Advanced search

Paul Walter Hauser is an American actor and comedian. He played supporting roles in the films Cruella, I, Tonya, Late Night, BlacKkKlansman, and Da 5 Bloods. In 2019, Hauser had his breakout performance as the title character in the film Richard Jewell, leading the National Board of Review to award him for best Breakthrough Performance. He portrayed Raymond, better known by his nickname "Stingray", in Cobra Kai and was also seen in the TV show Kingdom.

Colleen Ann O'Shaughnessey is an American voice actress. She is best known as the current voice of Miles "Tails" Prower in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise beginning with the TV series Sonic Boom (2014), and reprises the role in further games along with the Sonic film series beginning with Sonic the Hedgehog (2020). O'Shaughnessey's other roles include Sora Takenouchi in Digimon: Digital Monsters (1999), Jazz Fenton in Danny Phantom (2003), and Ino Yamanaka in Naruto (2002).

Taylor Daniel Lautner was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Deborah, a software company worker, and Daniel Lautner, a pilot for Midwest Airlines. He and his younger sister Makena were raised in a well-mannered, Roman Catholic household in Hudsonville, Michigan. He is of English, German, Dutch, and Scottish descent. At the age of six, Taylor began studying martial arts at Fabiano's Karate School and he, along with his family, quickly noticed his unique and natural talent for the sport. He was soon invited to train with seven-time world karate champion Michael Chaturantabut (aka Mike Chat) and, at the age of eight, he was asked to represent his country in the 12-years-and-under division in the World Karate Association, where he became the Junior World Forms and Weapons champion, winning three gold medals. In 2003, Taylor continued to flourish in the martial arts circuit where he ranked number one in the world for NASKA's Black Belt Open Forms, Musical Weapons, Traditional Weapons, and Traditional Forms and, at the age of 12, he became the three-time Junior World Champion.

However, in addition to his love for martial arts, Taylor quickly developed a love for acting at the age of seven years old when his martial arts instructor, who was involved in show business, encouraged him to audition for a small appearance in a Burger King commercial. Although he was unsuccessful, he enjoyed the experience so much that he told his parents that he wanted to pursue a career in acting. Soon, he and his family were traveling back and forth from their home in Michigan to California so Taylor could regularly audition for acting roles. When Taylor was 10, with the frequent traveling and air fares starting to become overwhelming, his family made the crucial decision to relocate to Los Angeles, where Taylor would have the advantage of being able to audition for films, television, and commercials full-time.

Once Taylor moved with his family to Los Angeles, he found himself landing more and more small acting roles. He booked many occurring roles on various television shows such as My Wife and Kids (2000), Summerland (2004), and The Bernie Mac Show (2001). Taylor also found himself becoming successful in films as well. In 2005, he landed the role of Sharkboy in the family blockbuster flick, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D (2005), and the role of Eliot Murtaugh in Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005). However, it would be one single role that would ultimately change Taylor's life forever. In 2008, Taylor auditioned for the iconic role of werewolf hunk Jacob Black in the record-smashing, blockbuster hit Twilight (2008). With the sudden and unexpected success of the film, Taylor, along with fellow cast members Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, found himself being propelled into a world that would forever change his life and his career.

Taylor has continued to portray Jacob Black in the following film adaptations of The Twilight Saga as well as branch out into other roles and films, such as the star-studded romantic comedy Valentine's Day (2010) and the action-packed thriller Abduction (2011). Taylor Lautner has quickly become one of the most famous, talented, and successful young Hollywood actors thanks to the blockbuster success of the Twilight (2008) films. It has quickly been established by this young man's diverse and gifted talent that we will continue to be his audience for many years to come.

Although his name is often linked to that of the "movie brat" generation (Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Brian De Palma, etc.) Paul Schrader's background couldn't have been more different than theirs. His strict Calvinist parents refused to allow him to see a film until he was 18. Although he more than made up for lost time when studying at Calvin College, Columbia University and UCLA's graduate film program, his influences were far removed from those of his contemporaries--Robert Bresson, Yasujirô Ozu and Carl Theodor Dreyer (about whom he wrote a book, "Transcendental Style in Film") rather than Saturday-morning serials. After a period as a film critic (and protégé of Pauline Kael), he began writing screenplays, hitting the jackpot when he and his brother, Leonard Schrader (a Japanese expert), were paid the then-record sum of $325,000, thus establishing his reputation as one of Hollywood's top screenwriters, which was consolidated when Martin Scorsese filmed Schrader's script Taxi Driver (1976), written in the early 1970s during a bout of drinking and depression. The success of the film allowed Schrader to start directing his own films, which have been notable for their willingness to take stylistic and thematic risks while still working squarely within the Hollywood system. The most original of his films (which he and many others regard as his best) was the Japanese co-production Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985).

