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 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 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 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.
 |
| 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 Late Show with David Letterman on the CBS network.
The Office
In August 1999, while on a BBC production course, Stephen Merchant
had to make his own short film. He chose to make a docu-soap parody,
set in an office. This sketch later formed the basis of the interview episode.[31] With help from Ash Atalla, Merchant passed this tape on to the BBC’s Head of Entertainment Paul Jackson at the Edinburgh Fringe, who then passed it on to Head of Comedy Jon Plowman, who eventually commissioned a full-pilot script from Merchant and Gervais.
The first six-episode series of The Office aired in the UK in July and August 2001 to little fanfare or attention.[32]
Word-of-mouth, repeats, and DVDs helped spread the word, building up
huge momentum and anticipation for the second series, also comprising
six episodes, in September 2002.[33] The second series topped the BBC Two ratings, and the show then switched to BBC One in December 2003 for its final two special episodes.
The Office has since been remade for audiences in Sweden, France, Germany, Quebec, Brazil and the United States. Gervais and Merchant are producers of the American version, and they also co-wrote the episode “The Convict” for the show’s third season. The original UK version is currently airing on Adult Swim
on Fridays, and prior to the show’s airing, Gervais appears as himself
talking about the episode that will air. In one of those segments
Gervais claimed the episode “Training” to be his favourite.
Extras
Extras had its debut on the BBC on 21 July 2005; it received
its premiere on HBO in the United States in September 2005. Written and
directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the sitcom ran for
twelve episodes and starred Gervais as Andy Millman, a background artist. Millman is more self-aware and intentionally humorous than Gervais’s The Office character David Brent.
Guest stars on the first series of Extras include Ross Kemp, Les Dennis, Patrick Stewart, Vinnie Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Stiller, Kate Winslet and Francesca Martinez. A second series began on 14 September 2006 in the UK and featured appearances by Daniel Radcliffe, Dame Diana Rigg, Orlando Bloom, Sir Ian McKellen, Chris Martin, Keith Chegwin, Robert Lindsay, Warwick Davis, Ronnie Corbett, Stephen Fry, Richard Briers, Patricia Potter, Sophia Myles, Moira Stuart, David Bowie, Kate Winslet, Robert De Niro and Jonathan Ross.
A Christmas special of Extras aired on 27 December 2007 in the UK and on 16 December 2007 in the US, featuring guest appearances by George Michael, Clive Owen, Gordon Ramsay, Jonathan Ross and David Tennant.
Some have suggested that Gervais is influenced by Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Larry Sanders Show in making Extras, particularly in the format of celebrities making fools of themselves or subverting their public personas,[23] and in the Gervais joke of someone making inappropriate remarks in front of a member of a minority. He has interviewed both Larry David and Garry Shandling, creators of these shows, on Ricky Gervais Meets….
Extras was awarded the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy on 14 January 2008. Gervais also won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
In February 2007, ventriloquist Keith Harris refused an invitation to appear on the second series of Extras, claiming that Gervais “wanted me to be a racist bigot” and describing the script as “pure filth”.[34] When asked about Harris’s refusal on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Gervais claimed that Harris simply “didn’t get it”.[35] Keith Chegwin, who assumed the role offered to Harris, said “the people who didn’t get it probably think Johnny Depp really is a pirate.”[36]
The Ricky Gervais Show (animated series)
The Ricky Gervais Show is an animated TV show that debuted on US cable network HBO on 19 February 2010.[37][38] In the UK, the first season began airing on 23 April 2010 on Channel 4. The show was developed using original podcast recordings from The Ricky Gervais Show starring Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Karl Pilkington. After receiving a loyal and enthusiastic following in the US, Cable channel HBO recommissioned the show for a second season, which aired in 2011,[39] and a third series which started airing in April 2012.
The original audio show was broadcast in November 2001 on radio station Xfm, and aired in weekly periods for months at a time throughout 2002, 2003, 2004 and mid-2005. In November 2005 Guardian Unlimited offered the show as a podcast series of 12 shows.[40]
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.[41][42] By September 2006, according to the BBC, the podcasts of the series had been downloaded “nearly 8 million” times.[43]
Life’s Too Short
In April 2010, it was announced that Gervais and Stephen Merchant would be writing a new show, an observational sitcom series called Life’s Too Short, from an idea by Warwick Davis. It is described by Gervais as being about “the life of a showbiz dwarf” and as “a cross between Extras and Curb Your Enthusiasm and One Foot in the Grave but with a dwarf. That is out and out funny.”[44]
The show stars actor Warwick Davis playing a fictionalised version of himself, as well as Gervais and Merchant in cameo roles as themselves.[45][46] The show began airing on BBC Two on 10 November 2011.[47][48] Premium cable channel HBO, who co-produced the series with the BBC, have the US rights and began airing the series on 19 February 2012.[49][50]
Derek
In November 2011, Gervais filmed in London a 35-minute pilot episode for a potential comedy-drama series called Derek, which aired on Channel 4 on 12 April 2012.[51][52] The pilot is solely written and directed by Gervais and features him in the title role of Derek Noakes, a 49-year-old retirement home worker, who “loves animals, Rolf Harris, Jesus, Deal or No Deal, Million Pound Drop and Britain’s Got Talent – but his main hobby is autograph hunting”. The character first appeared as an aspiring comedian who loves animals and still lives with his mother in a 2001 Edinburgh Festival Fringe sketch.[53][54] Gervais says Derek was “an excuse to see the world differently.”[55] Gervais’s co-host Karl Pilkington makes his acting debut as Derek’s friend and caretaker Dougie who also works in the retirement home. British comedian Kerry Godliman plays Derek’s best friend Hannah and David Earl plays Kev. The episode is produced by Charlie Hanson.[56]
Gervais said that the series is about “kindness [being] more
important than anything else”. He added “It’s about the forgotten —
everyone’s forgotten. It’s all these arbitrary people who didn’t know
each other, and they’re in there now because they’re in the last years
of their life. And it’s about the people who help them, who themselves
are losers and have their own problems. It’s about a bunch of people
with nothing, but making the most of it, and they’re together.”[57]
Gervais said he wanted to “do normal people with normal problems again”
after exploring fame in his previous series and “get close to real
emotion”.[55] He chose to set the sitcom in a retirement home after he watched Secret Millionaire
– “It was always these people with huge problems who were helping other
people. I thought about having Derek help old people because no one
cares about old people in this country… I think it’s perfect for now.”[58]
The pilot caused controversy even before its broadcast as some
critics felt that Gervais was mocking disabled people. Gervais
responded: “I’ve never thought of him as disabled. He’s not that bright
but neither are Kev or Dougie. He’s cleverer than Baldrick and Father Dougal and he certainly hasn’t got as big a problem as Mr. Bean. When portraying someone with disabilities I usually get someone with that disability to play them.”[55] On 9 May 2012, Channel 4 announced that it had commissioned a full series of Derek to air in early 2013.[59]
Stand-up comedy
Gervais made some attempts at stand-up in the late 1990s, but his first successful show took place at the Cafe Royal, as part of the 2001 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Titled Rubbernecker, the show also featured Jimmy Carr, Robin Ince and Stephen Merchant.
Gervais later toured the UK in 2003 with his stand-up show Animals. The Politics
tour followed a year later. Both of these shows were recorded for
release on DVD and television broadcast. The third part of the themed
live trilogy, Fame, took place in 2007. It started in Glasgow in January and ended in Sheffield in April. Blackpool reported selling out of tickets within 45 minutes of them going on sale.[60] More dates were added.
Newsnight Review‘s panel saw Animals during its Bloomsbury run and covered it in January 2003. They were not favourable, with Private Eye editor Ian Hislop being the most explicit in his criticism.[61] After this, Gervais closed each show by calling Hislop an “ugly little pug-faced cunt”. Further coverage on Newsnight Review has been overwhelmingly favourable, with the panelists playing themselves in promos for the second series of Extras. Panel regulars Germaine Greer, Mark Kermode and Mark Lawson also appeared as themselves reviewing When The Whistle Blows
in a series episode. Critic Mark Lawson is a great admirer of Gervais
and Merchant, having interviewed them extensively for television, print Front Row, and the Edinburgh International Television Festival.
Fame
was the subject of some controversy in January 2007 when Gervais told a
story, ostensibly about how people will do anything to become famous,
to a Scottish audience.[62]
The story referred to a question asked of Gervais five years earlier by
a reporter: what could someone do to become famous like you? To which
he replied, “Go out and kill a prostitute”. He followed up with the punch line, “I won’t do that bit in Ipswich”, referring to the December 2006 murders of five prostitutes in Ipswich.
The joke drew criticism from the father of victim Tania Nicol: “These
days, they want to make a joke out of anything. I feel he’s just being
uncaring, quite honestly”. Gervais defended himself: “I do want people
to know that that happened five years ago and is not related to anything
now. That is the problem with comedy, a joke that is funny today can be
a terrible faux pas tomorrow”.
Gervais’s fourth show was entitled Science, and commenced with an eleven date tour in August 2009 at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow.[63] The show opened to little critical praise.[64] Writing for The Independent, Julian Hall gave Science two stars out of five, stating that it was Gervais’s “most disappointing” offering yet.[65] The DVD for Science was released on 15 November 2010.[66] In November 2009 he headlined the sixth annual New York Comedy Festival at Carnegie Hall, New York.[67]
Gervais has begun writing his fifth stand-up routine, to be titled Humanity.[68]
Grand Theft Auto IV
Gervais is one of two featured comedians (the other being Katt Williams) in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV who performs at the Comedy Club and on the television in the game.
DVD releases
| Title | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Animals | 17 November 2003 | Live at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London |
| Politics | 15 November 2004 | Live at the Palace Theatre, London |
| Fame | 12 November 2007 | Live at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo, London |
| Science | 22 November 2010 | Live at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo, London |
Books
Flanimals
Gervais released a children’s book in 2004, Flanimals (illustrated by his Rob Steen), which depicted nonsense animals. After the success of this book, he released its sequel More Flanimals in 2005, with Flanimals of the Deep coming the next year. A new Flanimals book, Flanimals: The Day of the Bletchling, was released in October 2007. Flanimals: Pop Up was also published in 2009.[69]
There is a wide range of Flanimals merchandise available, including dolls and gift cards. A six-part Flanimals TV series has been commissioned by ITV,[70] although Gervais had previously claimed signing a Hollywood film deal[71] so that a franchise could be developed. “That way it stands a chance of being the next Dr. Seuss or Mr. Men“.[72]
Other books
The Office scripts have been released in book form, with Series 1 issued in 2002, and the remaining episodes following in 2003.
In late 2006 the Extras script book was released, as well as The World of Karl Pilkington presented by Gervais and Merchant. These were essentially transcripts of Xfm/podcast routines performed by the three.
Film
Gervais’s film career has included small roles as the voice of a pigeon in 2005’s Valiant, as a studio executive in 2006’s For Your Consideration, as museum director Dr. McPhee in 2006’s Night at the Museum and its sequel Night at the Museum 2, and as “Ferdy the Fence” in the 2007 film Stardust. His role in Night at the Museum has proven to be one of Gervais’s most popular roles, with the film grossing $570 million worldwide.[73][74]
Gervais starred in Ghost Town, which was released on 19 September 2008, and was in Lowell, Massachusetts during May 2008 filming his next project, The Invention of Lying, starring himself, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe and Louis C.K., with appearances by Tina Fey, Jeffrey Tambor, Jason Bateman, Roz Ryan, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Edward Norton. The comedy, released in 2009, was co-written and co-directed by Gervais and Matt Robinson.[75]
Gervais and co-writer Stephen Merchant made a film called Cemetery Junction, set in 1970s Britain, about class, love and fulfillment.[76] The film was released in April 2010.
Gervais was the voice of Argonaut in Spy Kids: All the Time in the World, released in 2011. He has also been cast as Mole in the 2012 adaption of The Wind in the Willows, featuring effects by Weta Workshop in New Zealand.[77]
Other appearances
On 2 July 2005 Gervais appeared at the Live 8 event held in London’s Hyde Park, where he performed his famous dance. He produced a series of short films for the cause, linked acts from the studio with Jonathan Ross, and also introduced the group R.E.M..
Gervais also has a role in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV, as himself, appearing in his role as a comedian in a comedy club, and as an interviewee on radio station We Know The Truth. For this, a special 3-minute act was written, recorded and fully motion-captured.[78]
Gervais has also hosted the 2010, 2011, and 2012 Golden Globe Awards.
His 2011 hosting of the awards was controversial for his edgy jokes
that were at the expense of many of the nominees, similar to the New
York Friars Club roast style jokes.[79]
His jibes were described as setting “a corrosive tone” by one critic,
though some celebrities were seen crying from laughter, leaving the
overall reaction to be ‘mixed’.[80][81]
Boxing
In 2002 Gervais took part in a charity boxing match against Grant Bovey — known to the public only due to his relationship with TV personality Anthea Turner. On his Saturday afternoon radio show on Xfm London
Gervais and partners Merchant and Pilkington had discussions on both
Gervais’s attitude towards boxing and training in general, as well as
his likelihood of victory against Bovey. Initially, Merchant had
questions as to why Gervais was participating in the event, due to his
dislike of slight pain and his inexperience with fitness in general.
Gervais was trained for the three-round contest by famous boxing trainer brothers Frank and Eugene Maloney, at their Fight Factory gymnasium. It was the second televised charity boxing match, the first being Bob Mortimer against Les Dennis, for Comic Relief. The fight was televised by the BBC, and Gervais came out on top by a split decision
verdict. Gervais later said that the experience was the ‘most difficult
thing’ he had ever done. He donated his £5,000 prize money to the
training of a Macmillan nurse.
Concert for Diana and Live Earth
On 1 July 2007 Gervais performed at the Concert for Diana in Wembley Stadium, a music event celebrating the life of the Princess of Wales. Towards the end of the event — after a pre-recorded introduction from Ben Stiller — Gervais appeared along with fellow Office star Mackenzie Crook. They performed Free Love Freeway, a song previously heard in the fourth episode of series one of The Office. Due to a technical problem, Gervais then had to fill time until he was able to re-introduce Elton John to close the show, so he did the David Brent dance again, as well as singing the “Little Fat Man” song as performed by David Bowie in episode two of the second series of Extras.
On 7 July 2007 Gervais appeared at the UK leg of Live Earth at Wembley Stadium, London. Gervais introduced Rob Reiner appearing in the guise of spoof film director Marty Di Bergi, who in turn introduced Spinal Tap.
In July 2007, following Gervais’s appearance at the memorial concert for the Princess of Wales, The Guardian ran a column by Daily Mirror television critic Jim Shelley entitled “Call Me Crazy… But Has Ricky Gervais Lost It?”, where he described Gervais as a “tiresome embarrassment”.[82] The following week, The Guardian
noted that Gervais had responded with “an exhilaratingly foul-mouthed
tirade” on his website, concluding with the words, “Yes I am resting on
my fucking laurels you cunt!” In this video Gervais mocked Jim Shelley
typing the words “Resting on his laurels” as Gervais jokingly lashed out
by stating he was resting on his laurels and that he was not going to
make another show for television, quipping “What’s the point? What is
there to beat?”[83]
On 18 October 2011, Gervais attracted criticism for his repeated use
of the word “mong” (short for “mongoloid”), a historically derogatory
term for mentally disabled people, most commonly used against those with Downs syndrome.[84] Gervais claimed the word no longer represented this meaning.[85]
Although other comedians and support groups for the disabled pointed
out that verbal and physical abuse of the disabled was on the increase,[86] Gervais initially remained defiant over his use of the word.[87]
He later apologised, saying that he found it hard to believe that
“idiots” still used the word to refer to people with Down Syndrome.[88]
Personal life
Gervais currently lives in Hampstead,[89] having moved from Bloomsbury, with his girlfriend of 30 years, producer and screenwriter Jane Fallon.
He says they chose not to marry because “there’s no point in us having
an actual ceremony before the eyes of God because there is no God” or
have children because they “didn’t fancy dedicating 16 years of our
lives. And there are too many children, of course”.[90] In August 2008, they bought a second home on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City.[91]
Gervais is a fervent supporter of animal rights, and has been a fan of wildlife documentaries since he was a child.[92] He has spoken out against fox hunting and bullfighting, and wrote to Gordon Brown urging him to stop the use of black bear fur as caps for the Foot Guards.[93][94]
He told Kirsty Young that he is an atheist during a 2007 interview for Desert Island Discs,[95][96] later stating he lost his faith at the age of eight,[97] and in June 2008 he became an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society. In December 2010 he wrote an editorial for The Wall Street Journal defending his lack of faith.[98]
Accolades and awards
Gervais has received many awards for his work on The Office, most notably two Golden Globes (one for acting, one for the show itself), as well as numerous British Academy Television Awards and British Comedy Awards, amongst others.
Gervais received an honorary award at the annual Rose d’Or
ceremony in Switzerland on 29 April 2006. The award is given to “an
individual who has made an exceptional contribution to the global
entertainment business”.[99]
On 16 September 2007, Gervais won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role of Andy Millman on Extras.[100]
| Awarding Body/Event | Awarded |
|---|---|
| BAFTA Awards |
|
| British Comedy Award |
|
| Broadcasting Press Guild Awards |
|
| Emmy Awards |
|
| Golden Globe |
|
| Peabody Awards |
|
| Rose d’Or |
|
| Royal Television Society |
|
| Satellite Awards |
|
| Television Critics Association |
|
| Writers Guild of America |
|
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Dog Eat Dog | Bouncer | |
| 2005 | Valiant | Bugsy | Voice only |
| 2006 | For Your Consideration | Martin Gibb | |
| Night at the Museum | Dr. McPhee | ||
| 2007 | Stardust | Ferdy the Fence | |
| 2008 | Ghost Town | Dr. Bertram Pincus | Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture |
| 2009 | Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian | Dr. McPhee | |
| The Invention of Lying | Mark Bellison | Writer, director, producer[75] | |
| 2010 | Cemetery Junction | Len Taylor | Writer, director, executive producer (with Stephen Merchant) |
| 2011 | Spy Kids: All the Time in the World | Argonaut | Voice only |
| The Muppets | Cameo | Scene cut from final film | |
| 2012 | The Wind in the Willows | Mole | Voice only Pre-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The 11 O’Clock Show | Various | Unknown episodes |
| 1999 | The Jim Tavaré Show | Various | 7 episodes Writer – 12 episodes |
| Comedy Lab | Clive Meadows | Episode: “Golden Years” (Also writer) | |
| 2000 | Bruiser | Recurring | 6 episodes |
| Meet Ricky Gervais | Himself | ||
| 2001 | The Sketch Show | Various | Unknown episodes |
| Spaced | Dave | 1 episode | |
| 2001–2003 | The Office (UK) | David Brent | 14 episodes including 2 Christmas specials Writer, director |
| 2002 | Robbie the Reindeer in Legend of the Lost Tribe | Penguin | Voice |
| 2004 | Alias | Daniel Ryan | Episode: “Façade“ |
| 2005 | Kelsey Grammer Presents: The Sketch Show | Various | Unknown episodes |
| 2005–2007 | Extras | Andy Millman | 13 episodes Writer, director, executive producer |
| 2006 | The Simpsons | Charles Heathbar | Writer Episode: “Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife“ |
| 2008 | Ricky Gervais: Out of England – The Stand-Up Special | Himself | |
| 2009 | Sesame Street | 3 episodes | |
| 2010 | The Ricky Gervais Show | With Karl Pilkington and Stephen Merchant[101] | |
| An Idiot Abroad | With Karl Pilkington and Stephen Merchant | ||
| Louie | Dr. Ben | 2 episodes | |
| 2011 | Life’s Too Short | Himself | With Stephen Merchant and Warwick Davis |
| The Office (US) | David Brent | Episodes: “The Seminar” and “Search Committee“ | |
| The Simpsons | Himself | Episode: “Angry Dad: The Movie“ | |
| Curb Your Enthusiasm | Episode: “The Hero” | ||
| Talking Funny | With Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, and Louis C.K. | ||
| An Idiot Abroad 2: The Bucket List | With Karl Pilkington and Stephen Merchant | ||
| 2012 | Afterlife | God | With Clyde Phillips |
| Family Guy | Billy Finn | Episode: “Be Careful What You Fish For“ | |
| Derek | Derek Noakes | Channel 4 pilot Writer, director and executive producer. |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Grand Theft Auto IV | Himself |
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Who is Russell Brand?
Who is Russell Edward Brand? The Comedy and entertainment world knows him as Russell Brand, he is an English comedian, actor, columnist, singer, author and radio/television presenter.
Brand’s childhood and early adulthood were marked with personal misfortune and addiction. After successfully exiting rehab, Brand achieved fame in the UK in 2003 for his Big Brother spin-off, Big Brother’s Big Mouth. Although he had previously acted in movies and television, his first major role was in the film Forgetting Sarah Marshall which led to a starring role in 2010’s Get Him to the Greek. He has also been a voice actor for animated films such as 2010’s Despicable Me and the 2011 film Hop. He starred in the 2011 remake of the 1981 Dudley Moore film Arthur.
Brand is noted for his eccentricity and his controversies in the British media, including his dismissal from MTV for dressing up as Osama Bin Laden and controversies while presenting at various award ceremonies. The 2008 prank telephone calls he made to Andrew Sachs while co-hosting The Russell Brand Show with Jonathan Ross led to his resignation from the BBC and major policy changes in that organisation. His prior drug use and promiscuity influenced his comedic material and public image. He married American pop singer Katy Perry in October 2010.[4]
Early life
Brand was born June 4, 1975, in Orsett Hospital, Grays, Essex, England, the only child of Barbara Elizabeth and photographer Ronald Henry Brand.[5] Brand’s parents separated when he was six months old, and he was raised by his mother; he has described his childhood as isolated and lonely.[6] When Brand was seven, he was sexually abused by a tutor.[7] When Brand was eight, his mother contracted uterine cancer; a year later she contracted breast cancer.[8] Brand stayed with relatives while his mother underwent treatment.[8] When Brand was 14, he suffered from bulimia nervosa. He left home at age 16 because of differences with his mother’s live-in partner.[8] His mother had lymphoma during this time and he began using recreational drugs such as cannabis, amphetamines, LSD and ecstasy[8][9] Brand said during an interview on National Public Radio‘s Weekend Edition Saturday that he had “a strange relationship with his father, whom he saw sporadically and who took him to visit prostitutes during a trip to the Far East”.[10] After Brand’s parents divorced, his father remarried twice.[11] Later, he also began using cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin.
Brand attended Grays School Media Arts College, a comprehensive. He made his theatrical debut at the age of 15, playing the role of Fat Sam in a school production of Bugsy Malone, which prompted him to become an actor. He began working as an extra, and applied to study at the Italia Conti Academy. He was accepted, and Essex council funded his tuition for an introductory year, with potential funding for three additional years. Brand joined the Academy in 1991, but was expelled during his introductory year for his bad behaviour and use of drugs. Afterward, Brand had small acting roles in children’s show Mud and police dramaThe Bill.
In 1995, Brand applied for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and Drama Centre London and was accepted to Drama Centre. He was expelled in the final term of his last year for smashing a glass over his head and then stabbing himself in the chest and arms after his hearing a criticism of his performance. After leaving Drama Centre, Brand decided to focus on comedy, and began writing material with Karl Theobald. They formed a short-lived double act, Theobald and Brand on Ice.
Career
Stand-up
Brand’s first significant stand-up appearance was at the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year final in 2000. Although he finished fourth, his performance attracted the attention of an agent, Nigel Klarfeld of Gagged and Bound Comedy Ltd.[12] That year, he also made his Edinburgh debut as one-third of the stand-up show Pablo Diablo’s Cryptic Triptych, alongside ventriloquist Mark Felgate and Anglo-Iranian comic Shappi Khorsandi.
In 2004, he took his first one-man show, the confessional Better Now to the Edinburgh Festival, giving an honest account of his heroin addiction. He returned the following year with Eroticised Humour. He launched his first nationwide tour, Shame, in 2006. Brand drew on embarrassing incidents in his own life and the tabloid press’s treatment of him since he became famous. The show was released on DVD as Russell Brand: Live.
 |
| Secret Policeman’s Ball |
Brand appeared in a sketch and performed stand-up at the 2006 Secret Policeman’s Ball. In March 2007, he co-hosted an evening of the Teenage Cancer Trust gigs with Noel Fielding. In December 2007, Brand performed for HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip as an act in the 2007 Royal Variety Performance.
His second nationwide tour, in 2007, was called Russell Brand: Only Joking and released on DVD as Russell Brand: Doin’ Life.
Brand began performing in the US, and recorded a special for Comedy Central titled Russell Brand in New York, which aired in March 2009.[13] Brand began touring the UK, America and Australia from January to April 2009 on a tour called Russell Brand: Scandalous.[14] In October, a further four dates that were performed in November were added to raise money for Focus 12, the drug charity for which Brand is a patron.[15] Russell Brand: Scandalous was released on DVD on 9 November 2009.
Presenting
Brand’s first presenting role came in 2000 as a video journalist on the MTV. He presented Dancefloor Chart, touring nightclubs in Britain and Ibiza, and hosted the tea-time request show Select. However, Brand was fired after coming to work dressed as Osama bin Laden the day after the 11 September 2001 attacks and bringing his drug dealer to the MTV studios.[16]
After leaving MTV, Brand starred in RE:Brand, a British documentary and comedy television programme that aimed to take a challenging look at cultural taboos. It was conceived, written, and hosted by Brand, with the help of his comic partner on many projects, Matt Morgan. The series was shown on the now-defunct digital satellite channel UK Play in 2002.
