Griffin Dunne

Griffin Dunne (born June 8, 1955) is an American actor and film director.

Dunne starred in An American Werewolf in London (1981) as Jack Goodman, Johnny Dangerously (1984) as Tommy Kelly, After Hours (1985) as Paul Hackett, Who’s That Girl (1987) as Loudon Trott, My Girl (1991) as Jake Bixler, Quiz Show (1994) as an Account Guy, Game 6 (2005) as Elliott Litvak and I Like It Like That (1994) as Stephen Price.

As of 2004, he has appeared in nearly 40 films and TV movies, starting with The Other Side of the Mountain in 1975. He has produced and/or directed more than 10 other features and has made numerous TV appearances, including Frasier, Saturday Night Live, Alias, and especially Law & Order: Criminal Intent (Episodes 5, 118, and 128). Most recently, he portrayed Tony Mink in the comedy Trust Me on TNT. In 1995, Griffin Dunne was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for Duke of Groove, which he directed and co-wrote. He shared the nomination with producer Thom Colwell. He is also a known producer along with his producing partner, actress Amy Robinson (Mean Streets) for producing After Hours, Running On Empty & Game 6.

Griffin Dunne as Jack in An American Werewolf in London

Trivia:

Son of producer/writer Dominick Dunne and Ellen Griffin Dunne.

Founded with Amy Robinson production company “Double Play Productions”.

Rick Baker works on Griffin Dunne's makeup for An American Werewolf in London

Older brother of Dominique Dunne and Alexander Dunne.

Has a daughter, Hannah Dunne, born in January 1990, together with Carey Lowell.

Frequently works with actress Rosanna Arquette.

Cousin-in-law of Gerry Michael.

Nephew of John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion.

Good friends with Michael Keaton.

At age 18, Dunne skipped college and moved to New York to become an actor.

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg (born June 5, 1971) is an American actor, rapper and producer of film and television. He was known as Marky Mark in his earlier years and became famous in his 1991 debut as a rap musician with the band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. Wahlberg has appeared in numerous films, including Boogie Nights (1997) and The Departed (2006) for which he was nominated an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Trivia

Younger brother of Donnie Wahlberg and Robert Wahlberg.

Named one of “People” magazines 50 Most Beautiful People in the World. [May 1992]

His older siblings are: Arthur, James, Debbie, Michelle, Paul, Tracey, Robert Wahlberg and Donnie Wahlberg. Robert, Donnie and Mark are from their mother’s third marriage with Donald Wahlberg. Half Siblings from his dad’s side of the family Scott Wahlberg, Buddy Wahlberg and Donna Wahlberg.

Was originally cast as Linus Caldwell in Ocean’s Eleven (2001) but dropped out.

December 2001 – Bought a 5 million dollar mansion in Beverly Hills, and moved his mother in.

His music group, Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, debuted on “The Arsenio Hall Show” (1989) in the late 1980s.

[September 2, 2003] His first child with Rhea Durham, a girl named Ella Rae was born at 4.am at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The baby weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces.

He said in one of the featurettes in The Italian Job (2003) DVD that he thought about doing the movie because it was going to be his third remake in a row (if you don’t count Rock Star (2001)) after The Truth About Charlie (2002) and Planet of the Apes (2001).

Is of Swedish, Irish, German and French Canadian descent.

Narrated the documentary Juvies (2004) along with The Italian Job (2003) co-star Mos Def (Mos Def supplied poetry).

Dated actress Jordana Brewster for several years [1998-2001].

His older sister Debbie passed away on September 2nd, 2003, leaving behind a teenage son. She died the same day Mark’s first child Ella Rae was born.

Has a tattoo of Bob Marley on his left shoulder.

Is very close to his mother.

Older brother, Donnie Wahlberg, was a member of the boy group New Kids on the Block.

Mark and Rhea Durham, welcomed their second baby and first son, Michael Wahlberg, on March 21, 2006.

Has a summer home in Wrentham, Massachusetts.

Turned down the role of “Hero” in Feast (2005).

Turned down the lead role of “Jake Roenick” in Assault on Precinct 13 (2005).

Martin Scorsese directed Wahlberg to his very first Academy Award nomination as “Sgt. Sean Dignam” in The Departed (2006). Wahlberg has said that it’s one of the roles he is most proud of.

Friends with Leonardo DiCaprio.

Considers The Truth About Charlie (2002) his worst film.

He and some friends were actually booked to fly on one of the planes that crashed in to the twin towers on September 11, 2001. Originally planning on flying from Boston to Los Angeles but at the last minute they decided to charter a plane to Toronto, Canada for a film festival and then from there to Los Angeles. A near brush with death that he still dreams about today. “We certainly would have tried to do something to fight. I’ve had probably over 50 dreams about it.”

Ranked #65 on VH1′s 100 Sexiest Artists.

His father Donald E. Wahlberg, a veteran of the Korean War, died on 14 February 2008.

As of 2008, he earns a reported $12-15 million per film plus a percentage of the back end profits.

While performing as Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch he often wore nothing but underpants on stage. Calvin Klein consequently asked him to model for Klein’s underwear line.

Was originally a member of New Kids on the Block, but left the band before they had their big break.

Through being a distant relative of Madonna, he is also one of Céline Dion.

Had to spent about 60 days in the House of Correction in Massachusetts when he was a teenager.

Was a drug dealer as a young teenager.

His mother’s maiden name is Alma McPeck.

Was born in St. Margarets’s hospital in Boston.

Dropped out of school when he was 13.

Rhea Durham, gave birth to their third child, a boy named Brendan Joseph Wahlberg, on September 16, 2008. He weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz.

Has stated his performance as Max Payne in Max Payne (2008) as his favorite role.

Has stated that he struggled with weight gain his whole life.

Was briefly sent to prison for two 1988 incidents in which he attacked, beat, and yelled ethnic slurs at two Vietnamese men in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Both incidents were unprovoked by the victims, and in the second attack, Wahlberg beat and permanently blinded in one eye a man who was trying to help him escape from the police after the first attack.

Ranked #1 on VH1′s “Hottest Hotties of the 90′s”.

