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- Actor
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Joshua Ryan Hutcherson was born on October 12, 1992 in Union, Kentucky to Michelle Fightmaster, who worked for Delta Air Lines, and Chris Hutcherson, an EPA analyst. He has one younger brother, Connor Hutcherson. From the age of four, Josh knew that he wanted to be an actor. In order to pursue his goal, Josh and his family moved to Los Angeles when he was nine-years-old.
In 2002, Josh landed his first acting role in the TV film, House Blend (2002), with Amy Yasbeck, Dan Cortese and Sean Faris. The same year, Josh was cast in the pilot, Becoming Glen (2002), but Fox did not order it to series (though, several years later, it was reconfigured as the short-lived series, The Winner (2007), starring Rob Corddry, and co-written/produced by Seth MacFarlane). Toward the end of 2002, Josh appeared on an episode of ER (1994).
Josh made his big-screen debut, in 2003, with a bit part in the Oscar-nominated American Splendor (2003). His career began its measured ascent in 2005 with a supporting slot as one of Will Ferrell's kids in Kicking & Screaming (2005), a co-starring role in the indie hit Little Manhattan (2005), and another co-starring role in Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005), which was originally conceived as a sequel to Jumanji (1995). Despite underperforming at the box office, "Zathura" helped earned for Josh his first Young Artist Award for "Leading Young Actor".
2006 saw bigger returns for Josh's burgeoning film career with a role as one of Robin Williams' sons in the modest hit, RV (2006). The following year, he landed his first breakthrough role in Bridge to Terabithia (2007), the kid-approved adaptation of Katherine Paterson's novel that co-starred AnnaSophia Robb, whose career was also taking off at this time.
Josh starred as Brendan Fraser's nephew in another family-film hit, Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008), and he had a smaller role in the Crash-like drama, Fragments (2008), though by now his face and name were being used in movie-marketing materials. Though it wasn't a hit, Josh's character in Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009) served as a major plot device early in the story.
In 2010, Josh co-starred in the critically-acclaimed film, The Kids Are All Right (2010), alongside Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, and Mia Wasikowska. The film received several awards and four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Josh's performance as the youngest child in a family, led by two mothers, earned him acclaim from audiences and the industry, alike. Josh followed up with an expanded role in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012), which saw Dwayne Johnson take over as the main character from Brendan Fraser. Between the star power and the allure of 3D, the sequel was a worldwide hit and a third installment is in development.
With the announcement that he would portray the beloved "Peeta Mellark" in The Hunger Games (2012), the film adaptation of the best-selling novel written by Suzanne Collins, Josh became an instant celebrity. In the wake of the movie's massive worldwide success, Detention (2011), a horror/comedy that Josh made before "The Hunger Games", was released. Josh was also an executive producer on that feature.
Before Josh reprises his role as "Peeta" in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), we will see him in the long-delayed remake of Red Dawn (2012); the omnibus 7 Days in Havana (2011) (aka "7 Days in Havana") (Josh's segment was directed by Benicio Del Toro); The Forger (2012) opposite Lauren Bacall, Alfred Molina, and Hayden Panettiere; and the animated Epic (2013) from Ice Age (2002) co-director (and voice of "Scrat"), Chris Wedge.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
In both career and in real life, Bobby Cannavale tends to choose the unconventional way of doing things. In the beginning, his decisions may have cost the dark, swarthily good-looking actor some acting roles and/or good-paying parts but, in the end, his strong work ethic and sense of self, despite a lack of formal training, allowed him to take a successful path off the crowded acting trail. From character goofball and cut-up, he has broken into the leading man ranks with his recent starring role as a reincarnated matchmaker in the TV series Cupid (2009).
Born Roberto M. Cannavale on May 3, 1971, in Union City, New Jersey, to an Italian-American father, Sal, and a Cuban mother, Isabel, he was involved in various activities at his Union City Catholic school, St. Michaels, while growing up. An altar boy, choir boy and lector, he also appeared in the church school's various musicals including his very first, "Guys and Dolls", in which he showed up as one of the gangsters, and "The Music Man", appearing as the lisping, scene-stealing tyke, "Winthrop".
Bobby's parents divorced when he was five years old and his mother moved the family to Puerto Rico for a couple of years. Eventually, they returned to the States and settled in Coconut Creek, Florida, where he attended high school. Restless and uncomfortable in any sort of regimented setting, he often got suspended for playing the class clown. Graduating in the late 1980s, and bitten by the acting bug, Bobby chose to return to the New York/New Jersey area in order to jump start an acting career. Working in bars to support himself, he again avoided the confines of an acting school and, instead, gained experience as a "reader" on occasion with the Naked Angels theatre company. During this time (1994), he met and married Jenny Lumet, the actress-daughter of director Sidney Lumet. They had son, Jake, the following year. The couple divorced in 2003.