In 2004, he hosted Big Brother’s Eforum on E4, a sister show to Big Brother 5. The show gave celebrity guests and the public the chance to have their say on the goings-on inside the Big Brother house. For Big Brother 6, the show’s name changed to Big Brother’s Big Mouth. Following Celebrity Big Brother 5, Brand said he would not return to host the Big Brother 8 series of Big Brother’s Big Mouth. In a statement, Brand thanked all the producers for “taking the risk of employing an ex-junkie twerp” to front the show. Of his time presenting the show, he said, “The three years I’ve spent on Big Brother’s Big Mouth have been an unprecedented joy”.[17]
Brand hosted a one-off special called Big Brother According to Russell Brand, in which Brand took a surreal, sideways look at Big Brother through the ages. On 8 January 2008, Brand was the fifth celebrity to “hijack” the Big Brother house,[18] in the E4 show Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack. Brand next returned to MTV in the spring of 2006 as presenter of the chat show 1 Leicester Square, which initially aired at 8 pm on Sundays before being shifted to a post-watershed time of 10 pm on Mondays, allowing for a more adult-oriented theme. Guests have included Tom Cruise, Uma Thurman, The Mighty Boosh, and Boy George. A second series began in September 2006 on MTV UK. After Big Brother 7 finished, Brand presented a debate show called Russell Brand’s Got Issues, on digital channel E4. The viewing figures for the first episode were seen as disappointing, being beaten by nearly all of E4’s main multi-channel rivals despite a big publicity and promotional campaign for the show. The poor ratings prompted the network to repackage the show as The Russell Brand Show and move it to Channel 4.[19] The first episode was broadcast on 24 November on Channel 4,[20] and it ran for five weeks.
Brand presented the 2006 NME Awards. At the ceremony Bob Geldof, who was accepting an award from Brand, said at the podium, “Russell Brand – what a cunt“, to which Brand replied, “Really it’s no surprise [Geldof]’s such an expert on famine. He has after all been dining out on ‘I Don’t Like Mondays‘ for 30 years”.[21] Brand hosted the 2007 BRIT Awards and presented Oasis with an “Outstanding Contribution to Music” award at the event.[22] He also hosted one hour of Comic Relief. On 7 July 2007, he presented at the UK leg of Live Earth at Wembley Stadium, London.
On 12 December 2007, BBC Four aired Russell Brand On the Road, a documentary presented by Brand and Matt Morgan about the writer Jack Kerouac and his novel On the Road. Brand returned to Channel 4 to host Russell Brand’s Ponderland, in which he discussed topics like childhood and science through stand-up comedy. The show first aired on 22 October 2007, and continued for the next five nights. A second series began on 30 October 2008, drawing more than a million viewers, and was broadcast every Thursday night for four weeks, plus a Christmas special that aired in December.
 |
| 2008 MTV Awards |
Brand was later announced as the host of the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, which drew scepticism from the American media, as he was relatively unknown to the American public. Brand’s stint as host of the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards was not without controversy.[23] At one point, he said the night “marked the launch of a very new Britney Spears era”, referring to it as “the resurrection of [Spears]”. He also said, “If there was a female Christ, it’s Britney”.[24] Brand implored the audience to elect Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and later called then–U.S. President George W. Bush “a retarded cowboy fella”, who, in England, “wouldn’t be trusted with scissors”.[24][25] He made several references to the purity rings worn by the Jonas Brothers, but apologised for the comments later in the show.[26] These comments led to Brand receiving death threats by some offended viewers.[27] Brand claimed that MTV asked him to host the 2009 awards after the ratings for the 2008 show were 20% up from the previous year.[28]. Also in 2008 Brand hosted a one off stand up comedy show called Comedy Live Presents: Russell Brand and Friends shown on Channel 4 on 25 January 2008. Brand hosted the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards on 13 September 2009, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.[29][30] The ratings for the 2009 show were the best since the 2004 VMAs.[31] In 2011, Brand guest hosted an episode of the hit American sketch comedy Saturday Night Live.
Acting
In 2002, Brand appeared on the TV shows Cruise of the Gods and White Teeth. In 2005, he played Tommy in the BBC sitcom Blessed, which was written and directed by Young Ones creator Ben Elton. Brand auditioned for the part of Super Hans in the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, but was rejected by the writers in favour of Matt King.[32]
In 2007, Brand appeared in Cold Blood for ITV, playing an ex-con called Ally. Brand played a recovering crack addict named Terry in the pilot for the ITV comedy The Abbey, written by Morwenna Banks.[33]
He voiced the Earth Guardian in Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind.
 |
| Russel Brand as Flash Harry in St Trinian’s |
Brand had a small role in the 2006 movie Penelope, though his first major film role was as Flash Harry in the 2007 film St Trinian’s. He did not reprise the role for the sequel, St. Trinian’s II: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold.
 |
| Russel Brand and Kristen Bell in Forgetting Sarah Marshall |
His breakthrough role was in the 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall, in which he played Aldous Snow, the boyfriend of the title character (played by Kristen Bell). Brand received rave reviews for his performance as Snow, and he revealed the character was changed from an author to a rockstar because of his audition.[34]
Brand starred alongside Adam Sandler in the Disney film Bedtime Stories, which was released on Christmas Day 2008.[35]
He reprised the role of Aldous Snow for a buddy comedy titled Get Him to the Greek, co-starring Jonah Hill.[36] He reunited with Forgetting Sarah Marshall director Nicholas Stoller and producer Judd Apatow for the film.[37]
Brand had a role in Julie Taymor‘s version of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, as Trinculo.[38][39][40]
In 2010, Brand voiced Dr. Nefario in the Universal movie Despicable Me,[41] and guest starred in The Simpsons episode “Angry Dad: The Movie” as himself. Brand also starred in the 2011 live action/CGI animated film Hop, in which he voiced the film’s main protagonist E.B. Hop opened at number one at the Friday box office in the US, earning $11.4 million.[42] The same month, April 2011, he played the title character in a remake of Arthur,[43] written by Peter Baynham.
Brand is set to star as Lonny in a movie adaption of 80s musical Rock Of Ages, which is to be released in cinemas in June 2012. His other upcoming projects include a remake of Drop Dead Fred.[44] Brand will also appear in an Oliver Stone film.[45] Sandler has cast Brand in another film and will produce yet another, co-written by Brand and Matt Morgan, about a con-man posing as a priest; it is tentatively titled Bad Father.[46][47] and he is also set to star as Fred Mumford in a movie adaption of the hit 70s programme Rentaghost.
Radio
Brand’s radio career began in early 2002, when he hosted a Sunday afternoon show with Matt Morgan on London’s Indie Rock station Xfm. Brand was fired from the job after reading pornographic material live on-air.[48]
Brand co-hosted The Russell Brand Show beginning in April 2006 on BBC 6Music. In November 2006, the show transferred to BBC Radio 2 and aired on Saturdays from 9 – 11pm. The show regularly drew about 400,000 listeners.[49] In an episode of the show broadcast on 18 October 2008, Brand and fellow Radio 2 DJ Jonathan Ross made a series of phone calls to actor Andrew Sachs that crudely discussed Sachs’ granddaughter. Sunday tabloid The Mail on Sunday broke the story and regarded the phone calls as obscene. Both presenters were later suspended by the BBC due to the incident,[50] and Brand resigned from his show.[51][52] The BBC was later fined £150,000 by Britain’s broadcast regulator for airing the calls.[53]
Brand returned to radio when he and Noel Gallagher hosted a football talk show on 19 April 2009 for talkSPORT which led to a 250% boost in web traffic.[54][55]
Brand returned to talkSPORT in 9 October 2010, with a Saturday night show that will last 20 weeks. The show will feature clips and back-stage recordings from his Booky Wook 2 promotional tour. Brand will be joined by a host of guests, including the likes of Noel Gallagher and Jonathan Ross.[56]
Writings
From May 2006 till May 2009, Brand wrote a column for The Guardian that focused on West Ham United and the England national football team. A collection of the columns from May 2006 through June 2007 was released on 15 November 2007 in a book titled Irons in the Fire.[57] A second collection of the columns from June 2007 through May 2008 was released on 16 October 2008, titled Articles of Faith. The book also includes Brand interviewing Noel Gallagher, James Corden and David Baddiel about football.[58]
Brand’s autobiography, My Booky Wook, published by Hodder & Stoughton, was released on 15 November 2007 and received favourable reviews. The Observer commented that “Russell Brand’s gleeful tale of drugs and debauchery in My Booky Wook puts most other celebrity memoirs to shame”.[59]
Brand signed a £1.8 million two-book deal with HarperCollins in June 2008. The first book was Articles of Faith, with the second being Booky Wook 2: This Time It’s Personal released on 30 September 2010.[60][61]
Music
Brand recorded a cover of The Beatles song “When I’m Sixty-Four” with composer David Arnold for the 40th anniversary of Sgt.
Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. He contributed two songs to the soundtrack of the 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall in which he appeared as Aldous Snow, lead singer of the fictional band Infant Sorrow.[62] He reprised his role as Aldous Snow in Get Him to the Greek and recorded sixteen songs for the soundtrack.
Brand appeared on the 2010 version of 3 Lions alongside Robbie Williams.[63]
Personal life
Brand lives in Los Angeles.[64] He had been a vegetarian since the age of 14,[65] and became a vegan on October 24, 2011.[66] PETA named him 2011’s Sexiest Vegetarian.[67] He dresses in a flamboyant bohemian fashion, describing himself as looking like an “S&M Willy Wonka“.[68] He has bipolar disorder,[69] has suffered from bulimia,[65] and also went through a period of self-harming.[70] Brand has shown interest in the Hare Krishna Movement and chants the Hare Krishna mantra for drug rehabilitation.[71] During an interview with Ellen DeGeneres on her show in October 2010, Brand talked about his love of Transcendental Meditation.[72][73]
Relationships
After a string of high-profile relationships, Brand developed a
reputation in the media as a ladies’ man. His dating life won him The Sun‘s Shagger Of The Year award in 2006,[74] 2007,[75]
and 2008. The award has been renamed “The Russell Brand Shagger of the
Year Award” in honour of Brand having won three years in a row.[76]
Brand first met American singer/songwriter Katy Perry in summer 2009 when Perry filmed a cameo for Brand’s film Get Him to the Greek (although the cameo did not make it into the final cut of the film).[77] Brand and Perry began dating after meeting again several months later in September 2009[78] at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards,
where Brand, as host, remarked “Katy Perry didn’t win an award and
she’s staying at the same hotel as me, so she’s gonna need a shoulder to
cry on. So in a way, I’m the real winner tonight.” Perry says she threw
a bottle of water at Brand to get his attention and then they went
clubbing together the same night.[79] The couple became engaged in December 2009 when Brand proposed to Perry while on a holiday in India.[80][81][82] The couple married on 23 October 2010 in a traditional Hindu ceremony, near the Ranthambhore tiger sanctuary in Rajasthan, India, the same location where Brand proposed.[83][84]
After 14 months of marriage, Brand filed for divorce from Perry on 30
December 2011 in Los Angeles, citing irreconcilable differences.[85][86]
After Brand and Perry reached an agreement on financial issues, a judge
granted the divorce request in February 2012; however the divorce will
not become effective until July 2012 due to California law requiring a
six-month wait.[87]
Substance abuse and legal issues
Brand is a former heroin and sex addict and a recovering alcoholic. He has had numerous run-ins with the police, having been arrested 12 times.[89][90] During the time of his addiction, he was known for his debauchery. Brand was ejected from The Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh,[91] and he infamously introduced his drug dealer to Kylie Minogue during his time at MTV.[92] He has abstained from drug use since 2002 and is now a patron of the addiction charity Focus 12.[93] His abandonment of drugs and alcohol was instigated by his agent, John Noel, after Brand was caught taking heroin in a bathroom during his Christmas party.[94] Brand regularly attends AA and NA meetings[95] and cites his practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique as a significant factor in his recovery from drug addiction.[96]
On 16 September 2010, Brand was arrested on suspected battery charges after he allegedly attacked a paparazzo who blocked his and Perry’s way to catch a flight at the Los Angeles International Airport.[97][98] On 17 September 2010, he was released from custody after posting $20,000 bail. Footage of the incident was later sent to TMZ.[99] Perry later defended Brand’s actions, and offered an insight into the reasons for his outburst, posting on Twitter that, “If you cross the line & try and put a lens up my dress, my fiancé will do his job & protect me.”
Also according to Katy Perry’s Twitter timeline, Brand was deported from Japan on Sunday 22 May 2011. Perry’s tweet included the hashtag #tokyodreamscrushed[101] The story was later picked up by the media.[89]
Filmography
Title |
Year |
Role |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Trinian’s | 2007 | Flash Harry | |
| Penelope | 2008 | Sam | |
| Forgetting Sarah Marshall | 2008 | Aldous Snow | |
| Bedtime Stories | 2008 | Mickey | |
| Get Him to the Greek | 2010 | Aldous Snow | |
| Despicable Me | 2010 | Dr. Nefario | Voice |
| The Tempest | 2010 | Trinculo | |
| Hop | 2011 | E.B./”Hoff Knows Talent” Production Assistant | Voice/Live-action |
| Arthur | 2011 | Arthur Bach | |
| Rock of Ages | 2012 | Lonny Barnett |
Awards
| Award |
Award category |
Year |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time Out | Best Stand-Up | 2006 | Won[102] |
| Loaded Laftas | Best Stand-Up | 2006 | Won[103] |
| British Comedy Awards | Best Newcomer | 2006 | Won[104] |
| 33rd Annual Television and Radio Awards | Best Television Performer in a Non-Acting Role | 2007 | Won[105] |
| Channel 4 | 100 Greatest Stand-Ups | 2007 | 69th[106] |
| British Comedy Awards | Best Live Stand-Up | 2008 | Won[107] |
| British Comedy Awards | Outstanding Contribution to Comedy | 2011 | Won[108] |
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Who is Mark Consuelos?
Who is Mark Andrew Consuelos? The entertainment world knows him as Mark Consuelos a Spanish-born American television and film actor.
|
Contents |
Personal life
Consuelos was born March 30, 1971, in Zaragoza, Spain[1] to a Mexican father and an Italian mother.[2] He is the youngest of three children, he has a brother, who is a doctor, and a sister, who is a lawyer. Consuelos has lived in Italy and the United States since childhood. He explained on Live with Regis and Kelly that while he does not speak Spanish, he does speak Italian. He grew up in Lebanon, Illinois, and later in Tampa, Florida.[1] He attended Bloomingdale High School in Valrico, Florida, and then went to University of Notre Dame before transferring to and graduating from the University of South Florida with a degree in marketing, in 1994.[3]
In 1995, Consuelos met Kelly Ripa, his co-star on All My Children. The two eloped on May 1, 1996. The couple have three children: Michael Joseph Consuelos (born June 2, 1997), Lola Grace Consuelos (born June 16, 2001), and Joaquin Antonio Consuelos (born February 24, 2003).
Career
Consuelos had a starring role in the educational serial Connect With English, which aired on public television stations as part of the Annenberg/CPB Project.
 |
| Mark in All My Children |
In February 1995, Consuelos had his breakthrough when he landed the role of Mateo Santos on the soap opera All My Children.[1] There, he fell in love with his on-screen love interest Kelly Ripa, and secretly married her in Las Vegas, in May 1996. At the time, he lived on co-star Winsor Harmon‘s sofa; Harmon was one of the few to know that co-stars Ripa and Consuelos were not only dating, but married.[4]
Ripa and Consuelos continued to tape episodes of All My Children until 2002, when Ripa wished to focus more on her other job: taking over for Kathie Lee Gifford as host of what now has become Live with Regis and Kelly. Consuelos has filled in for Philbin.
 |
| Mark in My Super Ex-Girlfriend |
Since leaving All My Children, Consuelos has starred in the feature film The Great Raid, which debuted in theatres in 2005. In 2006, he co-starred in the movie My Super Ex-Girlfriend as “Steve”, and in 2007 he appeared in Wedding Daze.[1] He has been seen on the Lifetime series Missing, with Vivica A. Fox.[1] He also had a part in Ugly Betty.
Consuelos can also be seen hosting two reality dating shows, Age of Love[1] and Science of Love, both airing on NBC. He guest-starred on Third Watch, Friends, American Family, Fortune Hunter, SeaQuest and Hope & Faith.[1]
On 3 October 2008 he performed the marriage ceremony for Howard Stern and model/actress Beth Ostrosky at the Le Cirque restaurant in New York City. The two couples had grown close, which was why Stern asked Consuelos to perform the wedding ceremony. Consuelos agreed, and took it upon himself to seek ordination to make it an official ceremony for Stern and Ostrosky. The guest list for the wedding included Joan Rivers, Barbara Walters, Billy Joel and wife Katie Lee, Jimmy Kimmel, Sarah Silverman, and Stern’s radio co-host Robin Quivers.
Awards and honors
In 1998 and 1999, Consuelos won the American Latino Media Arts Award for “Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Soap Opera”. Consuelos won “Hottest Romance” along with Ripa in 1997 at the Soap Opera Awards.[3]
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Who is Corey Holcomb?
Corey Holcomb is an American stand-up comedian, radio host, and actor. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Holcomb got his start in comedy with the help of another Chicago-area comedian, Godfrey.[1]
Often billing himself as the “ghetto Dr. Phil“,[1] most of Holcomb’s standup material revolves around relationships, particularly relationships gone wrong.[2] In addition to touring the country, he has appeared as a regular on the stand-up/improv-based television shows Comic View, Def Comedy Jam, Last Comic Standing, and Nick Cannon Presents Wild ‘n Out. He has appeared in two comedy specials of his own, Corey Holcomb: The Problem Is You and Comedy Central Presents: Corey Holcomb.
 |
| Holcomb’s character Robert Tubbs on “The Cleveland Show” |
As an actor, Holcomb has appeared as guest star on several sitcoms such as Half & Half and Everybody Hates Chris, as well as minor roles in films such as Like Mike and Dance Flick. Holcomb is a recurring voice actor for the Family Guy spin-off The Cleveland Show, for which he provides the voice of Robert Tubbs, Cleveland’s rival and the ex-husband of his wife Donna.[3] Holcomb has been a regular personality on Jamie Foxx‘s satellite radio channel The Foxxhole since 2007. He currently hosts his own program, The Corey Holcomb 5150 Show, on Monday nights on the Foxxhole, live from the Conga Room.[4]
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Who is Noah Strausser Speer Wyle?
Who is Noah Strausser Speer Wyle? In the entertainment world Noah Wyle is an American film, television and theatre actor. He is best known for his role as Dr. John Truman Carter III in the TV drama ER. He has also played Steve Jobs in the 1999 docudrama Pirates of Silicon Valley and Flynn Carsen in The Librarian franchise. Wyle was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People magazine in 2001.
Early life
Wyle, the middle of three children, was born in Hollywood, California, the son of Marjorie a registered orthopedic head nurse, and Stephen Wyle, an electrical engineer and entrepreneur.[1] His father was Jewish and his mother Episcopalian, and he was raised “fairly nondenominationally”.[2][3] Wyle’s parents divorced in the late 1970s and his mother later married James C. Katz, a film restorationist[4] with three children of his own from a previous marriage. Wyle’s paternal grandparents, Edith and Frank Wyle, founded the Los Angeles Craft and Folk Art Museum. Edith Wyle was an expressionist painter who also created The Egg and The Eye, an innovative café and shop on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile district of Los Angeles, which soon became the preferred hangout for artists, travelers and dreamers.[5]
Education
Wyle was educated at The Thacher School in Ojai, California, and graduated with the class of 1989. Wyle participated in a theater arts program at Northwestern University after his junior year of high school and appeared in high school plays, even winning an award for a play he wrote. After graduation, he studied with acting teacher Larry Moss while living in a small apartment on Hollywood Boulevard.
Career
Wyle was first seen in the Paul Bartel film Lust in the Dust (a western exploitation/parody which starred Tab Hunter, Lainie Kazan and Divine) as an extra in the local gang running the small town of Chile’ Verde.His later parts were a mini-series and featuring in the movie Crooked Hearts (1991) in 1990. In 1993 he worked in another feature, There Goes My Baby. After appearing in several local plays in Los Angeles, he was cast in the box-office hit A Few Good Men, in which he played a Marine jeep driver who testified in court. He also appeared in the feature Swing Kids as a leader in the Hitler Youth, and in the independent movie The Myth of Fingerprints with Roy Scheider, Blythe Danner and Julianne Moore. Additionally, he starred as Lancelot opposite Sheryl Lee in the Television movie Guinevere. Recently, Wyle starred in the original film, The Librarian: Quest for the Spear with Sonya Walger and in its sequel The Librarian: Return to King Solomon’s Mines opposite Gabrielle Anwar and in the third part of the series The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice alongside Stana Katic. His other work has included a critically acclaimed turn as Steve Jobs in the Emmy nominated Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999). He has also appeared in several feature films including: White Oleander opposite Renée Zellweger, Enough opposite Jennifer Lopez, the independent feature Donnie Darko, as the President’s interpreter in the 2000 live-television production of Fail Safe, and in the independent film, The Californians.
ER
Wyle’s big break came when he was given the pilot script for ER and was cast as medical student John Carter. Wyle was the only major cast member of ER to have been with the show since its inception (1994) when he left after its eleventh season (2005). His performances on the show earned him Emmy Award nominations in each of its first five seasons. As part of an ensemble he was nominated several times for the Screen Actors Guild Award, he was recognized with three Golden Globe nominations as Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television and won the 2001 TV Guide Award for Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Wyle left the series at the end of the eleventh season, although he returned in guest appearances for a four-episode arc during the twelfth season. He stated that he left because he wanted to spend more time with his family and friends and to make room for the upcoming generation. However, in 2009, Wyle returned to ER during its 15th and final season for five episodes, including the series finale. According to the Guinness World Records 2005 Special 50th Anniversary Edition, Wyle became the holder of a “Highest paid TV drama actor per episode” record during the 2003/04 season, earning approximately $400,000 per episode. While on ER, Wyle’s estimated salary was $9 million a year. Wyle has also appeared in the most episodes of ER, 255, 4 more than Laura Innes.*[6]
Stage
Along with his film and television career, Wyle has also appeared on stage appearing in a 1995 Los Angeles stage production of The 24th Day with Peter Berg. With The Blank Theatre Company, he performed in The Who, and more recently in Lobster Alice, with Nicholas Brendon, where he played the surrealist painter Salvador Dalí. For his work as one of the producers of The Wild Party at the Blank Theare, he won an NAACP Theatre Award.[7] Wyle has also produced Missouri Waltz at the theatre.
Falling Skies
Wyle is the lead in TNT‘s new sci-fi series from Steven Spielberg titled Falling Skies. Wyle plays the leader of a group of soldiers and civilians that battle against an alien force, according to the network.[8]
Personal life
Wyle dated several women, including actress Samantha Mathis. While filming The Myth of Fingerprints in 1996, he met make-up artist Tracy Warbin. After proposing to her on Valentine’s Day in 1999, they married on May 6, 2000. Together, they have a son, Owen Strausser Speer Wyle (born November 9, 2002), and a daughter, Auden Wyle (born October 15, 2005). Warbin’s pregnancy with Auden was announced on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Wyle bought Bo Derek‘s ranch in Santa Ynez Valley, California, in June 1999, for approximately $2.5 million. They listed their Los Feliz (Los Angeles) home at close to $4.4 million. The traditional-style house was designed by architect Paul Williams, was built in 1934 and has a theater, a detached guest house-office and a landscaped yard with city views, a pool, a koi pond, a patio and a fire pit.
Wyle and Warbin, his wife of almost 10 years, separated in late October 2009, according to People magazine. The couple live in separate residences, and both see their two children daily.[9]
[edit] Interests and philanthropy
In 1999, Wyle made an appearance during the beginning of Steve Jobs‘ Macworld Expo keynote presentation, initially pretending to be Jobs. When the audience caught on, Jobs himself appeared and began to banter with Wyle.[10] It was a practical joke by Jobs and Wyle in light of the movie Pirates of Silicon Valley.
Wyle devotes much of his free time to the international non-profit organization Doctors of the World and to his work as a member of the Human Rights Watch Council. Wyle also serves as the voluntary artistic producer of the Blank Theatre Company in Hollywood, which stages annual young playwrights festival and whose alumni include Ed Asner, Sarah Michelle Gellar, D. B. Sweeney, James Kerwin, Amber Benson, Megan Henning, Travis Schuldt, Warren Davis, Grant Show, and Nicholas Brendon. He also recently acquired Second Stage Theater (Los Angeles) in Hollywood, where the company has mounted numerous successful productions.
Wyle was the spokesperson for The Cover the Uninsured campaign in 2004, which had as Honorary Co-Chairs former Presidents Gerald R. Ford and Jimmy Carter. The Cover the Uninsured Week is annually held in the United States of America and focuses attention on the nearly 44 million Americans who go without health care coverage. The campaign includes several events among different communities, health and enrollment fairs, press conferences and business seminars all over the U.S. Additionally, Wyle is also a vegetarian and a supporter of animal rights, having started a farm intended as sanctuary for abused and rescued animals. Wyle has also become a spokesman for the World Wildlife Fund, dedicated to protecting and conserving wildlife for future generations.[11]
In 2009, Noah Wyle became a spokesperson for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), claiming that polar bears are “hanging on by a thread” and “may be extinct in our children’s lifetime, due to the effects of climate change.”[12]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Crooked Hearts | Ask | |
| 1992 | A Few Good Men | Cpl. Jeffrey Barnes | |
| 1993 | Swing Kids | Emil Lutz | |
| 1994 | ER | Dr. John Carter | Lead role (1994–2005; 2006, 2009) |
| 1994 | There Goes My Baby | Michael Finnegan | |
| Guinevere | Lancelot | TV Movie | |
| 1995 | Friends | Doctor | Episode: The One With Two Parts |
| 1997 | The Myth of Fingerprints | Warren | |
| 1999 | Pirates of Silicon Valley | Steve Jobs | TV Movie |
| 2000 | Fail Safe | Buck | TV Movie |
| 2001 | Scenes of the Crime | Seth | |
| Donnie Darko | Dr. Kenneth Monnitoff | ||
| 2002 | White Oleander | Mark Richards | |
| Enough | Robbie | ||
| 2004 | The Librarian: Quest for the Spear | Flynn Carsen | TV Movie, Lead role |
| 2005 | The Californians | Gavin Ransom | |
| 2006 | The Librarian: Return to King Solomon’s Mines | Flynn Carsen | TV Movie, Lead role |
| 2008 | W. | Donald Evans | |
| Nothing But the Truth | Avril Aaronson | ||
| The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice | Flynn Carsen | TV Movie, Lead role | |
| 2009 | An American Affair | Mike Stafford | |
| 2010 | Queen Of The Lot | Arron Lambert | |
| Below The Beltway | Hunter Patrick | ||
| 2011 | Falling Skies | Tom Mason | TV Series, Lead role |
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Who is Jonathan Michael Francis O’Keeffe?
