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- Actress
- Soundtrack
Gena Lee Nolin was born on 29 November 1971 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. She is an actress, known for Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding (2003), Baywatch (1989) and Sheena (2000). She has been married to Cale Hulse since 3 September 2004. They have two children. She was previously married to Greg Fahlman and David Alan Feiler.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Bridger Zadina was born on 23 March 1994 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Bosch (2014), Better Things (2016) and Terri (2011).- Music Artist
- Music Department
- Composer
Robert Allen Zimmerman was born 24 May 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota; his father Abe worked for the Standard Oil Co. Six years later the family moved to Hibbing, often the coldest place in the US, where he taught himself piano and guitar and formed several high school rock bands. In 1959 he entered the University of Minnesota and began performing as Bob Dylan at clubs in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The following year he went to New York, performed in Greenwich Village folk clubs, and spent much time in the hospital room of his hero Woody Guthrie. Late in 1961 Columbia signed him to a contract and the following year released his first album, containing two original songs. Next year "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" appeared, with all original songs including the 1960s anthem "Blowin' in the Wind." After several more important acoustic/folk albums, and tours with Joan Baez, he launched into a new electric/acoustic format with 1965's "Bringing It All Back Home" which, with The Byrds' cover of his "Mr Tambourine Man," launched folk-rock. The documentary Bob Dylan: Dont Look Back (1967) was filmed at this time; he broke off his relationship with Baez and by the end of the year had married Sara Dylan (born Sara Lowndes). Nearly killed in a motorcycle accident 29 July 1966, he withdrew for a time of introspection. After more hard rock performances, his next albums were mostly country. With his career wandering (and critics condemning the fact), Sam Peckinpah asked him to compose the score for, and appear in, his Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973) - more memorable as a soundtrack than a film. In 1974 he and The Band went on tour, releasing his first #1 album, "Planet Waves". It was followed a year later by another first-place album, "Blood on the Tracks". After several Rolling Thunder tours, the unsuccessful film Renaldo and Clara (1978) and a divorce, he stunned the music world again by his release of the fundamentalist Christrian album "Slow Train Coming," a cut from which won him his first Grammy. Many tours and albums later, on the eve of a European tour May 1997, he was stricken with histoplasmosis (a possibly fatal infection of the heart sac); he recovered and appeared in Bologna that September at the request of the Pope. In December he received the Kennedy Center Award for artistic excellence.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Hank Harris was born on 5 November 1979 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013), Pumpkin (2002) and Mercury Rising (1998).- A knockout curvaceous blonde screen siren with a smart, confident air, Peggy Knudsen had the charisma to make it in Hollywood. Somehow, stardom eluded her. She was of Irish and Norwegian ancestry, the daughter of a Duluth fire chief. Peggy studied violin as a child and later showed some promise acting in school plays. Her mother consequently moved the family to Chicago, where the youngster got her start on the CBS daytime radio drama "The Woman in White". Aged nineteen, she then made her way to Broadway to debut in a small part in "My Sister Eileen", as replacement for Jo Ann Sayers. Movies eventually beckoned, and, in 1945, Peggy was signed by Warner Brothers after being 'spotted' at the Stage Door Canteen. The studio publicity machine promptly heralded her arrival by nicknaming her "the lure". Peggy's first significant role was as Mona Mars in the film noir classic link=tt0038355]. She replaced the original actress when the part was recast to add sizzle to the Bogart/Bacall vehicle. Though a small part, Peggy received good critical notices. She then appeared in support of Errol Flynn in Never Say Goodbye (1946) and John Garfield in Humoresque (1946).
