Will Smith

Will Smith Willard Christopher Smith, Jr. (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor and rapper. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the second of four children. Partial biography Will Smith started his career as part of the pop-rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, performing humorous, radio-friendly songs, most notably "Parents Just Don't Understand". Smith was a charismatic and energetic performer, and in 1990 the NBC television network signed him up and built a sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, around him. Smith began a successful movie career near the show's end with Bad Boys (1995).

After Fresh Prince came to an end in 1996, Smith began a successful solo career in music and starred in several movies, including Men in Black, Independence Day, Enemy of the State, Wild Wild West, and Ali. Smith released a string of hit singles, often associated with his most recent movie, throughout the late 1990s. Will Smith is married to actress Jada Pinkett Smith. Along with his brother Harry Smith, he owns Treyball Development Inc., a Beverly Hills, California-based company named for his son, Willard Christopher "Trey" Smith, III. Partial discography as DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince And in this Corner... Rock the House (1987) He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper (1988) Homebase (1991) as Will Smith Big Willie Style (1997) Willenium (1999) Born to reign (2002) Greatest Hits (including material from DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince's 2002) Partial filmography Shark Tale (2004, voice) Jersey Girl (2004, playing himself) I, Robot (2004) Bad Boys II (2003) Men in Black II (2002) Ali (2001) Wild Wild West (1999) Enemy of the State (1998) Men in Black (1997) Independence Day (1996) Bad Boys (1995) Six Degrees of Separation (1993) Made in America (1993) The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)

Walter Matthau

Walter Matthau Walter Matthau (October 1, 1920 in New York City - July 1, 2000 in Santa Monica, California) was an American comedy actor possibly best known for his role as the gruff and less tidy member of The Odd Couple. Matthau was born in New York and served with the Army Air Corps during World War II. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and became interested in acting. He often joked that his best early review came in a play he did where he posed as a derelict.

One reviewer said "The others just looked like actors in make-up, Walter Matthau really looks like a skid row bum!" Matthau was a respected stage actor for years in such fare as Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? and A Shot In The Dark. In 1955, he made his film debut as a whip-wielding bad guy in The Kentuckian opposite Kirk Douglas. He appeared in many films after this as a villain such as the 1958 King Creole (where he is beaten up by Elvis Presley!). That same year he made a Western called Ride A Crooked Trail with Audie Murphy, the most decorated hero of World War II. Mister Matthau also directed a low budget 1960 film called The Gangster Story. In 1962, Matthau won acclaim as a sympathetic sheriff in Lonely Are The Brave. In addition to his busy movie and stage schedule, Mister Matthau made many television appearances in live tv plays. Although he was constantly working, it seemed the fact he was not handsome in the traditional sense would keep him from being a top star. The sweet smell of success came late for Matthau. He was 45 when in 1965 Neil Simon cast him in the hit play The Odd Couple. It was also during this time that Matthau nearly died of a heart attack. In 1966, he again achieved glory as a shady lawyer opposite Jack Lemmon in The Fortune Cookie. He won an Academy Award as best supporting actor. Matthau and Lemmon became lifelong friends afterwards and in an amazing act of teamwork made a total of ten films together, including the popular 1993 hit Grumpy Old Men. Matthau had two children, Jennifer and David, by his first wife, Grace Geraldine Johnson, and a son, Charles, by his second wife and widow, Carol Marcus. Charles directed his father in the movie The Grass Harp (1995). Matthau died of a massive heart attack at the age of 79, and is interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Westwood, California. About one year later, Lemmon, his old pal and frequent co-star, was also buried at the cemetery. Filmography (selected) King Creole Charade The Fortune Cookie The Odd Couple Bad News Bears Hopscotch Grumpy Old Men Grumpier Old Men The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise (born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV July 3, 1962 in Syracuse, New York, USA) is an American film actor and producer who has starred in a number of top-grossing movies. His first leading role in a Blockbuster movie was in Top Gun, as Maverick. He is considered a sex symbol.

Biography

Cruise's parents moved frequently when he was a child, residing in a number of locations throughout the United States and Canada, including Ottawa, Ontario, Louisville, Kentucky and Glen Ridge, New Jersey. Before going into acting, Cruise attended a Franciscan seminary and aspired to become a Catholic priest.