Who is Jonathan Michael Francis O’Keeffe? The entertainment and acting world knows Jonathan Rhys Meyers as an Irish actor and model.
Meyers is best known for his roles in the films Velvet Goldmine, Bend It Like Beckham, Match Point and his television roles as Elvis Presley in the biographical miniseries Elvis, which earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor, and as King Henry VIII in the historical drama The Tudors.[1][2] He has been the face of several advertising campaigns for Hugo Boss fragrances.[3]
Early life
Jonathan Rhys Meyers was born 27 July 1977 in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Mary Geraldine Myers and musician John O’Keeffe.[4][5] His stage name is derived from his mother’s maiden name, Meyers. He was raised Roman Catholic by his family.[6] Born in Dublin, he moved to Cork at one year old and was raised there with his three younger brothers named Jamie, Alan and Paul, who are all professional musicians.[7] When he was three, his parents separated.[citation needed] His mother raised Rhys Meyers and his brother Alan while his other two brothers went to live at their grandmother’s house with their father. Rhys Meyers attended North Monastery School.
Career
Rhys Meyers was expelled from the North Monastery Secondary School at age 16 for truancy and spent much of his time hanging out in pool halls. Casting agents looking for Irish boys to appear in War of the Buttons spotted Rhys Meyers at a Cork pool hall, the Victoria Sporting Club, and invited him to audition. Although he was passed over for War of the Buttons, the casting agents encouraged him to pursue a career in acting. His first film role came soon afterward, in A Man of No Importance (1994). In 1996, he appeared in Michael Collins, as the title character‘s assassin. In 1999, he appeared in Ride with the Devil as psychopathic guerrilla fighter Pitt Mackeson.
Rhys Meyers has starred in television series including Gormenghast (2000) and in the CBS 4-hour mini-series Elvis (2005) as Elvis Presley alongside Randy Quaid as Colonel Tom Parker and Rose McGowan as Ann-Margret. Meyers did not sing for his role in the miniseries.[8] The latter earned him an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe win.[9] He has starred in the CBC/Showtime co-production The Tudors (2007) as Henry VIII. He was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Drama in 2007 for the role.[10]
His film roles range from a David Bowie-inspired glam rock star in Velvet Goldmine (1998) to a dedicated girls’ football coach in Bend It Like Beckham (2002). He appeared in Vanity Fair (2004) opposite Reese Witherspoon. He co-starred opposite Colin Farrell and Angelina Jolie in Oliver Stone’s epic Alexander (2004). In 2005, Rhys Meyers starred in Woody Allen‘s film Match Point, for which he received a Chopard Trophy at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2006, he appeared in Mission: Impossible III. Subsequent projects included August Rush (2007) and The Children of Huang Shi (2008), Shelter, co-starring Julianne Moore, and From Paris with Love (film) (2010), co-starring John Travolta.[11]
Rhys Meyers, a self-taught singer and guitarist, has appeared in a number of musical roles. His first such role was that of rock star Brian Slade in Velvet Goldmine; two of the songs he sang (“Baby’s On Fire” and “Tumbling Down”) are on the film’s soundtrack. He sang briefly in the TV miniseries version of The Magnificent Ambersons, performed in studio scenes of the miniseries Elvis and played the flute in Gormenghast. In the 2007 music drama August Rush, Rhys Meyers performed on-screen as singer-songwriter Louis Connelly and is credited for four songs on the soundtrack – “Break”, “Moondance”, “Something Inside” and “This Time”. Of the four, “This Time” and “Break” were considered in the Best Original Song category of the 80th Academy Awards.[12] “This Time” was not released as a single but peaked at #84 of the Canadian Hot 100.[13]
Rhys Meyers was chosen as the face for the Versace men’s collection of Autumn/Winter 2006 and Spring 2007, and he has also been the face of the Hugo Boss men’s fragrance range since 2005.He is signed to Independent Models in London.
In February 2008, he became a celebrity ambassador for the Cork-based charitable organization The Hope Foundation.[14]
On 5 October 2008, Rhys Meyers received an Honourary Patronage from the Trinity College Philosophical Society in Dublin, Ireland.
Personal life
In May 2005, Rhys Meyers checked into rehab facility Promises in California seeking treatment for alcohol abuse. On 24 April 2007, the Associated Press reported that Rhys Meyers returned to treatment. The actor’s representative Meredith O’Sullivan confirmed the news to People magazine citing his need to take a break from his busy schedule in order to maintain sobriety.[15][16]
On 27 February 2009, the actor checked into rehab a third time, seeking help for alcohol addiction. He checked out on 15 March 2009.[17]
In May 2010, it was reported that Rhys Meyers was banned for life from flying on United Airlines due to “belligerent” and “disruptive” behaviour in an incident involving alcohol[18][19] at John F. Kennedy airport.[20]
On the evening of Tuesday 28 June 2011, Rhys Meyers was rushed to hospital. The actor overdosed on pills while in his central London home, and refused treatment from paramedics. [21]
Filmography
| Year |
Film |
Role |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Killer Tongue | Rudolph | |
| 1996 | The Disappearance of Finbar | Finbar Flynn | |
| 1996 | Michael Collins | Collins’ assassin | |
| 1996 | Samson and Delilah | Young Samson | TNT TV movie |
| 1997 | The Maker | Josh Minnell | |
| 1997 | Telling Lies in America | Kevin Boyle | |
| 1998 | Velvet Goldmine | Brian Slade | Nominated—London Critics Circle Film Award for British Newcomer of the Year |
| 1998 | The Governess | Henry Cavendish | |
| 1998 | B. Monkey | Bruno | |
| 1998 | The Tribe | Adam | |
| 1999 | The Loss of Sexual Innocence | Nic | |
| 1999 | Ride with the Devil | Pitt Mackeson | |
| 1999 | Titus | Chiron | |
| 2001 | Prozac Nation | Noah | |
| 2001 | Tangled | Alan Hammond | Straight to DVD |
| 2001 | Happy Now | Mark Wraith | |
| 2002 | Bend It Like Beckham | Joe | |
| 2003 | The Tesseract | Sean | Straight to DVD |
| 2003 | Octane | The Father | Straight to DVD |
| 2003 | I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead | Davey Graham | |
| 2003 | The Emperor’s Wife | Chamberlain | |
| 2003 | The Lion in Winter | King Philip II | Showtime TV movie |
| 2004 | Vanity Fair | Captain George Osborne | |
| 2004 | Alexander | Cassander | |
| 2005 | Match Point | Chris Wilton | |
| 2005 | Elvis | Elvis Presley | Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film |
| 2006 | Mission: Impossible III | Declan | |
| 2007 | August Rush | Louis Connelly | |
| 2008 | The Children of Huang Shi | George Hogg | |
| 2008 | A Film with Me in It | Pierce | Cameo |
| 2010 | Shelter | Adam | |
| 2010 | From Paris with Love | James Reese | |
| 2011 | Albert Nobbs | Filming |
| Year |
title |
Role |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Gormenghast | Steerpike | BBC miniseries |
| 2002 | The Magnificent Ambersons | George Amberson Minafer | A&E miniseries |
| 2007-10 | The Tudors | King Henry VIII | 2007–2010 (38 episodes) Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role in Television (2008) Nominated—Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role in Television (2009) Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama (2008, 2009) |
- Awards
- Nominated: London Film Critics Circle Awards, British Newcomer of the Year (1998), Velvet Goldmine, The Disappearance of Finbar, The Governess
- Won: Venice International Television Festival, Canal Grande Award for the Best Young Promising Actor (2002), The Magnificent Ambersons
- Won: Chopard Trophy, Outstanding Newcomer (2005), Match Point
- Won: GQ UK Men of the Year Awards, Lab Series Man of the Year (2006)
- Won: Monte Carlo Television Festival Golden Nymph Awards, Best Performance by an Actor — Drama (2008), The Tudors[22]
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Who is George Lopez?
Who is George Lopez? The entertainment and acting world knows George Lopez as an American comedian, actor, and talk show host. He is mostly known for starring in his self-produced ABC sitcom George Lopez. His stand-up comedy examines race and ethnic relations, including the Mexican American culture. He was the host of the late-night talk show Lopez Tonight on TBS until its cancellation on August 10, 2011.[2]
Early life
Lopez, a Mexican-American, was born April 23, 1961 in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California. He was deserted by his father when he was 2 months old & by his mother when he was 10 years old,[3] but was raised by his maternal grandmother, Benita Gutierrez, a factory worker, and step-grandfather, Refugio Gutierrez, a construction worker.[4][5]
Career
Radio career
In 1999, Lopez hosted a major morning radio show for Clear Channel Communications in Los Angeles. He was the first Latino to have headlined the keystone morning radio slot on an English-language station in LA — the nation’s top radio market.
Television career
In 2000, after several years of performing stand-up comedy, Lopez was approached by actress Sandra Bullock for Lopez to produce and star in a comedy. Bullock was concerned about the lack of Hispanic-oriented sitcoms on American television and pushed to get a sitcom on television that starred Hispanics without being exclusively about the Hispanic American community. Long criticized by Hispanic American groups for lack of Latinos on their television shows, ABC quickly picked up the television series. In 2002, Lopez became one of the few Latinos to star in a television comedy series, following in the footsteps of Freddie Prinze, Desi Arnaz and John Leguizamo. George Lopez is an American situation comedy that originally aired on ABC from 2002–2007. Lopez is the co-creator, writer, producer, and star of the show.
On March 8, 2007, it was announced that George Lopez would join the Nick at Nite lineup. It first aired on Nick at Nite on September 10, 2007. On May 15, 2007, ABC announced that the series would be canceled after its sixth season. The show last aired on ABC September 7, 2007. The show also entered syndication in the fall of 2007. Never a huge Nielsen hit in primetime, the show became a surprise success in syndication.
Lopez was a cast member and commentator for HBO’s hit sports show Inside the NFL for the 2003–2004 football season.
Lopez guest starred as the mayor of Reno, Nevada in the fifth season of Reno 911! in 2008.
On March 28, 2009, it was announced that Lopez would be getting his own late night talk show on TBS.[6] Lopez hosted a late-night talk show entitled Lopez Tonight on TBS Monday through Thursday at midnight Eastern Time. The show debuted in November 2009. In November 2010, the show moved back to midnight ET to accommodate a new show with former Tonight Show host Conan O’Brien. Lopez supported and even advocated for the move, making it different from the 2010 Tonight Show conflict that saw O’Brien depart NBC after a proposal to push Tonight back 30 minutes for Jay Leno to return to the 11:35 p.m. slot.[7] On August 10, 2011 Lopez received a cancellation notice from TBS. The network decided not to renew Lopez Tonight for a third season. [8]
Film career
Lopez earned praise for his performance in the HBO Films drama, Real Women Have Curves, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and received the 2002 Audience Award. Previously, Lopez was featured in the drama Bread and Roses. The film, directed by British filmmaker Ken Loach, received critical acclaim after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. He recently starred in the ABC Wonderful World of Disney Christmas film Naughty or Nice. Lopez also starred in the Robert Rodríguez-directed film The Adventures of Shark Boy & Lava Girl which opened in June 2005.
In 2010, Lopez appeared in The Spy Next Door, with Jackie Chan, and starred as a villain named Glaze.
In 2011, Lopez reprised his role as Papi for Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2, and was the voice of a toco toucan in the box-office animated hit Rio, alongside Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway (actress), will.i.am, and Jamie Foxx.
Books
Lopez wrote an autobiography entitled Why You Crying, which was released on the Touchstone/Fireside division of Simon & Schuster and entered in the New York Times Bestsellers top twenty. The book is co-written by Emmy Award winning writer and sportscaster Armen Keteyian.
Other work
In January 2009, Lopez appeared in the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial.
He is a two-time host of the Latin Grammy Awards and a co-host of the Emmy Awards.
He also hosted a Season 9 elimination on the 21 of April, on American Idol, after donating the most money on Idol Gives Back and he “judged the judges”.
Politics
On December 21, 2010, Lopez announced on Good Day L.A. that he would run for Mayor of Los Angeles in about 8 years.[9]
In an interview with Piers Morgan, Lopez stated that if Sarah Palin ever becomes the President of the United States, he would emigrate to Canada.[10]
Personal life
 |
|
| Ann Serrano |
In 1993, Lopez married Ann Serrano. The couple have a daughter, Mayan Lopez. On September 27, 2010, Lopez announced that he and his wife had decided to end their marriage.[11] Serrano filed for divorce on November 23, 2010, citing “irreconcilable differences”.[12] The divorce was finalized on July 1, 2011.[13]
In 2009 a DNA test read by Mariah Carey on Lopez Tonight revealed Lopez to be of 55% European, 32% Native American, 9% East Asian, and 4% African descent.[14]
Health problems
Lopez has a genetic condition that caused his kidneys to deteriorate. His doctors had told him in April 2004 that he was going to require an organ transplant but he postponed the operation until after finishing the fourth season of George Lopez so as not to hurt the 170 people who worked on his show. In 2005, his wife, Ann, donated one of her kidneys to Lopez. The transplant was successful; Lopez lost 45 lbs. after the operation due in part to having his health so vastly improved. He brought awareness to the issue on his show; his character’s son, Max, was diagnosed with a similar illness.
Charity work and honors
Lopez was a featured celebrity golfer in the 2004 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and the 2004 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Lopez and his pro partner finished third in the Pebble Beach event. George was the top ranking celebrity at completion of the golf tournament. Since 2006, Lopez has served as the host of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. He is a member at Lakeside Country Club in Burbank, California and has a 13 handicap.
A native of Los Angeles who grew up in San Fernando Valley’s Mission Hills, Lopez devotes much time to the community. He has his own charity: The Ann & George Lopez Foundation (www.thelopezfoundation.org). He has received the Manny Mota Foundation Community Spirit Award and was named Honorary Mayor of Los Angeles for his extensive fund-raising efforts benefiting earthquake victims in El Salvador and Guatemala. In February 2004, George was presented the 2004 Artist of the Year and Humanitarian Award by Harvard University, presented by its president and dean for his artistic work and charitable endeavors.[15]
Lopez has received several honors for his work and contributions to the Latino community. In September 2004, George was honored with the “Spirit of Liberty Award” presented by People for the American Way. In August 2005, Time magazine recognized George as one of “The 25 Most Influential Hispanics In America”.[16]
Feuds
Jay Leno
Lopez criticized Jay Leno, someone he once considered a “close friend”, during an interview on radio station WOMX-FM in Orlando, Florida, on January 24, 2007, stating: “He’s the biggest two-faced dude in TV.” He also called him a back-stabber, and said he is not a proficient interviewer.[17][18]
Carlos Mencia
Lopez is also known for his conflict with Carlos Mencía. In an interview on The Howard Stern Show, Lopez accused Mencía of appropriating 13 minutes of his material in Mencía’s HBO special. He also claimed he had a physical altercation with Mencía over the alleged appropriation.[19][20]
Erik Estrada
Lopez frequently mentions his dislike for Erik Estrada. According to Lopez, he met Estrada when he was a teenager and Estrada was in the zenith of his career. Estrada refused to shake the teenager’s hand, and Lopez has disliked him ever since. Lopez mentioned the story while guest-hosting The Jim Rome Show, and saying “Fuck that puto.” In his comedy special America’s Mexican, Lopez uses this as a warning to everyone that celebrities should always be nice to their fans because they do not know who the fans will grow up to be.
ABC Entertainment
After receiving the news that his show was cancelled in 2007, Lopez criticized Steve McPherson, the president of ABC Entertainment, for using racially motivated reasons for his decision. The actor told the Los Angeles Times that “TV just became really, really white again,” and lashed out against ABC by saying “So a Chicano can’t be on TV, but a caveman can?” in reference to Cavemen, which was replacing George Lopez in the schedule. Cavemen got a horrible reception from critics and viewers and was cancelled after just 13 episodes.[21] Lopez blamed ABC for causing over a hundred of his show’s staff to become jobless.[22][23][24]
Kirstie Alley
On March 24, 2011 George Lopez called Kirstie Alley a “pig” during her stint on Dancing with the Stars.[25] Kirstie posted on Twitter, “Don’t worry about George’s comments…just remember what happens to the big bad, drunk woolf…falls in a boiling pot of vodka.Piggy laughs” as a response to the comment. George later apologized on Twitter by saying, “I misjudged the joke. No malice was intended and I apologize to Kirstie.” After the apology, Kirstie fired back on Twitter, “@georgelopez I don’t need or want ur apology…I want your kidney dude..on behalf of ur X and all the women uv insulted…give it back”.[26]
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | Ski Patrol | Eddie Martinez | |
| 1993 | Fatal Instinct | Murder Investigator | |
| 2001 | Bread and Roses | Perez | Nominated—ALMA Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture |
| 2002 | Real Women Have Curves | Mr. Guzman | |
| 2005 | The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl | Mr. Electricidad/ Mr. Electric/Tobor | |
| 2006 | Balls of Fury | Ernie Rodriguez | |
| Tortilla Heaven | Everardo | ||
| 2008 | Swing Vote | John Sweeney | |
| Henry Poole Is Here | Father Salizar | ||
| Beverly Hills Chihuahua | Papi | voice only | |
| 2009 | Shannon’s Rainbow | Captain Martin | |
| Mr. Troop Mom | Eddie Serrano | ||
| 2010 | The Spy Next Door | Glaze | Nominated—Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor (shared with Valentine’s Day and Marmaduke) |
| Valentine’s Day | Alfonso | ||
| Marmaduke | Carlos | voice | |
| 2011 | Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 | Papi | voice only Nominated—Imagen Award for Best Actor in a Feature Film Nominated—Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor |
| The Smurfs | Grouchy Smurf | voice only | |
| Rio | Rafael | voice only | |
| Spy Kids: All the Time in the World | Ricky Raccoon | ||
| Television | |||
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | Fidel | Chucho Osorio | |
| The Brothers García | Mr. Fender | Episode “The Student Buddy” | |
| Curb your Enthusiasm | Himself | ||
| 2002–2007 | George Lopez | George Lopez | 119 episodes Imagen Award for Best Actor – Television (won 2004; nominated 2005, 2006, 2007) Nominated—ALMA Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Series Nominated—BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated—Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series (nominated 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007) Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Breakout Star – Male Nominated—Young Artist Award for Most Popular Mom & Pop in a Television Series (shared with Constance Marie) |
| 2004 | Naughty or Nice | Henry Ramiro | |
| 2006 | Freddie | George | “Freddie Gets Cross Over “ |
| 2007–2008 | The Naked Brothers Band | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2008 | Reno 911 | Mayor of Reno | 3 episodes |
| 2009–2011 | Lopez Tonight | Himself (Host) | Nominated—People’s Choice Award for Favorite Talk Show Host |
| 2011 | America’s Got Talent | Grouchy Smurf (voice) | July 27 (Season 6, Qtr Finals 3 results) |
| Stand up | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | Alien Nation | Himself | |
| 2001 | Right Now, Right Now | Himself | |
| 2002 | Team Leader | Himself | |
| 2006 | Why You Crying? | Himself | |
| El Mas Chingon? | Himself | ||
| 2007 | America’s Mexican | Himself | HBO Special |
| 2009 | Tall, Dark, & Chicano | Himself | HBO Special |
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Who is Kellan Christopher Lutz?
Who is Kellan Christopher Lutz? The entertainment and acting world knows Kellan Lutz as an American fashion model, and film and television actor, who is best known for playing Emmett Cullen in the Twilight series.
Early life
Lutz is the middle child of one sister and six brothers. He was born March 15, 1985 in Dickinson, North Dakota, and was raised throughout North Dakota, the Midwest, and Arizona. After graduating from high school he moved to California to attend Chapman University for chemical engineering, but later decided to pursue an acting career instead.[1]
Career
Lutz has acted on a number of television shows. He had recurring roles on Model Citizens and The Comeback, and smaller roles in episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful, CSI: NY, Summerland, Six Feet Under, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Heroes. He was also in the films Stick It, Accepted, and Prom Night. Additionally, Lutz has performed on the California stage and was the host of Bravo‘s Blow Out. He also appeared in the 2006 commercial for Hilary Duff‘s fragrance With Love… Hilary Duff, and in the 2007 music video for her single, “With Love“.[2] In 2008 he appeared in another music video, Hinder‘s “Without You“.[3] In the same year, Lutz also appeared in the miniseries Generation Kill, based on the book by Evan Wright.
Lutz played Emmett Cullen in the film adaptation of the book Twilight by Stephenie Meyer and reprised his role for the sequel, released in November 2009.[4][5] He also appeared as George Evans in the 90210 spinoff on The CW.[6] Lutz will be reuniting with his Twilight co-star and close friend, Ashley Greene, in the film Warrior.[7] Lutz also appeared in A Nightmare on Elm Street as Dean, “a well-liked, well-off high school jock”, in April 2010,[8] and as Poseidon in Dawn of War.[9] Lutz is one of the candidates for the lead role in the upcoming film Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.[10] He was considered for the lead role in Conan the Barbarian but eventually lost out to Jason Momoa.[11]
Lutz is currently signed with Ford Models.[12] He is one of the models featured in the 2010 Calvin Klein X underwear campaign.[13]
Personal life
In Lutz’s free time, he likes to take part in extreme skateboarding, weight training, track, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, swimming, tennis, racquetball, badminton, snow skiing, snowboarding, dance, and numerous other activities.[14] He also has a passion for horror films, and prefers to perform his own stunts when making films.[15]
Lutz supports animal charity PETA and stars in a video supporting the adoption of animals instead of buying them.[16]
Lutz is also a supporter of rebuilding efforts in New Orleans, in particular with St. Bernard Project.[17]
Filmography
Films
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Stick It | Frank | |
| 2006 | Accepted | Dwayne | |
| 2007 | Ghosts of Goldfield | Chad | Direct-to-video |
| 2008 | Prom Night | Rick Leland | |
| 2008 | Deep Winter | Mark Rider | |
| 2008 | Twilight | Emmett Cullen | |
| 2009 | The Forgotten Ones | Jake | Direct-to-video |
| 2009 | The Twilight Saga: New Moon | Emmett Cullen | Teen Choice Award for Scene Stealer – Male[citation needed] |
| 2010 | Meskada | Eddie Arlinger | |
| 2010 | A Nightmare on Elm Street | Dean Russel | Cameo |
| 2010 | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse | Emmett Cullen | |
| 2010 | Love, Wedding, Marriage | Charlie | |
| 2011 | Arena (2011 film) | David Lord | post-production |
| 2011 | A Warrior’s Heart | Conor Sullivan | post-production |
| 2011 | Immortals | Poseidon | post-production |
| 2011 | Guardians of Luna | Carson Stone | filming |
| 2011 | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 | Emmett Cullen | post-production |
| 2012 | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 | Emmett Cullen | post-production |
Television
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Model Citizens | himself | |||
| 2004 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Rob | Episode #1.4409 | ||
| 2005 | CSI: NY | Alex Hopper | Episode: “Tri-Borough“ | ||
| 2005 | Six Feet Under | Critter | Episode: “Hold My Hand“ | ||
| 2005 | Summerland | Fordie | Episodes: “Safe House“; “The Space Between Us“ | ||
| 2005 | The Comeback | Chris MacNess | 13 episodes | ||
| 2007 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Chris Mullins | “Empty Eyes“ | ||
| 2007 | Heroes | Andy | “Five Years Gone“ | ||
| 2008 | Generation Kill | Cpl Jason Lilley | Miniseries | ||
| 2008–2009 | 90210 | George Evans | 6 episodes | ||
| 2009 | Valley Peaks | Kyle McBride | Episodes: “Welcome to the VP”; “Motorcycle Free or Die Hard” |
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Who is Christopher Ashton Kutcher?
Who is Christopher Ashton Kutcher? The entertainment and acting world knows as Ashton Kutcher, as an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That ’70s Show. He also created, produced and hosted Punk’d, and played lead roles in the Hollywood films Dude, Where’s My Car?, Just Married, The Butterfly Effect, The Guardian, and What Happens in Vegas. He is also the producer and co-creator of the supernatural TV show Room 401 and the reality TV show Beauty and the Geek. It was announced in May 2011 that Kutcher would replace Charlie Sheen in the hit CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men.