Lindsey Normington was born on 24 July 1996 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. She is an actress and director, known for Anora (2024), Borderline (2021) and The Idol (2023).

Eric Allan Kramer is an American actor and fight choreographer. Kramer has appeared in numerous feature films and television programs including True Romance and Robin Hood: Men in Tights and is also known for his performances as Thor in The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988), and as Scott Miller on AMC's Lodge 49 but is best known for his role as Dave Rogers on The Hughleys and Bob Duncan on Good Luck Charlie from 2010-2014. He also appeared as Iron Mike Wilcox in the 2019 video game Days Gone.

Stacy Haiduk was born on 24 April 1968 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for The Young and the Restless (1973), Days of Our Lives (1965) and Prison Break (2005). She has been married to Bradford Tatum since 11 November 1997. They have one child.

Jackie Swanson was born on 25 June 1963 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. She is an actress, known for Cheers (1982) and Lethal Weapon (1987).

Toni Trucks is an American theater, film, and television actress.

Trucks studied Musical Theatre at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Upon graduation, she moved to New York where she performed regionally before relocating to Los Angeles to make her television debut as the female lead on Showtime's comedy series Barbershop. Her other television credits include Hostages, The Soul Man, House, All of Us, Veronica Mars, 'Til Death, Brothers, CSI: NY and the telefilms Star Runners and Starstruck. She has made multiple guest appearances on NCIS: New Orleans and Grimm.

Her previous film credits include Dreamgirls, Weapons, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 and Music and Lyrics.

Trucks is a series regular on CBS's military drama series SEAL Team. She plays Lisa Davis, the logistics Officer responsible for making the arrangements to get the team and their gear where they need to be. Trucks was also a series regular in the CBS legal drama, Made in Jersey, about a working-class woman named Marina (Janet Montgomery) who uses her street smarts to compete with her more polished colleagues at a top New York law firm. Trucks played Cyndi Vega, Marina's lively secretary and "comradette" in arms. She also guest starred in the pilot of NBC's mid-season thriller Do No Harm.

Her theater credits include By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, Cactus Flower, Stormy Weather, Kiss Me, Kate, West Side Story, Oklahoma!, Follies, Footloose, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Ragtime, Sweet Charity, and Children of Eden. Trucks studied theatre abroad at London's Marymount College and has over 17 years of dance training including ballet, modern, and tap.

Trucks co-starred in the 2012 Fox Searchlight film Ruby Sparks. The film starred Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, and was directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine). She is also featured in the final installment of the blockbuster hit series Breaking Dawn as Mary, a member of the American Nomadic Vampire coven.

Trucks's parents are divorced but live about a mile apart in Manistee, Michigan. She also has two older brothers.

Shawn can most recently be seen in Magnum PI on CBS and Chicago Med on NBC. Prior to that, he was featured in ABC's The Rookie and recurred in Freeform's Famous In Love starring Bella Thorne. He co-created and starred in the film Love In The Sun for Hallmark. He also stars in the film Savannah Surprise on Netflix and the independent feature Last Seen In Idaho.

Anthony Kiedis is a singer with the hugely successful alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, the other members being Flea, John Frusciante, and Chad Smith. Red Hot Chili Peppers have scored five top-five albums in the UK and America, and have sold over sixty million records worldwide since their formation in 1983. Former band members have included Josh Klinghoffer, Jack Irons, Dave Navarro, and the late Hillel Slovak. His records with the Red Hot Chili Peppers have been certified both Gold and Platinum.

Kiedis is also an actor and has taken roles in a string of films.

He is the son of actor Blackie Dammett aka John Kiedis.