Despite these A-grade films, her subsequent career turned out to be desultory. Warners had a not undeserved reputation for often failing to effectively cast (rather than typecast) their starlets. With Peggy, they missed the boat altogether. In the absence of suitable vehicles, she was first relegated to playing one-dimensional hard-boiled toughs or the proverbial 'other woman', then loaned out. With Sol M. Wurtzel's B-unit at 20th Century Fox (and, subsequently, at Monogram) she fared rather better, finally getting to play leads. However, her films, -- Roses Are Red (1947), Trouble Preferred (1948), Perilous Waters (1948) and Half Past Midnight (1948) -- were little seen low budget affairs. Unsurprisingly, Peggy turned towards television, becoming a prolific guest star on such prime time shows as The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952), Perry Mason (1957) and Bat Masterson (1958). A projected co-starring role in a 1962 sitcom, entitled "Howie", never materialised, since CBS refused to acquire the pilot episode. Nonetheless, for her contribution to TV, Peggy was awarded a Star on the 'Walk of Fame' on Hollywood Boulevard in 1960, a scant consolation for missing out on stardom. A debilitating affliction with arthritis brought about her premature retirement from acting in 1965. She spent much of her sadly few remaining years cared for by her close friend, the actress Jennifer Jones, who also reputedly paid for her medical expenses. Peggy died in July 1980, aged 57. - Actor
- Editor
- Sound Department
Nathan is a native of Duluth, Minnesota and received his theatre degree from St. Olaf College followed by graduate work at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He began his theater career in Chicago in The Goodman Theatre's production of "Richard II." His television work includes starring roles as British rocker Proto Zoa in the Disney movie, Zenon: Z3 (2004), and the role of Scott Peterson in Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution (2005). In 2007 he was nominated for a W.I.N Award as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Made For Television Movie for his work in Girl, Positive (2007). He has guest starred on numerous shows such as Will & Grace (1998), The West Wing (1999),Bones (2005) and Mad Men (2007). Nathan has also appeared in many films including View from the Top (2003),Bowfinger (1999), Godzilla (1998) and_The Entrepreneurs (2003)_ opposite _Jimmy Fallon_. In addition to his acting work, he is an award-winning video editor. Nathan edits through his company demoreel.com, a website for actors. He lives in Atlanta with his wife _Sarah Hudson_ and their two girls.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Spry, curly-haired, dark-complexioned child actor Tommy Cook's most famous roles happened during his nascent career in serial adventures. He came on the feature film scene auspiciously in the role of young Indian boy Little Beaver alongside western good guy 'Don 'Red' Barry' in the Adventures of Red Ryder (1940), and followed that portraying Kimbu, the young jungle boy, alongside Frances Gifford's heroine Nyoka in Jungle Girl (1941).
Born in Duluth, Minnesota on July 5, 1930, Tommy's father was stricken with Bright's disease, a kidney ailment, which forced the family (which included a sister and grandmother) to seek warmer climate. In California, his mother inspired him toward theatrics and he gained entry at the Pasadena Playhouse where he stayed for seven years. Naturally talented, radio jobs soon cropped up for the youngster.
After appearing in a couple of short films for MGM and RKO, Tommy auditioned for and won the role of Little Beaver in the 12-chapter "Red Ryder" cliffhanger at Republic. He also played the role on radio. On screen Tommy had to learn to ride a horse bareback (star Don Berry also had to learn to ride). While these first two roles were prominent parts that could have insured youthful stardom, it didn't. Tommy continued in films in both highly visible and unbilled parts. The former included active roles in Good Luck, Mr. Yates (1943); Hi, Buddy (1943); as Kimba, the Leopard Boy in Tarzan and the Leopard Woman (1946) with Johnny Weissmuller and Brenda Joyce; a Filipino in American Guerrilla in the Philippines (1950) starring Tyrone Power; and played lead delinquents in the films The Vicious Years (1950), for which he won a Photoplay Award for "Outstanding Performance," and in the sub-par propaganda film Teen-Age Crime Wave (1955).
More or less typed in exotic parts, his characters' names were usually dead giveaways -- Paco, Salim, Ponca, Mario, Chito, Pablo, Little Elk and Keoga among them. His transition from child to adult actor was rocky and eventually his career dissipated. A brawny, good-looking man, his short stature may have figured into the problem.
