Caption	Zellweger, 2009
Birthdate	April 25, 1969
Birthname	Renée Kathleen Zellweger
Birthplace	Katy, Texas, U.S.
Occupation	Actress/Producer
Yearsactive	1992–present
Spouse	Kenny Chesney (May–September, 2005; annulled)

Renée Kathleen Zellweger (born April 25, 1969) is an American actress and producer. Zellweger first gained widespread attention for her role in the film Jerry Maguire (1996), and subsequently received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her roles as Bridget Jones in the comedy Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), which she reprised in its sequel (2004) and as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago (2002), and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the drama Cold Mountain (2003).

She has won three Golden Globe Awards and three Screen Actors Guild Awards, was named Hasty Pudding's Woman of the Year in 2009, and established herself as one of the highest-paid Hollywood actresses as of 2007.

Biography

Early life

Zellweger was born in Katy, Texas, a western suburb of Houston. Her father, Emil Erich Zellweger, is from Au, St. Gallen in Switzerland, and is a mechanical and electrical engineer who worked in the oil refining business. Her mother, Kjellfried Irene (née Andreassen), is Norwegian-born and of Sami origin, and is a nurse and midwife who moved to the United States in order to work as a governess for a Norwegian family in Texas. Zellweger has described herself as being raised in a family of "lazy Catholics and Episcopalians". and a drama club member. Zellweger acted in several school plays and was voted the "Best Looking" of her class before graduating from high school in 1987. After high school, she went to the University of Texas at Austin to major in English language. Zellweger was a good student, and made the Dean's List several times. At the beginning she took a drama class because she needed a fine arts credit to complete her degree, but the experience made her appreciate how much she loved acting. During this time, she supported herself by taking jobs as a waitress in Austin, Texas. She said in 2009 she earned her Screen Actors Guild card doing a Coors Light beer commercial while in college. Also while in college, she did "a bit part ... as a local hire" in the Austin-filmed horror-comedy My Boyfriend's Back, playing "the girl in the beauty shop, maybe two lines. But the beauty shop [scene] got cut." followed by a role in the ABC miniseries Murder in the Heartland (1993).

Critical success

In 2001, Zellweger gained the prized lead role as Bridget Jones, playing alongside Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, in the British romantic comedy film Bridget Jones's Diary, based on the 1996 novel Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding. The choice came amid much controversy since she was neither British nor overweight. Her dramatic weight fluctuations became the subject of much media interest. Her performance as Bridget received praise from critics, with Stephen Holden of The New York Times commenting, "Ms. Zellweger accomplishes the small miracle of making Bridget both entirely endearing and utterly real." As a result of her considerable efforts to effect author Helen Fielding's character, Zellweger caught the attention of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and won her first Best Actress Academy Award nomination. The Washington Post noted that even though Zellweger couldn't dance well in real life, the audience "wouldn't know it from this movie, in which she dances up a storm." As a result, she earned her second Academy Award nomination as Best Actress, as well as the Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe Award.

In 2009, she starred alongside Chris Noth and Kevin Bacon in the feature film My One and Only, as well as in the film New in Town, a comedy about a corporate executive from Miami who is sent to New Ulm, Minnesota, to oversee a small manufacturing company making minimal profits producing and selling pudding. She also had a cameo role in the animated film Monsters vs. Aliens.

Personal life

Her first high-profile romance was with actor/comedian Jim Carrey. The relationship ended in December 2000. The two were rumored to have been engaged, but Zellweger frequently denied this claim. Zellweger poked fun at the prior relationship when she ended her opening monologue on Saturday Night Live by reading an entry from her own "diary", marked "Dear Diary, I can't believe I am dating Jim Carrey."

For two years, Zellweger dated The White Stripes singer Jack White. The pair met while filming Cold Mountain, and later began dating after the film wrapped. They broke up two years later, after schedule demands kept them apart. Friends said the split was amicable.

On May 9, 2005, Zellweger married singer Kenny Chesney in a ceremony at the island of St. John. They had met in January at a tsunami relief benefit concert. Zellweger missed out on the engagement ring since the wedding was planned over a short span of time. On September 15, 2005, after only four months of marriage, they announced their plans for an annulment. Zellweger cited "fraud" as the reason in the related papers. After media scrutiny of her use of the word "fraud", she qualified the use of the term, stating it was "simply legal language and not a reflection of Kenny's character. I would personally be very grateful for your support in refraining from drawing derogatory, hurtful, sensationalized or untrue conclusions. We hope to experience this transition as privately as possible." Due to the constant attention from the paparazzi, she purchased a home in Connecticut and moved there in 2005. She claims she rarely spends time there, and keeps a small apartment in New York where she "stops over" to do laundry before moving on to her next film. In January 2007, she admitted that she gets scared at home alone due to security problems and fans who send or leave mail at her homes; she said that she considered buying a gun for reasons of personal security.

Zellweger and Marc Forster took part in the 2005 HIV prevention campaign of the Swiss federal health department.

Films

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" |- ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes |- | 1992 | A Taste for Killing | Mary Lou | TV |- |rowspan="3" | 1993 | Murder in the Heartland | Barbara Von Busch | TV |- | My Boyfriend's Back | | Uncredited |- | Dazed and Confused | Nesi White | Uncredited |- |rowspan="6" | 1994 | Reality Bites | Tami | |- | 8 Seconds | Prescott Buckle Bunny |Cameo |- | Shake, Rattle and Rock! | Susan Doyle | |- | Love and a .45 | Starlene Cheatham |Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance |- | Rebel Highway | Susan | |- | | Jenny | |- |rowspan="2" | 1995 | Empire Records | Gina | |- | The Low Life | Poet | |- |rowspan="2" | 1996 | The Whole Wide World | Novalyne Price |Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Female |- | Jerry Maguire | Dorothy Boyd |Broadcast Film Critics Association for Breakthrough ArtistNational Board of Review Award for Breakthrough PerformanceNominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion PictureNominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture |- | 1997 | Deceiver | Elizabeth | |- |rowspan="2" | 1998 | A Price Above Rubies | Sonia Horowitz | |- | One True Thing | Ellen Gulden | |- | 1999 | The Bachelor | Anne Arden | |- |rowspan="2" | 2000 | Nurse Betty | Betty Sizemore |Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or ComedySatellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or ComedyNominated — Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best ActressNominated — American Comedy Award for Funniest Actress in a Motion PictureNominated — London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress |- | Me, Myself & Irene | Irene P. Waters | |- | 2001 | Bridget Jones's Diary | Bridget Jones |Nominated — Academy Award for Best ActressNominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading RoleNominated — Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best ActressNominated — Empire Award for Best ActressNominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or ComedyNominated — Satellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or ComedyNominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role - Motion Picture |- |rowspan="2" | 2002 | White Oleander |Claire Richards |Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture |- | Chicago | Roxie Hart |Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best CastGolden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or ComedySatellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or ComedyScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role - Motion PictureScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureNominated — Academy Award for Best ActressNominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading RoleNominated — Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best ActressNominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best ActressNominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast |- |rowspan="2" | 2003 | Down with Love | Barbara Novak | |- | Cold Mountain | Ruby Thewes | Academy Award for Best Supporting ActressBAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting RoleBroadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressChicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressDallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion PictureSan Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting ActressScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion PictureSoutheastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated — Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated — Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress |- |rowspan="2" | 2004 | Shark Tale | Angie | Voice Only |- | | Bridget Jones |Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |- | 2005 | Cinderella Man | Mae Braddock |Nominated — Empire Award for Best Actress |- |rowspan="1" | 2006 | Miss Potter | Beatrix Potter |Also Executive ProducerNominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or ComedyNominated — Saturn Award for Best Actress |- | 2007 | Bee Movie | Vanessa Bloom | Voice Only |- |rowspan=2| 2008 | Leatherheads | Lexi Littleton | |- |Appaloosa | Allie French | |- |rowspan=4| 2009 | New in Town | Lucy Hill | |- | Monsters vs. Aliens | Katie | Voice Only |- | My One and Only | Anne Deveraux | |- | Case 39 | Emily Jenkins | Made in 2006, released in the UK in 2009, released North American 2010 |- |rowspan=1| 2010 | My Own Love Song | Summer Wilson | post-production |- |rowspan=2| 2011 | Shark Tale 2 | Angie | Voice only |- |}

References

External links

Interview with Zellweger about her role in "Miss Potter"

Renée Zellweger interview for "Bridget Jones's Diary"

Renée Zellweger Interview with Beliefnet about "New in Town"

Category:American film actors Category:BAFTA winners (people) Category:Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe (film) winners Category:Best Supporting Actress Academy Award winners Category:Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (film) winners Category:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners Category:People from Austin, Texas Category:People from Katy, Texas Category:Actors from Houston, Texas Category:Actors from Texas Category:University of Texas at Austin alumni Category:Sami people Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:American actors of Norwegian descent Category:American people of Swiss descent Category:American Episcopalians

Name	Tracey Ullman
Caption	Tracey Ullman at 1990 Emmy Awards
Birth date	December 30, 1959
Birth place	Slough, Buckinghamshire (now Berkshire), England, UK
Birth name	Trace Ullman
Nationality	British and Naturalized American
Spouse	Allan McKeown (1983–present; 2 children)
Notable work	Various in The Tracey Ullman Show Rosalie Boca in I Love You To Death Eden Brent in Bullets Over Broadway Various in Tracey Takes On Frenchy in Small Time Crooks Sylvia Stickles in A Dirty Shame Various in Tracey Ullman's State of the Union
Genre	Comedy, sketch-comedy, social commentary, satire, character comedy
Active	1980–present

}}

Tracey Ullman (born 30 December 1959) is a British-born stage and television actress, comedienne, singer, dancer, screenwriter and author.

