Birthdays: May 27
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A native of Washington, DC, Feldman made his first foray into acting at the age of 6 when a camp counselor convinced him to participate in the musical "Annie." In high school, Feldman was involved in the school theater program and participated in many plays. He also hosted the school's yearly production of "Blast from the Past." Feldman then attended Ithaca College and majored in acting.
In 2005, Ben Feldman made his Hollywood feature film debut in The Perfect Man (2005), co-starring Hilary Duff, Chris Noth, and Heather Locklear. Previous to this, he starred in the independent feature When Do We Eat? (2005).
His theater work includes the Broadway production of The Graduate (1967), with Kathleen Turner and Alicia Silverstone.
Feldman made his television-series debut in Living with Fran (2005)- Writer
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Adam Carolla was born in Los Angeles but raised in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and later North Hollywood. His mother was a recipient of welfare with a degree in Chicano studies, his dad was a psychologist, and he got where he is today, he says, in spite of them. After Adam graduated from North Hollywood High School, he spent a very short time in junior college. After dropping out, he worked a memorable stint as a carpet cleaner. Later in life, Adam worked as a skilled carpenter/builder, becoming a boxing trainer in his free time. Adam's early studies in entertainment were with The Groundlings, an improv group, which has produced a number of other famous comedic personalities. When Jimmy Kimmel was challenged to a boxing match at L.A. radio station KROQ in 1994, Adam was his trainer. Jimmy helped Adam get a job on KROQ's "Kevin and Bean Morning Show." It was on KROQ that Dr. Drew (Drew Pinsky, the original and current host of the Loveline radio show) heard Adam and liked his style. In 1995, Drew gave Adam the job of co-hosting Loveline on the radio. It was at this time that Loveline became syndicated nationally in the USA. In 1996, Loveline (1996), along with Adam and Drew, came to television on MTV. It was a popular late-night, hour-long show, which Adam and Drew co-hosted variously with Diane Farr, Catherine McCord, Laura Kightlinger, and Kris McGaha. The MTV show ran for over four years, ending in 2000, finally bowing out after what is regarded as a very successful run by MTV standards. Adam and Dr. Drew continued to co-host Loveline nightly on a syndicated national radio network, often joined on-air by celebrity guests, until 2005, when Adam left the show. Adam also writes for and occasionally guests on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003). Having created and worked on The Man Show (1999) and Crank Yankers (2002) with Jimmy and Daniel Kellison, Adam is putting his talents to use on more comedic ventures.- Actor
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A Satellite Award winner, Billboard-charting artist and graduate of Yale University, Adam Davenport has worked as an actor on such internationally-renowned stages as The Metropolitan Opera opposite Anna Netrebko and Sondra Radvanovsky, Lincoln Center opposite Emmy winner/Tony nominee Martha Plimpton, Carnegie Hall and Theatre Row. A citizen of Serbia and the United States, Davenport was born in Harvey, Illinois, one of the poorest neighborhoods in America and overcame many obstacles in his youth to graduate from Yale University's film school cum laude. Davenport directed Academy Award and Emmy winner Melissa Leo (The Fighter) and Tony and Emmy nominee David Harbour (Stranger Things) in his thesis film Midnight Son, shot by Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated cinematographer Tom Stern (long-time collaborator of Clint Eastwood). For his efforts, Davenport became a recipient of the Panavision New Filmmaker Award, a distinction shared by Paul Thomas Anderson and Steven Soderbergh on their first filmmaking efforts. Most notably, the short was archived by the United States Library of Congress as historian David Meeker cited it in his filmography of jazz on screen as the film's jazz score was used as a counterpoint to the dark subject matter of the story.