Tommy's days as a standout junior tennis player on the Southern California circuit eventually led to an entirely new existence in mid-life as a respected organizer (emcee/producer/director) of celebrity gala/charity events. He also created stories that led to the feature films Rollercoaster (1977) and Players (1979), the latter a love story with his beloved tennis serving as a background. Tommy has two children.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Don LaFontaine was born on 26 August 1940 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for In a World... (2013), The Hitter (1978) and Free Radio (2007). He was married to Joan Studva and Nita Whitaker. He died on 1 September 2008 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Marguerite de la Motte was trained as a dancer, reputedly by the great ballerina Anna Pavlova, and entered films in 1918. She played opposite Douglas Fairbanks in many of his productions. Like many performers of the silent era, however, she was not able to sustain her career with the coming of talkies, and was soon relegated to smaller roles in minor productions.
- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Born on the beautiful shores of Lake Superior, at the age of twenty Odin traveled to Russia to train at the Moscow Art Theater School-Studio (MXAT) for three months and ended up staying in Moscow for fifteen years.
Graduated from MXAT with honors in 2009, one of only two Americans and a handful of foreigners to have ever graduated from the traditional (Russian-language) acting program. Studies were followed by a five-year run as beloved intern Phil Richards on Russia's most popular sitcom "Interns".
In 2013, an unexpected invitation from renowned director Kirill Serebrennikov ("The Student", "Leto", "Petrov's Flu") to play the lead role of Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov in his staging of Nikolai Gogol's "Dead Souls" lead to eight prolific years as a troupe actor at Russia's acclaimed contemporary theater, Gogol Center where Odin was involved in more than fifteen premieres, two Golden Mask nominations for best actor and participated in multiple international festivals, including three residencies at Festival d'Avignon ("Dead Souls" 2016, "Outside" 2019, "The Black Monk" 2022).
In July 2022 Serebrennikov's "The Black Monk" (Thalia Theater, Hamburg) opened the 2022 Festival d'Avignon at the Palais de Papes. On May 18th, 2022 Odin walked the red carpet at the 75th Festival de Cannes, presenting Serebrennikov's film "Tchaikovsky's Wife" where Odin played Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
In March of 2022 Odin left Moscow permanently due to Russia's aggression in Ukraine. Berlin-based since 2022. Currently a guest actor at Hamburg's Thalia Theater.- Dorothy Arnold was a nightclub singer and budding movie star when she married baseball great Joe DiMaggio in 1940. She had made several films for Universal starting in 1938, but after her marriage to DiMaggio she gave up acting. Although the two divorced in 1944, Arnold did not try to resume her career and only made one other film, Lizzie (1957).
- Actress
- Producer
Bailey Stender has always had acting as a core part of her life, starting in musical theater at age 6 in Duluth, Minnesota and continuing until college, where she transitioned to TV and film.
Her earliest penchant to entertain was born from family time watching sitcoms - the bonding through laughter solidified Bailey's desire to inspire and make others laugh through her acting. After a dozen years of stage and singing experience buttressing a career that allowed her to escape depression while also providing an escape for her audiences, it was ironically while studying musical theater at Belmont University in Nashville that she transitioned to screen roles with global reach.
Flexing that comedy muscle, Bailey appeared on Disney's Bunk'd in 2021 and Paramount+'s iCarly in 2021-2023. She stepped into the role of associate producer while also starring in Red Sage Productions' 2020 mockumentary short film, "Fantasy Pony!" Then, Bailey completely switched genres playing mean girl Phoebe in the 2023 Paramount+ series "Wolf Pack," where she said she was inspired by the grounded and powerful performances of Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Bailey looks forward to a future producing films similar to "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once," that inspire, uplift, and also have the audience dying with laughter. She also wants to lead others into light outside of her career in entertainment. She openly shares about her personal journey from coping with her depression to embracing joy and loving life. You might see her skipping down the street, dancing through the store, or singing in the rain.
She's also a spiritual person, embracing meditation and journaling, while always actively connecting with her environment, be it through gratitude walks, rollerblading or time with friends. She actively advocates on social media for body positivity, feminism and equality, pledging, "As my platform grows, I will continue to amplify the voices of those who need and deserve to be heard." Just like TV and film helped bring Bailey out of dark places, she looks forward to making the world a better place by inspiring others to get involved in social justice and activism but also by laughing their worries away.- Veteran Entertainer (Actor, Musician, Variety Artist), Kevin McNally, offers a unique perspective on the Entertainment Industry. He has had experience performing live on stage with many acts, including U2, has appeared in numerous Films and Television Shows (ER, Steven Spielberg's, Catch Me If You Can, Diagnosis Murder, Six Feet Under....), and can even do a little juggling - for the right crowd.