Her early appearances were on British TV sketch comedy shows A Kick Up the Eighties (with Rik Mayall and Miriam Margolyes) and Three of a Kind (with Lenny Henry and David Copperfield). She also appeared as Candice Valentine in Girls On Top with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders.

She emigrated from the UK to the US and created her own network television series, The Tracey Ullman Show, from 1987 until 1990, from which The Simpsons was spun off in 1989. She later produced programs for HBO, including Tracey Takes On..., for which she has won numerous awards. She has also appeared in several feature films. Ullman's most recent sketch comedy series, Tracey Ullman's State of the Union, ran from 2008—2010 on Showtime.

Early life

Ullman was born Trace Ullman in Slough, Buckinghamshire (now in Berkshire), the daughter of Dorin and Antony Ullman, a solicitor. Ullman later recalled, "My real name is Trace Ullman, but I added the 'y.' My mother said it was spelled the American way, but I don't think she can spell! I always wanted a middle name. My mum used to tell me it was Mary but I never believed her. I looked on my birth certificate and I didn't have one, just Trace Ullman." Ullman's mother was British and her father was a Polish soldier evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940, subsequently working as a furniture salesman and travel agent. When she was six, Ullman's father died of a heart attack while reading her a bedtime story. He was 50 years old. In an effort to cheer up her family, Tracey recounts putting on shows in her mother's bedroom, performing alongside her older sister, Patty. That first show was entitled The Patty Ullman Show. Upon returning to England, she joined the "Second Generation" dance troupe. She also began appearing in variety shows.

The exposure led to her casting in numerous West End musicals, including Grease, and The Rocky Horror Show. During this time Ullman was cast in a play at London's Royal Court Theatre for an improvised play about club acts. Entering the competition, Ullman created the character Beverly, a born-again Christian chanteuse. The performance was a big hit and she won the "Best Newcomer Award". The BBC became interested and offered her the chance to star in her own show. In 1983, Ullman took part in the workshops for Andrew Lloyd-Webber's upcoming musical, Starlight Express, playing the part of Pearl.

Music career

In 1983, Ullman succeeded as a singer on the punk label Stiff Records, although her style was more comic romantic than punk. She had six songs in the UK Top 100 in less than two years. Her 1983 debut album, You Broke My Heart In 17 Places, featured her first hit single, "Breakaway" (famous for her performance with a hairbrush as a microphone); the international hit cover version of label-mate Kirsty MacColl's "They Don't Know" went to #2 in the UK, and #8 in the U.S. MacColl sang backing vocals on Ullman's version. It would later become the theme song to Ullman's later television series, Tracey Takes On....

Follow-up singles, a cover of Doris Day's "Move Over Darling", which reached #8 in the UK, and the cover of Madness' "My Girl", which Ullman changed to "My Guy's Mad At Me", were released. (The "My Guy" video featured the British Labour Party politician Neil Kinnock, at the time the Leader of the Opposition)

Ullman's songs were over-the-top evocations of 1960s and 1970s pop music with a 1980s edge, "somewhere between Minnie Mouse and The Supremes" as Britain's Melody Maker put it, or "retro before retro was cool", as a retrospective reviewer wrote in 2002. Her career received another boost when the video for "They Don't Know" featured a cameo from Paul McCartney; at the time Ullman was filming a minor role in McCartney's film Give My Regards To Broad Street. Ullman released her second and last album, You Caught Me Out, in 1984.

Her final hit, "Sunglasses" (1984), featured comedian Adrian Edmondson in its music video. During this time, she also appeared as a guest VJ on MTV in the United States.

In her HBO stand-up special, , Ullman recreated her music career, recounting how she entered the business, and why she left it. Performances of many of her hit singles were also performed in front of an audience for the performance. In October 2006, Ullman took part in the BBC Four documentary series, If It Ain't Stiff, a mini-series dedicated to the history of the label. A new "remastered" version of ...17 Places was released in 2007.

Television career

Early years

Along with her stint in the music world, Ullman began working in television. Between 1981 and 1984 she starred in sketch comedies A Kick Up the Eighties and Three of a Kind for the BBC. In 1985, she donned a blond wig and took the role of a promiscuous gold digger named "Candice Valentine" on the ITV sitcom Girls On Top. She left after one season, due to being pregnant and giving birth to her first child in 1986.

At this point, US television beckoned, and renowned television producer James L. Brooks came calling. The two had discussed working together previously, but it wasn't until 1987 that they created The Tracey Ullman Show. Ullman played a variety of characters, completely unrecognizable with the help of makeup, prosthetics, and padding. The show was the first commercial hit for then unknown Fox channel. Paula Abdul served as the show's choreographer. The then-unknown Abdul even used her early music recordings for the series' strenuous dance numbers.

The Tracey Ullman Show earned four Emmys and spawned The Simpsons, which was featured in simple cartoon shorts (created by cartoonist Matt Groening at the behest of Ullman Show producer James L. Brooks).

In 1992 Ullman filed a lawsuit against Twentieth Century Fox in Los Angeles Superior Court over profits from the later half hour incarnation of The Simpsons for $2.5 million of the estimated $50,000,000 USD in profits reaped from merchandising. Several years after her show went off the air, she said jokingly in a late night television interview that she hoped to one day have a regular two-minute spot on The Simpsons. In 1991 Ullman had provided the voice of "Emily Winthrop", a British dog trainer on The Simpsons episode Bart's Dog Gets an F.

As Ullman had continued her professional relationship with former producer Brooks, only the studio and not Brooks was named in the suit. In fact, Brooks was allowed to videotape his testimony because at that time he was directing Ullman in the musical I'll Do Anything, which was released as a non-musical film. A settlement was reached whereby Ullman would receive a portion of the profits made from the show, although no amount was ever publicly disclosed.

HBO

Ullman returned to television in 1993, but this time in cable television. Two specials were created allowing Ullman to bring life to a host of new characters. The first, , took a humorous jab at the British class system, and co-starred Monty Python alumnus Michael Palin. For the second, Tracey Ullman Takes On New York, Ullman decided to take on a more American subject, New York City. Both specials drew praise and awards. HBO became interested in doing a Tracey Takes On series, and Ullman and her husband, Allan McKeown, set up production in Los Angeles in 1995.

Tracey Takes On... premiered 24 January 1996, on HBO. Each episode would focus on a topic for Ullman to "take on" and examine. The series would have two to three long sketches, and many small interview-styled bits, with her many characters commenting on that week's topic. Unlike the Fox show, Tracey Takes On... was shot on location, not filmed in front of a live audience. Making the switch to a cable-produced series enabled Ullman free rein to do and say as she pleased.

A kiss with Tracey Ullman Show alum Julie Kavner kicked off the series' first episode. Ullman portrayed characters, both male and female, made up of many ethnicities. This included an Asian donut shop owner, a (male) cab driver from the Middle East, and an African-American airport security guard. The series went on to win eight Emmys, numerous CableACE Awards, and a host other media awards, and was critically acclaimed. In 1997, it won the Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series Emmy Award category for the episode Vegas. In 1998 the series was published in book form, Tracey Takes On.... The series was also awarded GLAAD awards for its portray of gay and lesbian characters. Tracey Takes On completed its four-season run in 1999.

Oxygen stint

In 2001, Ullman took a break from her character-based series and created a chat show for Oxygen, Tracey Ullman's Visible Panty Lines. The show's main focus was fashion. Ullman had developed her own clothing website a few years prior. Interviewees included Arianna Huffington and Charlize Theron. The series lasted for two seasons, and ended in 2002.

Return to HBO

A "Takes On" spin-off pilot was produced in 2003, Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales. Tales spotlighted just one of Ullman's most popular characters, Ruby Romaine. The pilot aired, but no series was ever commissioned.