Andy Richter was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the second of four children of Glenda (Palmer), a kitchen cabinet designer, and Laurence R. Richter, who taught Russian at Indiana University. He was raised in Yorkville, Illinois. His parents divorced when he was four. Richter attended the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign and then moved to Chicago's Columbia College to study film. Richter played in several Chicago improvisation groups before catching his role with Conan O'Brien.

He was married to Peggy - real name Margaret - and they divorced when their son Anthony was young. Blackie has two children - Anthony who was born in 1962, and James, who was born in 1991. He lived in Los Angeles for many years and whilst living there, he changed his name from John Kiedis to Blackie Dammett. He raised wolves and wolf hybrids in Michigan in the 1990s. In 2007, he moved to Portland, Oregon.

At eighteen, Matt Keeslar moved from Adrian, Michigan to New York City to attend the drama division of The Juilliard School. The Juilliard faculty had selected him to fill one of twenty spots in "Group 24", the twenty-forth class to participate in Juilliard's rigorous acting program. Along with the group projects Matt performed at Juilliard, he also played the title role in a touring production of Moliere's Don Juan, directed by Joseph Chaiken; produced and starred in a student production of "Waiting for Godot; and participated in several interdepartmental productions, including playing the title role in Igor Stravinsky's A Soldier's Tale. Matt signed with ICM in his second year at Juilliard and immediately won roles in Quiz Show (1994), directed by Robert Redford, and Renaissance Man (1994), directed by Penny Marshall. In his third year, Matt won a lead role in the movie Safe Passage (1994), in which he played the son of Susan Sarandon and Sam Shepard. He finally dropped out of Juilliard after his third year to take accept the lead role in Peter Yates' Film The Run of the Country (1995). Matt went on to star in professional plays in New York and regionally. He originated the roles of Boyd in Nicky Silver's Fit to be Tied, Nathan Hale in David Stanley Ford's The Interrogation of Nathan Hale, Bo in Laura Cahill's Mercy, and Ricky in Jack Heifner's Earth to Bucky. Despite his love of theatre, Matt worked in film and television most frequently. Some of the highlights from his film career include: Waiting for Guffman (1996), The Last Days of Disco (1998), Scream 3 (2000), and Art School Confidential (2006). He guest-starred in several television projects, and starred in The Middleman (2008), a series for ABC Family in which he played the title role.

Elizabeth Wilson was born April 4, 1921, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Marie Ethel and Dunning Wilson. She attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Elizabeth's film debut was in Notorious (1946) in an uncredited role. She later appeared in Patterns (1956), and her performance was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Film. With over 70 film and television appearances, we should acknowledge her work in The Graduate (1967), 9 to 5 (1980), The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981), The Addams Family (1991), and Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001).

Kim Zimmer was born on 2 February 1955 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. She is an actress, known for Body Heat (1981), Guiding Light (1952) and MacGyver (1985). She has been married to A.C. Weary since 29 August 1981. They have three children.

Born Virginia Pound, Lorna Gray was "discovered" by an agent while modeling in a fashion show. She was given a screen test, and Columbia was impressed enough to sign her to a contract. (It was at this time that she was given the name "Lorna Gray", which she kept until 1945, when she changed it to "Adrian Booth".) She was put in the studio's B unit, occasionally loaned out to Republic or Monogram, and when not making features was used in Columbia's comedy shorts, supporting such performers as The Three Stooges and Buster Keaton (where she actually acquitted herself quite well). She left Columbia and began her long career with Republic Pictures in 1941, appearing in westerns, thrillers, horror pictures, and especially the serials in which the studio specialized. She married David Brian in 1948, and after making films for a few more years, retired from the screen in 1951.

Jess Walton was born on 18 February 1946 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for The Young and the Restless (1973), Capitol (1982) and Cannon (1971). She has been married to John Warren James since 20 December 1980. They have one child. She was previously married to Bruce Davison.

Kenajuan Bentley was born on 10 January 1975 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. He is an actor, known for Shrinking (2023), All the Queen's Men (2021) and Babylon (2022).

Kiff VandenHeuvel is originally from Grand Rapids, MI and is an alumni of The Second City comedy theatre. Along with performing on camera in film and television, Kiff is also an accomplished and sought after voice actor, who specializes in voice matching. He produces and hosts a podcast called "All Over Voiceover". Kiff has his producing certificate from UCLA Extension, and develops projects for film and TV. He lives in LA with his wife and daughter.