Was spoofed by Andy Samberg on “Saturday Night Live” (1975). After the first skit premiered Wahlberg jokingly acted as if he was offended when appearing on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (2003) (“Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Episode #6.141″ (2008)), but he eventually appeared in SNL (“Saturday Night Live: Josh Brolin/Adele (#34.5)” (2008)) going along with the joke.

He and his wife, Rhea Durham, welcomed their fourth child, Grace Margaret Wahlberg, on January 11, 2010.

Paid $8.25 million to purchase a 6.14-acre, vacant lot in Beverly Hills, California’s Beverly Park neighborhood where he plans to custom-build a mansion on the property. [2009]

Poltergeist is an American horror film, directed by Tobe Hooper, produced by Steven Spielberg, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on June 4, 1982. It is the first and most successful of the Poltergeist film trilogy, and was nominated for three Academy Awards.

The franchise is often said to be cursed, because several people associated with it, including stars Dominique Dunne and Heather O’Rourke, died prematurely. “The Poltergeist Curse” has been the focus of an E! True Hollywood Story.

The film was ranked as #80 on Bravo’s 100 Scariest Movie Moments and the Chicago Film Critics Association named it the 20th scariest film ever made.The film also appeared on American Film Institute’s 100 Years… 100 Thrills, a list of America’s most heart-pounding movies.

Trivia:

The hands which pull the flesh off the investigator’s face in the bathroom mirror are Steven Spielberg’s.

The weird way the family members descend the stairs at the beginning of the film was created by having the actors walk backward up the stairs and playing the film in reverse. The same effect was used later in the movie during the scene showing video playback of the ghosts.

Steven Spielberg worked on Poltergeist (1982) and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) literally back to back. Principal photography on Poltergeist ended in August of 1981, then Spielberg took a few weeks off and began work on E.T. Spielberg also supervised the visual effects for both films simultaneously (which were produced at Industrial Light & Magic under the supervision of Richard Edlund and Dennis Muren). Once post production work on Poltergeist began in early 1982, Spielberg was in total control. He was responsible for the editing of the film (Spielberg’s usual editor Michael Khan edited this film while Carol Littleton edited E.T), the final sound mixes and loops, the supervision of the visual effects, and the selection of Jerry Goldsmith as the composer of the score. Poltergeist and E.T opened to theaters nationwide only a week between each other during the summer of 1982, Poltergeist on June 4th and E.T. one week later on June 11th. Spielberg later said “If E.T. was a whisper, Poltergeist was a scream”.

The sign at the Holiday Inn reads, Welcome Dr. Fantasy and Friends. Dr. Fantasy is a nickname for producer Frank Marshall.

Heather O’Rourke, who played the little girl Carol-Anne, and Dominique Dunne, who played the teenage daughter, are buried in the same cemetery: Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Dunne was strangled into brain-death by her boyfriend in 1982, the year of the film’s release. Six years later, O’Rourke died of intestinal stenosis.

The film was originally given a R rating, but the filmmakers protested successfully and got a PG rating (the PG-13 rating did not exist at the time).

When writers Michael Grais and Mark Victor first met with Steven Spielberg, they were being hired to write the film that eventually became Always (1989). When Spielberg happened to mention he also had an idea for a ghost story, Grais and Victor said they’d rather write the ghost story than Always and that’s how they got this job.

The crawling steak was done by using a real steak which was laid over a slot cut between the tiles in the counter top. Two wires were fastened to the bottom of the steak and a special effects operator, hidden under the counter, simply moved the wires to make the steak crawl like a caterpillar. A similar operation was done when Diane presents to Steven the chairs that move across the room by themselves. A wire was fastened to one of the chair’s legs under the set. An operator first wobbled the chair with the wire, then dragged the chair across to its destination.

Shirley MacLaine was offered a starring role in the film, but backed out in order to make Terms of Endearment (1983).

The shot of the chairs that position themselves in the amazing balancing act on the table was all done in one take. As the camera panned along with JoBeth Williams, who was getting some cleaning materials, several crew members quickly set an already organized pyramid of chairs on the table, then took the single chairs away before the camera scrolled back. See Goofs entry.

The Rams (then Los Angeles Rams) vs. Saints football game seen near the beginning of the film, is taken from a Monday Night Football game in 1980.

The scene in which Diane opens the bedroom door and is met with a fearsome scream was the first to be filmed.

The scene in which Marty hallucinates in the bathroom was the last to be filmed.

Both of the terrors that plague Robbie came from Steven Spielberg’s own fears as a child, a fear of clowns and a tree outside his window.

Steven Spielberg and Tobe Hooper wanted virtually unknown actors to play the Freelings because they wanted to add a realism to the family that would off-balance the ghost story. They felt that if the audience watched well-known stars, then it would take away from the realistic feel of the characters.

The swirling, flickering lights coming from the closet during the rescue scene were achieved using a very simple effect by having an aquarium full of water in front of a spotlight. Then a fan blew on the surface of the water to make it swirl.

The house used to film this movie is located in Simi Valley, California where it still stands today. The family who owned it when this movie was filmed still live there today.

In addition to the two times that the Beast appeared in the movie (the face that appeared in the closet and the creature that guarded the kid’s door), the script had it appearing during the scene where the family and investigators are looking at the tape of the manifestation. The giant ghost that they saw visually slowly resolved itself into the image of a face of a cruel old man: the man we know in the later films as ‘Reverend Henry Kane.’

A common translation of the German word “Poltergeist” is “rumbling spirit”.

During all the horrors that proceeded while filming Poltergeist (1982), only one scene really scared Heather O’Rourke: that in which she had to hold onto the headboard, while a wind machine blew toys into the closet behind her. She fell apart; Steven Spielberg stopped everything, took her in his arms, and said that she would not have to do that scene again.

The movie’s line “They’re here!” was voted as the #69 movie quote by the American Film Institute (out of 100).

Drew Barrymore was considered for the role of Carol Anne, but Steven Spielberg wanted someone more angelic. It was Barrymore’s audition for this role, however, that landed her a part in E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982).

In reality, Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams are only 14 and 11 years older than Dominique Dunne, who plays their teen-aged daughter.