Early life
Kutcher was born February 7, 1978 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Larry Kutcher, a factory worker, and Diane (née Finnegan), a Procter & Gamble employee.[2][3][4] Kutcher was raised in a conservative Roman Catholic family,[5] with an older sister, Tausha, and a fraternal twin, Michael, who had a heart transplant when the brothers were young children. Kutcher attended Washington High School in Cedar Rapids for his freshman year before his family moved to Homestead, Iowa, where he attended Clear Creek Amana High School. In a 2010 interview on Late Night with David Letterman, Kutcher claimed to be an all-state linebacker who averaged 15 tackles per game in high school. According to a former coach, however, Kutcher played sparingly as a wide receiver on a team that won only two games in his entire high school football career. Kutcher also appeared in school plays.[6]
Kutcher’s brother’s cardiomyopathy caused his home life to become increasingly stressful. He has stated that “I didn’t want to come home and find more bad news about my brother” and “kept myself so busy that I didn’t allow myself to feel”.[7] Kutcher admitted that during adolescence, he contemplated committing suicide. At thirteen, he attempted to jump from a Cedar Rapids hospital balcony, with his father intervening in the incident.[8] Kutcher’s home life worsened as his parents divorced when he was sixteen. During his senior year, he broke into his high school at midnight with his cousin in an attempt to steal money; he was arrested leaving the scene. Kutcher was convicted of third-degree burglary and sentenced to three years’ probation and 180 hours of community service. Kutcher stated that although the experience “straightened him out”, he lost his girlfriend and anticipated college scholarships, and he was ostracized at school and in his community.[6]
Kutcher enrolled at the University of Iowa in August 1996, where his planned major was biochemical engineering, motivated by the desire to find a cure for his brother’s heart ailment.[4] At college, Kutcher was kicked out of his apartment for being too “noisy” and “wild”.[9] Kutcher stated, “I thought I knew everything but I didn’t have a clue. I was partying, and I woke up many mornings not knowing what I had done the night before. I played way too hard. I am amazed I am not dead.”[10] To earn money for his tuition, Kutcher worked as a college summer hire in the cereal department for the General Mills plant in Cedar Rapids, and sometimes donated blood for money.[11] During his time at UI he was approached by a scout at a bar called “The Airliner” in Iowa City and was recruited to enter the “Fresh Faces of Iowa” modeling competition. After placing first, he dropped out of college and won a trip to New York City to the International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) Convention. Following his stay in New York City, Kutcher returned to Cedar Rapids before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting.[9]
Career
Modeling career
After participating as a modeling contestant in an IMTA competition (losing to Josh Duhamel) in 1998, Kutcher signed with the Next modeling agency in New York, appeared in ads for Calvin Klein, modeled in Paris and Milan, and appeared in a Pizza Hut commercial.
Television and film career
After some success in modeling, Kutcher moved to Los Angeles and, after his first audition, was cast as Michael Kelso in the television series That ’70s Show, which debuted in 1998 and ended in 2006. Kutcher was cast in a series of film roles; although he auditioned but was not cast for the role of Danny Walker in Pearl Harbor (2001), (role went to Josh Hartnett),[12] he starred in several comedy films, including Dude, Where’s My Car? (2000), Just Married (2003), and Guess Who (2005). He briefly appeared in the 2003 family film, Cheaper By The Dozen, playing a self-obsessed actor. His 2004 film The Butterfly Effect was an unusually dramatic role for Kutcher, playing a conflicted young man who fell in love with a girl named Kayleigh; the film received mixed to negative reviews, but was a box-office success.[6]
In 2003, Kutcher produced and starred in his own series on MTV’s Punk’d as the host. The series involved various hidden camera tricks performed on celebrities. Kutcher is also an executive producer of the reality television shows Beauty and the Geek, Adventures in Hollyhood (based around the rap group Three 6 Mafia), and The Real Wedding Crashers and the game show Opportunity Knocks. Many of his production credits, including Punk’d, come through Katalyst Films, a production company he runs with partner Jason Goldberg.[13]
Because of scheduling conflicts with the filming of The Guardian, Ashton was forced not to renew his contract for the eighth and final season of That 70s Show, although he did appear in the first four episodes of it (credited as a special guest star) and returned for the show’s series finale.[6]
Kutcher produced and starred in the 2010 action comedy, Killers, in which he played a hitman.[14]
In May 2011, Kutcher took Charlie Sheen‘s place on Two and a Half Men.[15] Kutcher’s contract, which is for one year is believed to be worth nearly $20 million.[16]
Other work
Kutcher was part of the management team for Ooma, a tech start-up launched in September 2007. Ooma is in the Voice over Internet Protocol business and Ashton’s role was as Creative Director. He was spearheading a marketing campaign and producing viral videos to promote this service. Kutcher has also created an interactive arm of Katalyst called Katalyst Media with his partner from Katalyst Films, Jason Goldberg. Their first site is the animated cartoon Blah Girls Ooma revamped its sales and marketing strategy with a new management team in the summer of 2008, replacing Ashton Kutcher as their creative director. Rich Buchanan, from Sling Media, became Ooma’s Chief Marketing Officer.
He currently advertises for Nikon cameras.
Personal life
In 2003, Kutcher began dating actress Demi Moore. Moore and Kutcher married on September 24, 2005, in a private ceremony conducted by a Rabbi of the Kabbalah Center; the wedding was attended by about 150 close friends and family of the couple, including Bruce Willis, Moore’s ex-husband.[17] In October 2010, Kutcher and Moore met with co-director of the Kabbalah Center Rabbi Yehuda Berg in Israel.[18]
Kutcher has invested in an Italian restaurant, Dolce[6] (other owners include Danny Masterson and Wilmer Valderrama) and a Japanese-themed restaurant named Geisha House located in Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York.
Kutcher is a self-described fiscal conservative and social liberal.[19] He is a student of Kabbalah; his co-star, Natalie Portman, stated in 2011 that Kutcher “has taught me more about Judaism than I think I have ever learned from anyone else”.[20]
On September 17, 2008, Kutcher was named the assistant coach for the freshman football team at Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. However, he was unable to return in 2009 because he was filming Spread.[21][22]
Twitter presence
On April 16, 2009, Kutcher (“aplusk”) became the first user of Twitter to have more than 1,000,000 followers,[23] beating CNN in the “Million followers contest”.[24][25][26] Kutcher announced via Twitter that he would be donating $100,000 to a charity to fight malaria. However, there have been several reports that Twitter manipulated the contest’s results by preventing users from “unfollowing” Kutcher or CNN.[27]
Controversy
In April, 2011 Kutcher and wife Demi Moore began a Public Service Announcement campaign claiming that “Real Men” do not engage the services of child prostitutes who are the victims of human trafficking. [28] Kutcher’s claims that 100,000 – 300,000 American children were sold in to sexual slavery were criticised by newspaper The Village Voice, who gave evidence to the contrary. [29] Kutcher reacted to the criticism of his campaign by linking Village Voice to child prostitution themselves and using Twitter to request that Village Voice advertisers including American Airlines, Disney and Domino’s Pizza withdraw their advertising from the publication. [30][31]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–2006 | That ’70s Show | Michael Kelso | 180 episodes |
| 1999 | Coming Soon | Louie | |
| 2000 | Down to You | Jim Morrison | |
| Reindeer Games | College Kid | ||
| Dude, Where’s My Car? | Jesse Montgomery III | ||
| 2001 | Just Shoot Me! | Dean Cassidy | 1 episode |
| Texas Rangers | George Durham | ||
| 2002 | Grounded for Life | Cousin Scott | 1 episode |
| 2003–2007 | Punk’d | Himself/Host | |
| 2003 | Just Married | Tom Leezak | |
| My Boss’s Daughter | Tom Stansfield | ||
| Cheaper by the Dozen | Hank | Supporting role | |
| 2004 | The Butterfly Effect | Evan Treborn | Main role |
| 2005 | Guess Who | Simon Green | |
| A Lot Like Love | Oliver Martin | ||
| Robot Chicken | Various | Voice | |
| 2006 | Bobby | Fisher | |
| The Guardian | Jake Fischer | ||
| Open Season | Elliot | Voice | |
| 2008 | Miss Guided | Beaux | 1 episode |
| What Happens in Vegas… | Jack Fuller | Lead role | |
| 2009 | Spread | Nikki | Main role |
| Personal Effects | Walter[32] | Main role | |
| 2010 | Valentine’s Day | Reed Bennet | Main role |
| Killers | Spencer Aimes | Main role | |
| 2011 | No Strings Attached | Adam Franklin | Main role |
| 2011–present | Two and a Half Men | Main role |
As a producer
| Year | Title | Episodes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–2007 | Punk’d | 69 episodes | Executive producer/host |
| 2003 | My Boss’s Daughter | Co-producer | |
| 2004 | The Butterfly Effect | Executive producer | |
| You’ve Got a Friend | 8 episodes | Executive producer | |
| 2005–2008 | Beauty and the Geek | 48 episodes | Executive producer |
| 2007 | Adventures in Hollyhood | 8 episodes | Executive producer |
| Miss Guided | 7 episodes | Executive producer | |
| Game Show in My Head | Executive producer | ||
| The Real Wedding Crashers | 7 episodes | Executive producer | |
| Room 401 | 8 episodes | Executive producer | |
| 2008 | Pop Fiction | Executive producer | |
| 2008–2009 | Opportunity Knocks | TV series (Executive producer) | |
| 2009 | True Beauty | Executive producer | |
| The Beautiful Life | 5 episodes | ||
| Spread | |||
| 2005 | A Lot Like Love | ||
| 2010 | Killers | Executive producer |
Awards
- Kid’s Choice Awards
- 2004 – Favorite Movie Actor for Just Married, My Boss’s Daughter and Cheaper by the Dozen – Nominated
- 2004 – Favorite Television Actor for That ’70s Show and Punk’d – Winner
- 2005 – Favorite TV Actor for That ’70s Show and Punk’d – Nominated
- 2007 – Favorite Voice in a Cartoon for Open Season – Nominated
- People’s Choice Awards
- 2010 – Favorite Web Celeb – Winner
- Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award
- 2000 – Sierra Award Best Male Newcomer for Dude, Where’s My Car? – Nominated
- MTV Movie Awards
- 2001 – Breakthrough Male Performance for Dude, Where’s My Car? – Nominated
- 2011 – Best Comedic Performance for No Strings Attached – Pending
- Teen Choice Awards
- 2010 – Choice: Movie Actor Romantic Comedy for Valentine’s Day – Winner
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Who is Shia Saide LaBeouf?
Who is Shia Saide LaBeouf? The entertainment and acting world knows Shia LaBeouf as an American actor who became known among younger audiences for his part in the Disney Channel series Even Stevens and made his film debut in Holes (2003). In 2007, he starred as the leads in Disturbia and Transformers. His other films include Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), and Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011). In 2004, he made his directorial debut with “Lets Love Hate” and later shot a music video for “I Never Knew You” by rapper Cage.
In July 2008, LaBeouf was involved in a car accident. LaBeouf was arrested at the scene of the car accident for misdemeanor drunk driving, and his driver’s license was suspended for one year because he refused a breathalyzer examination. As a result of the injuries he sustained from the accident, he has undergone multiple surgeries on his left hand, which has permanent damage and scarring.
Early life
LaBeouf was born June 11, 1986 in Los Angeles, California, the only child of Shayna (née Saide) and Jeffrey Craig LaBeouf.[2] His mother is a dancer and ballerina turned visual artist and clothing jewelry designer.[3] His father is a Vietnam War veteran who had numerous jobs.[4][5][6][7] LaBeouf’s mother is Jewish and his father is a Cajun. LaBeouf was raised in his mother’s Jewish religion and had a Bar Mitzvah, though he was also baptized.[8][9][10]
LaBeouf has described his parents as “hippies“, his father as “tough as nails and a different breed of man”, and his upbringing as similar to a “hippy lifestyle”, stating that his parents were “pretty weird people, but they loved me and I loved them.”[5][7][7][11] The actor also accompanied his father to meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous .[4] LaBeouf has also said he was subjected to verbal and mental abuse by his father, who once pointed a gun at his son during a Vietnam War flashback.[7] LaBeouf says his father was “on drugs” during his childhood and was placed in drug rehabilitation for heroin addiction while LaBeouf’s mother was “trying to hold down the fort.”[5] His parents eventually divorced, mainly due to financial problems,[12] and LaBeouf had what he has described as a “good childhood”, growing up poor in Echo Park with his mother, who worked selling fabrics and brooches.[13][14] LaBeouf’s uncle was going to adopt him at one stage because his parents could not afford to have him anymore and “they had too much pride to go on welfare or food stamps.”[15] As a way of dealing with his parents’ divorce, he would perform for his family, mimicking his father.[16] LaBeouf remains close to and financially supports both of his parents.[4][5][17]
He attended 32nd Street Visual and Performing Arts Magnet in Los Angeles (LAUSD)[7] and Alexander Hamilton High School, although he received most of his education from tutors.[14] In an interview, LaBeouf said that, looking back on his childhood, he feels grateful and considers some of those memories scars.[12]
When LaBeouf was 19, after a neighbor in his Studio City apartment complex had allegedly insulted his mother and rear-ended her car, LaBeouf brought a knife, and a friend for backup, to the neighbor’s apartment, which resulted in LaBeouf being assaulted by the neighbor and six of the neighbor’s friends.[18]
Career
1996–2006: Disney career
Prior to acting, LaBeouf would practice stand-up comedy around his neighborhood as an “escape” from a hostile environment[13] At age ten, he began performing stand-up at comedy clubs, describing his appeal as having “disgustingly dirty” material and a “50-year-old mouth on the 10-year-old kid”.[14][17][19] He subsequently found an agent through the Yellow Pages and was taken on, after pretending to be his own manager.[20] LaBeouf has said that he initially became an actor because his family was broke, not because he wanted to pursue an acting career,[19][21] having originally gotten the idea from a child actor whom he met that had things he wanted.[4] LaBeouf became known among young audiences, after playing Louis Stevens on the Disney Channel weekly program Even Stevens in the early 2000s,[22] a role that later earned him a Daytime Emmy Award.[7] He has said, “[he] grew up on that show” and being cast was the “best thing” that happened to him.[5] In the next several years, he appeared in the well-received[23][24] film adaption, Holes (2003), in the starring role and made his directorial debut with the short film Let’s Love Hate with Lorenzo Eduardo.[25] He has played real-life people, including golfer Francis Ouimet[4][26] and the younger version of Dito Montiel in A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006).[27]
2007–2008: Career breakthrough
LaBeouf starred in Disturbia, a thriller released on April 13, as a teenager under house arrest who suspects that his neighbor is a serial killer, which he considered a “character-driven” role.[13] He received positive reviews for the role, with The Buffalo News saying, he “is able to simultaneously pull off [the character’s] anger, remorse and intelligence”.[28] He hosted Saturday Night Live on April 14,[29] and on May 10, 2008.[30] He next played Sam Witwicky, who becomes involved in the Autobot–Decepticon war on Earth, in Transformers.[31]
In Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) he was Indiana Jones‘ greaser son Mutt Williams. His performance was met with mixed reviews with Todd Gilchrist of IGN commenting “one can’t quite help but wonder what Spielberg saw in the young actor that inspired him to cast LaBeouf”.[32] His next film was Eagle Eye, released on September 26. His performance received mixed reviews, with Josh Bell of Las Vegas Weekly saying he “makes a credible bid for action-hero status, although his occasional stabs at emotional depth don’t really go anywhere.”[33]
2009–present: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and beyond
In February, he directed the music video for “I Never Knew You”, a single off rapper Cage‘s third album, Depart From Me. It was shot in LA and features cameos by other Definitive Jux artists.[34] The two will also team up to make a biopic about the rapper’s life, starring LaBeouf.[35] Of making the video, LaBeouf said, “I’m 22 and I’m directing my favorite rapper’s music video. This shit is better than riding unicorns.”[34]
LaBeouf reprised the role of Sam Witwicky in the 2009 sequel to Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.[36] Filming for the movie began in May 2008 and ended in late 2008.[37] Due to LaBeouf’s injury from his car accident, Bay and screen writer Roberto Orci had to rewrite the script to protect his hand throughout filming.[38] LaBeouf said production was only delayed two days after his accident because Bay made up for it by filming second unit scenes, and LaBeouf recovered a few weeks earlier than expected, allowing him to return to the set.[39] Near the end of filming, LaBeouf injured his eye when he hit a prop; the injury required seven stitches. He resumed filming two hours later.[40] The movie grossed $800 million,[41] but received mostly negative review by critics,[24] with LaBeouf sharing a nomination for the “Worst Screen Couple of 2009” Razzie Award with “either Megan Fox or any Transformer.”[42]
His only 2010 movie was the Oliver Stone-directed film Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, the sequel to Wall Street (1987), playing an ambitious Wall Street trader.[43] It became another mixed critical success for him.[24] He reprised his role in the third Transformers film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which was released on June 28, 2011.[44] He will play a bootlegger in John Hillcoat‘s The Wettest County in the World.[45]
Personal life
At 18, he bought his own home.[46] He is a cigarette smoker.[4][7][18][47] He has said that religion “never made sense” to him,[8] and also that he has a “personal relationship with God that happens to work within the confines of Judaism”.[48]
LaBeouf has three tattoos, which are: 1986–2004 on his inner right wrist, a dog paw tattoo on his upper left arm, and a hand with a shackle on it on his left upper side torso.[49][50] He got the tattoo on his wrist as a “precautionary” to not forget his childhood.[49] LaBeouf described the upper side torso tattoo as “an artist drawing his own prison. Just life. That’s where I’m at”.[49] He completed the 2010 LA Marathon on March 21, 2010 with a time of 4 hours, 35 minutes and 31 seconds.[51]
 |
| Carey Mulligan |
Relationships
 |
| China Brezner |
 |
| Isabel Lucas |
From 2004 to 2007, LaBeouf dated China Brezner, whom he met on the set of The Greatest Game Ever Played.[52] They broke up because he became too busy with his work to put any time into the relationship,[53] and he described the break-up as being like “rebuilding after a tornado.”[53] He dated British actress and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps co-star Carey Mulligan from August 2009 to October 2010;[54] they were introduced by the film’s director, Oliver Stone, prior to filming and began dating shortly after.[55] Of that relationship he said: “I still love her. I think she’s a fucking awesome person and an incredible actress. We’re still pals. I wouldn’t take any of it back, and I don’t think she would either. It just ran its course.”[56]
In the August 2011 issue of Details magazine he also admitted to having been in a relationship with Isabel Lucas while she was still dating Adrien Grenier and Megan Fox while she was still seeing her now husband Brian Austin Green. LaBeouf also admitted to having a brief romance with Hilary Duff.[57]
Legal troubles
Early in the morning of November 4, 2007, a security guard asked LaBeouf to leave a Chicago Walgreens; after refusing to do so, LaBeouf was arrested for misdemeanor criminal trespassing.[58] The criminal charges were dropped on December 12, 2007.[59]
In March 2008, an arrest warrant was issued for LaBeouf, after he failed to make a court appearance. The hearing was in relation to a ticket he had received for unlawful smoking in Burbank, California, in February 2008. When neither LaBeouf nor a lawyer appeared at the court, at 8:30 a.m., a $1000 bench warrant was issued for his arrest.[60] However, the court commissioner in California recalled this warrant on March 19, 2008, after the actor’s attorney arrived a day late to plead not guilty on LaBeouf’s behalf, and a pre-trial hearing was set for April 24, 2008.[61] The charge was dismissed, after the actor paid a $500 fine.[62]
At approximately 3 A.M. on July 27, 2008, LaBeouf was involved in a car crash, at the intersection of La Brea Avenue and Fountain Avenue in Los Angeles. His Ford F-150 was hit from the side by a vehicle running a red light.[63] LaBeouf had been gripping the top of the windowsill as he drove and, upon impact, the truck rolled onto his exposed left hand, crushing it.[64] While responding to the accident, police officers smelled alcohol on LaBeouf’s breath.[65] Because he refused a breathalyzer examination, authorities arrested LaBeouf at the scene for misdemeanor drunk driving, and his driver’s license was suspended for one year.[66][67][68] Michael Bay stated that LaBeouf had been drinking hours before the car accident and he had felt that, by the time the accident had occurred, the alcohol had worn off.[39] LaBeouf had to undergo one of many hand surgeries immediately after the accident.[63] His passenger, Isabel Lucas, and the driver and passenger in the other car suffered only minor injuries.[67][69][70] Due to severe damages from the accident, LaBeouf’s truck was totaled; his father keeps the vehicle at his home as a memento.[65] Two days later, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department spokesman announced that LaBeouf was not at fault in the accident as the other driver had run a red light.[66][71] LaBeouf returned to the set of the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, at this time, and shooting resumed.[72] In September of that year, LaBeouf described the car accident as being “eye-opening and terrifying.”[73] He said that, as a result of the injuries, he had screws and plates put in his left hand; there is also scarring.[64] A screw was placed in one of his knuckles, and he had a shaved piece of bone from his hip made into a bone for his finger.[64] In April 2009, he stated he had undergone three hand surgeries. He said that he would regain “probably about 80-something percent” use of his hand and, while he would be able to make a fist again, “there’s a knuckle [I will] never be able to move again.”[64] In May 2010, he said that he has “completely” regained movement in his fingers.[74] In June 2011, in an interview in Details magazine, he claimed that he and Isabel Lucas were “philandering around” before the accident occurred.[75]
In the early morning of February 5, 2011, he was involved in an altercation with another patron at the Mad Bull’s Tavern bar in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, which resulted in the actor getting punched in the face.[76] Both LaBeouf and the unnamed patron were placed in handcuffs and questioned by a Los Angeles Police Department officer but later released with no arrest being made.[77]
Filmography
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Caroline in the City | Ethan | Episode: “Caroline and the Bar Mitzvah” |
| 1999 | Jesse | Moe | Episode: “Momma Was a Rollin’ Stone” |
| 1999 | Suddenly Susan | Ritchie | Episode: “A Day in the Life“ |
| 1999 | Touched by an Angel | Johnny | Episode: “The Occupant” |
| 1999 | The X-Files | Richie Lupone | Episode: “The Goldberg Variation“ |
| 2000 | ER | Darnel Smith | Episode: “Abby Road“ |
| 2000 | Freaks and Geeks | Herbert the mascot | Episode: “We’ve Got Spirit“ |
| 2000–2003 | Even Stevens | Louis Stevens | All episodes |
| 2001 | The Nightmare Room | Dylan Pierce | Episode: “Scareful What You Wish For“ |
| 2002 | The Proud Family | Johnny McBride | Episode: “I Love You Penny Proud” Voice only Animated series |
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Who is David William Duchovny?
Who is David William Duchovny? The entertainment and acting world knows David Duchovny as an American actor, writer and director. He has won Golden Globe awards for his work as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Californication.[1]
Early life
Duchovny was born August 7, 1960 in New York City, New York, the son of Margaret “Meg” (née Miller), a school administrator and teacher, and Amram Ducovny (1927–2003),[2] a writer and publicist who worked for the American Jewish Committee.[3][4][5] David’s paternal grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Russia, and his mother is a Lutheran immigrant from Scotland.[6][7][8][9] His father dropped the h in his last name to avoid the sort of mispronunciations he encountered while serving in the Army.[3]
Education
Duchovny attended Grace Church School and The Collegiate School For Boys; both are in Manhattan. He graduated from Princeton University[4] in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. He was a member of the Charter Club, one of the university’s eating clubs. In 1982, his poetry received an honorable mention for a college prize from the Academy of American Poets. The title of his senior thesis was The Schizophrenic Critique of Pure Reason in Beckett‘s Early Novels.[10] Duchovny played a season of junior varsity basketball as a shooting guard and center field for the varsity baseball team.
He received a Master of Arts, also in English Literature, from Yale University and subsequently began work on a Ph.D. that remains unfinished.[4] The title of his uncompleted doctoral thesis was Magic and Technology in Contemporary Poetry and Prose.
Career
Duchovny appeared in an advertisement for Löwenbräu beer in 1987. He appears in two scenes in Working Girl (1988). He had a recurring role as a transvestite DEA agent on the series Twin Peaks and played the narrator/host in the long-running Showtime erotica/softcore TV series Red Shoe Diaries. In 1992, he played the role of Rollie Totheroh, in the biographic film Chaplin, directed by Richard Attenborough, and based on the life of Charlie Chaplin. In 1993, Duchovny began starring in the science fiction series The X-Files as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder, a conspiracy theorist who believed his sister had been abducted by aliens.[4] The show emerged as a cult hit and quickly became one of The Fox Network‘s first major hits. Also in 1993, Duchovny was cast alongside Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis, in the Dominic Sena-directed thriller, Kalifornia.
During The X-Files run, in between the fifth and sixth seasons, Duchovny co-starred alongside Gillian Anderson in a 1998 motion picture that continued the X-Files storyline, titled The X-Files: Fight the Future.[4] He remained with the series until quitting in 2001, partly because of a contract dispute that occurred after season seven finished filming.[12] Duchovny appeared in half of the season eight episodes, but did not appear in season nine until the series finale in 2002. He also provided the voice for a parody of his Fox Mulder character in an episode of The Simpsons, titled The Springfield Files.
Duchovny caused controversy when it became public that he was the primary reason for which filming of The X-Files series was moved from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Los Angeles in 1998. Many residents of Vancouver were upset with Duchovny over scripted jokes on Conan O’Brien‘s late night show about the city’s heavy rainfall; he joked, “Vancouver is a very nice place, if you like 400 inches of rainfall a day.” He also stated, “Of course, I’m tired of the rain. But if I wasn’t married to a woman that lives in L.A. I’d stay in Vancouver. It’s a lovely city.”[13] During the run of The X-Files, he also made several guest appearances in the cult TV satire The Larry Sanders Show, playing himself, but adding a strong attraction to Sanders. In the final episode of the series, he performed a parody of Sharon Stone‘s ‘flashing‘ scene from Basic Instinct and a parody of “Dr. Hannibal Lecter” being introduced to Agent “Clarice Starling” in The Silence of the Lambs.