At 26, Davenport became the youngest director in the Playwright/Directors Unit of the Actors Studio: his interview was with Academy Award winner Martin Landau. At the Studio, Davenport directed readings and workshop productions of new scripts and classic plays with some of the most celebrated actors in the industry, including Long Day's Journey Into Night (with Academy Award and BAFTA nominee Alfre Woodard, Academy Award nominee Laurence Fishburne and Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard), A Delicate Balance (with Academy Award and BAFTA nominee Ed Harris, Golden Globe winner Frances Conroy, Emmy winner Jane Lynch and Alicia Silverstone), Sweet Bird of Youth (with Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Sally Kirkland, SAG Award nominee Amy Landecker and Nick Stahl), and his own adaptation of John Kaye's novel The Dead Circus (with Golden Globe winner Michael C. Hall, Golden Globe winner Matt Bomer, Emmy nominee Giovanni Ribisi, Emmy nominee Zachary Quinto, Emmy nominee Jason Ritter, SAG nominee Vinessa Shaw and Kimberly Elise) and Lost Lake (with SAG nominee Frances Fisher).
Davenport was the producing partner for Academy Award winner Melissa Leo for ten years. After playing a significant role on her Oscar campaign for The Fighter, he co-produced the feature film Furlough, starring three Academy Award winners (Melissa Leo, Whoopi Goldberg and Anna Paquin), which was released theatrically by IFC Films. After working as a screenwriter in his twenties and optioning spec scripts to numerous A-list production companies including Arthur Sarkissian Productions (the Rush Hour franchise) and Hugh Jackman's producing partner John Palermo, Davenport left Los Angeles and began to study acting in New York City under Stella Adler's protege Milton Justice, who coached the likes of Mark Ruffalo, Benicio Del Toro, Kyra Sedgwick and Kathy Bates. It was on the stage where Davenport first began to garner notice for his range of quirky, off-beat and eccentric character portrayals, from a hot-tempered commodities broker who loves cocaine in Last of the Caucasians at The Barrow Group to a Trinidadian immigrant who manipulates women sexually to advance himself in Trinidadian/British playwright Mustapha Matura's Nice at The New Perspectives Theatre.
Adam made his New York stage debut in the 2015 opera adaptation of Tom Wolfe's "The Bonfire of the Vanities," directed by Michael Bergmann and produced at the Hecksher Theatre, the original site for Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival. The following year, he performed Lauridsen's "Luc Aeterna" and the North American premiere of Howard Goodall's "Eternal Light: A Requiem" with an international ensemble at Carnege Hall. He simultaneously performed in the Off-Broadway production of Naked Boys Singing and Verdi's Aida at The Metropolitan Opera while both productions were running.
Davenport made his screen acting debut in Colombian filmmaker Esteban Uribe's Cleanse Pest, Rest as a transgender sex worker who becomes a victim of a hate crime. He was subsequently cast to play Hercules in Alex Ewen's musical feature film Project Olympus, produced by Road Warrior Entertainment; according to Indiewire, he may be the first African-American actor to play the hero. Davenport then appeared on several television shows, including the HBO series High Maintenance and the Starz series Sweetbitter, and he was subsequently accepted into the Television Academy. Over his career, Davenport typically played supporting roles but was able to avoid being typecast as he often physically changed his appearance or voice from role to role. Says his collaborator and mentor, acting legend Sally Kirkland: "Adam is a character actor in a leading man's body." He is a member of Actors Equity Association and Screen Actors Guild.
As a musician, Davenport received critical acclaim for his debut single "My Return Address Is You," released by Universal Music Group, which broke into the Top 40 of the Billboard Dance Club Chart, where it charted for ten weeks and surpassed tracks from the likes of Zedd, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez. The achievement also made Davenport the first African-American artist/producer in history to eponymously chart on Billboard for Electronic Dance Music (EDM). Davenport won an Independent Music Award at Lincoln Center for the project and was subsequently invited into the Recording Academy where he is a voter for the Grammy Awards. In January 2020, Davenport was honored as the Electronica Artist of the Year from the International Music and Entertainment Association (IMEA). Davenport released his subsequent records on established labels in Europe, including Alveda Music (Greece), Distar Records (Italy), Black Hole Recordings/Gameroom Records (Netherlands), Sound Red (Bulgaria), Housesession Records (Germany) and Break It Down Music (Netherlands).