Stephen King was briefly approached to write the screenplay. It would have been the first written by King directly for the screen, but the parties could not agree on the terms.

Footage from this movie was used in a 2008 DirecTV commercial.

When Steve Freeling first meets with the university paranormal specialists, he states that his wife, Diane Freeling, was “32″ at the time, and their eldest daughter, Dana, was “16″. Thus, Diane was only sixteen years-old when she gave birth to Dana.

Though on-screen credit goes to Tobe Hooper, a wealth of evidence suggests that most of the directorial decisions were made by Steven Spielberg. In fact, Spielberg had wanted to direct the film himself, but a clause in his contract stated that while still working on E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Spielberg could not direct another film. Members of the cast and crew, including Executive Producer Frank Marshall and actress Zelda Rubinstein, have stated that Spielberg cast the film, directed the actors, and designed every single storyboard for the movie himself. Based on this evidence, the DGA opened a probe into the matter, but found no reason that co-director credit should go to Spielberg.

[WILHELM SCREAM] When the TV plays Go for Broke! (1951), one of the soldiers screams.

On top of the master bedroom television set sits an Atari Video Computer System console with its two joysticks; later known as the Atari 2600.

Sharon Stone

Sharon Yvonne Stone (born March 10, 1958) is an American actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She first achieved international recognition for her performance in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for her role in Casino.

Trivia:

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the “100 Sexiest Stars in Film History” (#49). [1995]

Sharon and husband Phil Bronstein, a newspaperman, adopted a child they named Roan Joseph Bronstein, born 22 May 2000 in Texas. He weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces, and was adopted by Stone and Bronstein a week after birth. His first name is Celtic for “seal” and his middle name is a tribute to Stone’s father. [July 2000]

Playboy Magazine’s “100 Sexiest Stars of the Century,” Number 24. [1999]

Entered Pennsylvania’s Edinboro University at age 15.

Ranked #77 in Empire (UK) magazine’s “The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time” list. [October 1997]

Reported to be dating Columbia Pictures production boss, Barry Josephson. [November 1996]

Engaged to producer William J. MacDonald. [1993-1994]

Former model for the Eileen Ford Model Agency.

Owns her own production company, Chaos.

Lives in Beverly Hills.

Went to school at Saegertown High School, Saegertown, Pennsylvania.

Has a visible scar on her neck that is usually covered by clothing.

Has one older brother (Mike Stone), one younger brother (Patrick Stone), and a younger sister (Kelly Stone).

Auditioned for the Cathy Moriarty role in Raging Bull (1980).

As a teenager worked part-time as a McDonald’s countergirl.

One of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People.” [1992]

Is allergic to caffeine.

One of People Magazine’s “25 Most Intriguing People” of 1992.

Auditioned for the Glenn Close role in Fatal Attraction (1987).

Auditioned for the Kim Basinger role in Batman (1989).

Auditioned for the Madonna role in Dick Tracy (1990).

Turned down the role in Exit to Eden (1994) that later went to Rosie O’Donnell.

Speaks Italian

Is asthmatic.

Ex-husband Phil Bronstein is one of the editors of the San Francisco Examiner.

Received a humanitarian award from the Human Rights Campaign, a well-funded organization specializing in gay and lesbian rights, for her role in If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000) (TV), in which she plays the lover to Ellen DeGeneres, with whom she wants to raise a child. [2000]

Stone’s former housekeeper Socorro Del Carmen Membreno pleaded not guilty to grand theft of $300,000 worth of jewelry and other valuables from Stone’s L.A. home two months earlier. [2 March 2000]

As a child, Sharon once said she would become the next Marilyn Monroe.

Sharon was granted a restraining order against Agostino P’omata, who allegedly had made threats of violence against her. [27 March 2001]

Dated Dwight Yoakam in the early 1990s, and was rather famously quoted as saying, “Kissing Dwight is like eating a dirt sandwich.”

Suffered a brain aneurysm and was hospitalized for a while. [October 2001]

Irish-American

Has one adopted son, Roan Joseph Bronstein, born on 22 May 2000.

Former daughter-in-law of Cloris Leachman and George Englund.

Is a close friend of Jeanne Moreau. Presented a 1998 American Academy of Motion Pictures life tribute to her.

Measurements: 35B-24-35 (as Ford model-1980), 36B-25-35 (self-described in 1993 as wearing a 36B bra), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Spent many long workdays in agony while filming scenes for Casino (1995). She has back trouble due to an old injury, and the gold and white beaded gown she wore during a casino scene weighed 45 pounds.

She passionately kissed fan Joni Rimm for charity after she paid $50,000 for the pleasure. She auctioned the kiss in aid of Project Angel Food, a Los Angeles charity providing meals for homeless people. (August 12, 2003).

Made a teenage ballet star’s dreams come true by giving her $ 75,000 for tuition fees.

During Total Recall (1990) filming, she complained to director Paul Verhoeven that she wasn’t sure whether her character really was married to Doug.

June 11, 2001: her husband, Phil Bronstein, underwent foot surgery after being attacked by a Komodo dragon during a private tour of the Los Angeles Zoo. The tour was arranged by Stone as a Father’s Day gift for Bronstein, who had always wanted to see one of the Indonesian lizards up close. The attack occurred after Bronstein had removed his white shoes. Zookeepers later speculated the 5-foot-long lizard may have mistaken the shoes for white rats it ate regularly.

Met her close friend Mimi Craven on the set of Deadly Blessing (1981). They subsequently worked together on the film Last Dance (1996) in 1996.

A sex scene in The Quick and the Dead (1995) between Ellen (Stone) and Cort (Russell Crowe) was shot, but Stone and director Sam Raimi decided that it wasn’t a necessary part of the story. The scene was not included in the American release of the film, but international versions do include it.

Received the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters from the French government in 1995.

Is diabetic.

Her scar on her neck is from a childhood accident. She was riding a horse and she ran right into a clothes line and it ripped her neck open.

Is a big supporter of the AIDS research organization AMFAR.

Her famous “leg crossing” scene in Basic Instinct (1992) was voted “Sexiest Leg Moment on Screen” in a poll for Veet.

Entered the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant at age 17.

Moved to New York City (1977).