Spotted by playwright Lanford Wilson while performing in an East Village production of Larry Kramer's "The Normal Heart", Bobby was invited to join Wilson's prestigious Circle Repertory Theatre. As a "reader" for the company, he eventually earned stage parts in "Chilean Holidays" (1996) and in Wilson's "Virgil Is Still the Frog Boy." He also went on to serve as understudy to Mark Linn-Baker in a 1998 production of "A Flea in Her Ear" and later replaced him. A noticeable role in the company's play, "The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told" by Paul Rudnick led to Bobby's being cast in the recurring role of a tugboat operator in the TV series Trinity (1998). Having only appeared in bit parts thus far in such movies as Night Falls on Manhattan (1996), directed by Lumet, and I'm Not Rappaport (1996), it was "Trinity" creator John Wells who caught Bobby's stage performance and handed him this career-making break on camera.
Bobby's "nice-guy" aura and blue-collar charm proved invaluable, if a bit restrictive. Once the "Trinity" series ended, Wells cast the 6'3" lug with the trademark caterpillar brows and crooked smile as lovelorn paramedic "Bobby Caffey" in his series Third Watch (1999). The character became quite popular but Bobby, again feeling restricted and wishing to broaden his horizon as an actor, asked to be released from the show -- but "in a big way". Creator Wells obliged and had the paramedic fatally shot in the chest and then experience a "beyond the grave" union with his character's deceased, ne'er-do-well dad.
Bobby next joined the cast of father-in-law Sidney Lumet's acclaimed TV courtroom drama 100 Centre Street (2001), starring Alan Arkin, cast against type as a brazenly opportunistic prosecutor. He subsequently earned recurring roles on Ally McBeal (1997) (in 2002) and Six Feet Under (2001) (in 2004). As for films, Bobby was featured in Gloria (1999), The Bone Collector (1999), Washington Heights (2002) and The Guru (2002) by the time he scored as the gregarious food truck driver in the critically-hailed indie film The Station Agent (2003), which paired him intriguingly opposite the diminutive actor Peter Dinklage.
Unwilling to shirk away from more controversial roles such as his gay drug dealer who has the hots for a fellow prisoner in the acclaimed series Oz (1997) or his closeted dancing neophyte in the film comedy Shall We Dance? (2004) starring Richard Gere, Bobby continued to elevate his status seesawing between film (Shortcut to Happiness (2003), Happy Endings (2005), Romance & Cigarettes (2005)) and TV assignments (the miniseries Kingpin (2003)). He earned big viewer points and an Emmy Award for his recurring portrayal of Will's dour cop/boyfriend on the hit sitcom Will & Grace (1998) in 2004. Elsewhere, on stage, he merited attention in such productions as "Hurlyburly" and earned a Tony Award nomination for his 2007 Broadway debut in "Mauritius."
After five consecutive failed pilots, Bobby has come front-and-center with his quirky starring role in the ABC series Cupid (2009), plus recurring roles in Cold Case (2003) and Nurse Jackie (2009), and his second Emmy-winning part in Boardwalk Empire (2010). He continues to rake up credits on the big screen with (The Merry Gentleman (2008), Diminished Capacity (2008), The Take (2007), 100 Feet (2008), Roadie (2011), Blue Jasmine (2013), link=tt2883512], Ant-Man (2015), I, Tonya (2017), Boundaries (2018) and The Irishman (2019), and with fascinating continuing/regular roles on such TV series as Cupid (2009), Cold Case (2003), Boardwalk Empire (2010), Nurse Jackie (2009), Vinyl (2016), Mr. Robot (2015) and Homecoming (2018), this dark, brutish character has plenty of staying power in both comedy and drama.- Actor
- Music Department
- Producer
Charles Napier was born in the tiny community of Mt. Union, near Scottsville, Allen County, Kentucky, to Linus Pitts Napier, a tobacco farmer and postman, and his wife, Sara, on April 12, 1936. He attended public school in Scottsville. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the Army in 1954. He rose to the rank of E-5 (Sgt.) while serving as company clerk with Company A 511th Airborne Infantry, 11th Airborne Division. He was a lively character actor who usually played edgy military types and menacing bad guys. His film debut was in Russ Meyer's Cherry, Harry & Raquel! (1969).