Davenport relocated permanently to Europe and began working with filmmakers in Eastern Europe; he is one of the first actors of African descent to work in Serbian cinema. Legendary Serbian actor/director Radis Bajic, creator of the most watched television series in Serbian history, cast Davenport as real-life WWII pilot James Alonzo Walker in Heroji Halijarda. Stevan Filipovic, cast Davenport in Pored Nas, the sequel to his film Pored Mene, which won Best Film at FEST International Film Festival and was the highest grossing film of the year in Serbia when it was released. Filipovic also hired Davenport as the acting coach for the film. Davenport also worked as the acting coach for the Slovak film Vitaj Doma, Brate!, directed by Peter Serge Butko, starring Rober Jakab, one of the stars of Slovak and Czech cinema.
Davenport most recently worked opposite SAG nominee Erin Moriarty and Jamie Campbell Bower in Gary Fleder's True Haunting (Sony) and Academy Award and BAFTA nominee Kate Hudson in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix), which closed the 66th London Film Festival and is directed by Academy Award nominee Rian Johnson. Both productions were filmed in Serbia. As part of his work in the ensemble of Glass Onion, Davenport won a Satellite Award for Best Ensemble, Motion Picture and received Best Ensemble wins from Atlanta Film Critics Circle, Boston Online Film Critics Critics Association, Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards, New York Film Critics Online, Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards and Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards. He also shares a Critics Choice nomination for Best Acting Ensemble with the cast of Glass Onion.
Davenport is the Founder and Artistic Director of The International Acting Studio (TIAS), with studios in Belgrade and Budapest overseeing the coaching and development of nearly 100 actors in Europe, including well-established actors such as Jelena Gavrilovic, Slaven Doslo, Andrea Osvart, Kata Dobo and Barnabas Reti. He has helped actors from the region secure roles on international productions, such as The Crown for Netflix, and studio projects for Universal, Sony, Amazon Prime and Legendary Pictures. He is a member of the National Alliance of Acting Teachers and the only acting teacher in Serbia and Hungary certified to teach the Oscar-winning Chubbuck Technique. He was trained and certified directly by Ivana Chubbuck herself, one of the most famous and influential acting teachers living today.
Davenport is also a Webby Awards nominee and also has served on the nominating committee for the NAACP Image Awards. He will star opposite César-winning French cinema icon Fanny Ardant in Personal Trainer, which will be the first English-language LGBTQ+ feature film to be shot in Serbia and Eastern Europe.- Actress
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Alicia Marie Sixtos born to Mexican father Genaro Sixtos and Portuguese mother Laura Angeja. She grew up in Hayward California playing sports and putting on plays with her sisters Casandra, Andrea, and Veronica. At the age of 11, Alicia began doing print modeling in hopes to save enough money for college. at the age of 14, Alicia and her sisters were presented with the opportunity to move to Los Angeles to pursue careers in entertainment which they quickly acted on. Shortly thereafter the Sixtos Family packed their bags and began to grow new roots in Hollywood.
Soon after the move Alicia had her first booking in the film "Quinceañera" (2006) where she played Eileen Garcia, the well-to-do cousin of Magdalena and sister to Carlos. Quinceañera was a film that caught the attention of people world wide for its outstanding actors and unique story line as well as Alicia's heart and deeper found passion for acting.
Alicia then made a goal to be in all her favorite shows and went on to land roles in Califonication, New Girl, Entourage, King of the Hill, CSI: Las Vegas and General Hospital.
In 2012 she landed a role in one of America's favorite Marvel Films "The Avengers".
In "The Custom Mary", Alicia plays lead character, Mary in a eye catching modern twist on the biblical Mary And Joseph story.
In "High school" (2012); A stoner comedy, Alicia plays stoner Sharky Ovante, a sassy punk cheerleader and love interest to Henry (Matt Bush).
