Coordinates	35°0′41.69″N135°46′5.47″N
birth date	February 10, 1967
birth place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
birthname	Laura Elizabeth Dern
occupation	Actress, director, producer
yearsactive	1973–present
spouse	Ben Harper (2005–2010) }}

Laura Elizabeth Dern (born February 10, 1967) is an American actress, film director and producer. Dern has acted in such films as ''Smooth Talk'' (1985), ''Blue Velvet'' (1986), ''Fat Man and Little Boy'' (1988), ''Wild at Heart'' (1990), ''Jurassic Park'' (1993) and ''October Sky'' (1999). She has won awards for her performance in the 1991 film ''Rambling Rose'', for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She was awarded a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film for her portrayal of Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris in the film ''Recount'' (2008).

Early life and career

Dern was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of actors Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd and the great-granddaughter of former Utah governor and Secretary of War George Dern. Scottish-American poet, writer and Librarian of Congress Archibald MacLeish was her great-uncle. Laura Dern's film debut was a cameo in her mother's film ''White Lightning''. She also made a brief appearance in ''Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'', one of Ladd's signature roles. Her mother objected to her 13-year-old daughter's presence on the set of ''Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains'', but Dern sued for emancipation.

In the mid-1980s she gained critical acclaim for roles in ''Mask'', ''Blue Velvet'' and ''Wild at Heart''. Dern's starring role in ''Blue Velvet'' was a breakthrough though her next notable film, ''Wild at Heart'', took almost four years to be released. Dern's affiliation with Lynch has continued with her role in ''Inland Empire''. In 1992, