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1-49 of 49
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Kristin Dattilo is an Italian American actress, comedian, writer and producer, known for her work in award winning shows as Chris Issak Show, Dexter, Southland, Friends and working with such filmmakers as Coen brothers and David Fincher. Dattilo starred in notable music videos (Aerosmith's Janie's Got A Gun as "Janie") and Crosby Stills and Nash. She is also an accomplished writer/ producer.- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Fred MacMurray was likely the most underrated actor of his generation. True, his earliest work is mostly dismissed as pedestrian, but no other actor working in the 1940s and 50s was able to score so supremely whenever cast against type.
Frederick Martin MacMurray was born in Kankakee, Illinois, to Maleta Martin and Frederick MacMurray. His father had Scottish ancestry and his mother's family was German. His father's sister was vaudeville performer and actress Fay Holderness. When MacMurray was five years old, the family moved to Beaver Dam in Wisconsin, his parents' birth state. He graduated from Beaver Dam High School (later the site of Beaver Dam Middle School), where he was a three-sport star in football, baseball, and basketball. Fred retained a special place in his heart for his small-town Wisconsin upbringing, referring at any opportunity in magazine articles or interviews to the lifelong friends and cherished memories of Beaver Dam, even including mementos of his childhood in several of his films. In "Pardon my Past", Fred and fellow GI William Demarest are moving to Beaver Dam, WI to start a mink farm.
MacMurray earned a full scholarship to attend Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin and had ambitions to become a musician. In college, MacMurray participated in numerous local bands, playing the saxophone. In 1930, he played saxophone in the Gus Arnheim and his Coconut Grove Orchestra when Bing Crosby was the lead vocalist and Russ Columbo was in the violin section. MacMurray recorded a vocal with Arnheim's orchestra "All I Want Is Just One Girl" -- Victor 22384, 3/20/30. He appeared on Broadway in the 1930 hit production of "Three's a Crowd" starring Sydney Greenstreet, Clifton Webb and Libby Holman. He next worked alongside Bob Hope in the 1933 production of "Roberta" before he signed on with Paramount Pictures in 1934 for the then-standard 7-year contract (the hit show made Bob Hope a star and he was also signed by Paramount). MacMurray married Lillian Lamont (D: June 22, 1953) on June 20, 1936, and they adopted two children.
Although his early film work is largely overlooked by film historians and critics today, he rose steadily within the ranks of Paramount's contract stars, working with some of Hollywood's greatest talents, including wunderkind writer-director Preston Sturges (whom he intensely disliked) and actors Humphrey Bogart and Marlene Dietrich. Although the majority of his films of the 30's can largely be dismissed as standard fare there are exceptions: he played opposite Claudette Colbert in seven films, beginning with The Gilded Lily (1935). He also co-starred with Katharine Hepburn in the classic, Alice Adams (1935), and with Carole Lombard in Hands Across the Table (1935), The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936) -- an ambitious early outdoor 3-strip Technicolor hit, co-starring with Henry Fonda and Sylvia Sidney directed by Henry Hathaway -- The Princess Comes Across (1936), and True Confession (1937). MacMurray spent the decade learning his craft and developing a reputation as a solid actor. In an interesting sidebar, artist C.C. Beck used MacMurray as the initial model for a superhero character who would become Fawcett Comics' Captain Marvel in 1939.
The 1940s gave him his chance to shine. He proved himself in melodramas such as Above Suspicion (1943) and musicals (Where Do We Go from Here? (1945)), somewhat ironically becoming one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors by 1943, when his salary reached $420,000. He scored a huge hit with the thoroughly entertaining The Egg and I (1947), again teamed with Ms. Colbert and today largely remembered for launching the long-running Ma and Pa Kettle franchise. In 1941, MacMurray purchased a large parcel of land in Sonoma County, California and began a winery/cattle ranch. He raised his family on the ranch and it became the home to his second wife, June Haver after their marriage in 1954. The winery remains in operation today in the capable hands of their daughter, Kate MacMurray. Despite being habitually typecast as a "nice guy", MacMurray often said that his best roles were when he was cast against type by Billy Wilder. In 1944, he played the role of "Walter Neff", an insurance salesman (numerous other actors had turned the role down) who plots with a greedy wife Barbara Stanwyck to murder her husband in Double Indemnity (1944) -- inarguably the greatest role of his entire career. Indeed, anyone today having any doubts as to his potential depth as an actor should watch this film. He did another stellar turn in the "not so nice" category, playing the cynical, spineless "Lieutenant Thomas Keefer" in the 1954 production of The Caine Mutiny (1954), directed by Edward Dmytryk. He gave another superb dramatic performance cast against type as a hard-boiled crooked cop in Pushover (1954).