After a few years of playing smaller supporting roles, Alicia decided it was time for her to step forward and go after her leading lady role. In 2012 Alicia landed the role she always hoped for, Maya Martinez, a troubled girl running from a rough past and toward a better life in the Emmy Nominated and multi award winning Hulu original series, East Los High which is now going on it's 4th season.
You can also find Alicia recurring in ABC Family's beloved teen show, The Fosters as Carmen Cruz, a juvenile delinquent in a girls group home run by Rita (Rosie O'Donnell).- Producer
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Allan Carr was born on 27 May 1937 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a producer and writer, known for Grease (1978), Can't Stop the Music (1980) and Grease 2 (1982). He died on 29 June 1999 in Beverly Hills, California, USA.- Actress
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Ana Belén was born on 27 May 1951 in Madrid, Madrid, Spain. She is an actress and director, known for La corte de Faraón (1985), Fortunata y Jacinta (1980) and La pasión turca (1994). She has been married to Víctor Manuel since 13 June 1972. They have two children.- Actor
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Andra Fuller is an American actor, born and raised in Houston, TX. While in Texas, he was a scholarship football player at Baylor University before jump-starting his entertainment career as a stand-up comedian. Shortly after moving to Hollywood, Andra booked several national commercials and guest starred on a few notable TV shows, before eventually landing a recurring role on Fox's Prison Break. In addition to being a versatile actor, Andra is also a skilled writer, producer, and director, and has quickly become one of the most sought-after emerging talents in Hollywood.
In 2012, Fuller landed his first lead role on The CW's critically acclaimed TV series, The L.A. Complex, where he played complex, closeted-gay, rap superstar, 'Kaldrick King'. His performance earned him a nomination for Best Male Leading Actor at the 2013 Canadian Screen (Emmy) Awards. Later that year, Andra went on to win an award at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), for his lead role on the hit web show, RoomieLoverFriends.
Next, Andra went on to become a fan favorite on the hilarious #1 rated cable show, Black Jesus, where he played, 'Fish', Jesus' best friend. He also spent 2 seasons as 'Roger Keith Jr.', the young General Manager of the San Diego Sabers, on BET's most popular show, The Game. And in 2016, Fuller starred in and Executive Produced the TVOne television comedy, Here We Go Again.
In 2017, Andra made the transition into film, starring in 6 movies, 2 of which he also produced. Those movies include, Love By The 10th Date, Deuces, Dope Fiend, True To The Game, 9 Rides, and You Can't Fight Christmas. Of the 2 movies he produced, Dope Fiend won Best Film at the Newark International Film Festival, and True To The Game was the #1 grossing independent movie of summer 2017. Andra also voiced 2 characters on the hit audio series, Bronzeville, which was produced by Laurence Fishburne and Larenz Tate. Fuller resides in Hollywood.- Music Artist
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André Lauren Benjamin (born May 27, 1975), better known as André 3000, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. He is best known for being a part of southern hip hop duo Outkast alongside fellow rapper Big Boi.
Benjamin has also acted in films and television series such as Families, The Shield, Be Cool, Revolver, Semi-Pro, High Life, Four Brothers, and in the lead role of Jimi Hendrix in All Is by My Side. He plays Fredwynn on the AMC series Dispatches from Elsewhere. He is also known for his Cartoon Network animated series Class of 3000 (2006-2008). He has additionally been an entrepreneur and an advocate for animal rights. In the spring of 2008, he launched a clothing line called Benjamin Bixby.
Benjamin has been ranked as one of the greatest rappers of all time by publications including About.com, Billboard, and Complex.André 3000- Andrei Bitov was born on 27 May 1937 in Leningrad, USSR. He was a writer and actor, known for V chetverg i bolshe nikogda (1978), Zakrytie sezona (1975) and Chiisai tôbôsha (1966). He died on 3 December 2018 in Moscow, Russia.