Kevin was born in Duluth, Minnesota, but being the child of an Air Force pilot, he was on the move. At the age of one and half, he and his family moved to England. After four years there, it was back to the states with stays in Valdosta, Georgia and Phoenix, Arizona. Adding to this vagabond upbringing, his mother died when he was 13 years old, and he ended up living in various foster homes after life did not go as planned with his father. But not before a move to the country of Panama, then to Chicago, Illinois. Eventually, he was taken in by a childhood friend and family and moved back to Phoenix, Arizona, where he lived until moving to his current home of Los Angeles, CA., with his wife and two children.
Kevin has been married to the daughter of actor, Dick Van Dyke, since May, 1983. They have two children. The two of them met while working at the Windmill Dinner Theatre in Scottsdale, Arizona ~ the infamous location of the last performance by, Bob Crane, prior to being found bludgeoned in his room. The case has never been solved.
As a musician, Kevin recently had his original song, Searching Your Eyes, licensed to be in the Golden Globe award winning HBO Series Premiere of, Enlightened. You can catch him periodically performing around town. - Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Michael Laskin was born on 3 April 1951 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for The Grifters (1990), Just Go with It (2011) and Disclosure (1994). He is married to Emily Laskin. They have two children.- Verne Lundquist was born on 17 July 1940 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. He is an actor, known for Happy Gilmore (1996), The Last Boy Scout (1991) and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982). He has been married to Nancy Webb since 8 April 1982. He was previously married to Kathy Vernon and Patricia.
- Carol Dempster was born on 9 December 1901 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. She was an actress, known for Sally of the Sawdust (1925), That Royle Girl (1925) and Isn't Life Wonderful (1924). She was married to Edwin S Larsen. She died on 1 February 1991 in La Jolla, California, USA.
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Kinnik is a veteran of the stage, film and screen. She finished as a Top 13 Finalist in the mega hit show American Idol. Soon after, Kinnik won the Dreamgirls competition sponsored by the Ahmanson theatre & Blackweekly.com and was flown to Italy to perform. Having done more than 30 stage plays since the last 15 years, her major theatre credits include Dream Girls, For Colored Girls and Madea's Class Reunion. Hollywood and Broadway has taken notice of her star power. Award winning directors and producers Tyler Perry, Robert Townsend, and Kenny Leon have cast Kinnik in projects to tap into her amazing vocal range and innate acting ability. Her Film/TV credits include Trois 3: The Escort, American Idol, Playhouse 22, House of Payne, Hard Rock Cafe Presents, and Musical Theatre of Hope. Kinnik has extended her reach into the Internet and is the Executive Producer and host of refreshing new web-series featuring celebrity and entertainment news. Her greatest accomplishment to date is writing, producing and starring in "Sunday Mourning" which has received 7 NAACP Theatre Award nominations which included 2 personal nominations for Kinnik Sky as Best Female Lead and Best Playwright.- Actress
- Additional Crew
Deysha Nelson is a multifaceted talent, making waves in the entertainment industry as an actress, model, singer, dancer, and spokesperson since she was just 4 years old. She gained widespread recognition for her role as Mya in Netflix's popular Holiday film, "Holiday Rush," and as Hanna in the CBS hit series, "God Friended Me."
From 2022 to 2023, Deysha showcased her acting prowess on stage at the Florida Studio Theatre in the Tony Award-nominated dramatic comedy "What The Constitution Means To Me," receiving acclaim for her portrayal of a Debater. Earlier, in 2018, she impressed audiences and Broadway critics alike with her performance as Hedvig in the award-winning stage play "The Wild Duck" at Quintessence Theatre.
