Contemporary Actors Archives - Page 30 of 49

Guy Pearce

Guy Pearce was born in 1967 in Cambridgeshire. When he was three years of age, his family moved to Geelong in Australia. In 1985 he was cast in the popular soap opera “Neighbours”. He was also featured in “Home and Away”. In 1994 he made international recognition with his role in the cult movie “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”. In the U.S. he has starred in such movies as “L.A. Confidential”, “Rules of Engagement” and “The Time Machine”. He recently won widespread critical acclaim for his role as Monty Beragon opposite Kate Winslet in the miniseries “Mildred Pierce”. He won an Emmy for his performance.

TCM Overview:

Having earned a considerable reputation in his native Australia through such primetime series as “Neighbours” (Network Ten, 1986- ) and “Home and Away” (Seven Network, 1988- ), actor Guy Pearce earned international attention as the bratty drag queen Adam/Felicia in “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (1994). Catching the eye of director Curtis Hanson, Pearce went on to international stardom with his unforgettable portrayal of Lt. Edmund Exley in the critically acclaimed neo-noir, “L.A. Confidential” (1997). From there, he starred in both big and small features like “A Slipping Down Life” (1999) and “Rules of Engagement” (2000), before delivering one of his most memorable performances, playing an amnesiac trying to find his wife’s murderer in Christopher Nolan’s groundbreaking “Memento” (2001). Following underwhelming results with two high-profile projects, “The Count of Monte Cristo” (2002) and “The Time Machine” (2002), Pearce earned critical kudos in smaller fare like “The Proposition” (2006) and “Death Defying Acts” (2008), in which he portrayed famed escapologist Harry Houdini. He delivered a small, but notable turn in “The Hurt Locker” (2009) before portraying King Edward VIII in the Oscar-winning drama “The King’s Speech” (2010) and a playboy who seduces a mother and daughter in “Mildred Pierce” (HBO, 2011), which only added to the handsome actor’s exceptional versatility.

Born Oct. 5, 1967 in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, Pearce and his family immigrated to Australia, setting up roots Geelong, when he was three years old. Five years later, his father, a New Zealand pilot, died tragically in a plane crash, leaving his English schoolteacher mother to care for him and his older sister Tracey. Even as a youngster, Pearce shunned subjects like math and science in favor of art and music. He joined local theatrical groups at the age of eleven, where he appeared in amateur theater productions of “The King and I,” “Alice in Wonderland,” and “The Wizard of Oz.” In a typical mix of Australian duality, at the same time he performed in stage musicals, the teenager also became involved in body building to pump up his naturally thin body. From ages 16 to 22, he competed in competitions, culminating in a “Mr. Junior Victoria” body building win. Lifting weights aside, Pearce knew his real calling was performing, be it on stage, telly or silver screen. Just two days after his final high school exam in 1985, Pearce won the role of hunky student-turned-teacher Mike Young on the popular Aussie soap “Neighbours” (1985), a four-year stint which helped turn him into a major teen idol. After his television successes in such other Australian programs as “Home and Away” (1988- ) and “Snowy River: The McGregor Saga” (1993-96), Pearce next conquered Australia’s big screen, landing parts in the contemporary rock drama, “Heaven Tonight (1990), the comical romantic fantasy, “Dating the Enemy” (1996) and portraying a young Errol Flynn in “Flynn” (1996).

Then he put on a dress, and the rest was history. In the international camp classic, “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” Pearce was the youngest of the three drag performers, a bundle of energy always pushing the envelope. Although “Priscilla” was his first big hit, it was his next film that catapulted him to levels only dreamed of. In 1997, director Curtis Hanson brought him to the States and, ironically, teamed him with fellow Aussie Russell Crowe as California policemen in the superb modern day noir “L.A. Confidential.” As the bespectacled Lt. Ed Exley, Pearce delivered a polished portrayal of a headstrong, politically astute cop who redeems himself in the end. Of the three leads (also including American actor Kevin Spacey), critics took notice of the two Australian unknowns, often mentioning Oscar nominations in the same breath. A far cry from the drag artiste of “Priscilla,” Exley demonstrated the actor’s range and versatility in adapting a flawless American accent.

Pearce further honed his talents as one of a group of soldiers pursued by a cannibal in the graphic thriller, “Ravenous” (1999). That same year, Pearce earned praise for his starring role opposite Lili Taylor, as a bearded brooding musician in “A Slipping Down Life.” Both films debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, but failed to capture much attention when theatrically released. He next costarred in the military courtroom drama, “Rules of Engagement” (2000), starring Samuel L. Jackson as a decorated officer on trial for a rescue mission gone bad and Tommy Lee Jones as his mediocre, but trusted lawyer. Though the two leads were trumpeted on the marquee, Pearce was cited by critics for his strong performance as a bulldog prosecuting attorney. In his most noteworthy performance since “L.A. Confidential,” Pearce landed the lead in Christopher Nolan’s breakthrough feature, “Memento” (2001). As Leonard, a former insurance claims adjuster who suffers from short-term memory loss after an attack in his home that also left his wife dead, he has only instamatic photographs, paper notes and tattoos to help him find his wife’s killer during the 15 minutes he is cognizant. Though Pearce was hailed by critics for his intricate performance, he was overshadowed by Nolan’s inventive backwards narrative and tense direction. Still, an international home run yet again.

