, claiming that Gwenn was not of sound mind while in the Home and that some unnamed person--possibly referring to Soher--had unduly influenced Gwenn to change his will. The outcome is not known. There is a story that has been around for years that shortly before he died a visitor observed, "It must be hard [to die]", to which Gwenn replied, "Dying is easy. Comedy is hard". The story and the wording vary somewhat from teller to teller. Gwenn may indeed have said it, but he may have been repeating someone else. The quotation has also been ascribed to several earlier wits, including his mentor George Bernard Shaw and the famous actor Edward Keane. Gwenn's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame can be found at 1751 Vine Street.- Actor
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Edgerly was born in Silver Spring, Maryland and moved at the age of 2 with his mom and two brothers to Savannah, Georgia.
He attended Benedictine Military High School and the University of Georgia later on, where he would entertain his friends with lots of impressions. After a season of rugby at the university, he tried his hand at stand-up comedy at the urging of his roommates. A 10-year career touring the country followed (where his ability to do voices came in handy), punctuated by the occasional TV appearance on Nickelodeon. He relocated to Orlando in his early 20s and then later, he relocated to Los Angeles. Edgerly has since settled into the world of voiceover, in which he provides voices for movies, TV shows, and video games, and he still does the occasional stand-up gig around town.
Edgerly is currently the voice of Gobber the Belch in Dragons: Riders of Berk, taking over from Craig Ferguson.- Ingo Rademacher - Australian Actor is best known for his long-running leading role of Jax on ABC's "General Hospital", Ingo Rademacher. He was a model in Brisbane and Sydney before landing his first acting role playing Sean Hayden on the Australian Series "Paradise Beach" (1993). He made the move to Los angeles in 1994 and almost immediately was offered the role of Jax on GH which he played for 15 consecutive years. He still comes to visit the show now and then much to the delight of his loyal fans.
He has also shown off his comedic abilities appearing on "Veronica's Closet", "According To Jim" and "Clueless" and in Aaron Spelling's "Titans". In the spring of 2013, Ingo danced his way into the the semi-finals of "Dancing With The Stars" partnered with Kym Johnson. He recurs on CBS's "Hawaii Five O" as federal prosecutor Robert Coughlin and can be seen next year in the new STARZ series "Counterpart".
Ingo was seen on the big screen in "Alex Cross".
Born in Germany and moving to Australia as a child, Ingo grew up on a 400 acre cattle and Angora goat station , which best explains his lifelong love affaire with water sports. Starting with racing Hobie cats, he progressed to competing in the Lifeguard's King's Race in Honolulu for 4 consecutive years and then the Molokai to Oahu race - a grueling 32 miles in shark infested waters aboard both a surf ski (2000) and a stand-up paddle board (solo) (2012, 2013, 2014). He was ranked 80th SUP racer in the world in 2014 and continues to race every chance he gets. He was also patrolling beach as a lifeguard in Australia at age 16.
After competing in races in Hawaii almost every year, Ingo bought a home there in 2006 and later met and married his native born wife, Ehiku in 2009. He moved his young family there in 2011 after finishing his GH contract. Ingo has two home-birthed sons, Peanut Kai and Pohaku Zen who are also home-schooled.
The couple started an Activewear company in 2012 (Mahiku activewear Hawaii) inspired by their passion for Stand Up Paddle board racing. The line is made in California so they decided to move back to LA in 2017 so they could be closer to the manufacturing process and to Ingo's first line of work - acting.
Now the family does their best to juggle home schooling the kids, running the Mahiku business going to auditions and traveling. "We have a super tight family unit and are rarely apart" says Ingo. "Los Angeles is the perfect location to pursue all of our interests". - Actor
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Born in Sydney, Australia. Kaine is a mad supporter of the South Sydney Rabbithos rugby league team. He later moved to Hilo High School where he excelled in Football, Baseball, Soccer, Track, and Cross Country. A prospect with several Major League Baseball Organizations, Kaine played baseball at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California. It was there he studied acting and film. Later attaining his BFA in Film Production and Television Broadcasting at California State University Los Angeles. Kaine resides in San Diego with his dog Latte and his pride, a restored 1969 Airstream International.- Actor
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McCouch grew up in Chappaqua, NY and received a Bachelor of Arts Honors Degree in theater from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY where he also played varsity lacrosse and rugby. McCouch went on to receive a graduate degree from the British American Drama Academy, Oxford-Yale program in London.