Deysha also lent her voice to Nickelodeon/Noggin's animated TV show and app "Tot Cop," voicing the character Kangaruthie, also known as Officer Ruth, which aired in both the US and UK. Her voice-over talents can also be heard in the first episode of "Little Big Shots," as Gina Giant on Nick Jr's "Wallykazam," and in shows like "Curious World Melia & Jo" and "Superwings" on Sprout TV.
At the age of 9, Deysha delivered a memorable performance as Devine in the emotional play "Brownsville Song (B-Side for Tray)" at Florida Studio Theatre, earning praise during her three-month run.
Deysha's modeling career began at the age of 5 in 2012. She has graced the runways of over 50 fashion shows, including New York Fashion Week, Small Boutique Fashion Week, Atlantic City Fashion Week, and more. At just 6 years old, she launched her own clothing line, Almond Eyez Designs, debuting it at NYFW's Fachion Block Runway Show, becoming the youngest designer to feature at the event. Her designs have been showcased in 13 shows across five states and have garnered attention in six magazines and numerous news articles.
In addition to her acting and modeling endeavors, Deysha has appeared in commercials, one of which featured her and her family on billboards. With a deep passion for acting, Deysha approaches her career with dedication and enthusiasm, always eager for the next opportunity to shine.- Mary Patton was born on 8 December 1914 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. She was an actress, known for The Search (1948), The Power of the Resurrection (1958) and Lights Out (1946). She was married to Warren Parker. She died on 8 November 1982 in Santa Monica, California, USA.
- Marilyn O'Connor was born on 21 March 1924 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. She was an actress, known for Thunder Run (1985), The Gene Generation (2007) and American Horror Story (2011). She was married to Charles Davis. She died on 13 November 2011 in Simi Valley, California, USA.
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Renee Albert was born in Duluth, Minnesota. She is an alumni of The Second City in Chicago. Other theater credits include the Goodman Theatre (Chicago), the Brave New Workshop (Minneapolis), and the Garry Marshall Theatre (Los Angeles). Renee appears as Bananas Foster in The Tony Martini Variety Hour and is a proud member of The Mortified After School Orchestra (Dorkestra).- Director
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Russ Mayberry was born on 22 December 1925 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. He was a director and producer, known for Black Sheep Squadron (1976), McCloud (1970) and Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987). He was married to Mary Ellen "Sandy" Minor and Darleen Engle. He died on 27 July 2012 in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.- Writer
- Producer
- Soundtrack
The son of a Russian émigré clothing merchant, Sidney Buchman was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on March 27 1902. He initially attended the University of Minnesota. After his family moved to New York, he continued his studies at Columbia University, graduating in 1923. The following year, he travelled to England and worked as an assistant stage manager at the Old Vic. Upon his return to New York, he tried his hand writing for the theatre and had two plays produced, "This One Man" (Broadway, 1930) and "Storm Song", both of which flopped.
In 1931, Buchman went to Hollywood, having secured a screenwriting contract with Paramount. He remained for two years, then moved on to Columbia, where he was given the opportunity to work on several sophisticated and witty comedy scripts which often juxtaposed simple, honest country folk, with slick, corrupt urbanites. Along with Frank Capra, he helped raise the studio's prestige and shake off the stigma of having once been a 'poverty row' outfit. His biggest hits were She Married Her Boss (1935), Theodora Goes Wild (1936), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941). In view of the massive box office success of these pictures, Buchman was promoted up the ladder to producer in 1937. Five years later, he was made vice-president of production (with his own production company within the studio), effectively functioning as Harry Cohn's right-hand man.
He held this post until 1951, when he was subpoenaed to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee and forced to admit that he had been a member of the Communist Party between 1938 and 1945. However, he steadfastly refused to 'name names'. In March 1953, he was found guilty of contempt by Congress, fined $150 and blacklisted. While based in the south of France, Buchman was given a reprieve by 20th Century Fox, who defied the blacklist, by hiring him in 1960 to work in their European department. He eventually did most of the work on the screenplay of The Mark (1961), a British/German co-production starring Maria Schell and Stuart Whitman. He was also one of the many contributors to Fox's epic Cleopatra (1963). Buchman died in his adopted home in Cannes in August 1975 at the age of 73.- Producer
- Director
- Actor
Art dealer who made some adventures in Hollywood by becoming a film producer and then film director. In the 1960's he founded his first gallery in Boston and a couple of years later he moved it to New York. The gallery in question was Pace Gallery which represents countless artists such as David Hockney, Tara Donovan and Kiki Smith and it also represents the estate of names like Pablo Picasso, Ad Reinhardt and Alexander Calder.