On the heels of “Memento,” Pearce made the leap to big budget, special effects-laden Hollywood fare with a contemporary take on H.G. Wells’ classic sci-fi novel, “Time Machine” (2002). Playing a 19th century inventor determined to change the past by using a self-constructed time machine, he is instead hurtled 80,000 years into a post-apocalyptic future, where he discovers that mankind has been divided into hunters and the hunted. The film was not a hit with either critics or theatergoers, though Pearce received his usual acting accolades. He then costarred in “The Count of Monte Cristo” (2002), based on Alexandre Dumas’ epic novel, where he played the deceitful Fernand Mondego, who frames best friend Edmond Dantes (Jim Caviezel) for a crime he did not commit, in order to have his beautiful lover, Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk), to himself. After riding the Hollywood wave for several lucrative years, Pearce returned to his homeland to film “Till Human Voices Wake Us” (2003), a supernatural drama about a psychiatry instructor (Pearce) who develops a romance with a mysterious woman (Helena Bonham Carter) whom he rescues from drowning in a river. In “The Hard Word” (2003), Pearce displayed an engaging wit as the cool-headed brains of a trio of bank robbing brothers released from prison after an off-the-books deal is struck, only to discover that they must rob several banks for a pair of crooked cops and their shady lawyer.

In a change of pace, Pearce appeared in the family-friendly “Two Brothers” (2004), playing Aidan McRory, a big game hunter who kills a male tiger, forcing two orphaned cubs into captivity. After the cubs manage to escape, McRory must protect a nearby village from them, only to have a change of heart after seeing them in their natural habitat. Back again to Australia, Pearce filmed “The Proposition” (2006), a western set at the end of the nineteenth century about an Outback law enforcer who pits three notorious outlaw brothers against each other. Future roles for Pearce include famed escapologist Harry Houdini in “Death Defying Acts” and infamous 20th century artist and tabloid fixture, Andy Warhol in “Factory Girl” (2006) opposite Sienna Miller as his muse, Edie Sedgwick. Following a small, but memorable turn in “The Hurt Locker” (2009), Pearce portrayed Edward, the Prince of Wales, who becomes King Edward VIII only to abdicate the thrown and leave his stuttering brother (Colin Firth) to become King George VI in the Oscar-winning drama “The King’s Speech” (2010). In a rare television role, he essayed playboy Monty Beragon, who seduces a successful businesswoman (Kate Winslet) and her wayward daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) in the acclaimed miniseries remake of the Joan Crawford classic melodrama, “Mildred Pierce” (HBO, 2011). The role earned Pearce an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie.

The above TCM overview can also be accessed online here.

Kyle McLaughlan was born in 1959 in Yakima, Washington. He is associated with the work of the great director David Lynch. In 1984 he starred in Lynch’s “Dune” and two years later was in the brilliant “Blue Velvet”. He went on to star in Lynch’s culy TV series “Twin Peaks” as Special Agent Dale Cooper. Recently he has starred on television in “Desperate Housewives”.

TCM overview:

Plucked from obscurity, clean-cut Kyle MacLachlan became a movie star overnight when he landed the lead in the epic space opera “Dune” (1984), but the film’s disastrous critical reception nearly consigned him to the role of “has been” just as quickly. Luckily for MacLachlan, he had a guardian angel in David Lynch, the visionary director who had cast him in the adaptation of the classic science fiction novel. Lynch would give MacLachlan the starring role in his next film, “Blue Velvet” (1986) and a lead role on the surrealistic television series “Twin Peaks” (ABC, 1990-91). The former would eventually be regarded as a cinematic masterpiece, while the latter became an instant sensation during its first season. Big box office success, however, continued to elude MacLachlan with overlooked vehicles like the sci-fi thriller “The Hidden” (1987) and Oliver Stone’s facile Jim Morrison biopic “The Doors” (1991), as well as starring in the laughing stock that was “Showgirls” (1995), which later developed a rabid cult following. MacLachlan would make a modest return to notoriety on television with recurring parts as the wealthy, impotent husband of Charlotte York on “Sex in the City” (HBO, 1998-2004), and later on the guilty pleasure “Desperate Housewives” (ABC, 2004- ). And while the endearingly stiff MacLachlan became known as a respected working actor, continuing to appear in film and episodic television, there remained the lingering impression of a promising career unfulfilled after such an auspicious beginning under the tutelage of David Lynch.