Napier went on appearing in other Meyer movies, including the homicidal Harry Sledge in Supervixens (1975) and also became a regular playing smaller roles for Jonathan Demme. His memorable portrayals of tough guys included the scheming intelligence officer in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) and the short-tempered front man in The Blues Brothers (1980).- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Robert Wuhl was born on 9 October 1951 in Union Township, New Jersey, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Arli$$ (1996), Batman (1989) and Bull Durham (1988). He has been married to Barbara Koldys Capelli since May 1983.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Arthur Steven Lange grew up a child of a middle class family in Union, New Jersey. At Union High School, Lange excelled in baseball, becoming an All County third baseman. Working long afternoons with his loving contractor father, Artie developed a comical view of social classes, and his place in life as a barrel-chested Italian boy. After Artie completed high school, his father, who was a cable installer, fell off a roof and became a quadriplegic. Artie changed his college plans to be near his family, taking up odd jobs as a clerk, laborer and cab driver. After his fathers' death four years later, Artie quit his Port of Newark longshoreman's' job to play his first gig at New York's Improv in Hell's Kitchen. Gaining steadying success Artie pursued sketch comedy, helping to create the popular improvisation group, "Live On Tape". Doing improvisation landed Artie his major break. He was cast as an original member of Fox's Mad TV (1995) in 1995. Hollywood success would bring down the comic with substance abuse and a possession for cocaine arrest. Mad TV fired him in 1997. After rehab, depression and a 40-pound weight gain, Lange found himself out of work until Saturday Night Live (1975)comedian Norm MacDonald remembered him. Lange played MacDonald's sidekick in both Dirty Work (1998) and ABC's Norm (1999). As a guest during a promotional tour with MacDonald,Howard Stern first heard and liked Lange. Years before, Artie and his father listened daily to the Howard Stern Show. Artie joined the nationally syndicated The Howard Stern Radio Show (1998)in 2001, bringing impressions and an average guy prospective to the radio and E network shows. However, his troubled past re-emerged through his years on the Stern show and Artie had fights with various staff members and splits with the show on several occasions up until his suicide attempt in 2010 when he left the show for good. Artie spent 7 months in a rehab center in Florida and emerged stating that he was finally clean and sober. Artie returned to radio in 2011 when, along with his friend Nick DiPaolo, they inked 3-year deals for a nationally syndicated radio show on Fox Sports. The show is called "The Nick and Artie Show".- Actress
- Soundtrack
A performer since childhood (she was widely known then as "Cuddles"), pert and pretty, raven-haired Lila Lee was brought to Hollywood by Paramount mogul Jesse L. Lasky and debuted in a starring role with The Cruise of the Make-Believes (1918) as a poor girl supported by a rich admirer. Following her appearance as a servant wench in Cecil B. DeMille's Male and Female (1919), Paramount starting grooming her to eventually supplant the highly temperamental and troublesome Gloria Swanson. Lila's talent, however, was lighter in weight and, though she enjoyed great popularity in such films as Blood and Sand (1922) with Rudolph Valentino, Another Man's Wife (1924), The Midnight Girl (1925), Love, Live and Laugh (1929) co-starring George Jessel and The Unholy Three (1930) opposite Lon Chaney, Swanson had little to worry about. A series of bad judgments and highly publicized bouts with illness led to Lila's swift decline. She made a few dismal comebacks on stage and in TV soaps in the 1950s but to little fanfare. Her last picture was as a hayseed mom in the deservedly obscure Cottonpickin' Chickenpickers (1967). Her actor-turned-writer son James Kirkwood Jr., however, earned fame on his own for penning the play "P.S. Your Cat Is Dead" and the musical "A Chorus Line." Lila died of a stroke in 1973.- Joey Bragg was born on 20 July 1996 in Union City, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Liv and Maddie (2013), The Outfield (2015) and Mark & Russell's Wild Ride (2015).
- Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 5, 1934, actor Zakes Mokae was initially a jazz saxophonist. Moving to England in 1961, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and became one of the most distinguished thespians in South Africa for over two decades.
Mokae was one of the few actors capable of crossing the divided racial sections, punctuated by his collaborations with white writer Athol Fugard. Together they founded the radical theater group The Rehearsal Room in the 50s that specifically dealt with his country's injustices. In fact, over the years his performances in "The Blood Knot," "Boesman and Lena," "A Lesson from Aloes" and "Master Harold...and the Boys," have been universally applauded.
He fled the racist apartheid policies in South Africa in 1969 and migrated to America, subsequently winning a Tony award in 1982 for "Master Harold..." and proceeded to perform in American films to somewhat lesser acclaim, including A Dry White Season (1989), A Rage in Harlem (1991) and Waterworld (1995). TV appearances included strong appearances on such programs as "Law & Order," "Dream On," "Oz," "X-Files," "The West Wing" and "Monk."
In later years, Mokae moved to Las Vegas and served as artistic director for the Nevada Shakespeare Company. 75-year-old Mokae died there from complications of a stroke on September 11, 2009. - Actress
- Music Department
- Composer
Allison Strong was born in Union City, New Jersey USA. Allison is an actor and composer, known for Leo (2023), The Week Of (2018) and Allison Strong: Brontë (2023).- Actress
- Writer
- Executive
A.J. Mendez was born on 19 March 1987 in Union City, New Jersey, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for WWE Smackdown! (1999), WWE NXT (2010) and The JBL & Cole Show with Renee Young (2012). She has been married to Phil Brooks since 13 June 2014.- Doreen June Mantle was born 22 June 1926 in Johannesburg, South Africa and was a character actress who is probably best known for her recurring role as Mrs Warboys in the long-running British sitcom One Foot in the Grave (1990) appearing in 18 episodes in the 1990s.
Mantle first travelled to Britain with her parents when she was just six weeks old. Around four years later they returned to South Africa. She then returned to the UK permanently in her late twenties.
She appeared in many British television series from the 1960s to the present, such as The Duchess of Duke Street, The Wild House, Chalk (1997), Casualty (1986), The Bill (1984), Doctors (2000), Holby City (1999), Love Soup (2005) and Jonathan Creek (1997). She played lollipop lady Queenie in Clatterford (2006).
Mantle has worked extensively on the stage in such productions as My Fair Lady, Keep It in the Family, The Seagull and Hamlet. She also toured Britain in Billy Liar in the role of Florence Boothroyd and performed at the National Theatre in The Voysey Inheritance. In 1979 she was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in Death of a Salesman. She also did a great deal of radio work for BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service.