Tracey returned to HBO in the summer of 2005, with her autobiographical one-woman stage show, . The show garnered another Emmy nomination.

Showtime

Upon her naturalization in the United States, it was announced in April 2007 that she would be making the move from her 14-year working relationship with cable network, HBO, to the rival, Showtime. Ullman was to create a brand new series for the network, that would be inspired in part by her recently gained naturalisation. The series would focus on America, "the good, the bad, and the absolutely ridiculous", which also served as the series tag line.

Ullman credits senior programmer, Robert Greenblatt, as a big influence in her decision for the move, and the network's budding roster of hit shows. Greenblatt was a young development director during her Tracey Ullman Show days, and was enthusiastic to get her over to Showtime. Five episodes were ordered for the first season.

For the first time since the early years of her career at the BBC, Ullman was not only creating a new lineup of original characters, but rather, also impersonating famous ones. Tracey Ullman's State of the Union debuted on 30 March 2008.

The critical response to "State of the Union" was overwhelmingly positive. One critic pointed out a change in Ullman's humor:

Ullman has commented that the United States is, "now able to laugh at itself more," embracing more satiric humor, rather than deeming it "unpatriotic". Now that she's an official citizen, Ullman joked that she, "won't end up in Guantanamo Bay," for speaking her mind.

Ullman hoped to continue the series after season one. Showtime announced that it had greenlighted a second season for 2009. It was commissioned for a third run for 2010.

Other notable work

Ullman was the modern-day cartoon voice of Little Lulu. She also had a recurring role as an unconventional psychotherapist in Ally McBeal, a role that won her an American Comedy Award.

Ullman co-starred with Carol Burnett in the television adaptation of Once Upon a Mattress. Ullman played Princess Winnifred, a role originally made famous by Burnett on Broadway, who took on the role of the evil Queen.

Film career

Along with her television work, Ullman has featured in many films throughout her career. After the cancellation of The Tracey Ullman Show in 1990, she made her starring debut alongside Kevin Kline, River Phoenix and Joan Plowright in I Love You To Death. Ullman has also appeared in , Nancy Savoca's Household Saints, 'Bullets Over Broadway', Small Time Crooks, A Dirty Shame, and Tim Burton's Corpse Bride. She had a small role in Paul McCartney's film Give My Regards to Broad Street.

Ullman portrayed Mother Nature in the 2007 romantic-comedy film, I Could Never Be Your Woman, starring Michelle Pfeiffer. Ullman acted as creative consultant on the 2006 Dreamworks feature, Flushed Away.

Ullman signed on to voice along with such actors as Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Kline, William H. Macy, Stanley Tucci, Christopher Lloyd, Sigourney Weaver, and Emma Watson in the computer-animated The Tale of Despereaux.

Stock footage of Ullman was used in the movie The Queen with Helen Mirren. The footage was used without her permission.

Personal life

Ullman married producer Allan McKeown on 27 December 1983; they have two children, Mabel Ellen McKeown (born 1986) and John Albert Victor McKeown (born 1991).

Ullman announced in 2005 her intention of becoming an American citizen; she became one in December 2006. In 2006, Ullman topped the list for the "Wealthiest British Comedians", with an estimated wealth of £75 million.

Filmography

Mackenzie (1980) TV Series – ''Lisa MacKenzie

Three of a Kind (1981) TV Series

Happy Since I Met You (1981) (TV) – Karen

A Kick Up the Eighties (1981) TV Series – Various Roles

Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984) – Sandra

Plenty (1985) – Alice Park

"Girls On Top" (1985) TV Series – Candice Valentine (1985)

Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) – Fiona

The Tracey Ullman Show (1987) – 1990

I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood (1989) (TV) – Tina Wise

I Love You to Death (1990) – Rosalie Boca

(1992) (TV) – Various

Death Becomes Her (1992) – Toni (scenes deleted)

Happily Ever After (1993) (voice) – Thunderella and Moonbeam

(1993) – Latrine

Household Saints (1993) – Catherine Falconetti

Tracey Ullman Takes On New York (1993) (TV) – Various characters

I'll Do Anything (1994) – Beth Hobbs

Bullets Over Broadway (1994) – Eden Brent

Prêt-à-Porter (1994) – Nina Scant

The Little Lulu Show (1995) TV Series – Lulu (First few episodes)

Tracey Takes On... (1996) – Sydney Cross/Ruby Romaine/Linda Granger/Kay Clark/Rayleen Gibson/Trevor Ayliss/Fern Rosenthal/Chic/Miss Noh Nang Ning/Virginia Bugge/other roles

Ally McBeal (1997–2000) – Dr Tracey Clark''

C-Scam (2000)''

Panic (2000) – Martha

Small Time Crooks (2000) – Frenchy

Visible Panty Lines (2001) TV Series''

Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales (2003) (TV) – Ruby Romaine/Svetlana/Pepper Kane

A Dirty Shame (2004) – Sylvia Stickles

(2005)''

The Cat That Looked at a King (2004) (V) (voice) – The Cat

Corpse Bride (2005) (voice) – Nell Van Dort/Hildegarde

Kronk's New Groove (2005) (V) (voice) – Ms. Birdwell

Once Upon a Mattress (2005) (TV) – Princess Winnifred

I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007) – Mother Nature

Dawn French's Girls Who Do Comedy Three part TV series (2006)

The Tale of Despereaux (2008) (voice) – Mig

Tracey Ullman's State of the Union (2008) TV Series

Stage

1990: The Taming Of The Shrew – Kate

1991: The Big Love – Florence Aadland

2005:

Discography

1983: You Broke My Heart In 17 Places UK #12 US #34

1984: You Caught Me Out UK #92

1984: Forever - The Best Of Tracey Ullman

2005: The Corpse Bride Soundtrack

Charting Singles

1983: Breakaway UK #4 US #70

1983: They Don't Know UK #2 US #8

1983: Move Over Darling UK #8

1984: My Guy UK #23

1984: Sunglasses UK #18

1984: Helpless UK #61

1985: Terry UK #81

Awards and honors

To date, Ullman is a seven time Emmy Award winning, and American Comedy Award winning actor.

On 5 December 2006, Tracey was honored at the Museum of Television and Radio along with likes of Carol Burnett, Lesley Visser, Lesley Stahl, Jane Pauley, and Betty White, in the She Made It category.

In April 2009, it was announced that Ullman would be awarded a Lifetime Achievement BAFTA Award, the following May. She became the first recipient of the Charlie Chaplin award on 9 May 2009.

Awarded

London Critics' Circle Award Most Promising New Actress "Four in a Million" 1981

BAFTA Award Best Light Entertainment Performance "Three of a Kind" and "A Kick Up the Eighties" 1983

Golden Globe Award Best Actress in a Television Series (Comedy or Musical) 1987

Emmy Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program "Tracey Ullman Show" 1988–89

American Comedy Award Funniest Female Performer of the Year 1988

Emmy Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program "Tracey Ullman Show" 1989–90

Emmy Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program "The Best of the Tracey Ullman Show" 1989–90

Theatre World Special Award 1991

Emmy Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series "Love & War" 1992–93

American Comedy Award Funniest Female Performer in a Television Special "Funny Women of Television" 1992

Emmy Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program "Tracey Ullman: Takes on New York" 1993–94

CableACE Award Best Performance in a Comedy Series "Tracey Ullman: Takes on New York" 1994

Emmy Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series "Tracey Takes On . . . " 1996–97

CableACE Award Best Actress in a Comedy Series "Tracey Takes On ..." 1996

CableACE Award Best Variety Special or Series "Tracey Takes On ..." 1996

American Comedy Award Funniest Female Performer in a Television Special "Women of the Night IV" 1996

Golden Satellite Best Actress in a Television Series (Musical or Comedy) "Tracey Takes On ..." 1997

The Actor Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series "Tracey Takes On ..." 1998

Emmy Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series "Ally McBeal" 1998–99

American Comedy Award Funniest Female Leading Performer in a Television Series "Tracey Takes On ..." 1998

American Comedy Award Funniest Female Guest Appearance in a Television Series "Ally McBeal" 1999

American Comedy Award Funniest Female Leading Performer in a Television Series "Tracey Takes On ..." 1999

American Comedy Award Funniest Female Leading Performer in a Television Series "Tracey Takes On ..." 2000

Satellite Awards – Best Performance in a Comedy Series, Tracey Ullman 2008

Bibliography

Tracey Takes On... by Tracey Ullman 1998 (ISBN 9780786863402)

by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark 2006 (ISBN 9781584795346)

Further reading

Guinness Book of British Hit Singles 7th Edition

Archive of an Entertainment Weekly story by Frank Spotnitz on 1992 lawsuit.