Despite these and other successes, his career waned considerably by the late 1950s and he finished out the decade working in a handful of non-descript westerns. MacMurray's career got its second wind beginning in 1959 when he was cast as the dog-hating father figure (well, he was a retired mailman) in the first Walt Disney live-action comedy, The Shaggy Dog (1959). The film was an enormous hit and Uncle Walt green lighted several projects around his middle-aged star. Billy Wilder came calling again and he did a masterful turn in the role of Jeff Sheldrake, a two-timing corporate executive in Wilder's Oscar-winning comedy-drama The Apartment (1960), with Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon -- arguably his second greatest role and the last one to really challenge him as an actor. Although this role would ultimately be remembered as his last great performance, he continued with the lightweight Disney comedies while pulling double duty, thanks to an exceptionally generous contract, on TV.
MacMurray was cast in 1961 as Professor Ned Brainerd in Disney's The Absent Minded Professor (1961) and in its superior sequel, Son of Flubber (1962). These hit Disney comedies raised his late-career profile considerably and producer Don Fedderson beckoned with My Three Sons (1960) debuting in 1960 on ABC. The gentle sitcom staple remained on the air for 12 seasons (380 episodes). Concerned about his work load and time away from his ranch and family, Fred played hardball with his series contract. In addition to his generous salary, the "Sons" contract was written so that all the scenes requiring his presence to be shot first, requiring him to work only 65 days per season on the show (the contract was reportedly used as an example by Dean Martin when negotiating the wildly generous terms contained in his later variety show contract). This requirement meant the series actors had to work with stand-ins and posed wardrobe continuity issues. The series moved without a hitch to CBS in the fall of 1965 in color after ABC, then still an also-ran network with its eyes peeled on the bottom line, refused to increase the budget required for color production (color became a U.S. industry standard in the 1968 season). This freed him to pursue his film work, family, ranch, and his principal hobby, golf.
Politically very conservative, MacMurray was a staunch supporter of the Republican Party; he joined his old friend Bob Hope and James Stewart in campaigning for Richard Nixon in 1968. He was also widely known one of the most -- to be polite -- frugal actors in the business. Stories floated around the industry in the 60s regarding famous hard-boiled egg brown bag lunches and stingy tips. After the cancellation of My Three Sons in 1972, MacMurray made only a few more film appearances before retiring to his ranch in 1978. As a result of a long battle with leukemia, MacMurray died of pneumonia at the age of eighty-three in Santa Monica on November 5, 1991. He was buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.- Actor
- Soundtrack
David Bruce was born on 6 January 1916 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for The Mad Ghoul (1943), Sergeant York (1941) and Lady on a Train (1945). He was married to Cynthia Sory. He died on 3 May 1976 in Hollywood, California, USA.- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Jamie Bernadette was born Jamie Bernadette Watkins, the ninth child in her family. She has established herself in the film and television industry with over 100 credits to her name. Some of her most recent credits include a recurring role on Lifetime's TV show "Keeping Up with the Joneses" starring Vivica A. Fox, a Guest Star role on the hit CBS TV show "NCIS: New Orleans", another Guest Star on NBC'S "Midnight Texas", and a series regular role in the TV Pilot "Ember", starring Lindsley Register (Walking Dead Seasons 7-10) and John Savage (The Last Full Measure, The Deer Hunter). She worked alongside such greats as Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange) and John Bradley (Game of Thrones) in the recently released drama by Miramax "American Satan". Jamie leads the cast of "The Furnace" by Oscar-Nominated Director Darrell Roodt. The film released in 90 countries and Jamie received 2 Best Lead Actress Nominations from the Nice International Film Festival and the Madrid International Film Festival. In addition, the film has received 11 other nominations and won Best Feature Film at the Milan International Film Festival. Jamie has also produced 4 feature films, written 2, and she directed her first feature film called, "The Desecrated Ones". Jamie Bernadette has become an icon in the horror genre after leading numerous horror films that garnered her much recognition and a large fan base. Among them is "I Spit on Your Grave: Déjà Vu", the fifth film in the popular franchise. Film critics praised Jamie for her heart-wrenching, brave leading performance in this much-anticipated sequel to the 1978 original film with Meir Zarchi returning to direct and star Camille Keaton returning to play her mother. "4/20 Massacre", another film with Jamie as the leading final girl, played on Showtime Channel and TMC for 2 years. "The 6th Friend" released in Cinemark Theaters in 2019, with Jamie again in the leading role. Jamie received two Best Actress awards for her performance from the Freakshow Horror Film Festival and RIP Film Festival. Jamie is preparing to release a book of poetry.- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Bryan Dattilo was born on 29 July 1971 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Days of Our Lives (1965), Youthful Daze (2012) and Arcade (1993). He has been married to Elizabeth Cameron since 12 July 2011. They have one child. He was previously married to Jessica Denay.- Kara Zediker was born on 8 October 1969 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. She is an actress, known for Contagion (2011), Rock Star (2001) and 24 (2001).