Appeared as spokesmodel contestant on the pilot for the syndicated series “Star Search” (1983); won the competition (1983).

Won the Miss Crawford County (Pennsylvania) beauty pageant and was also queen of her high school’s spring festival (1975).

As a child, put on theatrical productions in the family’s two-car garage before an audience of neighbors seated at a picnic table; as one garage door went down, the other would go up, revealing a new Stone-created set.

January 28, 2005, World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland – At the end of the debate on “funding the war on poverty”, she stood up and pledged $10,000 and asked people to follow her. Within five minutes they raised nearly $100,000 – she wanted to raise at least one million. It’s money that will go directly to the Global Fund to Fight Aids Tuberculosis and Malaria – to buy bed nets to stop deaths from malaria in the developing world.

Graduated from the Edinboro State University of Pennsylvania with a degree in creative writing & fine arts

Member of the Jury at Cannes Festival in 2002 alongside David Lynch, Christine Hakim, Claude Miller, Michelle Yeoh, Raoul Ruiz, Régis Wargnier, Walter Salles and ‘Bill August’ (full-length films category).

Created Officer in France’s Order of Arts and Letters by Festival President Gilles Jacob, 20 May 2005, on the sidelines of the 58th edition of the Cannes International Film Festival.

A dedicated fundraiser and advocate for AIDS research for the past 10 years, she received the Harvard Foundation’s 2005 Humanitarian Award at the Memorial Church. [14 March 2005]

Good friends with singer Christina Aguilera and attended Aguilera’s November 19, 2005 wedding to music producer Jordan Bratman in Napa Valley, California.

She donated many items to Rocky Stone to be given to less fortunate kids as part of the Toy Mountain Campaign.

Owns a ranch in New Zealand.

Her publicist is Cindi Berger.

Daughter of Joseph Stone, a tool and die manufacturer, and Dorothy Stone, an accountant and homemaker.

Mother of Roan Joseph Bronstein, Laird Vonne Stone and Quinn Kelly Stone.

Her aunt, Vonne Stone, was a painter and writer.

Met her close friend Mimi Craven on the set of Deadly Blessing (1981). They subsequently worked together on the film Last Dance (1996) in 1996.

Member of the Jury at Cannes Festival in 2002 alongside David Lynch, Christine Hakim, Claude Miller, Michelle Yeoh, Raoul Ruiz, Régis Wargnier, Walter Salles and Bille August (full-length films category).

Chosen by Australian men magazine Zoo weekly as one of the “Top 50 Hottest Babes Ever”. [March 2006]

Her adopted son Quinn Kelly Stone was born in June 2006.

Son, Roan Joseph Bronstein, born May 22, 2000 (adopted).

Son, Laird Vonne Stone, born May 7, 2005 (adopted).

For her role on The Quick and the Dead (1995), she was trained by renowned Hollywood Gun Coach Thell Reed, who has also trained such actors as: Russell Crowe, Val Kilmer, Edward Norton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Foster and Girard Swan.

After Richard Gere introduced her to the The Dalai Lama, she converted to Buddhism.

Felt offended when Gwyneth Paltrow portrayed her on “Saturday Night Live” (1975) (1999).

Turned down the lead role in Exit to Eden (1994). The part later went to Rosie O’Donnell.

Was considered for the role of Lana in Risky Business (1983).

Appeared as one of the celebrity models in a charity fashion show staged by Thierry Mugler to benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles. [April 1992]

Auditioned for the role of Crystal Connors in Showgirls (1995).

Born at 4:52 PM (EST).

Lost custody of her son Roan to Phil Bronstein after their divorce.

Splash is a 1984 fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Ron Howard and written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The original music score was composed by Lee Holdridge. It was the very first film released by Disney’s Touchstone Films (now known as Touchstone Pictures).

Trivia:

• The first film released under Disney’s Touchstone Pictures label, which was created so the studio could release more adult-oriented fare.
• Daryl Hannah a vegetarian, refused to eat real lobster for the restaurant scene. The crew scooped out the insides of real, cooked lobsters and filled them with a thick, tofu-like paste. In an interview for ‘Biography (1990)’, Director Ron Howard said Hannah cried after each take over the deaths of the lobsters for their shells.
• Before Tom Hanks accepted the role of Allen Bauer, it had already been turned down by John Travolta and Michael Keaton.
• At the time of filming, Daryl Hannah was extremely shy about her body. According to director Ron Howard, she wore both band-aids and makeup over her nipples to conceal them.
• David Morse was considered for the lead role.
• Credited with introducing the girl’s name Madison, which has since become one of the most popular names for newborn girls in the early 21st century.
• When Madison watches television at the department store, the little boy in the toothpaste commercial is Emmanuel Lewis.
• The fountain from the movie is now on display at Disney’s MGM Studios at Walt Disney World. The mermaid fin Daryl Hannah wore is behind the bar at Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney.
• The mold used to make the mermaid fountain had also been used to make the ice sculpture in Herbie Goes Bananas (1980).
• The scene at the racquetball court, where John Candy serves and the ball hits him in the head, was done in one take.
• The map from the shipwreck that Madison uses to find Allen’s home is an old map of the Province of New York. It bears the name ‘His Excellency William Tryon Esq.’ Tyron was the colonial governor of the Province of New York from 1771 to 1780.
• The “Crazy Eddie” commercial that surprises Madison was for a real electronics store. Eddie and Sam M. Antar opened Crazy Eddie in Brooklyn, NY in 1971. Their spokesman was WPIX-FM disc jockey Jerry “Dr. Jerry” Carroll, whose frenetic nonstop sales pitch was based on used car salesman Earl “Madman” Muntz. The pitch always ended with “Crazy Eddie, his prices are IN-SA-A-A-A-A-A-ANE!” The chain grew to 43 stores in 4 states. It closed in 1989 after charges of fraud and security violations.
• Jodie Foster auditioned for the role of Madison, but turned it down in order to play a character in The Hotel New Hampshire (1984).
• Rosanna Arquette auditioned for the role of Madison, but had to back out.
• Brooke Shields reportedly turned down an offer to play Madison so she could study French Literature at Princeton.
• Before Daryl Hannah accepted the role of Madison, it had already been turned down by Tatum O’Neal, Michelle Pfeiffer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Melanie Griffith,, Diane Lane, Kathleen Turner and Sharon Stone.
• Debra Winger reportedly wanted the role of Madison, but Ron Howard turned her down.
• While Allen is offering girls names to the mermaid before she settled on Madison, the last two he suggests are Elizabeth and Samantha. Elizabeth Hanks is Tom Hanks’s daughter and Samantha Lewes was his then-wife.
• According to Biography Channel, Bill Murray and P.J. Soles were considered for the roles of Allen and Madison, but Murray turned it down.