Tracey Ullman TV.com "Awards"

References

External links

Tracey Ullman TV.com

Interview Magazine cover story, January, 1989: Tracking Tracey

Tracey Ullman blog

Category:BAFTA winners (people) Category:Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe (television) winners Category:Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Screen Actors Guild Award winners Category:English immigrants to the United States Category:Emmy Award winners Category:English film actors Category:English comedians Category:English stage actors Category:English television actors Category:English voice actors Category:English female singers Category:Italia Conti graduates Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States Category:People from Slough Category:Women comedians Category:British people of Polish descent Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:English people of Polish descent *Main

Caption	Tim Roth, 2009
Birth name	Simon Timothy Roth
Birth date	May 14, 1961
Birth place	Dulwich, London, England, UK
Occupation	Actor/Director
Years active	1982–present

Simon Timothy "Tim" Roth (born 14 May 1961) is an English film actor and director best known for his roles in the American films Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Planet of the Apes, The Incredible Hulk and Rob Roy, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for the latter. He currently stars as Cal Lightman in the TV series Lie to Me.

Early life

Roth was born in Dulwich, London, the son of Ann, a painter and teacher, and Ernie, a journalist, painter and, until the 1970s, a member of the British Communist Party. Roth's father was born under the surname "Smith" in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York, to a British immigrant family of Irish descent; he changed his surname to "Roth" after World War II in order to hide his nationality when travelling in countries hostile to the British. a nickname based off the Brat Pack of the United States.

Roth impressed director Quentin Tarantino and was cast as Mr. Orange in his 1992 ensemble piece Reservoir Dogs. This film paved the way for more work in Hollywood. In 1994, Tarantino cast him again as a robber in the acclaimed Pulp Fiction. They worked again in the 1995 movie Four Rooms, where Roth played the extremely physically animated role of Ted the Bellhop. Roth was very successful playing viciously evil English nobleman Archibald Cunningham in Rob Roy opposite Liam Neeson; for this role he earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, a Golden Globe nomination, and won a BAFTA.

In 1996, he went a different way, starring with Drew Barrymore in Woody Allen's musical comedy Everyone Says I Love You. He also starred as Danny Boodman T.D. Lemon 1900 (or just "1900") in The Legend of 1900, and in the same year co-starred with the late Tupac Shakur in the drama Gridlock'd. He made a critically-acclaimed debut as a director in 1999 with The War Zone, a film version of Alexander Stuart's novel. In 2001, he made another important move by portraying General Thade in Tim Burton's blockbuster Planet of the Apes. Roth was the original choice for the role of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series, but he turned it down for the Planet of the Apes job. He was also considered for the part of Hannibal Lecter in the 2001 film Hannibal before Anthony Hopkins returned to reclaim the role.

Roth appeared in Francis Ford Coppola's Youth Without Youth and Michael Haneke's Funny Games, then starred opposite Edward Norton in The Incredible Hulk as Emil Blonsky.

In 2009, he began starring in a new series on Fox called Lie To Me. He plays Dr. Cal Lightman, an expert on body language who assists local and federal law organizations in the investigations of crimes. His character is based on Dr. Paul Ekman, notable psychologist and expert on body language and facial expressions.

In 2010, Tim Roth appeared on the cover to Manic Street Preachers' 2010 studio album, Postcards From A Young Man.

Personal life

Roth has a son, Jack, born to Lori Baker in 1984. He married Nikki Butler in 1993 and had two sons with her: Timothy Hunter (b. 1995) and Michael Cormac (b. 1996). Roth is a supporter of the Green Party of England and Wales.

Filmography

As actor

As director

The War Zone (1999)

References

External links

The Officially Unofficial Tim Roth Web Page

Allmovie entry for Tim Roth

Audio Interview w/ Rafferty/Mills Connection Podcast (2009)

Category:1961 births Category:Alumni of Camberwell College of Arts Category:Alumni of the University of the Arts Category:European Film Awards winners (people) Category:BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor Category:BAFTA winners (people) Category:English film actors Category:English stage actors Category:Living people Category:Old Strandians Category:People from Dulwich Category:English people of Irish descent

Caption	Gere in Venice, 2007
Birth name	Richard Tiffany Gere
Birth date	August 31, 1949
Birth place	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1973–present
Spouse	Cindy Crawford (1991–1995)Carey Lowell (2002–present)

Richard Tiffany Gere (, ; born August 31, 1949) is an American actor. He began acting in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and a starring role in Days of Heaven. He came to prominence in 1980 for his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol. He went on to star in several hit films including An Officer and a Gentleman, Pretty Woman, Primal Fear, and Chicago, for which he won a Golden Globe Award as Best Actor, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the Best Cast.

Early life

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Gere is a descendant of Mayflower Pilgrims Francis Eaton, John Billington, George Soule, Richard Warren, Degory Priest, William Brewster and Francis Cooke. Gere has three sisters and a brother. In 1967, he graduated from North Syracuse Central High School, where he excelled at gymnastics and music, playing the trumpet.

Career

Gere first worked professionally at the Provincetown Playhouse on Cape Cod in 1971 where he starred in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. His first major acting role was in the original London stage version of Grease in 1973.

However, after 1982, Gere's career was dogged by several box office failures. His career was somewhat resurrected after the release of both Internal Affairs and Pretty Woman in 1990. Gere's status as a leading man was again solidified, and he went on to star in several successful films throughout the 1990s, including Sommersby (1993), Primal Fear (1996), and Runaway Bride (1999) which reunited him with his Pretty Woman co-star Julia Roberts. though his next film, 2005's Bee Season, was a commercial failure.

Gere was Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals' "Man of the Year" for 2006. In 2007, he co-starred with Jesse Eisenberg and Terrence Howard in The Hunting Party, a comic thriller in which he played a journalist in Bosnia. The same year he also starred with Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, and Cate Blanchett in Todd Haynes' semi-biographical film about Bob Dylan, I'm Not There.

Gere co-starred with Diane Lane in the romantic drama Nights in Rodanthe, released in 2008. The film was widely panned by critics (even making #74 on The London Times Worst Films of 2008 list), but grossed over $84 million worldwide.

In December 2010, Gere has been honored for his lifetime achievement from the 34th Cairo International Film Festival. Gere expressed his happiness visiting Egypt and being honored in Cairo International Film Festival also the hospitality he received by the Egyptians and the warmth of their feelings specially that he came to Egypt with his wife and his 10-year-old son to enjoy its wonderful residence and to watch its immortal monuments pointing that Cairo Festival is so remarkable and contains a lot of different cultures. He also welcomed working in an Egyptian film if there is a good story, a good director versed from his tools and a strong production.

Personal life and activism

by the 14th Dalai Lama]]

Gere was married to supermodel Cindy Crawford from 1991 to 1995. In 2002, he married model and actress Carey Lowell. They have a son, Homer James Jigme Gere, who was born in 2000 and is named after Gere's father. his interest in Buddhism began when he traveled to Nepal in 1978 with the Brazilian painter, Sylvia Martins. He is a practicing Buddhist and an active supporter of the Dalai Lama. Gere was banned as an Academy Award presenter in 1993 after he denounced the Chinese government in his capacity as presenter In September 2007, Gere called for the boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to put pressure on China to make Tibet independent. He starred in Free Tibet-themed Lancia commercial featuring the Lancia Delta.

Richard Gere actively supports Survival International, an organization dedicated to protecting the rights and lands of tribal peoples throughout the world. The book explores the culture of peoples around the world, portraying both its diversity and the threats it faces. Among other contributors, we can find several western writers, such as Laurens van der Post, Noam Chomsky, Claude Lévi-Strauss; and also indigenous peoples, such as Davi Kopenawa Yanomami and Roy Sesana. Richard Gere discusses the persecution and loss of land of the jummas, as an example of a tragic story that repeats itself in different continents of the world. He calls attention to the crime against their peaceful culture and how it reflects on our own relationship with nature and capacity to survive. The royalties from the sale of this book go to the indigenous rights organization, Survival International.

Gere campaigns for ecological causes and AIDS awareness. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Healing the Divide, an organization that supports global initiatives to promote peace, justice and understanding. He helped to establish the AIDS Care Home, a residential facility in India for women and children with AIDS, and also supports campaigns for AIDS awareness and education that country. In 1999, he created the Gere Foundation India Trust to support a variety of humanitarian programs in India.

On April 15, 2007, Gere appeared at an AIDS awareness rally in Jaipur, India. During a live news conference to promote condom use among truck drivers, he affectionately embraced Bollywood superstar Shilpa Shetty, dipped her, and kissed her several times on the cheek. As a result of that gesture, a local court ordered the arrest of Gere and Shetty, finding them in violation "public obscenity" laws. Gere, who quickly fled the country, has said the controversy was "manufactured by a small hard-line political party." About a month later, a two-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, KG Balakrishnan, described the case as "frivolous" and believed that such complaints (against celebrities) were filed for "cheap publicity" and have brought a bad name to the country. They ruled that "Richard Gere is free to enter the country. This is the end of the matter."