In 1982, he debuted as an actor on a small role in Robert Benton's Still of the Night (1982). By 1986, he was already producing his first feature film, the romantic comedy Legal Eagles (1986), directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Robert Redford and Debra Winger. 1988 has Arne producing two films: Leonard Nimoy's The Good Mother (1988) and the box-office hit Gorillas in the Mist (1988)~, which received several Oscar nominations.
Ten years after his entering in the film industry, Glimcher finally made it through and went on to direct his first movie, the acclaimed The Mambo Kings (1992) starring Antonio Banderas in his first Hollywood production and Armand Assante. The story of two Cuban brothers who bring Latin music to the U.S. in the 1950's conquered audiences and critics; and Glimcher received a nomination in the Best Original Song category.
He followed with the controversial thriller about death penalty Just Cause (1995) with Sean Connery, Laurence Fishburne and Ed Harris; and the comedy The White River Kid (1999), which reunited him with Banderas.
He has two sons: Marc, who is an art dealer and Paul, who is a scientist.- Nikola Bogojevic was born on 21 December 1991 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. He is an actor, known for WWE NXT (2010), Money in the Bank (2020) (2020) and WWE Smackdown! (1999).
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Henrietta Music was born on 13 December 1939 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. She is known for The Bob Newhart Show (1972), Tattletales (1974) and The Lorenzo and Henrietta Music Show (1976). She was previously married to Lorenzo Music.- Brenda Varda is a producer, actress, musician, and writer. After regional theatre work and Second City in Chicago, she moved to Los Angeles, then appearing in over 100 national commercials, guest stars roles, and pilots.
She is also a playwright and musical theatre director in Los Angeles. Shows include "Fables du Theatre", "This is my Garbage" and "Unspeakable".
University of Minnesota/Theatre-Music; St. Louis, Minneapolis, Chicago, and San Francisco. M.A. Clinical Psychology, and M.F.A. from UCR in Creative Writing. - Eugene Peterson was born on 21 May 1921 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. He was an actor, known for The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981), Mannix (1967) and The Bionic Woman (1976). He died on 3 July 2003 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Actor
- Location Management
Chris LaPanta was born on 9 July 1962 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. He is an actor, known for John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), The Many Saints of Newark (2021) and Person of Interest (2011).- Stunts
- Actress
- Producer
Alisa Christensen was born on 22 February 1966 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Face/Off (1997), Another 48 Hrs. (1990) and The Arrival (1996).- Additional Crew
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Angela Blue was born on 14 May 1914 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. She was an actress, known for The Dolly Sisters (1945), Diamond Horseshoe (1945) and Sweet Rosie O'Grady (1943). She died on 3 February 2004 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Arthur Morton was born Arthur Goldberg on 8th August 1908 in Duluth, Minnesota. He attended west high school in Minneapolis and graduated from the university of Minnesota (where he played in jazz bands) in 1929. After a year of law school and graduate work in philosophy he moved to Los Angeles. In 1935 he married Emmy Lou Hellman , the daughter of screenwriter Sam Hellman and the sister of editor Verna Fields. In addition to film scores, Morton wrote a number of songs ("My Secret Castle", "As I Live & Breathe") and many scores for television series. His younger son, John S. Morton, is a composer living in Tappan, New York.- Animation Department
- Producer
- Art Director
Alex Kirwan was born on 20 December 1977 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. Alex is a producer and art director, known for My Life as a Teenage Robot (2002), Wander Over Yonder (2013) and Looney Tunes Cartoons (2019).- Writer
- Producer
Dennis Shryack was born on 25 August 1936 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for Pale Rider (1985), Turner & Hooch (1989) and The Car (1977). He was married to Kathy. He died on 14 September 2016 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA.- Animation Department
- Director
- Art Department
American layout designer Maurice Noble was proudly old-school, a self-proclaimed champion of the 'golden years' of animation. Working in the industry for more than six decades, he reached the peak of his profession with Disney and Warner Brothers and openly rejected the stylised approach to cartoons (spearheaded by UPA) which came into vogue during the 1950's and 60's. As a youth, Noble considered the very idea of drawing cartoons as 'kid's stuff'. He changed his tune somewhat after being hired by Disney in 1934 (for $100 a month -- a step up from his previous job as a department store designer). One of his first assignments was to draw watercolour backgrounds for the popular Silly Symphonies series. Noble served an obligatory probation period, then advanced to drawing sketches and backgrounds for some of Disney's finest animated features, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Bambi (1942) and Dumbo (1941) (he designed the "Pink Elephants on Parade" segment). Supporting the 1941 strike by 300 employees of the Cartoonists Guild cost Noble his job. Like many of his colleagues, he was to spend the war years with the Army Signal Corps helping to produce propaganda material, ranging from cartoons and posters to leaflets and booklets. His work on the "Private Snafu" cartoon series for Warner Brothers brought him into contact with the legendary Dr. Seuss and with his future boss Chuck Jones.
After demobilisation, Noble worked for some time as a freelancer in advertising (including for U.S. Steel). In 1952, he joined Jones at Warner Brothers. For several decades, their collaboration was immensely fruitful, and, according to Jones, "the perfect working relationship" (recent interviews and a biography -- "The Noble Approach: Maurice Noble and the Zen of Animation Design" by Tod Polson -- suggest otherwise: that the two men were often at loggerheads and certainly not friends). Nonetheless, Noble prospered at Warner Brothers. He enjoyed the spontaneity, camaraderie and artistic freedom -- in contrast to the more restrictive atmosphere at Disney, whose output he described as "over-refined". Noble's chief strength lay in adapting his various backgrounds to suit the specific mood of the cartoon, creating dramatic visual impact to enhance that mood. His famous creations include the minimalist desert-scapes of the Road Runner/Coyote cartoons and the futuristic city of Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (1953), complete with the electronic eyes and the evaporator. Among his personal favorites he cited Duck Amuck (1953) and the Wagnerian spoof What's Opera, Doc? (1957).
When Warners disbanded their animation department in 1964, Noble resumed his association with Jones, first at MGM (as designer and co-director of "Tom & Jerry" cartoons) and, later, with Jones' s own production company (collaborating on animated Dr. Seuss TV specials, including the Grammy Award-winning How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)). In 1987, he became recipient of an Annie Award for excellence in animation. In 1993, he received a Disney Living Legend Award. By that time, Jones had become one of the oldest people still active in his chosen field.- Marion Weldon was born on 19 September 1913 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. She was an actress, known for Dodge City Trail (1936), Desert Patrol (1938) and Knight of the Plains (1938). She died on 21 July 1989 in Big Bear Lake, California, USA.
- Actor
- Composer
- Music Department
Bill Berry was born on 31 July 1958 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Independence Day (1996), Man on the Moon (1999) and Vanilla Sky (2001). He was previously married to Mari Lou Burgi.- Raymond Kark was born on 3 November 1937 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. He was an actor, known for Cold Turkey (1971), The Doris Day Show (1968) and Your Three Minutes Are Up (1973). He died on 28 July 1986 in Santa Barbara, California, USA.
- Katie Poirier was born on 28 February 1980 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. She died on 26 May 1999 in Moose Lake, Minnesota, USA.
- McKenna was born August 13, 1923 and grew up in Duluth. He served in the US Air Force during World War II, working as a meteorologist. When he returned to Duluth in 1946, he began his broadcast career at WDSM radio in Superior, Wisconsin. When WDSM-TV launched in 1954, McKenna was the lead weatherman. 1962 found him in the Twin Cities, as Sgt. Scotty, on WTCN-TV. In the mid-sixties, he returned to Duluth on WDIO-TV. In the seventies, he broadcast weather in San Francisco, Denver, Tucson, and Houston. He returned to KBJR in Duluth in the eighties. Following his retirement, McKenna continued to work in radio, hosting "Radio Superior" on KUWS-FM. Jack McKenna passed away on December 8, 2013 at the age of 91.