Duchovny has guest hosted Saturday Night Live twice (May 13, 1995 and May 9, 1998). Both shows were season finales. In 2000 he starred in the feature film Return to Me, a romantic comedy/drama directed by 
Bonnie Hunt and co-starring Minnie Driver and Carroll O’Connor. In 2001 Duchovny played a hand model in the Ben Stiller comedy, Zoolander. He also played the role of Ira Kane in the movie Evolution alongside Seann William Scott that same year.
He appeared in a celebrity edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in May 2000. He got to the $250,000 question, but answered his $500,000 question incorrectly and lost $218,000, leaving him with $32,000.
Duchovny provided the voice of Ethan Cole in the 2005 video game, Area 51, as well as that of the title character “XIII” in the 2003 video game XIII. In 2003 Duchovny starred in the 84th[14] episode of the HBO show Sex And The City. He played the role of Jeremy, Carrie Bradshaw‘s high-school ex-boyfriend, who has committed himself to a Connecticut mental health facility. In 2005 Duchovny, who had already made his directorial debut with an episode of The X-Files, wrote, directed, and appeared in the feature film House of D.[4] The film starred Anton Yelchin, Robin Williams, and Duchovny’s wife Tea Leoni in a coming-of-age tale.[4] It received mostly poor reviews[15] and little box office success.[16] Duchovny also directed an episode of Bones (Episode 211, “Judas on a Pole”) during its second season.
Duchovny currently plays Hank Moody, a troubled novelist in Showtime‘s series Californication. The portrayal landed him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Comedy or Musical in 2007.[17]
Personal life
Duchovny married actress Téa Leoni on May 6, 1997. In April 1999, Leoni gave birth to a daughter, Madelaine West Duchovny. Their second child, a son, Kyd Miller Duchovny, was born in June 2002. On October 15, 2008, Duchovny’s and Leoni’s representatives issued a statement that they had separated and had been for several months prior to this announcement.[18] On October 21, 2008, Duchovny’s lawyer said that he plans to sue the U.K.’s Daily Mail over an article it ran that claimed he had an affair with Hungarian tennis instructor Edit Pakay while still married to Leoni, a claim that Duchovny has denied.[19] On November 15, 2008, the Daily Mail printed a retraction stating that the story “is inaccurate and Ms. Pakay and Mr. Duchovny are only friends who used to play tennis occasionally”.[20] In June 2009, Duchovny and Leoni were seen together again. In interviews in September 2009, it was revealed that they had reconciled. Reps for Duchovny and Leoni confirmed to People magazine June 29th, 2011, that the couple had seperated.
Duchovny is a former vegetarian and a current pescatarian.[21]
In 1996, People magazine named him one of its 50 Most Beautiful People.[22]
On August 28, 2008, Duchovny announced that he had checked himself into a rehabilitation facility for treating sex addiction.[23]
In December 2009, Duchovny and his wife appeared together at the UNICEF Snowflake Ball and looked to be firmly back together as a couple.[24]
Duchovny has also remained close friends with his The X-Files costar Gillian Anderson, remarking that “it’s always very easy and natural to work with her.”
He also remains friends with Evolution co-star Julianne Moore, Kelly Preston and Quentin Tarantino.
Californication
Paul Ruffino, the studio executive in charge of casting The X-Files show and later Duchovny’s role model for the Hank Moody character on Californication, was very positive towards him. According to Carter, Duchovny turned out to be one of the best-read people he knew.[25] After getting the role, Duchovny thought the show wouldn’t last for long or that it wouldn’t make as much impact as it did. Executive producer Frank Spotnitz called portraying actor Duchovny “amazingly smart”. He further stated that Duchovny was behind some of the main characteristic ideas behind Mulder.[26]
Awards and nominations
Emmy Award
- 1997 – Nominated – Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series – The Larry Sanders Show
- 1997 – Nominated – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series – The X-Files
- 1998 – Nominated – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series – The X-Files
- 2003 – Nominated – Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series – Life with Bonnie
Golden Globe
- 1995 – Nominated – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama – The X-Files
- 1996 – Winner – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama – The X-Files
- 1997 – Nominated – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama – The X-Files
- 1998 – Nominated – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama – The X-Files
- 2007 – Winner – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy – Californication
- 2008 – Nominated – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy – Californication
- 2009 – Nominated – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy – Californication
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Working Girl | Tess’ birthday party friend | |
| 1989 | New Year’s Day | Billy | |
| 1990 | Denial | John | |
| Bad Influence | Club goer with glasses | ||
| 1991 | Twin Peaks | DEA Agent Denise/Dennis Bryson | TV series |
| Julia Has Two Lovers | Daniel | ||
| Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead | Bruce | ||
| The Rapture | Randy | ||
| 1992 | Ruby | Officer Tippit | |
| Beethoven | Brad | ||
| Baby Snatcher | David Anderson | TV movie | |
| Red Shoe Diaries | Jake Winters | TV series (1992–1997) and movie | |
| Venice/Venice | Dylan | ||
| Chaplin | Rollie Totheroh | ||
| 1993 | Kalifornia | Brian Kessler | |
| The X-Files | FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder | TV series (1993–2002) | |
| 1995 | Saturday Night Live | Host | Episode 386, May 13, 1995 |
| 1996 | Space: Above and Beyond | Alvin EL 1543, a.k.a. “Handsome Alvin” | |
| 1997 | The Simpsons | FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder | TV series (One episode: “The Springfield Files“) |
| Playing God | Dr. Eugene Sands | ||
| 1998 | The X-Files: Fight the Future | FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder | |
| Saturday Night Live | Host | Episode 446, May 9, 1998 | |
| 2000 | Return to Me | Bob Rueland | |
| 2001 | Evolution | Dr. Ira Kane | |
| Zoolander | J.P. Prewitt | ||
| 2002 | Full Frontal | Bill/Gus | |
| 2003 | Sex and the City | Jeremy | TV series (One episode: “Boy, Interrupted”) |
| 2004 | Connie and Carla | Jeff | |
| House of D | Tom Warshaw | Directorial debut, also wrote film | |
| 2005 | Trust the Man | Tom | |
| 2006 | Pedigree Petfoods | Voice-over | “We’re for dogs” ad campaign |
| Queer Duck: the Movie | Tiny Jesus | ||
| The TV Set | Mike Klein | ||
| 2007 | Things We Lost in the Fire | Brian Burke | |
| The Secret (AKA Si j’étais toi) | Dr. Benjamin Marris | ||
| Quantum Hoops | Narrator | ||
| Californication | Hank Moody | TV series (2007–Present) | |
| 2008 | The X-Files: I Want to Believe | Fox Mulder | |
| 2010 | The Joneses | Steve Jones |
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Who is Joseph Frank Pesci?
Who is Joseph Frank Pesci ? The entertainment and movie world knows Joe Pesci as an American actor, comedian, singer and musician. Usually known for his roles as violent mobsters or lovable funnymen, Pesci has starred in a number of high profile films such as Goodfellas, Casino, Raging Bull, Once Upon a Time in America, My Cousin Vinny, JFK, Moonwalker, Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Lethal Weapon 2, Lethal Weapon 3, and Lethal Weapon 4.
In 1990, Pesci won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the psychopathic mobster Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas, ten years after receiving a nomination in the same category for Raging Bull.
Early life
Pesci, an Italian-American, was born February 9, 1943 in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Mary, who worked part-time as a barber, and Angelo Pesci, a forklift driver for General Motors and bartender.[1][2] By the time Pesci was five years old, he was appearing in plays in New York.[2] A few years later, at age ten, he was a regular on a television variety show called Startime Kids, which also featured Connie Francis.[2] He started out working as a barber in the 1960s, following in his mother’s footsteps. He released an album entitled Little Joe Sure Can Sing, under the pseudonym “Joseph Richie,” accompanied by a band that included good friend and future fellow actor Frank Vincent.
Pesci practiced judo all throughout his teens. He played guitar for Joey Dee and the Starliters. Other early famous members of The Starliters were Charles Neville (The Neville Brothers) and Jimmy James (Jimi Hendrix). Later on Pesci went solo under the name Joe Ritchie, but unlike the ones mentioned before, Joe Pesci was not very successful and started his acting career. He made his film debut as an extra in Dee’s film Hey, Let’s Twist!.
Career
His breakthrough as an actor came in 1980 when he co-starred alongside Robert De Niro who played the lead role of boxer Jake LaMotta in Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull, for which he won the BAFTA Award for Most Outstanding Newcomer to Leading Film Roles in 1981 and was nominated an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Subsequently, he performed with De Niro in the films Once Upon a Time in America, and Goodfellas (for which he received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, in 1990,[3]) and Casino. He also had a small role in 1993’s A Bronx Tale, which De Niro directed.
The pairing became famous enough to inspire a recurring sketch on Saturday Night Live, called, “The Joe Pesci Show“. (The real Pesci and De Niro would eventually make a surprise appearance in one episode). Pesci hosted Saturday Night Live on October 10, 1992. During the monologue, he restored a picture of Pope John Paul II, which was torn by Sinéad O’Connor on the previous broadcast. He demonstrated this by tearing up a picture of Sinéad O’Connor to which was met with a huge applause.
Other work
In the late 1970s, Joe teamed up with Frankie Vincent, performing in local clubs like the Arlington Lounge and other venues around Northern NJ as “Vincent and Pesci.” The comedy duo’s material was a play on Martin and Lewis and Abbott and Costello.
In 1988, Pesci co-starred alongside pop singer Michael Jackson in the musical-fantasy film Moonwalker as the film’s antagonist Mr. Big. The film was actually a collection of short films and Pesci was featured in the fifth and final segment which was an actual full-length movie called “Smooth Criminal” which was based on Michael Jackson’s song by the same name.
He later co-starred in the blockbuster hit Home Alone (1990), playing one of two bumbling burglars (along with good friend Daniel Stern) who attempt to rob the house of the character played by Macaulay Culkin. Two years later, he reprised his role for the sequel.
Pesci also had roles in JFK (as David Ferrie) and the comedy My Cousin Vinny (as the title character) released in 1991 and 1992, respectively. He appeared as Leo Getz in three Lethal Weapon films.
He had starring roles in several other films including The Super (1991), Jimmy Hollywood (1994) and With Honors (also 1994).
Retirement from acting
In 1998, he released an album called Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You which spawned the single “Wise Guy”. In 1999, Pesci announced his retirement from acting to pursue a musical career and to enjoy life away from the camera. He returned to acting when he did a cameo in De Niro’s 2006 film The Good Shepherd. He is the star in the 2010 brothel drama Love Ranch, alongside Helen Mirren.[4]
He is one of the producers of the hit Broadway musical Jersey Boys. The musical is based on the lives of the musical group, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Pesci was present during the formation of the group as a young man and is portrayed as a character in the play.
Personal life
 |
|
| Angie Everhart |
Pesci was married to Claudia Martha Haro from 1988 to 1992. He has a daughter, Tiffany, from this marriage. In 2008, a then 65-year-old Pesci became engaged to actress/model Angie Everhart who was 38 at the time. However, according to Angie Everhart, they were never actually engaged. They announced their breakup in April 2008. He is very good friends with Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese. He was also good friends with his My Cousin Vinny co-star Fred Gwynne and the actor and comedian George Carlin. He is an avid golf fan and player.
Filmography
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Who is Daniel Wroughton Craig?
Who is Daniel Wroughton Craig? The entertainment and acting world knows Daniel Craig as an English actor and film producer. His early film roles include Elizabeth, The Power of One, A Kid in King Arthur’s Court and the television episodes Sharpe’s Eagle, Zorro and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Daredevils of the Desert. His breakthrough performances were in the films Layer Cake, Munich, Road to Perdition and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
Craig became well known internationally after he was cast as the sixth actor to portray fictional secret agent James Bond in the film series. He made his début as the character in the 2006 film, Casino Royale. He was critically acclaimed, and was nominated for a BAFTA award, for his portrayal in the film.[3] He grew into other roles in films such as Defiance, Cowboys and Aliens and the upcoming The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn.
Early life
Craig was born 2 March 1968 in Chester, Cheshire, England. His mother, Carol Olivia (née Williams), was an art teacher, and his father, Timothy John Wroughton Craig, was the landlord of the pubs “Ring o’ Bells” (in Frodsham) and “The Boot Inn”, and also served as a midshipman in the Merchant Navy.[4][5][6] Both of Craig’s parents were of half Welsh descent.[7] He was brought up in Liverpool and on the Wirral Peninsula,[8] and attended a primary school in Frodsham and Hoylake called Holy Trinity Primary School. He attended Hilbre High School in later years.[9] He began acting in school plays at age six.
Craig moved to London when he was sixteen to join the National Youth Theatre after a stay at Calday.[6] He and his older sister, Lea, attended Hilbre High School and Calday Grange Grammar School in West Kirby. He played for Hoylake Rugby Club.[10] He attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama at the Barbican and graduated in 1991 after three years of study under Colin McCormack.
Career
Craig appeared as Joe in the Royal National Theatre‘s production of Tony Kushner‘s Angels in America in November 1993. An early starring role was as ‘Geordie’ in the BBC’s 1996 drama Our Friends in the North, with early film roles being as Angelina Jolie‘s rival and love interest in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), before appearing in Sam Mendes’s movie Road to Perdition (2002), with Tom Hanks and Paul Newman. Other leading film roles include Sword of Honour (2001), The Mother (2003) with Anne Reid, Sylvia (2003) with Gwyneth Paltrow, Layer Cake (2004) with Sienna Miller, Enduring Love (2004) with Rhys Ifans, Steven Spielberg’s Munich (2005) with Eric Bana, Infamous (2006), The Golden Compass (2007) and Defiance (2008).
James Bond: 2005–present
In 2005, Craig was contracted by EON Productions to portray James Bond. He stated that he “was aware of the challenges” of the James Bond franchise which he considers “a big machine” that “makes a lot of money”. He aimed at bringing more “emotional depth” to the character.[11] Being born in 1968, Craig is the first actor to portray James Bond to be born after the Bond series already started, and Ian Fleming, the novels’ writer, had died.
Numerous actors publicly voiced their support of Craig’s casting. Most notably, four of the five actors who had previously portrayed Bond – Pierce Brosnan,[12] Timothy Dalton, Sean Connery, and Roger Moore – called his casting a good decision. Clive Owen, who had been linked to the role, also spoke in defence of Craig.[13]
The first film, Casino Royale, premièred on 14 November 2006 and grossed a total of US$594,239,066 worldwide, which makes the film the highest grossing Bond film to date.[14] After the film was released, Craig’s performance was highly acclaimed.[15]
As production of Casino Royale reached its conclusion, producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli announced that pre-production work had already begun on the 22nd Bond film. After several months of speculation as to the release date, Wilson and Broccoli officially announced on 20 July 2006 that the follow-up film, Quantum of Solace,[16] was to be released on 7 November 2008 and that Craig plays Bond with an option for a third film.[17] On 25 October 2007, MGM CEO Harry Sloan revealed at the Forbes Meet II Conference that Craig had signed on for four more Bond films, through to Bond 25.[18]
In 2006, Craig was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[19]
On 12 June 2008, Craig sliced the top of one of his fingers off while filming Quantum of Solace.[20] The accident was the latest in a string of incidents surrounding the shoot, including a fire at one of the sets in Pinewood Studios, UK; a car crash that left the stunt driver in a serious condition; and an Aston Martin skidding off the roads in heavy rains while being transported to the set in northern Italy and plunging into Lake Garda.[21]
Craig describes his portrayal of Bond as an antihero: “The question I keep asking myself while playing the role is, ‘Am I the good guy or just a bad guy who works for the good side?’ Bond’s role, after all, is that of an assassin when you come down to it. I have never played a role in which someone’s dark side shouldn’t be explored. I don’t think it should be confusing by the end of the movie, but during the movie you should be questioning who he is.”[22] Craig also states that his favourite previous Bond actor was Sean Connery, but says, “I’d never copy somebody else. I would never do an impression of anybody else or try and improve on what they did. That would be a pointless exercise for me”.[23] His favourite Bond film is From Russia with Love.[24] On a James Bond-centric episode of The South Bank Show, Connery divulged his thoughts on Craig’s casting as Bond, whom he described as “fantastic, marvelous in the part.” When he was told that Craig had taken particular note of his performances, Connery said that he was “flattered,” and that Craig “really gets” the ‘danger element’ to Bond’s character.[25]
On 19 April 2010, Craig’s expected third Bond film (the 23rd overall in the series) was announced to have been suspended indefinitely due to the crippling debt and uncertain future of MGM.[26] However, both Craig and Sam Mendes hoped to resume work on the film soon. The film has since resumed and Craig will return as Bond once again,[27] with the film due for release on 9 November 2012.
Other projects
In 1999, Craig starred as Richard in a TV drama called Shockers: The Visitor. In 2007, he portrayed Lord Asriel in The Golden Compass, the film adaptation of Philip Pullman’s novel.[28] Eva Green, who played Bond girl Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, also starred in the film, although she did not appear in any scenes with Craig. In a stage version of the book, Asriel had previously been played by Timothy Dalton, one of Craig’s predecessors in the role of James Bond.
In early 2001, Craig expressed an interest in being a part of the Star Trek franchise, professing his love of the series to the World Entertainment News Network and a desire to have a “stint in the TV show or a film. It’s been a secret ambition of mine for years.”[29] On 16 March 2007, Craig made a cameo appearance as himself in a sketch with Catherine Tate who appeared in the guise of her character Elaine Figgis from The Catherine Tate Show. The sketch was made for the BBC Red Nose Day 2007 fundraising programme.[30]
In 2008’s Defiance, he played Tuvia Bielski, a Jewish resistance fighter in the woods of Belarus during World War II who saved 1,200 people.
The shot in Casino Royale of Craig sporting swimming trunks has often topped many sexiest male celebrity 
polls,[31] and in 2009 Del Monte Foods launched an ice pop molded to resemble Craig emerging from the sea.[32]
Craig co-starred with Hugh Jackman, in a limited engagement of the play A Steady Rain, on Broadway at the Schoenfeld Theatre, which opened in previews on 10 September 2009 and closed on 6 December 2009.[33]
Craig lent his voice and likeness as James Bond for both the Wii game GoldenEye 007, an enhanced remake of the 1997 game for the Nintendo 64, and Blood Stone, an original game for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, and Microsoft Windows.
As of August 2010, Craig has been cast as crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist in David Fincher‘s adaptation of Stieg Larsson‘s novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.[34]
Personal life
 |
| Fiona Loudon |
 |
|
| Rachel Weisz |
 |
| Heike Makatsch, |
In 1992, Craig married Scottish actress Fiona Loudon, with whom he has a daughter, Ella. However, the marriage ended in divorce in 1994.[35] After his divorce he was in a seven-year relationship with German actress Heike Makatsch, ending in 2001. He subsequently dated film producer Satsuki Mitchell from 2004 until 2010.[36] Craig and actress Rachel Weisz began dating in December 2010.[37] Craig and Weisz married on 22 June 2011[36][38] in a private New York ceremony, with only four guests in attendance, including Craig’s 18-year-old daughter and Weisz’s four-year-old son.[39]
In October 2008, Craig paid £4 million for an apartment near Regent’s Park, London[40] Craig is also a Liverpool F.C. supporter.[41]
Filmography
 |
| Satsuki Mitchell |
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Who is Franklin Caliendo?
Who is Franklin Caliendo? The entertainment and comedy world knows Frank Caliendo as an American comedian and impressionist, best known for his work on the Fox Network television series MADtv, and has been the in-house prognosticator for Fox NFL Sunday. In 2007 and 2008, he performed his impersonations on his own show, Frank TV, which aired on TBS. He is known for his impressions of Charles Barkley, NFL color commentator John Madden, sportscaster Jim Rome, comedian Robin Williams, actor William Shatner, and United States Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and for his frequent appearances on The Bob & Tom Show. He has performed as many as 120 impressions. He currently has a show in Las Vegas.
Biography
Early life and career
Caliendo was born January 19, 1974 in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he attended Waukesha South High School. He is of Italian ancestry.[2] After graduation from University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Caliendo began performing stand-up comedy, taking a job as a master of ceremonies at a local comedy club. Within a year he was headlining. He made his network series debut on the 2000-2001 sketch comedy series Hype. He gained significant national exposure on the comedy series MADtv.
Caliendo has performed stand-up on such series as cable‘s Premium Blend, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, The View, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
His signature ‘John Madden‘ impression is frequently seen on Fox NFL Sunday, The Best Damn Sports Show Period and Mohr Sports. Caliendo has also appeared on Comedy Central‘s Comedy Central Presents, as well as many radio shows, including the WDVE Morning Show with Jim Krenn and Randy Bauman in Pittsburgh PA, The Dan Le Batard Show, The Junkies, Bob & Sheri, The Bob & Tom Show, Mike and Mike in the Morning, Opie and Anthony, The Don and Mike Show, Rise Guys, Bubba the Love Sponge, The John Boy and Billy Big Show, The Howard Stern Show, Mike and the Mad Dog, Elliot in the Morning, The Sports Inferno, The Rick and Bubba Show, The Roe Conn Show, Preston and Steve, The Glenn Beck Program, and Holmberg’s Morning Sickness, and Lamont & Tonelli on 107.7 The Bone in San Francisco.
Frank TV
For two short seasons, Caliendo starred on Frank TV, his own sketch show on the TBS that began airing in November 2007. Frank was its host and performed in sketches in full makeup as characters he impersonated. Frank joked that he “wanted the show to be called The Chappelle Show [ sic ], but the lawyers wouldn’t allow it,” referring to the publicity he would likely receive from naming his show after another popular comedian.
In early 2008, TBS announced that they ordered eight more episodes, which ran later that year.[3] The show ended after the fifteenth episode, which aired on December 23, 2008.
MADtv
Caliendo officially joined the cast of MADtv in 2001 as a repertory performer, for the seventh season, and as MADtv’s equivalent to Saturday Night Live’s Darrell Hammond. In 2002, Caliendo replaced Will Sasso as the impersonator of George W. Bush, but he won audience members over with an offbeat impersonation of former Fox sports announcer John Madden and also many other Fox personalities. Both became some of the cast member’s most popular impressions on MADtv, and were featured quite prominently during his tenure. Frank also did the announcing for the best of scenes on the MADtv season 1 DVD, and the announcing for the Season 2 DVD release which was cancelled due to poor sales of the first season DVD.
In August 2006, Caliendo announced he would not return to MADtv for its 2006-2007 season.
Fox NFL Sunday
On November 5, 2000, Caliendo appeared on Fox NFL Sunday, as a guest to comedian Jimmy Kimmel. He performed his increasingly noteworthy John Madden impression and was well-received. He returned again the same season on January 7 during the playoffs.
In 2001 and 2002, Caliendo returned as a semi-regular guest on Fox NFL Sunday. He frequently appeared impersonating Madden or occasionally as pundit Jim Rome during some of Kimmel’s prognostication skits. At times he appeared live in the studio with the main hosts.
In 2003, Kimmel departed the program, and Caliendo was named his permanent replacement. As the prognosticator for the NFL on Fox, he gives his predictions (“Cold Hard Picks”) for the day’s NFL games. Typically these come during a skit (usually a one-man skit), where he does one of his famous impersonations. For example, for the first week’s Fox NFL Sunday of the 2006 NFL season, he impersonated James Brown, who left the show in the off-season to join The NFL Today on CBS. He also imitates the cast of Fox NFL Sunday on occasion, most frequently Terry Bradshaw.
The Comebacks
Caliendo appeared in the 2007 film The Comebacks. He impersonates John Madden and Al Michaels in the championship game between the Comebacks and The Unbeatables. His Character is “Chip Imitation”.
White House Correspondent’s Dinner
Caliendo’s impression of President George W. Bush earned him an invitation to perform during the 2007 annual White House Correspondents Dinner.
The Comedy Festival Presents: Funniest Movies of the Year 2008
During The Comedy Festival Caliendo hosted a special called The Comedy Festival Presents: Funniest Movies of the Year 2008 where, from Caesars Palace, Caliendo introduced the top ten list for funniest films of 2008 based on an Internet poll.
Television and film appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The Comedy Festival Presents: Funniest Movies of the Year 2008 | Himself/Host | |
| Fox NFL Sunday | Various | 2000-present | |
| 2007 | The Comebacks | Chip Imitation | |
| The 2007 White House Correspondents Dinner | Himself | ||
| Frank TV | Host: Various | 2007-2008 | |
| Frank Caliendo; All Over the Place | Himself | ||
| 2005 | Mind of Mencia | George W. Bush | Voice Only |
| 2004 | Comedy Central Presents | Himself | |
| National Lampoon Live: New Faces – Volumes 1 & 2 | Himself/host | ||
| Wisconsin Born & Bred: The Entertainers | Himself | ||
| 2001 | MADtv | Himself-Various | Appeared in 117 Episodes (2001-2006) |
| Late Friday | Himself | ||
| 2000 | Hype | Himself-Various |
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Who is Keanu Charles Reeves?
Who is Keanu Charles Reeves? The entertainment and acting world know Keanu Reeves as a Canadian actor. Reeves is perhaps best known for his roles in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Speed, Point Break and the science fiction-action trilogy The Matrix. He has worked under major directors, such as Stephen Frears (in the 1988 period drama Dangerous Liaisons); Gus Van Sant (in the 1991 independent film My Own Private Idaho, also written by Van Sant); and Bernardo Bertolucci (in the 1993 film Little Buddha). Referencing his 1991 film releases, The New York Times critic Janet Maslin praised Reeves’ versatility, saying that he “displays considerable discipline and range. He moves easily between the buttoned-down demeanour that suits a police procedural story and the loose-jointed manner of his comic roles.”[1]
In addition to his film roles, Reeves has also performed in theatre. His performance in the title role in a Manitoba Theatre Centre production of Hamlet was praised by Roger Lewis, the Sunday Times, who declared Reeves “…one of the top three Hamlets I have seen, for a simple reason: he is Hamlet.” On January 31, 2005, Reeves received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A 2006 ET online survey placed him in the “Top Ten of America’s Favorite Stars”.