In 2011 Mantle appeared in Coronation Street (1960) as the mother of Colin Fishwick whose identity was taken by John Stape. - Producer
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Willie Robertson was born on 22 April 1972 in Bernice, Union Parish, Louisiana, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for God's Not Dead (2014), Duck Dynasty (2012) and The Blind (2023). He has been married to Korie Robertson since 11 January 1992. They have six children.- Writer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Additional Crew
Gene Lesser was born on 15 October 1925 in Union City, New Jersey, USA. He was a writer, known for Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1956), Lock Up (1959) and Going Home (1971). He was married to Jacqueline Scott. He died on 23 June 2020 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov born 20 September 1988 is a Russian former professional mixed martial artist. He competed in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was the longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion, having held the title from April 2018 to March 2021. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. With 29 wins and no losses, he retired with an undefeated record.
A two-time Combat Sambo World Champion, Nurmagomedov has a background in the disciplines of Sambo, Judo and Wrestling. Nurmagomedov was ranked #1 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings at the time of his retirement, until being removed following his title vacation in March 2021. Fight Matrix ranks him as the #1 lightweight of all time.
Hailing from the Republic of Dagestan in Russia, Nurmagomedov is the first Muslim to win a UFC title. He is the most-followed Russian on Instagram, with more than 33 million followers as of February 2022. He is also a mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter, known for promoting the Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC). Since retirement, he has transitioned to a mixed martial arts coach and corner-man. - Producer
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- Actor
Jase Robertson is the son of Phil Robertson (aka "The Duck Commander") and Kay Robertson. Jase appears as himself on the A&E reality TV show, Duck Dynasty (2012). Jase was born and raised in West Monroe, Louisiana with his brothers Alan Robertson, Willie Robertson and Jep Robertson and his parents, Phil and Mrs Kay. Jase is in charge of the production of Duck Calls in the family-run business, "Duck Commander", and works in the duck call room with his Uncle Si Robertson and brother Jep Robertson, along with employees Martin and Godwin. He is constantly coming up with ways to goof off from work with his colleagues, which very much annoys his brother, Willie, who is the CEO of the business.- Irina Potapenko was born in 1986 in Krim, Soviet Union. She is an actress, known for Revanche (2008), Princess (2006) and Anduni - Fremde Heimat (2011).
- Actor
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- Additional Crew
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (July 18, 1918 - December 5, 2013) was the former leader of the African National Congress (ANC). He was known for his lifelong struggle against apartheid (enforced racial separation), which was instituted in South Africa in 1948. The ANC was soon declared a terrorist organization and banned by the South African government. Mandela was arrested in 1962 and imprisoned for life on "terrorist" charges, but in 1990, he was freed by South African president F.W. de Klerk. In 1994, Mandela was elected president of South Africa.
Two biographical films were made and Mandela and de Klerk (1997) focused on Mandela's life's struggles.- Actor
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James Gracie was born on 8 January 1978 in Boksburg, Transvaal, Union of South Africa [now South Africa]. He was an actor and writer, known for Discreet (2008), Eye in the Sky (2015) and Semi-Soet (2012). He was married to Anel Alexander. He died on 28 April 2023 in South Africa.- Actor
- Producer
Artjom Gilz was born in 1987 in the Soviet Union. He is an actor and producer, known for Without Remorse (2021), 100 Things (2018) and The Final Journey (2017).- Cody Newton was born on 13 June 1987 in Union, South Carolina, USA. He was an actor, known for The X Files (1998), The Greatest Adventure of My Life (2002) and The Runaway (2000). He died on 26 March 2016 in Union, South Carolina, USA.
- Actor
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- Producer
Louis Del Grande was born in 1943 in Union City, New Jersey, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Scanners (1981), Seeing Things (1981) and Speed Zone (1989).- Actor
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- Director
José Elías Moreno was born on 12 November 1910 in Las Palmas, Unión de San Antonio, Jalisco, Mexico. He was an actor and writer, known for Santa Claus (1959), Las tres perfectas casadas (1953) and La bestia magnífica (1952). He was married to Beatriz Jimeno. He died on 15 July 1969 in Mexico, D.F., Mexico.- Actor
- Director
Aleksey Rozin was born on 4 February 1978 in the Soviet Union. He is an actor and director, known for Loveless (2017), Leviathan (2014) and Nastoyashcheye budushcheye (2020).- Actor
- Producer
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Amador Granados was born on 13 September 1959 in Unión de San Antonio, Jalisco, Mexico. He is an actor and producer, known for El Porvenir (2011), Rivales de sangre (1999) and El Mandadero (2015).- John Barrard (born 1924 in Cape Town, South Africa, died 2013 in England, UK) was a British character actor who had a career spanning five decades and who perhaps is best known for playing Dooley, Santa's #2, in Santa Claus: The Movie (1985).