- Joanne Cangi was born on 29 November 1937 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. She was an actress, known for The Violent Years (1956) and It's a Great Life (1954). She was married to Douglas Nichols and Charles Bostelman. She died on 19 June 2014 in Orange County, California, USA.
- Composer
- Music Department
- Sound Department
Ryan Rapsys is a Los Angeles-based film composer and electronic music producer. He scored the film Little Pink House (2017), starring Oscar-nominated actress Catherine Keener and Emmy-nominated actress Jeanne Tripplehorn. He also scored the documentary Can We Take a Joke? (2015), featuring Gilbert Gottfried, Penn Jillette and Adam Carolla. His music has been used in Dateline NBC (1992) and Today (1952), among many others.
Rapsys's composing style mixes elements of classical, experimental, ambient and electronic music to create unique, hybrid compositions that focus on very specific and subtle emotions. He's has also released electronic music under the aliases Transistorface, Microquasar and Pineriver. Rapsys also composes classical concert music.
(2016) Located in Los Angeles with his wife, writer Christine Rapsys, and dog, Lily, Ryan Rapsys continues to compose and arrange music for film, documentary and commercial projects as well as for various production music libraries.- Lauran Paine was born on 25 February 1916 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. She was a writer, known for Open Range (2003), The Quiet Gun (1957) and Open Range (2003). She died on 1 December 2001 in Yreka, California, USA.
- Make-Up Department
- Special Effects
- Producer
James Ojala was born on 6 May 1977 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. He is a producer, known for Tron: Legacy (2010), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) and 2012 (2009).- Nate Maher was born on 14 April 1980 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. He is an actor, known for Sugar & Spice (2001), Borders (2008) and Karaoke King (2000).
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Composer, actor and Hollywood disc jockey, educated at Stanford University. His Los Angeles broadcasting career spanned 26 years, sixteen of which were at KMPC. He served in the US Army during World War II, and broadcast over the Armed Forces Radio Service from 1961. He joined ASCAP in 1958, and collaborated musically with Mort Greene and Ray Gilbert. His popular-song compositions include "Pony Tail", "Sunday Barbeque", and "Your Theme".- Known as "Wild" Bill Irwin, he has competed in professional wrestling for over 20 years. His late brother, Scott Irwin was an extensive tag team partner for him in the early to mid 80's. He is widely popular in Texas to dedicated wrestling fans. In 1993, he went to the WWF known as "The Goon", a hockey thug, but the character was unsuccessful. Recently he returned to the WWF at Wrestlemania X-7 to reprise his role as the Goon for a gimmick battle royal. He has wrestled for every major wrestling promotion at some point in his career.
- Music Department
Lawrence Morton was born Lawrence Goldberg in Duluth, Minnesota in 1904 and died in Santa Monica in 1987. He was a mainstay of Southern California's musical life, being director of the Monday evening concerts and the Ojai Music Festival. He was among the first to write seriously about film music (see his forward to Clifford Mccarty's "Film Composers in America - a checklist of their work" : Oxford Press, Hollywood, 1953).
As a champion of the work of living composers he made Los Angeles a world center for the performance of new music during the 1950s, 60s, & 70s.- Born Francis ("Frank") Charles Morris, used the professional name of Philip (sometimes credited as "Phillip") Morris upon entering films in the the silent era. Continued in small roles and bits until his death in 1949. Was brother-in-law to actor Eddy Chandler, both being married to sisters of the same family. His son was Captain Jack Morris of the Los Angeles Police Department and his daughter, Dorothy Morris Saxe, is mother of well known artist Adrian Anthony Saxe.
- Tiffany Czeczok was born on 15 April 1984 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. She is an actress, known for Go to Hell (1999), Bust (1999) and Different (2004).