Born Feb. 22, 1959 in Yakima, WA, MacLachlan attended local Eisenhower High School prior to graduating from the University of Washington’s Professional Actor Training Program in 1982. After the requisite stint in summer stock, he joined Seattle’s Empty Space Theater for a mounting of “Tartuffe” later that year when suddenly everything changed for the young actor. Idiosyncratic director David Lynch was conducting a nationwide audition for the lead in his big-budget adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic science fiction tome, Dune. Adopting a decidedly “what have I got to lose” attitude, MacLachlan tried out for the part, reading a few lines on video tape. Lynch clearly liked what he saw, as MacLachlan – who had never before acted on screen – was soon cast in the epic fantasy film. “Dune” (1984) may have been a lavish feast for the eyes, but it was terribly bloated, nearly collapsing under its own weight, and unfocused in its execution. Many critics viewed MacLachlan’s debut performance as stilted and lacking the gravitas the role demanded. “Dune” would go on to achieve a degree of cult status, but upon its release was considered a spectacular failure. Despite the film’s disappointing reception, David Lynch had found in MacLachlan a leading man with whom he wanted to collaborate again. It would, in fact, be on the director’s very next project.

In “Blue Velvet” (1986), Lynch’s neo-noir journey into the rotten underbelly of American suburbia, MacLachlan played college student-turned-amateur sleuth, Jeffrey Beaumont. The violent, surrealistic thriller starring Dennis Hopper and Isabella Rossellini shocked and offended many critics and theater goers alike upon its release. Over time, however, it would go on to be considered by many to be the pinnacle of Lynch’s career – not to mention MacLachlan’s – as well as one of the most influential films of the 1980s. It was on the set of “Blue Velvet” that MacLachlan met co-star Laura Dern, daughter of actors Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd, with whom he would remain romantically involved until the end of the decade. With his next project MacLachlan stepped out from under the wing of Lynch, starring in the sci-fi thriller “The Hidden” (1987). Playing an intergalactic lawman disguised as an FBI agent sent to capture an alien criminal capable of inhabiting host bodies here on earth, “The Hidden” was as ridiculous as it was fun, with MacLachlan’s stiff body language put to good use in his role as a stranger in a strange world. MacLachlan followed with the television family drama “Dream Breakers” (CBC, 1989), and the barely seen romantic comedy “Don’t Tell Her It’s Me” (1990). After this string of increasingly disappointing endeavors, it was once again in working with David Lynch where MacLachlan would create his most indelible character – oddly enough as yet another quirky FBI agent.

Co-created with Mark Frost, the television series “Twin Peaks” (ABC, 1990-91) found Lynch revisiting the theme of darkness lurking just under the surface in small-town U.S.A., viewed though the prism of his surrealistic lens. As Special Agent Dale Cooper, the eager, super-efficient FBI man with a weakness for non sequiturs, cherry pie and a “damn fine cup of coffee,” MacLachlan blossomed as an actor, his former rigidness becoming stylish and engagingly goofy. In a show populated by weird characters and bizarre happenings, Cooper provided a likable and reassuring anchor. Although canceled after its second season, “Twin Peaks” was an instant pop culture phenomenon, with millions of viewers asking the question, “Who killed Laura Palmer?” While filming the series, MacLachlan began a brief relationship with co-star Lara Flynn Boyle, who played Donna Hayward, the girl-next-door harboring a secret. After “Twin Peaks,” MacLachlan returned to the big screen with another director as accomplished as he was controversial. In Oliver Stone’s rock history lesson “The Doors” (1991), he essayed keyboardist Ray Manzarek, the pragmatic band mate of Val Kilmer’s self-destructive Jim Morrison. It was a thankless role when viewed alongside Kilmer’s scenery-devouring performance as the doomed “Lizard King.” The resulting film, while beautiful to look at and featuring some spot-on performances, failed to shed any new light on the troubled icon. As a vehicle for MacLachlan’s career, it also failed to produce the desired result of elevating his status in Hollywood.

The next year saw MacLachlan taking a small part in the teenage runaway melodrama “Where the Day Takes You” (1992), co-starring his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend, Lara Flynn Boyle. The same year there was also an extended cameo, reviving his role as Agent Cooper, in the prequel “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me” (1992), which chronicled the days leading up to the brutal murder of Laura Palmer. The film, plagued with problems from the start – not the least of which being MacLachlan’s reluctance to participate in the project – was poorly received by both critics and fans of the enigmatic series. Equally disappointing was the Harold Pinter-scripted adaptation of Franz Kafka’s “The Trial” (1993), with MacLachlan starring as Joseph K, an Everyman accused of an unspecified crime. In 1993, MacLachlan was given the opportunity to direct an episode of the horror anthology “Tales from the Crypt” (HBO, 1989-1996), with a tawdry tale of a jealous husband’s plot to murder his wife’s secret lover. Whether it was born of a desire to participate in lighter fare, or simply collect a paycheck, MacLachlan’s next appearance in a feature film was in “The Flintstones” (1994), a live-action rendering of the beloved cartoon. In it, MacLachlan played Cliff Vandercave, a sleazy Neolithic yuppie bent on framing Fred in a stone-age embezzlement scheme. If “The Flintstones” seemed like an unlikely choice for the eclectic actor to take part in, MacLachlan’s next project would be truly jaw-dropping – and for all the wrong reasons.