Barrard's television appearances included the Concierge in 'The Count of Monte Cristo', Gatekeeper in an episode of Armchair Theatre (1956), George in The Larkins (1958), Napoleon in The Army Game (1960), Carlos the Pedlar in The Saint (1962), Mr Craddock in Crossroads (1964), the Shopkeeper in the Doctor Who story The Reign of Terror (1964) and two roles in Coronation Street; Harry Mascall in 1972 and Sidney Wilson in 1974. Before these roles he appeared in the Coronation Street (1960) spin-off Pardon the Expression (1965). Other appearances included Ludo McAllister in Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1965), Sid Seaton in Softly, Softly (1966), Arnold Maddox in The Troubleshooters (1966), Harris in Public Eye (1968), Valarti in The Avengers (1969), Sir Bruce Ingoe in Callan (1969), King of Diamonds in Here Come the Double Deckers (1970), Mr Whitfield in Doctor at Large (1971), Shop Assistant in Budgie (1972), and Mr Forbes/Mr Finch in The Fenn Street Gang (1971-1972).
Further television credits included Gem Setter in The Protectors (1972), Pilkington in Follyfoot (1973), Lionel in The Growing Pains of PC Penrose (1975), Chauffeur in The Sweeney (1976), Mr Oliver in Survivors (1977) Judge Lambsfoot in Dick Turpin (1980), Scruffy Man in The Professionals (1980), Dr Losborne in Oliver Twist (1982), Jonathon Hopper in Whoops Apocalypse (1982), Mr Barraclough/Executive in Metal Mickey (1980-1982), Lapsley/Josie's Dad in Last of the Summer Wine (1976-1983), Mr Adam in The Witches and the Grinnygog (1983), the Retired Morris Dancer in The Black Seal episode of The Black Adder (1983), Old Mr Brooks in We'll Think of Something (1986), Arkroyd in Never the Twain (1986-1987), Bernie in Terry and June (1979), Oskar Friedman in War and Remembrance (1989), Harold Wharton in One Foot in the Grave (1990), Anatole in Jeeves and Wooster (1990), Mr Pebbles in Sean's Show (1992), Baths Attendant in Minder (1993), Houseowner in Keeping Up Appearances (1990), Norman Spencer/Mr Jeffries in The Bill (1989-1999), Stamp Collector in Mr. Bean (1994) Security Guard in As Time Goes By (2000), and Mr Taylor in Doctors (2002).
His film roles included the Taxidermist in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), Lennie Ross in Cover Girl Killer (1959), Small Man in Peeping Tom (1960), There Was a Crooked Man (1960), Honeydew in The Primitives (1962), Consul in We Joined the Navy (1962), Zebra Man in Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River (1968), Wedding Guest in Crossplot (1969), Patron in Our Miss Fred (1972), Blind Man in Tales from the Crypt (1972), Benjamite Elder in King David (1985), Dooley in Santa Claus: The Movie (1985), Walter in Buster (1988), and Old Man in Swinging with the Finkels (2011).
Theatre appearances included The Tenth Man (1961) at the Comedy Theatre.
Barrard was the Chairman of the North West London branch of the actors' union Equity.
He died in 2013 aged 89. He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium on 17 October 2013 and his ashes were interred at the Golders Green Jewish Cemetery in May 2014. - Aleksandr Konstantinov was born on 15 August 1980 in Dzhankoi, Ukraine, Soviet Union. He is an actor, known for Psikhologini (2017), Derevenshchina (2014) and Vzroslaya doch, ili Test na... (2010).
- Writer
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Don Rhymer was born on 23 February 1961 in Union, South Carolina, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for Ferdinand (2017), Big Momma's House (2000) and Surf's Up (2007). He was married to Kate. He died on 28 November 2012 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Producer
- Actress
- Writer
Alicia Menendez was born on 2 July 1983 in Union City New Jersey, USA. She is a producer and actress, known for Latina to Latina (2018), Mango Season (2020) and ABC News: Your Voice, Your Vote 2014 (2014). She has been married to Carlos Prío Odio since 15 February 2015. They have one child.- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Bob Kelljan was born as Robert Kelljchian on June 23, 1930, in Union City, NJ. He began his show-business career as an actor: He appeared in episodes of both The Twilight Zone (1959) and The Outer Limits (1963) but also pops up in small roles in the fun biker opus Hells Angels on Wheels (1967) and the groovy hippie flick Psych-Out (1968) Kelljan made his filmmaking debut as writer and co-director of the sordid incest drama Flesh of My Flesh (1969). He achieved his greatest commercial success with the excellent drive-in horror hit Count Yorga, Vampire (1970) and its equally solid sequel, The Return of Count Yorga (1971). His other theatrical features include the funky blaxploitation outing Scream Blacula Scream (1973), the splendidly sleazy vigilante revenge exploitation winner Act of Vengeance (1974) and the enjoyable redneck action romp Black Oak Conspiracy (1977). He also directed episodes of such TV shows as Hill Street Blues (1981), Bring 'Em Back Alive (1982), Fame (1982), Police Story (1973), Charlie's Angels (1976), The Dukes of Hazzard (1979), +"Vega$ (1977)_, _"Starsky and Hutch" (1975)_ and Wonder Woman (1975).
Bob Kelljan died from cancer at the tragically young age of 52 on November 25, 1982.- Actor
- Music Department
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Eddie Kendricks is an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do the Things You Do", "Get Ready", and "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)". As a solo artist, Kendricks recorded several hits of his own during the 1970s, including the number-one single "Keep on Truckin'."