Peter Sarsgaard

John Peter Sarsgaard (born March 7, 1971) is an American film and stage actor. He landed his first feature role in the movie Dead Man Walking in 1995. He then appeared in the independent films Another Day in Paradise (1995) and Desert Blue (1996). In 1998, Sarsgaard received a substantial role in The Man in the Iron Mask (1998), playing Raoul, the son of Athos. Sarsgaard later achieved critical recognition when he was cast in Boys Don’t Cry (1999) as John Lotter. He landed his first leading role in the 2001 film The Center of the World. The following year, he played supporting roles in Empire, The Salton Sea, and K-19: The Widowmaker.

For his portrayal of Charles Lane in Shattered Glass, Sarsgaard won the Online Film Critics Society Award in the category for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for the 2004 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. Sarsgaard has appeared in an eclectic range of films, including the 2004 comedy Garden State, the biographical film Kinsey (2004), the drama The Dying Gaul (2005) and big-budget films such as Flightplan (2005), Jarhead (2005), and Orphan (2009).

Sarsgaard has also appeared in Off-Broadway productions including Kingdom of Earth, Laura Dennis, and Burn This. In September 2008, he made his Broadway debut as Boris Alexeyevich Trigorin in The Seagull. Sarsgaard appeared in the off-Broadway production of Uncle Vanya in January 2009. Sarsgaard has been in a relationship with actress Maggie Gyllenhaal since 2002. In 2006, the two became engaged and Gyllenhaal gave birth to their daughter, Ramona, on October 3, 2006. On May 2, 2009 Sarsgaard and Gyllenhaal were married in Italy.

Trivia:

He attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he co-founded a comedy improvisation group called Mama’s Pot Roast.

Formerly dated model/actress Shalom Harlow (2001).

His baby face; his soft, strangely ominous voice; and often bizarre, unstable characters have led to him being compared to John Malkovich, who played his father in The Man in the Iron Mask (1998/I).

In Garden State (2004), Peter’s character collects Desert Storm trading cards. In Jarhead (2005), Peter’s character fights in Desert Storm.

Like Edward Norton and Broadway actress Kimmilee Bryant, he studied with legendary acting coach Terry Schreiber at the T.Schreiber Studio in New York.

Childhood hero was Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett.

Engaged to Maggie Gyllenhaal [April 2006]

Peter and his fiancée, Maggie Gyllenhaal, became the parents of a girl, named Ramona, on October 3, 2006 in New York City.

He attended the Actors’ Studio Program at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Admits to having a lifelong fear of flying.

Son-in-law of Stephen Gyllenhaal and Naomi Foner.

Brother-in-law of Jake Gyllenhaal.

Javier Bardem

Javier Ángel Encinas Bardem (born March 1, 1969) is a Spanish actor. He has garnered critical acclaim for roles in films such as Jamón, jamón, Carne tremula, Boca a boca, Los Lunes al sol and Mar adentro.

Bardem has been awarded an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA, four Goya awards, two European Film Awards and two Coppa Volpis for his work. He is the first Spanish actor to be nominated for an Oscar (Best Actor, 2000, for Before Night Falls) as well as the first to win (Supporting Actor, 2007, for No Country for Old Men).

Trivia:

Brother of Carlos Bardem and Mónica Bardem.

Son of Pilar Bardem

Nephew of director Juan Antonio Bardem

Grandson of Rafael Bardem

His Best Actor nomination for Before Night Falls (2000) made him the first Spanish actor to receive an Academy Award nomination and his Best Supporting Actor victory for No Country for Old Men (2007) made him the first Spanish actor to win an Academy Award.

Says in interviews that he doesn’t know how to drive.

Played rugby union as a teen and was on the Spanish National Team.

Ten years ago, a stranger in a disco asked him his name. When Javier replied, the man punched him in the face for no apparent reason, breaking his nose.

Javier’s original interest was in painting, and he studied at Madrid’s Escuela de Artes y Oficios. Eventually, deciding he’d never be a talented painter, he drifted into a number of odd jobs, working as a bouncer, a writer, a construction worker, and even a stripper.

To portray Reinaldo Arenas, Javier not only learned Cuban-Spanish, but Cuban-accented English, and lost 30 pounds to better resemble the smaller-framed Arenas.

Javier, his mother, Pilar Bardem, and his siblings, Mónica Bardem and Carlos Bardem, often appear in each other’s films.

To become Ramón Sampedro, a 55-year-old Spanish man who made headlines with a crusade to end his own life, Javier, who was in his thirties at the time, was on the set of Mar adentro (2004/I) at the crack of dawn for a five-hour makeup session that produced the necessary aging.

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005

Spanish citizen.

Actors Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna list him as their favorite actor.

Beat out Johnny Depp for the role of Florentino Ariza in Love in the Time of Cholera (2007).

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#73). [2007].

Dedicated the Oscar he won for No Country for Old Men (2007) to his mother, Pilar, whom he brought with him to the ceremony. At the end of his acceptance speech, Javier said to her (originally in Spanish), “Mom, this is for you, this is for your grandparents, for your parents, Rafael and Matilde, this is for the actors of Spain, who have brought, like you, the dignity and the pride to our job. This is for Spain and this is for all of you.”.

The Bardem family owns a restaurant in Spain called La Bardemcilla. The restaurant is managed by Javier’s sister, Monica.

Good friends with Josh Brolin.

Had a long relationship with Cristina Payés. They were together for ten years.