“Showgirls” (1995) told the rags-to-riches-to-rags story of Nomi Malone (Elizabeth Berkley), a beautiful, young drifter who finds herself thrust into the world of Las Vegas glitz, sex and power. As Zack Carey, the ambitious entertainment director at a major resort, MacLachlan oozed a sort of reptilian charm, providing the NC-17 rated film with one of its more lascivious moments when Zack and Nomi loudly, almost comically make love in his swimming pool. Directed by Paul Verhoeven from a script by Joe Esterhaus – for which the writer was paid a reported $2 million – the film was given a vicious drubbing by the critics. So bad was it, “Showgirls” later achieved cult status, with the likes of Quentin Tarantino regarding it as one of the few examples of enjoyable big-budget exploitation. However for MacLachlan, it was an embarrassment. In an attempt at redemption, MacLachlan next starred in the criminally under-seen “The Trigger Effect” (1996) alongside Elisabeth Shue and Dermot Mulroney. Written and directed by David Koepp, the film explored man’s tenuous grasp on civility when a massive power blackout lasts for several days. Perhaps a victim of preconceived notions, the slow-burn drama was not the apocalyptic survival thriller people were expecting, and the film quickly disappeared from theaters. Even if his film career was not exactly firing on all cylinders, at least MacLachlan’s romantic life was flourishing, when in 1996 he announced his engagement to supermodel Linda Evangelista.

MacLachlan rounded out the decade with a slate of television performances and overlooked feature films. Among them, Larry Bishop’s onerous gangster comedy “Mad Dog Time” (1996); director Mike Figgis’ cautionary tale of marital infidelity “One Night Stand” (1997); the experimental “Timecode” (2000), also helmed by Figgis; and a contemporarily set adaptation of “Hamlet” (2000), starring Ethan Hawke. Following his breakup with Evangelista, MacLachlan began dating television producer Desiree Gruber in 1999 and marrying her three years later. It seemed as if the Hollywood player, known for keeping company with ingénues and supermodels, had finally settled down. MacLachlan’s professional visibility received a boost in 2000 when he scored a recurring role on the incredibly popular dramedy series “Sex in the City” (HBO, 1998-2004). Perfectly cast as the uptight “momma’s boy” and love interest of Charlotte York (Kristin Davis), MacLachlan’s Trey MacDougal did his best to give Carrie’s Pollyannaish gal pal the life she had dreamed of. MacLachlan’s character left the show in 2002, after finally admitting to Charlotte that he had no desire to have children, but the recurring role went a long way toward putting the actor back on the map.

Post-“Sex,” MacLachlan moved on yet again to another stretch of roles in films that few people saw. There was a brief appearance in “Perfume” (2002), a largely improvised ensemble comedy set in the world of New York high fashion. He had a small supporting role in the coming-of-age drama “Me Without You” (2002), and played the ghost of Cary Grant in “Touch of Pink” (2004). MacLachlan took another shot at starring in his own series with the courtroom procedural “In Justice” (ABC, 2005-06). Despite setting itself apart from similar crime dramas by focusing on MacLachlan’s legal team representing wrongly convicted prisoners, the series lasted only a season. He would not be out of work for long, however, when diehard “Twin Peaks” fan and creator of the primetime histrionic soap “Desperate Housewives” (ABC, 2004- ) Marc Cherry cast MacLachlan as Orson Hodge. As the dentist husband of Bree (Marcia Cross) and a generally creepy guy, MacLachlan once again channeled his Lynchian side, much to the delight of the show’s fans. As the 2010-11 season approached it was announced that after a few more cameos, Hodge would be leaving Wisteria Lane for good. Back in theaters, MacLachlan appeared as immigration attorney Charles Foster in “Mao’s Last Dancer” (2010), a biopic recounting the story of famed Chinese dancer Li Cunxin. MacLachlan would also have a recurring role as the Mayor of Portland, Oregon, on the sketch comedy series “Portlandia” (IFC, 2010-11).

The above TCM overview can also be accessed online here.

Jenny Seagrove was born in 1957 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya. In 1983 she achieved national fame in the UK for her role in the very popular film “Local Hero”. She followed this with the lead in the television mini-series “A Woman of Substance”. She also starred as Jo MIlls opposite Martin Shaw in the long running series “Judge John Dee” which ran from 2001 until 2007.