He received Academy Award nominations for Born on the Fourth of July (1989) and Jerry Maguire (1996), both as Best Actor; and for Magnolia (1999), as Best Supporting Actor. In 1996, he became the first actor in history to star in five consecutive films that grossed $100 million in domestic release. The films were A Few Good Men (1992), The Firm (1993), Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994), Impossible (1996) and Jerry Maguire (1996).

Cruise teamed with producer Paula Wagner to form Cruise/Wagner Productions, which has co-produced several of Cruise's films such as Mission: Impossible and its sequels, Vanilla Sky (2001), and The Last Samurai (2003). The company also co-produced The Others (2001).

In 1990, 1991 and 1997, People magazine rated him among the 50 most beautiful people in the world. In 1995, Empire magazine ranked him among the 100 sexiest stars in film history. Two years later, it ranked him among the top 5 movie stars of all time. In 2002 and 2003, he was rated by Premiere among the top 20 in its annual Power 100 list.

A number of Cruise's more well-known and popular movies have cast him in a similar role, one which has been half-jokingly referred to by movie fans (and some critics) as the "Generic Tom Cruise Character." In a role of this type, Cruise has portrayed a character who, as the film begins, is seen as a cocky, stuck-up, self-centered egoist who cares for little other than himself. As the events of the movie unfold, his character learns to become more open-minded and altruistic, until by the time the climax has been reached, he has undergone a radical change and been transformed into a better human being. Examples of the "Generic Tom Cruise Character" can be seen in Top Gun, Rain Man, A Few Good Men, Jerry Maguire, Cocktail, The Last Samurai, and others.

As a sex symbol, Cruise's physique has been subject to close scrutiny of the media. While many fans contend that his smile is one of his most notable features, one of his upper front incisors is off-color, and he started wearing braces in 2002. (He removes them during filming.)

He has been married twice, to Mimi Rogers (May 9, 1987 - February 4, 1990) and later Nicole Kidman (December 24, 1990). Cruise divorced Kidman on August 8, 2001, and for a time he was romantically linked with Penelope Cruz, the lead actress in his film Vanilla Sky. In March 2004, he announced that his relationship with Penelope Cruz had ended in January.

Cruise is a well-known member of the Church of Scientology (as of 1990). This has occasionally led to protests at openings of his movies in Europe.

Cruise has been chosen to co-host this year's Nobel Peace Price Concert in Oslo on December 11.

Selected Filmography

Endless Love (1981)
Taps (1981)
The Outsiders (1983)
Risky Business (1983)
Legend (1985)
Top Gun (1986)
The Color of Money (1986)
Cocktail (1988)
Rain Man (1988)
Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
Days of Thunder (1990)
Far and Away (1992)
A Few Good Men (1992)
The Firm (1993)
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Mission: Impossible (1996)
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Magnolia (1999)
Mission: Impossible II (2000)
Vanilla Sky (2001)
Minority Report (2002)
The Last Samurai (2003)
Collateral (2004)
The War of the Worlds (Pre-production) (2005)
Mission: Impossible III (Pre-production) (2006)
The Few (Scripting) (2006)

Ronnie Barker

Ronnie Barker

Ronald William George Barker OBE (b. September 25, 1929), more popularly known as Ronnie Barker is a British comic actor. His best-known appearances were as Ronnie Corbett's partner in the long-running TV variety show The Two Ronnies, and as Fletch in the sitcom Porridge. His skills as a character actor, his love for and facility with the English language, and his gift for comedy have made him a well-loved performer.

His began his showbusiness career when he left his safe job in an Oxford bank to join the city's Playhouse Theatre, then under the actor-management of Frank Shelley. The two appeared together there, in Ben Travers's A Cuckoo in the Nest and, subsequently, in a number of other venues and roles. In 1993 Barker dedicated his autobiography to Shelley, whom he called one of the "three wise men who directed my career; without men like these, there would be no theatre."

