Who is James Thomas Fallon, Jr.?
Who is James Thomas Fallon, Jr.? The entertainment and acting world knows him as Jimmy Fallon, he is an American actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host. He currently hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show that airs on NBC. Prior to that he appeared in several films, and was best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1998 to 2004.
Early life
James Thomas Fallon, Jr., was born September 19, 1974 in Brooklyn, New York. Jimmy is the son of Gloria and James Fallon, Sr.,[1] who is a Vietnam War veteran.[2] His family settled in Saugerties, New York, while his father worked at IBM in nearby Kingston, New York. He is of Irish descent.[3] As a child, he and his older sister, Gloria, would reenact the “clean parts” of Saturday Night Live that his parents had taped for him.[4] Fallon was such a fan of Saturday Night Live
that he made a weekly event of watching it in his dormitory during
college. In his teens, he impressed his parents with different
impersonations, the first being of James Cagney.[5][6]
He was also musically inclined, and started playing guitar at age 13.
He would go on to perform comedy and music in contests and shows.[6]
Education
Fallon attended The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York. He was a Computer Science major, but switched to Communication in his senior year, dropping out a semester shy of a degree.[7][8] “I was a Computer Science major. I got out once it got really hard. I made it up to C++.
Then I couldn’t do the math – it got really confusing. I switched to
Communications, which is a ridiculous major – let’s be honest,” he
recalls.[9] On May 9, 2009, Fallon received a B.A. in Communication and an honorary
doctorate degree from The College of Saint Rose after presenting
college officials with his portfolio which satisfied all requisites for
his degree.[7] In addition to receiving a BA, Fallon spoke at the school’s 86th commencement. That night, on Saturday Night Live, he held up his diploma during the closing of the show.
Career
Stand-up
Fallon gives credit to troll dolls
for his big break. He was given a troll doll with a graduation cap in
his senior year of high school. His mother heard about an impression
contest at Bananas Comedy Club
in Poughkeepsie, NY. Fallon came up with a stand-up routine that was a
commercial for troll dolls. He would impersonate various celebrities
auditioning to be the spokesperson. He won the contest and after college
he began to do stand-up tours across the country. When he was in Los
Angeles, he took improv classes with The Groundlings.[5]
Early work
Fallon appeared in the feature film The Scheme (originally entitled The Entrepreneurs). His one line in Father’s Day was cut but he can still be seen in the background. In 1998 Fallon appeared briefly on the show Spin City
in the second season as a man selling photographs. By late 1998, Fallon
was studying at the Groundlings Theater in Los Angeles, making $7.50 a
set at The Improv Theater, when he was summoned to New York to audition for the long-running late night sketch comedy show, Saturday Night Live. Fallon did his impersonations of Jerry Seinfeld,[10] French Stewart, Pat O’Brien, Chris Rock, Hilary Swank, Gilbert Gottfried, Enrique Iglesias, Adam Sandler, Jeff Foxworthy, Eddie Murphy, Larry the Cable Guy. Fallon also did musical impersonations of Bono of U2, Adam Duritz of Counting Crows, Alanis Morissette, and Robert Smith of The Cure.[4]
Saturday Night Live
Fallon’s impersonations helped land him on Saturday Night Live as a featured player in the 1998–1999 season,[11] and he was promoted to full cast member in the summer of 1999.[4] Among his signature bits were his song parodies, which he performed when Colin Quinn was doing Update and continued to showcase on special occasions after he had replaced him. He became co-anchor of Weekend Update with Tina Fey with the October 7, 2000 season premiere.[12] Fallon left SNL in 2004 and began pursuing a film career.
Fallon returned to SNL, hosting the December 17, 2011 episode, having made several cameos in episodes in the years since his departure.[13] His performance hosting SNL earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
Recurring characters
- Dave, a young man in the Will Ferrell/Rachel Dratch recurring sketch, “The Lovers”, often used as a pawn in Roger and Virginia’s matchmaking.
- Jarret (from Jarret’s Room), a stoner who hosts his own Internet webcam show.
- Jeffrey’s clerk, one of the clerks (the other being a male host for the show) of an upscale department store.
- Joey Mack, an obnoxious radio DJ who mocks his celebrity guests.
- Kip Bloder, brother to Chris Parnell‘s Wade Bloder.
- The Leather Man, an intense man who owns a shop filled with leather clothes.
- Nick Burns,
a sarcastic tech support representative who helps office workers with
computer problems (and is almost always exposed as not knowing as much
as he should by one of the workers). He frequently used the catchphrase
“Moooooove!” when ousting people from their desk so he could fix the
problem. - Pat Sullivan, nicknamed “Sully”, one of the Boston Teens, boyfriend of Rachel Dratch’s Denise character.
- Patrick Fitzwilliam, a surly Irishman who hosts a show called Top O’
The Morning with his friend, William Fitzpatrick (played by Seth Meyers) - Randy Goldman, from “Wake Up Wakefield”, Megan’s (Maya Rudolph) crush who does not know she exists.
- Rodney “The Zipper” Calzoun, the MC at the Rialto Grande
- Señor Guadalupe Ramirez, one of the guitar players on the recurring sketch, “The ‘How Do You Say, Ah, Yes’ Show”
- Wade, one of the members of the boy band 7 Degrees Celsius
- Barry Gibb, in the skit called “The Barry Gibb Talk Show“, he hosts along with his brother Robin Gibb (played by Justin Timberlake).
- Carson Daly, whom he impersonated with the catch phrase “I am a massive tool.”[14]
- Pat O’Brien, who “doesn’t breathe through his nose ever!”
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Fallon succeeded fellow Saturday Night Live alumnus Conan O’Brien as the host of NBC‘s Late Night after O’Brien left the show to prepare to take over The Tonight Show from Jay Leno in 2009.[15] The deal for the long-expected succession was confirmed April 24, 2008, with an official announcement[16] made on May 12, 2008 at NBC’s upfront presentation.[17][18] The official press conference was released on Hulu.com.[19]
The show, titled Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, first aired on March 2, 2009 with guests Robert De Niro, Justin Timberlake, Nick Carter, and musical guest Van Morrison. Guests on the show’s first week included Tina Fey, Jon Bon Jovi, Cameron Diaz, Donald Trump, and Drew Barrymore.
“Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” sometimes features parodies by Fallon
impersonating various musicians, and he has been praised for his ability
to pull off spot-on impressions. Fallon often changes the lyrics to
honor a recent event in popular culture and videos of these performances
tend to go viral. In one segment, on May 26, 2011, Fallon impersonated Neil Young, singing along with guests Graham Nash and David Crosby, of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Recent parodies include Fallon impersonating Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam performing “Jeremy (Lin)” in light of the hysteria surrounding New York Knicks shocking standout Jeremy Lin, the Doors singing the theme song to the PBS children’s show “Reading Rainbow“, Neil Young’s version of the “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” theme song, and David Bowie‘s “Space Oddity” with inspiration by Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.
First appearing in January 2012, and dubbing himself as “Tebowie”,
Fallon’s impersonation of the famously-religious quarterback went viral.
Due to overwhelmingly positive acclaim from the public, Fallon revived
the act on March 20, 2012 after the Denver Broncos acquired superstar
and future hall of fame quarterback Peyton Manning,
and revealed their intentions to trade Tebow. Fallon continues to do
impersonations, particularly ones of famous singers, in some of the
show’s comedy segments.
To celebrate the second anniversary on March 2, 2011, Ben & Jerry’s launched a personalized “Late Night Snack” ice cream. This was immediately parodied on The Colbert Report
the next day and the two show hosts engaged in a brief ice cream
personality war. Colbert used numerous “fecal matter” jokes to describe
the flavor of the ice cream named after Jimmy Fallon.[20]
On November 21, 2011, U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann, who was
active in the Republican Presidential Primaries at the time, appeared as
a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. As she walked onto the
stage, the band played a funk song titled “Lyin’ Ass Bitch,” without any
lyrics. Hours earlier, the band’s drummer Questlove
had sent a tweet about the song choice: “late night walkon song
devotees: you love it when we snark: this next one takes the cake. ask
around cause i aint tweeting title.” After a prominent Democratic
Congress woman complained, Fallon made a general apology by tweet.[21]
Fallon began his tweet with the words: “I’m honored that
@michelebachmann was on our show yesterday and I’m so sorry about the
intro mess.”[22] Fallon also used his Twitter account to tease his Roots bandleader Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson that he was “grounded”.[22]
According to Tyra Banks
from her appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on August 21, 2012,
Jimmy has an ‘M’ shaped forehead, measuring 7 inches across, 3 inches
in height from the middle of his eyebrows, and 4 inches in height from
the middle of either eyebrow, thus qualifying him for the forehead crew.
Other work
Fallon appeared in Taxi, Anything Else, Almost Famous, Fever Pitch, Band of Brothers, Doogal, Factory Girl and Whip It.
He occasionally does stand up comedy in New York City and has also
performed at the House of Blues in Boston, Massachusetts on occasions.
In 2002, Fallon released the comedy album The Bathroom Wall. In a mixed review, Rolling Stone
praised the album’s songs, calling the album the “second-best Prince
parody ever, after Beck’s ‘Debra’.” However the magazine panned the
album’s comedy routines, ultimately giving it two-out-of-five stars.[23] The album was nominated for a Grammy in 2003 for Best Spoken Comedy Album. Fallon co-hosted the 2001 MTV Movie Awards with Kirsten Dunst on June 7, 2001.[24] Fallon has played Neo in Sex and the Matrix, a comedic two-in-one parody of Sex and the City and The Matrix.[25] He hosted the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards alone that year.[26] His opening number included parodies of videos by Eminem, Avril Lavigne, Nelly, The White Stripes, Dave Matthews and Enrique Iglesias.
Also in 2002, Fallon appeared in The Rutles 2: Can’t Buy Me Lunch
as the son of Melvin Hall, and constantly pesters his father, often
stealing his mike, claiming that the film is “his documentary.”[27]
Fallon also hosted the 2005 MTV Movie Awards and played Anakin Skywalker in comedic parody of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith‘s Mustafar scene, in which Anakin and Padme have their last conversation. Fallon was named one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in 2002, an honor Fallon found embarrassing.[28]
Following the Boston Red Sox‘s World Series clinching game over the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004, Fallon ran onto the field at Busch Stadium with Drew Barrymore to film a scene for their movie Fever Pitch.
In 2006, Fallon starred in “Spontaneous Combustion”, a Traktor-directed Pepsi television commercial with actress Parker Posey. In the ad, Fallon and Posey can be seen dancing and jumping around to the song Streamline by Newton. In October of that year, Fallon appeared on stage in The Secret Policeman’s Ball, a charity gig filmed to raise awareness of Amnesty International at the Royal Albert Hall. Fallon made three appearances during the show, the first in a sketch in which he performed impressions of people such as David Bowie, Jerry Seinfeld and David Blaine in order to get past a doorman (Shaun Williamson) who claims Fallon is not on the list. The doorman finally recognizes him for his role in Taxi, but still will not let him in. He later masqueraded as Russell Brand before being led off by Williamson, and made one final appearance in a cameo role as the front of a pantomime horse in the Al Murray “pub landlord” routine. He also provided the voice of Dylan in Doogal.
In 2007, Fallon wrote the song “Car Wash for Peace” and donated all proceeds to charity. He performed the song on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The View
and dedicated a MySpace page to the cause. Around the same time, a
video circulated on various Internet sites called lonelyfallon32, in
which Fallon parodied YouTube celebrity Jessica Rose (a.k.a. lonelygirl15) and later performed the song.
Fallon, along with his sister Gloria, wrote I Hate This Place: The Pessimist’s Guide to Life
for TV Books in 1999. A second book is anticipated but has not yet been
released, to be titled “I Hate This Place 2: Tokyo Drift.”[4] Fallon has also written a children’s book, illustrated by Adam Stower, entitled Snowball Fight.
Fallon also appeared on Diggnation’s 185th show.[29]
On May 4, 2010, NBC announced that Fallon would host the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards.[30] With Fallon as host, viewership of the 2010 Emmy Awards increased by over 200,000 viewers from the year before.[31]
On April 24, 2012, Jimmy Fallon filmed his live show in Chapel Hill,
NC on the campus of the University of North Carolina. His guest was
President Barack Obama, who spoke primarily about Congress potentially
doubling the interest rates of student loans. His musical guest was Dave
Matthews.
On June 9, 2012, he guest-hosted American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest.
On June 12, 2012, Fallon released his second comedy album, Blow Your Pants Off. Most of the songs comes from his Late Night impersonations, such as Tebowie and Neil Young. The album is also notable for its guest appearances, which include Stephen Colbert, Eddie Vedder, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Justin Timberlake, Dave Matthews, Big & Rich, and newscaster Brian Williams. The album won a Grammy in 2013 for Best Comedy Album. In an interview with American Songwriter,
Fallon stated that “Any comedy album that has Justin Timberlake, Paul
McCartney, Eddie Vedder, Dave Matthews, Bruce Springsteen – that’s
pretty crazy. If I was 15-year-old me, I would be like, ‘Oh my God, this
is awesome!’ Though I’d probably be like, ‘Who’s Dave Matthews?’
because he doesn’t exist yet.”[32]
Fallon is the creator and one of the executive producers of Guys with Kids, part of NBC’s 2012–13 television schedule.
Personal life
Fallon married Nancy Juvonen on December 22, 2007.[33] Juvonen and Drew Barrymore own the production company Flower Films. He has also dated Tara Subkoff and Winona Ryder in the past. Fallon has a dog named Gary Frick, who often appears on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
On February 22, 2011, Fallon was on The Dr. Oz Show. He had a mole removed from his left hand in front of a live studio audience by visiting cosmetic surgeon Arthur Perry.[34][35][36]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Almost Famous | Dennis Hope | |
| 2002 | The Rutles 2: Can’t Buy Me Lunch | Reporter | |
| 2003 | Anything Else | Bob | |
| 2003 | The Entrepreneurs | Ray | filmed in 1998 but released in 2003 |
| 2004 | Taxi | Andrew ‘Andy’ Washburn | |
| 2005 | Fever Pitch | Ben | |
| 2006 | Doogal | Dylan | Voice Role |
| 2006 | Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Event for Autism Education | Barry Gibb | TV Movie |
| 2006 | Arthur and the Invisibles | Betameche | Voice Role |
| 2006 | Factory Girl | Chuck Wein | |
| 2008 | The Year of Getting to Know Us | Christopher Rocket | |
| 2009 | Whip It | Johnny Rocket | |
| 2009 | Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard | Prince Betameche | Voice Role |
| 2012 | Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds | Prince Betameche | Voice Role |
Television
- Saturday Night Live (1998–2004)
- Spin City (1998)
- Band of Brothers as 2nd Lt. George C. Rice in “Crossroads”(2001)
- 30 Rock (2009)
- Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (2009–present)
- The Electric Company (2009)
- Family Guy (2009)
- Saturday Night Live (December 17, 2011)
- Silent Library (2011)
- 30 Rock (2012) – Young Jack
- iCarly (2012) – As Himself
Discography
Albums
- The Bathroom Wall (2002)
- Blow Your Pants Off (2012)
Singles
- “Idiot Boyfriend” (2002)
- “Car Wash for Peace” (2008)
- “Drunk On Christmas (feat. John Rich)” (2010)
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Who is Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg?
Who is Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg? The entertainment and acting world knows hims as Mark Wahlberg, he is an American actor, film and television producer, and former rapper. He was known as Marky Mark in his earlier years, and became famous for his 1991 debut as frontman with the band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. He was named No. 1 on VH1‘s 40 Hottest Hotties of the 90′s. Wahlberg is well known for his roles in films such as Fear (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), Three Kings (1999), The Perfect Storm (2000), Planet of the Apes (2001), Rock Star (2001), The Italian Job (2003), I Heart Huckabees (2004), Four Brothers (2005), The Departed (2006), Invincible (2006), Shooter (2007), Max Payne (2008), The Fighter (2010), Date Night (2010), and Ted (2012). He has also served as the executive producer of the TV series Entourage, Boardwalk Empire and How to Make It in America.
Early life
Wahlberg was born June 5, 1971 in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, the youngest of nine children,[2] with siblings Arthur, Jim, Paul, Robert, Tracey, Michelle, Debbie (died in 2003 at age 44), and Donnie. Wahlberg’s mother, Alma Elaine (née Donnelly), was a bank clerk and nurse’s aide, and Wahlberg’s father, Donald Edward Wahlberg, was a Teamster who worked as a delivery driver. His parents divorced in 1982.[3] His father was of half Swedish and half Irish ancestry, and his mother is of Irish, English, and French Canadian descent.[4] Maternally, Wahlberg is distantly related to author Nathaniel Hawthorne.[5] Wahlberg had a Roman Catholic[6][7] upbringing and attended Copley Square High School (but never graduated) on Newbury Street in Boston.
Assaults and conviction
Wahlberg had been in trouble 20–25 times with the Boston Police Department in his youth. By the age of thirteen, Wahlberg had developed an addiction to cocaine and other substances.[8][9] At fifteen, he harassed a group of black school children on a field trip by throwing rocks and shouting racial epithets.[10]
When he was sixteen, Wahlberg approached a middle-aged Vietnamese man
on the street and, using a large wooden stick, knocked him unconscious
(while calling him “Vietnam fucking shit”). He also attacked another
Vietnamese man, leaving him permanently blind in one eye.[11][12]
For these crimes, Wahlberg was charged with attempted murder, pled guilty to assault, and was sentenced to two years in state prison at Boston’s Deer Island House of Correction, of which he served 45 days.[11][13] In another incident, the 21-year-old Wahlberg fractured the jaw of a neighbor in an unprovoked attack.[14]
Commenting in 2006 on his past crimes, Wahlberg has stated: “I did a
lot of things that I regret, and I have certainly paid for my mistakes.”
He said the right thing to do would be to try to find the blinded man
and make amends, and admitted he has not done so, but added that he was
no longer burdened by guilt: “You have to go and ask for forgiveness and
it wasn’t until I really started doing good and doing right by other
people, as well as myself, that I really started to feel that guilt go
away. So I don’t have a problem going to sleep at night. I feel good
when I wake up in the morning.”[15]
After landing in prison following this assault, he decided to change
his ways. According to Wahlberg, “As soon as I began that life of crime,
there was always a voice in my head telling me I was going to end up in
jail. Three of my brothers had done time. My sister went to prison so
many times I lost count. Finally I was there, locked up with the kind of
guys I’d always wanted to be like. Now I’d earned my stripes and I was
just like them, and I realized it wasn’t what I wanted at all. I’d ended
up in the worst place I could possibly imagine and I never wanted to go
back. First of all, I had to learn to stay on the straight and narrow.”
Wahlberg first relied on the guidance of his parish priest to turn his back on crime. He told his street gang
that he was leaving them and had “some serious fights” with them over
it. The actor commented in 2009: “I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life
and I’ve done bad things, but I never blamed my upbringing for that. I
never behaved like a victim so that I would have a convenient reason for
victimizing others. Everything I did wrong was my own fault. I was
taught the difference between right and wrong at an early age. I take
full responsibility.”[16]
Music career
Wahlberg first came to fame as the younger brother of Donnie Wahlberg of the successful 1980s and 1990s boy band New Kids on the Block. Mark, at age thirteen, had been one of the group’s original members, along with Donnie, Danny Wood, Jordan Knight, and Jonathan Knight. However, he soon quit. It was his departure that eventually allowed Joe McIntyre to take his place as the fifth member of the group.
Wahlberg began recording as Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, earning a hit with “Good Vibrations” from the album Music for the People. The record was produced by brother Donnie and later hit No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, later becoming certified as a platinum single. The second single, “Wildside”, peaked at No. 5 on Billboards Hot Singles Sales chart and at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.[17]
It was certified as a gold single. Marky Mark opened for the New Kids
on the Block during their last tour. The second Marky Mark and the Funky
Bunch LP, You Gotta Believe,
was not as successful as the prior, yielding only a minor hit single in
the title track. Wahlberg later collaborated with the late reggae/ragga singer Prince Ital Joe on the album Life in the Streets. The project combined rap and ragga vocals with strong eurodance music (as in the singles Happy People, German No. 1 hit United, Life in the Streets, and Babylon) courtesy of Frank Peterson and Alex Christensen as producers.
He was also featured in the Black Label Society music video for “Counterfeit God“, as a stand-in for the band’s bassist.[18]
Advertising career
Wahlberg first displayed his physique in the Good Vibrations music video and most prominently in a series of underwear ads for Calvin Klein shot by Herb Ritts, following it with Calvin Klein television advertisements.[19] Magazine and television promotions would sometimes feature Mark exclusively or accompanied by model Kate Moss. Annie Leibovitz also shot a famous session of Mark Wahlberg in underwear for Vanity Fair’s annual Hall of Fame issue.[20] He also made a workout video titled The Marky Mark Workout: Form… Focus… Fitness (ISBN 1-55510-910-1).
In 2012, he launched a line of sports nutrition supplements called “Marked”.[21]
Film career
Wahlberg dropped the “Marky Mark” moniker and began an acting career, making his debut in the 1993 TV movie The Substitute. His big screen debut came the next year, with the Danny DeVito feature Renaissance Man. A basketball fanatic, he caught the attention of critics after appearing in The Basketball Diaries in 1995, playing the role of Mickey alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, in a film adaptation of the Jim Carroll book of the same name. He also starred in the 1996 James Foley thriller Fear.
He has earned many positive reviews after successful movies like Boogie Nights (as Dirk Diggler), Three Kings, The Perfect Storm, The Italian Job, and Four Brothers. His performance in I ♥ Huckabees was voted best supporting performance of the year in the 2004 Village Voice Critics Poll. Wahlberg was originally cast as Linus Caldwell in Ocean’s Eleven; Matt Damon played the role instead. The two later worked together in The Departed.[22] Wahlberg was also considered for a role in the film Brokeback Mountain. It was originally intended to star him and Joaquin Phoenix,
but Wahlberg was uncomfortable with the film’s sex scenes as was
Phoenix (whose role went to Heath Ledger) and Mark’s role ultimately
went to Jake Gyllenhaal.[23]
Wahlberg starred in the American football drama, Invincible, based on the true story of bartender Vince Papale. He is also the executive producer of the HBO series Entourage which is loosely based on his experiences in Hollywood. He also appeared as a foul-mouthed Massachusetts State Police detective in Martin Scorsese‘s critically acclaimed thriller, The Departed in 2006, which netted him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, and an NSFC Best Supporting Actor award. Wahlberg has confirmed that he was approached to star in a sequel to The Departed, but it is still early in development. The sequel would reportedly revolve around the Staff Sergeant played by Wahlberg.[24]
To prepare for his role in Shooter, Wahlberg attended long-range shooting training at Front Sight Firearms Training Institute near Pahrump, Nevada, and was able to hit a target at 1100 yards on his second day, a feat which usually takes weeks to achieve.[25] He has said in a number of interviews that he will retire at the age of 40 to concentrate on parenthood[26] and professional golf. However, in early 2007 he indicated that the latter was no longer the plan as “his golf game is horrible”.[27] He played Jack Salmon, a leading role in Peter Jackson‘s film of The Lovely Bones.[28] In 2007, he starred opposite Joaquin Phoenix in We Own the Night, a movie about a family of police officers in New York City.
He starred in M. Night Shyamalan‘s The Happening as Eliot Moore, which premiered in movie theatres on June 13, 2008. The same year, he played the title role in Max Payne, based on a video game of the same name. While promoting Max Payne, Mark became involved in a playful feud with Saturday Night Live‘s Andy Samberg and threatened to “crack that big fucking nose of his”. Samberg had done an impression of Wahlberg in a Saturday Night Live skit titled “Mark Wahlberg Talks To Animals”.[29][30]
However, Wahlberg later appeared in a follow-up skit parodying both the
original skit, Samberg’s impression of Wahlberg, and his own threats to
Samberg.[31][32]
Personal life
Family and relationships
In the early 1990s, Wahlberg dated former child actress Soleil Moon Frye.[33] Wahlberg and model Rhea Durham
have been together since 2001 and were married on August 1, 2009 at the
Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Beverly Hills. The couple have four
children, Ella Rae (born September 2, 2003), Michael Robert (born March
21, 2006), Brendan Joseph (born September 16, 2008) and Grace Margaret
(born January 11, 2010). In a 2011 interview with USA Weekend, Wahlberg stated that he had taken his children to visit his old Dorchester neighborhood, saying “I want them to know that not everyone is as fortunate and how important it is to work hard and give back.”[34]
His father, a US Army veteran of the Korean War, died on February 14, 2008.[35]
Religion
Wahlberg is a committed Roman Catholic,[36]
who attends daily Mass, credits his faith and a priest from his
childhood for helping him turn his life around, and recognizes the
seriousness of his faith.[7]
Charity work
Actively involved in charity, Wahlberg established the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation in May 2001 for the purpose of raising and distributing funds to youth service and enrichment programs.[37]
Wahlberg is also active with The Good Shepherd Center for Homeless
Women and Children. In an interview, Mark said that it’s important to
let the homeless know that people care about them and are working to
help the impoverished get back on their feet.[38]
Wahlberg served on the Honorary Board of Jerry Sandusky‘s The Second Mile children’s charity before Sandusky’s 2011 arrest on child sex abuse charges.[39]
Tattoos
Wahlberg has four tattoos done by various artists including Paul Timman.[40] The tattoos include Sylvester the cat with Tweety Bird in his mouth on his ankle, a design of his initials “MW” with his surname “Wahlberg” on his upper right arm, and a Bob Marley tattoo with “One Love” on his upper left arm.[41] The final tattoo, which Wahlberg holds as his most meaningful, is the rosary tattooed around his neck, with a crucifix and the words “In God I Trust” resting over his heart.[41] On January 9, 2012 Wahlberg was a guest on the Late Show with David Letterman.
He spoke about his tattoos and stated he is in the process of having
them removed. Initially he was told it would take 8–10 laser treatments,
however he required over 30 treatments and is still in the process of
getting them removed. He cited his career and children as the reason for
the removal of the tattoos. His first tattoo was as a young teenager
and it was of a shamrock. As it was not professionally done, he said the
shamrock was not straight and had the Tweety Bird tattoo placed over it
after arriving in Los Angeles.
Discography
Filmography
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entourage | 2004–11 | Executive producer | |
| We Own the Night | 2007 | Producer | |
| In Treatment | 2008–10 | Executive producer | |
| How to Make It in America | 2010–11 | Executive producer | |
| Boardwalk Empire | 2010–present | Executive producer | |
| The Fighter | 2010 | Producer | |
| Contraband | 2012 | Producer |
Who is Bryan Ferry?
Who is Bryan Ferry? The entertainment and music world knows him as Bryan Ferry, Ferry is an English singer, musician, and songwriter. Ferry came to public prominence in the early 1970s as lead vocalist and principal songwriter with the band Roxy Music, who enjoyed a highly successful career with three number one albums and ten singles entering the top ten charts in the United Kingdom. Ferry began his solo career in 1973, while still a member of Roxy Music, which continues to the present day.
Biography
Before Roxy Music (before 1971)
Ferry was born 26 September 1945, Washington, County Durham, UK into a working class family (his father, Fred Ferry, was a farmer who also looked after pit ponies),[1] Ferry attended Washington Grammar-Technical School (now called Washington School) on Spout Lane from 1957 and achieved nine O levels, then studied fine art at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne under Richard Hamilton.[2] His contemporaries included Tim Head[3] and Nick de Ville.[4] He became a pottery teacher at Holland Park school in London.[5] Ferry formed the band The Banshees, and later, together with Graham Simpson, the band The Gas Board.[6]
Roxy Music and solo years (1971–1983)
Ferry formed Roxy Music with a group of friends and acquaintances, beginning with Graham Simpson, in November 1970. The line-up expanded to include saxophonist/oboist Andy Mackay and his acquaintance Brian Eno, who owned tape recorders and played Mackay’s synthesiser. Other early members included timpanist Dexter Lloyd and ex-Nice guitarist David O’List, who were replaced respectively by Paul Thompson and Phil Manzanera before the band recorded its first album. (Early Peel sessions for UK radio station Radio 1 feature O’List’s playing.)[7]
Roxy Music’s first hit, “Virginia Plain”, just missed topping the charts, and was followed up with several hit singles and albums, with Ferry as vocalist and occasional instrumentalist (he taught himself piano in his mid-twenties) and Eno contributing synthesiser backing.
For many years, Ferry has collaborated with fashion designer Antony Price for clothing and image consultations. Price is famous for his shop on London’s Kings Road. He created suits recognised worldwide for their elegance, and gained fame when celebrities and rock stars dressed in his designs.[8] Indeed, one comment by Nicky Haslam about Ferry was that he was more likely to redecorate a hotel room than to trash it.[9]
After their second album, Eno left Roxy Music, leaving Ferry its undisputed leader. Ferry had already started a parallel solo career in 1973, initially performing cover versions of old standards on albums such as These Foolish Things (1973) and Another Time, Another Place (1974), both of which reached the UK Top 5. After the concert tours in support of Siren, Roxy Music temporarily disbanded in 1976 though band-members Paul Thompson, Phil Manzanera and Eddie Jobson took part in recording Ferry’s subsequent solo material. In 1976, Ferry covered a Beatles song, “She’s Leaving Home” for the transitory musical documentary All This and World War II. He went on to release three solo albums during this period, Let’s Stick Together (1976), In Your Mind (1977) and The Bride Stripped Bare (1978), but by this time his career had begun to wane.
Roxy Music reconvened in 1979, with Ferry, Manzanera, Thompson and Mackay (Jobson was no longer a member). The band recorded the albums Manifesto (1979), Flesh + Blood (1980) and Avalon (1982), the latter two reaching number one in the UK album charts.[10] The band also achieved their first and only UK number one single, “Jealous Guy“, released in 1981 as a posthumous tribute to its author John Lennon who had been murdered some months earlier. It was the only one of their singles not written by Ferry.
After lengthy tours to promote the Avalon album in 1982, Ferry decided to put Roxy Music on hold and continue as a solo artist.
After Roxy Music (1985–2001)
Ferry continued to record, and released his sixth solo album, Boys and Girls, in 1985. The album reached number one in the UK, his first and only solo recording to do so, and also became his biggest selling album in the US.
In July 1985, Ferry performed at the London Live Aid show, again accompanied by David Gilmour.[11] He was hit with technical difficulties on sound, the drummer’s drumstick broke at the start of the first song “Sensation” and Gilmour’s Fender Stratocaster went dead, so he had to switch to his candy-apple red Stratocaster for the rest of the performance.[12] The difficulties in sound were overcome for “Slave to Love” (featured on the soundtrack to 9½ Weeks) and “Jealous Guy”. As with other successful Live Aid acts, his current album, Boys and Girls, remained in the chart for almost a year.
After the Avalon promotional tours, Ferry was rather reluctant to return to life on the road; however, a change of management persuaded him to try touring again in 1988 to promote the previous year’s Bête Noire release. Following the tour, Ferry teamed up again with Brian Eno for Mamouna (collaborating with Robin Trower on guitar and as producer). The album took more than five years to produce, and was created under the working title Horoscope. During production, Ferry simultaneously recorded and released another covers album, Taxi in 1993, which proved to be a greater commercial and critical success than Mamouna would be when it was finally released in 1994. In 1996, Ferry performed the song “Dance With Life” for the Phenomenon soundtrack, which was written by Bernie Taupin and Martin Page. In 1999 Ferry appeared with Alan Partridge (played by Steve Coogan) on BBC’s Comic Relief.
After taking some time off from music, Ferry returned in 1999. He began to perform a mix of 1930s songs and songs of his own, including several from the Roxy collection, and recorded them on the album As Time Goes By, which was nominated for a Grammy award.[13]
Roxy Music reunion and continuing solo career (2001–present)
Ferry, Manzanera, Mackay and Thompson re-reformed Roxy Music in 2001 and toured extensively for a couple of years though the band did not record any new material. In 2002, with the help of Manzanera and Thompson, Ferry returned with his next studio album, Frantic, which also featured a collaboration with Brian Eno. The album was a mix of new original material and covers – something that Ferry had not attempted on a solo album since The Bride Stripped Bare in 1978.
In 2003, Ferry provided the entertainment for the Miss World election, a show with an expected 2 billion viewers worldwide.[14] In 2004, Ferry starred in the short film The Porter. In 2005, it was confirmed[15] that Roxy Music (Ferry, Eno, Mackay, Manzanera and Thompson) would be performing further shows at that year’s Isle Of Wight festival and that they would also be recording a further album of new and original songs, with no indication of when such a project would reach completion.[16] Brian Eno confirmed[17] that he has worked in the studio with Roxy Music once more and has co-written songs for the new album. However, Ferry later debunked the idea of a new Roxy Music album and stated that the material from these sessions will most likely be released as part of his next solo album,[18] and that “I don’t think we’ll record as Roxy again.”[19]
In October 2006, Bryan Ferry modelled clothing range Autograph with British retailer, Marks and Spencer. In 2007, Ferry released the album Dylanesque, a tribute album to Bob Dylan. The album charted in the UK Top 10, and Ferry undertook a UK tour.
On October 7, 2008, Ferry was honored as a BMI Icon at the annual BMI London Awards. He joined past Icons including Peter Gabriel, Ray Davies, Steve Winwood, Van Morrison, amongst others.[20]
In 2009, Ferry provided vocals on DJ Hell‘s record, U Can Dance. A new version of the track was recorded for Ferry’s new studio album, Olympia, released in October 2010. The album contained the material he had been recorded with his former Roxy Music bandmembers, and also featured an impressive cast of other musicians such as Nile Rodgers, David A. Stewart, Scissor Sisters, Groove Armada, Michael “Flea” Balzary, Johnny Greenwood and David Gilmour, and also featured model Kate Moss on the front cover. The album recieved excellent reviews and made the UK Top 20 as well as entering the U.S. Billboard Charts, pushed by it’s lead single “You Can Dance”.
Personal life
Several of the women Ferry has been involved with have appeared as cover models on the Roxy Music albums. Ferry dated singer and model Amanda Lear, who was photographed with a black jaguar for the cover of the For Your Pleasure album. She later went on to date David Bowie.[21]
Ferry then began a relationship with model Jerry Hall. Hall appeared in several of Ferry’s music videos, including “Let’s Stick Together” and “The Price of Love.” Ferry first met Hall when she posed for the Roxy Music album cover for Siren in Wales during the summer 1975. Hall’s autobiography Tall Tales describes the photo session, and she elaborates on how the blue body paint she wore to look like a mythical siren would not wash off; Hall says that Ferry took her back to his house, claiming he would help her to remove the paint.[22] Her stay at Ferry’s Holland Park (London) home, following the album cover photo shoot, marked the start of their affair. Hall and Ferry moved in together, sharing homes in London and in the ritzy Bel Air section of Los Angeles. His relationship with Hall ended when she left him for Mick Jagger in late 1977. To this day, Ferry rarely speaks about Hall, but fans often speculate that his song “Kiss and Tell” from the Bête Noire album was Ferry’s response to Hall’s tell-all book about their relationship.[23] Ferry often refuses to discuss his feelings about Hall or talk about their romantic history during interviews. Bryan Ferry’s solo album The Bride Stripped Bare is widely believed[24] to contain allusions to his break-up with Hall—particularly the song “When She Walks in the Room”. Ferry’s original songs on the album were in fact written some time before the relationship ended, although it was recorded afterwards.
