Trending
Popular people
Erika Sawajiri
Biography
Erika Sawajiri (born April 8, 1986 in Nerima, Tokyo) is a Japan-based actress, model, and musician. Her alias in her music career was Kaoru Amane, but she has recently started her own project under the name Erika. She was affiliated with Sony Music Entertainment Japan for her record label (formerly as Kaoru Amane and later Erika), and Stardust Promotion for her talent agency (with her real name, Erika Sawajiri) before her contract was terminated in late 2009. On September 10, 2010, it was announced that she signed with Avex label for talent management and music releases. She became popular after playing a girl who suffered from an intractable disease called spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD) in the nonfiction drama 1 Litre of Tears.
Read more
Harry 'Snub' Pollard
Biography
Snub Pollard (9 November 1889 – 19 January 1962) was an Australian-born vaudevillian, who became a silent film comedian in Hollywood, popular in the 1920s.
Born Harold Fraser, in Melbourne, Australia on 9 November 1889, he began performing with Pollard's Lilliputian Opera Company at a young age. Like many of the actors in the popular juvenile company, he adopted Pollard as his stage name. The company ran several highly successful professional children's troupes that traveled Australia and New Zealand in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
In 1908, Harry Pollard joined the company tour to North America. After the completion of the tour, he returned to the US. By 1915 he was regularly appearing in uncredited roles in movies, for example Charles Epting notes that Pollard can clearly be seen in Chaplin's 1915 short By the Sea. In later years, Pollard claimed Hal Roach had discovered him while he was performing on stage in Los Angeles.
Pollard played supporting roles in the early films of Harold Lloyd and Bebe Daniels. The long-faced Pollard sported a Kaiser Wilhelm mustache turned upside-down; this became his trademark. Lloyd's producer, Hal Roach, gave Pollard his own starring series of one- and two-reel shorts. The most famous is 1923's It's a Gift, in which he plays an inventor of many Rube Goldberg-like contraptions, including a car that runs by magnet power.
In early 1923, shortly after his second marriage, Pollard returned with his wife Elizabeth to see his relations in Australia. His visit attracted considerable attention, and he appeared again in several theatres to speak about the motion picture business. On his return to the US, he left Roach and joined the low-budget Weiss Brothers studio in 1926. There he co-starred with Marvin Loback as a poor man's version of Laurel and Hardy, copying that team's plots and gags.
In later years, Pollard claimed the Great Depression wiped out his investments, and he had been unable to "adjust to the talkies." However, in the 1930s, he played small parts in talking comedies, and was featured as comic relief in "B" westerns. Pollard's silent-comedy credentials guaranteed him work in slapstick revivals. He appeared with other film veterans in Hollywood Cavalcade (1939), The Perils of Pauline (1947), and Man of a Thousand Faces (1957). He also appeared regularly as a supporting player in Columbia Pictures' two-reel comedies of the mid-1940s.
Forsaking his familiar mustache in his later years, he landed much steadier work in films as a mostly uncredited bit player. He played incidental roles in scores of Hollywood features and shorts, almost always as a mousy, nondescript fellow, usually with no dialogue.
Snub Pollard died of cancer on 19 January 1962, aged 72, after nearly 50 years in the movie business. His interment was at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).
For his contributions to motion pictures, Pollard has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6415½ Hollywood Boulevard.
Read more
Sean Connery
Biography
Sir Thomas Sean Connery (August 25, 1930 – October 31, 2020) was a Scottish actor and producer. He won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards (one being a BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award), and three Golden Globes, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award and a Henrietta Award. Connery was the first actor to portray the character James Bond in film, starring in seven Bond films (every film from Dr. No to You Only Live Twice, plus Diamonds Are Forever and Never Say Never Again), between 1962 and 1983. In 1988, Connery won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Untouchables. His films also include Marnie (1964), Murder on the Orient Express (1974), The Man Who Would Be King (1975), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Highlander (1986), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Dragonheart (1996), The Rock (1996), and Finding Forrester (2000).
Connery was polled in a 2004 The Sunday Herald as "The Greatest Living Scot" and in a 2011 EuroMillions survey as "Scotland's Greatest Living National Treasure". He was voted by People magazine as both the “Sexiest Man Alive" in 1989 and the "Sexiest Man of the Century” in 1999. He received a lifetime achievement award in the United States with a Kennedy Center Honor in 1999. Connery was knighted in the 2000 New Year Honours for services to film drama.
On October 31, 2020, Connery died at the age of 90.
Read more
Austin Butler
Biography
Austin Robert Butler (born August 17, 1991) is an American actor. Known for his performances on stage and screen, he has received a British Academy Film Award and Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award, two Critics' Choice Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.