He then worked as an actor and assistant stage manager with the Manchester Repertory Company, but was soon spotted by Sir Peter Hall who gave him a West End role. His first radio appearance was in 1956; he went on to play a variety of minor characters in The Navy Lark, a navy based sit-com on the BBC Light Programme (still available on tape and frequently rerun on BBC 7). On television, he wrote and performed many satirical skits in The Frost Report, and starred with David Jason as a bumbling aristocrat in the sit-com Hark at Barker. Both he and Jason are widely recognised as having an excellent sense of comic timing and delivery, which accounts for their enduring popularity. Jason apeared in several episodes of Porridge, and co-starred as the assistant to Barker's stuttering shopkeeper in the sitcom Open All Hours, written by Roy Clarke (who also wrote Last of the Summer Wine). Both Porridge and Open All Hours originated as part of the Seven of One series.

He is also an accomplished comedy writer. He provided a good deal of the sketches and songs for The Two Ronnies, and contributed material to many other radio and TV shows - often under a variety of assumed names (most famously 'Gerald Wiley'), so that his work would be considered on merit. His other credits include the (almost) silent films Futtock's End, The Picnic and By The Sea, the sit-coms His Lordship Entertains and Clarence, the plays Rub A Dub Dub and Mum, and the LP A Pint of Old and Filthy.

Barker has made occasional TV appearances since his retirement, most notably to play Winston Churchill's butler - a 'straight' role, but with opportunities for comic asides - in the BBC drama The Gathering Storm 2002. This was followed up by a role in the film My House in Umbria 2003. In 2004, he was given a special BAFTA award and announced that he would make new episodes of The Two Ronnies with Ronnie Corbett.

Further Reading

Barker,Ronnie (2001). All I Ever Wrote: The Complete Works of Ronnie Barker. Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 0283073349

Barker,Ronnie (1994). Dancing in the Moonlight: My Early Years. Trafalgar Square Publishing. ISBN 0340591048

McCabe, Bob (1998). Ronnie Barker: The Authorised Biography. Andre Deutsch LTD. ISBN 0233993827

Orlando Bloom

Orlando Bloom Orlando Bloom is a British actor, who became famous playing Legolas in the The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He also had major roles in Black Hawk Down, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Troy. He was born in Canterbury, Kent. Although he carries the name of novelist and political activist, Harry Bloom, Orlando's biological father is actually Colin Stone, a reported friend of the family. He attended St Edmunds School in Canterbury, but struggled in many courses due to his dyslexia. In 1993, he moved to London and joined the National Youth Theatre, spending two seasons there and earning a scholarship to train at the British American Drama Academy. He earned a few television roles to further his career, including his film debut in 1997 in Wilde, opposite Stephen Fry, before entering the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. However, in 1998, he broke his back in a three story fall, and it was briefly feared that he would never walk again, but he made a complete recovery.

His first major role (he was still in drama school during the casting) was in the movie version of The Lord of the Rings (2001–2003), where he played Legolas; the ensemble cast of The Fellowship of the Ring (including Bloom), and a year later that of The Two Towers, was nominated for Best Ensemble Acting at the Screen Actors' Guild Awards. This high-profile role made an unknown British actor one of the hottest Internet celebrities. IMDBPro's StarMeter reported that Orlando Bloom was the most searched for actor in January 2002, one month after the Fellowship of the Ring was released; that year, he was also chosen as one of Teen People Magazine's "25 Hottest Stars Under 25". In 2004, Orlando was named People Magazine's hottest bachelor in the magazine's annual list of Hollywood bachelors. In 2003, the ensemble cast of The Return of the King won a Screen Actors' Guild Award for Best Ensemble Acting, after having been nominated for the previous two movies in the trilogy. Additionally, Bloom has won various Empire Awards and Teen Choice Awards, and been nominated for many others. Filmography Elizabethtown (2005) (filming) – Drew Baylor Kingdom of Heaven (2005) (post-production) – Balian of Ibelin Pirates of the Caribbean 2 (2005) (announced) – Will Turner Haven (2004) – Shy (also co-producer) Troy (2004) – Prince Paris The Calcium Kid (2004) – Jimmy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) – Legolas Greenleaf Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) – Will Turner Ned Kelly (2003) – Joe Byrne The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) – Legolas Greenleaf Black Hawk Down (2001) – Pfc. Todd Blackburn The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) – Legolas Greenleaf Wilde (1997) – Rent boy