Ferry eventually settled down to married life with Lucy Helmore, and they had four sons, including huntsman and political activist Otis, Isaac, Tara and Merlin.Tara was performing in a rock band called “Rubber Kiss Goodbye” and simultaneously studying at Chelsea College of Art and Design, according to the Sunday Times (28 Sept. 2008). Merlin studied at Marlborough College for his “A” Levels.
Ferry and Helmore split in the early 2000s and were divorced in 2003. After their separation, British newspapers photographed Ferry with Katie Turner, 35 years his junior, naming her as his new ‘girlfriend’.[25] Ferry and Turner met while she worked as one of the dancers on Roxy Music’s concert tour in 2001 (and is featured on the DVD of the 2001 Hammersmith Odeon Show). She went on to appear with Ferry on several TV shows to promote the Frantic album, and also performed on the Frantic tour in 2002. After their break-up, Ferry had a relationship with Lady Emily Compton, a socialite.[26] In 2006, he resumed his relationship with Katie Turner for some time. Ferry is now in a relationship with Amanda Sheppard, who previously worked in public relations, until she quit her job in 2009 after Ferry offered to financially support her.[27]
Political views
In 2008, Ferry alluded to support for the Conservative Party, referring to himself as “conservative by nature,” but essentially apolitical. Without elaborating, he stated he was “proud” of his son Otis and declared the ban on fox hunting “futile.” He also alluded to an opposition to “left-wing bitterness” and the spectre of “political correctness,” but the model of free speech he cited was the anarchic 1970s and not the Thatcher era or a more distant past.[28] In a 2009 interview, Ferry stated: “I would support a Cameron government. I have met him, and he’s a bright guy. I hope they do well. I don’t like the way the present Government has done things, most of all putting my son in prison for four and a half months, totally unlawfully … and that’s not just my opinion: judges, all sorts, have said it was a stitch-up. It was politically motivated. The poor lad just wants to live the traditional country life.”[29]
Ferry is a supporter of the Countryside Alliance and has played concerts to raise funds for the organisation.[30]
In other media
In 1985, Ferry contributed the song “Is Your Love Strong Enough” to the Ridley Scott-Tom Cruise film Legend. The song (featuring guitar work by David Gilmour) plays during the end credits of the U.S. theatrical release, and was released with the Tangerine Dream version of the soundtrack on CD (although this is out of print and rare). A promotional music video was created, integrating Ferry and Gilmour into scenes from the film; this is included as a bonus in the 2002 “Ultimate Edition” DVD release.
In 2005, Ferry appeared in Neil Jordan‘s movie, Breakfast on Pluto, starring Cillian Murphy as a young Irish transvestite who goes to London in the glam 1970s to find his mother. Ferry, appearing in a bit part as Mr. Silky String, played a suave but creepy john who picks up the sexually ambiguous young man and, after a short conversation, attempts to strangle him in the front seat of his car.
Ferry is referenced in the comedy show The Mighty Boosh in the episode “Hitcher”, as Vince Noir’s adopted father and King of the Forest. At the end of the episode, it is revealed that ‘Brian Ferry’ actually resembles Terry Wogan.
The song “Which Way to Turn” from the album Mamouna, is the feature song in the 2007 Woody Harrelson movie The Walker. Ferry’s song “Slave to Love“, from the album Boys and Girls, was featured in Bitter Moon, a 1992 film directed by Roman Polanski; the entire song is also played in a scene in the 1986 movie Nine 1/2 Weeks by Adrian Lyne.
Discography
Studio albums
- These Foolish Things (October 1973, UK #5)
- Another Time, Another Place (July 1974, UK #4)
- Let’s Stick Together (September 1976, UK #19, US #160)
- In Your Mind (February 1977, UK #5, US #126, Aust.#1)
- The Bride Stripped Bare (April 1978, UK #13, US #159)
- Boys and Girls (May 1985, UK #1, US #63)
- Bête Noire (October 1987, UK #9, US #63)
- Taxi (13 April 1993, UK #2, US #79)
- Mamouna (5 September 1994, UK #11, US #94)
- As Time Goes By (15 October 1999, UK #16, US #199)
- Frantic (18 May 2002, UK #6, US #189)
- Dylanesque (5 March 2007, UK #5, US #117)
- Olympia (26 October 2010, UK #19, US #71)
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Who is Christian Charles Philip Bale?
Who is Christian Charles Philip Bale? The entertainment and acting world knows him as Christian Bale, he is an English actor.[1] Best known for his roles in American films, Bale has starred in blockbuster films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses.Bale first caught the public eye at the age of 13, when he was cast in the starring role of Steven Spielberg‘s Empire of the Sun (1987). He played an English boy who is separated from his parents and subsequently finds himself lost in a Japanese internment camp during World War II.[2] He is also notable for his role as serial killer Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (2000), as well as his portrayal of Bruce Wayne / Batman in Christopher Nolan‘s Batman trilogy: Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).
Bale portrayed Dicky Eklund in the biopic The Fighter, for which he received critical acclaim and won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role.
Early life
Bale was born 30 January 1974 in Wales to parents of English descent. His mother, Jenny (née James), was a circus performer, and his South African–born father, David Charles Howard Bale, was an entrepreneur, commercial pilot, and talent manager.[3][4][5][6] He spent his childhood in England, Portugal, and the United States.[7]
Bale’s first foray into acting was a commercial for the fabric softener Lenor in 1982.[8] A year later, he appeared in a Pac-Man cereal commercial playing a child rock star. In 1984, he made his stage debut in The Nerd, opposite Rowan Atkinson.[9]
Career
1986–1998
Bale made his film debut as Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich of Russia in the made-for-television film Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna in 1986, which was followed by leading roles in the miniseries Heart of the Country and the fantasy adventure Mio in the Land of Faraway, in which he appeared with Christopher Lee and Nick Pickard.
Bale’s performance as Jim Graham in Empire of the Sun earned him widespread critical praise and the first ever “Best Performance by a Juvenile Actor” award from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.[10]
The attention the press and his schoolmates lavished upon him after
this took a toll on Bale, and he contemplated giving up acting until Kenneth Branagh approached him and persuaded him to appear in Henry V in 1989.[10] In 1990, he played the role of Jim Hawkins opposite Charlton Heston (as Long John Silver) in Treasure Island, an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson‘s classic book.
In 1992, Bale starred as Jack Kelly in the Disney musical Newsies, and followed it up in 1993 with another release, Swing Kids, a film about teenagers who secretly listened to forbidden jazz during the rise of Nazi Germany.[11] Bale was recommended by actress Winona Ryder to star in Gillian Armstrong‘s 1994 film Little Women.[10] Bale provided the voice for Thomas, a young compatriot of Captain John Smith, in Disney’s Pocahontas (1995) and in 1997 played Arthur Stuart in Velvet Goldmine, Todd Haynes‘ tribute to glam rock.[11] In 1999, Bale contributed to an all-star cast, including Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Stanley Tucci and Rupert Everett, portraying Demetrius in an updated version of William Shakespeare‘s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.[11]
1999–2001
In 1999, Bale played serial killer Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, director Mary Harron‘s adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis‘ controversial novel. Bale was briefly dropped from the project in favour of Leonardo DiCaprio, but DiCaprio eventually dropped out to star in The Beach,
and Bale was cast once again. He researched his character by studying
the novel and prepared himself physically for the role by spending
months tanning and exercising in order to achieve the “Olympian physique” of the character as described in the original novel.[12] He went so far as to distance himself from the cast and crew to maintain the darker side of Bateman’s character. American Psycho premiered at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival to much controversy. Roger Ebert condemned the film at first, calling it pornography,[13] and “the most loathed film at Sundance,”[14]
but gave it a favourable review, writing that Harron “transformed a
novel about bloodlust into a film about men’s vanity.” Of Bale’s
performance, he wrote, “Christian Bale is heroic in the way he allows
the character to leap joyfully into despicability; there is no instinct
for self-preservation here, and that is one mark of a good actor.”[15]
On 14 April 2000, Lions Gate Films released American Psycho in cinemas. Bale was later approached to make a cameo appearance in another Bret Easton Ellis adaptation, The Rules of Attraction, a film loosely connected to American Psycho, but he declined out of loyalty to Harron’s vision of Bateman, which he felt could not be properly expressed by anyone else.[16] In 2000, he again played a wealthy murderer, this time in John Singleton‘s Shaft.
Bale has played an assortment of diverse characters since 2001. His first role after American Psycho was in the John Madden adaptation of the best-selling novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Bale played Mandras, a Greek fisherman who vied with Nicolas Cage‘s title character for the affections of Pelagia (Penelope Cruz). Captain Corelli’s Mandolin was Bale’s second time working with John Hurt, after All the Little Animals.
2002–2004
From 2002 to 2003, Bale starred in three feature films. Laurel Canyon (2002) was generally well received by critics.[17] This film also marked the second time he worked with actress Kate Beckinsale, his costar in Prince of Jutland (1994). Critics generally focused on star Frances McDormand‘s performance over the rest of the cast, however.[18]
Reign of Fire was Bale’s first action vehicle and had, compared to all his previous work, an immense budget estimated at US$95,000,000.[19] Bale entered into negotiations about starring in the film with reservations, but director Rob Bowman convinced him to take the lead role.[20] Bale starred as Quinn Abercromby opposite Matthew McConaughey‘s Denton Van Zan. Bale and McConaughey trained for their respective roles by boxing and working out.[20]
Equilibrium was Bale’s third film of 2002, costing US$20 million to produce but earning just over US$5 million worldwide.[21] In Equilibrium, Bale played John Preston, an elite law enforcer in a dystopian society. Equilibrium featured a fictional martial art called Gun Kata that combined gunfighting with hand-to-hand combat.
According to moviebodycounts.com, the character of John Preston has the
third most on-screen kills in a single movie ever with 118, exactly
half of the movie’s total of 236.[22]
After a year’s hiatus, Bale returned in 2004 to play Trevor Reznik, the title character in the psychological thriller The Machinist.
Bale gained attention for his devotion to the role and for the lengths
to which he went to achieve Reznik’s emaciated, skeletal appearance. He
went without proper rest for prolonged periods, and placed himself on a crash diet of generally coffee and apples,[23] which reduced his weight by 63 pounds (4 st 4 lb/27 kg) in a matter of months.[24] By the end of filming Bale weighed only 121 pounds (8 st 9 lb/55 kg),[23] a transformation he described as “very calming mentally”[25] and which drew comparisons to Robert De Niro‘s alternate weight-gaining regimen for his role as Jake LaMotta in the 1980 film Raging Bull.[26]
Bale claimed that he had not worked for a period of time before he was
cast in the film. “…I just hadn’t found scripts that I’d really been
interested in. So I was really dying for something to arrive. Then when
this one did, I just didn’t want to put it down. I finished it and, upon
the kind of revelation that you get at the end, I immediately wanted to
go back and re-visit it, to take a look at what clues I could have
gotten throughout”.[27] The Machinist
was a low-budget production, costing roughly US$5 million to produce,
and was given only a limited US release. It was well received, with the
review tallying website Rotten Tomatoes reporting that 75% of the critics’ reviews tallied were positive.[28]
Bale, an admirer of Hayao Miyazaki‘s Spirited Away,[16] was then cast as the voice of the title character, Howl, in the English language dub of the Japanese director’s fantasy anime adventure Howl’s Moving Castle, an adaptation of Diana Wynne Jones‘s children’s novel. Its gross in the US was US$4,711,096, a fraction of its worldwide gross (US$235,184,110).[29]
Batman: 2005–present
It was reported that Bale had previously auditioned for the role of Robin in Batman Forever (1995) and later Batman and Robin (1997), but lost out to Chris O’Donnell. However, this rumour was later dispelled by Bale himself in a magazine interview in 2008.[30] In 2004, after completing filming for The Machinist, Bale won the coveted role of Batman and his alter ego Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan‘s Batman Begins, a reboot of the Batman film series. Bale beat out Jake Gyllenhaal, the closest competition for the role.[31]
Still fresh off The Machinist, it became necessary for Bale to
bulk up to match Batman’s muscular physique. He was given a deadline of
six months to do this. Bale recalled it as far from a simple
accomplishment: “…when it actually came to building muscle, I was
useless. I couldn’t do one push up the first day. All of the muscles
were gone, so I had a real tough time rebuilding all of that.”[24] With the help of a personal trainer,
Bale succeeded in meeting the deadline, gaining a total of 100 lb
(45 kg) in six months. He went from about 130 lbs to 230 lbs.[32]
He then discovered that he had actually gained more weight than the
director desired, and dropped his weight to 190 lbs by the time filming
began.[33]
Bale had initial concerns about playing Batman, as he felt more ridiculous than intimidating in the Batsuit. He dealt with this by depicting Batman as a savage beast.[24]
To attain a deeper understanding of the character, Bale read various
Batman comic books. He explained his interpretation of the young boy:
“Batman is his hidden, demonic
rage-filled side. The creature Batman creates is an absolutely sincere
creature and one that he has to control but does so in a very haphazard
way. He’s capable of enacting violence — and to kill — so he’s
constantly having to rein himself in.” For Bale, the most gruelling part
about playing Batman was the suit. “You stick it on, you get hot, you
sweat and you get a headache in the mask,” he said. “But I’m not going
to bitch about it because I get to play Batman.”[34] When promoting the film in interviews and public events, Bale retained an American accent to avoid confusion.[35]
Batman Begins was released in the U.S. on 15 June 2005 and was a U.S. and international triumph for Warner Bros., costing approximately US$135 million to produce and taking in over US$370 million in returns worldwide.[36] Bale’s performance was well received by critics and fans alike, earning him the Saturn Award for Best Actor and the Best Hero award at the 2006 MTV Movie Awards.[37]
Bale reprised his role as Batman in the Batman Begins sequel The Dark Knight. He trained in the Keysi Fighting Method, and performed many of his own stunts.[38] The Dark Knight
was released in the U.S. on 18 July 2008 and stormed through the box
office, with a record-breaking $158.4 million in the U.S. in its first
weekend.[39]
It broke the $300 million barrier in 10 days, the $400 million mark in
18 days and the $500 million mark in 43 days, three new U.S. box office
records set by the film.[40]
The film went on to gross over $1 billion at the box office worldwide,
making it the fourth-highest grossing movie worldwide of all time,
before adjusting for inflation.[41]
Bale reprised his role in The Dark Knight Rises which was released on 20 July 2012,[42]
making Bale the actor who has played Batman the most times in feature
film. Bale has given the same opinion as Nolan that, if the latter was
forced to bring Robin into the films, he would never again play Batman;
even though one of his favourite Batman stories, Batman: Dark Victory, focuses on Robin’s origin.[43]
Following the shooting at a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises, Bale visited survivors in an Aurora, Colorado hospital.[44]
2006–2009
After Batman Begins, Bale returned to appearing in independent films. He was cast as one of the two leads in the South Central David Ayer-helmed crime drama Harsh Times, co-starring Freddy Rodriguez and Eva Longoria. Bale played Jim Luther Davis, a grim Afghanistan War veteran afflicted with post-traumatic stress disorder, approached by the Department of Homeland Security and hired as a federal agent. Harsh Times premiered at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival and had a wide release on 10 November 2006.[45]
Terrence Malick directed The New World, a period piece inspired by the stories of Pocahontas, and Bale was cast as John Rolfe. He shared the screen with Colin Farrell and Q’Orianka Kilcher,
who played John Smith and Pocahontas. The majority of screen time was
devoted to Farrell and Kilcher; Bale was a secondary character, and only
appeared during the last third of the film. The film was a failure at
the U.S. box office and its worldwide total (US$29,506,437) fell short
of turning a profit (the production budget was placed at US$30 million).[46]
In 2006, Bale took on four projects. Rescue Dawn, by German filmmaker Werner Herzog, had him playing U.S. Fighter pilot Dieter Dengler, who has to fight for his life after being shot down while on a mission during the Vietnam War.
Bale left a strong impression on Herzog, with the director
complimenting his acting abilities: “I find him one of the greatest
talents of his generation. We made up our own minds long before he did Batman.”[47]
In The Prestige, an adaptation of the Christopher Priest novel about a rivalry between two Victorian stage magicians, Bale was reunited with Batman Begins‘ Michael Caine and director Christopher Nolan. The cast of The Prestige also included Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Piper Perabo, and David Bowie. I’m Not There, a film in which Bale again worked alongside Todd Haynes and Heath Ledger (who would go on to play The Joker in The Dark Knight), is an artistic reflection of the life of Bob Dylan. He starred opposite Russell Crowe in a commercially and critically successful Western film, 3:10 to Yuma.
Bale was originally cast to play George W. Bush in Oliver Stone‘s film W., but dropped out due to the prosthetics involved.[49] Bale played John Connor in Terminator Salvation[50] and FBI agent Melvin Purvis in Michael Mann‘s Public Enemies.[51]
Terminator Salvation incident
In July 2008, Bale flew into an angry tirade on the sets of Terminator Salvation, while filming in New Mexico.[52] In February 2009, the audio recording of the incident was released.[53][54] The tirade was directed at Shane Hurlbut,
director of photography for the film. According to Bale, Hurlbut had,
for the second time, ruined his concentration by walking onto the set
during a scene.[52][55][56]
The recording is of a highly agitated Bale directing profanities at
Hurlbut, threatening and belittling him, and finally threatening to quit
the film if Hurlbut repeated his offence without being fired for it.[55] It was reported that Warner film executives sent the tape to the insurer of the film in case Bale decided to quit the movie.[57] In an interview with E! Online, assistant director and producer of Terminator Salvation,
Bruce Franklin, said it was an isolated incident. “If you are working
in a very intense scene and someone takes you out of your groove … It
was the most emotional scene in the movie … [A]nd for him to get
stopped in the middle of it. He is very intensely involved in his
character. He didn’t walk around like that all day long. It was just a
moment and it passed,” Franklin said.[58]
Actors Whoopi Goldberg and Terry Crews,[59][60] directors Darren Aronofsky[61] and Ron Howard,[62] as well as Ain’t It Cool News website creator Harry Knowles[63]
have also publicly defended Bale’s actions, some of them citing the
practice that crew members are to remain still while the camera is
rolling. The incident also inspired experimental band The Mae Shi to write the song, “R U Professional“, which features samples from the recording;[64] similarly, Lucian Piane‘s remix “Bale Out” is composed almost entirely of audio from the incident. Stephen Colbert parodied the incident on 4 February 2009 episode of The Colbert Report, in which guest Steve Martin repeatedly walked in front of the camera and was berated by Colbert.[65] The incident was re-enacted on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, with Inside the Actor’s Studio host James Lipton giving performances of both Bale and the crewmember.[66] An episode of the animated comedy series Family Guy also mixed in the voice of Peter Griffin interacting with Bale and reacting to Bale’s comments as if they were directed at him to comedic effect.
After remaining silent for most of the week, Bale gave a public apology on 6 February 2009, to a Los Angeles radio station, KROQ. He stated that the outburst was “inexcusable” and that it was motivated by the day’s shooting intensity.[67] Bale said he “acted like a punk”, and that he and Hurlbut talked after the incident and “resolved this completely”.[68] Bale acknowledged that the two worked together for several hours after the incident, and “at least a month after that… I’ve seen a rough cut of the movie and he has done a wonderful job. It looks fantastic”.[68]
2010–present
Bale starred alongside Mark Wahlberg in the David O. Russell-directed 2010 drama The Fighter, for which he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actor and thirty other awards in 2011.[69] Near the end of his acceptance speech during the televised Golden Globes awards ceremony, Bale complimented Robert De Niro by saying he was “the shit”. The comment was censored by NBC.[70]
Writer/director Joe Carnahan confirmed in November 2007 that Bale is also involved in the upcoming movie Killing Pablo in which he is to play Major Steve Jacoby.[71] According to a Nuts magazine interview, Bale stated that he will be in the running to play the role of Solid Snake in a film adaptation of Metal Gear Solid.[72] Niels Arden Oplev, director of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, is to have Bale as lead in his current project The Last Photograph, which Oplev hopes to start filming early 2011.[73] In December 2010, it was announced that Christian Bale would be starring in the historical drama war film The Flowers of War, directed by Zhang Yimou.[74]
While filming The Flowers of War in December 2011, Bale and a CNN crew attempted to visit Chen Guangcheng, a blind “barefoot lawyer” under unofficial house arrest for his activism against China’s One Child Policy. While on camera, Bale was punched, shoved, and denied access by dozens of Chinese security guards who failed to recognize him.[75] Bale later stated that he had wanted “to meet the man, shake his hand and say what an inspiration he is”.[76][77]
Video footage also showed Bale and the CNN crew having stones thrown at
them, and a minivan then chased their car for more than 40 minutes.[75]
Bale is set to appear in two Terrence Malick directed films to be shot in 2012, Lawless and Knight of Cups.[78][79] In early 2012, it was confirmed that Bale was portraying the character Russell Baze in Scott Cooper’s upcoming thriller Out of the Furnace.[79][80][81] He has also been cast in American Bullshit, which reunites him with director David O. Russell, since their work on The Fighter.[82][83][84]
Personal life
On 29 January 2000, Bale married Sandra “Sibi” Blažić (born 1970), a former model, make-up artist and personal assistant to Winona Ryder; the couple have a daughter, Emmeline,[85] who was born on 27 March 2005 in Santa Monica, California.[86][87] Since 1992, Bale has resided in Los Angeles.[88]
Like his late father, Christian Bale actively supports environmental groups such as Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund.[8] Feminist activist Gloria Steinem became Christian Bale’s stepmother on 3 September 2000;[89] it was her first marriage (at the age of 66), and the couple were together until David’s death.[5]
Film and television credits
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Dreamthief | Rufus | Pilot film Voice only |
| 1986 | Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna | Alexei | TV movie |
| 1987 | Heart of the Country | Ben Harris | TV miniseries |
| 1987 | Mio min Mio | Benke Jum-Jum |
|
| 1987 | Empire of the Sun | Jamie “Jim” Graham | |
| 1989 | Henry V | Falstaff’s Boy | |
| 1990 | Treasure Island | Jim Hawkins | TV movie |
| 1991 | A Murder of Quality | Tim Perkins | TV movie |
| 1992 | Newsies | Jack “Cowboy” Kelly Francis Sullivan |
|
| 1993 | Swing Kids | Thomas Berger | |
| 1994 | Prince of Jutland | Amled | |
| 1994 | Little Women | Theodore “Laurie” Lawrence | |
| 1995 | Pocahontas | Thomas | Voice only |
| 1996 | The Portrait of a Lady | Edward Rosier | |
| 1996 | The Secret Agent | Stevie | |
| 1997 | Metroland | Chris Lloyd | |
| 1998 | Velvet Goldmine | Arthur Stuart | |
| 1998 | All the Little Animals | Bobby Platt | |
| 1999 | A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Demetrius | |
| 1999 | Mary, Mother of Jesus | Jesus of Nazareth | TV movie |
| 2000 | American Psycho | Patrick Bateman | |
| 2000 | Shaft | Walter Wade, Jr. | |
| 2001 | Captain Corelli’s Mandolin | Mandras | |
| 2002 | Laurel Canyon | Sam Bentley | |
| 2002 | Reign of Fire | Quinn Abercromby | |
| 2002 | Equilibrium | Cleric John Preston | |
| 2004 | The Machinist | Trevor Reznik | |
| 2004 | Howl’s Moving Castle | Howl | Voice for English language dub only |
| 2005 | Batman Begins | Bruce Wayne/Batman | Also voiced the character in the film’s video game adaptation |
| 2005 | Harsh Times | Jim Luther Davis | Also executive producer |
| 2005 | The New World | John Rolfe | |
| 2006 | Rescue Dawn | Dieter Dengler | |
| 2006 | The Prestige | Alfred Borden | |
| 2007 | 3:10 to Yuma | Dan Evans | |
| 2007 | I’m Not There | Jack Rollins/Pastor John | |
| 2008 | The Dark Knight | Bruce Wayne/Batman | |
| 2009 | Terminator Salvation | John Connor | |
| 2009 | Public Enemies | Melvin Purvis | |
| 2010 | The Fighter | Dicky Eklund | |
| 2011 | The Flowers of War | John Miller | |
| 2012 | The Dark Knight Rises | Bruce Wayne/Batman | |
| 2013 | Lawless | n/a | Filming |
| 2013 | Knight of Cups | Rick | Filming |
| 2013 | Out of the Furnace | Russell Baze | Filming |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | National Board of Review | Best Juvenile Performance | Empire of the Sun | Won |
| 1988 | Young Artist Award | Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Empire of the Sun | Won |
| 2001 | Chlotrudis Awards | Best Actor | American Psycho | Won |
| 2001 | Empire Award | Best Actor | American Psycho | Nominated |
| 2001 | London Film Critics’ Circle Awards | British Actor of the Year | American Psycho | Nominated |
| 2001 | OFCS Award | Best Actor | American Psycho | Nominated |
| 2004 | Catalonian International Film Festival | Best Actor | The Machinist | Won |
| 2005 | Irish Film and Television Award | Best International Actor | Batman Begins | Nominated |
| 2005 | European Film Awards | Best Actor | The Machinist | Nominated |
| 2005 | Saturn Award | Best Actor | The Machinist | Nominated |
| 2006 | London Film Critics’ Circle Awards | British Actor of the Year | The Machinist | Nominated |
| 2006 | MTV Movie Awards | Best Hero | Batman Begins | Won |
| 2006 | Empire Awards | Best Actor | Batman Begins | Nominated |
| 2006 | Saturn Awards | Best Actor | Batman Begins | Won |
| 2006 | Scream Awards | Best Superhero | Batman Begins | Nominated |
| 2006 | Scream Awards | Most Heroic Performance | Batman Begins | Nominated |
| 2007 | Empire Award | Best Actor | The Prestige | Nominated |
| 2007 | San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | Special Award | 3:10 to Yuma, I’m Not There, Rescue Dawn | Won |
| 2007 | Satellite Award | Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama | Rescue Dawn | Nominated |
| 2008 | London Film Critics’ Circle Awards | British Actor of the Year | 3:10 to Yuma | Nominated |
| 2008 | Independent Spirit Award | Robert Altman Award (with Todd Haynes, Laura Rosenthal, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, Ben Whishaw, Marcus Carl Franklin, Bruce Greenwood, Charlotte Gainsbourg) |
I’m Not There | Won |
| 2008 | Scream Awards | Best Fantasy Actor | The Dark Knight | Nominated |
| 2008 | Scream Awards | Best Superhero | The Dark Knight | Won |
| 2009 | Empire Awards | Best Actor | The Dark Knight | Won |
| 2009 | People’s Choice Awards | Favorite Male Action Star | The Dark Knight | Nominated |
| 2009 | People’s Choice Awards | Favorite Leading Man | The Dark Knight | Nominated |
| 2009 | People’s Choice Awards | Favorite Superhero | The Dark Knight | Won |
| 2009 | People’s Choice Awards | Favorite On Screen Match Up (with Heath Ledger) | The Dark Knight | Won |
| 2009 | People’s Choice Awards | Favorite Cast (with Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal) |
The Dark Knight | Won |
| 2009 | West Point Cadet Choice Awards | Best Exemplification of Leadership | The Dark Knight | Won |
| 2009 | Saturn Award | Best Actor | The Dark Knight | Nominated |
| 2010 | BAFTA Award | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Nominated |
| 2010 | Alliance of Women Film Journalists | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Austin Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Black Film Critics Circle | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Boston Society of Film Critics | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Boston Society of Film Critics | Best Ensemble (with Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee, Mark Wahlberg) | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Best Ensemble (with Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee, Mark Wahlberg) | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Central Ohio Film Critics Circle Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Nominated |
| 2010 | Central Ohio Film Critics Circle Association Awards | Best Ensemble (with Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee, Mark Wahlberg) | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Chicago Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Denver Film Critics Society | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Detroit Film Critics Society | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Florida Film Critics Circle | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Golden Globes | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Houston Film Critics Society | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Kansas City Film Critics Circle | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Las Vegas Film Critics Society | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | London Film Critics’ Circle | British Actor of the Year | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | National Board of Review | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | New York Film Critics Online | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | North Texas Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Oklahoma Film Critics Circle | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Online Film Critics Society | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Phoenix Film Critics Society | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | San Diego Film Critics Society | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Nominated |
| 2010 | San Diego Film Critics Society | Best Ensemble (with Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee, Mark Wahlberg) | The Fighter | Nominated |
| 2010 | Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | The Fighter | Won |
| 2011 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Best Cast | The Fighter | Nominated |
| 2011 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Utah Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Vancouver Film Critics Circle | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
| 2010 | Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | Best Ensemble (with Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee, Mark Wahlberg) |
The Fighter | Nominated |
| 2011 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Fighter | Won |
To see more of Who Is click here
Who is Euphemia Tika Sumpter?
Who is Euphemia Tika Sumpter? The entertainment and acting world knows her as Tika Sumpter, she is an American actress, singer, and model known for her roles as Layla Williamson on One Life to Live and recurring role as Raina Thorpe on Gossip Girl and as Jenna Rice in the The CW/BET sitcom, The Game. Sumpter appeared in Sparkle which was directed by Salim Akil andwritten by his wife, Mara Brock Akil. The
leading ladies, who will playsisters in the film, include Carmen Ejogo, Tika Sumpter and Jordin
Sparks..
Personal Life
Tika was born June 20, 1980 in Hollis, Queens, New York, Sumpter studied at Marymount Manhattan College where she majored in communications.
Career
She began her career modeling and appeared in commercials for Hewlett-Packard and Liz Claiborne‘s Curve fragrances. In 2004, she served as the co-host for the N network series Best Friend’s Date. The following year she landed the role of Layla Williamson on One Life to Live.
From January to May 2011, Sumpter appeared on Gossip Girl as Raina Thorpe, the daughter of Russell Thorpe and Chuck Bass/Nate’ former love interest.[3]
She played singer Jason Derülo‘s girlfriend in the video for his song “It Girl“.[4]
On September 12, 2011, it was announced that Sumpter would be playing one of the sister’s name Deloris in the music-themed film Sparkle alongside Jordin Sparks, Whitney Houston, Derek Luke & Carmen Ejogo. Sparkle is a remake of the 1976 film of the same name inspired by the story of The Supremes.
The remake was set in 1968 Detroit, during the rise of Motown. The
story will focus on the youngest sister, a music prodigy named Sparkle
Williams (Jordin Sparks), and her struggle to become a star while
overcoming issues that are tearing her family apart.[5][6] R&B singer Aaliyah –
originally tapped to star as Sparkle however following her death in a
2001 plane crash, production on the film had been derailed, production
would have begun in 2002.[7][8][9] Sparkle was filmed in the fall of 2011 over a two month period.[10] The movie, starring both Sumpter will be released on August 17 in the United States. On May 21, 2012, “Celebrate“, the last song Whitney Houston recorded with Sparks, premiered at RyanSeacrest.com. The song is the first official single featured on the Sparkle: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album which Sumpter is apart of.[11] The accompanying music video for Celebrate was filmed on May 30, 2012 and the video featured herself and the rest of her Sparkle cast mates .[12]
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2009 | Brooklyn’s Finest | Neighborhood Girl | |
| 2010 | Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming | Niki | |
| Salt | Front Deskwoman | ||
| 2011 | What’s Your Number? | Jamie | |
| Whisper Me a Lullaby | Emma | Post-production | |
| 2012 | Think Like a Man | Dominic’s Girlfriend | |
| Sparkle | Delores Williams | ||
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2005–2011 | One Life to Live | Layla Williamson | 234 episodes Role held: July 15, 2005 – January 24, 2011 Nominated – Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama (2008) |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Vegas | Episode 7.17 “Class“ |
| 2011 | The Game | Jenna Rice | 9 episodes |
| Gossip Girl | Raina Thorpe | Recurring cast (Season 4; 11 episodes) | |
| 2012 | Being Mary Jane | TV series | |
To see more of Who Is click here
Who is Christopher Julius Rock III?
Who is Christopher Julius Rock III? [6] The entertainment and acting world know him as Chris Rock, he is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer, and director.
After working as a standup comic and appearing in small film roles, Rock came to wider prominence as a cast member of Saturday Night Live in the early 1990s. He went on to more prominent film roles, and a series of acclaimed comedy specials for HBO.
He was voted in the US as the 5th greatest stand-up comedian of all time by Comedy Central.[9] He was also voted in the UK as the 9th greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4′s 100 Greatest Stand-Ups in 2007, and again in the updated 2010 list as the 8th greatest stand-up comic.
Early life
Rock was born February 7, 1965 in Andrews, South Carolina. Shortly after his birth, his parents moved to Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York. A few years later, they relocated and settled in the working-class area of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.[6]
His mother, Rosalie (née Tingman), was a teacher and social worker for
the mentally handicapped; his father, Julius Rock, was a former truck
driver and newspaper deliveryman.[10] Julius died in 1988 after ulcer surgery.[11] His younger brothers Tony, Kenny[12] and Jordan[13] are also in the entertainment business. His older half-brother, Charles, died in 2006 after a long struggle with alcoholism.[14][15] Rock has said that he was influenced by the performing style of his paternal grandfather, Allen Rock, a preacher.[6][16]
Rock was bused to schools in predominately white neighborhoods of Brooklyn, where he endured bullying and beatings from white students.[17][18][19] As he got older, the bullying became worse and Rock’s parents pulled him out of James Madison High School.[19] He decided to drop out of high school altogether and later received a GED. Rock worked menial jobs at various fast-food restaurants.[17][18]
Career
Early career
Rock began doing stand-up comedy in 1984 in New York City’s Catch a Rising Star.[6][17] He slowly rose up the ranks of the comedy circuit in addition to earning bit roles in the film I’m Gonna Git You Sucka and the TV series Miami Vice. Upon seeing his act at a nightclub, Eddie Murphy befriended and mentored the aspiring comic. Murphy gave Rock his first film role in Beverly Hills Cop II.