McCouch spent four seasons with the Williamstown Theater Festival, MA (1988-1992), where he performed in Arturo Ul, The Visit, Three Penny Opera, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Inherit the Wind and The Moonstone. In 1992, he performed in Electra with the Almeida Theater in London. He also appeared in The Royal Court's Women Beware Women. His next project was three years on Another World where he played Dr. Morgan Winthrop. Next came the blockbuster hit Armageddon, where McCouch played Munition Specialist Gruber.
Recent performing credits include seven years on As the World Turns where McCouch received an Emmy Nomination for Best Supporting Actor. His portrayal of Dusty Donovan was a fan favorite. Other great performances; The Apostles/Fox, Dope/FX, Momentum/Miramax, Throttle/Dimension, Legacy/Alliance Atlantis, UPN, All Souls/Sci Fi, UPN, The Agency/CBS, Airtight/Sony, Viacom, Beverly Hills 90210/Spelling, Forbidden Island/Spelling, Cosby Mysteries/NBC.
Grayson McCouch now plays Don, Adriana's single father and a surgeon, on the Nick at Nite new drama series, Hollywood Heights.- Actor
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Quinn Emmett is a screenwriter, investor, father of three small humans, and the founder, writer, and host at Important, Not Important: science for people who give a shit.
He is a speaker and advisor to policymakers and business leaders, and his critically-acclaimed newsletter and podcast help you think deeply and act decisively about the world's make or break science news, from climate to COVID, heat to hunger, and agriculture to AI ethics.
His work is consumed on a weekly basis by senators and scientists, investors and doctors, students and CEO's, best-selling fiction writers and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists.- Actor
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Although Marsh Mokhtari was born in the UK, his father's nautical career took him to Persia for his first six years. He then spent the next 19 years in the UK. He holds a degree in 'Medical Physics' from the University of Newcastle. While at Newcastle he played American football for the UK national team and had a short career as a pro-athlete, (playing both rugby and American football) he then had a 'real-job' in London, focusing on the corporate world of executive search. It wasn't until 2001 when Marsh was taking a sabbatical in Australia that he found his true passion.
While in Sydney, he had a fortuitous encounter with the film, 'The Matrix Reloaded', and found himself on 'set' for 2 weeks as an extra. This very short taste was enough to give Marsh the momentum needed to give up a high paying executive job to focus on a 'whim'. He moved to Los Angeles in 2003 and enrolled in an acting class, he's been guest-starring in roles ever since, on shows such as, 'CSI: New York', 'The Young and the Restless' and 'The Closer'. Currently Marsh is working on an international show for the National Geographic channel, called 'Perilous Journeys', set to air late fall 2008.- Producer
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Cinephile since a kid,he started to study filmmaking at 17, being interrupted because of a motorcycle accident. Later became a professional diver, sailer and diving instructor.
Vocational adventurer, he move to Madrid on 2000 where combines training and working as international actor and his work as producer.
We can highlight his work on "Kisses", by Lance Daly; Nominated for Best Foreing Film on 2011 Spirit Awards, Audience Award at 2009 Miami Film Festival, Best Film Award on 2008 Galway Film Festival & Oficial Selection in 2008 at Locarno, Toronto & London Film Festivals.
Fluent English/Catalan/Spanish and some Italian. Plays Saxophone & Harm. Tango Dancer, he is also Diving Instructor & Rugby National Player.- Actor
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Thorsten moved to the US in 1985 on a track (decathlon) scholarship to the United States International University in San Diego. Although Thorsten majored in physical education (and minored in drama), a serious motorcycle accident forced him to choose a different direction. He played soccer for a while, but ultimately changed his major to drama and received his Bachelor's Degree in fine arts. After a rugby tour through Europe, Kaye enrolled in graduate school at Wayne State University in Detroit, where he earned his master's degree in theater and theater history.
Although he fondly remembers his first professional role as that of the "Wicked Witch of the West" when he was 17 years old in England, Thorsten portrayed some of the most memorable characters in classical theater, from Macbeth to Mark Antony, while a member of the Hilberry Repertory Theatre Company in Detroit. Thorsten then moved to Los Angeles, where he garnered roles in various television projects, including the CBS mini-series: Sidney Sheldon's "Nothing Lasts Forever", before moving to New York to accept the role of Professer Patrick Thornhart on the ABC-TV daytime drama "One Life to Live."