Is one of seven actors to have won an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Critics’ Choice Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award for the same performance. The others in chronological order are Geoffrey Rush for Shine (1996), Jamie Foxx for Ray(2004), Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote (2005), Forest Whitaker for The Last King in Scotland (2006), Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood (2007), and Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (2008).

Has been in a relationship with Penélope Cruz since they began working together on Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008).

Was originally cast as Guido Contini in Nine (2009), but he turned the role down and Daniel Day-Lewis was eventually given the part.

Was originally cast in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), but dropped out of the project and was replaced by Josh Brolin.

Vacationed with Penelope Cruz and his family (mother, Pilar and brother, Carlos) in Fernando de Noronha, a cluster of islands located directly off the Brazilian coast. [January 2010]

Jeff Daniels

Jeffrey Warren “Jeff” Daniels (born February 19, 1955) is an American actor, musician and playwright. He founded a non-profit theatre company, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in his home state of Michigan. He has performed in a number of stage productions, both on and off-Broadway. He has been nominated for the Tony Award as Best Actor for the Broadway play God of Carnage (2009), along with his other three cast-mates. He has had a thriving film career, from his debut in 1981 in Ragtime, through State of Play in 2009. For his film work, he has received three Golden Globe Award nominations, including as Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical for Woody Allen’s The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) (hence the name of his theatre company). He has also received nominations by the Screen Actors Guild, Satellite Awards, and several for his work in The Squid and the Whale (London Critics Circle Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, Chlotrudis Awards and Gotham Awards).

Trivia:

Founder of the Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, Michigan, named after Woody Allen’s The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) in which he starred.

Jeff Daniels grew up in Chelsea, Michigan.

Married to his high school sweetheart since 1979.

Had he not gone into acting, he would likely be working in his hometown of Chelsea, Michigan, with his siblings at the Chelsea Lumber Company, owned by the Daniels’ family. The Chelsea Lumber Co. provided all the building materials for the construction of his Purple Rose Theater.

During his appearance on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (1993), he revealed what happens to his character in Blood Work (2002). [April 2006]

Sings a very ironic song about celebrity turned singers called “If William Shatner Can, I Can Too”.

Played the father of Anna Paquin in Fly Away Home (1996) and then her romantic partner in The Squid and the Whale (2005) nine years later.

Has three children with his wife Kathleen: Sons Ben Daniels (b. 1984) and Lucas Daniels (b. 1987) and daughter Nellie Daniels (b. 1990).

Was considered for the role of Joey Gladstone on “Full House” (1987).

Attended Central Michigan University before dropping out to pursue acting.

Daniels has been married to his high school sweetheart, Kathleen Rosemary Treado, since 1979. They have three children: Benjamin (born 1984), Lucas (born 1987), and Nellie (born 1990). A baseball fan and an avid Detroit Tigers fan, he married his wife on Friday the 13th because he wore the number 13 on his baseball uniform.

Was inducted into the Michigan Walk of Fame on May 25, 2006 in Lansing, Michigan.

Writing song diaries for over thirty years, he has focused on recording a number of songs that he has written throughout his life, apparently marking key moments. He has kept busy with frequent gigs and two full length albums, Grandfather’s Hat and Jeff Daniels Live and Unplugged.

Nominated for the 2009 Tony Award for Best Performance for a Leading Actor in a Play for “God of Carnage”.

Labeouf and Fox in Transformers

(CNN) – “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” and “Land of the Lost” now have another dishonor to add to the critical lambasting they took upon release: the two films are tied for most Razzie nominations for worst films of the year.

“Transformers,” which dominated box office charts if not reviewers’ hearts, picked up seven nominations, including worst picture, worst director (Michael Bay, a Razzie favorite), worst actress (Megan Fox) and worst screen couple (Shia LaBeouf with Fox or any Transformer).

“Land of the Lost,” the Will Ferrell remake of the early-’70s Sid and Marty Krofft children’s show, earned nods for worst picture, worst actor (Ferrell), worst director (Brad Silberling) and worst screen couple (Ferrell and “any co-star, creature or ‘comic riff,’ “) according to the Razzie list.

“Head Raspberry” John Wilson, author of “The Official Razzie Movie Guide” and chief of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation, acknowledges that the organization might be risking a backlash from “Transformers” fans, who made the film the No. 2 highest-grossing film of 2009 with more than $400 million at the domestic box office.

“This is not the first time we’ve nominated something that made that kind of money,” he said, noting that the “Star Wars” sequels “The Phantom Menace” and “Attack of the Clones” also earned Razzie nods.

But he doesn’t apologize for the inclusion of “Transformers”: ” ‘Transformers,’ to me, is the personification of what’s wrong with Hollywood right now,” he said. “It’s all about do what already worked, pander to the audience, put in a lot of special effects. … It’s almost as though when they were editing the thing they had a little egg timer running, and every seven minutes something had to blow up or somebody had to yell, ‘Go go go go! Run run run run!’ ”

Other nominees for worst picture are “All About Steve,” “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” and “Old Dogs.”

Though Sandra Bullock is riding a wave of respect for her performance in “The Blind Side” — she’s expected to receive an Oscar nomination tomorrow for best actress — she’s also on the list for a Golden Raspberry for her performance in “Steve,” her 2009 dud.

Wilson observed that Bullock, presuming she gets an Oscar nomination Tuesday, could become the first person to win both a major-category Oscar and Razzie on the same weekend.

“She’s in as good a position as anyone could be to accept both awards,” he said. Noting Bullock’s good sense of humor, he has hopes that she’ll show up at the Razzie ceremony on March 6. (Halle Berry, in a rare appearance by a top star, accepted a Razzie for “Catwoman” in 2005.)

The Razzies, now in their 30th year, are equal-opportunity tributes, giving note to A-listers and D-listers alike. Along with Bullock and Ferrell, nominees this year include Steve Martin (“Pink Panther 2″), John Travolta (“Old Dogs”), Sarah Jessica Parker (“Did You Hear About the Morgans?”) and teen heartthrob Robert Pattinson (“The Twilight Saga: New Moon”). Winners receive a hand-made, spray-painted gold trophy with an estimated street value of about five dollars, according to the Razzie Web site.

Wilson was surprised that the Razzie voters, who number about 650, didn’t back “New Moon” more strongly. The “Twilight” sequel earned four nominations overall.

