GENA ROWLANDS "Mrs. Evelyn Ritchie"
Gena Rowlands is recognized internationally as an actress of rare accomplishment and talent on the stage, screen and television. A recent Emmy®-nominee for Showtime's Wild Iris, she earlier starred in "Hysterical Blindness" and Showtime's Charms for The Easy Life.
Rowlands received an Emmy® nomination for her starring role in CBS' "The Color of Love - Jacey's Story" and starred in the feature film "The Weekend," as well as Hallmark's "Grace and Glory," "The Mighty," "Playing by Heart," "Hope Floats" and Paulie."
Born in Cambria, Wisconsin, Rowlands is the recipient of a Doctorate of Performing Arts from the American Film Institute and tributes from the American Cinematheque and the Sundance Film Festival.
Past film credits include a number of films directed by and/or co-starring her late husband John Cassavetes: "A Child is Waiting," "Faces," "A Woman Under the Influence" (Golden Globe Award® winner and Academy Award® nomination for Best Actress), "Gloria" (Academy Award® and Golden Globe Award® nominations for Best Actress), "Opening Night" and "Love Streams."
Among her many other films are "Lonely Are The Brave," "Another Woman" and "The Tempest."
Rowlands' notable television credits include "Thursday's Child," "An Early Frost" (Golden Globe® and Emmy® nominations for Best Actress), "The Betty Ford Story" (Emmy® and Golden Globe® Winner as Best Actress), "The Face of a Stranger" (Emmy Award® for Best Actress) and "Crazy in Love" (Golden Globe® nomination for Best Actress).
JAMES CAAN "Harry Dewitt"
Appearing in more than fifty feature films over the course of his career, James Caan is best known for his Academy Award®-nominated performance as Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather" and for his Emmy®-nominated portrayal of football star Brian Piccalo in the television film "Brian's Song."
He earned great recognition starring in Rob Reiner's psychological thriller "Misery," and in "For the Boys," a romantic drama starring Bette Midler. He was equally praised for his performance as a brain damaged football star in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Rain People," for which he received the Best Actor Award from the San Sebastian Film Festival.
Born in the Bronx and raised in Queens, Caan entered Michigan State University at age sixteen to study economics and to play football. During a spring break, he was interviewed by and accepted to Stanford Meisner's Neighborhood Playhouse. After winning a scholarship to study with Wynn Handman he went on to get the first four jobs he auditioned for in the theatre.
His other feature film credits include "Cinderella Liberty," "Funny Lady," Thief," "Rollerball," "The Killer Elite," "Comes A Horseman," "Honeymoon in Vegas," "Eraser" and "Mickey Blue Eyes." He directed, as well as starred in the critically acclaimed film "Hide in Plain Sight."
KEVIN ZEGERS "Charlie Proud" Kevin Zegers first appeared on screen in 1993 with Michael J. Fox in "Life with Mikey," as young Mikey. He also appeared in numerous commercials and had a recurring role in "Traders," but it was his role as Josh Framm in Disney's "Air Bud: Golden Retriever" that made Kevin a recognizable face.
Besides the "Air Bud" films (there were four in all), Zegers has acted on the big screen in such films as "Treasure Island," "Four Days," "MVP" and "Virginia's Run."
Born in St. Mary's, Ontario, Zegers has made numerous television appearances. He was a series regular on "Goosebumps" and "Titans," and was a guest star on "Twice in a Lifetime," "So Weird" and "The X-Files."
In addition, Zegers has appeared in several movie-of-the-weeks including "Sex, Lies and Obsession," "Time Share," "A Call to Remember," "Rose Hill" and "Cold Heart of a Killer."
DAVID SCHOFIELD "Sonny Proud" David Schofield is one of the most respected actors of the British stage, having performed in dozens of plays throughout England, including the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre. He originated the unforgettable role of "The Elephant Man" on stage beginning with a small touring company, prior to taking the play to the Hampstead Theatre in London and then on to the National Theatre. His work with the National Theatre also includes "Anthony and Cleopatra," "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe" and "As you Like It." In addition, he co-starred as Roy Cohn in the European engagement of Tony Cushman's "Angels in America."
On television Schofield has appeared in numerous series and movies, including playing the title role in "Shackleton," Inspector Newell in "Band of Gold," and Two Sips in "Lock Stock."
Schofield's film appearances include John Landis' "An American Werewolf in London," Michael Mann's "Last of the Mohicans" and the Hughes Brothers' "From Hell," but it is for his performance as Falco in Ridley Scott's Academy Award® winning "Gladiator" that movie audiences will remember him.
LESLIE HOPE "Joan Proud" Leslie Hope has been working in film and television ever since she appeared in "Love Streams," in a role John Cassavetes wrote for her. She next starred opposite Matt Dillon and Andrew McCarthy in "Kansas," and in Oliver Stone's "Talk Radio."