Michael Caine

Michael Caine Michael Caine (born March 14, 1933) is a British film actor. He was born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite in Rotherhithe, South London and grew up in nearby Camberwell. During the Second World War he was evacuated to Norfolk. When Michael Caine first became an actor he changed his name to Michael Scott. He happened to be speaking to his agent in a telephone box in London's Leicester Square when he was informed that he had to change his name again because another actor was already using the name Michael Scott. His agent insisted that he come up with a new name immediately. Looking around for inspiration, he noted that The Caine Mutiny was being shown at the Odeon cinema, and so he decided to change his name to Michael Caine. He once joked to an interviewer that had he looked the other way, he would have ended up as Michael 101 Dalmatians.

After several minor roles, Caine came into the public eye as an upper-class British army officer in the 1963 film, Zulu. This proved to be ironic, as Caine was quickly to become notable for using a regional accent, rather than the 'BBC English' hitherto considered proper for film actors. At a time when The Beatles were unashamedly Liverpudlian, Caine's working-class cockney seemed like a breath of fresh air. Zulu was closely followed by his two best-known roles: the spy "Harry Palmer", in The Ipcress File (1965), and the woman-chasing Alfie (1966). He went on to play Palmer in a further two films. His trademark horn-rimmed glasses did not prevent him becoming a pin-up. After ending the 1960s with the equally iconic The Italian Job Caine entered the 1970s with Get Carter, one of the best British gangster films. The 1970s proved to be a lean period for Caine, with successes such as Sleuth (1972) and The Man Who Would Be King (1975) overshadowed by disasters such as The Swarm (1978) and Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979). Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s Caine alternated between acclaimed performances in films such as Educating Rita (1983) and Mona Lisa (1986), and unashamedly mercenary roles in notorious duds such as Jaws: The Revenge (1978) and On Deadly Ground (1994). Of the former, Caine famously said "I have not seen the film, but I hear it is terrible. However, I have seen the house that it paid for, and it is superb". By this time Caine's reputation as an icon was assured, and recent performances in Little Voice (1998), Last Orders (2001) and others have rehabilitated his critical reputation. He has been Oscar-nominated six times, winning his first Academy Award for the 1986 film, Hannah and Her Sisters, his second in 1999 for The Cider House Rules, in both cases as a supporting actor (in common with his contemporary Sean Connery, Caine now plays supporting roles). He was created Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1992 for services to drama, and in 2000 a Knight Bachelor, becoming Sir Maurice Micklewhite. Unlike some actors who adopt their stage name for everyday use, Caine still uses his real name when he is not working. Awards New York Film Critics' Best Actor Award for Alfie Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for Educating Rita British Academy Award for Best Actor for Educating Rita Golden Globe for Best Actor for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Golden Globe for Best Actor for Little Voice Academy Award Nomination for Alfie, Sleuth, Educating Rita and The Quiet American Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules Filmography The Statement (2003) Secondhand Lions (2003) The Actors (2003) The Quiet American (2002) Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) Shiner (2000) Quills (2000) Get Carter (2000) The Cider House Rules (1999) Midnight in St. Petersburg (1997) Bullet to Beijing (1997) The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) A Shock to the System (1990) Jekyll & Hyde (1990) Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) Without a Clue (1988) The Fourth Protocol (1987) Half Moon Street (1986) Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) Educating Rita (1983) Deathtrap (1982) Dressed to Kill (1980) The Eagle Has Landed (1976) The Man Who Would Be King (1975) Sleuth (1972) Kidnapped (1972) Get Carter (1972) The Last Valley (1971) Too Late the Hero (1970) Battle of Britain (1969) The Italian Job (1969) Play Dirty (1968) The Magus (1968) Deadfall (1968) Billion Dollar Brain (1967) Woman Times Seven (1967) Hurry Sundown (1967) Funeral in Berlin (1966) Gambit (1966) The Wrong Box (1966) Alfie (1966) The Ipcress File (1965) Zulu (1964)

Kiefer Sutherland

Kiefer Sutherland

Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland (born December 21, 1966) is a Canadian television and film actor. He was born in London, England while his parents were working there, but was raised in Canada. He is the son of Donald Sutherland and Shirley Douglas, both actors themselves, and the grandson of Canadian statesman Tommy Douglas. He has a twin sister named Rachel, who has had a few credits in film production but does not work as an actress.