In June 2008, Gere appeared in a Fiat commercial for the European market, driving a new Lancia Delta from Hollywood to Tibet. The commercial concluded with a tagline of "New Lancia Delta: the power to be different". The commercial was reported in Chinese newspapers, and Fiat apologized to China. Branding expert John Tantillo argued that Fiat had foreseen the controversy the ad would cause and hoped to benefit from press coverage it would receive, labeling it a case of adpublitzing.

Political Views

Invasion of Iraq

The American film star Richard Gere explained that the decision to go to war in Iraq was one that the American people were not in support of and that the administration at the time “bullied” Americans into the decision. He blamed the situation on a very “poor president.”

“I'm very sorry about what the U.S. has done in Iraq. This war has been a tragedy for everyone. I hope that the people of Iraq can rebuild their country," Richard Gere said in a press conference, held on the sidelines of the 34th Cairo International Film Festival.

Filmography

{| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1976 | Baby Blue Marine | Raider | |- | 1977 | Looking for Mr. Goodbar | Tony Lo Porto | |- | 1978 | Bloodbrothers | Thomas Stony De Coco | |- | 1978 | Days of Heaven | Bill |David di Donatello Award for Best Foreign Actor |- | 1979 | Yanks | Matt Dyson | |- | 1980 | American Gigolo | Julian Kaye | |- | 1982 | An Officer and a Gentleman | Zack Mayo | Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama |- | 1983 | The Honorary Consul | Dr. Eduardo Plarr | |- | 1983 | Breathless | Jesse Lujack | |- | 1984 | The Cotton Club | Dixie Dwyer | |- | 1985 | King David | David | |- | 1986 | No Mercy | Eddie Jillette | |- | 1986 | Power | Pete St. John | |- | 1988 | Miles from Home | Frank Roberts, Jr. | |- | 1990 | Pretty Woman | Edward Lewis | Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |- | 1990 | Internal Affairs | Dennis Peck | |- | 1991 | Rhapsody in August | Clark | |- | 1992 | Final Analysis | Dr. Isaac Barr | |- | 1993 | Mr. Jones | Mr. Jones | |- | 1993 | Sommersby | John Robert 'Jack' Sommersby | |- | 1993 | And the Band Played On | The Choreographer | Nominated — CableACE Award for Supporting Actor in a Movie or MiniseriesNominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor – Miniseries or a Movie |- | 1994 | Intersection | Vincent Eastman | |- | 1995 | First Knight | Lancelot | |- | 1996 | Primal Fear | Martin Vail | |- | 1997 | The Jackal | Declan Joseph Mulqueen | National Board of Review Freedom of Expression Award |- | 1997 | Red Corner | Jack Moore | |- | 1999 | Runaway Bride | Ike Graham | |- | 2000 | Dr. T & the Women | Dr. T | Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |- | 2000 | Autumn in New York | Will Keane | |- | 2002 | Chicago | Billy Flynn | Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best CastGolden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or ComedyScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureNominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best CastNominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role |- | 2002 | Unfaithful | Edward Sumner | |- | 2002 | The Mothman Prophecies | John Klein | |- | 2004 | Shall We Dance | John Clark | |- | 2005 | Bee Season | Saul Naumann | |- | 2007 | The Hoax | Clifford Irving | Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |- | 2007 |The Hunting Party | Simon | |- | 2007 | I'm Not There | Bob Dylan as Billy The Kid | Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award |- | 2007 | The Flock | Agent Erroll Babbage | |- | 2008 | Nights in Rodanthe | Dr. Paul Flanner | |- | 2009 | Amelia | George Putnam | |- | 2009 | | Parker Wilson | |- | 2010 | Brooklyn's Finest | Eddie Dugan | |}

References

External links

Defended India's nuclear tests

The Gere Foundation

The Druk White Lotus School (external link) of which Gere is an Honorary Patron.

Shambhala Sun Interview

Category:1949 births Category:Actors from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Category:AIDS activists Category:American health activists Category:American anti-communists Category:Best Musical or Comedy Actor Golden Globe (film) winners Category:Converts to Buddhism Category:American Buddhists Category:American actors of English descent Category:Living people Category:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners Category:Tibetan activists Category:Tibetan Buddhists from the United States Category:Tibetan independence movement Category:Personae non gratae

Name	Rachael Ray
Caption	Rachael Ray in 2007 at The Heart Truth
Birth name	Rachael Domenica Ray
Birth date	August 25, 1968
Birth place	Glens Falls, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Television personality, author, celebrity chef
Years active	2001–present
Spouse	John CusimanoSeptember 24, 2005 - present
Website	http://www.rachaelray.com

Rachael Domenica Ray (born August 25, 1968) is an American television personality, celebrity chef and author. She hosts the syndicated talk and lifestyle program Rachael Ray and three Food Network series, 30 Minute Meals, Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels and $40 a Day. Ray wrote cookbooks based on the 30 Minute Meals concept, and launched a magazine, Every Day with Rachael Ray, in 2006. Ray's television shows have won two Daytime Emmy Awards.

Personal life

Ray was born in Glens Falls, New York. Her parents are Elsa Scuderi, an Italian (Sicilian) American and James Ray, who is of French, Scottish and Welsh descent. She was raised in Cape Cod, Massachusetts where her family owned four restaurants. When Ray was 8, her family moved to Lake George, New York. Her mother managed restaurants in upstate New York.

Career

Cooking

Ray teaches simple recipes that she says can be completed in 30 minutes or less, although critics claim that her concept does not include preparation.

Ray says that her Sicilian maternal Grandfather, Emmanuel Scuderi, and her Cajun ancestry serve as a strong influence on her cooking. She uses ingredients such as fresh herbs, garlic and chicken stock to boost flavors. She believes that measuring "takes away from the creative, hands-on process of cooking" and instead favors approximations such as "half a palmful". To critics of her shortcut techniques, Ray responds, "I have no formal anything. I'm completely unqualified for any job I've ever had." She acknowledges that she cannot bake because it requires measured ingredients, that she cannot make coffee, and that she burns bread under the broiler.

On her television programs, she has used catch phrases such as "EVOO" (extra-virgin olive oil), "yum-o," "G.B." (garbage bowl), "Oh my gravy!", "entréetizer" (entrée-sized appetizer), "stoup" (cross between a soup and stew), and "choup." In 2007, The Oxford American College Dictionary announced the addition of the term EVOO, short for extra-virgin olive oil, which Ray had helped to popularize, and credited her with coining the phrase.

The set of 30 Minute Meals uses a yellow Model 61C Chambers stove from the 1950s, notable for its top-opening broiler, super-insulated oven, and unique Thermowell.

On November 12, 2006, Ray and Mario Batali defeated the team of Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis on an episode of Iron Chef America during which cranberries were the secret ingredient. On March 18, 2007, Food Network debuted a Rachael Ray episode of its special Chefography series, on which she stated that "the worst day of (her) life" was Iron Chef America, admitting to being anxious about it for weeks before.

Television

In 2005, Ray signed a deal with Oprah Winfrey and King World Productions to host a syndicated daytime TV talk show. The show, Rachael Ray, premiered on September 18, 2006. Recurrent appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show were used to fuel the launch, much as Dr. Phil's show was spun off based on his own frequent visits to Oprah. The show tapes in New York City. In coordination with the syndication announcement, Ray said, "People know me for my love of food, but I have so much more I want to share."

Ray has appeared on The View, The Today Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, Nightline, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Larry King Live.

For Sesame Street’s 38th season, Ray appeared in an episode to present "pumpernickel" as .

On January 12, 2008, Ray's television series Rachael's Vacation premiered on the Food Network. The show is a five-part food travelogue shot in various European countries.

In 2008 Ray became a producer of a Latin cooking show on the Food Network called Viva Daisy!. The show starred Daisy Martínez.

In August 2009, Ray appeared as herself on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire for charity for Yum-O! and her own charity for animal rescue with Regis Philbin.

Ray also appeared on the hidden camera show I Get That a Lot, pretending to be an employee at a dry cleaners.

In September 2010, a new show, her first new cooking show in a eight years, Rachael Ray's Week In a Day began airing on the Cooking Channel.

Magazines

In 2003, she posed for the men's magazine FHM. A writer for The New York Times wrote, "The shots feature Ray in short-shorts with an exposed midriff, licking chocolate off a big wooden spoon, eating a strawberry and sitting in a sink, laughing as suds cascade down her thighs."

The Reader's Digest Association launched Ray's eponymous magazine, Every Day with Rachael Ray on October 25, 2005. The magazine featured seven issues in 2006, and increased to ten issues in 2007.

Product endorsements

In November 2006, Ray became a spokeswoman for Nabisco crackers. She appears in commercials and on boxes for the many Nabisco products. Many boxes with Ray's picture have her recipes.