Early life
Reeves was born September 2, 1964 in Beirut, Lebanon, the son of Patricia Bond (née Taylor), a costume designer/performer, and Samuel Nowlin Reeves, Jr., a geologist.[2] Reeves’ mother is English, and his father is a Hawaiian-born American of English, Irish, Portuguese, Hawaiian, and Chinese descent.[3][4] Reeves’s mother was working in Beirut when she met his father. Reeves’ father worked as an unskilled laborer and earned his GED while imprisoned in Hawaii for selling heroin at Hilo International Airport.[5] He abandoned his wife and family when Reeves was three years old, and Reeves does not currently have any relationship with him.[5]
Reeves moved around the world frequently as a child and he lived with various stepfathers. After his parents divorced in 1966, his mother became a costume designer and moved the family to Australia and then to New York City. There she met and married Paul Aaron, a Broadway and Hollywood director. The couple moved to Toronto; they divorced in 1971. Reeves’ mother married Robert Miller, a rock promoter, in 1976; the couple divorced in 1980. She subsequently married her fourth husband, Jack Bond, a hairdresser, a marriage that broke up in 1994. Grandparents and nannies babysat Reeves and his sisters, and Reeves grew up primarily in Toronto. Within a span of five years, he attended four different high schools, including the Etobicoke School of the Arts, from which he was later expelled. Reeves stated he was expelled “…because I was greasy and running around a lot. I was just a little too rambunctious and shot my mouth off once too often. I was not generally the most well-oiled machine in the school. I was just getting in their way, I guess.”
Reeves excelled more in hockey than in academics, as his educational development was challenged by dyslexia. He was a successful goalie at one of his high schools (De La Salle College “Oaklands”). His team nicknamed him “The Wall,” and voted him MVP. While Reeves dreamed of becoming an Olympic hockey player for Canada, an injury ended his hopes for a hockey career. After leaving De La Salle College, he attended an anarchistic free school (Avondale Alternative), which allowed him to obtain an education while working as an actor; he later dropped out, never obtaining his high school diploma.
In January 2011, on the BBC program ‘The One Show‘, he spoke of his English ancestry, via his mother, mentioning his happy watching of ‘The Two Ronnies‘ comedy show amongst others when younger, and how his mother imparted English manners that he still has today.
Career
1980s
Reeves began his acting career at the age of nine, appearing in a theater production of Damn Yankees. At 15, he played Mercutio in a stage production of Romeo and Juliet at the Leah Posluns Theatre. Reeves made his screen acting debut in a CBC Television comedy series entitled Hangin’ In. Throughout the early 1980s, he appeared in commercials (including one for Coca-Cola), short films including the NFB drama One Step Away[6] and stage work such as Brad Fraser‘s cult hit Wolfboy in Toronto. In 1984, he was a correspondent for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation TV youth program Going Great.[7]
Reeves’ first studio movie appearance was in the Rob Lowe ice hockey film Youngblood, in which he played a Québécois goalie. Shortly after the movie’s release, Reeves drove to Los Angeles in his 1969 Volvo. His ex-stepfather Paul Aaron, a stage and television director, had convinced Erwin Stoff to be Reeves’ manager and agent before he even arrived in Los Angeles. Stoff has remained Reeves’ manager, and has coproduced many of his films. After a few minor roles, Reeves received a more sizable role in the 1986 drama film River’s Edge, which depicted how a murder affected a group of teens. Following this film’s critical success, he spent the late 1980s appearing in a number of movies aimed at teenage audiences, including Permanent Record, and the unexpectedly successful 1989 comedy, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, which, along with its 1991 sequel, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, typecast Reeves as a spaced-out teen. Much of his portrayal in the press and much of the response to his acting in the early 1990s still mentioned his portrayal of the airheaded Ted.
1990s
During the early 1990s, Reeves started to break out of his teen-film period. He appeared in high-budget action films like Point Break, for which he won MTV’s “Most Desirable Male” award in 1992. He was also involved in various lower-budget independent films, including the well-received 1991 film, My Own Private Idaho with his close friend, the late River Phoenix. In 1994, Reeves’ career reached a new high as a result of his starring role in the action film Speed. His casting in the film was controversial since, except for Point Break, he was primarily known for comedies and indie dramas. He had never been the sole headliner on a film. The summer action film had a fairly large budget and was helmed by novice cinematographer-turned-director Jan de Bont. The unexpected international success of the film made Reeves and co-star Sandra Bullock into A-List stars.
Reeves’ career choices after Speed were eclectic: despite his successes, Reeves continued to accept supporting roles and appear in experimental films. He scored a hit with a romantic lead role in A Walk in the Clouds. He made news by refusing to take part in Speed 2: Cruise Control and choosing to play the title role in a 1995 Manitoba Theatre Centre production of Hamlet in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[8] Roger Lewis, the Sunday Times critic, wrote, “He quite embodied the innocence, the splendid fury, the animal grace of the leaps and bounds, the emotional violence, that form the Prince of Denmark…He is one of the top three Hamlets I have seen, for a simple reason: he *is* Hamlet.”[9]
Reeves’ other choices after A Walk in the Clouds, however, failed with critics and audiences. Big-budget films such as the sci-fi action film Johnny Mnemonic and the action-thriller Chain Reaction were critically panned and failed at the box office, while indie films like Feeling Minnesota were also critical failures. Reeves started to climb out of his career low after starring in the horror/drama The Devil’s Advocate alongside Al Pacino and Charlize Theron. Reeves deferred his salary for The Devil’s Advocate so that Pacino would be cast, as he would do later for the less successful The Replacements, guaranteeing the casting of Gene Hackman. The Devil’s Advocate did well at the box office, received good reviews, and proved that Reeves could play a grown-up with a career, although many critics felt that his poor performance detracted from an otherwise enjoyable movie. The 1999 science fiction-action hit The Matrix, a film in which Reeves had a starring role, was a box office success and attracted positive reviews.
2000s
In between the first Matrix film and its sequels, Reeves received positive reviews for his portrayal of an abusive husband in The Gift. Aside from The Gift, Reeves appeared in several films that received mostly negative reviews and unimpressive box office grosses, including The Watcher, Sweet November and The Replacements. However, the two Matrix sequels, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, Something’s Gotta Give, and the 2005 horror-action film, Constantine, proved to be box office successes and brought Reeves back into the public spotlight.
His appearance in the 2006 film, A Scanner Darkly, based on the dystopian science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick, received favorable reviews, and The Lake House, his romantic outing with Sandra Bullock, did not do well at the box office. He went on to play the lead character in two 2008 films, Street Kings and The Day the Earth Stood Still. In February 2009 The Private Life of Pippa Lee was presented at Berlinale.[citation needed]
2010s
Reeves started filming the surrealist romantic comedy Henry’s Crime in December 2009, with filming set to wrap in early 2010. After this he will be starting work as producer and star on the science-fiction space drama Passengers, written by Jon Spaihts.[10]
In January 2009, it was revealed that Reeves will star in the live-action film adaptation of the anime series Cowboy Bebop,[11][12] slated for release in 2011. Other upcoming projects include the samurai film 47 Ronin, Chef – story by Reeves and written by Steven Knight, and a modern retelling of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, scripted by Justin Haythe and titled Jekyll. Nicolas Winding Refn is in negotiations to direct and was later replaced by Dennis Iliadis and produced by Universal Pictures.[13]
In April 2011 Reeves confirmed that a third installment of the Bill & Ted movie series was underway.[14]
Personal life and other interests
For nearly a decade following his initial rise to stardom, Reeves preferred to live in rental houses and hotels. He was a long-term resident of the Chateau Marmont. Reeves bought his first house in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles around 2003. He also has an apartment on Central Park West in New York City.
He is a U.S. citizen through his American father, and also holds Canadian citizenship by naturalization; he grew up as a Canadian and identifies as such. Due to April 2003 changes in the law, he is entitled to British citizenship through his English mother.
 |
| Jennifer Syme |
Reeves has never married.[15] In December 1999, his girlfriend Jennifer Syme gave birth to a stillborn daughter, Ava Archer Syme-Reeves. Syme died in 2001, a sole driver involved in an automobile wreck, while partying in Los Angeles.[16]
Reeves was sued unsuccessfully in 2008 in Los Angeles Superior Court for $711,974[17] by paparazzo Alison Silva for allegedly hitting and injuring him with his Porsche after visiting a relative at a Los Angeles medical facility.[18][19] The paparazzo’s lawsuit took a year and a half to make it to trial, during which time Silva continued to attack Reeves and demand payment. At the trial, all 12 jurors rejected the suit needing only an hour of deliberation to reach their verdict. With the lawsuit rejected, Reeves was cleared of all the charges.[20]
In 2010, photos of a sad-looking Keanu Reeves eating a sandwich while alone led to the spread of the “Keanu is Sad/Sad Keanu” Internet meme and the declaration of June 15 as “Unofficial Cheer-up Keanu Day” by a Facebook fanpage.[21]
Music
Reeves played bass guitar in the grunge band Dogstar during the 1990s. In the 2000s, he performed with the band Becky.
Filmography
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Letting Go | Stereo Teen #1 | |
| One Step Away | Ron Petrie | ||
| 1986 | Youngblood | Heaver | |
| Flying | Tommy Wernicke | ||
| Young Again | Mike Riley, age 17 | ||
| Under the Influence | Eddie Talbot | ||
| Act of Vengeance | Buddy Martin | ||
| River’s Edge | Matt | ||
| Brotherhood of Justice | Derek | ||
| Babes in Toyland | Jack | ||
| 1988 | Permanent Record | Chris Townsend | |
| The Prince of Pennsylvania | Rupert Marshetta | ||
| The Night Before | Winston Connelly | ||
| Dangerous Liaisons | Le Chevalier Raphael Danceny | ||
| 1989 | Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure | Ted “Theodore” Logan | |
| Parenthood | Tod Higgins | ||
| 1990 | I Love You to Death | Marlon James | |
| Tune in Tomorrow | Martin Loader | ||
| 1991 | Point Break | FBI Special Agent John ‘Johnny’ Utah | |
| Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey | Ted “Theodore” Logan/Evil Ted | ||
| My Own Private Idaho | Scott Favor | ||
| Providence | Eric | ||
| 1992 | Bram Stoker’s Dracula | Jonathan Harker | |
| 1993 | Much Ado About Nothing | Don John | |
| Little Buddha | Prince Siddhartha/Lord Buddha | ||
| Poetic Justice | Homeless Man | (Uncredited) | |
| Freaked | Ortiz the Dog Boy | (Uncredited) | |
| Even Cowgirls Get the Blues | Julian Gitche | ||
| 1994 | Speed | Officer Jack Traven | |
| 1995 | Johnny Mnemonic | Johnny | |
| A Walk in the Clouds | Sgt. Paul Sutton | ||
| 1996 | Chain Reaction | Eddie Kasalivich | |
| Feeling Minnesota | Jjaks Clayton | ||
| 1997 | The Last Time I Committed Suicide | Harry | |
| The Devil’s Advocate | Kevin Lomax | ||
| 1999 | The Matrix | Thomas Anderson/Neo | Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Actor |
| Me and Will | Himself | ||
| 2000 | The Replacements | Shane Falco | |
| The Watcher | David Allen Griffin | ||
| The Gift | Donnie Barksdale | ||
| 2001 | Sweet November | Nelson Moss | |
| Hardball | Conor O’Neill | ||
| 2003 | The Matrix Reloaded | Thomas Anderson/Neo | |
| The Animatrix | Thomas Anderson/Neo | ||
| The Matrix Revolutions | Thomas Anderson/Neo | ||
| Something’s Gotta Give | Dr. Julian Mercer | ||
| 2005 | Constantine | John Constantine | |
| Thumbsucker | Perry Lyman | ||
| Ellie Parker | Himself | ||
| 2006 | The Lake House | Alex Wyler | |
| A Scanner Darkly | Bob Arctor | ||
| 2008 | Street Kings | Detective Tom Ludlow | |
| The Day the Earth Stood Still | Klaatu | ||
| 2009 | The Private Lives of Pippa Lee | Chris Nadeau | |
| 2010 | Passengers | Jim Preston | |
| Cartagena | Character Unknown | ||
| 2011 | Jekyll | Dr. Jekyll | |
| Cowboy Bebop | Spike Spiegel[10][11] | ||
| Hanuman | Ram[19] |
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Who is Jonathan Favreau?
Who is Jonathan Favreau? The entertainment and acting world knows Jon Favreau as an American actor, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for appearing in films including Rudy, I Love You, Man; Swingers and Couples Retreat, as well as directing such films as Elf, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and Cowboys & Aliens. He is also known for playing the role of Pete Becker, Monica Geller‘s boyfriend during season three of the television sitcom Friends.
Early life
Favreau was born in Flushing, New York, the son of Madeleine, an elementary school teacher who died of leukemia in 1979, and Charles Favreau, a special education teacher.[1] Favreau’s mother was Jewish and his father is a Catholic of Italian and distant French-Canadian ancestry.[2][3][4] He graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1984 and attended Queens College from 1984 to 1987, before dropping out.[5] He briefly worked for Bear Stearns on Wall Street before returning to Queens College for a semester in early 1988. He dropped out of college for good (a few credits shy of completing his degree),[6] and in the summer of 1988, moved to Chicago to pursue a career in comedy. He performed at several Chicago improvisational theaters, including the ImprovOlympic and the Improv Institute.
Career
While in Chicago, Favreau landed his first film role alongside Sean Astin as the pudgy tutor D-Bob in the classic sleeper hit Rudy (1993). Favreau met Vince Vaughn—who played a small role in this film—during shooting. The next year, he appeared in the college film PCU alongside Jeremy Piven, and also stepped into the world of television in the 1994 episode of Seinfeld titled “The Fire” as Eric the Clown. He then moved to Los Angeles, where he made his breakthrough in 1996 as an actor-screenwriter with the film Swingers, which was Vaughn’s breakthrough role as the glib and extremely confident Trent Walker, a perfect foil to Favreau’s heartbroken Mike Peters. In 1997 he appeared on the popular TV sitcom Friends portraying Pete Becker, whom Monica dates for several episodes, and who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
He rejoined Piven in 1998 as part of Very Bad Things (1998). In 1999 he starred in the TV movie Rocky Marciano, based on the life of the only undefeated world heavyweight champion in the world. He later appeared in Love & Sex (2000), co-starring Famke Janssen. Favreau got some screen time as lawyer Foggy Nelson in the 2003 movie Daredevil (2003) (considerably more in the Director’s Cut version). In 2003 he also starred in The Big Empty, directed by Steve Anderson. His character was John Person, an out of work actor given a strange mission to deliver a blue suitcase to a man named Cowboy in the desert. Earlier, Favreau appeared in 2000’s The Replacements as maniacal linebacker Daniel Bateman. He was a guest-director for an episode of the college dramedy Undeclared in 2001.
In 2000, he played himself in a Sopranos episode as a Hollywood director who feigns interest in developing mob associate Christopher Moltisanti‘s execrable screenplay in order to collect material for his own screenplay.
 |
| Vince Vaughn |
In 2001, he made his (film) directorial debut with another self-penned screenplay, Made. Made once again teamed him up with his Swingers co-star Vince Vaughn. In the fall of 2003, he scored his first financial success as a director of the hit comedy Elf starring Will Ferrell and James Caan. Also in 2003, Favreau had a small part in Something’s Gotta Give (a film starring Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson); Favreau played Leo, Harry Sanborn’s (Nicholson) personal assistant, who visited Harry in the hospital. In 2005, Favreau directed the film adaptation of Zathura. Never to turn his back on acting, Favreau still makes regular appearances in film and television. He recently reunited with friend Vince Vaughn in the much-hyped hit romantic comedy The Break-Up and appeared in My Name Is Earl as a reprehensible fast food manager. Favreau also made a guest appearance in Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show.
Also in 2005, Jon appeared as a guest judge and executive representative of Sony corporation in week five of NBC primetime reality TV business show, The Apprentice. He was called upon to judge the efforts of the show’s two teams of contestants, who were assigned the task of designing and building a float to publicise his 2005 Sony Pictures movie, Zathura.
Favreau also has a TV series called Dinner for Five which airs on the cable TV channel IFC. On April 28, 2006, it was announced that Favreau was signed to direct the long awaited Iron Man movie.[7] Released on May 2, 2008, the film was a huge critical[8] and commercial[9] success, solidifying Favreau’s reputation as a director. Favreau was the third director attached to John Carter of Mars, the film adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs‘ swashbuckling space hero. Robert Rodriguez and Kerry Conran were previously attached within the last two years. Mark Protosevich and Ehren Kruger have both written drafts. The Marshal in Revelation has been in development since Swingers was released. It’s a western about a Hasidic gunslinger. At one time both Favreau and Vince Vaughn were to co-direct. Neanderthals is a CG animated film that Favreau will write and produce. Johnny Zero will cover the birth of the hot rod movement following World War II. Favreau will write and direct. Iron Man was the first Marvel-produced movie under their alliance with Paramount, and Favreau served as the director and an executive producer. He recently told MTV that he would like to be at the helm of an Avengers film. During early scenes in Iron Man Favreau appears as Tony Stark’s loyal friend, and driver, Happy Hogan. He also wrote a mini-series for Marvel Knights titled Iron Man: Viva Las Vegas, that started in September 2008,[10] and directed the sequel Iron Man 2.
Favreau co-starred in 2009’s Couples Retreat, a comedy chronicling four couples who partake in therapy sessions at a tropical island resort, which he also wrote. The film saw him reunited with co-star Vince Vaughn, and Kristin Davis played his wife.[11] On June 22, 2009, it was announced that Favreau will provide the voice of a bear in Kevin James’ The Zookeeper.
He also plays the voice-role of Mandalorian Pre Vizsla in the series Star Wars: The Clone Wars in various episodes.
Personal life
Favreau married Joya Tillem on November 24, 2000. The couple have three children, a son, Max, born July 25, 2001, and two daughters, Madeleine, born April 2003, and Brighton Rose, born August 2006. Joya Tillem is the niece of KGO (AM) lawyer/talk show host Len Tillem.[12]
Favreau also plays on the World Poker Tour in the Hollywood Home games for the Cancer Care charity.
Favreau also plays on the World Poker Tour in the Hollywood Home games for the Cancer Care charity. He is also very close friends with Vince Vaughan.
Favreau credits Dungeons & Dragons with giving him “…a really strong background in imagination, storytelling, understanding how to create tone and a sense of balance.”[13]
Favreau frequently Tweets during his day, which included updates from rehearsals[14] of Iron Man 2.
Filmography
Director
|
Writer
|
Actor
| Jon Favreau’s filmography | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1992 | Hoffa | Uncredited role | |
| 1993 | Rudy | D-Bob | |
| 1994 | Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle Seinfeld PCU |
Elmer Rice Eric the Clown Gutter |
1 Episode |
| 1995 | Batman Forever | Assistant | |
| 1996 | Swingers | Mike Peters | |
| 1997 | Friends | Pete Becker | 6 Episodes |
| 1998 | Very Bad Things Deep Impact |
Kyle Fisher Dr. Gus Partenza |
|
| 1999 | Rocky Marciano | Rocky Marciano | |
| 2000 | Love & Sex The Replacements |
Adam Levy Daniel “Danny” Bateman |
|
| 2001 | Made The Sopranos |
Bobby Ricigliano Himself |
|
| 2003 | Elf Something’s Gotta Give Daredevil The Big Empty |
Doctor Leo Franklin “Foggy” Nelson John Person |
|
| 2004 | The King of Queens Wimbledon |
Sean McGee Ron Roth |
|
| 2006 | The Break-Up Open Season Monk |
Johnny O Reilly Dr. Oliver Bloom |
Voice only Season 4, episode Mr. Monk Goes to the Dentist |
| 2008 | Iron Man Four Christmases |
Happy Hogan Denver McVie |
|
| 2009 | I Love You Man G-Force Couples Retreat |
Barry Hurley the Guinea Pig Joey |
Voice only |
| 2010 | Iron Man 2 The Zookeeper Star Wars: The Clone Wars |
Happy Hogan TBA (Voice only) Pre Vizsla (Voice Only) |
Various episodes |
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Who is Jay Chou?
Who is Jay Chou? The entertainment and acting world know Jay Chou as a Taiwanese musician, singer-songwriter, music and film producer, actor and director who has won the World Music Award four times. He is well-known for composing all his own songs and songs for other singers. In 1998 he was discovered in a talent contest where he displayed his piano and song-writing skills. Over the next two years, he was hired to compose for popular Mandarin singers. Although he was trained in classical music, Chou combines Chinese and Western music styles to produce songs that fuse R&B, rock and pop genres, covering issues such as domestic violence, war, and urbanization.
In 2000, Chou released his first album, titled Jay, under the record company Alfa Music. Since then he has released one album per year except in 2009, selling several million copies each. His music has gained recognition throughout Asia, most notably in regions such as Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and in overseas Asian communities, winning more than 20 awards each year. He has sold more than 28 million albums worldwide up to 2010.[3] He debuted his acting career in Initial D (2005), for which he won Best Newcomer Actor in both the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Golden Horse Awards, and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor by Hong Kong Film Awards for his role in Curse of the Golden Flower (2006). He produced the theme song for the film Ocean Heaven starring Jet Li. His career now extends into directing and running his own record company JVR Music.
Life and career
Jay Chou was born 18 January 1979 and grew up in Linkou, Taipei County, Taiwan.[4] Both his parents were secondary school teachers: his mother, Ye Hui Mei , taught fine arts, while his father, Zhou Yao Zhong , was a biomedical researcher. His mother noticed his sensitivity to music and took him to piano lessons at the age of three.[4] During his childhood, he was fascinated with capturing sounds and songs with his tape recorder, which he carried everywhere with him. In the third grade, he became interested in music theory and also started cello lessons. He is an only child and loved to play piano, imitate TV actors, and perform magic tricks. His favorite composer was, and still is to this day, Chopin. His parents divorced when he was 13, which caused him to become reclusive and introverted. Although he had friends, he often preferred to be alone, listening to music, contemplating and daydreaming. At Tamkang Senior High School, he majored in piano and minored in cello. He showed talent for improvisation, became fond of pop music and began to write songs.[5][6]
Chou graduated from high school with inadequate grades for university, so he prepared for military service, which was compulsory for all Taiwanese men at the age of 18. However, a sports injury triggered by an unexplainable and severe back pain eventually led to the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis, a hereditary spine inflammation disease; as a result, he was exempted from conscription.[7][8] Meanwhile, he found himself a job as a waiter. Without his knowing, his friend had entered both their names in a talent show called Super New Talent King. Chou played the piano accompaniment for his friend, whose singing was described as “lousy”. Although they did not win, the show’s host Jacky Wu—an influential character in Taiwan’s entertainment business—happened to glance at Chou’s music score and was impressed with its complexity. Wu hired him as a contract composer and paired him with the novice lyricist Vincent Fang.[6]
Over the next two years he wrote songs for Mandarin pop artists, and also learned recording and sound mixing; his dedication was apparent as he even slept in the music studio. Wu’s music studio was later sold to Alfa Music, and the new manager Yang Jun Rong asked him to release his own album. Chou already had an arsenal of songs he wrote for others but had been rejected, so among those he chose 10 for his debut CD Jay that was released in 2000. The album established his reputation as a musically gifted singer-songwriter whose style is a fusion of R&B, rap, classical music, and yet distinctly Chinese. His fame spread quickly in Chinese-speaking regions including countries throughout Southeast Asia.[9][10][11] Since 2000, Chou has released one album per year, except the year 2009, each selling several million 
copies, and has been recognized with hundreds of awards.[12] In 2003, he was the cover story of Time magazine (Asia version),[6] acknowledging his influence on popular culture. He has held four world tours, “The One” (2002), “Incomparable” (2004), “Jay Chou The World Tours” (2007–2008) and “The Era” (2010–2011) performing in cities such as Taipei, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Las Vegas, Toronto and Vancouver. Unlike most singers, Chou has an enormous amount of creative control over his music.[6] He is not only the songwriter but also the producer on all of his albums; since 2005 he is also the music director and also directs his own music videos.
Music
Musical style
Chou’s compositions are loosely categorized as pop music. While many of his works fall into contemporary R&B, rap, and rock genres, the term “Chou Style” has been popularized to describe his trademark cross-cultural music and his insistence on singing with relaxed enunciation. Taipei Times once described the meaning of “Chou Style”: “In what has become the archetypal Chou style, Taiwan’s favorite son blends pop, rap, blues and a smorgasbord of esthetic elements of world music to create his dream-like never-never land …”[15]
He regularly fuses traditional Chinese instruments and styles with R&B or rock to form a new genre called “Zhongguo feng” which literally means “Chinese Style Music“,[a] some of which are written in the Pentatonic Scale as opposed to the more common seven-note scale (Diatonic Scale) to accentuate an oriental style. Besides his own culture, he also incorporated Spanish guitar in “Red Imitation” , American techno/electronica in “Herbalist’s Manual” , rap with subtle classical music undertones in “Reverse Scales” , and Bossanova style in “Rosemary” , to name a few. Sound effects from everyday life are frequently woven into his music, such as bouncing ping pong balls, touch tone phone dialing, helicopter blades, dripping rain, and radio static noise (concrete music).[b]
His formal musical training is evident by the use of classical textures in his compositions. For example, counterpoint was used in “Perfection” and “Sorry” , while polyphony can be found in “The Wound That Ends War” and “Twilight’s Chapter Seven”.