George Carlin was probably the biggest influence for him.[3] Other major influences have been Sam Kinison, with whom he managed to hang out with,[3] Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy.[1][3] Other influences have been Mort Sahl,[2] Rodney Dangerfield,[3] Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, Bill Hicks, Redd Foxx, Dick Gregory, Flip Wilson, Steve Martin and Pigmeat Markham. Among the contemporaries, in 2008 he said he enjoys Chris Tucker and Adam Sandler.[3]
Saturday Night Live
Rock became a cast member of the popular sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live in 1990. He and other new cast members Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider and David Spade became known as the Bad Boys of SNL. In 1991, he released his first comedy album Born Suspect and won acclaim for his dramatic role as a crack addict in the film New Jack City. His tenure on SNL gave Rock national exposure.
Standup success
A frustrated Rock left Saturday Night Live in 1993, appearing instead as a “special guest” star on the predominantly African American sketch show In Living Color. The show, however, was canceled months later. Rock then decided to concentrate on a film career. He wrote and starred in the mockumentary CB4 but the film was not a success. Acting jobs became scarce, and Rock abandoned Hollywood to concentrate on stand-up comedy.[16]
Rock starred in his first HBO comedy special in 1994 titled Big Ass Jokes. But it was his second stand-up special, 1996′s Bring the Pain, that reinvented Rock as one of the best comedians in the industry.[20][21] For it Rock won two Emmy Awards and gained large critical acclaim.[22] The segment on race in America, in which Rock used the “N word” extensively was most talked about.[22] Adding to his popularity was his much-publicized role as a commentator for Comedy Central‘s Politically Incorrect during the 1996 Presidential elections[20] which earned him another Emmy nomination.[23] Rock also was the voice for the “Lil Penny” puppet who was the alter ego to basketball star Penny Hardaway in a series of Nike shoe commercials from 1994–1998,[20] and hosted the ’97 MTV Video Music Awards.
Rock later had two more HBO comedy specials: Bigger & Blacker in 1999, and Never Scared in 2004. Articles relating to both specials called Rock “the funniest man in America” in Time[24] and Entertainment Weekly.[2] HBO also aired his talk show, The Chris Rock Show,
which gained critical acclaim for Rock’s interviews with celebrities
and politicians. The show won an Emmy for writing. His television work
has won him a total of three Emmy Awards and 15 nominations.[23] By the end of the decade, Rock was established as one of the preeminent stand-up comedians and comic minds of his generation.
During this time, Rock also translated his comedy into print form in the book Rock This! and released the Grammy Award-winning comedy albums, Roll with the New, Bigger & Blacker and Never Scared.
Rock’s fifth HBO special, Kill the Messenger, premiered on September 27, 2008, and won him another Emmy for outstanding writing for a variety or music program.[25]
Film and television
It
was not until the success of his stand-up act in the late 1990s that
Rock began receiving major parts in films. These include roles in Dogma, Beverly Hills Ninja, Lethal Weapon 4, Nurse Betty, The Longest Yard, Bad Company, and a starring role in Down to Earth. Rock has also increasingly worked behind the camera, both as a writer and director of Head of State and I Think I Love My Wife. In the fall of 2005, the UPN television network premiered a comedy series called Everybody Hates Chris,
based on Rock’s school days, of which he is the executive producer and
narrator. The show has garnered both critical and ratings success.[26] The series was nominated for a 2006 Golden Globe for Best TV Series (Musical or Comedy), a 2006 People’s Choice Award for Favorite New Television Comedy, and two 2006 Emmy Awards for costuming and cinematography.[27]
Following the release of his first documentary, 2009′s Good Hair, Rock is working on a documentary about debt called Credit Is the Devil.[28]
Academy Awards
In early 2005, Rock hosted the 77th Academy Awards
ceremony. The decision to have Rock host the awards was seen by some as
a chance to bring an “edge” to the ceremony, and to make it more
relevant or appealing to younger audiences. Jokingly, Rock opened by
saying “Welcome to the 77th and LAST Academy Awards!” During one segment Rock asked, “Who is this guy?” in reference to actor Jude Law seemingly appearing in every movie Rock had seen that year and implied Law was a low-rent Tom Cruise (he made a joke about filmmakers rushing production when unable to get the actors they want: “If you want Tom Cruise and all you can get is Jude Law, wait [to make the film]!”). Subsequently, a defensive Sean Penn
took the stage to present and said, “In answer to our host’s question,
Jude Law is one of our finest young actors.” (At the time, Penn and Law
were shooting All the King’s Men.)
Law was not the only actor that Rock poked fun at that evening,
however—he turned the joke on himself at one point, saying, “If you want
Denzel
[Washington] and all you can get is me, wait!” Older Oscar officials
were reportedly displeased with Rock’s performance, which did not
elevate ratings for the ceremony.[29]
Rock was also criticized for referring to the Oscars as “idiotic”, and
asserting that heterosexual men do not watch them, in an interview prior
to Oscar night.[30][31]
Music videos
Rock’s first music video was for his song “Your Mother’s Got a Big Head” from his album Born Suspect. Rock also made videos for his songs “Champagne” from Roll With the New and “No Sex (In the Champagne Room)” from Bigger & Blacker. Chris Rock also directed and appeared in the music video for the Red Hot Chili Peppers song “Hump de Bump“.
Rock appeared in the Big Daddy Kane music video “Smooth Operator” as a guy getting his hair cut.
He also appeared in Johnny Cash‘s “God’s Gonna Cut You Down“, one of the many celebrities seen lip-synching the song.
Stage plays
In 2011, Rock appeared on Broadway in Stephen Adly Guirgis‘ play The Motherfucker with the Hat[32] with Bobby Cannavale and Annabella Sciorra.[32] Rock was nominated for a Drama League Award.
Comedic style and views
Rock’s subject matter typically involves family, politics, romance, music, class relationships, and race relations
in the United States. Though not strictly autobiographical, much of his
comic standpoint seem rooted in his teenage experience; his strict
parents, concerned about the inadequacies of the local school system,
arranged to have the adolescent Rock bused to a nearly all-white high school in Bensonhurst (an Italian-ethnic neighborhood of Brooklyn known at the time for poor race relations). In his memoir Rock This,
the comedian recalls, “My parents assumed I’d get a better education in
a better neighborhood. What I actually got was a worse education in a
worse neighborhood. And a whole bunch of ass-whippings.”[33]
The comedian has also expressed discomfort with the notion that
success in standup comedy—or, indeed, in any aspect of the entertainment
industry—should oblige him to serve as a role model. In this position, he finds himself directly at odds with one of his comic idols, Bill Cosby. Cosby has reprimanded Rock both explicitly—for his famous/notorious Niggas vs. Black People track—and implicitly, for heavy use of the word “nigger.”[34] Rock has not wavered from a position explored in his 1996 Roll With The New
show, and reiterated in his 1997 memoir: “Why does the public expect
entertainers to behave better than everybody else? It’s ridiculous…Of
course, this is just for black entertainers. You don’t see anyone
telling Jerry Seinfeld
he’s a good role model. Because everyone expects whites to behave
themselves…Nowadays, you’ve got to be an entertainer and a leader.
It’s too much.”[35] Often the subject of tabloids, when asked about paparazzi and the other negative aspects of fame,
Rock says he accepts the bad with the good: “You can’t be happy that
fire cooks your food and be mad it burns your fingertips.”[36]
At the London Live Earth concert on July 7, 2007, which was broadcast live on the BBC, before introducing the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rock called the crowd “motherfuckers“
and “shit” after a brief sigh when he said he was joking. Due to the
broadcast being at 5:45 pm Rock was immediately cut off, and the BBC
made several apologies for his use of the word “motherfucker”.[37]
Chris Rock has been an avid fan of the New York Mets
baseball team since childhood. He famously complained that his team
“had no money” in a comedic rant during a 2011 interview with David
Letterman.[38]
Personal life
Rock has been married to Malaak Compton-Rock since November 23, 1996.[39] She is the founder and executive director of StyleWorks, a non-profit, full-service salon that provides free services for women leaving welfare and entering the workforce.[39] They have two daughters together, Lola Simone (born June 28, 2002) and Zahra Savannah (born May 22, 2004).[40]
In November 2006, the entertainment news website TMZ.com reported that Rock was filing for divorce after nearly ten years of marriage to Malaak.[41]
Two weeks later, however, TMZ reported that Rock had not filed divorce
papers, and that it appeared that the couple had been able to work out
their differences and stay together.[42] In response to the reports, the Rocks released a statement to the press denouncing them as “untrue rumors and lies”.[39]
In 2007, freelance journalist and former actress Kali Bowyer filed a paternity suit against Chris Rock, claiming he was the father of her son, and in need of hospitalization.[43] DNA testing proved that Rock was not the child’s father. Rock resides in Alpine, New Jersey.[45]
In 2008, Rock’s family history was profiled on the PBS series African American Lives 2. A DNA test showed that he is descended from the Udeme people of northern Cameroon.[46] Rock’s great-great-grandfather, Julius Caesar Tingman, was a slave for 21 years before serving as part of the United States Colored Troops until 1866; Tingman fought in the American Civil War.
During the 1940s, Rock’s paternal grandfather moved from South Carolina
to New York City to become a taxicab driver and preacher.[47]
Work
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Krush Groove | Person Standing Next to Phone During Fight in Club | uncredited |
| 1987 | Beverly Hills Cop II | Playboy Mansion Valet | |
| 1988 | Comedy’s Dirtiest Dozen | Himself | Direct-to-video Concert film |
| 1988 | I’m Gonna Git You Sucka | Rib Joint Customer | |
| 1989 | Who Is Chris Rock? | Himself | Documentary Short |
| 1991 | New Jack City | Pookie | |
| 1992 | Boomerang | Bony T | |
| 1993 | CB4 | Albert Brown/M.C. Gusto | Also wrote story, screenplay and was co-producer |
| 1995 | The Immortals | Deke Anthony | |
| 1995 | Panther | Yuck Mouth | |
| 1996 | Sgt. Bilko | 1st Lt. Oster | |
| 1997 | Beverly Hills Ninja | Joey Washington | |
| 1998 | Dr. Dolittle | Rodney | Voice |
| 1998 | Lethal Weapon 4 | Detective Lee Butters | |
| 1999 | Torrance Rises | Himself | Documentary short |
| 1999 | Dogma | Rufus | |
| 2000 | Nurse Betty | Wesley | |
| 2001 | Down to Earth | Lance Barton | Also co-writer and executive producer |
| 2001 | AI: Artificial Intelligence | Mecha Comedian | Voice/cameo |
| 2001 | Pootie Tang | JB/Radio DJ/Pootie’s Father | Also producer |
| 2001 | Osmosis Jones | Osmosis Jones | Voice |
| 2001 | Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back | Chaka Luther King | Cameo |
| 2002 | Bad Company | Jake Hayes/Kevin Pope/Michael Turner | |
| 2002 | Comedian | Himself | Documentary |
| 2003 | Pauly Shore Is Dead | Himself | Cameo |
| 2003 | Head of State | Mays Gilliam | Also director, producer and co-writer |
| 2004 | The N-Word | Himself | Documentary |
| 2004 | Paparazzi | Pizza Delivery Guy | Cameo |
| 2005 | The Aristocrats | Himself | Documentary |
| 2005 | Madagascar | Marty | Voice |
| 2005 | The Longest Yard | Farrell Caretaker | |
| 2007 | I Think I Love My Wife | Richard Marcus Cooper | Also director and co-writer |
| 2007 | Bee Movie | Mooseblood the Mosquito | Voice |
| 2008 | You Don’t Mess with the Zohan | Taxi Driver | Cameo |
| 2008 | Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa | Marty and other zebras | Voice |
| 2009 | Good Hair | Himself | Documentary |
| 2010 | Death at a Funeral | Aaron | Also producer, Remake of the 2007 film of the same name |
| 2010 | Grown Ups | Kurt McKenzie | |
| 2012 | 2 Days in New York | Mingus | |
| 2012 | What to Expect When You’re Expecting | Vic | |
| 2012 | Madagascar 3 | Marty | Voice |
| 2013 | Grown Ups 2 | Kurt McKenzie |
Discography
| Year | Album | Peak positions | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | U.S. R&B |
|||
| 1991 | Born Suspect | – | – | |
| 1997 | Roll with the New | 93 | 41 | |
| 1999 | Bigger & Blacker | 44 | 26 | |
| 2005 | Never Scared | – | – | |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Uptown Comedy Express | Himself | HBO special |
| 1987 | Miami Vice | Carson | Episode: “Missing Hours” |
| 1990–1993 | Saturday Night Live | Various | Cast member |
| 1993–1994 | In Living Color | Various | Recurring |
| 1994 | Big Ass Jokes | Himself | HBO special |
| 1995 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Maurice/Jasmine | Episode: “Get a Job” |
| 1996–1998 | The Moxy Show | Flea | Uncredited voice role |
| 1996 | Martin | Valentino | Episode: “The Love Jones Connection” |
| 1996 | Homicide: Life on the Street | Carver | Episode: “Requiem for Adena” |
| 1996 | Bring the Pain | Himself | HBO special |
| 1996 | Politically Incorrect | Himself | Correspondent |
| 1997 | MTV Music Video Awards | Himself | Host |
| 1997–2000 | The Chris Rock Show | Himself | Cast member, writer |
| 1998 | King of the Hill | Roger “Booda” Sack | Episode: “Traffic Jam” |
| 1999 | MTV Music Video Awards | Himself | Host |
| 2000 | Bigger & Blacker | Himself | HBO special |
| 2003 | MTV Music Video Awards | Himself | HBO special |
| 2004 | ChalkZone | Boris the Burger | Episode: “If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Eat ‘Em” |
| 2004 | Never Scared | Himself | HBO special |
| 2005 | 77th Academy Awards | Himself | Host |
| 2005–2009 | Everybody Hates Chris | Narrator/Mr. Abbott | Creator/Narrator/Chris’ guidance counselor |
| 2008 | Kill the Messenger | Himself | HBO special |
| 2011 | Louie | Himself | 1 Episode |
| 2012 | Tosh.0 | Himself | 1 Episode |
Internet
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | The Annoying Orange | Marty | Episode: Big Top Orange cameo appearance guest star |
| 2012 | Rap Battle Parody | Tremendous Repeat | Episode: 4 |
Books
- Rock This! (Hyperion Books, 1997) – ISBN 0-7868-6289-0
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Who is Tyson Cleotis Chandler?
Who is Tyson Cleotis Chandler? The sports world knows hims as Tyson Chandler, he is an American professional basketball center who currently plays for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association. Chandler was the second overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, then was immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls. He has also played for the New Orleans Hornets, Charlotte Bobcats, and Dallas Mavericks. As starting center for Dallas, he helped win the franchise’s first NBA championship in 2011. He was also a member of the United States men’s national basketball team‘s gold medal run in the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Early life and high school career
Chandler was born October 2, 1982 to a single mother. He and his two brothers, Terrell and Tervon, grew up in their family’s farm in Hanford, California, just south of Fresno, California.
Chandler began playing basketball at three years old on a basket
Chandler’s grandfather, Cleotis, fixed on a tree. Chandler grew up doing
farm work such as milking cows, slopping pigs, and cultivating crops.
At nine years old Chandler and his mother moved to San Bernadino, California;
he was already nearly six feet tall. As a child Chandler was teased
because of his height; children on his school basketball team joked that
he was older than he really was, and that he had been left back several
times in school.[1]
Chandler and his family then moved to Compton, California, where he enrolled at Dominguez High School, a school known for its athletics, producing basketball players such as Dennis Johnson and Cedric Ceballos. In his freshman year, Chandler made the varsity team and played with future NBA player Tayshaun Prince, who was then a senior. With the Dominguez Dons, Chandler became a teenage sensation; current players such as DeMar DeRozan watched him play and claimed “he was like Shaq“. Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings,
who was a ball boy for Dominguez at the time, said, “You’d see the
girls around Tyson, the Escalade he drove, and you wanted to be like
him,”[2] Chandler earned accolades from Parade Magazine and USA Today, and was selected to the McDonald’s High School All-America Team. As a freshman, he was profiled on current affairs TV program 60 Minutes.
In his junior year, Chandler averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds, 6
assists and 3 blocks. In his senior year, Chandler led Dominguez to a
state championship and a 31-4 record, averaging 26 points, 15 boards,
and 8 blocks a game.[1] Chandler was recruited by several universities and considered UCLA, Arizona, Syracuse, Memphis, Kentucky and Michigan. Chandler then declared for the 2001 NBA draft as a prep-to-pro.
Professional career
Chicago Bulls (2001-2006)
Tyson Chandler was selected 2nd overall by the Los Angeles Clippers, who immediately traded his rights to the Chicago Bulls for former NBA Rookie of the Year Award recipient Elton Brand. The Bulls intended to pair Chandler with fellow high school phenomenon Eddy Curry
in the front court. However, while both players had stretches of
success during their time with the Bulls, they rarely coincided. In
Chandler’s case, back problems were a recurring issue throughout his
career, particularly during the 2003–04 season. During the early part of his career, Chandler feuded with Brendan Haywood of the Washington Wizards and Amar’e Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns. Later, although the feuds became less frequent, Chandler struggled with foul trouble, which limited his playing time.
Chandler also played a major role in the resurgent Bulls’ playoff run in the 2004–05 season. Finding a role as a fourth-quarter defensive specialist, with notable game-saving blocks against stars like Paul Pierce and Carmelo Anthony, he was rewarded with a long-term deal to remain with the Chicago Bulls
for the next six years, reportedly worth close to $63 million. With
Curry’s departure after the 2004–05 season, Chandler became the last
member of the Bulls left from the Jerry Krause era.
During the 2005–2006 season,
Chandler’s biggest impact was on defense, but he struggled again with
foul problems and averaged only 5.3 points per game. Due in part to his
sub-par playoff performance and the Bulls’ signing of four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace in the off-season after the 2005–2006 season, Bulls GM John Paxson
began to consider moving Chandler. On July 5, 2006, the Bulls and the
Hornets verbally agreed to a trade that would send Chandler to the New
Orleans Hornets in exchange for J.R. Smith and P.J. Brown.[3] The deal was finalized the following week.[4]
New Orleans Hornets (2006-2009)
In his first year in New Orleans, Chandler had a breakout season in
2006–2007, averaging 9.5 ppg and 12.4 rpg to go with 1.8 bpg.
Chandler followed that up with an even better season where he put up
11.7 points and 11.8 rebounds a game and led the league in offensive
rebounding. His defense, rebounding and the ability to connect with
Chris Paul on the Crescent City Connection (Name for their alleyoop
pass) allowed the Hornets to claim the 2007–08 Southwest division for
the first time ever with 56 wins. Chandler played well in the playoffs
and defended Tim Duncan valiantly but in the end the Hornets lost a
heartbreaking Game 7 where Chandler limited Duncan to 5–17 shooting.
Chandler was named to Team USA as the number 1 alternate to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In 197 regular season games with the Hornets franchise, Chandler
averaged 10.2 ppg, 11.3 rpg and 1.4 bpg, while shooting 61.1% from the
field. On February 17, 2009, Chandler was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith and the rights to DeVon Hardin.[5]
However, he failed the physical because of a toe injury, and one day
later, the Thunder announced that they rescinded the trade.[6]
Coincidentally, the doctor in Oklahoma City who failed Chandler on the
physical was the same doctor who had performed corrective surgery on the
toe two years earlier.[7]
Charlotte Bobcats (2009-2010)
On July 28, 2009, he was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for Emeka Okafor.[8]
Chandler joined a Bobcats team that had never made the playoffs in
their young history. Chandler struggled with injuries in 2009–10,
missing more than a month with a stress fracture in his left foot.
Chandler still helped the Bobcats win 44 games and earn their first-ever
postseason berth. The Bobcats, led by Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson, made it to the playoffs as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, and went up against the Orlando Magic. Chandler had the task of defending Dwight Howard. Chandler limited Howard to 9 points and 9 rebounds per game, both below his season and career averages.[9] The Bobcats were, however, swept in their first trip to the playoffs.
Dallas Mavericks (2010-2011)
On July 13, 2010, Chandler was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, along with Alexis Ajinça, in exchange for Matt Carroll, Erick Dampier and Eduardo Nájera.[10] Chandler was expected to shine next to all-stars Dirk Nowitzki and point guard Jason Kidd.
Chandler quickly became a fan-favorite in Dallas because of his
defensive efforts and athleticism on both ends of the floor. He was
credited with making the Mavericks “tough” and anchoring the defense
with his hustle and intensity.[11] The Mavericks went 57–25, earning the third seed in the western conference. They defeated a deep Portland Trail Blazers team in six games, swept Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, and defeated Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder in 5 games. The Mavericks went in to the NBA Finals as an underdog,[12][13] facing the Miami Heat and their “Big Three” of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Chandler was instrumental in the series,[14] defensively stopping LeBron James‘ and Dwyane Wade‘s penetration to the rim. Chandler was forced to play major minutes because of an injury to backup center Brendan Haywood and the inexperience of Ian Mahinmi[citation needed].
In game 5, Chandler recorded 13 points and 16 rebounds. In the decisive
game 6, Chandler recorded 13 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks, helping
the Mavericks win their first championship.[15] For his defensive efforts throughout regular season, Chandler was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team.
New York Knicks (2011-present)
On December 9, 2011, Chandler announced that he agreed to terms on a four-year contract with the New York Knicks worth $58 million.[16] He was officially acquired by the Knicks in a three-team sign-and-trade.[17] On Opening Day, Christmas 2011, Chandler finished with 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 blocks in a 106–104 win over the Boston Celtics.
Chandler finished the regular season with a 67.9% field goal percentage, the third highest in NBA history, exceeded only by Wilt Chamberlain in 1967 (68.26%) and 1973 (72.7%).[18] He won the 2012 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award with 45 first place votes and 311 points overall, ahead of Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder with 41 first place votes and 294 votes,[19] and became the first ever Knick to win the award.[20]
In May 2012, Chandler was named second team All-Defensive behind Ibaka and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, who made first-team All-Defensive.[21]
Although Chandler was voted Defensive Player of the Year by the press,
the All-Defensive Team is chosen by the league’s 30 head coaches (who
cannot vote for their own players). And while his 13 first-team votes
and 36 overall points were more than the totals for first-team
selections Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies and Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, Howard received 41 points with 16 first-team votes, and only one center can be named to the team.[22]
United States national team
Chandler was chosen to play for the United States men’s basketball team in the 2012 London Summer Olympics.
Career transactions
- June 27, 2001: Drafted 2nd overall by Los Angeles Clippers in 2001 NBA Draft.
- June 27, 2001: Traded by L.A. Clippers along with Brian Skinner to the Chicago Bulls for Elton Brand.[23]
- July 14, 2006: Traded by Chicago to the New Orleans Hornets for P.J. Brown and J.R. Smith.[24]
- February 17, 2009: Traded by New Orleans to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith and the rights to DeVon Hardin.
- February 18, 2009: The Oklahoma City Thunder void their trade for Tyson Chandler, because he failed to pass a physical.
- July 28, 2009: The New Orleans Hornets traded Tyson Chandler to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for Emeka Okafor.[25]
- July 13, 2010: Traded by Charlotte along with Alexis Ajinça to the Dallas Mavericks for Matt Carroll, Erick Dampier and Eduardo Nájera.
- December 9, 2011: Acquired by the New York Knicks in a three team trade
Personal life
Until the age of 10, Chandler grew up on a farm in central California.[26]
Chandler and his wife Kimberly organized a charity to help New Orleans families who suffered from Hurricane Katrina.
The charity helped purchase “small things” (as Chandler said) for the
families’ homes: TVs, stoves, microwaves, refrigerators, pots, pans etc.
The wives of Chandler’s teammates helped in the efforts.[27]
His paternal grandmother is of German descent.[28]
He was the subject of a limited edition 100 copy zine titled “Tyson Chandler”. The zine was created in fall 2011 by Camilla Venturini and the photographer Ari Marcopoulos, and was the subject of a lengthy article in the Wall Street Journal.[29]
NBA career statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | Chicago | 71 | 31 | 19.6 | .497 | .000 | .604 | 4.8 | .8 | .4 | 1.3 | 6.1 |
| 2002–03 | Chicago | 75 | 68 | 24.4 | .531 | .000 | .608 | 6.9 | 1.0 | .5 | 1.4 | 9.2 |
| 2003–04 | Chicago | 35 | 8 | 22.3 | .424 | .000 | .669 | 7.7 | .7 | .5 | 1.2 | 6.1 |
| 2004–05 | Chicago | 80 | 10 | 27.4 | .494 | .000 | .673 | 9.7 | .8 | .9 | 1.8 | 8.0 |
| 2005–06 | Chicago | 79 | 50 | 26.8 | .565 | .000 | .503 | 9.0 | 1.0 | .5 | 1.3 | 5.3 |
| 2006–07 | NO/Oklahoma City | 73 | 73 | 34.6 | .624 | .000 | .527 | 12.4 | .9 | .5 | 1.8 | 9.5 |
| 2007–08 | New Orleans | 79 | 79 | 35.2 | .623 | .000 | .593 | 11.7 | 1.0 | .6 | 1.1 | 11.8 |
| 2008–09 | New Orleans | 45 | 45 | 32.1 | .565 | .000 | .579 | 8.7 | .5 | .3 | 1.2 | 8.8 |
| 2009–10 | Charlotte | 51 | 27 | 22.8 | .574 | .000 | .732 | 6.3 | 1.1 | .3 | 1.1 | 6.5 |
| 2010–11 | Dallas | 74 | 74 | 27.8 | .654 | .000 | .732 | 9.4 | .4 | .5 | 1.1 | 10.1 |
| 2011–12 | New York | 62 | 62 | 33.2 | .679 | .000 | .689 | 9.9 | .9 | .9 | 1.4 | 11.3 |
| Career | 724 | 527 | 28.1 | .578 | .000 | .633 | 8.9 | .8 | .6 | 1.4 | 8.6 |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Chicago | 6 | 0 | 28.7 | .475 | .000 | .696 | 9.7 | 1.3 | .2 | 2.2 | 11.7 |
| 2006 | Chicago | 6 | 0 | 17.3 | .667 | .000 | .300 | 4.5 | .5 | .3 | .3 | 1.8 |
| 2008 | New Orleans | 12 | 12 | 34.3 | .632 | .000 | .625 | 10.3 | .4 | .4 | 1.7 | 8.0 |
| 2009 | New Orleans | 4 | 4 | 23.5 | .500 | .000 | .500 | 5.3 | .5 | .5 | .2 | 3.8 |
| 2010 | Charlotte | 4 | 0 | 15.0 | .545 | .000 | .667 | 2.5 | .5 | .5 | .8 | 3.5 |
| 2011 | Dallas | 21 | 21 | 32.4 | .582 | .000 | .679 | 9.2 | .4 | .6 | .9 | 8.0 |
| 2012 | New York | 5 | 5 | 33.4 | .440 | .000 | .600 | 9.0 | .8 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 6.2 |
| Career | 58 | 42 | 29.1 | .562 | .000 | .644 | 8.2 | .6 | .6 | 1.1 | 7.0 |
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Who is Usain St. Leo Bolt?
Who is Usain St. Leo Bolt? The sports world knows him as Usain Bolt, Bolt is a Jamaican sprinter widely known as the fastest man ever. He is the first man to hold both the 100 metres and 200 metres world records. Along with his teammates, he also set the world record in the 4×100 metres relay. He is the reigning Olympic champion in these three events, and a five-time World and five-time Olympic gold medalist. He also is the first man ever to defend both the 100 m and 200 m title at consecutive Olympics.
His 2009 record breaking margin for 100 m, from 9.69 (his own previous world record) to 9.58, is the highest since the start of fully automatic time measurements.[9] His achievements in sprinting have earned him the media nickname “Lightning Bolt”,[10] and awards including the IAAF World Athlete of the Year, Track & Field Athlete of the Year, and Laureus Sportsman of the Year. SportsPro has rated Usain Bolt as the fourth most marketable athlete in the world.[11]
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Early years
Bolt was born on 21 August 1986 in Sherwood Content,[12] a small town in Trelawny, Jamaica, and grew up with his parents, Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt, his brother Sadeeki,[13] and his sister Sherine.[2][14] His parents ran the local grocery store in the rural area, and Bolt spent his time playing cricket and football in the street with his brother,[15] later saying, “When I was young, I didn’t really think about anything other than sports”.[16]
As a child, he attended Waldensia Primary and All-age School, and it
was here that he first began to show his sprinting potential, running in
the annual national primary-schools’ meeting for his parish.[10] By the age of twelve, Bolt had become the school’s fastest runner over the 100 metres distance.[17]
Upon his entry to William Knibb
Memorial High School, Bolt continued to focus on other sports, but his
cricket coach noticed Bolt’s speed on the pitch and urged him to try track and field events.[18] Pablo McNeil, a former Olympic sprint athlete,[19] and Dwayne Jarrett coached Bolt,[20] encouraging him to focus his energy on improving his athletic abilities. The school had a history of success in athletics with past students, including sprinter Michael Green.[10] Bolt won his first annual high school championships medal in 2001, taking the silver medal in the 200 metres with a time of 22.04 seconds.[10]
McNeil soon became his primary coach, and the two enjoyed a positive
partnership, although McNeil was occasionally frustrated by Bolt’s lack
of dedication to his training and his predisposition to practical jokes.[19]
Early competitions
Performing for Jamaica in his first Caribbean regional event, Bolt clocked a personal best of 48.28 s in the 400 metres in the 2001 CARIFTA Games, winning a silver medal. The 200 m also yielded a silver as Bolt finished in 21.81 s.[21]
He made his first appearance on the world stage at the 2001 IAAF World Youth Championships in Debrecen, Hungary. Running in the 200 m event, he failed to qualify for the finals, but he still set a new personal best of 21.73 s.[22]
Bolt still did not take athletics or himself too seriously, however,
and he took his mischievousness to new heights by hiding in the back of a
van when he was supposed to be preparing for the 200 m finals at the
CARIFTA Trials. He was detained by the police for his practical joke,
and there was an outcry from the local community, which blamed coach
McNeil for the incident.[19]
However, the controversy subsided, and both McNeil and Bolt went to the
CARIFTA Games, where Bolt set championship records in the 200 m and
400 m with times of 21.12 s and 47.33 s, respectively.[21] He continued to set records with 20.61 s and 47.12 s finishes at the Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships.[23]
Bolt is one of only 8 athletes, (along with Valerie Adams, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Jacques Freitag, Yelena Isinbayeva, Jana Pittman, Dani Samuels) to win world championships at the youth, junior, and senior level of an athletic event. Former Prime Minister P. J. Patterson recognised Bolt’s talent and arranged for him to move to Kingston, along with Jermaine Gonzales, so he could train with the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) at the University of Technology, Jamaica.[19]
Rise to prominence
The 2002 World Junior Championships
before a home crowd in Kingston, Jamaica, gave Bolt a chance to prove
his credentials on the world stage. By the age of 15, he had grown to
1.96 metres (6 ft 5 in) tall, and he physically stood out amongst his
peers.[10] He won the 200 m, in a time of 20.61 s,[24] 0.03 seconds slower than his personal best of 20.58 s set in the 1st round.[25] Bolt’s 200 m win made him the youngest world-junior gold medalist ever.[26]
The expectation from the home crowd had made him so nervous that he had
put his shoes on the wrong feet. However, it turned out to be a
revelatory experience for Bolt as he vowed never again to let himself be
affected by pre-race nerves.[27] As a member of the Jamaican sprint relay team, he also took two silver medals and set national junior records in the 4×100 metres and 4×400 metres relay, running times of 39.15 s and 3:04.06 minutes respectively.[28][29]
The flow of medals continued as he won four gold medals at the 2003 CARIFTA Games, and was awarded the Austin Sealy Trophy for the most outstanding athlete of the games.[30][31][32] He won another gold at the 2003 World Youth Championships. He set a new championship record in the 200 m with a time of 20.40 s, despite a 1.1 m/s head wind.[33] Michael Johnson,
the 200 m world-record holder, took note of Bolt’s potential but
worried that the young sprinter might be over-pressured, stating, “It’s
all about what he does three, four, five years down the line”.[34] Bolt had also impressed the athletics hierarchy, and he received the IAAF Rising Star Award for 2002.[35]
Bolt turned his main focus to the 200 m and equalled Roy Martin‘s world junior record of 20.13 s at the Pan-American Junior Championships.[10][36]
This performance attracted interest from the press, and his times in
the 200 m and 400 m led to him being touted as a possible successor to
Johnson. Indeed, at sixteen years old, Bolt had reached times that
Johnson did not register until he was twenty, and Bolt’s 200 m time was
superior to Maurice Greene‘s season’s best that year.[34]
In his final Jamaican High School Championships in 2003, he broke
both the 200 m and 400 m records with times of 20.25 s and 45.30 s,
respectively. Bolt’s runs were a significant improvement upon the
previous records, beating the 200 m best by more than half a second and
the 400 m record by almost a second.[10]
Bolt was growing more popular in his homeland. Howard Hamilton, who
was given the task of Public Defender by the government, urged the JAAA
to nurture him and prevent burnout, calling Bolt “the most phenomenal sprinter ever produced by this island”.[34]
His popularity and the attractions of the capital city were beginning
to be a burden to the young sprinter. Bolt was increasingly unfocused on
his athletic career and preferred to eat fast food, play basketball,
and party in Kingston’s club scene. In the absence of a disciplined
lifestyle, he became ever-more reliant on his natural ability to beat
his competitors on the track.[37]
As the reigning 200 m champion at both the World Youth and World
Junior championships, Bolt hoped to take a clean sweep of the world
200 m championships in the Senior World Championships in Paris.[10]
Bolt beat all comers at the 200 m in the World Championship trials, but
he was pragmatic about his chances and noted that, even if he did not
make the final, he would consider setting a personal best a success.[34][38] However, he suffered a bout of conjunctivitis before the event, and it ruined his training schedule.[10]
Realising he would not be in peak condition, the JAAA refused to let
him participate in the finals on the grounds that he was too young and
inexperienced. Bolt was dismayed at missing out on the opportunity, but
focused on getting himself in shape to gain a place on the Jamaican
Olympic team instead.[38]
Even though he missed the World Championships, Bolt was awarded the
IAAF Rising Star Award for the 2003 season on the strength of his junior
record-equalling run.[35]
Professional athletics career
Early professional career (2004–2007)
Under the guidance of new coach Fitz Coleman, Bolt turned professional in 2004, beginning with the CARIFTA Games in Bermuda.[10]
He became the first junior sprinter to run the 200 m in under twenty
seconds, taking the world junior record outright with a time of 19.93 s.[10][26] For the second time in the role, he was awarded the Austin Sealy Trophy for the most outstanding athlete of the 2004 CARIFTA Games.[30][31][39] A hamstring injury in May ruined Bolt’s chances of competing in the 2004 World Junior Championships, but he was still chosen for the Jamaican Olympic squad.[40] Bolt headed to the 2004 Athens Olympics with confidence and a new record on his side. However, he was hampered by a leg injury and was eliminated in the first round of the 200 metres with a disappointing time of 21.05 s.[1][41] American colleges offered Bolt track scholarships on the strength of his performances, but the teenager from Trelawny refused them all, stating that he was content to stay in his homeland of Jamaica.[14] Bolt instead chose the surroundings of the University of Technology, Jamaica,
as his professional training ground, staying with the university’s
primitive track and weight room that had served him well in his amateur
years.[42]
The year 2005 signalled a fresh start for Bolt in the form of a new coach, Glen Mills,
and a new attitude to athletics. Mills recognised Bolt’s potential and
aimed to cease the sprinter’s unprofessional approach to the sport.[41]
Bolt began training with Mills in preparation for the upcoming
athletics season, partnering with more-seasoned sprinters such as Kim Collins and Dwain Chambers.[43]
The year began well, and in July he knocked more than a third of a
second off the 200 m CAC Championship record with a run of 20.03 s,[44] then registered his 200 m season’s best at London’s Crystal Palace, running in 19.99 s.[1] Misfortune awaited Bolt at the next major event, the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki.