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Ann Nelson was born on 27 May 1916 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Airplane! (1980), My Girl (1991) and Airplane II: The Sequel (1982). She was married to Froyd Nelson and Stanley McDonald. She died on 2 June 1992 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Director
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Antonia Bird was born on 27 May 1951 in London, England, UK. She was a director and producer, known for Priest (1994), Face (1997) and Ravenous (1999). She was married to Ian Ilett. She died on 24 October 2013 in London, England, UK.- Antonio Pennarella was born on 27 May 1960 in Naples, Campania, Italy. He was an actor, known for Luna rossa (2001), Piazza Fontana: The Italian Conspiracy (2012) and Capri (2006). He died on 23 August 2018 in Naples, Campania, Italy.
- Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Bella Heathcote has emerged as one of Hollywood's most sought after talents. She can most recently be seen in 'Relic' starring alongside Emily Mortimer, which received rave reviews at its premiere at Sundance 2020. Prior to that, Bella starred in CBS All Access drama series 'Strange Angel' with Jack Reynor and Rupert Friend as well as a major role on Amazon's acclaimed original drama series 'The Man In The High Castle.'
Heathcote will next begin filming Netflix original series 'Pieces of Her' alongside Toni Collette. Set in a sleepy Georgia town where a random act of violence sets off an unexpected chain of events for 30-year-old Andy Oliver (Heathcote) and her mother (Collette). Desperate for answers, Andy embarks on a dangerous journey across America, drawing her towards the dark, hidden heart of her family. - Benito Fernández is known for Viudas e hijos del Rock & Roll (2014), Quilmes: Cientoveintenario (2010) and Corte y Confección: Famosos (2021).
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Bruce Weitz was born on 27 May 1943 in Norwalk, Connecticut, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Hill Street Blues (1981), Half Past Dead (2002) and Deep Impact (1998). He has been married to Vivian Davis since 2 December 1986. They have one child. He was previously married to Cecilia Hart.- Actress
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Cathy Silvers (born May 27, 1961) is an American actress and author, and the daughter of legendary actor/comedian Phil Silvers. She is best known for her role as boy-crazy teenager Jenny Piccolo in later seasons of the TV sitcom Happy Days. Cathy is the author of Happy Days Healthy Living, Random House and owner of Healthy Living Organic Food business.- Actress
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Chelsea Field is an American actress from Glendale, California. Her first major role in film was playing the warrior woman Teela in the cult superhero film "Masters of the Universe" (1987). The film was the first live-action adaptation of the " sword and planet" media franchise "Masters of the Universe" by Mattel, though its script reportedly drew inspiration from Jack Kirby's "Fourth World" comic book franchise. Later in her career, Field had the recurring role of assistant district attorney Rita Deveraux in the police procedural series "NCIS: New Orleans" (2014-2021). Her character was introduced in the series' 3rd season and kept appearing until its 7th and last season. Rita was the long-term girlfriend of the protagonist Dwayne Cassius Pride (played by Scott Bakula), and eventually married Dwayne.
Field's early film appearances included the horror films "Prison" (1987) and "Death Spa" (1989). Both films involved vengeful spirits who tormented both those who harmed them in life, and bystanders who happened to be in the vicinity of the intended victims. Field's first major television role was that of student nurse Samantha "Sam" Sullivan in the medical drama "Nightingales" (1989). The series was considered controversial at the time for focusing on the sex lives of student nurses, and caused protests by the American Nurses Association. The series was canceled after only 13 episodes, as the show's sponsors withdrew their funding. The series was later rebooted as "University Hospital" (1995), but Field was not involved in the reboot.
Field's next regular television role was that of the reporter Cassy Swann in "Capital News" (1990). The series focused on the staff of the fictional newspaper Washington Capital (a fictionalized depiction of the Washington Post). The series only lasted for a single season and 12 episodes. The series was broadcast in its entirety in several European countries, but only 3 of its episodes were ever broadcast in the United States.