Chou’s albums have been noted for the lack of change compared to his earlier works, yet he firmly stated that he will not alter his style: “They say I’ve been standing still … but this is the music I want, and I don’t see what I want by moving ahead.”[16] To demonstrate his point, he named his 2006 album Still Fantasy after his 2001 album Fantasy. His use of relaxed enunciation has been criticized as “mumbling”[17] which he also insisted will not change;[18] however, recently he has adopted clearer pronunciation for certain songs, particularly more traditional Chinese style songs, such as “Faraway” which features Fei Yu-ching and “Chrysanthemum Terrace” .[19]
Lyrics
Chou is more often a singer-composer than a lyricist. Several “regulars” write the lyrics for most of his music, but the content and style is unified with his own personality and image, covering a diverse range of topics and ideas. Vincent Fang accounts for more than half of the lyrics in his albums, helping to establish an important element in Chou’s music: the use of meaningful, imagery- and emotionally-rich lyrics, sometimes written in the form of ancient Chinese poetry with reference to Chinese history or folklore.[c] In addition to writing romantic hits,[d] he also touches on war, the Bible, sports, and martial arts.[e] Vivian Hsu is a singer herself and has helped with Chou’s earlier hits,[f] while Huang Jun Lang is noted for his work surrounding unusual themes (such as a detective story and chess game).[g]
Chou himself has written lyrics for many ballads,[h] but has also discussed societal ills such as drug addiction in “Coward” and loss of the rural countryside to urbanization in “Terrace fields” . Domestic violence discussed in “Dad, I am back” received a great deal of commotion since he was the first to bring up this taboo subject in Sanscript music,[20] which helped solidify his status as a pioneer and a unique pop singer capable of approaching serious issues. In the songs “Maternal grandmother” and “Listen to Mother”, he voiced his high regard for family values. He addressed personal issues about his failure to enter university in “Split” , his resentment towards the paparazzi in “Besieged From All Sides” , and highlighted the importance of individuality in “Popular Imitation” . “Rice Fragrance” , a song from his 9th album Capricorn encourages people not to give up their dreams even when facing difficulties in life.
Collaborations
Chou began as a songwriter for other singers and continued this area of work even after he debuted his own career in singing. He has composed frequently for Jolin Tsai, Landy Wen, and occasionally for other Taiwanese singers such as Coco Lee, S.H.E, Vivian Hsu, Leehom Wang, Will Liu, Valen Hsu, and Hong Kong pop stars Edmond Leung, Gigi Leung, Jordan Chan, Edison Chen, Karen Mok, Leo Ku, Eason Chan, and Joey Yung, as well as a one-time collaboration with Howard Su. He has also written for singers outside of his generation—over one dozen songs for his mentor Jacky Wu, later also for Taiwanese singer Jody Chiang, and Hong Kong singers Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok, and Kenny Bee.[21][22][23][24]
He initiated the band Nan Quan Mama in 2004, selecting band members and overseeing their album production. The group has been noted for sounding too similar to their mentor;[25] as a result, Chou has reduced his involvement in the band,[26] but continues to help increase their exposure to mass audiences by inviting them as guests performers for his own concerts and music videos.[27][28][29][30]
 |
| Patty Hou, |
He has performed live duets with Landy Wen,[28] Jolin Tsai,[31] and former girlfriend news anchor Patty Hou,[32] but only two studio recordings of duets have been formally placed in his own albums: “Coral Sea” in 2005 with Lara Veronin (of Nan Quan Mama)[33] and “Faraway” in 2006 features Fei Yu-Ching, who began his career in the 1970s.[34] Besides working with singers, Chou’s longest-running collaboration is with lyricist Vincent Fang, as they both started their careers in the music field in 1998. The compilation album Partners featured 12 songs, each consisting of Chou’s musical and Fang’s lyrical compositions.[35] Fang has written the words to more than 40 of Chou’s songs, was the chief editor of Chou’s book Grandeur de D Major , and is now Chou’s business partner (together with Chou’s manager JR Yang) for the record company JVR Music.[36][37] Jay Chou was also featured in Cindy Yen‘s song “Sand Painting” released in October 2009. Jay Chou collaborates with Kobe Bryant on “The Heaven and Earth Challenge” in order to “promote youth creativity, as well as an upcoming slam-dunk competition in China.” The song was released at a press conference before the NBA All-Star Game on 20 February 2011.[38]
World tours
Jay held his first series of five solo concerts, titled Fantasy Concert , with the first stop on 11 January 2001 at Taoyuan Arena, Taiwan. Followed by two shows at the Hong Kong Coliseum, one in Malaysia and ended in Singapore on 10 February 2002. His second concert tour, The One Concert commenced on 28 September 2002 at Taipei Municipal Stadium, followed by 11 stops and ended at Shenzhen Stadium, China on 3 January 2004.
Two more series of world tours followed: Incomparable Concert in 2004 and Jay Chou 2007 World Tours , with stops in cities such as Taipei, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Las Vegas, Toronto and Vancouver. In 2010, to celebrate Jay’s 10 year career in the entertainment industry, he embarked on his fifth series of concert tour titled, New Era World Tour, with the first stop of three concerts from 11 to 13 June 2010 at Taipei Arena, followed by 24 stops ending in Malaysia on 5 March 2011.
- World tours/Live (DVD) album releases
- 2001 – Fantasy Concert
- 2002 – The One Concert – Jay Chou The One Concert Live
- 2004 – Incomparable Concert – Incomparable Jay Concert Live
- 2007 – Jay Chou World Tours – Jay Chou 2007 the World Tours Concert Live
- 2010 – New Era World Tour – Jay Chou 2010 The Era World Tours Concert Live
Other works
Movie career
Chou formally entered the film industry in 2005 with the release of the movie Initial D . He has since acted in three other movies, directed one film and more than a dozen music videos. Chou, who once said “I live because of music”,[39] ventured into movies because he felt the need for a new challenge. As fans have grown concerned that movies will compromise his music career, Chou has repeatedly reassured that movies are a source of inspiration and not a distraction; at the same time, he realizes the need to balance both careers and maintain his place in the music field to garner the continued support of fans.[40][41][42][43]
Acting
Entry into acting was an unexpected move for Chou.[41] His high school English teacher thought he was capable of very few facial expressions,[6] and the director of Hidden Track (2003, a movie in which Chou had a cameo role) said that his strong individualistic personality will not make him a good actor.[44] In 2005, Chou’s first role as the lead actor in Initial D served two purposes: to launch his acting debut, and to increase his exposure to Japanese audiences.[45] This film is based on the Japanese comic Initial D, where Chou played Takumi Fujiwara, a gifted touge racer who is quiet and rarely shows expression. Some reviewers criticized his bland acting[46] while others felt he performed naturally, but only because the character’s personality closely mirrored his own.[47][48] His performance in Initial D won him Best Newcomer Actor in Golden Horse Awards and Hong Kong Film Awards.[49][50] Chou’s second film was Curse of the Golden Flower (2006). As a supporting character, he drew much of the attention of Chinese reporters; Chou’s involvement in this movie was announced in its own press conference,[51] separate from the meeting held for Chow Yun-fat, Gong Li, and the other actors. Chou portrayed Prince Jai, the ambitious second eldest prince and general of the Imperial army whose personality epitomizes Xiao , the Chinese virtue of filial piety. In this internationally-released film, North American audiences saw Chou for the first time. According to Chinese movie critics, comments about his acting ranged from “lacks complexity”[52] to “acceptable,”[53][54] but was critically praised by Western reviewers.[55][56][57][58][59] His performance in Curse of the Golden Flower was nominated Best Supporting Actor in the Hong Kong Film Awards.[60] In the 2008 film Kung Fu Dunk, Chou portrayed a kung fu student and dunking prodigy, and the film earned over ¥100 million (US$14.7 million).[61] Chou portrayed Kato in The Green Hornet, directed by Michel Gondry and released in January 2011, after Hong Kong actor Stephen Chow withdrew from the project, the film grossed over $228 million worldwide.[62] MTV Networks‘ NextMovie.com named him one of the ‘Breakout Stars to Watch for in 2011’.[63]
Directing
Chou’s acquired his first directing experience in 2004 through music videos. He initially experimented with a song by the group Nan Quan Mama titled “Home” where he was involved throughout the entire process from research to editing. After learning the difficulties of being a director, he refused to direct again even at the request of his record company.[64] However, his interest resurfaced again as he directed music videos for 4 of the 12 songs in own album November’s Chopin in 2005,[65] and later television advertisements.[66][67] By 2006, he had taken responsibility for the storyboard, directing, and editing of music videos for all his songs.[40] It is unclear how the public appraises his work, since music videos are rarely the subject of critical review; however, director Zhang Yimou said that Chou’s directing abilities may surpass his own in the future, after viewing several of Chou’s music videos.[51][68]
In February 2007, Chou finally directed his first movie Secret. The story he wrote is based loosely on his relationship with a high school girlfriend, with a plot focused on music, love, and family.[69] He stars as the lead actor of the film with Kwai Lun-Mei as the female lead, and Hong Kong veteran actor Anthony Wong as Chou’s father. Despite previous experience in filming music videos, Chou admits that movies are more challenging due to storyline and time constraints.[69] This movie was released in July 2007.[70]
In 2005, Jay Chou played the male lead in Initial D, but according to reports, he will be back to direct the sequel, while Andrew Lau, who was a co-director of the first Initial D, will take on the role of the producer.[71]
Book: Grandeur de D Major
Chou published his first book titled Grandeur de D Major on November 25, 2004.[k] This 200-page book features a prologue written by his family, friends, and co-workers; the main section is a compilation of his personal attitudes, philosophies, and recollections of childhood experiences along with pictures from his music videos, many of which have never been released; and lastly, a list of the artist’s major awards, musical and lyrical compositions, and discography. For the usually low-profile singer, this book revealed his personality and convictions that has served as the basis of his musical and public image. He demonstrated a strong appreciation of family values with an especially deep connection with his mother and maternal grandmother. His confidence and dedication towards music is evident as he dedicated 2 out of 7 chapters to music: the current state of the industry, his composition methodology, and the importance of individualism to his success in music. This pride is contrasted against his modesty and self-assessed naivety about many aspects in life, particularly regarding relationships and marriage.
Endorsements
Chou has been a spokesperson for popular brands such as Pepsi (2002–2007), Panasonic (2001–2005), Motorola (since 2006), M-Zone/China Mobile (since 2003), Levi’s (2004–2005), Deerhui (sporting goods, since 2003), and Metersbonwe Group (casual wear, since 2003), Colgate (2004–2005), popular computer game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (2002), science and nature magazine National Geographic (2005).[72][73] To maximize the celebrity branding effect, advertisements are nearly always linked to his music and TV commercials are occasionally directed by him.[66][67] He acted as the tourism ambassador for Malaysia in 2003.[74][75] Recently[when?], Jay is promoting Sprite with Angela Chang. In the commercial, he can be seen performing magic tricks. He also did a Sprite commercial with Kobe Bryant.
Accolades
From the launch of his music career in 2000, Jay Chou has won more than 350 singer, singer-songwriter, and producer awards in Asia.[12] The highly coveted Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan[j] awarded “Best Album” for his debut CD Jay (2000) in 2001, and five awards (including “Best Album”, “Best Composer”, and “Best Producer”) in the following year for the album Fantasy (2001). However, failure to win “Best Album” for three consecutive years has left him disheartened with award ceremonies. Although he continues to win more than 20 awards per year from various organizations in Asia, Chou has stated he will rely more on album sales as an indicator of his music’s quality and popularity.[76] In 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008, he was awarded Best-Selling Artist in China by World Music Awards for the albums Common Jasmin Orange, Still Fantasy and On the Run.[77]
Media and public relations
Public image
Despite living under continual media scrutiny, Chou’s public image has changed little over the years as he emphasizes individuality as his “personal philosophy”.[6][78] In his music, this is also evident as he fuses Chinese and Western styles and explores topics unconventional for a pop singer, which have been described as “authentic” and “revolutionary”.[6][10][11] The media describes a hard-working[79] perfectionist[6] with clear self-direction[80] who is occasionally regarded as competitive[81] and a “control freak”.[6] There is a misunderstanding about his nickname “Chairman Chou” , used by both the press and fans to underscore his domineering personality and impact on Asian music,[82] but also points at his musical talent.[20][79] Yet the origin of this nickname emerges from his fever of collecting antiques as the word comes from “antique” in Chinese . Outside of music, Chou is reported as shy, quiet,[80][83] modest, and views filial piety as “the most important thing“.[84] In-line with his aim to present a positive image,[16] he is a non-smoker, non-drinker, and does not go to nightclubs.[85] Government officials and educators in Asia have awarded him for his exemplary behaviour,[86] designated him a spokesperson in the youth-empowerment project “Young Voice” in 2005 and an anti-depression campaign in 2007,[87][88] His lyrics for two songs[i] has been incorporated into the school syllabus to inspire motivational and filial attitudes.[89][90][91][92] In November 2007, Chou was criticized for attending the funeral of Taiwanese gang leader Chen Chi-li to console Chen’s son Baron Chen, whom Chou met while filming Kung Fu Dunk.[93][94][95]
Response to the news media and paparazzi
As with other stars, Chou has expressed a strong dislike of the paparazzi. In the early years of his career, unwanted attention by the media was usually dealt with by avoidance. In-line with his quiet nature, he frequently wore baseball caps and hoods while lowering his head and evading eye contact during interviews.[83] In recent years however, he has been less passive about the invasion of his privacy. To discourage the paparazzi from taking unsolicited pictures, Chou is known to photograph the paparazzi that follow him.[96] He openly calls the paparazzi “dogs” and tabloids “dog magazines”, as shown in his lyrics for “Besieged From All Sides”. The media have also accused Chou of evading compulsory military service[97] by feigning to suffer from ankylosing spondylitis. Later that year he was acquitted after providing the relevant medical records and letters from the army confirming a lawful exemption from draft dated before the start of his music career.[98]
Despite constant harassment and stalking by the media, he does acknowledge that not all media attention is unwelcome.[99] Coverage by international journals and news agencies such as Time,[6] The Guardian,[100] and Reuters[78] help ascertain his influence on mainstream culture. An editorial written by Kerry Brown of Chatham House named Chou as one of the 50 most influential figures in China, one of only three singers on a list dominated by politicians and corporate owners.[101] At the end of 2009, he was included on JWT’s annual list of 100 Things to Watch in 2010.[102]
Fanbase
It is difficult to estimate the size and global spread of Chou’s fanbase. Jay’s fanbase originated and grew extensively in China. The Chinese-speaking populations of Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Mainland China make up a significant percentage of Chou’s fans. Despite rampant piracy issues in this region of Asia, particularly in China, every album Chou has released so far has surpassed 2 million sales. According to Baidu, the most popular internet search engine in China, Chou is the number one searched male artist in 2002, 05, 06 and 07.[103][104][105][106]
In Hong Kong, he has been the best-selling Mandarin artist for the past 4 years.[107] According to a 2004 survey in five Chinese urban centers for children ages 9 to 14, 1 in 6 named Chou as their favorite idol;[108] he was also reported as the favorite singer of youths aged 8 to 25 in a study conducted in seven Asian countries (2006).[109] He has a solid fanbase throughout Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.[109] In Singapore, Chou was the second most searched celebrity behind Britney Spears in the music category.[110]
Currently, Chou remains largely unknown outside of Asia, except in cities with large Chinese immigrant populations such as Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. He has held concerts in major venues such as the Acer Arena (Sydney – 3 July 2009), HP Pavilion at San Jose (San Jose – 31 December 2010), Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (Los Angeles – 8 January 2011), MGM Grand (Las Vegas—25 December 2002), Rogers Arena (Vancouver – 23 December 2010),[6] Shrine Auditorium (Los Angeles—18 December 2004),[111] Galen Center (Los Angeles—24 December 2007) and the Air Canada Centre (Toronto – 18 December 2008). His intention to increase his prominence in the Western world beyond Chinese audiences is clear. In 2006, Chou composed and sang the theme song for Fearless, a movie released in major theatres in most English-speaking countries,[112] though the impact to his fame has been minimal. His role in Curse of the Golden Flower (limited release) marks his acting debut in North America. Despite having a supporting but important role in the story’s plot, the North American version of the official posters only featured a view of his back, greatly contrasting the Asian versions where his face and name were clear and placed between the leading actor and actress. Although Chou is still far from being well-known to English audiences, this movie has brought him international exposure. Chou gained further exposure to western audiences in his starring role as crimefighter Kato in January 2011’s The Green Hornet.
Chou has won the Favorite Male Artist of the 20th Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan. He did not attend the event to collect the award because he was on tour in China at the time.
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Hidden Track | “Himself” | |
| 2005 | Initial D | “Takumi Fujiwara“ | |
| 2006 | Curse of the Golden Flower | “Prince Jai – Yuan Jie” | |
| 2007 | Secret | “Jay – Ye Xiang Lun – ” Director Producer Original story author |
|
| 2008 | Kung Fu Dunk | “Fang Shi Jie – Fong Sai Kit – “ | |
| 2009 | The Treasure Hunter | “Lead actor [113] – Qiao Fei” | |
| 2010 | True Legend | “God of Wushu” / “Drunken God” | |
| 2011 | The Green Hornet | “Kato” (First Hollywood Film) | |
| Secret 2[114] | “Jay – Ye Xiang Lun –” Director |
||
| Viral Factor | Lead actor | ||
| 2012 | Initial D 2[115] | “Takumi Fujiwara” Director |
Television series
| Year | Title | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Pandamen | “Detective Leo Lee”[116] Director |
|
| Mr.J Channel | “Himself – Host”[117] |
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Who is Alexander Richard Pettyfer?
Who is Alexander Richard Pettyfer? The entertainment and acting world knows Alex Pettyfer as an English actor and model.[1] He appeared in school plays and on television before being cast as Alex Rider, the main character in the 2006 film version of Stormbreaker. Pettyfer was nominated for a Young Artist Award and an Empire Award for his role.[2] He has been seen as a model in several advertising campaigns for Burberry.[3] His next two starring roles were in the 2011 films I Am Number Four, a science fiction action adventure, and Beastly, a modernised retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
Early life
Pettyfer was born 10 April 1990 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, the son of Lee Ireland (née Robinson), an interior decorator, and Richard Pettyfer, an actor.[4][5] He has a younger half-brother, James Ireland, a junior tennis player, from his mother’s re-marriage to Michael Ireland, a property developer.[4][6]
Pettyfer was raised in Windsor, and began his career as a child fashion model at the age of seven, for Gap, after meeting Ralph Lauren in a toy store in New York City.[4] He also did advertisements for some yogurt brands. His first commercial was at age six.
As a schoolboy, he performed in plays, including in the role of Willy Wonka in a production Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Pettyfer was educated at two junior independent schools: The Mall School, a small school in Twickenham, followed by the Lambrook Haileybury school in Berkshire.[citation needed]. He subsequently attended two other independent boarding schools: Millfield School in Street in Somerset and Shiplake College near Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire.[4] After his GCSEs, he left Shiplake College to attend the independent Sylvia Young Theatre School.
Career
In 2005, after a modelling career,[4] Pettyfer made his professional acting début in the British television production of Tom Brown’s Schooldays, playing the lead character, Tom Brown; he received positive reviews for the role.[7] In June 2005, he was cast in his most prominent role so far, that of teenage MI6 spy Alex Rider in the film Stormbreaker, based on the novel by Anthony Horowitz. He was one of 500 who auditioned for the role.[6] Pettyfer chose to appear in the film over a role in the film Eragon, noting that he preferred Stormbreaker because it would be filmed in Britain, in the Isle of Man, while Eragon would film in the Czech Republic; Pettyfer is afraid of flying, and he liked the looks of the cast for Stormbreaker.[4] Stormbreaker was released on 21 July 2006 in the United Kingdom, on 6 October 2006 in the United States and on 21 September 2006 in Australia.
One review of Pettyfer’s performance described him as playing the role with an “earnest intensity”,[8] although another noted that he “isn’t quite at ease as an actor”.[9] Media reports specified that the film was expected to make Pettyfer a “teen idol“.[7] Pettyfer will not reprise the role if there is another Alex Rider film because he is now too mature for the role.[10]
He next appeared in Wild Child, a film set in California, Kent and Yorkshire part of which took place at Cobham Hall Girl’s School in Kent. He played school boy Freddie Kingsley and he co-starred with Emma Roberts. In 2009, he played the callous ringleader of a group of cool but cruel teenagers who are picked off one by one by the ghost of one of their former victims, in the horror-comedy, Tormented.
He starred in the film Beastly, based on the novel by Alex Flinn, alongside Mary-Kate Olsen, Vanessa Hudgens, and Neil Patrick Harris. He finished filming on 13 August 2009,[11] and the film was released on March 4, 2011.[12] Pettyfer portrayed the main character in I Am Number Four, released in February, 2011. The film co-starred Timothy Olyphant, Dianna Agron, and Teresa Palmer,[13] and was directed by D. J. Caruso, produced by Michael Bay, and executive produced by Steven Spielberg.[14]
It has also been announced that he will portray racing car driver James Hunt in the formula 1 biopic Shunt. He will also serve as producer on the movie.[15]
Sources also say that he has been offered the part of Jace Wayland in the upcoming portrayal of Cassandra Clare‘s best selling book, City of Bones. Jamie Campbell Bower was later cast as Jace Wayland.[16][17]
He has also been offered a part in an upcoming film adaption of Joseph Delaney‘s The Wardstone Chronicles. There have also been no news if he has accepted the part as well.[18]
He has also been offered a role in a future movie entitled ‘The Paperboy’ based on the Pete Dexter novel of the same name.[19]
Personal life
On 14 June 2009, Pettyfer was voted #35 on the Britain’s top 50 most eligible bachelors by UK women’s magazine Company.[20] In August 2009 the UK magazine Glamour ranked him at #21 on their list of the sexiest men on the planet, as determined by a poll of 2000 British women.
After Pettyfer completed filming Stormbreaker, he did not discuss the film with anyone at his school, citing the advice of his Stormbreaker co-star, Ewan McGregor, who told him to keep his personal and professional life separate. Pettyfer has since decided to leave school and concentrate on his film career,[21] whilst studying drama at college,[7] saying that “When you have already experienced going out and working in the real world, and you come back to school, you just see it as a playground and you don’t want to be there any more”.[22]
 |
| Emma Roberts |
Pettyfer has seven tattoos, including a Celtic cross on his chest, Arabic script on the inside of his right arm, the words, “What Goes Around Comes Around” on his right shoulder, a Katakana script on his lower waist,[23] and the letters “ER,” the initials of his now ex-girlfriend Emma Roberts inside interlinking hearts on his right wrist. When Contactmusic asked him about the “ER” tattoo he said “I don’t know how to say it, she’s a lovely, lovely girl, we had a spell of something that is over now, but we’re on good terms. She’s beautiful, she’s great; we’re really good friends.” The actor had gotten Roberts’ name tattooed on his wrist while the two were dating. “I’m going to get asked about this, aren’t I? I thought it was just between me and her,” he said when asked about the tattoo.[24]
Filmography
| Year |
Title |
Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Tom Brown’s Schooldays | Tom Brown |
| 2006 | Stormbreaker | Alex Rider |
| 2008 | Wild Child | Freddie Kingsley |
| 2009 | Tormented | Bradley White |
| 2011 | I Am Number Four | John Smith/Number Four |
| 2011 | Beastly | Kyle Kingson/Hunter |
| 2011 | In Time | Fortis |
Modelling
- 2008: Burberry – Spring/Summer
- 2008: Burberry – The Beat For Men eau du cologne
- 2009: Burberry – Spring/Summer
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Role | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in an International Feature Film Leading Young Actor or Actress[25] |
Alex Rider in Stormbreaker | Nominated |
| Empire Award | Best Male Newcomer[26] | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | ShoWest Award | Male Star of Tomorrow[27] | Won | |
| 2011 | MTV Movie Awards | Biggest Badass Star[28] | John Smith/Number Four in I Am Number Four | Nominat |
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Who is Ronald White?
Who is Ronald White? The entertainment and comedy world knows Ron White as an American stand up comedian who is also known as “Tater Salad”. Ron has had two Grammy Award-nominations, and is RIAA certified 10x Platinum for CD and DVD sales of over 10 million units.[1] He is a charter member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour and authored the book I Had the Right to Remain Silent But I Didn’t Have the Ability (Dutton 2006, ISBN 978-0525949619), which appeared on the New York Times best seller list. White is well-known for his famous punchline, “…You can’t fix stupid.”[2]
Early life
Ron White was born December 18, 1956 in Fritch, Texas on December 18, 1956.[3] He served in the United States Navy where he was given the nickname “Tater Salad” by fellow sailors who teased White for his love of potato salad.[4] White is an avid fisherman and has always loved fishing as a hobby, but from an early age his dream was to become a comedian. When he returned from the Navy, White struggled financially for years as he pursued this dream, going from gig to gig in a beat-up Nissan truck and selling windows to help make ends meet.[5] He also pursued a career as a bronco rider for several years in the early 80’s. White included stories from his youth in his book I Had the Right to Remain Silent But I Didn’t Have the Ability. White’s comedy revolves around observations and personal experiences retold in his smoking, drinking, Southern United States persona.[6]
Career
Ron White found success during January 2000 through March 2003, when he performed with Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, and Larry the Cable Guy as part of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour – a show that sold out across the United States in over 90 cities and grossed over $15 million.[7] White is the only member of the Blue Collar crew who did not go on to star in the Blue Collar TV series because he did not want to be typecast as “blue collar,” although he jokes in his performances that he simply does not have “the work ethic for a television show”. He did, however, make seven guest appearances on the show. In 2005, The WB Television Network aired the pilot for The Ron White Show, a variety show that combined a number of celebrity cameos, cartoons, and sketches. He recently taped several episodes of The Gong Show with Dave Attell as one of the celebrity judges. White has had appearances in the TV shows Kath & Kim, Reno 911!, 12 Miles of Bad Road, the film Sex and the City 2, and a cameo in a Rascal Flats music video, “Why Wait”.[8]
White is best known for smoking cigars and drinking Scotch as part of his act. He stated during his You Can’t Fix Stupid show, “Somebody asked what I was drinking. If the company that made the stuff I was drinking was paying me, I’d have it in their bottle and not mine. But it’s the kind of scotch that people drink that are going to die penniless. It’s good though!” [9]
Personal life
 |
| Margo Rey. |
White has been married three times. He married his first wife, Lori Brice in 1980. They divorced in 1992. They have a son, Marshall, born July, 1990. In June 2004, he married Barbara Dobbs; they divorced in 2008.[10] He is currently married to singer-songwriter Margo Rey.