Bolt felt that both his work ethic and athleticism had much improved
since the 2004 Olympics, and he saw the World Championships as a way to
live up to expectations, stating, “I really want to make up for what
happened in Athens. Hopefully, everything will fall into place”.[45] Bolt qualified with runs under 21 s, but he suffered an injury in the final, finishing in last place with a time of 26.27 s.[41][46]
Injuries were preventing him from completing a full professional
athletics season, and the eighteen-year-old Bolt still had not proven
his mettle in the major world-athletics competitions.[47]
Bolt was involved in a car accident in November, and although he
suffered only minor facial lacerations, his training schedule was
further upset.[48][49] His manager, Norman Peart, made Bolt’s training less intensive, and he had fully recuperated the following week.[48] Bolt had continued to improve his performances, and he reached the world top-5 rankings in 2005 and 2006.[10]
Peart and Mills stated their intentions to push Bolt to do longer
sprinting distances with the aim of making the 400 m event his primary
event by 2007 or 2008. Bolt was less enthusiastic, and demanded that he
feel comfortable in his sprinting.[48][50] He suffered another hamstring injury in March 2006, forcing him to withdraw from the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, and he did not return to track events until May.[51]
After his recovery, Bolt was given new training exercises to improve
flexibility, and the plans to move him up to the 400 m event were put on
hold.[47]
Upon his return to competition, the 200 m remained his primary event, and he beat Justin Gatlin‘s meet record in Ostrava,
Czech Republic. Bolt had aspired to run under twenty seconds to claim a
season’s best but, despite the fact that bad weather had impaired his
run, he was happy to end the meeting with just the victory.[52] However, a sub-20-second finish was soon his, as he set a new personal best of 19.88 s at the 2006 Athletissima Grand Prix in Lausanne, Switzerland, finishing behind Xavier Carter and Tyson Gay to earn a bronze medal.[53]
Bolt had focused his athletics aims, stating that 2006 was a year to
gain experience. Also, he was more keen on competing over longer
distances, setting his sights on running regularly in both 200 m and
400 m events within the next two years.[52] Bolt claimed his first major world medal two months later at the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany. He passed the finishing post with a time of 20.10 s, gaining a bronze medal in the process.[1] The IAAF World Cup in Athens, Greece, yielded Bolt’s first senior international silver medal.[1] Wallace Spearmon from the United States won gold with a championship record time of 19.87 s, beating Bolt’s respectable time of 19.96 s.[54]
Further 200 m honours on both the regional and international stages
awaited Bolt in 2007. The young Jamaican yearned to run in the 100 metres, but coach Mills diverted his attention, stating that he could run the shorter distance if he broke the 200 m national record.[41] In the Jamaican Championships, he ran 19.75 s in the 200 m, breaking the 36-year-old Jamaican record held by Don Quarrie by 0.11 s.[10][14]
Mills complied with Bolt’s demand to run in the 100 m, and he was
entered to run the event at the 23rd Vardinoyiannia meeting in Rethymno, Crete.
In his debut tournament run, he set a personal best of 10.03 s, winning
the gold medal and feeding his enthusiasm for the event.[14][55]
He built on this achievement at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan, winning a silver medal.[1] Bolt recorded 19.91 s with a headwind of 0.8 m/s but this paled in comparison with Tyson Gay‘s time of 19.76 s, which set a new championship record.[56]
The Jamaican national record fell when Bolt partnered with Asafa Powell, Marvin Anderson, and Nesta Carter in the 4×100 metres relay. However, their finish in 37.89 s was not enough to beat the Americans’ time of 37.78 s.[57]
Bolt did not win any gold medals at the major tournaments in 2007, but
Mills felt that Bolt’s technique was much improved, pinpointing
improvements in Bolt’s balance at the turns over 200 m and an increase
in his stride frequency, giving him more driving power on the track.[41]
World-record breaker
The silver medals from the 2007 Osaka World Championships boosted
Bolt’s desire to run, and he took a more serious, more mature stance
towards his career.[18] Bolt continued to develop in the 100 m, and he entered to run in the event at the Jamaica Invitational in Kingston. On 3 May 2008, Bolt ran a time of 9.76 s, aided by a tail wind of 1.8 m/s, considerably improving upon his previous personal best of 10.03 s.[58] This was the second-fastest legal performance in the history of the event, second only to compatriot Asafa Powell‘s 9.74 s record set the previous year in Rieti, Italy.[59] Rival Tyson Gay lauded the performance, praising Bolt’s form and technique especially.[60] Michael Johnson, who was observing the race, said that he was shocked at how quickly he had improved over the 100 m distance.[61] The Jamaican surprised even himself with the time, but coach Glen Mills remained confident that there was more to come.[60]
Mills’ prediction came true before the end of the month when Bolt
established a new 100 m world record on 31 May 2008. Pushed on by a tail
wind of 1.7 m/s, Bolt ran 9.72 s at the Reebok Grand Prix held in the Icahn Stadium in New York City, breaking Powell’s record.[62] The record time was even more remarkable in light of the fact that it was only his fifth senior run over the distance.[63] Gay again finished second and said of Bolt “It looked like his knees were going past my face”.[14] Commentators noted that Bolt appeared to have gained a psychological advantage over fellow Olympic contender Gay.[41]
In June 2008, Bolt responded to claims that he was a lazy athlete,
saying that the comments were unjustified, and he trained hard to
achieve his potential. However, he surmised that such comments stemmed
from his lack of enthusiasm for the 400 metres event, and chose to not make the effort to train for distance running.[64] Turning his efforts to the 200 m, Bolt proved that he could excel in multiple events—first setting the world-leading time in Ostrava, then breaking the national record for the second time with a 19.67 s finish in Athens, Greece.[65][66]
Although Mills still preferred that Bolt focus on the longer distances,
the acceptance of Bolt’s demand to run in the 100 m worked for both
sprinter and trainer. Bolt was more focused in practice, and a training
schedule to boost his top speed and his stamina, in preparation for the
Olympics, had improved both his 100 m and 200 m times.[14][67][68] His confidence was building, and he was sure that he would perform well in the upcoming Olympics.[65]
2008 Summer Olympics
Bolt announced that he would double-up with the 100 metres and 200 metres events at the Beijing Summer Olympics, and the new 100 m world-record holder was the favourite to win both.[69][70] Michael Johnson,
the 200 m and 400 m record holder, personally backed the sprinter,
saying that he did not believe that a lack of experience would work
against him.[71] Bolt qualified for the 100 m final with times of 9.92 s and 9.85 s in the quarter-finals and semifinals, respectively.[72][73][74]
In the Olympic 100 m final, Bolt broke new ground, winning in 9.69 s (unofficially 9.683 s) with a reaction time of 0.165 s.[75] This was an improvement upon his own world record, and he was well ahead of second-place finisher Richard Thompson, who finished in 9.89 s.[76]
Not only was the record set without a favourable wind (+0.0 m/s), but
he also visibly slowed down to celebrate before he finished and his
shoelace was untied.[77][78][79] Bolt’s coach reported that, based upon the speed of Bolt’s opening 60 m, he could have finished with a time of 9.52 s.[80] After scientific analysis of Bolt’s run by the Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics at the University of Oslo,
Hans Eriksen and his colleagues also predicted a sub 9.60 s time.
Considering factors such as Bolt’s position, acceleration and velocity
in comparison with second-place-finisher Thompson, the team estimated
that Bolt could have finished in 9.55±0.04 s had he not slowed to
celebrate before the finishing line.[81][82]
Bolt stated that setting a record was not a priority for him, and
that his goal was just to win the gold medal, Jamaica’s first of the
2008 Games.[83] Olympic medalist Kriss Akabusi
construed Bolt’s chest slapping before the finish line as showboating,
noting that the actions cost Bolt an even faster record time.[84] IOC president Jacques Rogge also condemned the Jamaican’s actions as disrespectful.[85][86]
Bolt denied that this was the purpose of his celebration by saying, “I
wasn’t bragging. When I saw I wasn’t covered, I was just happy”.[87] Lamine Diack, president of the IAAF,
supported Bolt and said that his celebration was appropriate given the
circumstances of his victory. Jamaican government minister Edmund
Bartlett also defended Bolt’s actions, stating, “We have to see it in
the glory of their moment and give it to them. We have to allow the
personality of youth to express itself”.[88]
Bolt then focused on attaining a gold medal in the 200 m event, aiming to emulate Carl Lewis‘ double win in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.[89] Michael Johnson felt that Bolt would easily win gold but believed that his own world record of 19.32 s set at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta would remain intact at the Olympics.[90] Bolt eased through the first and second rounds of the 200 m, jogging towards the end of his run both times.[91] He won his semifinal and progressed to the final as the favourite to win.[92] Retired Jamaican sprinter Don Quarrie praised Bolt, saying he was confident that Johnson’s record could be beaten.[35] The following day, at the final, he won Jamaica’s fourth gold of the Games, setting a new world and Olympic record of 19.30 s.[93]
Johnson’s record fell despite the fact that Bolt was impeded by a
0.9 m/s headwind. The feat made him the first sprinter since Quarrie to
hold both 100 m and 200 m world records simultaneously and the first
since the introduction of electronic timing.[93][94] Furthermore, Bolt became the first sprinter to break both records at the same Olympics.[95]
Unlike in the 100 m final, Bolt sprinted hard all the way to the
finishing line in the 200 m race, even dipping his chest to improve his
time.[96] Following the race, “Happy Birthday” was played over the stadium’s sound system as his 22nd birthday would begin at midnight.[96]
Two days later, Bolt ran as the third leg in the Jamaican 4×100 metres relay team, increasing his gold medal total to three.[97] Along with teammates Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, and Asafa Powell, Bolt broke another world and Olympic record, their 37.10 s finish breaking the previous record by three tenths of a second.[98]
Powell, who anchored the team to the finishing line, lamented the loss
of his 100 m record to Bolt but showed no animosity towards his Jamaican
rival, stating that he was delighted to help him set his third world
record.[99] Following his victories, Bolt donated US$50,000 to the children of the Sichuan province of China to help those harmed by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.[100]
Bolt’s record-setting runs caused commentators not only to praise his
achievements but also to speculate about his potential to become one of
the most successful sprinters ever.[16][101] Critics hailed his Olympic success as a new beginning for a sport that had long suffered through high-profile drug scandals.[63][102][dead link] The previous six years had seen the BALCO scandal, Tim Montgomery and Justin Gatlin stripped of their 100 m world records, and Marion Jones returning three Olympic gold medals.[103] All three sprinters were disqualified from athletics after drugs tests detected banned substances in their systems.[104][105] Bolt’s record-breaking performances caused suspicion among some commentators, including Victor Conte, and the lack of an independent Caribbean anti-doping federation raised more concerns.[106][107]
The accusations of drug use were vehemently rejected by Glen Mills
(Bolt’s coach) and Herb Elliott (the Jamaican athletics team doctor).
Elliott, a member of the IAAF
anti-doping commission, urged those concerned about the issue to “come
down and see our programme, come down and see our testing, we have
nothing to hide”.[108] Mills had been equally ardent that Bolt was a clean athlete, declaring to the Jamaica Gleaner: “We will test any time, any day, any part of the body…[he] doesn’t even like to take vitamins”.[109]
Bolt stated that he had been tested four times prior to the Olympics,
and all had tested negative for banned substances. He also welcomed
anti-doping authorities to test him to prove that he was clean, stating,
“We work hard and we perform well and we know we’re clean”.[110]
After the Olympics
The end of the 2008 athletics season saw Bolt compete in the ÅF Golden League, beginning in Weltklasse Zürich. Despite having the slowest start among his competitors in the 100 m race, he still crossed the finishing line in 9.83 s.[112]
Even though the time was slower than both his newly set world record
and Asafa Powell’s track record, it was still among the top-fifteen
100 m finishes by any sprinter to that date.[77]
Bolt admitted that he was not running at full strength, suffering from a
cold, but he had concentrated on both winning the race and finishing
the season in good health.[112] At the Super Grand Prix final in Lausanne, Bolt ran his second-fastest 200 m with a time of 19.63 s, equalling Xavier Carter‘s track record.[113]
However, it was the 100 m final, featuring Asafa Powell, that drew the
most interest. Powell had moved closer to Bolt’s world record after
setting a new personal best of 9.72 s, reaffirming his status as Bolt’s
main contender.[114] Bolt’s final event of the season came three days later at the Golden League final in Brussels.
This was the first 100 m race featuring both Bolt and Powell since the
final in the Olympics. Both Jamaicans broke the track record, but Bolt
came out on top with a time of 9.77 s, beating Powell by 0.06 s.
Victory, however, did not come as smoothly as it had in Beijing. Bolt
made the slowest start of the nine competitors and had to recover ground
in cold conditions and against a 0.9 m/s headwind.[115]
Yet the results confirmed Jamaican dominance in the 100 m, with nine of
the ten-fastest legal times in history being recorded by either Bolt or
Powell.[77] On his return to Jamaica, Bolt was honoured in a homecoming celebration and received an Order of Distinction in recognition of his achievements at the Olympics.[116]
He was selected as the IAAF Male Athlete of the year and won a Special Olympic Award for his performances.[117]
However, Bolt turned his attention to future events, suggesting that he
could aim to break the 400 metres world record in 2010 as no major
championships were scheduled that year.[118]
2009 Berlin World Championships
Bolt started the season competing over 400 metres in order to improve
his speed, winning two races and registering 45.54 s in Kingston,[119] and windy conditions gave him his first sub-10 second finish of the season in the 100 m in March.[120]
In late April Bolt suffered minor leg injuries in a car crash. However,
he quickly recovered following minor surgery and (after cancelling a
track meet in Jamaica) he stated that he was fit to compete in the 150 metres street race at the Manchester Great City Games.[121] Bolt won the race in 14.35 s, the fastest time ever recorded for 150 m.[122]
Despite not being at full fitness, he took the 100 and 200 m titles at
the Jamaican national championships, with runs of 9.86 s and 20.25 s
respectively.[123][124] This meant he had qualified for both events at the 2009 World Championships.
Rival Tyson Gay suggested that Bolt’s 100 m record was within his
grasp, but Bolt dismissed the claim and instead noted that he was more
interested in Asafa Powell’s return from injury.[125] Bolt defied unfavourable conditions at the Athletissima meet in July, running 19.59 seconds into a 0.9 m/s headwind and rain, to record the fourth fastest time ever over 200 m,[126] one hundredth off Gay’s best time.[127]
At the 2009 World Championships in August, Bolt eased through the
100 m heats, clocking the fastest ever pre-final performance of
9.89 seconds.[128]
The final was the first time Bolt and Gay had met in the season, and
Bolt improved his world record with a time of 9.58 s to win his first
World Championship gold medal. Taking over a tenth of a second off the
previous best mark, this was the largest ever margin of improvement in
the 100 m world record since the beginning of electronic timing.[129] Gay finished with a time of 9.71 s, 0.02 s off Bolt’s 9.69 s world-record run in Beijing.[130]
Although Gay withdrew from the second race of the competition, the
Jamaican once again produced world record-breaking form in the 200 metres final. He broke his own record by 0.11 seconds, finishing with a time of 19.19 seconds.[131] He won the 200 m race by the biggest margin in World Championships history, even though the race had three other athletes running under 19.90 seconds, the greatest number ever in the event.[132][133] Bolt’s pace impressed even the more experienced of his competitors; third-placed Wallace Spearmon complimented his speed,[134] and former Olympic champion Shawn Crawford said “Just coming out there…I felt like I was in a video game, that guy was moving – fast”.[135]
Bolt pointed out that an important factor in his performance at the
World Championships was his improved start to the races: his reaction
times in the 100 m (0.146)[136] and 200 m (0.133)[137] were significantly faster than those he had produced in his world record runs at the Beijing Olympics.[138][139]
However, he, together with other members of Jamaican 4×100 m relay
team, fell short of their own world record of 37.10 s set at 2008 Summer Olympics by timing 37.31 s, which is, however, a championship record and the second fastest time in history at that date.[140]
On the last day of the Berlin Championships, the governing Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, presented Bolt with a 12-foot high section of the Berlin Wall
in a small ceremony, saying Bolt had shown that “one can tear down
walls that had been considered as insurmountable.” The nearly three-ton
segment will be delivered to Bolt’s training camp in Jamaica.[141]
Several days after Bolt broke the world records in 100 and 200 metres events, Mike Powell, the world record holder in long jump
(8.95 metres set in 1991) argued that Bolt could become the first man
to jump over 9 metres, the long jump event being “a perfect fit for his
speed and height”.[142] At the end of the season he was selected as the IAAF World Athlete of the Year for the second year running.[143]
2010: Diamond League and broken streak
Early on in the 2010 outdoor season, Bolt ran 19.56 seconds in the
200 m in Kingston, Jamaica for the fourth-fastest run of all-time,
although he stated that he had no record breaking ambitions for the
forthcoming season.[144] He took to the international circuit May with wins in East Asia at the Colorful Daegu Pre-Championships Meeting and then a comfortable win in his 2010 IAAF Diamond League debut at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix.[145][146] Bolt made an attempt to break Michael Johnson’s best time over the rarely competed 300 metres event at the Golden Spike
meeting in Ostrava. He failed to match Johnson’s ten-year-old record of
30.85 and suffered a setback in that his 30.97-second run in wet
weather had left him with an Achilles tendon problem.[147][148]
On his return from injury a month later, he asserted himself with a
100 m win at the Athletissima meeting in Lausanne (9.82 seconds) and a
victory over Asafa Powell at Meeting Areva in Paris (9.84 seconds).[149][150] Despite this run of form, he suffered only the second loss of his career in a 100 m final at the DN Galan.
Tyson Gay soundly defeated him with a run of 9.84 to Bolt’s
9.97 seconds, and the Jamaican reflected that he had slacked off in
training early in the season while Gay had been better prepared and in a
better condition.[151]
This marked Bolt’s first loss to Gay in the 100 m, which coincidentally
occurred in the same stadium where Powell had beaten Bolt for the first
time two years earlier.[152]
2011 World Championships
Considered the overwhelming favourite to win in the 100 metres at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu,
Bolt was eliminated from the final, breaking “ridiculously early”
according to the starter in an interview for BBC Sport, and receiving a false start.[153] Usain Bolt’s countryman, Yohan Blake won in a season best of 9.92 seconds. In the 200 m, Bolt cruised through to the final which he won in a time of 19.40s,[154]
the fastest time in history never to be a World Record. Bolt also won
gold in 4×100 metres relay with team Jamaica setting a world record time
of 37.04.
In June 2012, Usain Bolt won the 100 m race in Diamond League in 9.79 seconds.[155]
2012 Summer Olympics
Before the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Bolt came in second at the Jamaican trials in both 100 m and 200 m. However, at the Olympics, he won the 100 metres
gold medal with a time of 9.63 seconds, setting a new Olympic record
for that distance and defending his gold medal from the 2008 Beijing
Summer Olympics. He was followed by fellow Jamaican, Yohan Blake, who won silver with a time of 9.75 seconds.[156] Following the race, seventh place finisher Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago declared “There’s no doubt he’s the greatest sprinter of all time”, while USA Today
referred to Bolt as a Jamaican “national hero”, noting that his victory
came just hours before Jamaica was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of
its independence from the United Kingdom.[157] With his 2012 win, Bolt became the first man to defend an Olympic sprint title since Carl Lewis in 1988, and only the third man in history.[158] He followed up this impressive performance by defending his 200 metres gold medal with a time of 19.32 seconds, followed by second-placed Yohan Blake at 19.44 and bronze medalist Warren Weir at 19.84. With this, Bolt became the first man in history to defend both the 100 m and 200 m Olympic sprint titles.[159]
Personal life
Bolt expresses a love for dancing and his character is frequently described as laid-back and relaxed.[18][161][dead link][162] Bolt’s Jamaican track and field idols include Herb McKenley and former Jamaican 100 m 200 m world record holder, Don Quarrie. Michael Johnson, the former 200 m world and Olympic record holder, is also held in high esteem by Bolt.[18] The first sport to interest him was cricket and he said if he was not a sprinter he would be a fast bowler instead.[18] As a child he was a supporter of the Pakistani cricket team and admired the bowling of Waqar Younis.[163] He is also a fan of Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar, West Indian opener Chris Gayle[164] and Australian opener Matthew Hayden.[165] During a charity cricket match Bolt clean-bowled Chris Gayle. Gayle was complimentary of Bolt’s pace and swing.[166]
Bolt also struck a six off Chris Gayle’s bowling. Another bowler
complimentary of Bolt’s pace was former West Indies fast-bowling great Curtly Ambrose.[167]
Association football
Bolt has also expressed his love for football and is a fan of Manchester United as well as Real Madrid.[168] Bolt has also declared he is a fan of Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.[169] Following a race in Manchester, he met the team at their training ground and offered Portuguese national Cristiano Ronaldo some sprinting advice.[170] Bolt was a special guest of Manchester United at the 2011 UEFA Champions League final in London, where he stated he’d like to play for them after he retires.[171]
Music
In 2010, he also revealed his fondness of music, when he played a reggae DJ set to a crowd in Paris.[172]
Sponsorships and advertising work
After winning the 200 m title in the 2002 World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, Bolt signed a sponsorship deal with Puma.[173] To promote Bolt’s chase for Olympic glory in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, Puma released a series of videos including Bolt’s then-world-record-setting run in Icahn Stadium and his Olympic preparations.[174] After his world record breaking run in New York City, which was preceded by a lightning storm,[175] the press frequently made puns on the Jamaican’s name, nicknaming him “Lightning Bolt” and the “Bolt from the blue“.[176][177][178][dead link]
During the Beijing 2008 100 m final, Bolt wore golden Puma Complete
Theseus spikes that had “Beijing 100 m Gold” emblazoned across them.[179] His athletics agent is PACE Sports Management.[180]
In January 2012, Bolt impersonated Richard Branson in a Ad Campaign for Virgin Media.[181] The multi-million-pound campaign was directed by Seth Gordon and features Virgin founder Branson to promote its superfast broadband service. In March 2012, Bolt starred in an ad for Visa and the London 2012 Olympics.[182]
On 19 April 2012, Bolt announced, via Twitter, that he will be partnering with mobile gaming company RockLive to release a mobile game.[183]
On 12 July 2012, Bolt and RockLive launched Bolt!, a new iOS game based on the Jamaican sprinter. Bolt! quickly became the #1 app in Jamaica and climbed the UK iTunes charts to reach #2 on the list of Top Free Apps[184]
Book deal
In 2010, Bolt signed a lucrative publishing deal with HarperCollins for an autobiography, which was negotiated by Chris Nathaniel of NVA Management.[185]
This is scheduled for release in 2012. During a press conference in
Paris on 15 July 2010, Bolt declined any comment on what would be
contained within the book, saying: “You can’t really give away anything
in your book … should be exciting, it’s my life, and I’m a cool and
exciting guy.”[168]
Recognition
As a result of Bolt’s successes in athletics, he was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for 2009 and 2010.[186][187]
- IAAF World Athlete of the Year: 2008, 2009
- Track & Field Athlete of the Year: 2008, 2009
- Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2009, 2010
- BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year: 2008, 2009
Statistics
Personal bests
| Event | Time (seconds) | Venue | Date | Records | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 metres | 9.58 | Berlin, Germany | 16 August 2009 |  |
Also have the second fastest time (9.63) and shares the third fastest time of 9.69 with Tyson Gay. Bolt’s 9.63 set the Olympic record on 5 August, 2012. |
| 150 metres | 14.35 | Manchester, United Kingdom | 17 May 2009 | World best[5] | He ran the last 100 m in 8.70, the fastest ever recorded time over a 100 m distance. This would equal an average speed of 41.38 km/h. |
| 200 metres | 19.19 | Berlin, Germany | 20 August 2009 | |
Also holds the Olympic Record with 19.30, at the time (2008) a new world record. |
| 300 metres | 30.97 | Ostrava, Czech Republic | 27 May 2010 | This is the second fastest time, behind Michael Johnson’s 30.85. | |
| 400 metres | 45.28[10] | Kingston, Jamaica | 5 May 2007 | ||
| 4 × 100 metres relay | 37.04 | Daegu, South Korea | 4 September 2011 | |
Shared with Yohan Blake, Michael Frater and Nesta Carter. |
Records
Bolt’s personal best of 9.58 seconds in the 100 metres is the fastest ever legal time.[77] Bolt also holds the second fastest time of 9.63 seconds,[75] the current Olympic record.[77] Tyson Gay recorded a time of 9.68 s at the 2008 US Olympic Trials, but was aided with a tail wind of 4.1 m/s, exceeding the legal limit of 2.0 m/s set by the IAAF and nullifying its inclusion as a world record.[189] Obadele Thompson‘s run of 9.69 s in 1996 is also not recognised as it was aided by a 5.0 m/s tail wind.[77]
Bolt’s personal best of 19.19 s in the 200 metres is the world record. This was recorded at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
in Berlin against a headwind of −0.3 m/s. He has also broken the
Olympic record with a time of 19.30 s (more precisely 19.296 s)[190]
The Jamaican relay team including Bolt, set the 4×100 metres world
and Olympic records at the 2008 Olympics with a time of 37.10 seconds.
This is the only run in the IAAF top ten performances which was not set
by an American team.[191]
Bolt also holds the 200 metres world teenage best results for the age
categories 15 (20.58 s), 16 (20.13 s, world youth record), 17 (19.93 s)
and 18 (19.93 s, world junior record).[75]
He also holds the 150 metres world best set in 2009, during which he
ran the last 100 metres in 8.70 seconds, the quickest timed 100 metres
ever.[75]
Average speed
From his record time of 9.58 s for the 100 m sprint Usain Bolt’s
average ground speed equates to: 37.58 km/h or 23.35 mph. However, once
his reaction time of 0.15 s is subtracted, his time is closer to 9.43 s,
making his average speed closer to 38.18 km/h or 23.72 mph.[192]
Bolt’s top speed, based on his split time of 1.61 for the 20 meters
from the 60- to 80-meter marks (made during the 9.58 WR at 100m) is
12.42 m/s, (44.72 km/h or 27.78 miles per hour), which is a much more
representative figure than the average speed for a race like the 100
metres.
International competition record
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | World Junior Championships | Kingston, Jamaica | 1st | 200 m | 20.61 |
| 2nd | 4×100 m relay | 39.15 NJR | |||
| 2nd | 4×400 m relay | 3:04.06 NJR | |||
| 2003 | World Youth Championships | Sherbrooke, Canada | 1st | 200 m | 20.40 |
| 2003 | Pan American Junior Championships | Bridgetown, Barbados | 1st | 200 m | 20.13 WYB |
| 2nd | 4×100 m relay | 39.40 | |||
| 2004 | CARIFTA Games | Hamilton, Bermuda | 1st | 200 m | 19.93 WJR |
| 2005 | Central American and Caribbean Championships | Nassau, Bahamas | 1st | 200 m | 20.03 |
| 2006 | World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany | 3rd | 200 m | 20.10 |
| 2006 | IAAF World Cup | Athens, Greece | 2nd | 200 m | 19.96 |
| 2007 | World Championships | Osaka, Japan | 2nd | 200 metres | 19.91 |
| 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | 1st | 100 metres | 9.69 WR OR |
| 1st | 200 metres | 19.30 WR OR | |||
| 1st | 4×100 metres relay | 37.10 WR OR | |||
| 2009 | World Championships | Berlin, Germany | 1st | 100 metres | 9.58 WR |
| 1st | 200 metres | 19.19 WR | |||
| 1st | 4×100 metres relay | 37.31 CR | |||
| 2011 | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | DSQ | 100 metres | — |
| 1st | 200 metres | 19.40 WL | |||
| 1st | 4×100 metres relay | 37.04 WR | |||
| 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 1st | 100 metres | 9.63 OR |
| 1st | 200 metres | 19.32 | |||
| 4×100 metres relay |
To see more of Who Is click here
Who is Alexandra Patricia Morgan?
Who is Alexandra Patricia Morgan? The sporting world knows her as Alex Morgan, she is an American soccer player from Diamond Bar, California. She is a forward for Seattle Sounders Women and member of the US Women’s National Team. Morgan was the youngest player on the USA’s roster at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Early life and collegiate career
Morgan was born July 2, 1989 in Diamond Bar, California, the daughter of Pamela S. (née Jeske) and Michael T. Morgan.[1] She attended Diamond Bar High School. As a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley,
Morgan was the leading scorer for the Golden Bears with eight goals in
2007. Her last goal of her freshman season came against Stanford in the second round of the 2007 NCAA
Tournament, tying the game at 1–1 with less than two minutes left in
regulation time and forcing the Cardinal into overtime and then to penalty kicks. However, Stanford prevailed, and went on to the third round of the tournament.[2]
Morgan continued to lead the Golden Bears’ scoring during her
sophomore season with nine goals in 2008, despite being out for part of
the season due to national team commitments.[3] The Golden Bears bowed out of the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament while Morgan was playing at the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
At the beginning of the 2009 NCAA season, Morgan was named a candidate for the Hermann Trophy Watch List,[4] the first Golden Bear to be considered in this category since Laura Schott in 2001. She scored fourteen goals and eight assists during the Bears’ 2009 season.[5]
Morgan is third all-time in goals scored (45) for the Golden Bears.[6]
Club career
Western New York Flash
On January 14, 2011, Morgan was drafted number one overall in the 2011 WPS Draft by the Western New York Flash.[7] She was the first California Golden Bears women’s soccer player to be drafted in the first round of Women’s Professional Soccer.
International career
Due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury that slowed her progress in 2007, Morgan was not called up to train with the United States under-20 women’s national soccer team until April 2008.[8] Her first appearance for the U-20s came at the 2008 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship in Puebla, Mexico, where she scored her first international goal against Cuba.[9]
Morgan was named to the United States U-20 women’s national team that competed in the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile, scoring a total of four goals in the tournament against France, Argentina and North Korea; her last goal scored against North Korea was subsequently voted the best goal of the tournament,[10] and later FIFA‘s second-best goal of the year.[11]
Morgan’s performance on the field earned her the Bronze Shoe as the
tournament’s third-highest scorer and the Silver Ball as the
tournament’s second-best player behind teammate Sydney Leroux.[12]
She has been capped by the senior national team, first appearing as a substitute in a match versus Mexico in March 2010,[13] and scored her first international goal after coming on as a substitute against China in October 2010. Her most important goal to date came a month later in a crucial road game against Italy, with a Women’s World Cup berth on the line for the United States.[14]
Morgan was on the national team that placed second in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She was the youngest player on the U.S. roster. On July 13, 2011, she scored her first FIFA Women’s World Cup goal in the 82nd minute of the semi-final matchup against France, giving the USA a 3–1 lead and ultimately, the victory. She scored the first goal (69′) in the FIFA World Cup Final against Japan after coming on as a substitute at the half, as well as assisting on the Abby Wambach header (104′) for a goal in extra time.
Morgan’s strong form for the USA was shown when she was nominated for breakthrough athlete of the year at the 2012 ESPY Award. [15]
2012 Summer Olympics
On August 9, she won gold with the USA Women’s football team.
International goals
| Date | Location | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|
Honors
Club
- Western New York Flash
- WPS Championship:
- Winner: 2011
International
- FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup:
- Winner: 2008
- FIFA Women’s World Cup:
- Runner-up 2011
- Algarve Cup:
- Winner: 2011
- Four Nations Tournament:
- Winner: 2011
Individual
- FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Silver Ball:
- Winner: 2008
- NCAA All-American:
- First-Team: 2010
- Pac-10 Conference:
- First-team: 2008, 2009, 2010
Personal life
She met her current boyfriend Servando Carrasco, a defensive midfielder for the Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer, in her first year at University of California. [16] Alex appeared in the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue appearing in a section of athletes in body paint.[17] She supports FC Barcelona.[18]
To see more of Who Is click here
Who is Gabrielle Christina Victoria Douglas?
Who is Gabrielle Christina Victoria Douglas? The sports world knows her as Gabby Douglas is an American artistic gymnast. As a member of the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team at the 2012 Summer Olympics, she won gold medals in both the individual and teamall-around competitions. Douglas is the first African-American and
first woman of color in Olympic history to become the individual
all-around champion, and the first American gymnast to win gold in both
the individual all-around and team competitions at the same Olympics.
She was also a member of the gold-winning U.S. team at the 2011
World Championships.