Kendricks was born in Union Springs, Alabama, the son of Johnny and Lee Bell Kendrick. He had one sister, Patricia, and three brothers, Charles, Robert, and Clarence. His family moved to the Ensley neighborhood of Birmingham, where he met and began singing with his best friend Paul Williams in their church choir in the late 1940s. In 1955, Kendricks, Williams, and friends Kell Osborne and Jerome Averette formed a group called The Cavaliers, and began performing around Birmingham. The group decided to move for better opportunities in their musical careers, and in 1957 the group moved to Cleveland. In Cleveland, they met manager Milton Jenkins, and soon moved with Jenkins to Detroit, where the Cavaliers renamed themselves 'The Primes'. In 1961, Osbourne moved to California, and the Primes disbanded. Kendricks and Paul Williams joined forces with members Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin and the Distants after three members quit and became The Elgins, who on the same day changed their name to The Temptations and signed to Motown. The Temptations quickly became the most successful male vocal group of the 1960s. Although technically Kendricks was first tenor in the group's harmony, he predominately sang in a falsetto voice. In the Temptations, Kendricks was responsible for creating most of the group's vocal arrangements, and also served as wardrobe manager, including the now famous purple suits the group wore for one performance. Though Whitfield had chief responsibility for writing, Kendricks co-wrote and received credit for several Temptations songs.
Kendricks was nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning one for "Cloud Nine" with the Temptations in 1969. The Temptations received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
In 1998, NBC aired The Temptations (1998), a four-hour television miniseries based upon an autobiographical book by Otis Williams. Kendricks was portrayed by actor Terron Brooks.- Norton Baskin was born on 14 October 1901 in Union Springs, Alabama, USA. He was an actor, known for Cross Creek (1983). He was married to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. He died on 15 August 1997 in Florida, USA.
- Lina Marín was born on 12 August 1944 in Unión Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Mexico. She was an actress, known for Blue Demon contra cerebros infernales (1968), Chanoc contra el tigre y el vampiro (1972) and Patrulla de valientes (1968). She died on 23 June 1989 in Mexico City, Mexico.
- Susan Smith was born Susan Leigh Vaughan on September 26, 1971 in Union, South Carolina. She's the daughter of Linda and Harry Vaughan. Her biological father committed suicide when Susan was six years old. Smith first attempted suicide at age thirteen and was molested by her stepfather when she was a teenager. Following graduation from high school in 1989 she made a second attempt at suicide. In 1994 Susan drowned her sons Michael Daniel Smith and Alexander Tyler Smith by driving her car into a lake (Michael was only three years old while Alexander was a mere fourteen months old). When Smith reported the incident on October 25, 1994 to the authorities she claimed a black man had carjacked her automobile and driven off with the two boys still inside the car. Nine days after an intensive heavily publicized investigation and nationwide search Susan confessed that she had committed this heinous act so she could have a relationship with a wealthy local man who wasn't interested in having a family. Smith's crime was met with much contempt and revulsion by the American public who felt betrayed by her tearful initial attempts at eliciting sympathy by falsely stating that her sons had been abducted. She was convicted on two counts of murder on July 22, 1995 and placed in the Administrative Segregation Unit in the Women's Correctional Center in Columbia, South Carolina so she can serve a life sentence. Susan was then moved to the Leath Correctional Institution in South Carolina after two guards at the previous penitentiary admitted to having sex with her. Smith is eligible for possible parole on November 4, 2024.
- Rodrigo Puebla was born on 13 March 1929 in San Diego de La Union, Guanajuato, Mexico. He was an actor, known for Romancing the Stone (1984), Retorno a Aztlán (1990) and Island of Lost Souls (1974). He died on 15 January 1993 in Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico.
- Desmond Tutu was born on 7 October 1931 in Klerksdorp, Union of South Africa [now South Africa]. He was an actor, known for Our Story Our Voice (2007), 24 Peaces and Jock the Hero Dog (2011). He was married to Nomalizo Leah Shenxane. He died on 26 December 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa.
- Viktor Anatol'yevich But was born on 13 January 1967 in Dushanbe, Tajik SSR, Soviet Union [now Republic of Tajikistan]. He has been married to Alla Vladimirovna But since 1992. They have one child.
- Mischa Zverev was born on 22 August 1987 in Moscow, Soviet Union (now: Russia). He has been married to Evgenia Zverev since 2017. They have two children.
- Director
- Additional Crew
- Animation Department
Cartoonist Otto Messmer was born in Union City (then known as West Hoboken), NJ, on Aug. 16, 1892. He showed an aptitude for drawing as early as grammar school, and his teachers encouraged him to follow that path. After graduating he took a correspondence course in art and attended the Thomas School of Art in New York City. He took a job with an advertising agency, illustrating fashion catalogs, but never lost his passion for drawing. One day his brother took him to a vaudeville act that showed the films of pioneering animator Winsor McCay and Messmer knew what career path he was going to follow. He began drawing his own comic strips and submitting them to newspapers. He also applied to several animation studios in New York for work as a set painter. Producer Jack Cohn at Universal saw Messmer's comic strips, however, liked them and hired him as an animator.