In February 2007, WestPoint Home launched sheets, blankets, and coverlets designed by Ray. Within six months, WestPoint expanded Ray's bed and bath line to include the "Moppine", a two-in-one dish towel/oven mitt, as Ray is often seen with a kitchen towel over her shoulder that doubles for her as an ersatz mitt.

In March 2007, the Dunkin' Donuts company announced Ray as its celebrity endorser, mainly of its coffee, since she had denied being able to make coffee herself. As part of a promotional campaign, Ray describes the company's coffee as "fantabulous." Celebrity chef and Travel Channel personality Anthony Bourdain, however, disparagingly referred to Ray's affiliation with Dunkin' Donuts as "evil," and went on to compare it to "endorsing crack for kids."

In May 2007, Ray's recipes were made available on AT&T; cellular phones via the "Rachael Ray Recipes on the Run" feature.

In July 2008, Rachael Ray Nutrish pet food was introduced. The dog foods are created from recipes that Ray developed for her pit bull, Isaboo. All proceeds from the sale of these products go to Rachael's Rescue, a charity founded by Ray to help at-risk animals.

In June 2010, Rachael Ray Nutrish just 6 dog treats were introduced. These treats contain six simple, natural ingredients. As with the food, proceeds from the sale of these dog treats go to Rachael's Rescue.

Awards and recognition

in 2007]]

2004, ranked #92 on "FHM-U.S.'s 100 Sexiest Women 2004".

2006, ranked #71 on "FHM-U.S.'s 100 Sexiest Women 2006".

2006, 30 Minute Meals received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Service Show. Ray was also nominated for Outstanding Service Show Host.

2006, named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people. She was nominated by fellow Food Network star Mario Batali. 2006, according to Forbes magazine, Ray earned about $6 million June 2005-June 2006. from her books and television shows (excluding her new series, Rachael Ray).

February 21, 2007, Ray announced on her show that a wax creation was made of her and that this wax figure will be on display at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in New York City.

2007, nominated for Daytime Emmy Award, Outstanding Talk Show Host.

April 2007, Ray launched a charity, "The Yum-O! Organization", with help from Bill Clinton, to help children eat healthier. June 2008, The Rachael Ray Show received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show/Entertainment. June 2008, according to Forbes magazine, Ray earned about $18 million June 2007-June 2008 June 2009, according to Forbes magazine, Ray earned about $15 million in the year ending June 2009, as well as naming her as the 79th most powerful celebrity in the world. August 2009, The Rachael Ray Show received a second Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show/Entertainment.

Charity work

In 2006, Rachael Ray launched a nonprofit organization called Yum-O! getting its name from a combination of “yummy” and “oh wow” used to explain delicious foods. The mission of Yum-O! is to “empower kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking. This is achieved by teaching families to cook, feeding hungry kids, and funding cooking education”. Yum-O! is providing ways for families to make meals easy, affordable, delicious, and nutritious. The three main areas of focus for the organization are:

Cook: Educating kids and their families about food and cooking

Yum-o! teaches families about food and cooking, allowing them to get started cooking in the kitchen, while making meals that are easy, healthy, affordable and delicious. Yum-O! provides recipes, tips, and other helpful tools.

Feed: Feeding hungry American kids

Hunger in America has been, and continues to be, a real problem for a significant part of the population. Yum-o! has a goal to help end childhood hunger in America. Yum-o! works with organizations throughout the country to raise awareness about and contribute to special projects that address this issue.

Fund: Funding cooking education and scholarships

Yum-o! helps kids reach their food-related career goals by funding scholarships and recognizing public schools that are offering food or nutrition programs that incorporate healthy choices.

Bibliography

30 Minute Meals (1999)

Rachael Ray's Open House Cookbook (2000)

Comfort Foods (2001)

Veggie Meals (2001)

30-Minute Meals 2 (2003)

Get Togethers: Rachael Ray 30 Minute Meals (2003)

Cooking Rocks!: Rachael Ray 30-Minute Meals for Kids (2004)

$40 a Day: Best Eats in Town (2004)

Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Meals: Cooking 'Round the Clock (2004)

Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Meals for Kids: Cooking Rocks! (2004)

Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Get Real Meals : Eat Healthy Without Going to Extremes (2005)

Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats: A Year of Deliciously Different Dinners (2005)

Rachael Ray 2, 4, 6, 8: Great Meals for Couples or Crowds (2006)

Rachael Ray's Express Lane Meals (2006)

Rachael Ray: Just In Time (2007)

Yum-O! The Family Cookbook (2008)

Rachael Ray's Big Orange Book (2008)

Rachael Ray's Book Of 10: More Than 300 Recipes To Cook Every Day (2009)

Rachael Ray's Look and Cook (2010)

References

External links

Rachael Ray's official site

Category:1968 births Category:American food writers Category:American television chefs Category:American television talk show hosts Category:Living people Category:People from Barnstable County, Massachusetts Category:People from Warren County, New York Category:American people of Italian descent Category:American people of Sicilian descent Category:American people of French descent Category:American people of Welsh descent Category:American people of Scottish descent Category:Food Network chefs

Caption	Clooney at the 2009 Venice Film Festival
Birth date	May 06, 1961
Birth place	Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Birth name	George Timothy Clooney
Occupation	Actor, director, producer, screenwriter
Years active	1978–present
Spouse	Talia Balsam (1989-1993)

George Timothy Clooney (born May 6, 1961) is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award. Clooney is noted for parlaying his celebrity into social activism and has served as one of the United Nations Messengers of Peace since January 31, 2008.

Though he made his acting debut on television in 1978, Clooney gained fame and recognition by portraying Dr. Douglas "Doug" Ross on the long-running medical drama ER from 1994 to 1999. While working on ER, he started attracting a variety of leading roles in films including Batman & Robin (1997) and Out of Sight (1998), where he first teamed with long-term collaborator Steven Soderbergh. In 2001, Clooney's fame widened with the release of his biggest commercial success, Ocean's Eleven, the first of a profitable film trilogy, that is a remake of the movie from 1960 with the members of The Rat Pack with Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean. He made his directorial debut a year later with the 2002 biographical thriller Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and has since directed Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) and Leatherheads (2008). He won the 2006 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in the Middle East thriller Syriana (2005).

Clooney's humanitarian work includes his advocacy of finding a resolution for the Darfur conflict, raising funds for the 2010 Haiti earthquake, 2004 Tsunami and 9/11 victims, and creating documentaries such as Sand and Sorrow to raise awareness about international crises.

Early life

Clooney was born in Lexington, Kentucky. His mother, Nina Bruce (née Warren), was a former beauty pageant queen, and his father, Nick Clooney, was an anchorman, as well as game show and American Movie Classics host. Clooney is of Irish descent on his father's side; his paternal great-great-grandparents, Nicholas Clooney (of County Kilkenny) and Bridget Byron, immigrated to the United States from Ireland. Clooney was raised a strict Roman Catholic. He has an older sister, Adelia (also known as Ada), and his cousins include actors Miguel and Rafael Ferrer, who are the sons of his aunt, singer Rosemary Clooney, and actor José Ferrer. He is also related to another singer, Debby Boone, who married José Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney's son Gabriel. From an early age, Clooney would hang around his father's sets, often participating in shows, where he proved to be a crowd favorite.

Clooney began his education at the Blessed Sacrament School in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. Spending part of his childhood in Ohio, he attended St. Michael's School in Columbus, and St. Susanna School in Mason, Ohio. In middle school, Clooney developed Bell's palsy, a debilitating condition that partially paralyzes the face. The malady went away within a year. "That was the worst time of my life," he told the Daily Mirror in 2003. "You know how cruel kids can be. I was mocked and taunted, but the experience made me stronger."

His parents eventually moved to Augusta, Kentucky, where Clooney attended Augusta High School. He has stated that he earned all As and a B in school, and was an enthusiastic baseball and basketball player. He tried out with the Cincinnati Reds in 1977 to play professional baseball, but was not offered a contract. He did not pass the first round of player cuts. He attended Northern Kentucky University from 1979 to 1981 majoring in History and Political Science and, very briefly, the University of Cincinnati, but did not graduate from either. He had such odd jobs as selling men's suits and cutting tobacco.

Career

Early work, 1978-1994

Clooney's first role was as an extra in the TV series Centennial in 1978. The series was based on the novel of the same name by James Michener and was partially filmed in Clooney's hometown of Augusta, Kentucky. Clooney's first major role came in 1984 in the short-lived sitcom E/R (not to be confused with ER, the better-known hospital drama, on which Clooney also costarred a decade later). He played a handyman on the series The Facts of Life and appeared as Bobby Hopkins, a detective, on an episode of The Golden Girls. His first significant break was a semi-regular supporting role in the sitcom Roseanne, playing Roseanne Barr's overbearing boss Booker Brooks, followed by the role of a construction worker on Baby Talk and then as a sexy detective on Sisters. In 1988, Clooney also played a role in Return of the Killer Tomatoes.