“Based on the volume of postings we had on the two forums on our Web site, I would have thought ‘Twilight Saga’ would have made more categories than it did,” he said.

Along with their year’s-worst awards, the Razzies are also giving out “The Worst of the ‘Uh-Ohs,’ ” giving tribute to the worst of the decade. Pictures up for that distinction are “Battlefield Earth” (2000), “Freddy Got Fingered” (2001), “Gigli” (2003), “I Know Who Killed Me” (2007) and Madonna’s version of “Swept Away” (2002).

The race is expected to come down to “Battlefield Earth” and “Gigli,” which the Razzies named the worst drama and comedy of its first 25 years, respectively.

The Razzies are sticking with tradition, nominating just five films in each category — unlike the Oscars, which are going to have 10 movies in the running for best picture. But though there were plenty of bad films in 2009, Wilson said, if there were 10 worst picture Razzie nominations, it would dilute the process.

“What I’ve been saying is, if we had 10, then our awards really wouldn’t be any more meaningful than the Golden Globes,” he said.

The Gala 30th Annual Razzie Awards will be held Saturday, March 6 — the night before the Oscars — at Hollywood’s Barnsdall Gallery Theatre.

WORST PICTURE of 2009

“All About Steve”
“G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra”
“Land of the Lost”
“Old Dogs”
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”

WORST ACTOR of 2009

All three Jonas Brothers / “Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience”
Will Ferrell / “Land of the Lost”
Steve Martin / “Pink Panther 2″
Eddie Murphy / “Imagine That”
John Travolta / “Old Dogs”

WORST ACTRESS of 2009

Beyonce / “Obsessed”
Sandra Bullock / “All About Steve”
Miley Cyrus / “Hannah Montana: The Movie”
Megan Fox / “Jennifer’s Body” and “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”
Sarah Jessica Parker / “Did You Hear About the Morgans?”

WORST SCREEN COUPLE of 2009

Any two (or more) Jonas Brothers / “The Jonas Brothers: 3-D Concert Experience”
Sandra Bullock & Bradley Cooper / “All About Steve”
Will Ferrell & Any Co-Star, Creature or “Comic Riff” / “Land of the Lost”
Shia LaBeouf & either Megan Fox or any Transformer / “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”
Kristin Stewart & either Robert Pattinson or Taylor Whatz-His-Fang / “Twilight Saga: New Moon”

WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS of 2009

Candice Bergen / “Bride Wars”
Ali Larter / “Obsessed”
Sienna Miller / “G.I. Joe”
Kelly Preston / “Old Dogs”
Julie White (as Mom) / “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”

WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR of 2009

Billy Ray Cyrus / “Hannah Montana: The Movie:
Hugh Heffner (as himself) / “Miss March”
Robert Pattinson / “Twilight Saga: New Moon”
Jorma Taccone (as Cha-Ka) / “Land of the Lost”
Marlon Wayans / “G.I. Joe”

WORST REMAKE, RIP-OFF or SEQUEL (Combined Category for 2009)

“G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra”
“Land of the Lost”
“Pink Panther 2″ (A rip-off of a sequel to a remake)
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”
“Twilight Saga: New Moon”

WORST DIRECTOR of 2009

Michael Bay / “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”
Walt Becker / “Old Dogs”
Brad Silberling / “Land of the Lost”
Stephen Sommers / “G.I. Joe”
Phil Traill / “All About Steve”

WORST SCREENPLAY of 2009

“All About Steve” / Screenplay by Kim Barker
“G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra” / Screenplay by Stuart Beattie and David Elliot & Paul Lovett
“Land of the Lost” / Written by Chris Henchy & Dennis McNicholas
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Written by Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman
“Twilight Saga: New Moon” / Screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg

WORST PICTURE of the DECADE

“Battlefield Earth” (2000) Nominated for 10 RAZZIES / “Winner” of 8 (including worst drama of our first 25 years)

“Freddy Got Fingered” (2001) Nominated for 9 RAZZIES / “Winner” of 5

“Gigli” (2003) Nominated for 10 RAZZIES® / “Winner” of 7 (including worst comedy of our first 25 years)

“I Know Who Killed Me” (2007) Nominated for 9 RAZZIES / “Winner” of 8

“Swept Away” (2002) Nominated for 9 RAZZIES / “Winner” of 5

WORST ACTOR of the DECADE

Ben Affleck (nominated for 9 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 2 RAZZIES for his roles in “Daredevil,” “Gigli,” “Jersey Girl,” “Paycheck,” “Pearl Harbor” and “Surviving Christmas”)

Eddie Murphy (nominated for 12 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 3 RAZZIES for his roles in “Adventures of Pluto Nash,” “I Spy,” “Imagine That,” “Meet Dave,” “Norbit” and “Showtime”)

Mike Myers (nominated for 4 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 2 RAZZIES for his roles in “Cat in the Hat,” “The Love Guru”)

Rob Schneider (nominated for 6 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 1 RAZZIE for his roles in “The Animal,” “Benchwarmers,” “Deuce Bigalo: European Gigolo,” “Grandma’s Boy,” “The Hot Chick,” “I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry,” “Little Man” and “Little Nicky”)

John Travolta (nominated for 6 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 3 RAZZIES for his roles in “Battlefield Earth,” “Domestic Disturbance,” “Lucky Numbers,” “Old Dogs” and “Swordfish”)

WORST ACTRESS of the DECADE

Mariah Carey (the single biggest individual vote getter of the decade with 70+ percent of ALL votes for worst actress of 2001 for her role in “Glitter”)

Paris Hilton (nominated for 5 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 4 RAZZIES for her roles in “The Hottie & The Nottie,” “House of Whacks” and “Repo: The Genetic Opera”)

Lindsay Lohan (nominated for 5 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 3 RAZZIES for her roles in “Herbie Fully Loaded,” “I Know Who Killed Me” and “Just My Luck”)

Jennifer Lopez (nominated for 9 “Achievements,” “Winner” of 2 RAZZIES for her roles in “Angel Eyes,” “Enough,” “Gigli,” “Jersey Girl,” “Maid in Manhattan,” “Monster-in-Law” and “The Wedding Planner”)

Madonna (nominated for 6 “Achievements,”"Winner” of 4 RAZZIES for her roles in “Die Another Day,” “The Next Best Thing” and “Swept Away”)

Telly Savalas

Aristotelis “Telly” Savalas (January 21, 1922 – January 22, 1994) was an American film and television actor and singer, whose career spanned four decades. Best known for playing the title role in the 1970s crime drama Kojak, Savalas was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Birdman of Alcatraz (1962). His other movie credits include The Young Savages (1961), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Battle of the Bulge (1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967), The Scalphunters (1968), supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), Kelly’s Heroes (1970), Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971), Inside Out (1975) and Escape to Athena (1979). He was easily recognizable with his shaved head and strong, masculine features.