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Jordan Black was born on 9 November 1970 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Community (2009), Halfway Home (2007) and Ballers (2015).- Merna Kennedy was born on 7 September 1908 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. She was an actress, known for The Circus (1928), Ghost Valley (1932) and The Big Chance (1933). She was married to Forrest Brayton and Busby Berkeley. She died on 20 December 1944 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Nancy Snyder was born on 2 December 1949 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. She is an actress, known for The Kirlian Witness (1978), Law & Order (1990) and Another World (1964). She has been married to Stephen Schnetzer since 18 March 1982. They have two children.
- Actor
- Producer
Toby began his acting career at Northern Illinois University where he was immersed in the world of theater. He studied voice, movement, and the Meisner Acting Technique. He performed many times on stage while at Northern.
After graduating, Toby performed on stage in Dublin, Ireland, and in various productions around Chicago. Soon after, he packed his bags and made his way to Los Angeles. In L.A. Toby started auditioning and began to work.
Toby starred in Paramount Pictures "A Separate Peace," directed by two time Academy Award nominated director Peter Yates and produced by Oscar-winning producers Michael Sugar and Dustin Hoffman.
In "A Separate Peace" he performed with legendary actor and Oscar nominee Hume Cronyn which turned out to be Mr. Cronyn's final performance before his death for which he earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Performer.
"A Separate Peace" was nominated for several Emmy's and Won Best Script at the Writers Guild Awards. "A Separate Peace" is widely shown in high school literature classes all across America.
Toby has been involved at the Ruskin Theater Company in Santa Monica, California where he trained again in the Meisner Approach to Acting and has performed on stage many times including in a lead role opposite Olivia D'abo in the Ruskin Theater's version of "Cyrano De Bergerac" in the role of Christian.
Throughout his career, Toby has also worked with Katie Holmes, Maggie Grace, Forest Whittaker, Robert Forrester, Christopher Meloni, Gary Cole, Mariska Hartigay, Allison Pill and David Caruso. He recently starred in Jameson Den Hartogs short film "MICAL" shot on location in Chicago, IL and is slated to shoot "Serah" starring Gilles Marini and directed by Timothy Hines.
Toby is also attached to play the lead in "Playing with the Enemy" and "The Final Service" written and directed by Oscar-winning director Keith Merrill.- Actor
- Executive
Adam Kinzinger was born on 27 February 1978 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and executive, known for Country First, PBS NewsHour (1975) and ABCNews Special (1981).- Producer
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Gina Fattore was born on 18 June 1968 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Californication (2007), Reunion (2005) and Dawson's Creek (1998).- Animation Department
- Director
- Art Department
Gerry Chiniquy was born on 23 June 1912 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. He was a director, known for Muppet Babies (1984), Baggy Pants & the Nitwits (1977) and The Super 6 (1966). He was married to Olve Lee Bailey. He died on 22 November 1989 in Ventura County, California, USA.- Tom Daly was born on 24 May 1911 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for The Man from Planet X (1951), The Angry Red Planet (1959) and Gog (1954). He died on 19 July 1982 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Production Manager
- Producer
- Actor
C.O. "Doc" Erickson, an executive producer, has over thirty years' experience as a producer and production manager on many of Hollywood's biggest films. He began his career at Paramount Pictures, serving as production manager on five Alfred Hitchcock films: Rear Window (1954), To Catch a Thief (1955), The Trouble with Harry (1955), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), and Vertigo (1958). He left Paramount to become John Huston's associate producer on The Misfits (1961), Freud (1962), and Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967). He was production manager on Joseph L. Mankiewicz's There Was a Crooked Man... (1970). He also spent three years supervising film production for Brut Productions and later became associated with Robert Evans on Chinatown (1974), Players (1979), Urban Cowboy (1980), and Popeye (1980). Other producer/production credits include 55 Days at Peking (1963), Blade Runner (1982), Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Magic (1978), and The Lonely Guy (1984).- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Joshua Brucker was born near Chicago, Illinois in 1989. As a horror director, he is a founding member of Horror Dadz Productions. He is also the author of a short story collection titled When Darkness Comes. He recently wrapped production on his debut feature Mothman.