Breakthrough, 1994-2001

Clooney achieved stardom when he played Dr. Doug Ross, alongside Anthony Edwards and Noah Wyle on the hit NBC drama ER from 1994 to 1999. After leaving the series in 1999, he made a cameo appearance in the 6th season and returned for a guest spot in the show's final season.

Clooney began appearing in movies while working on ER. His first major Hollywood role was in From Dusk till Dawn, directed by Robert Rodriguez. He followed its success with One Fine Day with Michelle Pfeiffer and The Peacemaker with Nicole Kidman. Clooney was then cast as the new Batman in Batman & Robin, which was a moderate box office success, but a critical failure (with Clooney himself calling the film "a waste of money"). In 1998, he starred in Out of Sight opposite Jennifer Lopez, marking the first of his many collaborations with director Steven Soderbergh. He also starred in Three Kings during the last weeks of his contract with ER.

International success, 2001-present

in 2007.]] After leaving ER, Clooney starred in commercially successful projects such as The Perfect Storm and O Brother, Where Art Thou?. In 2001, he teamed up with Soderbergh again for Ocean's Eleven, a remake of the 1960s Rat Pack film of the same name. It remains Clooney's most commercially successful movie, earning more than $450 million worldwide. The film spawned two sequels starring Clooney, Ocean's Twelve in 2004 and Ocean's Thirteen in 2007.

In 2001, Clooney and director Steven Soderbergh co-founded the Section Eight Productions, for which Grant Heslov was president of television. He made his directorial debut in the 2002 film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, an adaptation of the autobiography of TV producer Chuck Barris. Though the movie didn't do well at the box office, Clooney's direction was praised among critics and audiences alike.

In 2005, Clooney starred in Syriana, which was based loosely on former Central Intelligence Agency agent Robert Baer and his memoirs of being an agent in the Middle East. Clooney suffered an accident on the set of Syriana, which resulted in a brain injury with complications arising from a punctured dura. The same year he directed, produced, and starred in Good Night, and Good Luck., a film about 1950s television journalist Edward R. Murrow's famous war of words with Senator Joseph McCarthy. Both films received critical acclaim and decent box-office returns despite being in limited release. At the 2006 Academy Awards, Clooney was nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Good Night, and Good Luck, as well as Best Supporting Actor for Syriana. He became the first person in Oscar history to be nominated for directing one movie and acting in another in the same year. He won the Oscar for his role in Syriana.

in the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival]]Clooney next appeared in The Good German (2006), a film-noir directed by Soderbergh that is set in post-World War II Germany. Clooney also received the American Cinematheque Award in October 2006, an award that honors an artist in the entertainment industry who has made "a significant contribution to the art of motion pictures". In August 2006, Clooney and Grant Heslov started a new production company: Smokehouse Pictures.

On January 22, 2008, Clooney was nominated for an Academy Award (and many others awards) for Best Actor for his role in Michael Clayton (2007). Clooney then directed his third film, Leatherheads (2008), in which he also starred. It was reported on April 4, 2008 in Variety that Clooney had quietly resigned from the Writers Guild of America over controversy surrounding Leatherheads. Clooney, who is the director, producer, and star of the film, stated that he had contributed in writing, "all but two scenes," of the film and requested a writing credit, alongside Duncan Brantley and Rick Reilly, who had been working on the project for 17 years. In an arbitration vote, Clooney lost 2–1 and ultimately decided to withdraw from the union over the decision. Clooney is now technically a "financial core status" nonmember, meaning he loses his voting rights, and cannot run for office or attend membership meetings, according to the WGA's constitution.

Clooney next co-starred with Ewan McGregor and Kevin Spacey in The Men Who Stare At Goats, which was directed by his friend Grant Heslov and released in November 2009. Also in November 2009, he voiced Mr. Fox in Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox. The same year, Clooney starred in Up in the Air, which was initially given limited release, and then wide-released on December 25, 2009. For his performance in the film, which was directed by Jason Reitman, he was nominated for a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, BAFTA and an Academy Award.

Clooney is represented by Bryan Lourd, Co-Chairman of Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

Humanitarian work

, Chad in January 2008 with the UN]]

Clooney has been active in advocating a resolution of the Darfur conflict. His efforts include appearing on an episode of Oprah and speaking at the Save Darfur rally in Washington, D.C., on April 30, 2006. On March 25, 2007, he sent an open letter to German chancellor Angela Merkel, calling on the European Union to take "decisive action" in the region in the face of Omar al-Bashir's failure to respond to the UN resolutions.

In April 2006, he spent ten days in Chad and Sudan with his father to make a film in order to show the dramatic situation of Darfur's refugees. In September of the same year, he spoke in front of the Security Council of the UN with Nobel Prize-winner Elie Wiesel to ask the UN to find a solution to the conflict and to help the people of Darfur. In December, he made a trip to China and Egypt with Don Cheadle and two Olympic winners to ask both governments to pressure Sudan's government.

After making his first trip to Darfur in 2006 with his father Nick, Clooney made the TV special "A Journey to Darfur", and advocated for action in the US. The documentary was broadcast on American cable TV as well as in the UK and France. In 2008, it was released on DVD with the proceeds from its sale being donated to the International Rescue Committee.

Clooney is involved with Not On Our Watch, an organization that focuses global attention and resources to stop and prevent mass atrocities, along with Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and Jerry Weintraub. He narrated and was co-executor producer of the documentary Sand and Sorrow. Clooney also appeared in the documentary film Darfur Now, a call to action film for people all over the world to help stop the ongoing crisis in Darfur. The film was released on November 2, 2007. In February 2009, he visited Goz Beida, Chad with NY Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. In January 2010. he organized the Telethon , which collects donations for the 2010 Haiti earthquake victims.

at the White House in October 2010.]]

On December 13, 2007, Clooney and fellow actor Don Cheadle were presented with the Summit Peace Award by the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates in Rome. In his acceptance speech, Clooney said that "Don and I…stand here before you as failures. The simple truth is that when it comes to the atrocities in Darfur…those people are not better off now than they were years ago." On January 18, 2008, the United Nations announced Clooney's appointment as a United Nations messenger of peace, effective from January 31. Clooney has appeared in commercials outside the US for products like Fiat, Nespresso and Martini vermouth, and has lent his voice to a series of Budweiser ads beginning in 2005.

Clooney was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2007, 2008, and 2009.

South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker lampooned Clooney, among other stars, in their feature film . Clooney later said that he would have been offended if he hadn't been made fun of in the film. He was also mentioned in the South Park episode "Smug Alert!", which mocks his acceptance speech at the 78th Academy Awards.

Political views

Clooney is a self-described political liberal. In 2003, he opposed the Iraq war, saying: "You can't beat your enemy anymore through wars; instead you create an entire generation of people seeking revenge.... Our opponents are going to resort to car bombs and suicide attacks because they have no other way to win.... I believe (Rumsfeld) thinks this is a war that can be won, but there is no such thing anymore. We can't beat anyone anymore."

In February 2003, syndicated columnist Liz Smith reported that while speaking at a National Board of Review event, Clooney had made the following remarks: "Charlton Heston announced again today that he is suffering from Alzheimer's." Clooney later said, "It was a joke,... They got the quote wrong. What I said was 'The head of the NRA announced today ...' (Filmmaker) Michael Moore had just gotten an award. Anyway, Charlton Heston shows up with guns over his head after a school shooting and then says in the documentary it's because of ethnic diversity that we have problems with violence in America. I think he's going to have to take whatever hits he gets. It was just a joke. That was someone else trying to make a bigger story." When asked if the actor went too far with his remarks, Clooney responded by saying, "I don't care. Charlton Heston is the head of the National Rifle Association; he deserves whatever anyone says about him." Heston himself commented, "It just goes to show that sometimes class does skip a generation," referring to Clooney's aunt, Rosemary Clooney. Clooney said he subsequently apologized to Heston in a letter, and that he received a positive response from Heston's wife.

Clooney supported then-Senator Barack Obama's campaign in the 2008 presidential election.

About the possibility of him ever running for office, Clooney has said: "Run for office? No. I've slept with too many women, I've done too many drugs, and I've been to too many parties."

Personal life

Clooney was married to Talia Balsam from 1989 to 1993. Since then, Clooney has said that he will never marry again. After meeting on the set of a Martini advert in 2000, he had a five-year on/off relationship with British model Lisa Snowdon. In 2007, he started dating Sarah Larson and the couple broke up in May 2008. Since 2009, Clooney has been in a relationship with Elisabetta Canalis.