Messmer devised a character called "Motor Mat", a daredevil race driver, and brought it to Cohn. Cohn showed it to well-known animators Pat Sullivan and Henry 'Hy' Mayer, who were so impressed with it that they both asked Messmer to work with them. Messmer chose Mayer and helped him animate his series "The Travels of Teddy", based on the exploits of Mayer's friend Theodore Roosevelt. After Messmer finished that project he went to work for Pat Sullivan. Unfortunately for both of them, Sullivan was arrested for rape in 1917, convicted and sentenced to two years in prison. Messmer went back to Hy Mayer, but was soon drafted into the army and fought in World War I, returning to the US in 1919. By that time Sullivan was out of prison, and the two went back to making animated films.
Later that year Sullivan and Messmer received an order from Paramount Screen Magazine, which made news, travelogue and cartoon shorts, to create a cartoon character (the animator it had originally contracted with was late turning it in) and Sullivan told Messmer to do it on his own. Messmer made the character a sassy, all-black cat and called the cartoon "Feline Follies". It was quite successful and Paramount ordered an entire series of the cat's adventures. Messmer originally called the character "Master Tom" but by the third entry in the series the name had changed to Felix (a combination of "feline" and "felicity").
In 1921 Paramount Pictures decided to close down its Screen Magazine division, and Sullivan managed to get back the rights to Felix the Cat, which had actually belonged to Paramount (even though Sullivan's studio had created it). He then went to Warner Bros. to try to get a distribution deal, but the studio wasn't interested. However, M.J. Winkler, the secretary to Harry Warner, was interested and she and Sulivan eventually signed a production/distribution deal for the Felix the Cat series.
The first entry under the deal was Felix Saves the Day (1922), and it wasn't long before the series was an even bigger hit than it was under Paramount, even managing to secure distribution in Canada. The Messmer/Winkler Felix cartoons were praised for their imagination, humor, puns and intelligence. The success of the series resulted in the company securing an international distribution deal in 1922 that required more than double the number of entries from the previous year, with the resultant expansion of the studio.
Felix was a huge hit with the public, which took him to heart. In 1923 the company turned Felix into a comic strip, which ran until 1943. The strip was popular, but never achieved the status of the cartoons. In addition, the international distribution made the character a worldwide hit.
Felix's popularity began to wane with the coming of sound. Rather than jump wholeheartedly into sound cartoons, as Walt Disney did, Sullivan simply added sound effects to some new Felix films (and went back and did the same to some older entries). The result was shoddy and not up to the standards of the Disney sound cartoons. By 1931 Felix had been eclipsed by a new character, which incorporated both sound effects and dialogue as integral parts of the film, and not just add-ons: Mickey Mouse.
Television revived Felix's career, and new cartoons were created especially for that medium. This time he didn't carry the films alone--he was accompanied by his bulldog Rock Bottom, the eccentric Professor, his somewhat nerdy nephew Poindexter and his "Magic Bag of Tricks".
Otto Messmer died on October 28, 1983, in Fort Lee, NJ, at 91 years of age.- Lubomir Mykytiuk was born in the Soviet Union. He is known for North of 60 (1992), The Sum of All Fears (2002) and Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (2002).
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Jay Eaton was born on 17 March 1899 in Union, New Jersey, USA. He was an actor, known for Lady Be Good (1928), Man-Made Women (1928) and The Affairs of Cellini (1934). He died on 5 February 1970 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Guillermo Álvarez Guedes was born on 8 June 1927 in Union de Reyes, Cuba. He was an actor and director, known for Bla, Bla, Bla (1978), Dios te salve, psiquiatra (1966) and The Big Boodle (1957). He died on 30 July 2013 in Miami, Florida, USA.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Mark Filatov was born in 1990 in the Soviet Union. He is an actor and director, known for Slavik - Auf Staats Nacken (2019), School of Slavik (2021) and Import Export (2020).- Producer
- Executive
Vladimir Nabatov was born on 9 February 1980 in Moscow, Soviet Union [now Russia]. Vladimir is a producer and executive, known for Leo the Truck (2014).- Visual Effects
- Editorial Department
Doug Spilatro was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, USA. Doug is known for Avengers: End Game (2019), The Revenant (2015), Emancapation (2022) and Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019). A graduate of Illinois State University, College of Arts and Science. And a graduate of North Plainfield High School, North Plainfield, New Jersey.- Actor
- Soundtrack
This colorful, high-flying wrestler was a mainstay in the WWF from 1986 to 1993. He appeared at many of the WWF's major Pay-Per-View events during this time frame, such as Wrestlemania, Summerslam, Survivor Series, and Royal Rumble. He was mainly used as a jobber - a wrestler who rarely wins and is mainly used to help elevate other talent. Despite what seemed like an endless losing streak, Koko remained one of the WWF's most popular wrestlers throughout most of his career. His biggest match was probably at Survivor Series 1988, where he wrestled in the main event on Hulk Hogan and "Macho Man" Randy Savage's 5-man team. Koko was always one of the best high-flying wrestlers in the WWF. One of his favorite moves was a dropkick on his opponents from the top turnbuckle. He often came to the ring with multi-colored hair, and he was rarely seen at ringside without his pet parrot: Frankie. One of his strongest attributes was his hard head, which his opponents usually found out when they attempted to ram Koko's head into the top turnbuckle, with no avail. This failed attempt to hurt Koko's head was always picked up on by legendary wrestling commentator Gorilla Monsoon, who would remark "(Koko's opponent) didn't do his homework". His last year in the WWF was spent as a tag team of the late Owen Hart as the high-flying team of High Energy.- Actress