Gary Brumburgh’s entry:

British actress Jenny Seagrove distinguished herself as a sensitive heroine during the 1980s in plush TV romances such as The Woman in White (1982), Diana (1984) and, in particular, the adaptations of Barbara Taylor Bradford‘s A Woman of Substance (1984) wherein she played Emma Harte, and Hold the Dream (1986) as Paula Fairley. Jenny enjoyed a privileged childhood though it was marked with sadness. Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, her father ran an import-export firm and her mother was a British aristocrat who suffered a debilitating stroke when Jenny was less than a year old. At age 9, Jenny attended a girls’ boarding school in England and appeared in school plays. Initially interested in a culinary career, she opted for acting instead and trained at the Bristol Old Vic. After leaving school, Seagrove met Indian-born Madhav Sharma, an actor-director and the marriage lasted between 1984 and 1988 . She also had a long term relationship with director Michael Winner of “Death Wish” fame, whom she met on the set of the Agatha Christie mystery Appointment with Death (1988). She now lives with theatre impresario Bill Kenwright and has appeared in many of his productions including “The Miracle Worker,” “Jane Eyre,” “Present Laughter” and, more recently, “The Constant Wife” and “The Secret Rapture.” To date, her film career has not been as favorably compared to her stage and TV work. She did enjoy a small role playing an offbeat Scottish lass in Local Hero (1983), and in the United States she was seen in an unsympathetic light as the evil nanny in The Guardian (1990), directed by William Friedkin.

– IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net

Gina McKee

Gina McKee was born in 1964 in Durham. She made her film debut in 1988 in “The Lair of the White Worm”. In 1996 she made a strong impression in the excellent television series “Our Friends From the North” with Mark Strong and Daniel Craig. Her other films include “Croupier”, “Notting Hill” and “The Blackwater Lightship” with Angela Lansbury. She played Irene in the re-make of the series “The Forsyte Saga”.

TCM Overview:

Actress Gina McKee lent an ethereal presence to dozens of British film and television projects over the course of a three-decade career, including the award-winning “Our Friends in the North” (BBC 1996), “Notting Hill” (1996), “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” (2002) and numerous episodic series. The daughter of a coal miner, McKee began acting on television, and proceeded directly into guest roles without any actual dramatic training. Her striking visage and thoughtful performances attracted the attention of major directors like Mike Leigh (“Naked,” 1993), Mike Hodges (“Croupier,” 1998), Michael Winterbottom (“Wonderland,” 1999) and writer Richard Curtis, who provided McKee with her biggest project to date in “Notting Hill.” McKee remained an in-demand presence on UK features and in television, which underscored her status as one of the British entertainment industry’s most respected if somewhat unsung talents.

Born Georgina McKee on April 14, 1964 in the English mining town of Peterlee, County Durham, Gina McKee was descended from a long line of coal miners, which included her father. A teacher who encouraged her students to experiment with improvisation introduced her to acting in primary school. Later, as a teenager, she joined a local drama group run by theater director Ros Rigby, which led to appearances in various plays. A talent scout of Tyne Tees, the ITV television franchise for North East England, spotted McKee during one of the group’s productions and cast her in a children’s adventure series called “Quest of Eagles” (Tyne Tees Television, 1979). From there, she spent three summers with the National Youth Theatre before applying to study at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the Central School of Speech and Drama. Though all three schools rejected her, she had earned her Equity card from “Quest of Eagles” and began appearing on UK television and in features.

McKee worked steadily in bit and supporting roles throughout the 1980s and 1990s, most notably in Ken Russell’s psychedelic horror fantasy “The Lair of the White Worm” (1988) and Mike Leigh’s intense drama “Naked” (1993). Three years later, she earned her breakout role in the TV drama “Our Friends in the North,” which followed four friends over three decades of turbulent British history. The film established all four of its stars – McKee, Daniel Craig, Christopher Eccleston and Mark Strong – as major talents and earned McKee Best Actress Awards from both the BAFTAs and Royal Television Society Awards. She soon divided her time between television and feature efforts, earning strong critical praise for her performances in the satirical news program “Brass Eye” (Channel 4 1997-2001) and as Clive Owen’s neglected girlfriend in the noirish “Croupier” (1998) for director Mike Hodges. In 1999, McKee was introduced to international audiences as the paraplegic lawyer Bella in “Notting Hill.” Despite that film’s blockbuster status, McKee remained a fixture of English drama, enjoying character roles in such acclaimed efforts as an adaptation of “The Forsyte Saga” (ITV/WGBH 2002-03), the Oscar-nominated drama “Atonement” (2007), blackly comic satire “In the Loop” (2009) and “The Borgias” (Showtime 2011-2013) as the fierce Catherine Sforza. In 2012, she made a rare return foray to comedy in the series “Hebburn” (BBC Two 2012- ) as the mother of a young man who marries a middle-class Jewish girl during a drunken spree in Las Vegas.

The above TCM overview can also be accessed online here.

Jack Coleman was born in 1958 in Easton, Pennsylvania. He is best known for his portryal of Steven Carrington in the long running tleevision series “Dynasty”. When Al Corley decided to leave the role, Jack Coleman replaced him. Coleman’s other work includes “Cow Belles Entourage”.