Currently, Ron White has partnered with producer Michael Blakey to form Organica Music Group (distributed by Universal Music Group), a label that will promote both emerging and established musicians and comedians. He will be releasing all his future DVDs and CDs through Organica Music Group.[11]
Marijuana arrest
On September 10, 2008, White was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after an anonymous tip informed Vero Beach, Florida police that White’s private plane would be carrying narcotics. This tip likely came from a disgruntled pilot who had been recently fired by White.[12] White had allegedly been involved in an altercation with his flight crew on his private plane involving his use of marijuana on board during flights.[13] White was found to be in possession of 7/8 of a gram of marijuana.[14] He was reportedly very cooperative with Florida police.[15] Ron White has a valid medicinal marijuana license from California.[16]
Awards/Recognition
April 27, 2009 was designated as “Ron White Day” in the State of Texas by Texas legislative officials.[17] White received the Armed Forces Foundation‘s “Patriot Award” in March 2009 for his work in raising money to help wounded soldiers.[18] White also held benefit shows for Hurricane Katrina relief.[19]
Comedy releases
Besides the Blue Collar Comedy Tour CDs and movies, White has released five solo projects to date:
- Tater Salad aka. Busted in Des Moines
- Drunk in Public
- They Call Me “Tater Salad”
- You Can’t Fix Stupid
- Ron White: Behavioral Problems
He has appeared on the following compilation albums:
- Redneck Comedy Roundup (2005)
- Comedy Central Presents Southern Gents of Comedy (2006)
- Ron White, Jeff Foxworthy & Bill Engvall: Live from Las Vegas (2004)
- Redneck Kings of Comedy (2005)
Discography
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | RIAA | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US | US Comedy | US Heat | ||||||
| 1990 |
 Tater Salad aka. Busted in Des Moines |
— | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2003 | Drunk in Public |
 11 |
83 | 2 | 2 | Gold | |||
| 2006 |
 |
2 | 14 | 1 | — | — | |||
| 2009 | Behavioral Problems |
 13 |
51 | 1 | — | — | |||
| “—” denotes the album failed to chart, not released, or not certified | |||||||||
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Who is Shaun Mark Bean?
Who is Shaun Mark Bean? The entertainment and acting world knows Sean Bean as an English film and stage actor. Bean is best known for starring roles in the films Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, GoldenEye, Patriot Games, Troy, National Treasure and Silent Hill, as well as the television series Sharpe. Bean has also acted in a number of television productions, most recent being HBO’s Game of Thrones, as well as performing voice work for computer games and television adverts.
Early life and family
Bean was born 17 April 1959 Shaun Mark Bean in the Handsworth district of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, the son of Rita and Brian Bean.[1] Bean’s father owned a fabrication shop, which he had set up with a colleague. The business employed 50 people, including Bean’s mother, who worked as a secretary. He has a younger sister named Lorraine. Despite becoming relatively wealthy (his father owned a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow), the family never moved away from the council estate, because they preferred to remain close to friends and family.[2]
As a child, Bean smashed a glass door due to an argument over scissors. It left a piece of glass embedded in his leg that briefly impeded his walking and left a large scar.[1] This accident prevented him from pursuing his dream of playing football professionally. In 1975, Bean left Brook Comprehensive School with two O Levels in Art and English.[3] After a job at a supermarket and another for the council, Bean started working for his father’s firm with a day release at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology to take a welding course. While at Rotherham he stumbled into an arts class and decided to pursue his interest in art. After attending courses at two other colleges, one for half a day and the other for less than a week, he returned to Rotherham College, where he came across a drama course for which he subsequently enrolled. After some college plays and one at Rotherham Civic Theatre, he applied for and received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), starting a seven term course in January 1981.[1]
Career
Early career
He graduated from RADA in 1983 having won the Silver Medal for his performance in Waiting for Godot.[4] He made his professional acting début in 1983 at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury, Berkshire as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet.[1] His early work involved a mixture of stage and screen work. As an actor, he adopted the Irish spelling “Sean” of his first name. His first national exposure came in an advert for non-alcoholic lager.[5] Between 1986 and 1988 he was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company appearing in productions of Romeo and Juliet, The Fair Maid of the West, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.[6][7] He appeared in his first film in 1986 when he played Ranuccio Tomassoni in Derek Jarman‘s film Caravaggio. He then reunited with the director on War Requiem in 1988, which also starred Sir Laurence Olivier.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, he became an established actor on British television.[8] He had notable performances in the BBC productions Clarissa and Lady Chatterley. His role in the latter became infamous for his sex scenes with Joely Richardson.[9] In 1990, Bean co-starred with Richard Harris in Jim Sheridan‘s adaption of the John B. Keane play, The Field; also in 1990, his role as the journalist Anton in Windprints examined the difficult problems of apartheid in South Africa.
In 1996 he appeared in what became a famous Sky Sports commercial for the Premier League and, that year, he combined his love of football with his career, to finally achieve his childhood dream of playing for Sheffield United, albeit as Jimmy Muir in the film When Saturday Comes. Although the film was not critically acclaimed, Sean Bean received credit for a good performance.[10]
Sharpe
His critical successes in Caravaggio and Lady Chatterley contributed to his emerging image as a sex symbol, but he became most closely associated with the character of Richard Sharpe, the maverick Napoleonic Wars rifleman. Bean was not the first actor to be chosen to play Sharpe, but Paul McGann, the first choice, was injured while playing football two days into filming. Initially, producers tried to work around McGann’s injury, but it proved impossible and Bean received the call.[11] The 16-episode Sharpe television series was based loosely on Bernard Cornwell‘s novels about the Peninsular War, and the fictional experiences of a band of soldiers in the famed 95th Rifles. Starting with Sharpe’s Rifles, the series followed the fortunes and misfortunes of Richard Sharpe as he rose from the ranks as a Sergeant to Lieutenant Colonel by the time of the Battle of Waterloo. It ran from 1993 to 1997, with three episodes produced each year. The series was filmed under challenging conditions, first in Ukraine, and later in Portugal. After several years of rumours, more episodes were produced, called Sharpe’s Challenge, which aired in April 2006, and Sharpe’s Peril which aired on ITV in the autumn of 2008 and was later released on DVD.[12]
Hollywood villain
With a mini-series role as enigmatic Lord Richard Fenton in the TV miniseries Scarlett, loosely based on the sequel to Margaret Mitchell‘s Gone with the Wind, Bean made the transition to Hollywood feature films. His first notable Hollywood appearance was that of an Irish republican terrorist in the 1992 film adaptation of Patriot Games; in a fight scene, Harrison Ford clocked him with a boat hook, giving him a permanent scar. Bean’s rough-cut looks made him a patent choice for a villain, and this role in Patriot Games was the first of several villains that he would portray, all of whom come to a sticky end.[13] He became Alec Trevelyan (MI6‘s 006) and James Bond‘s nemesis in the 1995 film GoldenEye; the weak-stomached Spence (with Robert de Niro) in Ronin (1998); a wife-beating ex-con in Essex Boys (2000); the malevolent kidnapper-jewel thief in Don’t Say a Word (2001). He was also widely recognised as villainous treasure hunter Ian Howe in the popular National Treasure opposite Nicolas Cage. He also played a villainous scientist in The Island (2005) and a dedicated father in Silent Hill. In the independent film, Far North, he played a Russian mercenary, lost in the tundra and rescued by an Inuit woman and her daughter; he ends up pitting his two female rescuers against one another. “I think I’m quite good at differentiating between the psychopaths”, he commented to an interviewer.[14]
The Lord of the Rings
In arguably Bean’s most prominent role, as Boromir in Peter Jackson‘s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, his major screen-time occurs in the first installment, The Fellowship of the Ring. He appeared briefly in flashbacks in the theater releases of The Two Towers and The Return of the King; he also appears in a scene from the extended edition of The Two Towers. Before casting finished, rumors circulated that Jackson had considered Bean for the role of Aragorn, but neither Bean nor Jackson confirmed this in subsequent interviews. Bean’s well-known fear of flying caused him difficulties in mountainous New Zealand, where the trilogy was filmed. After a particularly rough ride, he vowed not to fly to a location again. In one instance, he chose to take a ski lift into the mountains and then hike the final few miles, in full costume complete with shield, armour and sword.[15]
Bean has a tattoo of the English word “nine” written in Tengwar on his shoulder, a reference to his involvement in the Lord of the Rings and the fact that his character was one of the original nine companions of the Fellowship of the Ring. The other actors of “The Fellowship”—Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, and Viggo Mortensen—acquired the same tattoo. John Rhys-Davies, whose character was Gimli, also one of the original nine companions, arranged for his stunt double to get the tattoo.[16]
Recent career
Later roles gave more scope for his acting abilities. In 1999’s Extremely Dangerous, his character walked a fine line between villain and hero, reminiscent of the 1960s American TV series, The Fugitive.[17] He became a repentant, poetry-reading Grammaton cleric who succumbs to his emotions in 2002’s Equilibrium; a quirky alien cowboy in 2003’s The Big Empty, and a sympathetic and cunning Odysseus in the 2004 film Troy.
He cameoed with other Hollywood stars in Moby‘s music video “We Are All Made of Stars” in February 2002.[18] In the same year, he returned to the stage in London performing in Macbeth alongside Samantha Bond.[19] Due to popular demand, the production ran until March 2003.
Bean’s high profile and recognisable voice have created opportunities for voice-over work, especially in the British advertising industry.[20] He has featured in television adverts for O2, Morrisons and Barnardos as well as for Acuvue and the Sci-Fi Channel in the United States. He also does the voice over for the National Blood Service’s television and radio campaign. For the role playing video game, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, he voiced Martin Septim.[21]
Bean has completed a one hour pilot, Faceless, for US television. He has also appeared in Outlaw, an independent British production, and a remake of 1986 horror film, The Hitcher (released in January 2007); here he used an American accent again. He also starred in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, playing the role of Zeus, the king of Mount Olympus and God of lightning, in February 2010. Also that year, Bean starred in CASH (CA$H), playing the lead role of Pyke Kubic, a dangerous man determined to recover his wealth in a bad economy. CASH (CA$H), which co-starred Chris Hemsworth, explored the role money plays in today’s hard economic times. Bean will also play the villain’s twin brother, Reese. The film was directed and written by Stephen Milburn Anderson (South Central).[22]
Bean stars in the first season of Game of Thrones, HBO’s adaptation of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R. R. Martin, playing the part of Lord Eddard Stark.[23] Bean will star in Soldiers of Fortune, alongside Ving Rhames and Christian Slater.
Bean has just completed filming Cleanskin, in which he plays a secret service agent faced with the task of pursuing and eliminating a suicide bomber and his terrorist cell. The film stars Charlotte Rampling, James Fox, Abhin Galeya, Tuppence Middleton and Michelle Ryan. The film was written, produced and directed by Hadi Hajaig.
Bean will reprise his role as Christopher Da Silva in the Silent Hill film sequel Silent Hill: Revelation 3D.[24]
Despite Bean’s obvious commercial success, he has demonstrated a willingness to participate in less high profile projects such as the independent film Far North.
Possible roles
Two films in production will reportedly star Bean. Come Like Shadows is an adaptation of Macbeth.[25] He had starred in a production of Macbeth on the London stage with Samantha Bond as Lady Macbeth with much critical success. As of 2008, this film as well as A Woman of No Importance are listed as being in pre-production according to the Internet Movie Data Base. The actor also has said that he would like to appear in Coronation Street (joking that he could be the milkman).[26] Bean has also stated that he would like to do some wildlife presenting sometime in the future.[27] In February 2010, Bean was cast in the planned production of Death Race: Frankenstein Lives.[28]
Bean is rumored to have been cast in the upcoming romantic comedy ‘Let Them Eat Jake’ starring Jesse Eisenberg and Eugene Levy. The film centers around a man who goes to dinner to meet his girlfriend’s family, only to discover that they are cannibals and plan on eating him. Levy said of the film “It’s the best script I’ve read since New York Minute, and I can’t wait to get started”. Bruce Willis and Mila Kunis are also said to be considering joining the film.[citation needed]
Image
Often described as down to earth, Sean Bean has retained his Sheffield accent, despite now living in London.[9] Partly due to his role as Sharpe, he is also described as a sex symbol. He was voted the UK’s second sexiest man in 2004; his Trilogy co-star Orlando Bloom received the highest votes.[29] He admits he does not mind being considered as a “bit of rough” by women.[30] Bean’s first love was football and he has been a passionate Sheffield United supporter from a young age; he has a tattoo on his left shoulder that reads 100% Blade.[31] He was until December 2007 one of the directors of the club, but decided to “go back to the terraces, where (he) truly belong(s)”.[32] He had some problems with Neil Warnock, former manager of Sheffield United, after Warnock claimed that Bean stormed into his office and shouted at him in front of his wife and daughter after the 2006–07 season. Bean denies it, calling Warnock “bitter” and “hypocritical”.[33] He also wrote the foreword and helped to promote a book of anecdotes called Sheffield United: The Biography.[34] He also follows Yorkshire County Cricket Club.[27]
In addition to his image as a sex symbol and an admitted “bit of rough”, Bean has developed a reputation as a loner, a label he considers unfair.[9] He has described himself instead as quiet, and interviewers confirm that he is a “man of few words”;[35] a recent interviewer even called him surprisingly shy.[36] Although he admits he can be a workaholic, in his spare time he relaxes with a book or listens to music, and is a talented pianist. He is also a keen gardener, and does both welding and sketching.[37]
Sean is closely affiliated with the Broomhill Friery in Sheffield, where his nephew Dan Bean works.
He is also known for his tough-guy roles. On June 13, 2011, he and April Flowers went out on the deck of the Camden’s Hill Bar and Brasserie for a smoke, when a passerby was making lewd comments about Flowers’ past, in turn made Bean confront him. The situation escalated when the stranger came back later that night and there was a bar fight. Bean was reportedly punched in the face, causing a bruise over his eye, and stabbed in the arm with broken glass. Despite his wounds, Bean refused any medical attention and opted not to go to a hospital. Instead, the actor accepted a first aid kit from the bar staff, then ordered another drink. [38]
Acting style
Despite being professionally trained, Sean Bean adopts an instinctive style of acting.[39] He has said in interviews that the most difficult part is at the start of filming when trying to understand the character.[40] After achieving this he can snap in and out of character instantly. This ability to go from the quiet man on set to the warrior Boromir “amazed” Sean Astin during filming of The Fellowship of the Ring.[41] Other fans include the directors Mike Figgis (Stormy Monday) and Wolfgang Petersen (Troy), who described working with Bean as a “beautiful thing”.[39]
Personal life
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| Melanie Hill |
Bean has been married and divorced four times. He married his high-school sweetheart Debra James on 11 April 1981. The marriage ended in divorce in 1990. He met actress Melanie Hill at RADA, and they married on 27 February 1990. The couple’s first daughter, Lorna, was born in October 1987; their second, Molly, was born in September 1991. Bean and Hill’s marriage ended in divorce in August 1997.
 |
| Abigail Cruttenden, |
 |
| Georgina Sutcliffe |
During the filming of Sharpe, Bean met actress Abigail Cruttenden, and they married on 22 November 1997. Their daughter, Evie Natasha, was born in November 1998. Bean and Cruttenden divorced in July 2000. Bean began dating actress Georgina Sutcliffe in 2006. After cancelling their planned January 2008 wedding on the eve of the ceremony for “personal reasons”, Bean married Sutcliffe at the Marylebone Register Office in London on 19 February 2008. Amid allegations that Bean physically abused Sutcliffe in 2009,[36] domestic disturbances resulted in the police being called to their home in Belsize Park on three occasions.[42] Bean and Sutcliffe’s separation was announced[43] on 6 August 2010,[44] and the divorce was finalised on 21 December 2010.[45] He was recently seen with English glamour model April Summers.[46]
Awards and honours
Sean Bean has yet to receive a major individual award in the film industry. However he did receive three separate awards as part of the ensemble cast in Return of the King:[47] from the Screen Actors Guild, the National Board of Review and the Broadcast Film Critics Association all in 2004.
In his home city of Sheffield, he received an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University in 1997 and a second doctorate, a Doctor of Letters in English Literature from the University of Sheffield in July 2007.[47][48] Afterward, Bean commented, “I did get a doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University about 11 or 12 years ago so now I’m a double doctor. But this was wonderful, especially from my home city.”[47][48] He was also selected as one of the inaugural members of Sheffield Legends, the Sheffield equivalent of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He now has a plaque in his honour placed in front of Sheffield Town Hall.[49]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Caravaggio | Ranuccio | |
| 1988 | Stormy Monday | Brendan | |
| The True Bride, Jim Henson’s The Storyteller | Prince | ||
| 1989 | How to Get Ahead in Advertising | Larry Frisk | |
| War Requiem | German Soldier | ||
| 1990 | Windprints | Anton | |
| The Field | Tadgh McCabe | ||
| Lorna Doone | Carver Doone | TV programme | |
| Wedded | Man | TV programme | |
| 1991 | Prince | Jack Morgan | TV programme |
| Clarissa | Robert Lovelace | TV programme | |
| Tell Me that You Love Me | Gabriel Lewis | TV programme | |
| In The Border Country | Smith | ||
| My Kingdom for a Horse | Steve | TV programme | |
| 1992 | Inspector Morse: Absolute Conviction | Alex Bailey | TV programme |
| Patriot Games | Sean Miller | ||
| Fool’s Gold: The Story Of The Brink’s Mat Robbery | Micky McAvoy | ||
| 1993 | Sharpe’s Rifles | Sergeant/Lieutenant Richard Sharpe | TV programme |
| Sharpe’s Eagle | Captain Richard Sharpe | TV programme | |
| Lady Chatterley | Oliver Mellors | ||
| 1994 | Sharpe’s Company | Captain Richard Sharpe | TV programme |
| Sharpe’s Enemy | Major Richard Sharpe | TV programme | |
| Sharpe’s Honour | Major Richard Sharpe | TV programme | |
| Black Beauty | Farmer Grey | ||
| Shopping | Venning | ||
| 1995 | Sharpe’s Gold | Major Richard Sharpe | TV programme |
| Sharpe’s Battle | Major Richard Sharpe | TV programme | |
| Sharpe’s Sword | Major Richard Sharpe | TV programme | |
| GoldenEye | Alec Trevelyan | ||
| 1996 | When Saturday Comes | Jimmy Muir | |
| Sharpe’s Regiment | Major Richard Sharpe | TV programme | |
| Sharpe’s Siege | Major Richard Sharpe | TV programme | |
| Sharpe’s Mission | Major Richard Sharpe | TV programme | |
| 1997 | Anna Karenina | Vronsky | |
| Sharpe’s Revenge | Major Richard Sharpe | TV programme | |
| Sharpe’s Justice | Major Richard Sharpe | TV programme | |
| Sharpe’s Waterloo | Lieutenant Colonel Richard Sharpe | TV programme | |
| 1998 | Ronin | Spence | |
| Airborne | Dave Toombs | ||
| The Canterbury Tales | The Nun’s Priest | TV programme | |
| 1999 | Extremely Dangerous | Neil Byrne | |
| Bravo Two Zero | Andy McNab | ||
| 2000 | Essex Boys | Jason Locke | |
| 2001 | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring | Boromir | |
| Don’t Say a Word | Patrick Koster | ||
| 2002 | The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | Boromir | |
| Equilibrium | Errol Partridge | ||
| Tom and Thomas | Paul Shepherd | ||
| 2003 | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | Boromir | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture National Board of Review Award for Best Cast |
| The Big Empty | Cowboy | ||
| Henry VIII | Robert Aske | ||
| 2004 | Pride | Dark (voice) | |
| National Treasure | Ian Howe | ||
| Troy | Odysseus | ||
| 2005 | North Country | Kyle | |
| Flightplan | Captain Marcus Rich | ||
| The Island | Dr. Merrick | ||
| 2006 | The Dark | James | |
| Silent Hill | Chris DeSilva | ||
| The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (video game) | Martin Septim | voice/video game | |
| Sharpe’s Challenge | Lt Col (ret’d) Richard Sharpe | TV programme | |
| 2007 | The Hitcher | John Ryder | |
| Outlaw | Danny Bryant | ||
| Far North | Loki | ||
| 2008 | Sharpe’s Peril | Lt Col (ret’d) Richard Sharpe | TV programme |
| Crusoe | James Crusoe | TV programme | |
| 2009 | Red Riding | John Dawson | TV programme |
| 2010 | Black Death | Ulric | |
| Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief | Zeus | ||
| Ca$h (Cash) | Pyke Kubic Reese Kubic |
||
| The Lost Future | Amal | ||
| 2011 | Death Race 2 | Markus Kane | |
| Game of Thrones | Eddard Stark | TV programme (10 Episodes) | |
| Age of Heroes | Jones | post-production | |
| Silent Hill: Revelations | Chris DeSilva | post-production | |
| Cleanskin | Ewan | Post-production |
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Who is Gary Robert Durdin?
Who is Gary Robert Durdin? The entertainment and acting world knows Gary Dourdan as an American actor. He is widely known for portraying Warrick Brown on the television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Early years
Dourdan was December 11, 1966 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Sandy, a teacher and fashion designer, and Robert Durdin, an entrepreneur and agent for jazz musicians.[1][2] Dourdan is the second youngest of five children. When he was 6 years old, his older brother Darryl was murdered while on vacation in Haiti; the case is still unsolved.[2] He moved with his family to Willingboro, New Jersey when he was in his youth. At this time his interests included acting, music, and martial arts. Later Dourdan moved to New York City and worked as a doorman at a rehearsal studio where he met some of Manhattan’s promising young artists.
Career
 |
| Shazza Zulu |
Dourdan played in several bands in New York City in the early 1990s and acting in regional theatre around the tristate area. He received his first break when Debbie Allen cast him as Shazza Zulu on A Different World based on a tape of him in an avant-garde play. Dourdan played the character Christie, the first mate and second in command of the spaceship Betty, in the 1997 film, Alien Resurrection. He appears in the films Playing God and Thursday. He starred in the Dick Wolf production Swift Justice and had a recurring roles on the Showtime series Soul Food until he nabbed the part of Warrick Brown on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. In 2007, he played the character Cameron, the boyfriend of Rowena Price (played by Halle Berry), in the film Perfect Stranger, in 1996 Dourdan appeared in the episode “Never On Sunday” of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, where he played an assistant.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Dourdan’s most popular role began as a cast member of the original CSI series which aired on October 6, 2000. He played analyst Warrick Brown who, viewers find out, has a checkered past fraught with gambling problems. By working in Las Vegas, the character is able to use his personal experiences from the street to help him throughout his career. Ultimately, he ends up battling his demons throughout the show instead of overcoming them.
In 2008 there was media speculation surrounding Dourdan’s CSI contract negotiations with CBS. The parties could not reach a resolution, and as a result his contract was not renewed. It was reported on April 14, 2008, that Dourdan was leaving the show.[3] In the Season 8 finale, Dourdan’s character was shot and left for dead at the episode’s end. The Season 9 premiere revealed Dourdan’s character dying in the arms of his colleague and friend Grissom.[4]
Music and music videos
- Dourdan played Janet Jackson‘s love interest in the video for her 1993 hit “Again“. He had a cameo appearance in the music video “Move the Crowd” by Eric B. and Rakim.
- Dourdan joined hip hop artist DMC (of Run-DMC) onstage at the Live 8 concert in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. He sang alongside Macy Gray at the 2005 Emmy Awards.
- Dourdan is an alternative musician and a record producer.
Other appearances
- TV Guide voted him the Sexiest CSI actor on TV in its 2008 “Sexiest” issue.[5]
- He was the host of a BET spoken word show entitled Lyric Cafe.
- In 2008 he voiced the character Crispus Allen in three of the six short films for Batman: Gotham Knight. The animated short films were released straight to DVD and chronicled the time in between the films Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008).
- He portrayed Ray Carter in the video games FlatOut 2 and FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage.
- He portrayed Chef McKenna in the 2011 film Jumping the Broom.
Personal life
 |
| Roshumba Williams |
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| Lisa Snowden |
Dourdan married model Roshumba Williams in 1992; the couple divorced two years later.[6] He has two children: a son, Lyric, and a daughter, Nyla. Lyric’s mother is Cynthia Hadden and Nyla’s mother is Jennifer Sutton, whom Dourdan dated from 1995 to 2000.[7] He is supposedly dating model Lisa Snowden.
Arrest
Dourdan was arrested on April 28, 2008 in Palm Springs after a Palm Springs Police Department officer located “suspected cocaine, heroin, Ecstacy, miscellaneous prescription drugs and paraphernalia” in his possession. He was subsequently “booked at the Palm Springs jail on possession of narcotics and possession of dangerous drugs.”[8]
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