Field played the motorcycle cop Virginia Slim in the neo-Western film "Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man" (1991). The character was the ex-lover and main love interest for modern-day outlaw Robert Lee "Marlboro Man" Edison (played by Don Johnson). The film focused on bank robbers who targeted the armored cars of a specific bank, only to unwittingly discover that the bank was a front for a criminal organizations which manufactured and distributed experimental drugs. Their attempt to profit from their discovery led to a violent conflict.
Field played Sarah Hallenbeck in the action comedy "The Last Boy Scout" (1991). The character was depicted as the unfaithful wife of private investigator Joseph Cornelius "Joe" Hallenbeck (played by Bruce Willis), though the couple reconciled by the end of the film. In the film, Joe finds himself suspected of involvement in the murders of both his own business partner and the female client which Joe was tasked with protecting. While trying to clear his name, Joe discovers that he is about to be framed for the assassination of a corrupt U.S. senator. The senator happens to be an old personal enemy of Joe, but Joe finds himself obligated to prevent the assassination.
Field played Wendy Robinson, the female lead in the horror film "Dust Devil" (1992). In the film, Wendy travels in the deserts of Namibia, trying to escape her angry husband. She picks up a mysterious hitchhiker, who turns out to be a shape-shifting wind demon who was fleeing from the local authorities. After traveling together for a while, the demon turns against Wendy and she kills him. By the end of the film, Wendy is suspected to be the demon's latest host body. The film was shot entirely on location in Namibia, and was based on South African folklore about the supposed supernatural powers of the serial killer Nhadiep.
Field played the detective sergeant Peckham in the psychological thriller "Snapdragon" (1993). In the film, Peckham is trying to solve two recent murders and to determine whether the amnesiac woman Felicity (played by Pamela Anderson) is connected to the case. Felicity is unaware of her own identity, but has recurring nightmares of killing her lovers. The film is primary remembered as Anderson's feature film debut.
Field played the lead character of Rae Dawn Snow in the short-lived drama series "Angel Falls" (1993). In the series, single mother Snow moves back to her hometown with her adolescent son, after inheriting a pool hall from her recently deceased father. She starts an affair with the married rancher Eli Harrison (played by Brian Kerwin) , who was also her past lover. Snow's son starts an ill-advised romantic relationship with the promiscuous girl Brandi Dare (played by Marley Shelton ). The series only lasted for 6 episodes.
Field played Thalice Whitney in the comedy-drama film "Andre" (1994). The film centered on the Whitney family's struggle to protect their seal cub from local fishermen, while also dealing with the feelings of alienation of their adolescent daughter Paula Whitney (played by Aidan Pendleton). The film dramatized the early life of the famed harbor seal Andre the Seal (1961-1986), who had spend his entire life attached to human companions. The film cast a sea lion in the role of the seal.
Field played the role of the murder victim Karen Christianson in the thriller film "Wicked" (1998). In the film, Karen was trapped in an unhappy marriage with a workaholic, and had a difficult relationship with her adolescent daughter Ellie Christianson (played by Julia Stiles). During an intense argument over Ellie's excessive make-up, Ellie killed Karen in a fit of rage. Ellie proceeded to mostly replace Karen and to develop an unhealthy relationship with her own father. Ellie is eventually killed by her own sister Inger Christianson (played by Vanessa Zima) in a copycat murder. The implication being that both sisters had the same murderous tendencies.
Field was reduced to relatively minor supporting roles in the thriller film "The Unsaid" (2001) and the mystery film "Sleeping Dogs Lie" (2005), which were her first film roles after several years. In 2009, Field married her long-time boyfriend Scott Bakula, a fellow actor. The couple had been romantically involved since 1994, and they had two children.