Early life
Douglas was born December 31, 1995 began training in gymnastics at age six when her older
sister, Arielle, convinced their mother to enroll her in gymnastics
classes.[2]
When she was eight years old, Douglas won an all-around gymnastics
award for her level at the 2004 Virginia State Championships.[3]
2010
Douglas made her national debut at the 2010 Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup, a televised Level 10 meet held in Worcester, Massachusetts, where Douglas placed fourth all-around.[4]
Her first elite meet was the 2010 CoverGirl Classic in Chicago, Illinois, where Douglas placed third on balance beam, 6th on vault and 9th all-around in the junior division.[4]
At the 2010 U.S. Junior National Championships, Douglas won the
silver medal on balance beam, placed fourth all-around and on vault, and
tied for eighth on floor exercise.[4]
At the 2010 Pan American Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico, Douglas won the uneven bars title, and she won a share of the U.S. team gold medal. She also placed fifth all-around.[4]
Douglas moved from Virginia Beach, Virginia to West Des Moines, Iowa in October at the age of 14 to train under Liang Chow, the former coach of 2008 Summer Olympics gold medal-winner Shawn Johnson.[5]
2011
At the City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy,
Douglas won a share of the U.S. team gold medal. She also placed second
on floor, tied for third on beam, and placed fourth in the all-around
and on vault.[4]
Douglas earned the silver medal in uneven bars at the CoverGirl Classic in Chicago.[4]
At the 2011 U.S. National Championships In St. Paul, Minnesota, Douglas tied for third on bars and placed seventh all-around.[4]
At the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Douglas shared in the team gold medal won by the U.S. Douglas also placed fifth in uneven bars.[6][7]
2012
At the AT&T American Cup at Madison Square Garden
in March, Douglas received the highest total all-around score in the
women’s competition, ahead of her teammate and current world champion Jordyn Wieber. However, her scores did not count towards winning the competition because she was an alternate.[8]
Later in March, she was part of the gold-winning U.S. team at the
Pacific Rim Championships, where she also won gold in uneven bars.[9]
At the 2012 U.S. National Championships in June, Douglas won the gold medal in uneven bars, silver in the all-around, and bronze in floor. Martha Karolyi, the National Team Coordinator for USA Gymnastics, nicknamed Douglas the “Flying Squirrel” for her aerial performance on the uneven bars.[10][11][12]
After winning a spot on the U.S. women’s Olympic gymnastics team, Douglas and her teammates were featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated on the July 18, 2012 Olympic Preview issue. This marked the first time an entire Olympic gymnastics team had been featured on the cover of the magazine.[13] She appeared on Rock Center with Brian Williams on July 19, where she discussed her family background and Olympic ambitions.[14] On July 20, Douglas was featured on one of five Olympic covers released that day for Time magazine.[15]
Summer Olympics
On July 31, Douglas and her teammates, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross and Jordyn Wieber, won the team all-around gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[16] On August 2, Douglas won the gold medal in the individual all-around, becoming the first African-American woman and first woman of color to win the event.[17][18][19][20] She is also the first American gymnast ever to win both the team and individual all-around gold at the same Olympics.[21]
Douglas is scheduled to take part in the finals of uneven bars on August 6 and balance beam on August 7.
Personal life
Douglas is the daughter of Timothy Douglas and Natalie Hawkins.[22]
When Douglas moved to Iowa to train under Liang Chow, Douglas and her
sister had to convince their mother to let Douglas leave Virginia and
live with a host family in West Des Moines.[23][24]. Douglas is a devout Christian. In a post-win interview she said that “all the glory” for her win goes “to God. She also tweeted her thanks to God, stressing “may I never forget the good things he does for me.”
After her victory, she was quoted as saying: “And I give all the glory
to God, It’s kind of a win-win situation. The glory goes up to Him and
the blessings fall down on me.”[25]
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Who is The Jabbawockeez?
Who is the Jabbawockeez? The entertainment & dance world knows the Jabbawockeez as a seven-member, male, hip-hop dance crew best known for being the winners of the first season of America’s Best Dance Crew.They were initially formed by members Kevin “KB” Brewer, Phil “Swagger
Boy” Tayag, & Joe “Punkee” Larot under the name “3 Muskee”. By 2004,
their members included Ben “B-Tek” Chung, Chris “Cristyle” Gatdula,
Rynan “Kid Rainen” Paguio, and Jeff “Phi” Nguyen. The Jabbawockeez do
not have a leader of the group; choreography for their performances as
well as music and design choices are made as a collective unit.[4] They always perform wearing white masks (rare they wear other colour mask) and white gloves.[4]
Contents |
Early Career
Phil “Swagger Boy” Tayag, Kevin “KB” Brewer, and Joe “Punkee” Larot
began performing as a trio called “Three Musky” in Sacramento,
California while wearing white masks and gloves. The mask and glove
motif was adopted as a tribute to the 1960s San Francisco strutting crew
Medea Sirkas. Gary “Gee One” Kendall and Randy “DJ Wish One” Bernal
were both members of the MindTricks dance crew who were active in the
San Francisco Bay Area. Both the MindTricks dance crew and the Three
Muskee were friends and associates with each other. Tayag, Brewer, and
Larot all later moved to the San Diego area and what began as an effort
to start a Southern California chapter of the MindTricks crew later
evolved into JabbaWockeeZ.
Established in 2003[4]
in San Diego, California, Jabbawockeez is the brainchild of the “Three
Musky” who wanted to showcase freestyle dance. The name Jabbawockeez,
coined by Joe Larot, was inspired by the fantastical monster from the Lewis Carroll nonsense poem Jabberwocky.[4]
The white masks and gloves from Phil, Kevin, and Joe’s performances as
Three Musky were adopted as the visual signature of the group. In San
Diego, through Gary’s connections, the Jabbawockeez added b-boys
Rynan “Kid Rainen” Paguio and Chris “Cristyle” Gatdula to the group.
The original seven member iteration of the Jabbawockeez began performing
as a group in 2004. This lineup consisted of Gary, Randy, Phil, Kevin,
Joe, Rynan, and Chris.
Jabbawockeez rounded out their numbers with additional members, bringing their total to eleven. Phoenix native Jeff “Phi” Nguyen had met Rynan Paguio at various Los Angeles area auditions and performances and earned a spot in the Jabbawockeez in 2004 by battling Kevin Brewer.[4] The Jabbawockeez also brought Kaba Modern
alumnus Ben “B-Tek” Chung and b-boys Eddie “Eddiestyles” Gutierrez and
Saso “Saso Fresh” Jimenez into the fold. Stylistically, the Jabbawockeez
style of dance features an eclectic mix of various urban styles,
primarily popping & b-boying, along with a careful synchronicity to choreography which one member dubs “Beat-Kune-Do” (a play on the word “Jeet Kune Do“, a martial arts style created by Bruce Lee). In 2007, the JabbaWockeeZ appeared on the second season of America’s Got Talent.
Performing with nine members, the group was eliminated in the Las Vegas
callbacks episode. In 2008, they auditioned and were accepted onto the
first season of America’s Best Dance Crew.
America’s Best Dance Crew
The Jabbawockeez auditioned a seven-member contingent for the first season of America’s Best Dance Crew,
because of crew member limits imposed by the show. Originally, the ABDC
group was supposed to consist of Gary Kendell, Phil Tayag, Kevin
Brewer, Joe Larot, Rynan Paguio, Chris Gatdula, and Phi Nguyen; however,
Gary died that year, and Joe suffered a knee injury during the audition
rounds. The group chose Ben Chung to replace Joe on the show and left
Gary’s spot vacant, proceeding with six members. They eventually went on
to become the winners of the show. The win earned the crew $100,000
(USD).[5]
Season 1 performances
| Week | Challenge | Music | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Audition Special | None | “We Came Here to Party (Remix)” by Tony Yayo | Safe |
| 1: Crew’s Choice Challenge | None | “Apologize” by Timbaland ft. OneRepublic | Safe |
| 2: Video Star Challenge | Crews must duplicate choreography in assigned music video |
“Ice Box” by Omarion | Safe |
| 3: Dance Craze Challenge | Crews must create the illusion of defying gravity |
“Lean wit It, Rock wit It” by Dem Franchize Boyz | Safe |
| 4: Movie Character Challenge | Character: Thieves | “Ayo Technology” by 50 Cent ft. Justin Timberlake | Safe |
| 5: Thriller Challenge | Incorporate Michael Jackson‘s moves in their routine | “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” by Michael Jackson | Safe |
| 6: Broadway Remixed Challenge | “Partners:” Kaba Modern Status Quo BreakSk8 |
“It’s the Hard Knock Life” (mastermix) from the musical Annie | Safe |
| The Charleston | “All That Jazz” (mastermix) from the musical Chicago | Safe | |
| 7: Evolution of Street Dance | Crews must tell the history of hip-hop dance using the same five songs |
“Funkytown” by Lipps Inc “It’s Like That” by Run DMC & Jason Nevins “It’s Just Begun” by Jimmy Castor Bunch “Push It” by Salt N Pepa “Bye Bye Bye” by N’Sync “Get Buck in Here” by DJ Felli Fel |
Bottom 2 |
| Encore Round | “The Red Pill” (mastermix of “The Time Is Now (Bambino Casino Remix)” by Moloko and “Red Dragon” by Swollen Members) by District 78 |
Safe | |
| 8: The Live Finale | “Partners:” Kaba Modern Fysh N Chicks |
“Tell Me When to Go” by E-40 ft. Keak da Sneak | Champions |
| “Partner:” Status Quo |
Step routine | ||
| Champion’s Encore | “Stronger” by Kanye West |
Post-ABDC career
Since ABDC, the Jabbawockeez have appeared in a Pepsi,[6][4] and Gatorade commercial,[4] and performed on Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, The Ellen DeGeneres Show,[7] and Live with Regis and Kelly. They also made a cameo appearance in Step Up 2 The Streets,[8] launched their own clothing line, and toured with New Kids on the Block,[4][9] and Jesse McCartney.[4] Along with the ABDC season 2 winner, Super Cr3w, Jabbawockeez were the opening act for the Battle of the VMAs ABDC special.[10][11] The group also made an appearance on Cycle 13 of America’s Next Top Model during the episode “Dance With Me” to help the contestants learn how to convey emotions with their bodies.
On February 15, 2009, they accompanied and danced with NBA All-Star center Shaquille O’Neal in his NBA All-Star Game player introduction.[12] On October 16, 2009, they performed in front of a crowd of 35,000 at the University of Florida‘s Gator Growl.[13]
Australia tour
The Jabbawockeez toured Australia from August 28 to August 30, 2009.
The three-day tour was for Australian fans who were unable to see the
crew due to the cancellation of the Australian leg of New Kids on the
Block’s Full Service Tour. The group performed in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane and made several appearances on MTV Iggy.
Other ABDC appearances
On April 15, 2010 the Jabbawockeez returned to the ABDC stage for the
Champions for Charity episode along with the other 4 champions Super
Cr3w, Quest Crew, We Are Heroes, and newly titled Season 5 champions
Poreotix. Each crew was to benefit a charity,the Jabbawockeez had been
working with a cancer survivor who, after having his left leg amputated,
went on to become a successful Paralympic skier and create a social
networking site for amputees to ask questions, get answers and develop
an active community. In their performance they introduced a new routine
that no one had seen before and a new song that was put on their album
Mus.I.C produced by The Bangerz, Robot Remains. That night the Robot
Remains Mixtape was released for a free download at http://www.thebangerz.com.
For the season finale of season 6 of ABDC the Jabbawockeez made an
appearance along with the other champions as they brought in the season 6
champions I.aM.mE.The crew performed into a mastermix entitled
Devastating Stereo.
Las Vegas show
On May 7,2010, the Jabbawockeez debuted their own live stage special at the MGM Grand Hollywood Theater in Las Vegas, entitled MÜS.I.C. They are the first dance crew to headline a show in Las Vegas.[4] The show ran from May 7 to May 26 and included members from Super Cr3w, the winners of season two of America’s Best Dance Crew.
Music for the show was produced by DJ collective, The Bangerz. Since
its initial run at the MGM Grand, the show moved to the Monte Carlo
Resort and Casino where it ran five nights a week and is now at Jupiters
Casino on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
JBWKZ Records
Since their MÜS.I.C show, the Jabbawockeez made an album
consisting of all the songs that they used in the show. It was released
March 1, 2011 on iTunes. Since this time, they have been working to
establish JBWKZ Records by promoting fellow member Phil “Swagger Boy”
Tayag, who was a part of the indie hip-hop group KNGDM with his brother
P.C. and friend Kilo. KNGDM released “The Goodbye Mixtape” in 2010,
which included a song by Phil titled, “Ima Get It”. Phil released an EP
on February 12, 2012, titled “Privileged”, along with two videos on the
Jabbawockeez YouTube channel for “Ima Get It” and “F N G”. “F N G”
featured Phil’s brother and former KNGDM member P.C. The album is
available on iTunes and was released on JBWKZ Records. The video for
“Ima Get It” was directed by fellow Jabawockeez member Chris Gatdula.
The song “F N G” was featured on the soundtrack of the 2012 movie
“Project X”.
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Who is Ashley Tyler Ciminella?
Who is Ashley Tyler Ciminella? The entertainment and acting world knows her as Ashley Judd, she is an American actress, who is best known for playing a number of strong characters in films such as Ruby in Paradise, Kiss the Girls, Double Jeopardy, Where the Heart Is and High Crimes.
Early life
Ashley was born April 19, 1968 as Ashley Tyler Ciminella in Granada Hills, California. She is the daughter of Naomi Judd, a country music singer and motivational speaker, and Michael C. Ciminella, a marketing analyst for the horseracing industry.[1][2] Ashley’s elder half-sister, Wynonna, also is a country music singer. At the time of her birth her mother was unemployed and did not become well-known as a singer until the early 1980s. Judd’s parents divorced in 1972, and in 1973 her mother took her back to her native Kentucky, where Judd spent the majority of her childhood.[3] She also lived in Marin County, California, for two years during grade school.
Judd attended thirteen schools before college, including the Sayre School[4] in Lexington, Kentucky, Paul G. Blazer High School in Ashland Kentucky and Franklin High School in Tennessee.[5] She briefly tried modeling in Japan during one school break. An alumna of the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Kentucky, she majored in French and minored in anthropology, art history, theater and women’s studies. She spent a semester studying in France as part of her major, a move that mirrored her role as Reed in the television series Sisters. She graduated from the UK Honors Program and was nominated to Phi Beta Kappa, but did not graduate with her class.[6] Forgoing her commitment to join the Peace Corps, after college she drove to Hollywood, where she studied with well-respected acting teacher, Robert Carnegie, at Playhouse West. During this time, she worked as a hostess at The Ivy restaurant and lived in a Malibu rental house, which later burned down during the great Malibu fires of fall 1993. On May 9, 2007, it was announced Judd had completed her bachelor’s degree in French from the University of Kentucky.[7] In a May 2007 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Judd explained she had completed her degree requirements in 1990 with 27 more hours taken than the required 120 hours, but had mistakenly thought she was one class short. She only needed to “sign a piece of paper” in order to graduate. DeGeneres then surprised Judd by presenting her with her diploma, which Ellen had acquired from the university.
Career
Judd appeared as Ensign Robin Lefler, a Starfleet officer, in two 1991 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, “Darmok” and “The Game“. From 1991 to 1994, she had a recurring role as Reed, the daughter of Alex (Swoosie Kurtz), on the NBC drama Sisters. She made her feature film debut with a small role in 1992′s Kuffs. In 1993 Judd fought for and was cast in her first starring role playing the title character in Victor Nuñez‘s Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize Winning, Ruby in Paradise. She received rave reviews playing Ruby Lee Gissing, a young woman trying to make a new life for herself, and it was this performance that would launch her career as an actress. Oliver Stone, who had seen her in Nuñez’s film, cast Judd in Natural Born Killers, but her scenes were later cut from the version of the film released theatrically. The following year she gained further critical acclaim for her role as Harvey Keitel‘s estranged daughter in Wayne Wang‘s Smoke and also as Val Kilmer‘s wife in Michael Mann‘s Heat. That same year she also played the role of Callie in Philip Ridley‘s dark, adult fairy tale, The Passion of Darkly Noon.
By the end of the 1990s, Judd had managed to achieve significant fame and success as a leading actress, after leading roles in several thrillers that performed well at the box office, including Kiss the Girls in 1997 
and 1999′s Double Jeopardy. Several of her early 2000s films, including 2001′s Someone Like You and 2002′s High Crimes, received only mixed reviews and moderate box office success;[8] although, she did receive positive recognition, and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress, for her performance in the 2004 biography of Cole Porter, De-Lovely, opposite Kevin Kline.
Judd is currently the magazine advertising “face” of American Beauty, an Estée Lauder cosmetic brand sold exclusively at Kohl’s department stores, and H. Stern jewelers. In June 2007, Goody’s Family Clothing announced they were going to be releasing three fashion clothing lines with Judd in the Fall to be called – “AJ”, “Love Ashley” and “Ashley Judd.” Regarding the clothing line, Judd said, “I’m thrilled to be involved in a clothing line that provides simple, lovely solutions for women’s wardrobes. I’ve always loved items that you can throw on easily and know that you’ll feel and look good. This line does just that, while keeping with the best of current styles and trends.”[9]
Personal life
 |
| Dario Franchitti |
In December 1999, Judd became engaged to Scottish auto racer Dario Franchitti, who was at the time driving in Champ Car World Series (he has since raced in IndyCars and NASCAR). The two were married at Skibo Castle, near Dornoch, Scotland, on December 12, 2001. She and her husband divide their time between a home in Scotland and their farm outside Franklin, Tennessee.
Although Judd is best known for regularly attending University of Kentucky basketball games (frequently sitting in the student section), she has also attended several Kentucky football games. Last year, Judd was a guest columnist for a local Kentucky newspaper, writing about the NCAA championships. She is frequently sought out for celebrity camera shots during televised games. Judd posed for a poster wearing only a hockey jersey for fund raising purposes for the University of Kentucky‘s hockey team. She is also an avid practitioner of yoga, cooking and gardening.
In February 2006, Judd entered a program at Shades of Hope Treatment Center in Buffalo Gap, Texas and stayed for 47 days.[10] She was there because of personal issues, including depression and codependency.[11]
A disagreement between Judd and Indy race car driver Milka Duno took place during the 2007 Indy Racing League season. After the final race of the 2007 season, the actress stated to the assembled news media, “I know this is not very sportsmanlike, but they’ve got to get the 23 car (Duno) off the track. It’s very dangerous. I’m tired of holding my tongue. She shouldn’t be out there. When a car is 10 miles (an hour) off the pace, it’s not appropriate to be racing. People’s lives are at stake.”[12]
Judd was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky on May 9, 2009. In July 2009, Judd enrolled at Harvard‘s John F. Kennedy School of Government in the Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA) program. On May 27, 2010, Judd received her degree.
Philanthropic contributions
Ashley Judd’s philanthropic contributions have centered around becoming a global ambassador for YouthAIDS, a prevention program under the Population Services International. She has been a member of their Board of Directors since 2004, also. Judd has travelled with YouthAIDS to places affected by illness and poverty such as Cambodia, Kenya, Rwanda, and many others.[13]
Inspired by her travels, which allowed her to witness the life of the poor and uneducated, she has since become an advocate for preventing poverty and promoting awareness internationally. She has donated her time and met with political and religious leaders, heads of states, diplomats, and leaders on behalf of the deprived to convey the message to those who have the power to bring about political and social change.[13]
Judd has also donated her time and resources towards filming three award-winning documentaries for YouthAIDS which aired internationally on the Discovery Channel, in National Geographic, and on VH1. She personally advocates for a balanced and integrated approach to empower human rights and global health, and to prevent social atrocities.[13]
Other organizations Judd have been involved with include the Women for Women International, and Equality Now, along with other non-governmental organizations which center around bringing attention to social, educational, health, economic, cultural, and financial funding of the unfortunate.[13]
Ashley Judd has supported the following Charities & Foundations:[14]
- Children’s Medical Research Institute
- Creative Coalition
- Defenders of Wildlife
- Eracism Foundation
- Five & Alive
- Jeans for Genes
- Listen Campaign
- Malaria No More
- Population Services International
- SixDegrees.org
- YouthAIDS
- Women for Women International
- Equality Now
Political activities
In 2008, Judd supported Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. In 2009, she appeared in a one-minute video advertisement for the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, in which Judd condemned Alaska governor Sarah Palin for supporting aerial wolf hunting.[15] In response, Palin stated the reason these wolves are killed is to protect the caribou population in Alaska, and she called the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund an “extreme fringe group”.[16] In 2010, Judd signed the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s petition to urge Governor Steve Beshear to protect Kentucky’s homeless animals through tough enforcement of the state’s Humane Shelter Law.[17]
Judd is active in humanitarian and political causes. She was appointed Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS, an education and prevention program of the international NGO Population Services International (PSI), promoting AIDS prevention and treatment, and speaks and demonstrates at pro-choice events. Judd was honored November 10 as the recipient of the fourth annual USA TODAY Hollywood Hero, awarded for her work with PSI. Judd received the award at a private award gala on the evening of November 10, 2009 at The Montage Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills. Guests enjoyed special celebrity tributes to Ashley Judd, dinner, a silent auction and an exciting live auction, with all proceeds to benefit PSI.[18] On October 29, 2006, Judd appeared at a “Women for Ford” event for Democratic Tennessee Senate candidate Harold Ford, Jr. She has also campaigned extensively locally and nationally for a variety of Democratic candidates, including President Barack Obama in critical swing states.
On September 8, 2010, CNN interviewed Judd about her second humanitarian mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo.[19] Judd traveled with the Enough Project, a project to end genocide and crimes against humanity. In the interview, Judd discussed her efforts to raise awareness about how conflict minerals fuel sexual violence in Congo. During her trip, Judd visited hospitals for victims of sexual violence, camps for displaced persons, mines, and civil society organizations. On September 30, 2010, CNN.com published an Op-ed titled “Ashley Judd: Electronics fuel unspeakable violence”[20] by Ashley Judd and the Enough Project’s co-founder John Prendergast regarding the continued violence in Congo. Her Op-ed discusses the recent provision in the Dodd-Frank Reform bill that requires companies to prove where their minerals originated. On November 26, 2010, The Huffington Post published an Op-ed by Ashley Judd titled “Costs of Convenience”.[21] The Op-ed is excerpted from Ashley Judd’s trip diary from her trip to eastern Congo. Judd describes the link between her cell phone, laptop, MP3 player, and e-reader and the continued rape and sexual violence in Congo. Judd also explains the immediate need for electronics companies to commit to tracing, auditing, and certifying the minerals in their products to guarantee a clean supply chain.
Filmography
Honors
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Who is Miley Ray Stewart?
Who is Miley Ray Stewart? The entertainment and acting world knows her as Miley Cyrus, she is the central character of the Hannah Montana media franchise. The character was originated in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana and also appeared in the feature film Hannah Montana: The Movie. Miley is a normal teenage girl who, as her alter ego Hannah Montana, secretly leads a double life as a world famous pop star.
Character development
The character was originally named Chloe Stewart but was changed to Miley Stewart.[2]
Casting
Cyrus learned about the casting for a new Disney show at the age of
11 through a Nashville talent agent. She sent in a tape auditioning for
the show’s best friend role, but received a call asking her to audition
for the lead. After she sent in a tape and was flown to Hollywood for
further auditions, Cyrus was told that she was too young and too small
for the role. However, Cyrus’ persistence and ability to sing in
addition to act caused the show’s producers to invite her back for
further auditions. Producers eventually narrowed the large pool of
candidates down to three actresses, including Cyrus and Taylor Momsen, and gave the part to Cyrus, then twelve.[3] According to Disney Channel president Gary Marsh, Cyrus was chosen because of her energetic and lively performance and was seen as a person who “loves every minute of life,”[4] with the “everyday relatability of Hilary Duff and the stage presence of Shania Twain.”[5]
Cyrus’ casting also led to the casting of her real life father, Billy Ray Cyrus,
as the father of her character on the show. Cyrus was initially wary;
according to her mother and co-manager, Tish Cyrus, “Miley’s concern at
the time was, oh my gosh, people are going to think I only got this part
because of my dad.”[3]
However, worried that her family would otherwise have to be separated
as they had been when her father first landed the lead in the television
series Doc, Cyrus relented and helped audition her father for the part.[3]
Character backstory
Miley was born in the fictional town of Crowley Corners in Tennessee
on November 23, 1992 (Cyrus’s real birth date). Her family consisted of
her parents Robby and Susan Stewart and an older brother named Jackson.
She also has many relatives in her extended family including her
grandmother Ruthie Stewart, Aunt Dolly (played by Dolly Parton), Uncle Earl and Aunt Pearl, and a cousin named Luanne. The characterizations given to most of her family members poke fun at country bumpkin
stereotypes. She also had a pet pig named Luanne and a pet hamster
named Leslie. She has a horse named Blue Jeans, who came from Tennessee
to Malibu to live with Miley and her family.
Miley received a love for music from her father, who was a popular
country music star. Her parents recognized Miley’s potential and gave
her a guitar on December 25, 2000. This event is shown in the episode “I
Am Hannah, Hear Me Croak” when Miley views it on her laptop.[6]
By the time she was 12 years old, Miley had become a famous pop star under the stage name
“Hannah Montana.” She goes to great lengths to disguise herself as
Hannah in order to keep her true identity a secret, because she is
worried that if people knew her secret they would like her just because
she’s famous. The only people who knew she’s Hannah before revealing her
identity to the world in I’ll Always Remember You, outside of her family are her best friends, Lilly Truscott, Oliver Oken and her bodyguard Roxy. However, in the episode “Hannah Montana to the Principal’s Office” it is shown that the President of the United States knows her secret.
Personal life
Apart from her life as a pop star, Miley leads a very normal life. She is fond of camping[7] and hanging out at the beach, but is not at all athletic.[8] She has a fear of spiders[9] and visiting the dentist.[10]
She also occasionally struggles with her school work and her self
confidence. She often goes through over-the -top schemes to deal with
her problems.
School
In the first season, Miley is an 8th grader at Seaview Middle School, and in the second season she enters Seaview High School. She became a sophomore in early episodes in Season 3 and later, a junior during the season before the beginning of Season 4. Despite her father offering her the option of homeschooling, Miley decided to attend Public School in order to be a “normal kid,” a decision she sometimes finds herself regretting.[11] Due to her double life, she is often in awkward positions and is forced to lie in order to keep her secret.
Miley’s best friends are classmates Lilly Truscott (Emily Osment) and Oliver Oken (Mitchel Musso) who both learn her secret and help her keep it from their other classmates.
Relationships
Miley is especially close with her father, from whom she receives
much good advice and emotional support. She also values her
relationships with her best friends Lilly and Oliver. However Miley is
shown to be very uncomfortable with the fact that they’re dating and
even stops them from being a couple. Her relationship with Lilly
occasionally suffers the occasional setback, but they always make up. In
the episode ‘What I Don’t Like About You’, Miley is asked to choose a
side between a fight Lilly and Oliver had. But Miley, showing what a
kind friend she was, made a mini-Indiana Joannie movie, which made Lilly
and Oliver forgive each other. Miley’s relationship with her brother
Jackson is often hostile. The two siblings constantly fight and trash
talk each other. However, in a few private conversations, both Miley and
Jackson say that they love and appreciate each other, but they are both
unwilling to admit this in public.[12]
Miley also has several dating relationships, many of which are short lived.
Oliver Oken (played by Mitchel Musso):
Miley and Lily’s best male friend. “In I Honestly Love You (No Not
You)”, Miley believes that Oliver is in love with her when she overhears
him (while asleep in the hospital because of a broken ankle) say “I
love you”. However after a talk with her dad she thinks that Oliver will
move on and so will Lilly but when Lilly announces that she is in love
with Oliver, Miley ends up telling her the truth. Lilly and Miley hatch a
plan to get Oliver back but only to find out that he was practicing
saying “I love you” so he could say it to Lilly. They both say that they
love each other in the end of the episode. (It is mentioned in this
episode that neither Oliver nor Miley have romantic feelings for each
other). However, Oliver did used to have romantic feelings towards
Hannah Montana before he knew she was Miley. Miley,at first, didn’t want
to tell him who she was, just in case he had romantic feelings for her
as Miley, but when she eventually told him, he saw her as just a friend.
Leslie “Jake” Ryan (played by Cody Linley):
Jake is a famous television star. Miley and Jake meet when he briefly
attends Seaview Middle School. Jake is attracted to Miley because she is
the only person at school who is not starstruck by his arrival. Miley
at first denies having feelings for him, but she tries to “make him
jealous” by using another guy. It works in a fortunate result of her and
Jake kissing, but Jake tells Miley he has to go shoot a movie in
Romania and she stands him up. Jake then reappears in “Achy Jakey Heart“
Part 1 and tries to win Miley back. She decides to give him a chance,
after Jake revealing feelings for her on live national TV. Miley soon
tells Jake that she’s Hannah Montana, because Jake told his secret to
Miley. Jake tries to play normal like Miley, but when he cannot handle
the pressure of not getting what he wants, the two decide to be just
friends, although it is revealed to the audience in “Jake… Another
Piece of My Heart,” that both Jake and Miley still have feelings for
each other, but neither one is willing to admit it. In “He Could Be The
One”, Miley chooses Jake over Jesse (her guitarist) because they have so
much history and she believes he could be the one. They then officially
start dating. It was unknown whether they were still together or not
because Jake had never been seen or mentioned since the episode “He
could be the one”. However,in the season 4 episode “California Screamin”
it is implied that the two are still together as Miley talks about Jake
quite often in the episode suggesting that they haven’t broken up. In
the season 4 episode “It’s the End of Jake As We Know It” Oliver gets a
picture texted to his phone of Jake cheating on Miley, so Miley beats
Jake up on the taping of a Christmas special with guest star Sheryl Crow. This ends their relationship for good.
Travis Brody (played by Lucas Till):
Travis is a childhood friend from Tennessee. It is said in the movie
that they both used to like each other when they were younger. The two
become reacquainted during Miley’s return to Tennessee in Hannah Montana: The Movie.
He discovers that Miley is Hannah Montana and the two kiss, assuming
that they get together. However, even though the movie does not show it,
it is implied that they broke up due to the fact that Miley went back
to California and their relationship would not work long distance. Also,
he is not mentioned during the episodes following the movie.
Jesse (played by Drew Roy):
Is a part of Hannah’s band in episode “He Could Be The One”. Hannah
pretends to like Jesse, so that Robby will be thankful of Jake. But she
starts to have real feelings for him. Miley then has to listen to her
heart and chose the guy who could “be the one.” She ends up choosing
Jake over Jesse. In the season 4 episode “Been Here All Along”, She goes
out on a date with Jesse (as Miley), but gets angry when he took a
phone call from his father, since she blow off her “father- daughter
day” with her dad, but when Jesse tells her that he took the call
because his dad is stationed in Afghanistan and they don’t get to talk
often, Miley is inspired to hold a concert as Hannah for military
families. In another episode in the 4th season Miley reveals to Jesse
that she is Hannah. Yet to her surprise he already knows. Jesse can’t
take the pressure of dating Hannah and Miley and ends it with Miley. In
the end of the episode, Jesse comes back to Miley and then she reveals
her secret to the whole world.
Music
Although she never plays instruments while performing as Hannah,
Miley can play the piano and the guitar. She owns several acoustic and
electric guitars, including a black strat copy she nicknamed “Whammy Bar Wally”[13] and a pink sparkle electric acoustic Stardust Series Daisy Rock guitar.[14] In Hannah Montana: The Movie, Miley plays a custom built Gibson acoustic guitar.
While her father is her main songwriter, Miley has written a few of
her own songs. In “She’s a Supersneak,” Miley writes the song “I Miss
You” about her mother after learning her father is dating another woman.
(In real life, the song was written by Miley Cyrus for her grandfather Ron Cyrus.) In Hannah Montana: The Movie, Stewart writes “Butterfly Fly Away” and “The Climb“.
Stewart wrote “Butterfly Fly Away” after an argument with Travis (Till)
and her dad breaking off his relationship for her. In the story, “The
Climb” began when she was in the hen house writing. Travis (Till) told
her that the song didn’t represent who she is or how she feels. Later in
a concert, she performs it live revealing the entire song with its new
lyrics. Then, in the episode “He Could Be the One” Miley wrote a song
called “I’m Just Having Fun”. While practicing with her band, Miley
decided the song needed lyrical innovation and revamping. Then, when she
was mad at her father; Miley altered the lyrics to a “I don’t care what
you say, I don’t care what you say, just ’cause your my daddy doesn’t
mean you get it your way”. She decided to give up on the song, but later
with her guitar player she finally made it into “He Could Be the One”,
inspired by Jake (Cody Linley)and
Jesse ( her guitar player ). In the 4th season, Miley writes a bunch of
new songs that are heard and played throughout the season. She made a
song with Iyaz called “Gonna Get This”.
Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana is Miley Stewart’s alter ego. The character was originally going to be named Alexis Texas, but the name was changed to Hannah Montana.[15][16] Hannah exists as a secret identity, an extremely popular and influential worldwide popstar.
Hannah’s many fans are not aware that she is really just a normal
teenage girl, and Miley tries to keep her two lives separate from each
other.
Appearance
Hannah’s blonde wig is the primary difference between her and the
brunette Miley, although Hannah also wears more extravagant clothes,
make-up, and sometimes large sunglasses. In the Hannah Montana story, the famous blonde wig was picked out for Miley by Roxy.[17] (In real life, the wig was not chosen until the second episode. The original wig seen in the pilot
was a slightly different style.) Miley Stewart also mentions that she
intentionally patterned Hannah’s look after her godmother Dolly Parton.[18]
Miley previously experienced an image crisis in “Yet Another Side of
Me” in which she grew concerned that Hannah’s look might become
outdated. After considering a “Techno Hannah,” “Half-Dolla Hannah,” (Hip hop) and the “Anti-Hannah,” (Grunge) Miley decides that her fans like her for who she is.
Starting in the third season, Hannah’s look changes slightly. Her wig
is shorter and wavy and her fashion changes as well. This is discussed
on the DVD Keeping It Real in the bonus feature “Miley’s Makeover – Hannah Gets a New Look.” Cyrus and her team describe the new look as an “’80s flavored style with the glitz and glam of modern fashion.” It is also revealed in Super(stitious) Girl, as part of Wizards on Deck With Hannah Montana, that she wears a single pink glove during concerts and it is also shown in music videos like It’s All Right Here and Let’s Get Crazy
that she does. It symbolizes how Hannah Montana is growing up as well.
In season 4, she gets a new wig that’s long again but curlier.
Career
Hannah Montana’s music career is very successful although there have
been a few slips. In the pilot episode she is said to be continuing a
“smash tour” which was being sold out. In “Yet Another Side of Me,” Robby says that he has written 15 straight number ones for her. However, he may have been exaggerating since in “Miley Hurt the Feelings of the Radio Star” he says he has written 14 number ones for her.[19] Hannah also wins several awards including a Silver Boot “Booty” award for best country pop crossover with the song “True Friend,”[20] and an International Music Award for Female Artist of the Year.[21] She is also honored with her own diamond on the Hollywood Parade of Diamonds, a parody of the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[22] She also sings for the Queen of England and the President of the United States (President Martinez in a crossover episode and mentioned performing for President Obama
and Sasha and Malia Obama in season 4′s “Hannah Montana to the
Principal’s Office”). Hannah’s greatest rival is fellow pop star Mikayla
(Selena Gomez) who is determined to steal Hannah’s fans.[23]
Beyond her music career, Hannah also does some acting. She guest stars on the television show Zombie High as Zaronda, Princess of the Undead. Jake Ryan’s character saves Zaronda from the portal to the underworld.[24] Hannah later stars in her own feature film, Rob Reiner’s Indiana Joannie and the Curse of the Golden Cobra, alongside Chace Crawford.[25] Hannah also endorses perfume and skin care products.[26]
As a well known celebrity, Hannah makes regular appearances on talk
shows and attends glamorous parties. Despite being fictional, Hannah
knows many real life celebrities, including some who are friends of
Miley Cyrus, such as Taylor Swift and the Jonas Brothers.