Trivia:

Early in his career he played mainly brutish criminals until he changed his image completely in the 1970s, when he was cast as a homicide detective in the acclaimed TV-movie The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) (TV) and its spin-off series, “Kojak” (1973).

He used off-script phrases and mottoes in Greek during filming.

His brother, George Savalas, starred in “Kojak” (1973) with him.

Father of Christina Savalas (with Katherine Nicolaides); Candace Savalas and Penelope Savalas (with Marilyn Gardner); Nick Savalas (with Sally Adams); and Christian Savalas and Ariana Savalas (with Julie Hovland).

On January 21 1994, he celebrated his 72nd and last birthday with his family, friends and colleagues at the Universal Sheraton Inn in Universal City, California, 1 day before his death.

Godfather of Jennifer Aniston

Was originally slated to play Luke in Cool Hand Luke (1967), but the producers were unable to wait for him to complete his boat trip from Europe to the U.S. Therefore, Paul Newman played the role instead.

Early in his career, he directed stage plays at a theater in Connecticut.

He was an accomplished poker player.

His son Nick Savalas’s half-sister, Nicollette Sheridan, and his former “Kojak” (1973) co-star, Kevin Dobson, both starred in the popular 1980s soap opera, “Knots Landing” (1979).

Before becoming an actor, he had many odd jobs, from newspaper vendor to lifeguard.

Was a member of Company C, 12th Medical Training Battalion, 4th Medical Training Regiment at Camp Pickett, Virginia.

Was the second of 5 children.

He had many hobbies including golfing, swimming, gambling, collecting luxury cars, spending time with his family, horse racing, motorcycle racing, watching football and reading romantic books.

Purchased a house in the Southern California desert community of Palm Desert because he enjoyed playing golf so much.

Interred at the George Washington Section of Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Attended Columbia University in New York, New York.

When he worked as a lifeguard, he failed to save a man from drowning, and was troubled by the memory forever after.

Was involved in a serious car accident in Virginia during his hitch in the army.

Met his first wife (Katherine) at a Greek dance while attending Columbia University.

Hosted a popular radio program, “Telly’s Coffeehouse,” in the early 1950s.

Left index finger was deformed.

Reason why he sucked on a lollipop during “Kojak” (1973): to help him to quit smoking.

Graduated from Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park, New York, in 1942.

Met his last wife, Julie Hovland, on the set of “Kojak” (1973) while he was traveling with her to Minnesota in 1977.

Would always refuse to talk about his service during World War II.

Spoke Greek fluently

Former stepfather of Nicollette Sheridan. (Sheridan’s mother is Sally Sheridan .).

He didn’t appear in his first film until he was 37.

Had a fear of flying. Ironically, he played a pilot in Capricorn One (1977).

Has the distinction of playing two Alcatraz prison inmates; Feto Gomez in Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) and Cretzer in Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980) (TV).

Was the first choice for the role of Harry Orwell in the TV series “Harry O” (1973). He declined due to filming commitments in Europe. David Janssen was eventually cast in the role.

Owned a wide variety of luxury vehicles, including Cadillacs, Lincolns, Fords, Pontiacs, Mercedes and DeLoreans.

Loved gambling and was a very successful gambler, winning many Vegas poker tournaments and losing few.

After portraying Pontius Pilate in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), he chose to remain completely bald and this signature look, somewhere between the comic and the ominous, stood him in good stead in the years that followed.

In 1990 the city of New York declared The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) (TV) as the official movie of New York City, and awarded Telly with the Key to the City. The film was the one that introduced Savalas’ most famous character, Lt. Theo Kojak, later made famous on its spin-off series “Kojak” (1973).

His mother, Christina, was a world recognized contemporary of Pablo Picasso, and Savalas himself released several records, the most remembered being his version of “If”, that was #1 in Europe for 10 weeks in 1975.

He was also a strong contributor to his Greek Orthodox roots through the Saint Sophia and Saint Nicholas cathedrals in Los Angeles, and was the sponsor of bringing electricity in the ’70s to his ancestral home, Yeraka, Greece.

Uncle of Australian-born actor Peter Cavnoudias.

Born on the same day as Benny Hill, who impersonated Savalas’s “Kojak” (1973) character on “The Benny Hill Show” (1969).

Enjoyed watching “Jeopardy!” (1984).

Loved to read historical biographies and, somewhat surprisingly, romance novels.

Underwent successful surgery for prostate cancer in 1989, but in 1991 was diagnosed with bladder cancer which spread to his bones and pancreas.

Did the narration on several tourist information films on British Cities during the 1970s. Apparently he recorded them all during one visit to the UK to promote his Kojak show.

Best remembered by the public for his starring role in “Kojak” (1973).

Was good friends with Burt Lancaster, Angie Dickinson, Don Rickles, Frank Sinatra and Shelley Winters.

His mother, Christina, died in 1989.

He wasn’t the first choice to audition for “Kojak” (1973), when Marlon Brando had been offered the role.

At first, Telly was an executive director and then senior director of the news special events at ABC, Savalas then became an executive producer for the “Gillette Cavalcade of Sports,” where he gave Howard Cosell his first job.

Worked at the Garden City Theatre Center where he met and fell in love with Marilyn Gardner.

He was an active liberal Democrat.

Remained good friends with Kevin Dobson during and after “Kojak” (1973).

Of Greek descent.

Was a spokesperson for the Players’ Club Gold Card from 1981 to 1990.