IMDB entry:

Jack Coleman was born on February 21, 1958 in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA as John MacDonald Coleman. He is an actor and writer, known for Heroes (2006), Dynasty (1981) and Spawn (1997). He has been married to Beth Toussaint since June 21, 1996. They have one child.Trivia (6)

A sixth-generation grandson of Benjamin Franklin, in turn related to President John Calvin Coolidge Jr. and a remote descendant of the old Earls of Orkney and the ancient Kings of Scotland.

Graduated from Duke University in 1980, where he studied acting.

Has one daughter Tess, born in 1999. His wife Beth appeared in the Wes Craven film Red Eye (2005).

In theater, he won the 1986 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for his performance in “Bouncers”.

Studied acting at the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, and Writers’ Boot Camp.

Gained TV notice after replacing Al Corley in the role of “Steven Carrington”, one of prime-time television’s first openly gay characters, on the night time soap Dynasty(1981).

Personal Quotes:

After a hit show is over, you soon realize this is a very tough business … brutally tough. But I’m a better actor and I have more gravitas than I had at 24 with bleached-blonde hair.

I don’t want to play earnest. I’d rather play somebody who’s kind of sleazy. It’s much more fun, especially in a comedy. You don’t want to be some earnest guy who’s just trying to do the right thing but can’t. I want to be doing the wrong thing intentionally.

I always thought invisibility would be cool, but then I was invisible for most of the ’90s.

I am blind as a bat and I wear contact lenses because the vision they afford is much better. So I wear contacts and then I have to wear reading glasses. My eyes have been bad – I come from bad eyesight on both sides of my family.

I don’t play a lot of convicts or mafia guys. I’m usually a professional, a doctor, lawyer, banker… that kind of thing. But sometimes you get to be the twisted guy, too, which is what I’m relishing so much about this [Heroes] role. There’s nothing worse than playing a milquetoast. I’m happy to play a jerk, and I’m happy to play a bad guy. It really is fun to be able to play somebody who has a dark, sinister side.

I would love to do a movie like All the President’s Men. A really smart, crisp political thriller.

The above IMDB entry can also be accessed online here.

Ryuichi Sakamotoe is a Japanese musician, composer, singer and actor. He was born in 1952 in Tokyo. His best known film is “Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence” with Tom Conti and David Bowie in 1983.

Judi Dench, although an acclaimed stage performer for many years, she not achieve major recognition on film until she was in middle age. She was born in 1934 in York. She made her stage debut with the Old Vic in 1957. She made her film debut in 1964 in “The Third Secret” with Stephen Boyd. She made sporadic film appearances throughout the remainder of the sixties and early seventies. In 1985 she begain making regular film appearances in increasingly larger roles. These movies include “Wetherby” with Vanessa Redgrave, “A Room With A View” with Maggie Smith and “84 Charing Cross Road” with Anthony Hopkins. In 1995 she began her regular appearances in the James Bond series as M in “GoldenEye” with Pierce Brosnan. She won an Oscar for “Shakespeare in Love”. Recent movies include “Nine” and “Jane Eyre” and”Philomena”.

TCM Overview:

A distinguished talent widely recognized as one of Great Britain’s greatest modern actresses, Dame Judi Dench spent much of her career concentrating on stage and television in her native England. From her early years with the Old Vic Theater Company in London, Dench proved a commanding stage performer in both classic drama and musical comedy, and at the same time, was known by non-theatergoers for starring roles on the British comedy series “As Time Goes By” (BBC, 1992-2005) and “A Fine Romance” (1981-84). It was not until Dench hit her fifties that she began finding film roles that enabled international audiences the opportunity to appreciate her commanding gifts. Dench was one of the most frequently nominated actresses in Academy Award history, earning a statue for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in “Shakespeare in Love” (1998) and nominations for a wide range of screen performances in “Chocolat” (2000), “Iris” (2001) and “Notes on a Scandal” (2006). A national treasure, Dench was honored by the British government with the title of Dame Commander of the British Army, and her homeland recognized her outstanding contributions to British Theater with a Laurence Olivier Award – officially proving that Dame Judi Dench was what critics had claimed for years: the modern, female equivalent of Sir Laurence Olivier, both onscreen and under the bright glare of the footlights.

The daughter of Reginald Arthur Dench, a doctor, and Eleanora Olave, a native of Dublin, Dench was born on Dec. 9, 1934 and raised as a Quaker in York, North Riding of Yorkshire. She made her acting debut in the city’s cycle of mystery plays, in which both her father and older brother Jeffrey also appeared. After graduating from London’s Central School of Speech and Drama, she made an auspicious debut with the Old Vic Theatre Company as Ophelia in “Hamlet” in 1957. The following year, Dench made a Broadway appearance with the Old Vic and remained with the troupe until 1961, excelling in such roles as Hermia in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (1960) and Isabella in “Measure for Measure” (1962). Throughout the 1960s, she made one strong stage characterization after another, but only in rare instances appeared on film. She was memorable as a young wife in the little-seen “Four in the Morning” (1965) and was majestic as Titania in Peter Hall’s filming of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (1968).

As Sally Bowles in the 1968 London staging of “Cabaret,” Dench delivered what many felt was the definitive interpretation of the role. She joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in 1969, spending much of the next two decades amassing an impressive body of work and earning numerous accolades. After notable roles as Lady Macbeth (opposite Ian McKellen) in “Macbeth” (1977-78) and Lady Bracknell in “The Importance of Being Earnest” (1982), Dench’s screen presence increased. She held a starring turn on the television series “A Fine Romance,” starring opposite her husband Michael Williams, and on the big screen in David Hare’s provocative “Wetherby” (1985), in which she and Ian Holm played a married couple who become caught up in the personal turmoil of their friend (Vanessa Redgrave). In further film outings, she demonstrated her range with diverse portrayals of a flighty romance novelist in “A Room with a View” (1986), and Anthony Hopkins’ jealous wife in “84 Charing Cross Road” (1987).

Dench returned to the stage to play Cleopatra in “Antony and Cleopatra” (1987-88), and followed up with a pair of film roles as a materialistic mother in “A Handful of Dust” (1988) and the lusty Mistress Quickly in Kenneth Branagh’s “Henry V” (1989). She was back on stage the same year as Ranyevskaya in “The Cherry Orchard” (1989-1990). The solidly booked actress showed no signs of slowing with each advancing year, taking on a starring role on the long running British television comedy “As Time G s By” in 1992. In her most mainstream role to date, she was cast as M, the superior of James Bond (Pierce Brosnan), in “GoldenEye” (1995), which unveiled a revamped version of the franchise that successfully brought the international spy into modern times. In 1996, Dench became the first actress to win two Olivier Awards in the same year; for the play “Absolute Hell” and for her musical turn as Desiree in “A Little Night Music.” In 1997, she earned raves as an aging actress in David Hare’s acclaimed “Amy’s View” and reprised M alongside Brosnan in “Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997).

Remarkably, in a career that spanned some 40 years, Dench had never played the lead in a film until she was cast as the widowed Queen Victoria who embarks on a questionable relationship with her Scottish manservant (Billy Connolly) in the John Madden-directed “(Her Majesty) Mrs. Brown” (1997). The film was originally intended as a made-for-British-TV movie, with the role of the monarch earmarked for Elizabeth Taylor. When Taylor fell ill, Dench was cast and it was released theatrically. Her performance earned the actress some of the best reviews of her career to that point, including a richly deserved Best Actress Academy Award nomination. As a follow-up, director Madden cast her as another venerable British monarch, Queen Elizabeth I, in “Shakespeare in Love” (1998). Although Dench only appeared in a handful of scenes totaling approximately eight minutes, she made such a strong impression as the Virgin Queen that she was awarded that year’s Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

The newly minted Oscar winner took on the title stage role of “Filumena” (1998) and reprised M in the Bond offering “The World Is Not Enough” (1999). Now recognized internationally, Dench returned to the New York stage for the first time in close to four decades, reprising her triumphant portrayal of a famous actress clashing ideologically with her daughter in “Amy’s View,” for which she earned a Tony Award. Her run was briefly interrupted when she returned to England to care for her longtime husband, who had been diagnosed with cancer. At that time, she was also seen on the big screen as an eccentric artist living as an expatriate in 1930s Italy in “Tea with Mussolini” (1999). The following year, Dench headlined the HBO original “The Last of the Blonde Bombshells,” earning a Golden Globe award for playing a feisty widow reflecting on her life as a saxophone player in a WWII-era swing band. The actress agreed to provide the narration for the affecting Holocaust documentary “Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport” (2000) before gracing screens again in the pivotal role of a crusty villager who welcomes free-spirited Juliette Binoche in Lasse Hallstrom’s “Chocolat” (2000). The latter netted Dench yet another Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress.

Following her husband’s death in January 2001, the widowed Dench turned in two rich, very different screen performances. Hallstrom cast her as a Canadian woman who assists her nephew (Kevin Spacey) on a journey of self-discovery in the film adaptation of the bestselling novel “The Shipping News” (2001). Dench then undertook the demanding role of British novelist Iris Murdoch in the biopic “Iris” (2001), based on the memoirs of Murdoch’s husband John Bayley. The actress rose to the challenge of playing a vibrant, intelligent woman who gradually succumbs to the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease. As with all her work, Dench offered an impeccable and deeply moving performance that the members of the Academy recognized with a Best Actress nomination. She was back in period clothing for her follow-up, portraying the indomitable Lady Bracknell in a remake of Oscar Wilde’s classic play “The Importance of Being Earnest” (2002). Also in 2002, Dench returned as M in the James Bond action feature “Die Another Day,” starring Brosnan and Halle Berry.

Once finished with a brief sabbatical from onscreen roles, during which she lent her voice to the animated feature “Home on the Range” (2004) and several James Bond video games, Dench made a welcome return to the big screen in 2004 in the unlikely vehicle “The Chronicles of Riddick,” director David Twohy’s sci-fi/action sequel to his cult hit “Pitch Black.” Dench played Aereon, an ethereal Elemental who helps Riddick (Vin Diesel) learn the secrets of his origin. She essayed an appropriately imperious Lady Catherine de Bourg in 2005’s “Pride and Prejudice,” director J Wright’s lively adaptation of the Jane Austen classic starring Keira Knightley. That same year, the busy actress also headlined director Stephen Frears’ “Mrs. Henderson Presents,” starring as Laura Henderson, a widow who becomes a partner in Britain’s Windmill Theater during World War II and, in attempts to provide a spark for her downtrodden nation, hopes to allow her actresses to perform in the nude. For her performance, she earned award nominations from SAG, the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards – all for Best Actress.

Dench revived M for a fifth time in “Casino Royale” (2006), her first outing opposite Daniel Craig, successor to the iconic role after Pierce Brosnan left the franchise in 2002. Though she missed working with Brosnan, she heaped praise upon the new keeper of the flame, telling The Evening Standard how “frighteningly good” Craig was in the role. For her part, Dench maintained her usually blunt and stiff-upper-lipped performance as the head of MI6, sending him on a mission to Montenegro in order to join a high-stakes poker game with Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), banker to the world’s terrorist organizations in what many critics called one of the best films in the series. Dench made a startlingly decisive departure in her next project, “Notes on a Scandal” (2006), where she essayed a treacherous school teacher who habitually stalks younger women in a desperate attempt to find love. Once again, she accrued award nominations from the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards.

Dench returned to television the following year in the 1840s-set drama series “Cranford” (BBC, 2007), earning an Emmy nomination for her performance as a financially strapped spinster in a remote village about to be thrust into the modern age with the impending arrival of the railroad. And, not surprisingly, given the actress’ loyalty and lack of vanity in regards to size of part, she returned to the Bond fold as M for the second Daniel Craig outing, “Quantum of Solace” (2008). While basking in the international success of the latest Bond installment, Dench received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie for her performance in “Cranford.” She reprised her role for the miniseries sequel, “Return to Cranford” (PBS, 2010), and received similar honors, earning another Golden Globe nomination in December 2010. Back on the big screen, she portrayed British actress Sybil Thorndike in “My Weekend with Marilyn” (2011) and was the mother of J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) in Clint Eastwood’s uneven biopic “J. Edgar” (2011). After reprising M for the last time opposite Daniel Craig’s James Bond in “Skyfall” (2012), Dench was part of an excellent ensemble cast in John Madden’s winning comedy “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” (2012), which focused on a group of British pensioners retiring at a lesser-than-advertised hotel in India. Dench’s performance as a newly widowed housewife forced to sell off her home to cover her dead husband’s debts was singled out for praise and earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical. Dench’s next starring role came in the drama “Philomena” (2013), the true-life tale of an elderly Irish woman’s search for the son she had been forced to give up for adoption a half-century before. The film was directed by Stephen Frears and co-written by Steve Coogan, who co-starred opposite Dench as an investigative journalist.

The above TCM overview can also be accessed online here.

Joseph Bottoms is the middle brother of the talented acting family including Timothy and Sam. Joseph was born in 1954 in Santa Barbara. He came to prominence with his major role in “The Dove” in 1974. Other roles include Rudi Weiss in the magnificent television series “Holocaust” in 1978. He manages the Bottoms Arts Galleries in Santa Barbara.

IMDB entry:

Joseph Bottoms was born on April 22, 1954 in Santa Barbara, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Santa Barbara (1984), The Black Hole (1979) and Blind Date (1984).m Bottoms, Ben Bottoms and Timothy Bottoms.

Made his Broadway debut in 1981’s “The 5th of July”.

Began his career performing in community theater productions.

Won the 1975 Golden Globe Award for “New Star Of The Year – Actor” for his work in the film The Dove (1974), which was based on the real life experiences of Robin Lee Graham, a young man who spent five years sailing around the world as a single-handed sailor, starting when he was 16-years old.

The second son of sculptor James “Bud” Bottoms.

Decided to be an actor when 13 after having a premonition that he would dance on stage with Elizabeth Taylor which he later did in the 1978 TV film Return Engagement.

Santa Barbara, California. Lives with his two daughte

Rupert Hill was born in 1978 in Southampton. He appeared first as Jamie Baldwin in “Coronation Street” in 2004. He has also appeared in such series as “The Bill”, “Holby City” and “Doctors”.

IMDB entry:Rupert Hill was born on June 15, 1978 in London, England as Rupert Sinclair Hill. He is an actor and director, known for Coronation Street (1960), Family Affairs (1997) and Entity(2012). He has been married to Jenny Platt since May 11, 2013. They have one child.

Collection of Contemporary Actors

Guy Pearce

Kyle Mac Lachlan

Jenny Seagrove

Gina McKee

Gina McKee

Jack Coleman

Ryuichi Sakamoto

Judi Dench

Joseph Bottoms

Rupert Hill

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