- Soundtrack
The performing arts have been an integral part of Marissa's life for as long as she can remember. She first stepped onto a stage at age 5 and had her first major film role as "pepper" in Disney's Annie at age 10. Marissa studied voice & musical theater at both Westminster Choir College in Princeton and Wagner College in NY. In addition to performing, Marissa has developed her own music company and is currently working as a professional recording artist & singer/songwriter; writing in varied genres such as pop, country, musical theatre, Disney and R&B. When she is not creating music, Marissa finds immense joy in teaching private voice lessons to artists of all ages.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Joseph Oriolo was born on 21 February 1913 in Union City, New Jersey, USA. He was a director and producer, known for Casper (1995), Felix the Cat (1958) and The Mighty Hercules (1963). He was married to Dorothy Oriolo. He died on 25 December 1985 in Hackensack, New Jersey, USA.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Viktor Manuel Hernandez Cerrato. Born in the beautiful city port of La Union, El Salvador; grew up with his parents Victor and Martha and his two brothers Oscar Eduardo and Jose Roberto. The oldest of three brothers, since early age he liked to entertain, participating on local plays in the community and school. At the same time he always was showing the gift of being an artist within his family, planning and performing at family reunions and even some times he would be hired to perform at private parties for children. He was very popular in High School for telling jokes, impersonating teachers and public officials. Graduated from High School in 1988. In 1989 takes a broadcasting course for radio at Leonardo Da'Vinci University in San Salvador. In 1990 he is awarded an academic scholarship from Georgetown University and the CASS program(Cooperative Association of States for Scholarships). He then travels to the United States of America, and in December of 1991 he graduates from the University of South Carolina obtaining Associates Degree in Arts with major in Small Business Management. In 1993 works at a national Airline in El Salvador airport, quickly moving up to Procedures implementation Instructor which allows him to travel to several Central American countries, Mexico and the United States which helps him understand different cultural aspects that later will be applied to interpret roles for characters from different countries.
Looking for better opportunities he traveled to the United States of America where he has settled since 1996.
Viktor has three children.
He participated as volunteer radio announcer and DJ for FM 90.5 radio (WSNC) at Winston-Salem State University for about 2 years.
In the year 2000 thanks to a great friend (Apolo Conos) he met a talent agent (Phil Newsome) with Actors & Entertainers, Inc. based out of Kernersville, NC. Since that time, he has been performing in different roles for TV commercials, instructional videos, cable TV programs , as master of ceremony for several live events, as a principal cast member of Spanish TV series Nuestro barrio (2006) and feature films, having the opportunity to work with great actors like Colin Firth, Ellen Burstyn and Mark Wahlberg among others.
Now he is being represented by Rusty Wiggs with the Artists Resource Agency, one of the best talent agencies in the southeast region.- María Teresa Rivas was born on 5 June 1918 in Unión de San Antonio, Jalisco, Mexico. She was an actress, known for Los Pardaillan (1981), El analfabeto (1961) and El proceso de Cristo (1966). She was married to Federico López Rivas. She died on 23 July 2010 in Mexico City, Mexico.
- Actor
- Producer
- Stunts
Tony Sagastizado is a multi award winning international film,theater and television Actor, producer, writer, singer and director. His films have been officially selected to more than 50 film festivals around the world, including: Canes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival,The American Film Institute , Los Angeles Film Festival,Chicago International Film Festival,Vancouver Cinematec,New York Latino Film Festival, Central American International film Festival, India Film Festival ,Whistler Film Festival (Canada) Burbank Film Festival. Houston International Film Festival ,Toronto International Film Festival. Santa Barbara Film Festival, Awareness Festival,The Valley Film Festival, La Femme International Film Festival,LA Shorts, Genre Celebration Film Festival,Quarterly Award 2020 winner, Philadelphia Film Award 2019, YMM International Film Festival,AFI Festival 2017, Grand Jury Prize Live action short Film, Kashish Mumbai International queer Film Festival jury award winner, NALIP , Reel Rasquache Art Film Festival.
In the last three decades he has worked in more than 70 film and TV projects as well as live theater .
He has produced 4 full length feature films: Commander 357 (shot in LA) , "Matador: in post production. Shot in Los Angeles,"Pist" shot in El Salvador and Los Angeles "smoking doobies"
His production company Canusafilms is in development with the films: "Gringo go home and take me with you." "El Padre Antonio" "Laberinto"
Tony is also a Producer at Chromatic Aberration . A Media's digital authoring center ,which provides an innovative and unique solution that addresses the growing demand for digital content. Our state-of-the-art technology, experienced team, and commitment to delivering the highest quality of services will enable our clients to stay ahead of the curve in the competitive media and entertainment industry.