After leaving "One life to Live," Thorsten starred in the 2000 film "Shark Attack 2." Later in 2000, Thorsten returned to daytime television as Dr. Ian Thornhart (Patrick's older brother) on the ABC-TV drama "Port Charles." In 2004, he accepted the role of the mysterious Zach Slater on ABC-TV's "All My Children."
Thorsten is the author of two books: "From Timber Ridge to Daymer Gardens: A Journey in Words," co-written with the late Dorothy Bridges, and "A Solid Wheel of Colored Ribbons," a book of children's poems with illustrations by Tami Evans Foster (to be published in the spring of 2009).
When not working, Thorsten enjoys music, literature, riding American motorcycles, hockey (following the Detroit Red Wings), and football (he is a Miami Dolphins fan).- Actor
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Nicholas Cooper is an award winning transmedia producer, writer, director and actor based in Queensland, Australia. Having lived and worked in Los Angeles since 2013, Nicholas relocated back to the Gold Coast in 2022. His work for SONY Pictures Virtual Reality and Lionsgate garnered a number of awards and his experiential work in creating the award winning Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. in association with Marvel Studios, has been praised by comic book legend Stan Lee and received critical acclaim from industry heavyweights New York Times, Nerdist, and Gizmodo among others.- Ramey Short is a South African actor that's done both local & international work in film, television & commercials. He mad a name for himself when he played the character of 'Dr Quinton Meyer' on 'Binnelanders' television series between 2008-2014. In 2015 he filmed two South African feature films ('Snaaks Genoeg' & 'Finders Keepers") as well as starred in 'Black Sails' in season 3 ep10 as the 'Pirate Prisoner & also in 2016 he can be seen in 'Getroud Met Rugby' television series as 'Kallie' and will be on air from the 4th of July 2016 on KYKnet channel/DSTV. There is also new projects in the near future.
- Actor
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- Executive
Football was Michael's ultimate passion until a severe knee and shoulder injury in his senior year shattered his dreams. A Summa honors student, Michael has always possessed a zest for doing what most other people cannot attain. This ambition led him to the entertainment world where he has worked in multiple capacities for many years.
He played hockey, football, and rugby competitively--a born leader, he was a team captain in all 3 sports, winning awards and championships in all 3 sports as well.
Michael attended the University of Calgary on an academic scholarship. He quickly became bored with his studies. Even though he did not attend classes, and did more partying than studying, he still managed to attain honors status in his grades. His boredom made him decide to leave University and at the age of 18, when he proceeded wrote his first novel.
Years later, he found himself going from startup company to startup company, as they are always provided a big challenge. At the age of 25, he found himself as the Associate Publisher of a magazine---having moved up from a salesperson to Director of Sales, to Staff Writer, to Head Writer, to Creative Director, and finally Associate Publisher and part owner of the magazine.
At the age of 26, by a weird twist of fate, Michael ended up at a talent agency where he instantly became hooked. Seeing how this could tie in all of his passions and provide unlimited opportunity and different challenges, the rest is history...- Location Management
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Tom studied acting for two years in Guildford before landing his first job in a two and half month contract at the London Coliseum working with the ENO on La Clemenza Di Tito. Tom then went on to work with the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden for two years on an assortment of productions, including Tosca, Die Tote Stadt, Simon Boccanegra, Lohengrin and Iphigenie, along with a selection of other stage productions.