Discography
- Hannah Montana (2006)
- Hannah Montana 2 (2007)
- Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009)
- Hannah Montana 3 (2009)
- Hannah Montana Forever (2010)
- Live albums
- Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert (2008) – CD + DVD
Purpose
Miley has several reasons for creating Hannah. She is afraid that if
the kids at school discover she is famous they won’t treat her the same.[27] While she enjoys the attention of her fame as Hannah, she equally enjoys the option of “stepping out” of her role.[28] Miley also values her privacy and doesn’t want fans or paparazzi
photographers mobbing her when she goes out in public. In this way,
Hannah Montana presents a unique inversion of typical celebrity
experiences. While most celebrities become famous as themselves and
later need disguises to not be noticed in public, Hannah Montana became
famous while in disguise, and now has the freedom to be in public as
herself.
As a secondary benefit, Miley also sometimes uses Hannah for specific purposes such as spying.[29]
She also uses Hannah in other ways. In “Money for Nothing, Guilt for
Free,” Hannah raises money for a school charity drive in which Miley is
competing. In “Bye Bye, Ball,” Hannah performs at a restaurant in order
to get a baseball autographed for Jackson. And in “Ready, Set, Don’t
Drive,” Hannah obtains a drivers license after Miley fails the test.
Hannah also sometimes tries to use her dual personality as an excuse.
For example, in “You Gotta Not Fight for Your Right to Party,” Miley
asks Robby to only ground Miley, not Hannah, because “Hannah didn’t do
anything wrong.”
Beyond the show
Hannah Montana as a character has found fame beyond the television
show, primarily as a recording artist and music performer. Three of the
seven released soundtracks (Hannah Montana, Hannah Montana 2/Meet Miley Cyrus, and Hannah Montana: The Movie) topped the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.[30] From September 2006 to October 2006, she performed several songs from Hannah Montana during the The Party’s Just Begun Tour as an opening act for The Cheetah Girls.
Then, from October 2007 to January 2008, Miley Cyrus performed in a
successful concert tour as Hannah Montana. The tour, called the Best of Both Worlds Tour, became a classic example of life imitating art
as Hannah Montana’s fictional popularity seen in the television show
became a real-life fan base which bought out every concert. The
popularity of Hannah Montana has also given Miley Cyrus the opportunity
to become a pop star in her own right.
Hannah also appears in Hannah Montana: The Movie, the Hannah Montana book series, and two other Disney Channel shows in cameo appearances. The character appeared in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody episode “That’s So Suite Life of Hannah Montana” along with Raven Baxter, and The Suite Life on Deck episode “Wizards on Deck With Hannah Montana” which also includes characters from Wizards of Waverly Place. (Although the characters from Wizards of Waverly Place and Hannah Montana never interact)
Miley’s secret
Keeping Miley’s secret involves a two sided effort. As Hannah, she
must keep her fans unaware that she is really a normal kid, and as
Miley, she must keep her friends unaware that she is really Hannah
Montana. In interviews, Miley Cyrus spoke of the implausibility of being
able to keep a secret such as Miley and her family do in the show in a
world of intense media scrutiny. The show however, remains workable
primarily based on suspension of disbelief.
In the show, three other people (Robby, Lilly, and Oliver) also wear
disguises when around Hannah to prevent anyone from drawing a connection
to Miley (Jackson is himself, only as a childhood friend). Hannah also
typically swaps limos as she leaves concert venues to keep the paparazzi
from following her home.[31]
Miley must also rely on the silence of the people who know her secret.
These include her family members, Robby, Jackson, Mammaw Ruthie, Aunt
Dolly, Uncle Earl and Aunt Pearl, her cousin Luann, her friends Lilly
Truscott and her parents, Oliver Oken and his mother, Jake Ryan, Farmine
and Roxy, as well as Officer Diaria and his daughter Kelsey, Siena and
the President of the United States. (This group grows exponentially at
the end of Hannah Montana: The Movie.)
Despite these careful efforts, her father seems to enjoy writing
Hannah songs which explicitly speak of her double life, such as “The Best of Both Worlds,”
“Just Like You,” “The Other Side of Me,” “Rock Star,” “Old Blue Jeans,”
“Just a Girl,” “Supergirl,” and “Ordinary Girl.” In frustration of
this, Miley once complained “You might as well tattoo ‘I’m really Miley
Stewart’ on my forehead!”[13] Also, in the episode Get Down Study-udy-udy,
Rico has almost discovered Miley’s secret according to the “Bone Dance”
which was created by Miley by rewritting the lyrics of “Nobody’s Perfect” and her voice singing it
In Hannah Montana: The Movie, Hannah reveals herself as Miley
during a concert in Crowley Corners, Tennessee,(her hometown) but her
fans do not want her to stop being Hannah, and so they promise to keep
her secret. This event is actually mentioned in For (Give) a Little Bit
during an argument between Miley and Jackson, meaning that the movie
would fit right in the middle of season 3 as if it were a part of the
season.
Near the end of the series, in I’ll Always Remember You,
Miley reveals her secret on The Jay Leno Show by taking off her wig and
singing a song called “Wherever I Go” as Miley. She gets a standing
ovation and the episode ends with Miley smiling. Lilly and Robby also
take off their disguises.
To see more of Who Is click here
Who is Robin Rene Roberts?
Who is Robin Rene Roberts? The entertainment and news world knows knows her as Robin Roberts, she is an American television broadcaster. Roberts is the anchor of ABC‘s morning show Good Morning America.[1]
Biography
Early life
Roberts was born November 23, 1960 is a media icon who grew up in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where she played basketball and tennis, among other sports. She attended Pass Christian High School and graduated as the class of 1979 salutatorian.[2] Her parents are Colonel Lawrence E. Roberts and Lucimarian Roberts. In a 2006 presentation to the assembled student body at Abilene Christian University, Roberts credited her parents as cultivating the “three Ds: Discipline, Determination, and “De Lord.”[3]
She is the youngest of four children with siblings Sally-Ann, Lawrence,
Jr. “Butch”, and Dorothy. Her father was a pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen.[4]
Education
Roberts attended Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana, graduating cum laude in 1983 with a degree in communication.[5] She followed in the footsteps of her older sister Sally-Ann Roberts, an anchor at the CBS affiliate WWL in New Orleans.
Roberts noted on the January 13, 2007, edition of Costas on the Radio that she was offered a scholarship to play basketball at Louisiana State University
but thought the school too big and impersonal after visiting the
campus. On her way back to Pass Christian from that visit, she saw a
road sign for Southeastern Louisiana University, stopped to visit and
decided to enroll. The only scholarship left was a tennis scholarship,
and she was promised that there would be a journalism scholarship by the
time she would graduate. She went on to become a standout performer on
the women’s basketball team, ending her career as the school’s third
all-time leading scorer (1,446 points) and rebounder (1,034). She is one
of the only three Lady Lions to score 1,000 career points and grab
1,000 career rebounds. During her senior season, she averaged a
career-high 15.2 points per game. On February 5, 2011, Southeastern
hosted a ceremony to retire Roberts’ jersey 21.[6]
Broadcasting career
Roberts began her career in 1983 as a sports anchor and reporter for WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.[7] In 1984, she moved to WLOX-TV in Biloxi, Mississippi. In 1986, she was sports anchor and reporter for WSMV-TV in Nashville, Tennessee.[8] She was also a sports anchor and reporter at WAGA-TV in Atlanta, Georgia, from 1988 to 1990. She was also a radio host for radio station V-103 while in Atlanta.
ESPN and ABC News
She joined ESPN as a sportscaster in February 1990 and became well known on Sportscenter for her catchphrase, “Go on with your bad self!” Roberts began to work for ABC News, specifically as a featured reporter, for Good Morning America in June 1995.
In 2001, Roberts received the Mel Greenberg Media Award, presented by the WBCA.[9] For many years, Roberts worked at both ESPN and Good Morning America, contributing to both programs. During that time, she served primarily as the news anchor at GMA. In 2005, Roberts was promoted to co-anchor of Good Morning America.
In the fall of 2005, she anchored a series of emotional reports from the Mississippi Gulf Coast after it was devastated by Hurricane Katrina; her hometown of Pass Christian was especially hard hit, with her old high school completely reduced to rubble.
On February 22, 2009, she hosted the Academy Awards preshow for ABC and again in 2011.
Roberts has earned three Emmy Awards for her sportscasting work at ESPN.
On May 30, 2010 Roberts drove the Pace Car for the 2010 Indianapolis 500.[10]
Roberts is inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
as part of the hall’s class of 2012 for her contributions to and impact
on the game of women’s basketball through her broadcasting work and
play.[11][12]
Health status
On July 31, 2007, Roberts announced during the live broadcast of Good Morning America
that she had been diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer. She
noticed a lump through self-examination the day they were working on Joel Siegel‘s farewell on Good Morning America. (Siegel died from colon cancer.)[13] Roberts underwent surgery on August 3, and six days later it was announced by ABC News that Roberts was planning to return to the anchor desk on August 13.
Roberts announced on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
on September 5, 2007, that she was healthier now than before the cancer
but still faces future treatment. She also revealed that a mammogram did not detect her cancer but a follow-up ultrasound did. Roberts shaved her head during chemotherapy treatment. She wore a wig on Good Morning America
because she “didn’t want to distract viewers from the news.” On April
21, 2008, Roberts stopped wearing the wig. As of January 10, 2008,
Roberts had completed her eight chemotherapy treatments. She then had 6½
weeks of radiation treatment, which was completed as of March 28, 2008.
In early 2007 Roberts published a book, From the Heart: Seven Rules to Live By,[14]
of which she said, “I’m a big believer that you have to put yourself in
position for good things to happen to you.” She discussed the book and
her Christian faith on the CBN.[15]
On June 11, 2012, five years after the start of Roberts’s fight with breast cancer, she announced on Good Morning America that she has MDS or myelodysplastic syndrome. Roberts also announced that her sister, Sally-Ann Roberts,
is an almost exactly perfect match for bone marrow, and the transplant
will happen in either the late summer or the fall. She has stated that
with the help of her faith, her family and her GMA family she knows that
she will overcome this condition. [16]
Special guest appearance on Hannah Montana Forever
Roberts guest starred as herself on Hannah Montana (season 4) in the tenth episode of the season, “Can You See the Real Me?“, in which Roberts interviewed Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) about her former double life as Miley Stewart and Hannah Montana.
To see more of Who Is click here
Who is Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao?
Who is Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao? The entertainment and boxing world knows him as Manny Pacquiao, he is a Filipino professional boxer and politician. He is an eight-division world champion, the first boxer in history to win ten world titles in eight different weight divisions.[4] He is also the first boxer in history to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes.[5] He was named “Fighter of the Decade” for the 2000′s by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). He is also a three-time BWAA and The Ring “Fighter of the Year” in 2006, 2008 and 2009.[6]Currently, Pacquiao is the WBC Super Welterweight World Champion and WBO Welterweight World Champion (Super Champion). He is also currently rated as the “number one” pound-for-pound best boxer in the world by several sporting news and boxing websites, including The Ring, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, NBC Sports, Yahoo! Sports and About.com.[7][8]
Aside from boxing, Pacquiao has participated in acting, music recording, and politics. In May 2010, Pacquiao was elected to the House of Representatives in the 15th Congress of the Philippines, representing the province of Sarangani.[9] He is the only active boxer to become a congressman in the Philippines.[10]
Personal life
Pacquiao was born on December 17, 1978, in Kibawe, Bukidnon, Philippines. He is the son of Rosalio Pacquiao and Dionesia Dapidran-Pacquiao.[11] His parents separated when he was in sixth grade, after his mother discovered that his father was living with another woman.[11] He is the fourth among six siblings: Liza Silvestre-Onding and Domingo Silvestre (from first husband of his mother) and Isidra Pacquiao-Paglinawan, Alberto “Bobby” Pacquiao and Rogelio Pacquiao.
 |
| Maria Geraldine “Jinkee” Jamora |
Pacquiao is married to Maria Geraldine “Jinkee” Jamora,[12] and they have four children: Emmanuel Jr. “Jimuel”, Michael, Princess, and Queen Elizabeth “Queenie”. He resides in his hometown General Santos City, South Cotabato, Philippines.[13] However, as a congressman of lone district of Sarangani, he is officially residing in Kiamba, Sarangani, the hometown of his wife.
Pacquiao is a devout Roman Catholic.[14] Within the ring, he frequently makes the sign of the cross and everytime he comes back from a successful fight abroad, he attends a thanksgiving Mass in Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila to kneel and pray.
Pacquiao is also a military reservist with the rank of Sergeant Major for the 15th Ready Reserve Division of the Philippine Army. When younger he had considered becoming a soldier, and was enlisted in the military reserve force as an Army Private.[15]
Education
Pacquiao completed his elementary education at Saavedra Saway Elementary School in General Santos City, but dropped out of high school due to extreme poverty.[16] He left his home at age 14 because his mother, who had six children, was not making enough money to support her family.[16]
In February 2007 he took, and passed, a high school equivalency exam making him eligible for college education.[17] He was awarded with a high school diploma by the Department of Education. Pacquiao enrolled for a college degree in business management at Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (NDDU) in his hometown in General Santos City.
On February 18, 2009, Pacquiao was conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humanities (Honoris Causa) by Southwestern University (SWU) at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Lahug, Cebu City in recognition of his boxing achievements and humanitarian work.[18]
In preparation for his career as a lawmaker in the House of Representatives, Pacquiao enrolled in the Certificate Course in Development, Legislation, and Governance at the Development Academy of the Philippines – Graduate School of Public and Development Management (DAP-GSPDM).[19]
Amateur boxing career
At the age of 14, Pacquiao moved to Manila and lived, for a time, on the streets. He started boxing and made the Philippine national amateur boxing team where his room and board were paid for by the government. Pacquiao reportedly had an amateur record of 64 fights (60–4).[20]
Professional boxing career
Early years at Light Flyweight division
In 1995, the death of a young aspiring boxer and close friend Eugene Barutag spurred the young Pacquiao to pursue a professional boxing career.[21] Pacquiao started his professional boxing career when he was just 16 years of age, stood at 4’11”, and weighed 98 pounds (7 pounds under the minimumweight division). He admitted before American media that he put weights in his pockets to make the 105 pound weight limit.[22] His early light flyweight division fights took place in small local venues and were shown on Vintage Sports‘ Blow by Blow, an evening boxing show. His professional debut was a four round bout against Edmund “Enting” Ignacio, on January 22, 1995, which Pacquiao won via decision, becoming an instant star of the program.
Pacquiao’s weight increased from 106 to 113 pounds before losing in his 12th bout against Rustico Torrecampo via a third round knockout. Pacquiao failed to make the required weight, so he was forced to use heavier gloves than Torrecampo, thereby putting him at a disadvantage.[23]
Flyweight division
Following the Torrecampo fight, Pacquiao continued undefeated for his next 15 fights. He went on another unbeaten run that saw him take on the vastly more experienced Chokchai Chockvivat in flyweight division. Pacquiao knocked out Chockvivat in the fifth round and took the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Flyweight title.[24] After one official defense and two non-title bouts, Pacquiao got his first opportunity to fight for a world title. Pacquiao captured the World Boxing Council (WBC) Flyweight World Title (his first major boxing world title as well as the flyweight lineal title) over Chatchai Sasakul by way of knockout in the eighth round. He defended the title successfully against Mexican Gabriel Mira via 4th round technical knockout. However, Pacquiao lost the title in his second defense against Medgoen Singsurat, also known as Medgoen 3K Battery, via a third round knockout. The bout was held in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. Singsurat got Pacquiao on the ropes and landed a flush straight right to the body coiling Pacquiao over and keeping him there. Technically, Pacquiao lost the belt at the scales, as he surpassed the weight limit of 112 pounds.
Super Bantamweight division
Following his loss to Singsurat, Pacquiao gained weight anew and skipped the super flyweight and bantamweight divisions. This time, Pacquiao went to super bantamweight or junior featherweight division of 122 pounds, where he picked up the WBC Super Bantamweight International Title. He defended this title five times before his chance for a world title fight came. Pacquiao’s big break came on June 23, 2001, against former IBF World Super Bantamweight champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba. Pacquiao stepped into the fight as a late replacement on two weeks’ notice but won the fight by technical knockout and won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Junior Featherweight World Title belt, his second major boxing world title. The bout was held at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao went on to defend this title four times under head trainer Freddie Roach, owner of the famous Wild Card Gym in West Hollywood.
Featherweight division
On November 15, 2003, Pacquiao faced Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, in a fight that many consider to have defined his career. Pacquiao, who was fighting at featherweight for the first time, brought his power with him and defeated Barrera via technical knockout in the eleventh round and won The Ring Featherweight World Title (as well as the lineal featherweight champion), making him the first Filipino and Asian to become a three-division world champion, a fighter who won world titles in three different weight divisions. He defended the title twice before relinquishing it in 2005.[25]
Six months after the fight, Pacquiao went on to challenge Juan Manuel Márquez, who at the time held both the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) Featherweight World Titles. The fight took place at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, on May 8, 2004, and after twelve rounds the bout was scored a draw, which proved to be a controversial decision that outraged both camps.[26]
In the first round, Márquez was caught cold, as he was knocked down three times by Pacquiao. However, Márquez showed great heart to recover from the early knockdowns, and went on to win the majority of rounds thereafter. This was largely due to Márquez’s counterpunch style, which he managed to effectively utilize against the aggressive style of Pacquiao. At the end of a very close fight, the final scores were 115–110 for Márquez, 115–110 for Pacquiao, and 113–113.[26] One of the judges (who scored the bout 113–113) later admitted to making an error on the scorecards, because he had scored the first round as “10–7″ in favor of Pacquiao instead of the standard “10–6″ for a three-knockdown round.[26] In fact, the fight should be scored as split decision in favor of Pacquiao. Consequently, both parties felt they had done enough to win the fight.
Super Featherweight division
On March 19, 2005, Pacquiao moved up in super featherweight or junior lightweight division of 130 pounds, in order to fight another Mexican legend and three-division world champion Érik Morales for vacant WBC International and IBA Super Featherweight Titles. The fight took place at the MGM Grand Las Vegas. In this fight, Pacquiao sustained a cut over his right eye from a headbutt in the fifth round. He lost the twelve round match by a unanimous decision from the judges. All three scorecards read 115–113 for Morales.[27]
On September 10, 2005, Manny Pacquiao fought Héctor Velázquez at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. He knocked Velázquez out in six rounds to capture the WBC Super Featherweight International Title, which he went on to defend five times. On the same day, his rival, Érik Morales, fought Zahir Raheem and lost via unanimous decision.
The much anticipated rematch between Pacquiao and Morales took place on January 21, 2006 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. During the fight, Morales escaped being knocked down twice, once in the second round by holding onto the ropes, and once in the sixth by falling on the referee. Pacquiao eventually knocked Morales out in the tenth, the first time Morales was knocked out in his boxing career.[28]
On July 2, 2006, Pacquiao defended his WBC Super Featherweight International Title against Óscar Larios, a two-time super bantamweight champion, who had moved up two weight divisions to fight Pacquiao. Pacquiao won the fight via unanimous decision, knocking down Larios two times in the 12-round bout at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines. The three judges scored the fight 117–110, 118–108, and 120–106 all for Pacquiao.[29]
On July 3, 2006, the day after winning the fight against Larios, the then Philippine President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo personally bestowed the Order of Lakandula with the rank of “Champion for Life” (Kampeon Habambuhay) and the plaque of appreciation to Pacquiao in a simple ceremony at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang Palace.[30]
Pacquiao and Morales fought a third time (with the series tied 1–1) on Nov. 18, 2006. Witnessed by a near record crowd of 18,276, the match saw Pacquiao defeat Morales via a third round knockout at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.[31] After the Pacquiao–Morales rubber match, Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s main promoter, announced that Manny had returned his signing bonus back to Golden Boy Promotions, signaling intentions to stay with Top Rank. This prompted Golden Boy Promotions to sue Pacquiao over breach of contract.[32]
After a failed promotional negotiation with Marco Antonio Barrera’s camp, Bob Arum chose Jorge Solís as Pacquiao’s next opponent among several fighters Arum offered as replacements. The bout was held in San Antonio, Texas, on April 14, 2007. In the sixth round, an accidental headbutt occurred, giving Pacquiao a cut under his left eyebrow. The fight ended in the eighth when Pacquiao knocked Solis down twice. Solis barely beat the count after the second knockdown, causing the referee to stop the fight and award Pacquiao a knockout win. The victory raised Pacquiao’s win–loss–draw record to 44–3–2 with 34 knockouts. This also marked the end of Solis’s undefeated streak.
On June 29, 2007, Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions announced that they agreed to settle their lawsuit, meaning the long-awaited rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera would occur despite Pacquiao being the top-ranked contender for the super featherweight title of Juan Manuel Márquez. On October 6, 2007, Pacquiao defeated Barrera in their rematch via an easy unanimous decision. In the 11th round, Pacquiao’s punch caused a deep cut below Barrera’s right eye. Barrera retaliated with an illegal punch on the break that dazed Pacquiao but also resulted in a point deduction for Barrera. Two judges scored the bout 118–109, whereas the third scored it 115–112.[33]
In The Ring Magazine, Pacquiao (45–3–2) remained at the top of the super featherweight division (130 pounds). He had been in the ratings for 108 weeks.[34][35] On November 13, 2007, he was honored by the World Boxing Council as Emeritus Champion during its 45th Annual World Convention held at the Manila Hotel.[36]
On November 20, 2007, José Nuñez, manager of WBO Super Featherweight champion Joan Guzmán, accused Pacquiao’s handler Bob Arum of evading a match between the two boxers to protect Pacquiao.[37] Guzmán went as far as to directly call out Pacquiao at the postfight press conference of the Pacquiao–Barrera rematch in front of a stunned crowd at the Mandalay Bay Events Center‘s media room in Las Vegas.[38]
The 240 member House of Representatives of the Philippines, on August 7, 2008, issued a Resolution, sponsored by South Cotabato Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio, which recognized Pacquiao as “a people’s champ” — “for his achievements and in appreciation of the honor and inspiration he has been bringing… to the Filipino people.” He received a plaque from Speaker Prospero Nograles.[39][40]
On March 15, 2008, in a rematch against Juan Manuel Márquez called “Unfinished Business”, Pacquiao won via split decision. The fight was held at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. With the victory, Pacquiao won the WBC Super Featherweight and The Ring Junior Lightweight World Titles (as well as the lineal junior lightweight title), making him the first Filipino and Asian to become a four-division world champion, a fighter who won world titles in four different weight divisions. The fight was a close hard fought battle, during which both fighters received cuts.[41] Throughout the fight Márquez landed the most punches at a higher percentage; however, the decisive factor proved to be a third round knockdown, wherein Márquez was floored by a Pacquiao left hook.[41] At the end of the fight, the judges’ scores were 115–112 for Pacquiao, 115–112 for Márquez, and 114–113 for Pacquiao.[41]
In the post-fight news conference, Márquez’s camp called for an immediate rematch. In addition, Richard Schaefer, Golden Boy Promotions CEO, offered a $6 million guarantee to Pacquiao for a rematch.[42] However, Pacquiao ruled out a third clash with Márquez, saying, “I don’t think so. This business is over.”[41] The reason that Pacquiao did not want a rematch was because he intended to move up to the lightweight division to challenge David Díaz, the reigning WBC Lightweight World Champion at that time.[41] Díaz won a majority decision over Ramón Montano that night as an undercard of the “Unfinished Business” fight.
Lightweight division
On June 28, 2008, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Pacquiao defeated David Díaz in lightweight division via ninth round knockout and won the WBC Lightweight World Title. With the victory, Pacquiao became the first and only Filipino and Asian to become a five-division world champion, a fighter who won world titles in five different weight divisions,[43] and also became the first Filipino fighter to ever win a world title at lightweight.[44] During the fight, which Pacquiao dominated, Díaz was cut badly on his right eye in the fourth round.[45] After the bout, Díaz acknowledged Pacquiao’s superior hand speed, stating “It was his speed. It was all his speed. I could see the punches perfectly, but he was just too fast.”[46]
Bob Arum reported that the fight had made 12.5 million dollars earning Díaz his best payday of 850,000 dollars, whilst Pacquiao earned at least 3 million dollars.[43] Official records revealed an attendance of 8,362 (out of a maximum capacity of 12,000).[47]
Holding both the WBC World Super Featherweight and World Lightweight titles following the win, Pacquiao decided to vacate his super featherweight title in July 2008.[48]
Welterweight division
On December 6, 2008, Pacquiao moved up to the welterweight division, in order to face the six-division world champion Oscar De La Hoya at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, in a fight called “The Dream Match“. Presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank, the bout was scheduled as a twelve round, non-title fight contested at the 147 pound welterweight limit. Although Pacquiao went into the fight widely recognized as the leading pound-for-pound boxer in the world, some boxing pundits had speculated that 147 pounds could be too far above his natural weight against the larger De La Hoya.[49] However, due to rehydration after the weigh in, De la Hoya came into the fight actually weighing less than Pacquiao, and close to 20 pounds under his usual fighting weight. Pacquiao dominated the fight, and after eight rounds De La Hoya’s corner was forced to throw in the towel, awarding Pacquiao the win via technical knockout.[50]
Pacquiao was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards before the stoppage, with two judges scoring the fight at 80–71 and one scoring it at 79–72.[51] Moreover, Pacquiao landed 224 out of 585 punches, whilst De La Hoya landed only 83 out of 402 punches.[51] After the bout, trainer Freddie Roach stated “We knew we had him after the first round. He had no legs, he was hesitant and he was shot.”[52] The fight would be De La Hoya’s last, as he announced his retirement from boxing shortly after.[53]
Pacquiao received 15 to 30 million dollars (share of the pay-per-view), plus a guaranteed amount.[54] Tickets reportedly sold out just hours after they went on sale. Moreover, the total gate revenue for the fight was said to be nearly 17 million dollars, making it the second largest gate revenue in boxing history.[55]
Light Welterweight division
On May 2, 2009, Pacquiao fought at light welterweight or super lightweight division for the first time against Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, in a fight billed as “The Battle of the East and West“. Pacquiao won the bout via knockout to claim the International Boxing Organization (IBO) Junior Welterweight and The Ring Junior Welterweight World Titles (as well as the lineal light welterweight title). In doing so, Pacquiao became the second man in boxing history to become a six-division world champion, a fighter who won world titles in six different weight divisions and the first man ever to win lineal world titles in four different weight classes.[56]
The fight was originally placed in jeopardy due to disputes with both camps over the fight purse money.[57] Eventually, the money issue was settled and the fight went on as scheduled. HBO aired the contest.[58]
Pacquiao started the fight strong, knocking down Hatton twice in the first round.[59] A somewhat shaken Hatton beat the count, only to be saved by the bell seconds later. In the second round Hatton seemed to have recovered, as he stalked Pacquiao for most of the round. However, with less than ten seconds remaining in the second round, Hatton was knocked out cold by a sharp left hook, prompting the referee to award Pacquiao the win by knockout (at 2:59 of the round).[60] The knockout won him the The Ring Magazine “Knockout of the Year” for 2009.
Return to welterweight
Pacquiao vs. Cotto
On November 14, 2009, Pacquiao defeated Miguel Cotto via technical knockout in the twelfth round at the MGM Grand Las Vegas in a fight billed as “Firepower.”
Although the bout was sanctioned as a world title fight in the
welterweight division, where the weight limit is 147 pounds, Cotto
agreed to fight at a catchweight of 145 pounds.[66]
Pacquiao dominated the fight, knocking Cotto down in round three and
round four, before the referee stopped the fight at 0:55 of round
twelve.[67] With this victory, Pacquiao took the WBO Welterweight title, was awarded the WBO Super Championship title and became the first seven-division world champion, the first fighter in boxing history to win world titles in seven different weight divisions.[68] Pacquiao also won the first and special WBC Diamond Championship belt.[69]
This belt was created as an honorary championship exclusively to award
the winner of a historic fight between two high-profile boxers.[70] After the fight, promoter Bob Arum stated “Pacquiao is the greatest boxer I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen them all, including Ali, Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard.”[71]
Miguel Cotto said in a post fight interview: “Miguel Cotto comes to
boxing to fight the biggest names, and Manny is one of the best boxers
we have of all time.”
The fight generated 1.25 million buys and $70 million in domestic
pay-per-view revenue, making it the most watched boxing event of 2009.[72] Pacquiao earned around $22 million for his part in the fight, whilst Cotto earned around $12 million.[72] Pacquiao–Cotto also generated a live gate of $8,847,550 from an official crowd of 15,930.[72]
On November 20, 2009, in a simple rites at the Quirino Grandstand, President Macapagal-Arroyo conferred Pacquiao the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Grand Cross) with Gold distinction (Katangiang Ginto) which usually bestowed to foreign diplomats and heads of state. It was awarded to Pacquiao for winning his historical seventh weight division world title.[73]
Following the victory against Cotto, there was much public demand for a fight between the seven-division world champion Manny Pacquiao (the number-one pound-for-pound boxer) and the five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
(the number-two and former number-one pound-for-pound boxer). Pacquiao
reportedly agreed to fight Mayweather on March 13, 2010 for a split of
$50 million up front.[74]
And it was later agreed that the venue for the fight would be the MGM
Grand Las Vegas. However, the bout was put in jeopardy due to
disagreements about Olympic-style drug testing. The Mayweather camp
wanted random blood testing by the United States Anti-Doping Agency,[75]
whereas Pacquiao refused to have any blood testing within 30 days from
the fight, because he thought it would weaken him, but he was willing to
have blood taken from him before the 30-day window as well as
immediately after the fight.[76] Freddie Roach, on the other hand, commented that he would not allow blood to be taken from Pacquiao one week before the fight.[77][78] In an attempt to resolve their differences, the two camps went through a process of mediation
before a retired judge. After the mediation process Mayweather agreed
to a 14-day no blood testing window. However, Pacquiao refused and
instead only agreed to a 24-day no blood testing window.[79] Consequently, on January 7, 2010, Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum declared that the fight was officially off.[80]
Because of Pacquiao’s reluctance to submit to random blood testing to
the extent requested by Mayweather, despite lack of evidence, the
Mayweather camp repeated their suggestion that Pacquiao was using banned substances, which resulted in Pacquiao filing a lawsuit for defamation, seeking damages in excess of 75,000 dollars.[81] The lawsuit cited accusations made by Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Floyd Mayweather Sr., Roger Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.[81][82]
After negotiations for the Mayweather fight fell through, other
boxers were considered to replace Mayweather as Pacquiao’s next
opponent, including former Light Welterweight Champion Paul Malignaggi,[83] and WBA Light Middleweight title holder Yuri Foreman.[84] However, Pacquiao chose to fight former IBF Welterweight title holder Joshua Clottey instead.
Pacquiao vs. Clottey
On March 13, 2010, at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas,
Pacquiao defeated Clottey via unanimous decision to retain his WBO
Welterweight title. The judges scored the fight 120–108, 119–109 and
119–109, all in favor of Pacquiao.[85]
During the fight, Pacquiao threw a total of 1231 punches (a career
high), but landed just 246, as most were blocked by Clottey’s tight
defense. On the other hand, Clottey threw a total of 399 punches,
landing 108.[86]
The fight was rewarded with a paid crowd of 36,371 and a gate of $6,359,985, according to post-fight tax reports filed with Texas boxing regulators.[87] Counting complimentary tickets delivered to sponsors, media outlets and others, the Dallas fight attracted 41,843,[87] well short of the 50,994 that was previously announced,[88]
but still an epic number for boxing. In addition, the bout drew 700,000
pay-per-view buys and earned $35.3 million in domestic revenue.[89]
Manny Pacquiao was named as the Fighter of the Decade for years
2000–2009 by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). This
award was presented by legendary boxer Joe Frazier, who was also a recipient of the award himself back in 1978 for defeating Muhammad Ali. Aside from this prestigious recognition, he was also named as the Sugar Ray Robinson Fighter of the Year for 2009, having received the same honor in 2006 and 2008. The awards ceremony was held at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City on June 4, 2010.[7]
After his victory over Clottey, Pacquiao was expected to return to
boxing in late 2010 with a possible matchup against Floyd Mayweather,
Jr.. It was later reported that Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard
Schaefer and Top Rank Chief Bob Arum
worked out a ‘”Super Fight” between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd
Mayweather, Jr.. However, complications arose when Mayweather requested
Pacquiao undergo random blood and urine testing up until the fight day.
Pacquiao responded that he would agree to undergo blood and urine
testing up until 14 days before the fight (as requested by Mayweather in
the first round of negotiations), stating that giving blood too close
to the fight day would weaken him. On May 13, 2010, Pacquiao’s promoter
Bob Arum announced that he had penciled in November 13, 2010 as the date
of Manny Pacquiao’s next fight, possibly against Mayweather. However,
the stumbling block over demands that Pacquiao submit to Olympic-level
random drug testing put the fight in jeopardy.[90]
On June 12, 2010, the President of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La
Hoya, stated during an interview with a Spanish network that the deal
for the fight was very close and the negotiation process has been very
difficult.[91]
On June 30, 2010, Arum announced that the management of both sides had
agreed to terms, that all points had been settled (including Pacquiao
agreeing to submit to both blood and urine testing) and only the
signature of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. was needed to seal the deal that
could have earned both fighters at least $40 million each. Mayweather
was then given a two-week deadline for the fight contract to be signed.[92] Arum also announced that Pacquiao accepted the terms of the random drug testing, blood and urine, leading up to the fight.[93]
On July 15, 2010, Bob Arum announced that Pacquiao’s camp would give
Mayweather until Friday midnight to sign the fight. The next day, the
Top Rank website embedded a countdown clock on their website with the
heading “Money” Time: Mayweather’s Decision.[94]
On July 17, 2010, Arum announced that there was no word from
Mayweather’s camp and the deal for a November 13, 2010 fight with
Mayweather was not reached.