Butler began his career on television, appearing in sitcoms on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, most notably on Zoey 101 (2007–2008), and later in teen dramas, including recurring parts on The CW's Life Unexpected (2010–2011) and Switched at Birth (2011–2012). He went on to star in The Carrie Diaries (2013–2014) and The Shannara Chronicles (2016–2017).
Butler's film breakthrough came as Tex Watson in Quentin Tarantino's period dramedy Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). He gained wider recognition for portraying Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann's biopic Elvis (2022), which earned him a BAFTA Award and Golden Globe Award, as well as a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. He has since starred in the Apple TV+ miniseries Masters of the Air (2024), Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic Dune: Part Two (2024), and Darren Aronofsky's crime thriller Caught Stealing (2025).
On stage, Butler made his Broadway debut in the revival of Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh (2018).
Description above from the Wikipedia article Austin Butler, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Read more
Leon Ford
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Leon Ford is an Australian actor who has appeared in many television and theatre productions. He is best known for his roles in the television series The Cooks, Changi and the telemovie Stepfather of the Bride.
He has also appeared in many other television series including All Saints, East West 101 and McLeod's Daughters, the 2005 movie The Great Raid and voiced a character in the 2008 stop motion animated movie $9.99.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Leon Ford, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Read more
Mindie McCullum
Biography
Melinda Midajah McCullum is an American personal trainer, fitness model and former professional wrestling manager, better known by her ring name, Midajah. She is best known for her appearances with World Championship Wrestling from 1999 to 2001.
McCullum received a certification in personal training and nutrition in 1994. She then worked as a personal fitness trainer with several companies. Subsequently, she worked with a bodybuilding supplement company, in trade shows, and made personal appearances.
Between 1997 and 2000, McCullum was the cover model for fitness magazines such as Iron Man, MuscleMag and Muscular Development.
In 1999, McCullum's agent, Rich Minzer, introduced her to Terry Taylor, an agent with the professional wrestling promotion World Championship Wrestling, who was recruiting fitness models. Taylor subsequently hired McCullum to serve as a valet for the New World Order stable.
McCullum joined World Championship Wrestling in December 1999. After training in the company's Power Plant wrestling school, McCullum made her professional wrestling debut in 2000 under the ring name Midajah as part of a group of fitness models (Tylene Buck, April Hunter, Shakira and Pamela Paulshock) known as the nWo Girls. Midajah and Shakira soon transitioned into being the valets of Scott Steiner, who subsequently nicknamed them his "Freaks". After Shakira left WCW, McCullum then became the main valet for Steiner and became part of the Magnificent Seven. She had a brief feud with Leia Meow. She appeared on the final episode of Nitro in Steiner's corner as he was defeated by Booker T.
After WCW was acquired by WWE in March 2001, Midajah went on to participate in fitness competitions and model for fitness magazines such as Muscle & Fitness.
In 2002, McCullum joined World Wrestling All-Stars and resumed managing Scott Steiner and also began managing Perry Saturn. While in WWA, Midajah made her in-ring debut on April 7, 2002, where she defeated Queen Bee in a singles match. On April 10, Midajah defeated Chantelle in a bra and panties match. On April 12, Midajah won her final match as she defeated Queen Bee in an evening gown match. After WWA folded, McCullum spent some time in Ultimate Pro Wrestling, where she trained at their wrestling school before leaving the profession altogether.
McCullum was formerly married to the American bodybuilder Michael O'Hearn.
McCullum is the eldest of four children and is of Norwegian, Irish, Spanish, and French descent. She attended school in both America and Mexico. While growing up, she participated in beauty pageants and worked as a child actress.
McCullum speaks Spanish fluently and has worked as an interpreter.
Read more
Jude Ciccolella
Biography
Richard Jude Ciccolella (born November 30, 1947), better known as Jude Ciccolella, is an American character actor.