Tom made his international feature film debut in the hard-hitting, controversial movie 'Shank'. Tom played the complex character of Jonno, a sexually ambiguous scally who handles his best friends coming out particularly badly. Shank quickly became the best selling film of its genera to come out of the UK in over a decade, playing at over 50 film festivals, streaming on Netflix and making it to the number one best sellers spot on Amazon and itunes in the UK and America.- Actor
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Pacharo Mzembe is an Australian based actor specialising in Theatre, Film & Television. He is a proud alumni of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) accepted at the age of seventeen. He briefly suspended his acting career in the summer of 2012 to embark on a staggering run across Australia titled the Run Of Awareness. The run was founded by Pacharo to highlight the inequality of educational opportunities for disadvantaged youths in Australia & around the world. Although Pacharo started out in theatre, he has appeared in numerous motion television and movie roles which include Paramount Pictures "Monster Problems", Channel Nine's "Here Come the Habib's", ABC's "Harrow " & SBS's "Safe Harbour". His theatrical highlights include the portrayal of Dr Martin Luther King Jr in the award winning "The Mountaintop" and adrenaline pumping "Prize Fighter" wherein he was awarded a "Green Room Award" & nominated for the "Sydney Theatre" & "Helpmann Awards" for his portrayal of an ex-child solider turned boxing contender. Pacharo originates from Malawi, a small country located in the South East of Africa but was born in Zimbabwe. He migrated to Australia at the age of six to the sunshine state of Queensland. Outside of acting Pacharo is extremely passionate about youth empowerment, filmmaking and encouraging individuals to "Be Unafraid".- Actor
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Ron Rafael Shimshilashvili is a Israeli-American Actor, Comedian, Host, Producer & Director who has a net worth of $50 million. Shimshilashvili was born in Netanya, Israel, and later at the age of 3 moved to Antwerp, Belgium. His parents named hem Ron Rafael because when they were young they listened to the songs of a famous Israeli Hip Hop/Pop singer Ron Shoval and Rafael is the name of the grandfather. They gave him the nickname "Dubi", which means "Bear" in Hebrew, because he was as big and cute like a bear so often as a baby. Shimshilashvili grew up in Antwerp, Belgium, and attended Tachkemoni Atheneum. At the age of 15 Shimshilashvili moved to Miami! Shimshilashvili has said that he would "flip out" if he got a "B" and not an "A" in school, and has also described himself as having been a class clown. Although self-described as not academically gifted, he remained focused enough to achieve an overall GPA of 3.55. He subsequently appeared in theater productions at his high school, and began taking singing lessons. He was later signed to the Elite Talent Agency. Shimshilashvili began his acting career at age eight, playing Student on King Solomon Hotel. He said that he learned "everything" about how to act while on the show. He later had minor roles. Shimshilashvili has been described as having a Celebrity looks alike: Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone & Steven Seagal.
Ron speaks various languages like Hebrew, Dutch, French, English, Georgian, Russian & Spanish. Ron at a young age of 15 started his modeling and acting career. For him, Modeling and Acting are fields that he's truly passionate about, but at the same time too, Ron is also an athletic guy who enjoys Basketball, Rugby & Water polo. Ron appeared in the following Films: What Teenagers Want to do, Hanoar Hatzioni, The Lovers and Friends Show, Crackhead Jesus the Movie, College Rule, International Lovers & The Fighter. He also had the following Television appearances at MTV's Is She Really Going Out with Him?, Neustria Tele's Halloween, Sun Sports Dwayne Wade's Buzzer, 3 on 3 Basketball Competition, Park Live, Channel 7's Weather & Alguien te Mira on Telemundo, Nisha, Zombie Land, Santa vs. Zombies , Chocolate Star Entertainment, Romantic City, Love Divided By Money, The Glades, Burn Notice & Rock Of Ages. Theater is also something that Ron is passionate on; he had performed at Tachkemoni Atheneum for Plays La Conference De Livre1 and 2, Bourla Theaters for Coffers Op Reis, Calibri School's for Zoo, Romi Goldmuntz Centrum for Bat Mitzvah Party & King Solomon Hotel for The Stand-up Comedy Show. Commercials are also something that Ron is passionate on; He has been on YOUniversity Commercial, Pepsi Commercial, Green Bay Packers Commercial, Taxman Commercial & Hollywood Hotels Resorts Commercial. Ron, aside from being a talented actor is also a professional model, represented by Elite Models. Ron shares in his recent interview with Next Hottest Model, which highlights the top models in both US and International scenes, "I love modeling, and acting, when I'm in the movie, I feel free, peace, just enjoying life!" Ron had taken various courses in Modeling from Ad Miami, Flair Modeling, and got what it Takes Modeling. He had done different major Print and Modeling campaigns with Fashion brand, Abercrombie and Fitch, Israel Magazines, Netanya Magazine, TKO, Armani Shirts & Modeled for Levis Jeans.