In 2001, Hope gained a legion of fans and garnered critical acclaim for her role as Keifer Sutherland's wife on Fox Television's groundbreaking drama "24."
A native of Nova Scotia, Hope has extensive film credits to her name, including "Dragonfly," "Bruiser," "Sweet Killing," "Water Damage," "Paris, France," "Men at Work" and "True Confections."
Her television credits include "Sanctuary," "Robocop," "Stolen Miracle" and "First Degree." She has also had recurring roles on "The District" and "Chicago Hope," and she has appeared on "Party of Five," and "Judging Amy."
BRENDA JAMES "Virginia Ritchie"
Brenda James has appeared in such films as "The Man in the Iron Mask," "Under the Influence," "Stone Cold" and "LAPD - to Protect and to Serve." She has had featured roles in "Clear and Present Danger," "Patriot Games," "Born Yesterday" and "See Spot Run."
A native of Edmonton who now calls Vancouver home, James' television appearances include recurring roles in "Cold Squad" and "Sunset Beach," as well as guest starring appearances in "Dark Angel," and "Weird Science," and co-starring roles in "American Dreams" and "The Lone Gunmen."
CAMERON DADDO "Jim"
Cameron Daddo is best known as the star of "F/X: The Series," portraying Rollie Tyler. Born in Melbourne, Daddo first garnered attention as the host of "Perfect Match," a popular Australian television series. He won a Logie (the Australian Emmy) for his work in two Disney projects, "Golden Fiddles" and "Tracks of Glory."
Since moving to North America, he has appeared on numerous television shows, including "Models, Inc." and "Hope Island." He also appeared in "Witch Hunt," opposite Jacqueline Bisset, "The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Daredevils of the Desert," "Zebra Lounge" and "Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story." Daddo has guest-starred on many television series, including "The West Wing," "Andromeda" and "Earth: Final Conflict."
PAUL JOHANSSONWriter/Director Paul Johansson's father, a former player with the Detroit Red Wings, inspired him to work hard. But regardless the source, he has made a career of beating the odds. Contemplating a professional basketball career overseas or a chance to go to Hollywood, Johansson chose to close the door on his athletic career and arrived in Hollywood in 1987. The work came quickly and he found himself starring in "Santa Barbara." Some of his other television roles include "Parker Lewis Can't Lose," "Beverly Hills 90210," "Lonesome Dove: The Series" and "Highlander: The Raven." He has appeared in such feature films as "Soapdish," "When the Party's Over," "The Big Picture," "She's So Lovely," "John Q" and "A Wilderness Station."
In addition to his passion for acting Johansson began writing and directing short films. "Conversations in Limbo," had begun as a dream scenario set in downtown Los Angeles. With both his writing and his passion for this project he lured such actors as Jason Priestley, Costas Mandylor and Dale Midkiff to star in the film. The nineteen-minute film opened the Toronto Short Film Festival in addition to being honored at the Nashville Independent Film Festival before being purchased by the Sundance Film Channel for airing on television. This set Johansson on a course which enabled him to begin a project he had been nurturing secretly for years. "The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie" is his first feature film and is based on a real character from his past who had two Down syndrome sons and believed her deceased husband was enchanting her garden. Johansson wrote the script and passed it on to Nick Cassavetes ("John Q," "She's So Lovely," "The Notebook") who not only executive produced the movie, but brought it to his mother Gena Rowlands ("A Woman Under the Influence," "Gloria," "Hope Floats") to play the title role.
Johansson is currently scheduled to begin filming a new show for the WB Network titled, "One Tree Hill," about basketball.
NICK CASSAVETES Executive Producer
The son of actress Gena Rowlands and actor/filmmaker John Cassavetes, considered by many to be the pioneer of independent cinema, Nick Cassavetes played a youth in his father's acclaimed "A Woman Under the Influence" in 1974. His first film as an adult was in Peter Bogdanovich's "Mask."
Cassavetes was cast in the role of award-winning playwright and screenwriter Robert E. Sherwood in Alan Rudolph's "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle." Other film appearances for the New York born actor include "Face/Off," "The Astronaut's Wife" and "Panic."
In 1996, Cassavetes stepped behind the camera to direct "Unhook the Stars," a drama he co-wrote about the growing relationship between two neighbors, played by Gena Rowlands and Marisa Tomei. The film was very well received. His next film as director, "She's So Lovely," premiered at the Cannes Film Festival where it won the Best Actor Prize for Sean Penn. The film, written by John Cassavetes, also starred Robin Wright, John Travolta, James Gandolfini and Paul Johansson.
He also directed "John Q," starring Denzel Washington, Robert Duvall and James Woods. In addition to "Unhook the Stars," he also co-wrote the screenplay to Ted Demme's "Blow."Cast Biographies courtesy of Showtime Networks
© Paul Johansson Online 2003