Clooney's main home is in Los Angeles. He purchased the house in 1995 through his George Guifoyle Trust. His villa in Italy is situated in the village of Laglio, situated on Lake Como, near the former residence of famous Italian author Ada Negri.

On September 21, 2007, Clooney and then-girlfriend Larson were injured in a motorcycle accident in Weehawken, New Jersey. Clooney's motorcycle was hit by a car. The driver of the car reported that Clooney attempted to pass on the right, while Clooney stated that the driver signaled left and then decided to make an abrupt right turn and clipped the motorcycle. He was treated and released from the Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, New Jersey. On October 9, 2007, more than two dozen hospital staff members were suspended without pay for looking at Clooney's medical records in violation of federal law. Clooney himself quickly issued a statement on the hospital records matter, saying no one should be punished. He said "This is the first I've heard of it. And while I very much believe in a patient's right to privacy, I would hope that this could be settled without suspending medical workers."

Clooney owned a 280-pound Vietnamese black-bristled pot-bellied pig named Max, which lived with him for eighteen years, until its death in December 2006. He also owned two bulldogs, named Bud and Lou, after the famous comedy team Abbott and Costello. Both dogs have died; one from a rattlesnake bite.

Awards and honors

Filmography

Actor

Director

Producer

References

External links

George Clooney on Moviefone

Not On Our Watch official site for charity founded by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Jerry Weintraub and David Pressman

George Clooney Public Service Announcement, Better World Campaign

Text, Audio, and Video of Speech to the United Nations Security Council on Darfur, December 14, 2006, NYC

Clooney, Google, UN Team Up To Watch Sudan Border, NPR, December 29, 2010

Category:American anti-Iraq War activists Category:American film actors Category:American film directors Category:American television actors Category:American people of Irish descent Category:American voice actors Category:California Democrats Category:Best Musical or Comedy Actor Golden Globe (film) winners Category:Best Supporting Actor Academy Award winners Category:Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe (film) winners Category:Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Screen Actors Guild Award winners Category:Actors from Kentucky Category:Saturn Award winners Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:People from Lexington, Kentucky Category:American expatriates in Italy Category:United Nations Messengers of Peace

Name	Frank Skinner
Caption	Skinner in 2008 at Wembley Stadium
Birth name	Christopher Graham Collins
Birth date	January 27, 1957
Birth place	West Bromwich, England
Medium	Stand-up, television, Radio
Nationality	English
Active	1992 to present
Genre	stand-up comedy, chat show, sitcom
Notable work	Fantasy Football League The Frank Skinner Show Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned Shane

}}

Frank Skinner (born Christopher Graham Collins on 27 January 1957 in West Bromwich) is a British writer and comedian. He is best known for his television presenting, often alongside David Baddiel, with whom he also collaborated for the football song "Three Lions."

He is currently a radio presenter on the Saturday morning slot on Absolute Radio.

Career

Youth and early career (1957-1993)

He was born at Sandwell General Hospital, and grew up in a council house in neighbouring Oldbury. He was the youngest of four children born to West Cornforth-born former semi-professional footballer John Collins and his wife Doris. He has two older brothers, Keith and Terry, as well as an older sister called Norah. His father had played for Spennymoor United before the Second World War, and met his mother in a local pub after Spennymoor had played West Bromwich Albion in an FA Cup game in 1937. He attended Moat Farm Infant School from 1961 to 1964, St. Hubert's Roman Catholic Junior School from 1964 to 1968, and then Oldbury Technical Secondary School from September 1968.

He passed 2 O-levels in the summer of 1973 and took A-levels in English Language and Art, along with several O-level re-sits, at Oldbury Technical School Sixth Form. He subsequently took 4 A-levels (including English Language and Literature) at Warley College of Technology and graduated from Birmingham Polytechnic (now Birmingham City University) in 1981 with a degree in English. This was followed by a Masters degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick in the following year. After graduating, he spent four years as a lecturer in English at Halesowen College, whilst being a stand-up comedian on the side, before quitting his job in 1989 to pursue his comedy career full-time. During this period a bout of influenza made him give up drinking, and he remains a high-profile recovering alcoholic.

Collins took on the pseudonym Frank Skinner when the actors' union Equity told him there was already someone of the same name on their books (their rules do not permit two members with identical names). He took the name from a member of his late father's dominoes team. Skinner had performed his first stand-up gig in 1987 and made his television debut a year later. In 1990 he co-wrote and starred in a weakly-received sitcom, Packet Of Three, on Channel 4 but continued to see his reputation as a stand-up grow. He won the 1991 Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe, beating Jack Dee and Eddie Izzard.

Career peak (1994-2005)

He often works with best friend and ex-flatmate David Baddiel, notably on the popular late night entertainment show Fantasy Football League, from 1994 to 2004 and on Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned from 2000 to 2005.

The duo also co-wrote and performed the football song "Three Lions" with the Lightning Seeds and the England national football team for Euro 96, and re-released it for the 1998 World Cup. The song reached #1 in the UK charts both times. In 2001, he released his autobiography "Frank Skinner by Frank Skinner", which became a bestseller. The accompanying TV show, "Frank Skinner on Frank Skinner", in which Skinner showed where he lived as a child and interviews with Skinner, his friends and family members, was recorded and shown on ITV in 2001.

In 1998, he took part in a documentary entitled A Little Bit Of Elvis. He paid over £11,000 at auction, for a shirt which he believed was worn by Elvis Presley at his famous 1956 Tupelo concert. Frank visited the USA to find out if the shirt was the genuine article. After a slightly awkward conversation with Dave Hebler, Elvis' bodyguard, it appeared the shirt did once belong to Elvis, but it wasn't worn at the concert.

From 1995 to 1998 Skinner had his own chat show on BBC One, ending when the BBC refused to meet pay demands of a reported £20 million. After a short break the show found a new home at ITV in 1999, where it ran until late 2005. He has appeared in a number of self-written sitcoms, including Blue Heaven (1994) and Shane (2004).

In 2003, he was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.

Post ITV (2006-present)

In 2005, Skinner announced he was going to leave behind his television work in favour of returning to the stand-up comedy circuit. A second series of Shane had been made, but not shown.

In February 2006, he received an honorary degree from the University of Central England, (now Birmingham City University). Skinner and David Baddiel covered the 2006 FIFA World Cup by podcast for The Times, a British broadsheet. The podcasts received a nomination for the 2007 Sony Radio Academy Awards.

In 2007, he performed a new live stand-up tour, his first for 10 years, starting at a warm-up gig at the Swindon Arts Centre, continuing through to the Edinburgh Festival for 2 weeks at The Pleasance, the venue where he won the Perrier Award, and a 69 date national tour including three sold out homecoming performances at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham in the Autumn.

In November 2008 and in the light of senior broadcasting figures such as ITV boss Michael Grade and Sir Terry Wogan calling for TV to clean up its act regarding use of swear words, Skinner decided to experiment with removing swear words altogether from his stand up live act although stated that it would be a shame if 'clever swearing' was lost. He also stood in for an ill Paul Merton as a team captain on the 21 November edition of Have I Got News For You.

From March 2009 Frank started to present the Saturday Morning Breakfast Show on Absolute Radio with his co-hosts Emily Dean and Gareth Richards, produced by Avalon Television. After an initial 12-week stint proved very popular with the listeners, Skinner's contract was extended until summer 2010.

Frank was a guest on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs on 11 June 2010.

He hosted a six series show Frank Skinner's Opinionated between April and May 2010, broadcast on BBC 2 on Friday evenings.

In 2007 he ran a course at Osho Leela, a meditation and growth centre in Dorset, UK. Mr Skinner now (late 2010) has a regular column in the London Times national newspaper.

Personal life

In September 2009 Frank Skinner was awarded his second honorary degree, from the University of Wolverhampton.

Skinner describes himself as a political liberal, and is a practising Catholic, fan of post punk group The Fall and supporter of West Bromwich Albion Football Club with an "all-consuming passion".

Skinner was a victim of the credit crunch after investing in AIG, losing millions of pounds as a result.

His autobiography, Frank Skinner by Frank Skinner, was published in October 2001.

In August 2009, he released a book centred on his comedy career - Frank Skinner on the Road: Love, Stand-up Comedy and the Queen of the Night.

Stand-Up VHS and DVDs

Live (5 October 1992)

Live at the Apollo (1994)

Live at the Palladium (14 October 1996)

Live in Birmingham (16 November 1998)

Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned - Live from London's West End (12 November 2001)

Stand-Up! Live from Birmingham's National Indoor Arena (10 November 2008)

References

External links

Official Website

Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:English comedians Category:Alumni of Birmingham City University Category:Alumni of the University of Warwick Category:People from West Bromwich Category:People from Oldbury Category:English Roman Catholics Category:Never Mind the Buzzcocks Category:People self-identifying as alcoholics