In Feb 2010, Shimshilashvili appeared in "Crack head Jesus the Movie" which won first place at the "Delray Beach Film Festival". In June, 2010, Shimshilashvili appeared in the International Lovers Movie, which came out in Theaters in March of 2011. In November, 2010, Shimshilashvili appeared on a Pepsi Commercial. Shimshilashvili also appeared on MTV'S "Is she really going out with him", Later Shimshilashvili got an audition for a new movie "The Detective Story" Simshilashvili made the Audition and became the main character of this movie as "Vinny". In December 2010 Shimshilashvili Appeared on The Fighter. In February, 13th 2012 Shimshilashvili got nominated as "Best Actor" and won! Shimshilashvili also appears in Rock of Ages as a comedian! Now currently working on a new movie called "Romantic City" and on his first CD Album calls "Baby you are the one!"- Actor
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Rob Jenkins, is an Australian actor with experience in film, television and theatre. Although a career playing Rugby League was his passion throughout his preteen and teenage years. It was in the performing arts, that he found the flame of desire. During his teenage years, his only performances would come when bored in class, in front of classmates on top of his desk. It was not until his late teens that he embraced performing and began to study the craft. He studied at The Actors Workshop in Brisbane and made his feature film debut in The Spierig Brothers, Australian zombie hit ''Undead'' (2003), playing the role of pilot "Wayne". In 2008, Jenkins played hired hitman "Orca", in ''Sharkmen'' and performed the role of "Crowe" in Artspear Entertainment's alien sci-fi comedy ''Australiens'' in 2014. The same year, he was reunited with The Spierig Brothers, in time-travel drama ''Predestination'' (2014) in the role of "Mr Jones". He has in excess of 30 short film credits, in all of which he played the leading role. Most notable short film credits include Wasted (2001), Broken (2010), A 12 Step Program (2010) and The Irving Hand Prophecy (2001) in which he played the title role and was awarded Best Actor at the Warner Bros. Filmmaker Awards in 2001. Jenkins' is also well versed when it comes to Television, which roles include the hospital drama, "All Saints" (2003) on Channel 7 in the role of "Jacob Chalmers", ABC's comedy news hit, The Chaser's ''CNNNN'' (2003) as the 'Comedy Crew' Lead Anchor and in Artspear Entertainment's comedy series ''The Void''(2011) as pretentious film director "Gustaf Buganski". He appeared in Hoodlum's mystery thriller series ''Secrets & Lies''(2014) on Network Ten and portrayed "Todd Ramsey", a drug addicted and disgraced former detective, in ''Scout'' in 2016. Jenkins has once again teamed up with Artspear Entertainment in 2017, to revive his role of "Gustaf Buganski", in the next installment of The Void series titled, ''The Void: Rebooted". Jenkins' has also appeared in countless Television Commercials and Corporate Videos and provided the voices for projects on both TV and Radio.- Danny was born in San Francisco, California on April 24th, the second of two boys to Wayne and Cathy Smith. His father Wayne is a decorated officer in the San Francisco Police Department and his mother Cathy worked as a Kaiser Permanente nurse for 30 years.
Danny attended College Park High School in Pleasant Hill California, where he excelled as a three-sport athlete in Football, Wrestling, and Baseball. Subsequently, Danny attended San Diego State University where he studied sociology and played Rugby for the University team.
In the summer of his senior year, Danny was scouted and given the opportunity to model for Abercrombie & Fitch in New York City for their Winter 2005 campaign. After graduation Danny made the decision to pursue a career in entertainment. His father encouraged him in this endeavor and advised him to move to Los Angeles.