By the early 2020s, Field primarily worked in television roles. Her role in "NCIS: New Orleans" was her only recurring role in recent years. Field remains a well-known face to fans of horror and thriller films, but she has not had any leading roles in the last couple of decades.- Actor
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Chris Colfer is a very talented actor and vocalist who was born on May 27, 1990 in Fresno, California, USA as Christopher Paul Colfer. He is an actor, known for Glee (2009-2015), Struck by Lightning (2012), and The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell. His break out role was as Kurt Hummel in Glee, for which he won a Golden Globe (2010) and was tapped for New York Times 100 Most Influential People. Colfer is also a New York Times Best Selling author and wrote/produced Struck By Lightning.- Producer
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Chris Roberts founded Ascendant Pictures in early 2003 and in just a short time, established himself and the company as a force in the world of independent film production and finance. In 2004, Roberts earned an Executive Producer credit on The Punisher and produced The Big White (Robin Williams, Holly Hunter, Woody Harrelson) and Lord Of War (Nicolas Cage, Ethan Hawke, Jared Leto). In 2005, Roberts produced Lucky Number Slevin. In addition, he served as Executive Producer on The Jacket (Adrien Brody and Keira Knightly) and the upcoming Robert Towne film, Ask The Dust (Colin Farrell and Selma Hayek). The end of 2006 finds him producing the effects laden sci-fi Viking project, Outlander starring Jim Caviezel, Sophia Myles and Jack Huston and to be directed by Howard McCain. Principal photography began October 16 in Nova Scotia and will continue through January 2007. Roberts will also serve as Executive Producer on Black Water Transit which films January 2007 in New Orleans.
Prior to founding Ascendant, Roberts was Chairman and CEO of Digital Anvil (DA), the game development and digital effects company he founded in 1996 with funding from Microsoft and Advanced Micro Devices. Roberts guided DA's growth to annual revenues of $14 million, prior to the release of many of its games in development. His innovations changed the gaming industry. His games were the first to perfect the use of 35mm film as narrative in interactive game titles, and DA became the first interactive entertainment company to produce a game title, Wing Commander, into a $25 million feature film, directed and produced by Roberts. The film starred Freddie Prinze, Jr. (I Know What You Did Last Summer), Saffron Burrows (Deep Blue Sea) and Matthew Lillard (Scooby Doo).
DA and the video game titles it created won numerous gaming awards and the company became a digital effects powerhouse, creating all of the digital effects for the Wing Commander movie and contributing to the digital effects for several other films, including Spy Kids. In December of 2000, Roberts sold DA to Microsoft. DA remains a successful subsidiary of Microsoft and content provider for the XBox.
In 1987, Roberts joined Origin Systems, Inc. (OSI), which was later acquired as a wholly owned subsidiary by Electronic Arts (EA) in 1992 for $30 million. Roberts was instrumental in OSI's growth from a company with $4 million in annual revenues to a company with annual revenues of $50 million. In 1990, Roberts developed Wing Commander, which set a new standard in PC games and evolved into a franchise series of game titles, all developed and produced by Roberts. With its cinematic quality, clearly developed story lines and well-known actors, the Wing Commander series created a whole new genre within the gaming industry known as the "interactive movie." By 1995, the Wing Commander series had generated well over $110 million in revenues, and from 1990 to 1995, the Wing Commander series accounted for more than 60% of OSI's revenue. In addition to selling more than 3 million units worldwide by 1995, the Wing Commander series won a record setting number of gaming awards. To date, the series has generated over $400 million in global retail revenue.
A gaming wonder kid, Roberts sold his first computer game at the age of 14, and by the age of 20, Roberts had developed three #1 hits in his native U.K.: Match Day, Wiz Adore and Stryker's Run.- Actor
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Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee was perhaps the only actor of his generation to have starred in so many films and cult saga. Although most notable for personifying bloodsucking vampire, Dracula, on screen, he portrayed other varied characters on screen, most of which were villains, whether it be Francisco Scaramanga in the James Bond film, The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), or Count Dooku in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002), or as the title monster in the Hammer Horror film, The Mummy (1959).