Sutherland is well known for his role as special agent Jack Bauer in U.S. television show 24. 24 was originally intended to be a one time mini-series in which special agent Jack Bauer (played by Sutherland) has to stop a presidential candidate from being assassinated as well as rescue his wife and daughter (who are being held hostage). The first season was such a hit that there was a second and third season made. A fourth season is due to begin in January of 2005. There is also a graphic novel called One Shot due to come out in the summer of 2004. The graphic novel is about Sutherland's character Jack Bauer when he first joins CTU; this takes place before the first season occurs.

After the original broadcast of the November 25, 2003 episode of 24, Kiefer Sutherland broke character to address the issue of gun safety, most likely to waive Fox Network of liability in case someone attempted to recreate the Russian Roulette scenes. Sutherland gave a promotion for an organization called Americans For Gun Safety Foundation. Sutherland's personal views on gun politics are unknown.

On April 18, 2000, Sutherland was a featured speaker at the Friends of Medicare rally in Edmonton, Alberta, which sought to prevent the governing Conservative premier Ralph Klein from amending Bill 11 in manner which protesters alleged would permit "two-tier health care" in Canada.
Selected filmography
Sutherland has directed three and appeared in over 50 films. Among his most notable efforts:

Phone Booth (2003), as the caller.
Woman Wanted (1999), director and as Wendell Goddard.
Dark City (1998), as Dr. Daniel Schreber.
Truth or Consequences, NM (1997). Directed by Sutherland. The premise of the movie is guy that just got out of jail decides to rob cocaine from the man he works for. Everything goes wrong when they rob the man, and Sutherland, along with 3 other men have to run from the police, and a vicious mob boss (played by Martin Sheen). Kiefer did not have a major acting role in the film, but he was a supporting actor.
An Eye for an Eye (1996). In this film Sutherland plays a killer/rapist opposite Sally Field. In the beginning of the film he kills and rapes Sally Field's daughter's character. He does this while the daughter is on the phone with her mother. The mother (Sally Field) is bent on revenge after this event.
The Three Musketeers (1993), a Walt Disney film also starring Charlie Sheen, Tim Curry and Chris O'Donnel. Based loosely on the classic novel by Alexander Dumas.
A Few Good Men (1992). Sutherland does not star in this film, but is an actor in it. Alongside: Jack Nicholson, Kevin Bacon, and Tom Cruise.
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), the prequel to the acclaimed Twin Peaks series. Sutherland is a supporting actor, the partner of Chet (played by Chris Isaak).
Flatliners (1990), with Julia Roberts and Kevin Bacon. They play medical students experimenting with death. During the filming of this movie Kiefer Sutherland and Julia Roberts became engaged. Shortly after, however, Julia Roberts broke off the engagement to be with one of Kiefer Sutherlands close friends.
Young Guns (1988), with Emilio Estevez, and Charlie Sheen. A story about a group of outcast cowboys trying to defend the land of a man who took them in and helped educate them.
The Lost Boys (1987). In this film Sutherland plays a lead vampire in a small town in the United States that corrupts a teenage boy that just moved there. The younger brother of the boy Kiefer turns into a vampire finds out that his brother has been turned into a vampire. Along with two other boys they go on a vampire hunt to destroy the gang of vampires.
Stand By Me (1986). In this movie, Sutherland plays Ace, the leader of a gang. The premise of the movie is some younger boys go on a mission to find a body. Two of Ace's gang members are somehow tied to this dead body, they go on a hunt to find it and become famous. The younger boys that are not in Ace's gang are also on the same mission. Both groups arrive at the dead body at the same time and there is a showdown to see who will get credit for finding the body. Also starring: River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton and Corey Feldman.
The Bay Boy (1984), his first film role, which earned him a Genie nomination for best actor.