Since his arrival, Danny has had success with recurring roles in soap operas, several commercials, and most recently a supporting role in Surrogates (2009), the upcoming Bruce Willis film opening in September 2009. - Actor
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Christopher is an actor and stunt performer known for, 'Inside number 9', 'Assassin's Creed', 'Cannibals and Carpet Fitters' and 'Rev'. He graduated from Sheffield University with a degree in Economics before completing a post graduate course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Christopher is skilled in various forms of martial arts with advanced screen combat experience. Additional skills include; gymnastics, trampoline, Horse riding, high diving, Scuba diving and climbing. In Addition, he has also performed as a picture double for Taylor Kitsch, Michael Fassbender, Dylan O'Bryan, Sam Riley, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and various other characters.- Actor
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Reece Kirk was born July 19, 1984 in Wollongong, just south of Sydney, Australia. Reece began his career in the entertainment industry right out of High School by fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a Pro Wrestler. Always athletic, Reece played Rugby League his entire teenage years. After transferring to a performing arts school for his final few years of High School, Reece developed a love for acting. Combining his love for performing and his natural athletic ability, he began touring Australia with the WXA as "Chance" and became a major fan favorite. After tearing up the wrestling ring for a few years, Reece was called over to play the Terminator in the T2:3D Action Show at Universal Studios Japan. After 2 years in Japan, Reece returned to Australia and moved to Melbourne, where he broke into the TV and modeling world. After immediate success Reece decided that Hollywood was where he belonged. So in July 2007, Reece moved to Los Angeles. Hollywood responded well to Reece's good looks, chiseled physique and Aussie charm and he immediately started booking commercials and modeling work. After just 2 months Reece booked the lead in the indie horror film, "Bowling Ally". Although it was never released, Reece continued to book leading roles in film as well as guest starring on TV shows such as Nickelodeons Big Time Rush and playing the unstoppable Vampire on Deadliest Warrior. Reece is also known for Park's and Recreation. Just a month after moving to Hollywood he met fellow actor Diane Yang, it was love at first sight and the two married shortly after. The two have worked on many projects together, producing Diane's Youtube cooking show "HOIA food and cooking". They also share a love of cats and with CARE rescue they have helped many cats and have 4.- Actor
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Originally a professional rugby player from Hull, East Yorkshire, David studied a Business Management degree at Leeds University before training as an actor at the Stella Adler Studio in New York, playing Hamlet in his final year. He returned to the UK in 2012 and now lives in London.- Jesse Murphy is an American actor, model, and singer.
He has attended USF,SMC, UCLA and currently studies at MC. While at college, he became a certified personal trainer specializing in sports nutrition. Growing up, he has always shown a love for the arts. Throughout high school, he has performed in three plays holding the lead in two of them. While performing, he played division AAA high school football, and rugby and was recruited to play for division II and division III schools. At seventeen, he made the move on his own to San Francisco where he was accepted in the American Conservatory of Theatre master class. While at the University of San Francisco, he had the opportunity to work with Peter Randolph in his first photo-shoot. Wanting to make modeling and acting a career, he made the move to Hollywood.
He has extreme amounts of drive and is willing to make the sacrifices to make his goals come true. Before turning eighteen he had met and signed with management, commercial print, and daytime representation. Continuing to hone his craft, he studied in workshops at UCLA, Greg Perry Studios, Meisner Technique, Stanislavski method, while constantly shooting for his book. He started shooting short films, and print commercials, and fell in love with the entertainment industry.
Jesse has landed two nationwide campaign ads with Metro-Park, Phormula INC. promotional modeling for Rockstar Energy Drink, and fantasy lingerie. Jesse has portrayed the lovable dater on MTV Parental Control Season 7 and as Nathan in the web series M.E.N. In addition, he has been blessed to have the opportunity to work on The Wheeler Boys with Alex Frost (Stoploss) and Lorenzo Henrie (Star Trek), and Division III with Andy Dick. He was also featured in Jason Biggs and Tyler Labine's new TV movie, True Love.
At nineteen, he made the move back to the east coast after signing with a larger agency and resides in NYC. Jesse is auditioning for Broadway and will continue to do what he loves. - Nicholas Kattar is an actor, writer, musician.
He is a union member of Actor's Equity Association
Graduated from Berklee College of Music with a bachelor's of music degree.
Holds a dual citizenship of the U.S. and Great Britain
Studied acting with Robert Modica at Carnegie Hall and The Terry Schreiber Studio - Grant Garland, born 03.04.79 in Sydney Australia, first discovered his love of performing and storytelling at high school when he co-wrote, directed and acted in a number of high school theatre productions. It wasn't until many years later that the pull to perform was too strong to ignore. He enrolled in a screen actor's course - Grant has continued to study acting - and was soon auditioning and landing roles in award winning television series and dramas such as, Home & Away, Underbelly Razor, Crime Scene Investigations Australia and Recipe for Murder, as well as commercials, short films and features. Most noted for playing dark characters, they couldn't be further from the cheeky, Rugby loving, Aussie larrikin that is Grant's true personality. With a sharp wit, an infectious smile and a wicked sense of humour, when he isn't acting or studying Grant couldn't be happier than when he's sharing a beer with mates, indulging in a good Japanese meal, cooking up a storm in the kitchen for his family and friends or satisfying his adventurous side by exploring the world.