On July 19, 2010, Leonard Ellerbe, one of Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s
closest advisers, denied that negotiations for a super fight between
Mayweather and Pacquiao had ever taken place. Ellerbe stated that Bob
Arum was not telling the truth.[95]
Bob Arum responded, questioning that if there was no negotiation, then
who imposed the gag order (referring to a gag order about the
negotiation allegedly imposed on both camps) and who could there be a
gag order from if there were no negotiations. He also criticized Oscar
De La Hoya and his Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer
for denying that negotiations took place, when De La Hoya himself had
previously stated that they were “very, very close in finalizing the
contracts.”[96] Arum revealed that HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg acted as the mediator between Mayweather’s handlers and those of Pacquiao’s from Top Rank Promotions.[97]
On July 26, 2010, Ross Greenburg said in a statement that he has been
negotiating with a representative from each side since May 2, 2010,
carefully trying to put the fight together and he did in fact act as a
go-between in negotiations with the two sides, but they were unable to
come to an agreement, contradicting what Arum and the Pacquiao camp had
said.[98][99] Floyd Mayweather, Jr., after the second negotiation had been officially declared off, told the Associated Press
that he had fought sixty days ago and that he was not interested in
rushing into anything and was not really thinking about boxing at the
moment.[100]
Almost a year later, on July 8, 2011, Manny Pacquiao’s top adviser
Michael Koncz confirmed that Pacquiao had in fact never agreed to
testing up until fight day, which contradicted what Bob Arum and the
Pacquiao camp had been saying for well over a year.[101]
Light Middleweight
Pacquiao vs. Margarito
On July 23, 2010, Bob Arum announced that Pacquiao would fight Antonio Margarito on November 13, 2010. The fight for the vacant WBC Light Middleweight title gave Pacquiao the chance to win a world title in his eighth weight class, the light middleweight, or super welterweight, division.[102]
A catchweight of 150 pounds was established for the fight, although the
weight limit for the light middleweight division is 154 pounds. During
the pre-fight, Pacquiao weighed in at a low 144.6 pounds, while
Margarito weighed in at the limit of 150 pounds. Pacquiao said he was
pleased with his weight because he loses too much speed when he gains
pounds. During the fight itself, Pacquiao weighed 148 lbs, 17 pounds
lighter than Margarito’s 165.[103]
Prior to the fight, Pacquiao’s team demanded to the Texas officials
to test Margarito for banned substances after a weight loss supplement,
reportedly Hydroxycut, was found in his locker. It was stated that the officials would undergo testing for both boxers after the fight.[104]
In the fight, Pacquiao defeated Margarito via unanimous decision, using
his superior handspeed and movement to win his 8th world title in as
many divisions. In the penultimate round, Pacquiao implored referee
Laurence Cole several times to stop the fight as Margarito had a swollen
face and a large cut beneath the right eye, but the referee let the
fight continue.[105] Margarito had to be taken directly to the hospital after the fight, where it was discovered his orbital bone had been fractured; he had to undergo surgery.[106]
On November 22, 2010, after winning world title in his eighth weight
division, Pacquiao was awarded with another Congressional Medal of
Distinction from his fellow congressmen led by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte during the ceremony at the Philippine House of Representatives.[107]
Because Pacquiao had no plans to defend the WBC Light Middleweight
title that he won against Margarito, the WBC Board of Governors voted to
declare the title vacant.[108]
Second return to welterweight
Pacquiao vs. Mosley
On May 7, 2011, Pacquiao successfully defended his WBO Welterweight title against three-division world champion Shane Mosley via lopsided unanimous decision at the MGM Grand Arena. Rapper LL Cool J performed as Mosley first entered the arena, while vocalist Jimi Jamison of the rock band Survivor sang “Eye of the Tiger“
as Pacquiao approached the ring. Pacquiao knocked Mosley down in the
third round using a one-two capped with a left straight. Mosley was left
dazed by the knockdown but managed to stand up.[109] Mosley floored Pacquiao in the tenth round with a push, but referee Kenny Bayless
inexplicably ruled it a knockdown. None of the judges seemed to have
bought it judging from the scores. Replays showed that Pacquiao was
throwing a punch off balance, had his right foot stepped on by Mosley’s
left foot and went down with a little help from Mosley’s right hand.
Bayless apologized to Pacquiao after the fight for the mistake. Pacquiao
gained one-sided verdicts from all three judges – 119–108, 120–108 and
120–107.[110]
Pacquiao reported that the only thing preventing him from knocking out
Mosley was a cramp in his legs. Freddie Roach said that Pacquiao had
problems with cramping before but usually in training sessions and not
in the middle of bouts.[111]
After the fight, there was much controversy over Shane Mosley
reportedly telling Floyd Mayweather that he should have made Pacquiao
“take the test.”[112]
Bob Arum talked about having Pacquiao’s next bout at the MGM Grand on
November 5, 2011 or across town at the Thomas and Mack Center on
November 12, 2011. Arum listed Juan Manuel Marquez as the first choice and then mentioned Timothy Bradley and Zab Judah as other options.[113]
Pacquiao vs. Marquez III
Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum stated that a third meeting with Márquez
could happen in November 2011, providing Pacquiao defeated his next
opponent Shane Mosley on May 7.[114] On May 10, Márquez accepted an offer from Top Rank to fight Pacquiao for his WBO Welterweight title at a catchweight of 144 pounds.[115] On May 18, Márquez signed the deal to fight Pacquiao for the third time on November 12 at Las Vegas.
On November 12, Marquez lost to Pacquiao via majority decision by
garnering scores 114–114, 115–113 & 116–112 from scorecards of three
judges. Upon the results being announced, the crowd reaction was
largely negative with thousands continuing to boo[116] as Pacquiao spoke with Max Kellerman. Tim Smith of New York’s Daily News wrote that Márquez “was robbed of a decision by judges who were either blind or corrupt.”[117] However, ringside punch stats showed Pacquiao landing more strikes, 176 to 138, and landing more power punches, 117 to 100.[118] Michael Woods of ESPN stated that Marquez was not robbed noting the Compubox stats, all of which favored Pacquiao.[119]
Pacquiao vs. Bradley
On February 5, Bob Arum announced Timothy Bradley as Pacquiao’s next opponent on June 9 for his WBO Welterweight title, after another failed negotiation attempt with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on Cinco De Mayo.[120]
During the final press conference, WBO President Francisco “Paco”
Valcarcel awarded Pacquiao with WBO Diamond Ring in recognition of
Pacquiao as the WBO Best Pound-for-Pound Fighter of the Decade.[121]
Pacquiao lost the bout in a controversial split decision, scoring
115-113, 113-115 and 113-115 from the three judges. The decision was
booed by the crowd and criticized by many news outlets
who were independently scoring the fight. However, Pacquiao was
gracious in defeat and Bradley called for a rematch. Following the
decision, many analysts called the decision a corruption of the sport.
ESPN.com scored the fight 119-109 for Pacquiao. HBO’s unofficial judge, Harold Lederman, also had it 119-109 for Pacquiao. Most ringside media also scored the fight in favor of Pacquiao.[122]
Valcarcel said in a statement on Wednesday, June 13, 2012, that the
WBO’s Championship Committee will review the video of the fight with
five independent, competent and recognized international judges and make
a recommendation. He said that the WBO does not doubt the ability of
the scoring judges.[123]
On June 21, 2012, the five WBO’s Championship Committee judges on the
review panel announced that Pacquiao should have won his controversial
defeat, with all scoring the fight unanimously in Pacquiao’s favor —
117-111, 117-111, 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113. However, the WBO cannot
overturn the result of the fight (only the NSAC would be able to do so), but recommended a rematch between the fighters.[124]
Professional boxing record
Light Middleweight division
On July 23, 2010, Bob Arum announced that Pacquiao would fight Antonio Margarito on November 13, 2010. The fight for the vacant WBC Super Welterweight World Title gave Pacquiao the chance to win a world title in his eighth weight class, the light middleweight or super welterweight division.[96] A catchweight of 150 pounds was established for the fight although the weight limit for the light middleweight division is 154 pounds. During the pre-fight, Pacquiao weighed in at a low 144.6 pounds, while Margarito weighed in at the limit of 150 pounds. Pacquiao said he was pleased with his weight because he loses too much speed when he gains pounds. During the fight itself, Pacquiao weighed 148 lbs, 17 pounds lighter than Margarito’s 165.[97]
Prior to the fight, Pacquiao’s team demanded to the Texas officials to test Margarito for banned substances after a weight loss supplement, reportedly Hydroxycut, was found in his locker. It was stated that the officials would undergo testing for both boxers after the fight.[98] In the fight, Pacquiao defeated Margarito via unanimous decision, using his superior handspeed and movement to win his 8th world title in as many divisions. In the penultimate round, Pacquiao implored referee Laurence Cole several times to stop the fight as Margarito had a swollen face and a large cut beneath the right eye, but the referee let the fight continue.[99] Margarito had to be taken directly to the hospital after the fight, where it was discovered his orbital bone had been fractured; he had to undergo surgery.[100]
Professional boxing record
| 52 Wins (38 knockouts, 14 decisions), 3 Losses (2 by knockout, 1 by decision), 2 Draws [101] | |||||||
| Res. | Opponent | Type | Rd | Date | Location | Notes | |
| Win |  Antonio Margarito |
UD | 12 (12) | 2010-11-13 | Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, United States |
Won vacant WBC Super Welterweight World Title. | |
| Win |  Joshua Clottey |
UD | 12 (12) | 2010-03-13 | Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, United States |
Retained WBO Welterweight World Title. | |
| Win |  Miguel Ángel Cotto |
TKO | 12 (12) | 2009-11-14 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, United States |
Won WBO Welterweight World Title and WBC Diamond Belt. | |
| Win |  Ricky Hatton |
KO | 2 (12) | 2009-05-02 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, United States |
Won IBO and The Ring Light Welterweight World Titles. | |
| Win | Oscar De La Hoya |
TKO | 8 (12) | 2008-12-06 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, United States |
A non-title fight, fought at Welterweight. | |
| Win | David Díaz |
TKO | 9 (12) | 2008-06-28 | Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, United States |
Won WBC Lightweight World Title. | |
| Win |  Juan Manuel Márquez |
SD | 12 (12) | 2008-03-15 | Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, United States |
Won WBC and vacant The Ring Super Featherweight World Titles. | |
| Win | Marco Antonio Barrera |
UD | 12 (12) | 2007-10-06 | Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, United States |
Retained WBC Super Featherweight International Title. | |
| Win | Jorge Solís |
KO | 8 (12) | 2007-04-14 | Alamodome, San Antonio, United States |
Retained WBC Super Featherweight International Title. | |
| Win | Érik Morales |
KO | 3 (12) | 2006-11-18 | Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, United States |
Retained WBC Super Featherweight International Title. | |
| Win | Óscar Larios |
UD | 12 (12) | 2006-07-02 |  Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines |
Retained WBC Super Featherweight International Title. | |
| Win | Érik Morales |
TKO | 10 (12) | 2006-01-21 | Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, United States |
Retained WBC Super Featherweight International Title. | |
| Win | Héctor Velázquez |
TKO | 6 (12) | 2005-09-10 | Staples Center, Los Angeles, United States |
Won vacant WBC Super Featherweight International Title. | |
| Loss | Érik Morales |
UD | 12 (12) | 2005-03-19 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, United States |
Vacant WBC International and IBA Super Featherweight Title match. | |
| Win |  Fahsan Por Thawatchai |
TKO | 4 (12) | 2004-12-11 | Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Philippines |
Retained The Ring Featherweight World Title. | |
| Draw | Juan Manuel Márquez |
Draw | 12 (12) | 2004-05-08 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, United States |
Controversial Draw. WBA and IBF Featherweight World Title match. | |
| Win | Marco Antonio Barrera |
TKO | 11 (12) | 2003-11-15 | Alamodome, San Antonio, United States |
Won The Ring Featherweight World Title. | |
| Win | Emmanuel Lucero |
KO | 3 (12) | 2003-07-26 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, United States |
Retained IBF Super Bantamweight World Title. | |
| Win |  Serikzhan Yeshmagambetov |
TKO | 5 (10) | 2003-03-15 | Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines |
||
| Win | Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym |
KO | 1 (12) | 2002-10-26 | Rizal Memorial College Gym, Davao City, Philippines |
Retained IBF Super Bantamweight World Title. | |
| Win |  Jorge Eliecer Julio |
TKO | 2 (12) | 2002-06-08 | The Pyramid, Memphis, United States |
Retained IBF Super Bantamweight World Title. | |
| Draw |  Agapito Sánchez |
TD | 6 (12) | 2001-11-10 | Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, United States |
WBO and IBF Super Bantamweight World Title match. | |
| Win |  Lehlohonolo Ledwaba |
TKO | 6 (12) | 2001-06-23 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, United States |
Won IBF Super Bantamweight World Title. | |
| Win | Wethya Sakmuangklang |
KO | 6 (12) | 2001-04-28 | Kidapawan City, Cotabato, Philippines |
Retained WBC Super Bantamweight International Title. | |
| Win |  Tetsutora Senrima |
TKO | 5 (12) | 2001-02-24 | Manila, Philippines |
Retained WBC Super Bantamweight International Title. | |
| Win |  Nedal Hussein |
TKO | 10 (12) | 2000-10-14 | Ynares Center, Antipolo City, Philippines |
Retained WBC Super Bantamweight International Title. | |
| Win |  Seung-Kon Chae |
TKO | 1 (12) | 2000-06-28 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines |
Retained WBC Super Bantamweight International Title. | |
| Win | Arnel Barotillo |
KO | 4 (12) | 2000-03-04 | Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Manila, Philippines |
Retained WBC Super Bantamweight International Title. | |
| Win | Reynante Jamili |
KO | 2 (12) | 1999-12-18 | Elorde Sports Complex, Parañaque City, Philippines |
Won WBC Super Bantamweight International Title. | |
| Loss | Medgoen Singsurat |
KO | 3 (12) | 1999-09-17 | Pakpanag Metropolitan Stadium, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand |
He was overweight at weigh-in. Lost WBC Flyweight World Title. | |
| Win | Gabriel Mira |
TKO | 4 (12) | 1999-04-24 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines |
Retained WBC Flyweight World Title. | |
| Win | Todd Makelim |
TKO | 3 (10) | 1999-02-20 | Kidapawan City, Cotabato, Philippines |
||
| Win | Chatchai Sasakul |
KO | 8 (12) | 1998-12-04 | Tonsuk College Ground, Phutthamonthon, Thailand |
Won WBC Flyweight World Title. | |
| Win | Shin Terao |
TKO | 1 (10) | 1998-05-18 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan |
||
| Win | Panomdej Ohyuthanakorn |
KO | 1 (12) | 1997-12-06 | South Cotabato Stadium, Koronadal City, South Cotabato, Philippines |
Retained OPBF Flyweight Title. | |
| Win | Melvin Magramo |
UD | 10 (10) | 1997-09-13 | Cebu City, Philippines |
||
| Win | Chokchai Chockvivat |
KO | 5 (12) | 1997-06-26 | Mandaluyong City, Philippines |
Won OPBF Flyweight Title. | |
| Win | Ariel Austria |
TKO | 6 | 1997-05-30 | Almendras Gym, Davao City, Philippines |
||
| Win | Wook-Ki Lee |
KO | 1 (10) | 1997-04-24 | Makati City, Philippines |
||
| Win | Mike Luna |
KO | 1 (10) | 1997-03-03 | Muntinlupa City, Philippines |
||
| Win | Sung-Yul Lee |
TKO | 2 | 1996-12-28 | Muntinlupa City, Philippines |
||
| Win |  Ippo Gala |
TKO | 2 | 1996-07-27 | Mandaluyong City, Philippines |
||
| Win | Bert Batiller |
TKO | 4 | 1996-06-15 | Mandaluyong City, Philippines |
||
| Win | John Medina |
TKO | 4 | 1996-05-05 | Manila, Philippines |
||
| Win | Marlon Carillo |
UD | 10 (10) | 1996-04-27 | Manila, Philippines |
||
| Loss | Rustico Torrecampo |
KO | 3 | 1996-02-09 | Mandaluyong City, Philippines |
He had not made the weight so he was forced to use heavier gloves. | |
| Win | Lito Torrejos |
UD | 5 | 1996-01-13 | Parañaque City, Philippines |
||
| Win | Rolando Toyogon |
UD | 10 (10) | 1995-12-09 | Manila, Philippines |
||
| Win | Rudolfo Fernandez |
TKO | 3 (10) | 1995-11-11 | Mandaluyong City, Philippines |
||
| Win | Renato Mendones |
TKO | 2 (8) | 1995-10-21 | Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines |
||
| Win | Lolito Laroa |
UD | 8 (8) | 1995-10-07 | Makati City, Philippines |
||
| Win | Armando Rocil |
KO | 3 | 1995-09-16 | Mandaluyong City, Philippines |
||
| Win | Acasio Simbajon |
UD | 6 (6) | 1995-08-03 | Mandaluyong City, Philippines |
||
| Win | Dele Decierto |
TKO | 2 | 1995-07-01 | Mandaluyong City, Philippines |
||
| Win | Rocky Palma |
UD | 6 (6) | 1995-05-01 | Montano Hall, Cavite City, Philippines |
||
| Win | Pinoy Montejo |
UD | 4 (4) | 1995-03-18 | Mindoro Occidental, Philippines |
||
| Win | Edmund Enting Ignacio |
UD | 4 (4) | 1995-01-22 | Mindoro Occidental, Philippines |
Professional boxing debut at Light Flyweight division. | |
Titles in boxing
Major World Titles:
- WBC Flyweight World Champion (112 lbs)
- IBF Junior Featherweight World Champion (122 lbs)
- The Ring Featherweight World Champion (126 lbs)
- WBC Super Featherweight World Champion (130 lbs)
- The Ring Junior Lightweight World Champion (130 lbs)
- WBC Lightweight World Champion (135 lbs)
- The Ring Junior Welterweight World Champion (140 lbs)
- WBO Welterweight World Champion (147 lbs)
- WBC Super Welterweight World Champion (154 lbs)
Minor World Title:
- IBO Junior Welterweight World Champion (140 lbs)
Lineal Championship Titles:
- Lineal Flyweight World Champion (112 lbs)
- Lineal Featherweight World Champion (126 lbs)
- Lineal Super Featherweight World Champion (130 lbs)
- Lineal Light Welterweight World Champion (140 lbs)
Regional/International Titles:
- OPBF Flyweight Champion (112 lbs)
- WBC Super Bantamweight International Champion (122 lbs)
- WBC Super Featherweight International Champion (130 lbs)
Special Titles:
- WBC Emeritus Champion
- WBC Diamond Champion
- WBO Super Champion
Acting career
Pacquiao started his acting career as an extra in some local films and guest appearances on ABS-CBN shows.
In December 2005 Pacquiao took his first lead role in Violett Films’ Lisensyadong Kamao (Licensed Fist).[102] The movie is titled so because (according to director Tony Bernal), being a Boxer, Pacquiao is licensed to use his hands.
In 2008, Pacquiao starred with Ara Mina and Valerie Concepcion in Anak ng Kumander (Son of Commander). The movie was not a commercial success and was panned by critics.[citation needed]
Pacquiao starred in the superhero/comedy film entitled Wapakman, which was released on December 25, 2009 as an entry to the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival.[103] Like his previous films Wapakman was not commercially successful.[104]
Upon the expiration of his contract with ABS-CBN, Pacquiao signed with GMA Network as an actor in September 2007. On December 17, 2007, he taped his first episode of the networks infotainment show Pinoy Records.[105] His other projects with the network included Totoy Bato and the sitcom Show Me Da Manny in which his mother, Dionesia, also appeared.
American actor Sylvester Stallone is reportedly in talks with Pacquiao over co-starring in one of Stallone’s future films, which is in the planning stages. The film would be Pacquiao’s Hollywood debut.[106]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Di Ko Kayang Tanggapin | Dong | |
| 2001 | Mahal Kita… Kahit Sino Ka Pa! | ||
| 2001 | Basagan ng Mukha | Dodong | |
| 2005 | Lisensyadong Kamao | Ambrosio “Bruce” Lerio | |
| 2008 | Anak ng Kumander | Kumander Idel | Writer/Producer |
| 2008 | Brown Soup Thing | Cousin Manny | |
| 2008 | Pangarap Kong Jackpot | Abel | segment “Sa Ngalan ng Busabos” |
| 2009 | Wapakman | Magno Meneses/Wapakman | |
| Year | Television Shows | Role | Other Notes |
| 2004 | Walang Bakas | Himself (uncredited) | |
| 2004 | No Fear: The Manny Pacquiao Story | Himself | Video documentary |
| 2004 | The People’s Champion | Himself | Video documentary |
| 2005 | Kamao: Matira Ang Matibay | Himself – Host | |
| 2005 | Ok Fine Whatever | Himself – Guest | |
| 2006 | Ako ang Simula | Himself | TV documentary |
| 2007 | The Battle of Cebu: Moment of Truth | Himself – Crowd | |
| 2009 | Kababayan LA: Manny Pacquiao Specials | Himself | |
| 2009 | Pinoy Records | Himself – Host | |
| 2009 | Totoy Bato | Emmanuel | |
| 2009 | Show Me Da Manny | Manny Santos | |
| 2009 | Rome is Burning | Himself – Correspondent | Episode dated May 1 |
| 2009 | Jimmy Kimmel Live | Himself – Guest | Episode dated November 3 |
| 2009 | MMA H.E.A.T. | Himself | Episode dated November 12 |
| 2010 | Jimmy Kimmel Live | Himself – Guest | Episode dated March 3 |
| 2010 | HBO Boxing After Dark | Himself – Audience Member | Episode dated June 18 |
| 2010 | ESPN Friday Night Fights | Himself | Episode dated July 2 |
| 2010 | Jimmy Kimmel Live | Himself – Guest | Episode dated November 1 |
| 2010 | 60 Minutes | Himself – Guest[107] |
Discography
| Manny Pacquiao | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Emmanuel D. Pacquiao |
| Origin | General Santos City |
| Occupations | Boxer, Actor, Singer, Politician |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | Star Records MCA Records GMA Records |
| Associated acts | Lito Camo Francis Magalona |
| Releases | ||
|---|---|---|
| ↙Studio albums | 2 | |
| ↙Singles | 3 | |
| ↙Music videos | 4 | |
Most of the Tagalog songs of Pacquiao were composed by Lito Camo. The following are the songs from Manny Pacquiao’s albums:
- Laban Nating Lahat Ito (2006) – under Star Records
- “Bilog”
- “Para Sa’Yo Ang Laban Na ‘To”
- “Pagsubok Lamang Yan”
- “Byaheng Pag-asa”
- “Ipakita Mo”
- “Ikaw at Ako”
- “Hindi Ko Kaya”
- “Kanta Tayo”
- “Champion Sa Kantahan”
- “Laban Nating Lahat Ito” (feat Francis M.)
- Pac-Man Punch (2007) – under MCA Records
- “Pac-Man Punch” – Willie Wilcox feat. Nemesis Yankee and Manny Pacquiao
- “Pac-Man Punch (R U Ready?)” – Willie Wilcox feat. Nemesis Yankee
- “Pac-Man Punch (Knockout Remix)” – Willie Wilcox feat. Nemesis Yankee and Manny Pacquiao
- “Pac-Man Punch (Minus One)”
- Under GMA Records
- “Lahing Pinoy”
On February 12, 2007, Pacquiao officially announced that he would be running for a seat in the House of Representatives in the May 2007 legislative election as a candidate of the Liberal Party, aiming to represent the 1st District of South Cotabato.[108] Pacquiao, who has been known to be supportive of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said that he was persuaded to run by local officials of General Santos City, who hoped he would act as a bridge between their interests and the national government.[108] Pacquiao was defeated in the election by incumbent Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, who said, “More than anything, I think, people weren’t prepared to lose him as their boxing icon”.[109]
In September 2008, Pacquiao was sworn in as member of Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI), a pro-administration political party.
On November 21, 2009, Pacquiao confirmed that he would run again for the congressional seat but this time in Sarangani province, the hometown of his wife Jinkee.[110] He originally planned to run for congress under his own party, the People’s Champ Movement, but has since joined the Nacionalista Party headed by Manny Villar. Villar said arrangements were made to accommodate Pacquiao’s People’s Champ Movement in a coalition with the Nacionalista Party for the May 2010 elections in Sarangani.[111]
On May 13, 2010, Pacquiao was officially proclaimed congressman of the lone district of Sarangani. He scored a landslide victory over a wealthy and politically well-entrenched clan of the province. His triumph ended the reign of Chiongbian clan that has been in power for more than thirty years. Pacquiao got 120,052 votes while his political rival, Roy Chiongbian, got 60,899 votes.[112]
On June 28, 2010, Pacquiao took his oath of office as congressman before Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio in the Provincial Capitol of Sarangani in Municipality of Alabel. He announced that he will transfer to President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III‘s Liberal Party from Nacionalista Party as he wants to ensure the entry of more projects to his province.[113]
In popular culture
A film based on Pacquiao’s life, Pacquiao: The Movie, was released on June 21, 2006, featuring Filipino actor Jericho Rosales as Manny Pacquiao and was directed by Joel Lamangan.[114] The film flopped at the box office, grossing a total of only P4,812,191 (approximately US$99,322), as confirmed by Lamangan.
Pacquiao is featured in the boxing video games Fight Night Round 2, Fight Night Round 3, Fight Night Round 4 and Fight Night Champion. EA Sports released a limited edition demo of Fight Night Round 4, featuring Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton prior to their May 2 fight.[115]
Pacquiao became the first Filipino athlete to appear on a postage stamp.[116]
Pacquiao became the first Filipino Olympic non-participant to be Team Philippines’ flag-bearer during the August 8 opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium. Swimmer Miguel Molina, 2005 Southeast Asian Games’ Best Male Athlete, yielded the honor to Pacquiao, upon the request of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the national sports officials on the Philippines at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[117]
Pacquiao plays basketball as a cross-training to keep himself in shape. He is playing in the semi-professional basketball league, Liga Pilipinas, with the team he owns, the MP-Gensan Warriors. He made his debut in the Smart-Liga Pilipinas Conference II in January 16, 2009. He wears jersey number 17.[118]
Pacquiao became an honorary member of Boston Celtics. The honorary membership was bestowed on him in a brief ceremony and he was presented with a replica of a green and white Celtics jersey bearing his name and number 1.[119] As a measure of gratitude, Pacquiao delivered a stockpile of red autographed boxing gloves to TD Garden. On March 10, 2010, prior to the night’s game with Memphis Grizzlies, many of the Celtics had a special motivational gift waiting for them in their lockers.[120]
With his popularity, various business sectors have solicited Manny Pacquiao’s help in endorsing their products through commercial advertisements in print and in broadcast media. These include detergents, medicines, foods, beverage, garments, telecommunications, and even a political ad for politicians during the 2007 and 2010 Philippine elections. His most acclaimed commercials yet were for Nike‘s “Fast Forward” campaign (alongside Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, Maria Sharapova, Roger Federer, Cristiano Ronaldo and Liu Xiang)[121] and San Miguel Beer with Jet Li[122] and Érik Morales.[123]
Pacquiao has been included by Time Magazine as one of the world’s most influential people for the year 2009, for his exploits in boxing and his influence among the Filipino people.[124] Pacquiao was also included by Forbes Magazine in its annual Celebrity 100 list for the year 2009, joining Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie and fellow athletes Tiger Woods and Bryant.[125] Forbes also listed Pacquiao as the World’s 6th Highest Paid Athlete, with a total of 40 Million Dollars ($40,000,000.00) or 2 Billion Pesos (₱2,000,000,000.00) from the second half of 2008 to the first half of 2009. Tied with him on the sixth spot was the NBA player LeBron James and golfer Phil Mickelson.[126] Pacquiao was again included in Forbes’ list of Highest Paid Athletes from the second half of 2009 to the first half of 2010; he was ranked 8th with an income of $42 million.[127] Pacquiao had also won the 2009 ESPY Awards for the Best Fighter category, beating fellow boxer Shane Mosley and Brazilian mixed martial arts fighters Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva.[128]
Pacquiao has also graced the cover of Time Magazine Asia for their November 16, 2009 issue. According to their five-page feature story, “(Pacquiao is) a fighter with enough charisma, intelligence and backstory to help rescue a sport lost in the labyrinth of pay-per-view. Global brands like Nike want him in their ads.” They also added, “Pacquiao has a myth of origin equal to that of any Greek or Roman hero. He leaves the Philippines to make it even bigger, conquering the world again and again to bring back riches to his family and friends.”[128][129] He became the eighth Filipino to grace the cover of the prestigious magazine, after former Philippine presidents Manuel L. Quezon, Ramon Magsaysay, Ferdinand Marcos, Corazon Aquino, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Benigno Aquino III and Filipino actress and environmentalist Chin Chin Gutierrez. Pacquiao was also featured on the cover of Reader’s Digest Asia, where a seven-page story was written about the Filipino boxing superstar. The issue came out before Pacquiao’s epic match against De La Hoya on November 2008.
Recognitions
- 2000–09 Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Decade[130]
- 2000–09 Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Decade[131]
- 2000–09 HBO Fighter of the Decade[132]
- 2000–09 TheSweetScience.com Fighter of the Decade [133]
- 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008 PSA Sportsman of the Year
- 2006 Order of Lakandula with the rank of “Champion for Life” (Kampeon Habambuhay)[68]
- 2006, 2008 and 2009 Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Year[130][134]
- 2006, 2008 and 2009 ESPN Fighter of the Year [135]
- 2006, 2008 and 2009 The Ring Fighter of the Year
- 2008 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Honorary Award for Sports Excellence[136]
- 2008 Sports Illustrated Boxer of the Year[137]
- 2008 Yahoo! Sports Fighter of the Year[138]
- 2008 and 2009 The Ring No. 1 Pound-for-Pound (year-end)
- 2008 and 2009 TheSweetScience.com Boxer of the Year[139][140]
- 2008 and 2009 ESPN Star‘s Champion of Champions[141]
- 2008 and 2009 World Boxing Council Boxer of the Year[142][143]
- 2009 Ask Men Most Influential Men (ranked 24th)[144]
- 2009 ESPN Knockout of the Year (in Round 2 against Ricky Hatton)[145]
- 2009 ESPY Awards Best Fighter[146]
- 2009 Forbes Magazine World’s Highest-Paid Athletes (ranked 6th)[147]
- 2009 Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Grand Cross with Gold Distinction)[68]
- 2009 Sports Illustrated Fighter of the Year[148]
- 2009 The Ring Knockout of the Year (in Round 2 against Ricky Hatton)
- 2009 TIME 100 Most Influential People (Heroes and Icons Category)[149]
- 2009 TIME Asia Magazine cover for November 16, 2009 Issue [150]
- 2009 and 2010 Forbes Magazine Celebrity 100 (ranked 57th and 55th)[151]
- 2010 Bleacher Report Most Exciting Athletes of All Time (ranked 85th)[152]
- 2010 World Boxing Organization Fighter of the Year[153]
- 2010 Yahoo! Sports Boxing’s Most Influential (ranked 25th) [154]
To see more of Who Is click here
Who is Alexa Ellesse Vega?
Who is Alexa Ellesse Vega? The entertainment and acting world knows her as Alexa Vega, she is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kids film series and Shilo Wallace in the film Repo! the Genetic Opera. In 2009, she starred as the title character Ruby Gallagher in the ABC Family series Ruby & The Rockits which in September 2009 after airing one season was officially cancelled by ABC Family.
Early life
Vega was born August 27, 1988 in Miami, Florida. Her father is Colombian and her mother, Gina Rue, is an American former model.[1][2][3] Alexa has six siblings: paternal half-sister Margaux Vega (b. 1981), sister Krizia Vega (b. 1990), sister Makenzie Vega (b. 1994; starred in Saw and Sin City),
maternal half-sister Greylin James (b.2000), maternal half-brother Jet
James (b. 2005), and maternal half-brother Cruz Hudson Rue (b. 2009).
She moved with her family to California when she was four years old.
Career
Acting
 |
| Jo Harding in Twister. |
In 1996, Vega starred as young Jo Harding in Twister. She guest-starred in numerous television shows and films, including ER, Follow the Stars Home, Ghost Whisperer, and The Bernie Mac Show. She became known worldwide in 2001 for her role as Carmen Cortez in Spy Kids. The first Spy Kids movie was a huge success, and subsequently two sequels, Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
were filmed. During the shooting of the three films, she performed most
of her own stunts. Vega reprised the role in the 2011 sequel, Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World.
In 2003, she was named one of that year’s hottest teen celebrities in the July 2003 issue Vanity Fair. In 2004, Vega finished filming two films: Sleepover and State’s Evidence. The he following year she starred in the Lifetime television film entitled Odd Girl Out as a victim of cyber-bullying. She also filmed for another made-for-TV movie, Walkout. In June 2006, she finished filming Remember the Daze, which was released in limited theaters on April 2007. She also finished filming Repo! the Genetic Opera, which was released in 2008.[4] Vega has also been confirmed as the lead role in Helix, written and directed by Aram Rappaport, which began filming in Chicago in March 2008. Vega was originally cast in the 2009 Robert Rodriguez film Shorts, however, due to her being in Australia for the filming of Broken Hill, she had to be recast. She was replaced by Kat Dennings.
Vega made her Broadway debut as Penny Pingleton in Hairspray in 2007.[5]
In 2009, she played Ruby Gallagher on the ABC Family television sitcom Ruby & The Rockits, which also starred Patrick and David Cassidy. The series was not renewed for a second season.
Vega played Wick in the 2012 film The Devil’s Carnival, an upcoming film from director Darren Lynn Bousman and screenwriter Terrance Zdunich, who previously worked with Vega in Repo! The Genetic Opera.[6]
Vega plays the young heroine in Aerosmith‘s music video Legendary Child.[7]
Music
She recorded three songs for the soundtracks while playing Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kids films. She released her debut single, “Isle of Dreams”, to coincide with the release of the second film. She also released “Game Over”, for the third film. Another song, “Heart Drive” featuring Bobby Edner, was also recorded for Spy Kids 3. She also has recorded songs for the movie Repo! The Genetic Opera, released in 2008.
Vega sang the song “Christmas is the Time to Say ‘I Love You’” in the ABC Family film Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe. The track appears on the compilation album Songs to Celebrate 25 Days of Christmas, which was released on November 3, 2009 by Walt Disney Records. The music video for the song premiered during the ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas programming block in 2009.
Personal life
 |
|
| Sean Covel |
Vega enjoys freshwater fishing, can speak Spanish fluently, is an experienced gymnast, and describes herself as a Christian.[8][9] Vega married film producer Sean Covel on October 10, 2010 in a ceremony held in his hometown of Lead, South Dakota. She wore an Ian Stuart gown[10] and was walked down the aisle by Robert Rodriguez. Vega is close friends with Nikki Reed, and was the maid of honor at Reed’s wedding to Paul McDonald on October 16, 2011.