Lee was born in 1922 in London, England, where he and his older sister Xandra were raised by their parents, Contessa Estelle Marie (Carandini di Sarzano) and Geoffrey Trollope Lee, a professional soldier, until their divorce in 1926. Later, while Lee was still a child, his mother married (and later divorced) Harcourt George St.-Croix (nicknamed Ingle), who was a banker. Lee's maternal great-grandfather was an Italian political refugee, while Lee's great-grandmother was English opera singer Marie (Burgess) Carandini.
After attending Wellington College from age 14 to 17, Lee worked as an office clerk in a couple of London shipping companies until 1941 when he enlisted in the Royal Air Force during World War II. Following his release from military service, Lee joined the Rank Organisation in 1947, training as an actor in their "Charm School" and playing a number of bit parts in such films as Corridor of Mirrors (1948). He made a brief appearance in Laurence Olivier's Hamlet (1948), in which his future partner-in-horror Peter Cushing also appeared. Both actors also appeared later in Moulin Rouge (1952) but did not meet until their horror films together.
Lee had numerous parts in film and television throughout the 1950s. He struggled initially in his new career because he was discriminated as being taller than the leading male actors of his time and being too foreign-looking. However, playing the monster in the Hammer film The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) proved to be a blessing in disguise, since the was successful, leading to him being signed on for future roles in Hammer Film Productions.
Lee's association with Hammer Film Productions brought him into contact with Peter Cushing, and they became good friends. Lee and Cushing often than not played contrasting roles in Hammer films, where Cushing was the protagonist and Lee the villain, whether it be Van Helsing and Dracula respectively in Horror of Dracula (1958), or John Banning and Kharis the Mummy respectively in The Mummy (1959).
Lee continued his role as "Dracula" in a number of Hammer sequels throughout the 1960s and into the early 1970s. During this time, he co-starred in The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959), and made numerous appearances as Fu Manchu, most notably in the first of the series The Face of Fu Manchu (1965), and also appeared in a number of films in Europe. With his own production company, Charlemagne Productions, Ltd., Lee made Nothing But the Night (1973) and To the Devil a Daughter (1976).
By the mid-1970s, Lee was tiring of his horror image and tried to widen his appeal by participating in several mainstream films, such as The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970), The Three Musketeers (1973), The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge (1974), and the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun (1974).
The success of these films prompted him in the late 1970s to move to Hollywood, where he remained a busy actor but made mostly unremarkable film and television appearances, and eventually moved back to England. The beginning of the new millennium relaunched his career to some degree, during which he has played Count Dooku in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) and as Saruman the White in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Lee played Count Dooku again in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005), and portrayed the father of Willy Wonka, played by Johnny Depp, in the Tim Burton film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).
On 16 June 2001, he was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his services to drama. He was created a Knight Bachelor on 13 June 2009 in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to drama and charity. In addition he was made a Commander of the Order of St John on 16 January 1997.
Lee died at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on 7 June 2015 at 8:30 am after being admitted for respiratory problems and heart failure, shortly after celebrating his 93rd birthday there. His wife delayed the public announcement until 11 June, in order to break the news to their family.- Actress
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Cilla Black was born on 27 May 1943 in Liverpool, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Last Night in Soho (2021), Hellboy (2019) and Cilla (1968). She was married to Bobby Willis. She died on 1 August 2015 in Estepona, Spain.- Actress
- Director
- Producer
Cindy Sampson was born on 27 May 1978 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She is an actress and director, known for Supernatural (2005), Private Eyes (2016) and The Shrine (2010). She has been married to Ryan Wickel since 7 July 2016.- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Actor
Dan Mindel was born on 27 May 1958 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a cinematographer and actor, known for Spy Game (2001), The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) and Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015). He has been married to Lisa Fallon since 6 June 1992. They have four children. He was previously married to Paula Hamilton.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Darin Brooks was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Blue Mountain State (2010), Amber Brown (2022) and The Croods: Family Tree (2021). He has been married to Kelly Kruger since 21 March 2016. They have one child.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
David Schaal was born on 27 May 1963 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for The Inbetweeners (2011), The Inbetweeners 2 (2014) and Mr. Nobody (2009).