- Born in Middlesex, England, Binky went to Merchiston Castle Boys School in Edinburgh, Scotland. There he enjoyed a variety of sports, most predominantly rugby. This talented young actor caught the eyes of his drama teachers, and Binky went on to entertain his fellow students, his passion for acting eventually leading him to the Two Lights Theatre Company in California. His parents are Suzan and Ben. Binky is the eldest of five children, all of them creative and stunning, Anastasio, Laura, Constaniyn-Hugo, and Brigitta. Laura and Brigitta are also pursuing acting careers, and should be in the public eye soon. Binky's hobbies include heli-skiing, rugby, English Football, and, of course, acting. Binky is currently living in Santa Monica, California.
- Jake William Smith is an actor and stand up comedian/performance artist.He was born in South London in 1982 to Ann-Colette Smith and Barry Smith.
Raised in South London he took part and won a poetry competition for the London Borough Of Sutton at the age of 9 yrs old for his performance of 'The Supermarket Manager'.
He took an interest in sports as his uncle was a player and coach for the Leicester Tigers rugby team and so pursued an interest in rugby from a young age.
He attended John Fisher School, a catholic boys school and led a double life of playing first team rugby and becoming part of the Croft Drama Group for aspiring actors.
Through the Croft Drama Group, Jake won all 3 medals at a very high level from London Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Unfortunatley Jake suffered a broken back from playing rugby and so pursued any line of performance related hobbies including several rock bands where he was the lead singer of Croydon based band 'Howler Monkey'.
After recovering from such a nasty injury Jake decided to turn all his efforts to education completing his degree at Rose Bruford College and Northampton University.
The next few years were a controversial few years.
He was arrested on numerous occasions for fighting and disorderly conduct.
Jake went to Barcelona to complete a teaching qualification for TEFL.on completing the qualification he found work for a business only to find out it was a boiler room scam.
Throughout all his controversies Jake continued to do stand-up comedy and acted in several short films.
He is writing new material and is always looking for new projects. - Actor
- Producer
- Director
Kaya Francis Redford has been honored with the title "Award-Winning Director" for Homeless in America (2004), a Hi-Def Documentary he produced and directed, on the plight of the homeless with interviews from the Los Angeles Police Chief, Los Angeles Mayor, CEO of LA Mission, KCAL 9 News Anchor and a great cast comprising of star celebrities and homeless individuals. "Homeless In America" was selected at the New York Independent Film & Video Festival, and won the Best Social Documentary Award in September, 2004 in New York.
Kaya Francis Redford was born and raised in the USA and educated in several countries around the world, including Spain, France, Algeria & England and now resides in Southern California. Kaya attended one of England's most prestigious private schools where he not only captained the rugby team but was a great student as well, finishing in the top 1% of the Nation. After 8 years of British schooling, he took a break from calling everyone "Sir" and went back into the American system, studying at Richmond in London and UCLA with a background in Marketing and Advertising.
Kaya has been involved with numerous film projects, TV shows, music videos, exercise videos and has recently formed "LegacyLight Incorporated", a Motion Picture Production & Distribution Company (www.LEGACYLIGHT.com) with his partner John to "...not only champion social causes but carry the torch for bettering society by helping gifted people reach their goals and aspirations within the entertainment industry".
In addition to producing several projects under "LegacyLight Inc.", Kaya recently wrapped up the starring role in a feature which is in post-production and he is now shooting the starring role in a new Sci-Fi feature with mind-blowing special effects. For all you Sci-Fi fans, this will be coming to theaters, everywhere, soon.- Actor
- Stunts
Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Gardiner has been a professional actor in Vancouver since 1997, he has appeared in many science fiction series, including recurring roles in Stargate-SG1 and Flash Gordon. A former black belt in Uechi-Ryu karate, he also placed second in the 1987 heavyweight division of the Nova Scotia bodybuilding championships and played Rugby on the Nova Scotia provincial team for 8 years.- Born in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tommy attended Millsaps College (Masters of Business) and University of Mississippi (Law School). Also studied in London, Munich, Vienna, and Buenos Aires. While studying in Mississippi, Tommy competed in college level baseball and rugby. His first taste of acting occurred when he took part in the play Cactus Flower.