In July 2012, Vega announced on Twitter that she had divorced Covel.[11] Citing irreconcilable differences, Vega and her ex already have a division of property based upon a “written agreement.” [12]
Filmography
| Television | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1993– 1994 |
Evening Shade | Emily Newton | 6 episodes |
| 1995 | ER | Bonnie Howe | Episode: “Sleepless in Chicago“ |
| Chicago Hope | Sara Wilmette | Episode: “Every Day a Little Death“ | |
| 1996 | Life’s Work | Tess Hunter | Pilot |
| 1998 | The Magnificent Seven | Olivia Greer | Episode: “Safecracker“ |
| To Have & to Hold | Kelly McGrail | 7 episodes | |
| 1999 | Ladies Man | Wendy Stiles No. 2 | 9 episodes |
| 2002 | All That | Carmen Cortez | Episode: “Spy Kids/ Play“ |
| 2003 | The Bernie Mac Show | Jill | Episode: “Magic Jordan“ |
| 2003 | Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls | Herself | Episode: Siblings “Eli vs. Kali“ |
| 2009 | Ghost Whisperer | Serena | 2 episodes: “Endless Love” & “The Book of Changes“ |
| Ruby & The Rockits | Ruby Gallagher | main character, 10 episodes | |
| 2010 | The Middle | Morgan | 2 episodes: “The Break-Up” and “Worry Duty“ |
| 2012 | Unsupervised | Christina | Main Role |
| Royal Pains | Hollister | Episode: “Imperfect Storm” | |
| Film | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1995 | Nine Months | Molly Dwyer | |
| It Was Him or Us | Young Carrie | TV film | |
| 1996 | A Promise to Carolyn | Young Kay | TV film |
| Twister | Jo Harding (age 5) | ||
| Shattered Mind | Sarah | also known as The Terror Inside | |
| The Glimmer Man | Cole’s Daughter | cameo | |
| Ghosts of Mississippi | Claire DeLaughter | ||
| 1998 | Dennis the Menace Strikes Again | Gina | direct-to-video |
| 1999 | NetForce | Susie Michaels | Mini-series |
| The Deep End of the Ocean | Kerry Cappadora | ||
| Run the Wild Fields | Opal ‘Pug’ Miller | ||
| 2001 | Follow the Stars Home | Amy Williams | also known as A Second Chance (Australia) |
| Spy Kids | Carmen Cortez | first starring role | |
| 2002 | Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams | Main Role | |
| 2003 | Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over | Main Role | |
| 2004 | Sleepover | Julie Corky | first main billing role |
| 2005 | Odd Girl Out | Vanessa | Lifetime Original Movie |
| 2006 | State’s Evidence | Sandy | Direct to DVD, filmed in 2004 |
| Walkout | Paula Crisostomo | HBO original movie | |
| Marrying God | Ivy | Short film | |
| 2007 | Remember the Daze | Holly | originally titled “The Beautiful Ordinary” |
| 2008 | Repo! The Genetic Opera | Shilo Wallace | |
| 2009 | Innocent | Ashley | originally titled “Helix” |
| Broken Hill | Kat Rogers | ||
| 2010 | Mother’s Day | Jenna Luther | Minor role, second film with Darren Lynn Bousman; third with Matt O’Leary |
| Cafe | Sally | ||
| 2011 | From Prada to Nada | Mary | |
| Summer Song | Ellie | Main role, second film with Aram Rappaport | |
| Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World | Carmen Cortez | Main role | |
| 2012 | The Pregnancy Project | Gaby Rodriguez | Lifetime Original Movie |
| The Devil’s Carnival | Wick | short, third film with Darren Lynn Bousman | |
| The Clockwork Girl | Tesla | Main role, voice | |
| The Mine | Sharon | Main role, shot in 2009 | |
| 2013 | 23 Blast | Ashley | Main role |
| Machete Kills [13] | KillJoy | First non-Spy Kids film with Robert Rodriguez | |
Discography
Singles
| Year | Song | Album | Writer(s) | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | “Isle of Dreams” | Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams | Robert Rodriguez | Milan Records |
| 2003 | “Game Over” | Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over | Robert Rodriguez & Rebecca Rodriguez | |
| “Heart Drive” | ||||
| 2008 | “Seventeen” | Repo! The Genetic Opera (soundtrack) | Terrance Zdunich & Darren Smith | Lionsgate Records |
| 2009 | “Lost In Your Own Life” | Ruby & The Rockits | Shaun Cassidy | Hollywood Records |
| “You are Where I Live” | David Cassidy | |||
| “The Way It’s Gonna Be” | ||||
| “Forever Your Song” | ||||
| “Too High a Price” | ||||
| “Possibilities” (with Austin Butler) | ||||
| “Now When I Close My Eyes” | ||||
| “Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You“[14] | Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe | Billy Squier | Walt Disney Records |
Soundtrack
- 2002: Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams
- 2003: Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
- 2008: Repo! The Genetic Opera
- 2009: Songs To Celebrate 25 Days Of Christmas
Music videos
| Year | Title | Album | Director | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | “Isle of Dreams” | Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams | Robert Rodriguez | Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams |
| 2009 | “You are Where I Live” | Ruby & The Rockits | Ted Wass | ABC Family/ABCFamily.com |
| 2009 | “Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You” | Songs to Celebrate 25 Days of Christmas | Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe/ABC Family Channel | |
| 2004 | “Game Over” |
Who is Allah Rakha Rahman?
Who is Allah Rakha Rahman? The entertainment and music world knows him as A. R. Rahman, he an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician, multi-instrumentalist and philanthropist.[3] Described as the world’s most prominent and prolific film composer by Time,[4] his works are notable for integrating Eastern classical music with electronic music sounds, world music genres and traditional orchestral arrangements. He has won two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, four National Film Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards and thirteen Filmfare Awards South in addition to numerous other awards and nominations.
His extensive body of work for film and the stage earned him the
nickname “the Mozart of Madras” and several Tamil commentators and fans
have coined him the nickname Isai Puyal (English: Music Storm).[5] In 2009, Time placed Rahman in its list of World’s Most Influential People.[6] The UK based World Music magazine Songlines named him one of ‘Tomorrow’s World Music Icons’ in August 2011.[7]
Having set up his own in-house studio called Panchathan Record Inn at Chennai,
arguably one of Asia’s most sophisticated and high-tech studios,
Rahman’s film scoring career began in the early 1990s with the Tamil
film Roja. Working in India’s various film industries, international cinema and theatre, Rahman has reportedly sold more than 300 million records worldwide of his film scores and soundtracks as of 2009 for over 100 film scores worldwide, making him one of the world’s all-time top selling recording artists.[8][9][10]
In a notable career spanning two decades, Rahman has garnered
particular acclaim for redefining contemporary Indian film music and
thus contributing to the success of several films. Rahman is currently
one of the highest paid composers of the motion picture industry. He has
also become a notable humanitarian and philanthropist, donating and
raising money for beneficial causes and supporting charities.
Early life
A. R. Rahman was born as A. S. Dileep Kumar on January 6, 1966 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India to a musically affluent Mudaliar Tamil family.[11] His father R. K. Shekhar, was a film music composer and conductor for Tamil as well as Malayalam films. Rahman used to assist his father during recordings and play keyboard
for the songs. Rahman lost his father at the age of 9 and his family
had to rent out his father’s musical equipment as their source of
income.[12] Rahman was raised by his mother Kareema (born Kashturi).[13]
During these formative years, Rahman served as a keyboard player and an
arranger in bands such as “Roots”, with childhood friend and
percussionist Sivamani, John Anthony, Suresh Peters, JoJo and Raja.[3] Rahman is the founder of the Chennai-based rock group, “Nemesis Avenue”.[14] He mastered various music instruments like Keyboard, Piano, Synthesizer, Harmonium and Guitar.
His curiosity in Synthesizer in particular, increased because, he says,
it was the “ideal combination of music and technology”.[citation needed]
He began early training in music under Master Dhanraj.[15][16]
At the age of 11, he started playing musical instruments in the
orchestra of Malayalam composer and a close friend of Rahman’s father, M. K. Arjunan.[17] Soon he started working with other composers such as M. S. Viswanathan, Ilaiyaraaja, Ramesh Naidu, Raj-Koti[16] and also accompanied Zakir Hussain, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and L. Shankar on world tours and obtained a scholarship with Trinity College, London, board of the Trinity College of Music.[13] Studying in Chennai, he graduated with graded examinations and a diploma in Western classical music via the college.[18] He was introduced to Qadiri Islam
when his younger sister fell severely ill in 1984. Subsequently, Rahman
along with other members of his family converted to Islam in 1989, when
he was 23 years old. He changed his name from A. S. Dileep Kumar to
Allah Rakha Rahman i.e. A. R. Rahman.[13][19]
Career
Film scoring and soundtracks
When he was nine, Rahman accidentally played a tune on piano during
his father’s recording for a film, which R. K. Shekhar later developed
into a complete song, “Vellithen Kinnam Pol”, for the Malayalam film Penpada. This track credited to his father, was sung by Jayachandran and penned by Bharanikkavu Sivakumar.[20] His film career began in 1992, when he started Panchathan Record Inn,
a music recording and mixing studio attached to the backyard of his
house. Over time it would become the most advanced recording studio in
India,[21] and arguably one of Asia’s most sophisticated and high-tech studios.[22] He initially composed scores for documentaries, jingles for advertisements and Indian Television
channels and other projects. In 1987 Rahman, then still known as Dileep
got his first opportunity to compose jingles for new range of watches
being launched by Allwyn.[23] In 1992, he was approached by film director Mani Ratnam to compose the score and soundtrack for Ratnam’s Tamil film Roja.[21][24] The debut led Rahman to receive the Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) award for Best Music Director at the National Film Awards, an unprecedented win for a first-time film composer. Rahman has since been awarded the Silver Lotus three more times for Minsara Kanavu (Tamil) in 1997, Lagaan (Hindi) in 2002, Kannathil Muthamittal (Tamil) in 2003, the most ever by any composer.[25]
Roja’s score met with high sales and acclaim in both its original and dubbed versions, led by the theme song “Chinna Chinna Aasai” bringing about a marked change in film music at the time. Rahman followed this with successful scores for Tamil–language films of the Chennai film industry including Ratnam’s politically charged Bombay, the urbanite Kadhalan, Thiruda Thiruda and S. Shankar‘s debut film Gentleman, spurred by the popular dance song “Chikku Bukku Rayile“.[26][27][28][29] Rahman worked with director Bharathiraaja‘s Kizhakku Cheemayile and Karuththamma, producing successful Tamil rural folk inspired scores and delivered the grand saxophonic score for K. Balachander‘s Duet.[30][31] The 1995 film Indira and the romantic comedies Mr. Romeo and Love Birds all gained him considerable notice.[32][33][34] His fanbase in Japan increased with Muthu ‘s success there.[35]
His soundtracks gained him recognition in the Tamil Nadu film industry
and around the world for his stylistic versatility incorporating Western classical, Carnatic and Tamil traditional/folk music traditions, jazz, reggae and rock music.[36][37][38][39] The soundtrack of Bombay sold 12 million copies worldwide.[40] The “Bombay Theme“—from Ratnam’s Bombay—would later reappear in his score of Deepa Mehta‘s Fire and various compilations and media around the world. It was featured in the Palestinian film Divine Intervention in 2002, and in the Nicolas Cage film Lord of War, in 2005. Rangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, marked Rahman’s debut for Hindi-language films made in the Mumbai film industry.[41] Many successful scores for films including Dil Se.. and the percussive Taal followed.[42][43] Sufi mysticism would inspire the track “Chaiyya Chaiyya” from the former, as well as the composition “Zikr” from his score for the film Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero for which he created large symphonic orchestral and choral arrangements.[19] His score for the Chennai production Minsaara Kanavu garnered Rahman his second National Film Award for Best Music Direction in 1997, and a South FilmFare Award for Best Music Direction in a Tamil film,
breaking a record with six consecutive wins in the latter category.
Rahman would go onto win the award a further three consecutive times.
Musical cues in scores for Sangamam and Iruvar employed Carnatic vocals and instruments such as the veena with leads of rock guitar and jazz.[44] In the 2000s Rahman created hit scores for Rajiv Menon‘s Kandukondain Kandukondain, Alaipayuthey, Ashutosh Gowariker‘s Swades and Rang De Basanti.[45] He composed songs with Hindustani motifs for Water (2005). By the end of 2003, Rahman had sold more than 150 million records of his film scores and soundtracks for over 50 film scores worldwide.[10][40][46]
Rahman has worked with Indian poets and lyricists such as Javed Akhtar, Gulzar, Vairamuthu and Vaali. He has consistently produced commercially successful soundtracks when collaborating with particular film directors such as Mani Ratnam, who he has worked with since Roja, and the director S. Shankar in the films Gentleman, Kadhalan, Indian, Jeans, Mudhalvan, Nayak, Boys, Sivaji and lately for Enthiran.[47]
In 2005, Rahman extended his Panchathan Record Inn studio by establishing AM Studios in Kodambakkam, Chennai, thereby creating the most cutting-edge studio in Asia.[48][49] In 2006, Rahman launched his own music label, KM Music.[50] Its first release was his score to the film Sillunu Oru Kaadhal.[51] Rahman scored the Mandarin language picture Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003 after researching and utilizing Chinese and Japanese classical music,[52] and won the Just Plain Folks Music Award For Best Music Album for his score of the 2006 film Varalaru (God Father).[53] He co-scored the Shekhar Kapur project and his first British film, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, in 2007.[54] He garnered an Asian Film Award nomination for Best Composer at the Hong Kong International Film Festival for his Jodhaa Akbar score.[55] His compositions have been sampled for other scores within India,[56] and appeared in such films as Inside Man, Lord of War, Divine Intervention and The Accidental Husband. In 2008, Rahman scored his first Hollywood picture, the comedy Couples Retreat released the next year, which won him the BMI London Award for Best Score.[57] Rahman scored the film Slumdog Millionaire in 2008, for which he won a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards, becoming the first Asian to do so. The songs “Jai Ho” and “O…Saya“
from the soundtrack of this film met with commercial success
internationally. In 2010, Rahman composed scores for the romance film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, blockbuster sci-fi romance film Enthiran and Danny Boyle‘s 127 Hours. Rahman started off the year 2011 by scoring Imtiaz Ali‘s musical film Rockstar. The soundtrack became a phenomenal success and earned Rahman immense critical praise.[58]
Performing and other projects
Rahman has been involved in several projects aside from film. Vande Mataram,
an album of his original compositions released on India’s 50th
anniversary of independence in 1997, enjoyed great commercial success.[59][60][61] Vande Mataram is the largest selling Indian non-film album to date.[62] He followed it up with an album for the Bharat Bala–directed video Jana Gana Mana, a conglomeration of performances by many leading exponents and artists of Indian classical music.[63]
Rahman has written jingles for ads and composed several orchestrations
for athletic events, television and internet media publications,
documentaries and short films.[64] He frequently enlists the Czech Film Orchestra, Prague and the Chennai Strings Orchestra.
In 1999, Rahman partnered with choreographers Shobana and Prabhu Deva and a Tamil cinema dancing troupe to perform with Michael Jackson in Munich, Germany at his “Michael Jackson and Friends” concert.[65] In 2002, he composed the music for his maiden stage production, Bombay Dreams, commissioned by musical theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.[66] Finnish folk music band Värttinä collaborated with Rahman to write the music for The Lord of the Rings theatre production and in 2004,[25] Rahman composed the piece “Raga’s Dance” for Vanessa-Mae‘s album Choreography performed by Mae and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.[67]
Since 2004, Rahman has performed three successful world tours to audiences in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and India.[25][68] He has been collaborating with Karen David for her upcoming studio album. A two-disc soundtrack, Introducing A. R. Rahman (2006) featuring 25 of his pieces from Tamil film scores was released in May 2006,[69] and his non-film album, Connections was released on 12 December 2008.[70] Rahman also performed at the White House State dinner arranged by US President Barack Obama during the official visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on November 24, 2009.[71] Rahman is one of over 70 artists who performed on “We Are the World 25 for Haiti“, a charity single to raise emergency relief funds in the wake of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.[72] In 2010, Rahman composed “Jai Jai Garvi Gujarat” in honor of the 50th anniversary of the formation of Gujarat State,[73]
“Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam” as part of World Classical Tamil Conference 2010,[74] and the official theme song of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, “Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto“.[75] Rahman organised his first world tour, named A. R. Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour,
in 2010. The ongoing tour was kicked off on June 11 at the Nassau
Coliseum in New York and will span 16 major cities worldwide.[76]
Some of his notable compositions were performed live by the London Philharmonic Orchestra in April 2010.[77] In February 2011, Rahman collaborated with Michael Bolton for his new studio album Gems – The Duets Collection.[78][79] Rahman reworked on his song “Sajna” from the 2009 American film Couples Retreat to create the track.[80]
On 20 May 2011, English musician Mick Jagger announced the formation of a new supergroup, SuperHeavy, which includes Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, Damian Marley, and Rahman.[81] The band’s self-titled album is slated for release in September 2011.[82]
The album will see Mick Jagger singing in Rahman’s composition
“Satyameva Jayate”, which translates to “the truth alone triumphs”.[83]
In January 2012, it was announced the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg would join KM Music Conservatory
musicians in a 100-member concert tour of five Indian cities performing
Rahman’s compositions. The tour, named “Germany and India 2011–2012:
Infinite Opportunities’. Classic Incantations”, will mark the centenary
of Indian cinema and of Studio Babelsberg, the world’s oldest film
studio.
Music style and impact
Skilled in Carnatic music, Western classical, Hindustani music and the Qawwali style of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan,
Rahman has been noted to write film songs that amalgamate elements of
these music systems and other genres, layering instruments from
differing music idioms in an improvisatory manner.[19][84] Symphonic orchestral themes have accompanied his scores, occasionally employing leitmotif. In the 1980s, Rahman recorded and played arrangements on monophonic sound, synonymous with the era of his musical predecessors K. V. Mahadevan and Vishwanathan–Ramamoorthy.
In later years his methodology changed as he experimented with the
fusion of traditional instruments with new electronic sounds and
technology.[19][85]
Rahman’s musical interests and outlook stem from his love of
experimentation. Rahman’s compositions, in the vein of past and
contemporary Chennai film composers, bring out auteuristic uses of counterpoint, orchestration and the human voice, melding Indian pop music with unique timbre,
forms and instrumentation. By virtue of these qualities, broad ranging
lyrics and his syncretic style, the appeal of his music cuts across the
spectrum of classes and cultures within Indian society.[86]
His first soundtrack for Roja was listed in Time‘s “10 Best Soundtracks” of all time in 2005. Film critic Richard Corliss
felt the “astonishing debut work parades Rahman’s gift for alchemizing
outside influences until they are totally Tamil, totally Rahman.”[87] Rahman’s initial global reach is attributed to the South Asian diaspora.
Described as one of the most innovative composers to ever work in the
industry, his unique style and immense success transformed film music in
the 1990s prompting several film producers to take film music more
seriously.[88] The music producer Ron Fair considers Rahman to be “one of the world’s great living composers in any medium”.[89]
The director Baz Luhrmann notes
| “ | I had come to the music of A. R. Rahman through the emotional and haunting score of Bombay and the wit and celebration of Lagaan. But the more of AR’s music I encountered the more I was to be amazed at the sheer diversity of styles: from swinging brass bands to triumphant anthems; from joyous pop to West-End musicals. Whatever the style, A. R. Rahman’s music always possesses a profound sense of humanity and spirit, qualities that inspire me the most.[90] |
” |
Rahman has introduced the 7.1 technology in south Indian movies to provide better output.[91]
Awards
Rahman was the 1995 recipient of the Mauritius National Award and the Malaysian Award for contributions to music.[92] He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for his first West-End production. A four-time National Film Award winner and recipient of six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards and thirteen Filmfare Awards South for his music and scores.[1] He has been conferred Kalaimamani from the Government of Tamil Nadu for excellence in the field of music, special music achievement awards from the Government of Uttar Pradesh and Government of Madhya Pradesh and the Padma Shri from the Government of India.[93] In 2006, he received an honorary award from Stanford University for contributions to global music.[94] In 2007, Rahman was entered into the Limca Book of Records as “Indian of the Year for Contribution to Popular Music”,[95] and the Guinness World Records in 2010 as the original composer of “Maa Tujhe Salaam”, from the album Vande Mataram – the song performed in the most number of languages worldwide (265).[96] He is the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient from the Rotary Club of Madras.[97] In 2009, for his score of Slumdog Millionaire, Rahman won the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score,[98] the BAFTA Award for Best Film Music, and two Academy Awards for Best Original Music Score and Best Original Song at the 81st Academy Awards. Rahman has received honorary doctorates from Middlesex University and Aligarh Muslim University.[99][100] Later the year Rahman was conferred the honorary doctorate from Anna University in Chennai.[101] He has also won two Grammy Awards, for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album and Best Song Written for a Visual Media.[102] Rahman was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian honor, in 2010.[103] Rahman’s work for the film 127 Hours
garnered him Golden Globe, BAFTA, and two Academy Award nominations for
Best Original Music Score and Best Original Song in 2011.[104][105][106] He is an Honorary Fellow of the Trinity College of Music, presented to him by Trinity College London.[107]
On May 7, 2012, he was conferred Honorary Doctorate from the Miami University, Ohio. During the acceptance speech, he mentioned that he received a Christmas card from the US President’s family and an invitation for the dinner at White House.[108]
Personal life
 |
| Rahman and his wife |
He is married to Saira Banu and has three children, Khatija, Rahima, and Ameen.[109] Ameen sings the track “NaNa” from Couples Retreat and his daughter Khatija the track “Pudhiya Manidha” from Enthiran.[110][111] Rahman is the uncle of composer G. V. Prakash Kumar, who is the son of Rahman’s elder sister, A. R. Reihana.[112] Prakash Kumar’s first work in film was singing on the Rahman composition “Chikku Bukku Rayile” from his score to the 1993 film Gentleman.[113] A. R. Reihana debuted in film singing on the track “Vidai Kodu Engal Naadae” from Kannathil Muthamittal
and is also a music director. Rahman’s younger sister Fathima is in
charge of his Music conservatory in Chennai. The youngest Ishrath has
her own music studio.[114] A. R. Rahman is brother-in-law of film actor Rahman.[115]
An atheist through much of his childhood, in 1989 Rahman converted to
Islam, the religion of his mother’s family. After the early death of
his father, his family went through hard times and Sufism had a great influence on his mother and slowly on his family.[116][117] During the 81st Academy Awards ceremony, he paid tribute to his mother, saying “There is a Hindi dialogue, mere pass ma hai, which means ‘even if I have got nothing I have my mother here’.”[118] He also began his own catchphrase, “Ella pughazhum iraivanukke“, in Tamil
which literally means “All praises dedicated to God”. The phrase was
popularized after Rahman uttered it prior to his speech at the 81st
Academy Awards ceremony.[119]
Humanitarian work
Rahman is involved in various charitable causes. In 2004, he was appointed as the Global Ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership, a project by WHO.[25] He has shown support to charities including Save the Children, India, and worked with Yusuf Islam for his song “Indian Ocean”. The song featured a-ha keyboard player Magne Furuholmen and drummer Travis, Neil Primrose. The proceeds of the song went towards helping orphans in Banda Aceh, that was affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.[120] He produced the single “We Can Make It Better” by Don Asian alongside Mukhtar Sahota.[121] In 2008, Rahman opened his KM Music Conservatory
partnered with Audio Media Education facility to tutor and train
aspiring musicians in vocals, instruments, music technology and sound
design. The conservatory – with preeminent musicians on its panel and a
newly founded symphony orchestra – is located near his studio in Kodambakkam, Chennai, offering courses at Beginners, Foundation and Diploma level. Violinist L. Subramaniam is on its board of advisors.[122] Several of Rahman’s proteges from the studio have gone onto score music for feature films.[123] Rahman composed the theme music for a short film for The Banyan in 2006, in aid of destitute women in Chennai.[124] In 2008, Rahman with noted percussionist Sivamani created a song titled “Jiya Se Jiya”, inspired by the Free Hugs Campaign and promoted it through a video shot in various cities in India.[125]
To see more of Who Is click here
Who is Ricky Dene Gervais?
Who is Ricky Dene Gervais? The entertainment and acting world knows him as Ricky Gervais, he is an English comedian, actor, director, producer, musician, writer and former radio presenter.
Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with Stephen Merchant. In addition to writing and directing the shows, Gervais played the lead roles of David Brent in The Office and Andy Millman in Extras. Gervais has also starred in Hollywood films, Ghost Town and The Invention of Lying. He has performed on four sell-out stand-up comedy tours, written the best-selling Flanimals book series and starred with Merchant and Karl Pilkington in the most downloaded podcast in the world as of March 2009,[2] The Ricky Gervais Show.
He has won seven BAFTA Awards, five British Comedy Awards, two Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards and the 2006 Rose d’Or, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. In 2007 he was voted the 11th greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4‘s 100 Greatest Stand-Ups and again in the updated 2010 list as the 3rd greatest stand-up comic.[3] In 2010 he was named on the TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people.[4]
In 2010 Gervais became the first British person to host the Golden
Globe Awards in 14 years; he returned to host in 2011 and again in 2012.[5]
Early life
Gervais, along with siblings Larry (born 1945), Marsha (born 1948) and Bob (born 1950),[6] was born and brought up in Whitley, Berkshire on June 25, 1961. His father, Lawrence Raymond “Jerry” Gervais (1919–2002), a Franco-Ontarian, emigrated while on foreign duty during the Second World War from London, Ontario, Canada. Jerry Gervais met Eva Sophia House (1925–2000),[7][8] during a blackout,[9] and they settled in Whitley. She died, aged 74, in 2000, of lung cancer.[10]
During Xfm London’s The Ricky Gervais Show and in further newspaper interviews with The Independent,
Gervais noted that he believes his birth was unplanned due to the age
difference between his oldest sibling and himself. During one interview
with The Independent, Gervais tells the author that even his mother admitted his birth was unplanned.[11]
He has claimed that his father was “drunk when he filled in the birth
certificate”, leading to the unusual spelling of his middle name.[12]
Gervais has stated that his upbringing and childhood were stable and
trauma-free, with a high level of honesty and openness between his
family members. He claims that his family, “much like The Waltons“, made fun of each other regularly.[13]
 |
| Jane Fallon |
Gervais attended Whitley Park Infants and Junior Schools and received
his secondary education at Ashmead Comprehensive School, before moving
on to University College London in 1979.[14] He arrived to study biology but changed to philosophy after only two weeks,[15] and earned an upper second-class honours degree in the subject.[16] During his time at UCL, he met Jane Fallon, with whom he has been in a relationship since 1982.[17]
Music
In 1983, during his final year as a student at UCL (University College London), Gervais and Bill Macrae formed the New Wave pop duo, Seona Dancing. They were signed by London Records, which released two of their singles—”More to Lose“
and “Bitter Heart“. The singles failed to break the top 40, with “More to Lose” charting at No.117 and “Bitter Heart” peaking at No.70 on the UK Singles Chart.[18] Despite not being successful in the UK, Seona Dancing did manage to score a hit in the Philippines
with “More to Lose”. According to the 20 December 2003 broadcast of the
Ricky Gervais Show, Gervais later had a band called the Sacred Hearts,
which Ian Camfield described as Gervais’s “Bon Jovi phase”.[citation needed]
Radio
Gervais later worked as an assistant events manager for the University of London Union (ULU),[19] where he continued working until he took a similar job as “head of speech” at Xfm London.[20]
Needing an assistant, Gervais interviewed the first person whose curriculum vitae he saw. The CV belonged to Stephen Merchant. During the interview at a local pub, Merchant agreed to do “all the boring stuff” because of his experience in media studies while Gervais “mess[ed] around”.[21] In 1998 Gervais was made redundant[citation needed] when the station was taken over by the Capital Radio group.
Gervais was music adviser for the BBC drama This Life, which was being produced by his girlfriend, Jane Fallon. He and Merchant also contributed sketches to BBC Radio 1‘s The Breezeblock in 1999 and 2000.
 |
| Gervais on The Office |
After the first series of The Office,
Gervais and Merchant returned to Xfm in November 2001 for a Saturday
radio show. The show ran intermittently until January 2004 with breaks
of 1–3 months between new shows. This was when the pair first worked
with Karl Pilkington, who produced the shows and later collaborated with them on their series of podcasts.
Podcast
On 5 December 2005 Guardian Unlimited
began offering free weekly podcasts featuring Gervais, Merchant, and
Pilkington. Throughout January and February 2006 the podcast was
consistently ranked the number-one podcast in the world; it appeared in
the 2007 Guinness World Record for the world’s most-downloaded podcast, having gained an average of 261,670 downloads per episode during its first month.[2]
On 20 February 2006, after the conclusion of the twelve-podcast series,
it was announced that all future episodes would be available from
Audible.com at a “nominal fee” (later, these had to be called audiobooks in accordance with iTunes policy). Two more series—-each with six podcasts—-were released between February and September 2006.
In late 2006 three more free podcasts were released. Together called
“The Podfather Trilogy”, they debuted individually at Halloween,
Thanksgiving and Christmas. These three were known by Ricky and Steve as
“The Fourth Season”. In October 2007 another free full-length podcast
was released through iTunes; this podcast was originally given out for
free during a performance of Gervais’s Fame tour in London. On 25
November 2007 Gervais, Merchant and Pilkington released another free
full-length podcast, which lasted just over an hour.
In August 2008 Gervais, Merchant and Pilkington recorded their fifth
season of audiobooks, totalling 4 chapters, which were released on 16
September 2008. These audiobooks were described as the ‘guide to…’
series, covering several topics. As of May 2011, there are 12 “Guides”
in total: Medicine, Natural History, Arts, Philosophy, The English,
Society, Law & Order, The Future, The Human Body, The Earth, The World Cup 2010 & Comic Relief. The conversations typically begin on topic, but constantly stray away from the topic at hand.
Television
 |
| Gervais on The Office |
Gervais has contributed to the BAFTA-winning The Sketch Show (ITV), penning several sketches. His mainstream-TV debut came in September 1998 as part of Channel 4‘s “Comedy Lab” series of pilots. His one-off show Golden Years focused on a David Bowie–obsessed
character called Clive Meadows. Gervais then came to much wider
national attention with an obnoxious, cutting persona featured in a
topical slot that replaced Ali G‘s segments on the satirical Channel 4 comedy programme The 11 O’Clock Show in early 1999, in which his character used as many expletives
as was possible and produced an inordinate amount of politically
incorrect statements. Among the other regular featured comedians on the
show was Mackenzie Crook, later a co-star of The Office. Two years later, Gervais went on to present his own comedy chat show for Channel 4 called Meet Ricky Gervais; it was poorly received and has since been mocked by Gervais himself. The Independent newspaper has described Gervais as “obsessed by his own celebrity”, but adds, “Who wouldn’t want to be Peter Lawford in a comedy Rat Pack?” in reference to Ricky Gervais Meets…; the article, however, also describes him as “a very funny man” who “created one of the great sitcoms”.[22] The Guardian’s Chris Tryhorn explained the “few gripes” he had with Extras, “particularly in the second series”. “You can forgive Gervais a certain arrogance after the success of The Office, but…” He remarks on the confused tone of the series, taking in the clash between the broad comedy of characters Barry (Shaun Williamson) and Darren (Stephen Merchant), and the apparent parody of this style with When The Whistle Blows,
and “given their total indulgence of Gervais, the BBC is portrayed as
interfering, its comedy department run by a rather crudely stereotyped gay couple”.[23]
Throughout this time, Gervais also wrote for the BBC sketch show Bruiser and The Jim Tavare Show, and he had a cameo role in Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes‘s sitcom, Spaced, as Dave. Pegg later joked that Dave was a younger David Brent and that he and Hynes were the real minds behind The Office. Gervais also appeared in a few of Channel 4′s ‘Top 100…’ list programmes, and he voiced the character of Penguin in Robbie the Reindeer‘s Legend of the Lost Tribe. His voice was redubbed for the US market.
On 5 January 2006 he interviewed Larry David in a one-off special, Ricky Gervais Meets… Larry David. On 25 and 26 December of the same year Channel 4 aired similar specials in which he interviewed the actor/comedian Christopher Guest and comedian Garry Shandling. There are no plans for further episodes of Meets…, although editions with John Cleese and Matt Groening were recorded in 2006 for broadcast in 2007. A source claimed, “The Shandling experience put him off for good”.[24]
 |
| Gervais on The Simpsons |
Gervais guest-starred in an episode of The Simpsons entitled “Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife“, which aired on 26 March 2006 in the United States, on 23 April 2006 on satellite station Sky One
in the United Kingdom (first appearing on terrestrial television in
2010), and on 18 July 2006 in Australia. He is the only British comic to
write and star in a Simpsons episode. The episode was the
highest rated in Sky One’s history, arguably because of its extensive
promotion, which revolved around the angle that Gervais was the
episode’s sole writer (and the first guest star on the show to also
receive a writing credit for the episode of his appearance). Gervais
clarified the extent of his input in a joint interview (with Christopher
Guest) for Dazed and Confused magazine (January 2006): “No, all I did was put down a load of observations on an email and they made it look like a Simpsons
script. I’m going to get the credit, but I think everyone in the
industry knows it was a joint effort”. Asked in a separate interview
about how his idea for the episode (in which Homer swaps Marge on a game
show) came about, Gervais replied:
I’ve always been fascinated with reality game shows but I think it was my girlfriend’s idea. We watch Celebrity Big Brother at the moment, we watch I’m a Celebrity, Get Me out of Here… we watch all those reality TV shows — The Office came out of those docu-soaps”.[25]
Gervais, a longstanding Simpsons fan, presented a segment to mark the show’s 20th anniversary on BBC Two‘s The Culture Show on 16 June 2007. Gervais has also guest-starred on Alias (appearing in the third-season episode “Façade“) as Daniel Ryan, a former Royal Navy bomb-disposal specialist turned rogue Irish Republican Army bomb-maker. He has said about the appearance, “I did an episode of Alias, and I can’t watch it. Me being serious. I can’t watch it”.
Gervais made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live in a Digital Short during which he claims that The Office was adapted from a Japanese programme of the same name (with Steve Carell
reprising his role as Michael Scott). The sketch re-creates scenes from
the American and British pilot episode with Japanese elements (although
in an exaggerated way). “It’s funny”, Gervais laughs at the end,
“because it’s racist”.
In January 2009, Gervais was interviewed by James Lipton for Season 15 of BravoTV’s Inside the Actors Studio.
In January 2010, he hosted the 67th Golden Globe Awards, making him the first master of ceremonies since 1995. He stated:
“I have resisted many other offers like this, but there are just some things you don’t turn down.”[26]
His performance as host received a mixed response with positive reviews from the New York Daily News and the Associated Press, but also some negative comments from industry bible, and The Hollywood Reporter.[27][28] He returned to host the show again in 2011 and 2012, and his performance was more warmly received by critics.
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| Gervais on Curb Your Enthusiam |
Gervais was a guest judge on Jerry Seinfeld‘s NBC show The Marriage Ref alongside Larry David and Madonna.[29] On 1 April 2010, Gervais made his first appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on NBC.
In June 2010, it was announced that Gervais had been cast in the upcoming Season 8 of Curb Your Enthusiasm playing himself.[30]
As of April 2011, he has made 18 guest appearances on