Most familiar to TV audiences as no-nonsense Sheriff Roy Coffee on the long-running western series Bonanza (1959), Ray Teal was one of the most versatile character actors in the business. In his almost 40-year career he played everything from cops to gunfighters to sheriffs to gangsters to a judge at the Nuremberg War Crimes trials. He could play a kindly grandfather in one film and a heartless, sadistic killer in the next, and be equally believable in both roles. A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, he was a musician who worked his way through college playing the sax in local bands. At UCLA in the 1920s he formed his own band and led it until 1936. He appeared in several films in minor bit parts, and it wasn't until 1938 that he had a somewhat more substantial part, in Western Jamboree (1938). The next year he had a bigger part in the splashy Spencer Tracy adventure Northwest Passage (1940) as one of Rogers' Rangers. He appeared in serials, westerns, crime dramas, costume epics (he even appeared as Little John in The Bandit of Sherwood Forest (1946)!), war pictures, had a small but memorable part as an anti-Semitic blowhard who gets knocked into a store display by Dana Andrews in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) and a bigger and more memorable part as one of Spencer Tracy's fellow judges in Judgment at Nuremberg (1961). He also made many appearances on TV, in everything from The Lone Ranger (1949) to Green Acres (1965). He died of natural causes in 1976.

James T. Callahan was born on 4 October 1930 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. He was an actor, known for Knight Rider (1982), The Governor & J.J. (1969) and Black Sheep Squadron (1976). He was married to Peggy Cannon. He died on 3 August 2007 in Fallbrook, California, USA.

Steven Ford was born on 19 May 1956 in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. He is an actor, known for Starship Troopers (1997), Black Hawk Down (2001) and When Harry Met Sally... (1989).

Cory Wharton was born on 5 March 1991 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Black Spartans, Devil's Ride and The Challenge: USA (2022).

Bio 2024 Antonia Franceschi is a Time Out Award Winner for Outstanding Achievement In Dance and is an alumni of The New York City Ballet, selected by George Balanchine.

Works have been created for her by Balanchine, Robbins, Martins, Lubovitch, Baldwin, McGregor, Clarke, Armitage, Phillips, and van Laast. As a young dancer while still in high school she starred in the films Fame and Grease. Before joining NYCB she danced in Makarova and Company and was partnered by Sir Anthony Dowell.

She recently choreographed Dr Semmelweis to five star critical acclaim and sold-out audiences at London's Harold Pinter Theatre directed by Tom Morris co-written by Mark Rylance and Stephen Brown starring Mr Rylance.

The Guardian ***** 'The use of ballet dancers is equally moving: they dance as a young woman dies in childbirth - and this is not sentimental, it ambushes you (the fabulous choreography is by Antonia Franceschi)'

She choreographed Othello directed by van Kampen for The Globe Theatre as well as Idaspe for Pittsburgh's Byham Theater, Quantum Theater and Chatham Baroque, and was movement director at The Park Theatre, director van Kampen,.

Recently she danced in Jess and Morgs film "An Evening With Taglioni", as Taglioni.

Franceschi created and produced New York Ballet Stars performing at The Queen Elizabeth and Royal Festival Halls, touring both The Harrogate and Sintra Festivals. She was an advisor for The South Bank Center for five years, programming.

She has choreographed extensively for British and American companies.

Franceschi has been a judge on BBC's Young Dancer competition. She was invited by Boris Charmatz to dance in Musée De La Dance at the Tate Modern. Franceschi has taught and teaches The Royal Ballet, The New York City Ballet, Rambert Dance, DV8, Juilliard, Alvin Ailey, Joffrey and Rambert Schools, among others.

The Soho Theatre performed her play Up From The Waste directed by Nancy Meckler (London's West End Four Stars, Telegraph). She received a grant for POP8 for The Lion and Unicorn Theatre where she collaborated with Mark Baldwin, Zoe Martlew, and Ballet Black. Franceschi was interviewed for the book Balanchine, Then and Now, and has been a guest on Woman's Hour.

She was the Associate Choreographer for Arlene Philips duet for Candoco, and the Rehearsal Director for The Royal Opera Houses' Other Stories with Wendy Whelan and Edward Watson.