Before moving to Los Angeles and pursuing an acting career, Tommy worked as a Health and Safety consultant in the Nuclear industry. - Director
- Writer
- Producer
Campbell was born in Brisbane, Australia, the third of four children. His father Onus an accountant and his mother Sandra a school teacher. As a kid, he loved playing sport and going to the beach. He represented his city and state in rugby and later completed a Bachelor of Business Degree at Queensland University of Technology. During college, he supported himself working as a laborer, law clerk, property salesman, accounting clerk, liquor barn attendant and nightclub manager. Campbell's passion for film was ignited with his first viewing of 'Apocalypse Now'. After graduation, he spent several years in London and Sydney working in banking, studying filmmaking & acting and seeing the world. Eventually returning home to Brisbane, Campbell began working in production on commercials and films.- Actor
- Executive
- Writer
Marc was born in Scotland but grew up in the north of England. The eldest son of Jeff and Pauline, he grew up at Burtree House in not far from the town of Appleby from which he takes his professional name. Marc attended Appleby Grammar School, a 900 year old institution which included past students St. John Boste (martyred in the 13th century), Dick Whittington and George Washington's brothers, Augustine and John. Marc studied at City University in London and later received a Masters in Acting from the Academy of Live & Recorded Arts. Between the two Marc worked in investment banking and consulting for 10 years. Following a move to Los Angeles in 2005 Marc now lives and work in Tampa FL. He is Chief Operating Officer of a consulting firm. Marc continues to perform locally and has co-developed a sitcom and movie.- James is a writer of environmental education articles and developing documentaries for schools and for TV.
James is a Co-Executive Producer for the "Wild Justice" TV series on the National Geographic Channel (2010-2013) which is inspired by a documentary that he produced through his own production company, Snow Goose Productions, LLC.
He grew up on a Michigan island in Lake Erie, Grosse Ile. In high school he won awards in football, golf and archery, and began his acting career with the role of "Charlie Davenport" in the Senior Class play, "Annie Get Your Gun." At the University of Michigan, he played intercollegiate football and rugby (leading scorer, 1963), placed second in intramural golf and earned a BS, MS and Ph.D in environmental studies and psychology, and studied TV production at the U. of M TV Center.
He paid his way through graduate school as the environmental education coordinator for the Ann Arbor, Michigan, Public Schools, leading field trips for thousands of children. In 1970 he was one of the producers of the nation's largest college Earth Day teach-in. That same year he appeared at 22 teach-ins across the US, speaking and playing music, and he wrote and hosted his first documentaries on air pollution and pesticides in 1970-71 for the U of M TV Center.
He's been a college professor of ecology and psychology at the Universities of Michigan, Western Washington State, Oregon, and Washington.
James has lectured widely across North America, and in Japan and England for audiences up to several thousand, and has made guest appearances on Donahue, Good Morning America, CBC and NHK, and appeared on the Sightings, Modern Marvels, and Ancient Mysteries TV series.
James' screen acting career began as an extra in the movie "Tucker: The Man and His Dream"when he was placed in a scene with Martin Landau, who encouraged him to pursue acting. He studied at the SAG Conservancy and has been coached by Anne Brebner. He frequently plays action roles and was Patrick Stewart's stunt double in "Star Trek First Contact." Kevin Bacon's escort guard in "Murder In the First" and was the phys.ed teacher in "Jack" competing for J.Lo. with Robin Williams.
He has performed folk, rock and country music since the l960's and is a member of ASCAP. In 2003, his song, "The Solution to Pollution," won "Best Country Song" in the ZAP Pollution Solution national contest.
James enjoys many outdoor sports (Outward Bound Certified Whitewater Instructor) and has hosted two outdoor outdoor TV shows, as well as writing over 70 Outdoor TV shows.
From 2001 to 2010 he was a Contributing Editor for ESPNOutdoors.com and a featured expert for the ESPNOutdoors special "The Wrath of Hurricane Katrina." He's a regular contributor to the Outdoor Wire, and several outdoor magazines.
The author of 10 popular non-fiction books that have sold well over 250,000 copies worldwide. James' books often show the psychology of environmental conservation, and have common theme of integrating ancient wisdom with modern science. From 1988 to 1993, he and his wife, Roberta, produced five annual Spirit of Place Symposiums in the US and Japan, featuring 350 speakers with over 10,000 attending. Members of 20 different American Indian tribes, Australian Aborigines, Polynesian, Inuit and African cultural representatives participated, and there were concerts with Paul Horn, R. Carlos Nakai, Anna Halprin, and the Japanese fusion Band Earth Spirit.
In 2002 James and his son, Andrew, founded Snow Goose Productions. They since have several produced documentaries, pilots for reality TV shows, commercials, book trailers and were a field unit for "Wild Justice."