He resides in eastern Illinois with his fiance and four children.- Slim and sultry blonde stunner Jill De Vries was born on July 23, 1953 in Kankakee, Illinois. She's of Dutch descent. Jill grew up in Wichert, Illinois. De Vries was a cheerleader for eight years in grade school and took piano lessons for eleven years. Jill studied elementary education at Illinois State University and managed a boutique called the Joint General Store. De Vries was the Playmate of the Month in the October, 1975 issue of "Playboy;" her pictorial featured the first gatefold to be signed by the model. Moreover, she also graced the covers of the February, 1976 issue of "Playboy" and the March, 1976 issue of "Oui." Jill's sole foray into film acting was a small part as a call girl in "Risky Business."
- Actor
- Writer
- Costume Designer
Dean St. Louis was born on 19 March 1967 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for The Sixth (2011), The Perfect Location (2004) and The Realtor (2004).- Kalisha Buckhanon was born in the small Midwest town of Kankakee, Illinois. She is the eldest of four raised Christian with working class parents, grandparents and several great-grandparents. She was Class President of Kankakee High for four years. At 16 she made her network television debut on the New York City-based Jane Whitney Show, to discuss solving racism in schools with other guests including former Klu Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke. Kalisha has a B.A. in English Language and Literature from University of Chicago. She graduated top 2% and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. At 24, she left Chicago for New York City to study creative writing at The New School.
Her M.F.A. thesis Upstate launched her as a novelist at age 27. The writer Sapphire advised the thesis and it sold in a publishing auction. Upstate (2005) tells the story of Antonio and Natasha, two lovers torn apart when Antonio is convicted of a crime within his family. It won for Kalisha an American Library Association ALEX Award, special award from author Terry McMillan, and the Audie Award in Literary Fiction with actors Chadwick Boseman and Heather Simms. The novel debut earned her praise from authors Dorothy Allison and Achy Obejas, as well as People, Entertainment Weekly, Essence, Marie Claire, Elle, Toronto Sun, Chicago Tribune, London Independent and Time Out London.
Kalisha returned to University of Chicago for an M.A. in English. She did graduate student exchange work on black film in Northwestern's Department of Radio/Television/Film with cinema scholar Dr. Jacqueline Stewart. At 30, she published her second novel Conception (2008). Conception tells the story of Shivana Golding, a pregnant Chicago teenager who seeks ways to abort her baby who also narrates part of the story. Conception won a Friends of American Writers Award. For it, Washington Post Book World called Kalisha a "gifted young novelist."
In 2011, she began writing on her blog Negression. From 2011-2015, her writings on women and race appeared in SheKnows, BlogHer, The Root, Clutch and xoJane. In 2014, she appeared as an on-air commentator on Susan Lucci's Investigation Discovery Channel series Deadly Affairs. She appeared on TV-One and BET shows in 2015 and 2016. Her third novel Solemn (2016) tells the story of Solemn Redvine, a troubled psychic girl in a Southern trailer park she attempts to escape for life in the North. Kirkus Reviews called it "A hypnotic tale." - Brett Coy was born on 2 May 1973 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. He is an actor, known for Flush (2001) and I Hate Faggy Fag Fag (2002). He was previously married to Carrie Christine Garcia.
- Derek Lloyd Saathoff was born on 20 July 1983 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. He is an actor.
- Actor
- Producer
Vincent Sarowatz was born on 23 June 1972 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Baby Oopsie: The Series (2021), The Unseen (2020) and Hooded (2018).- Additional Crew
- Director
- Casting Director
J. Nicole was born on 26 January 1991 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. She is a director and casting director, known for World 4 Level 2 (2022), Chicago Med (2015) and The Phoenix.- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Born, Paul Christian Rose to James and Marsha Rose. Christian was raised in the small town of Momence, Illinois, south of Chicago. Attended St. Patrick's Academy in Momence for grade school. Graduated from Bishop Mcnamara High School Kankakee, Illinois in 1984. Also attended Culver Military Academy for their "summer" terms in which he became a certified scuba diver at the age of 12, and received his aircraft solo certificate by the age of 16.
Christian resides in northwest Indiana with his wife Denise, and daughters Emily & Erin.- Camera and Electrical Department
Donnie Armstrong was born on 13 May 1977 in Kankakee, Illinois, USA. He is known for Suicide Squad (2016), Pixels (2015) and Good Luck Chuck (2007).