Ciccolella was born in Nassau County, New York. He graduated from Brown University, class of 1969 where he acted in student productions. He studied at Temple University with a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre. His film roles include parts in The Shawshank Redemption as Mert, Boys on the Side as Jerry, Night Falls on Manhattan as Lieutenant Wilson, Star Trek Nemesis as Romulan Commander Suran, Down With Love as the private eye, The Terminal as Karl Iverson, the 2004 Director's Cut DVD of Daredevil, the 2004 remake of The Manchurian Candidate as David Donovan, and the 2005 Sin City movie adaptation as Liebowitz. After guest starring roles in Law & Order, NYPD Blue, CSI: NY and ER, Ciccolella took a recurring guest role on 24. During the show's first and second seasons (2001–2003), he played Mike Novick, Chief of Staff to President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert). He has also guest starred as Principal Raymond on Everybody Hates Chris; however, he was replaced upon reprising his role as Mike Novick in the last eight episodes of Season 4 of 24. He appeared in the 1992 James Foley and David Mamet film Glengarry Glen Ross as the Detective. He appeared in the scene where Al Pacino was having an argument with Kevin Spacey about the "six-thousand dollars" owed to him. Ciccolella was also seen in the episode of Nickelodeon's The Adventures of Pete & Pete titled "Tool and Die," where he plays the shop class teacher Mr Slurm, whose missing left hand stirred nothing but hearsay and rumors. Mr. Ciccolella did not reprise his role as Mr. Slurm in the season 3 episode, "Road Warrior." In 24's fourth season (2005), Ciccolella returned for the last 8 episodes. Mike had become an advisor to Acting President Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin), who had taken over after the downing of Air Force One critically injured President John Keeler (Geoff Pierson). He had continued this role in the show's fifth season (2006). However, he did not appear in the sixth season. In 2007, he guest-starred on NBC freshman drama Life. He also appeared in the 2007 film, The Wager. In 2008, he portrayed Phillip Davenport, a fictional Secretary of the Navy on the 6th season of the CBS show NCIS. Two years later, he appeared one more time for the last episode of the 8th season. In the "Supporting Players" featurette on the 24 season 5 DVD, actress Jean Smart reveals that Ciccolella is a folk singer.
Read more
Thomas Jouannet
Biography
Thomas Jouannet (born 30 September 1970 in Geneva) is Swiss actor.
Jouannet started in a theatre class in Geneva, then he went to Paris and was trained by Jean Périmony.
He started his career in several French TV series and TV movies, such as The Dominici Case and Le Silence de la Mer. He also appeared as Antoine in Clara Sheller.
In 2009, he played Don Pedro in La Reine morte which is an adaptation of the play by Henry de Montherlant.
He was in a relationship with actress Alexandra Lamy from 1995 to 2003, with whom he had a daughter, Chloé, born in October 1997.
He married actress Armelle Deutsch in 2010, with whom he has two children.
Source: Article "Thomas Jouannet" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Read more
René van Vooren
Biography
René van Vooren was the Thespian pseudonym of René Sleeswijk Jr., born in the Dutch metropolis Amsterdam on 21 April 1931 as son of theater producer René Sleeswijk Sr., a stage name assumed to avoid utter confusion. In the 1950s he worked with several Dutch artists, including Tom Manders. In 1966 he joined the duo which made his name, De Mounties, after the death of the previous straight man, Fred Plevier. Although they weren't friends, Piet Bambergen (loud, short and fat) and René Van Vooren privé (tall and distinguished, resulting in an inverted Laurel and Hardy- look) proved a magical comical duo on stage. His theatre successes, all co-starring with Piet Bambergen, included: Drie in de pan (also starring Joke Bruys), Goeie Buren (Rudi Falkenhagen, John Leddy and Diana Dobbelman), Huwelijk in de steigers (Rudi Falkenhagen, Carry Tefsen), Lief zijn voor elkaar and Privé voor twee (Rudi Falkenhagen and Marlies Alcmaer).
After Bambergen's death in 1996, René Van Vooren joined Joop van den Ende Producties (Dutch commercial TV), but now as creative producer. His productions included the André van Duin-shows.
René died in Blaricum on 25 November 1998.
Read more
Samuel S. Hinds
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samuel Southey Hinds (April 4, 1875 – October 13, 1948) was an American actor and former lawyer. He was often cast as kindly authoritarian figures and appeared in over 200 films until his death.
Hinds was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Joseph E. Hinds and Mary A. Beetham Hinds.
He was a graduate of Phillips Andover Academy and Harvard Law School and worked for over 32 years as a lawyer before becoming a professional actor. After he lost most of his money in the financial crisis of 1929, Hinds retired as a lawyer and joined the Pasadena Community Playhouse. He started acting in Broadway shows at age 54.
Hinds is perhaps best remembered for playing Peter Bailey, the father of James Stewart and founder of the Bailey Building and Loan, in It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and for his part as Paul Sycamore in You Can't Take It With You (1938), both films directed by Frank Capra. Hinds was also known for his roles in the Abbott & Costello films such as Buck Privates (1941), Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942) and Pardon My Sarong (1942). He also portrayed Lew Ayres' father in the Dr. Kildare film series during the early 1940s. Hinds mostly played supporting roles, often kind and dignified authority figures; often lawyers, doctors, mayors, judges or the father of the main figure.
Hinds' first film was If I Had a Million (1932); his second film was The Road Is Open Again (1933) where he portrayed President Woodrow Wilson. His earlier career was reflected in the role of Judge Thatcher, tortured by the mad Dr. Richard Vollin (Bela Lugosi) in The Raven (1935).
Hinds acted in a total of 214 films. His last film was The Bribe, released in 1949, after his death.
Hinds died of pneumonia in Pasadena, California, on October 13, 1948 at age 73. He was married to Dorothy Cruickshack, they had two children.
Read more










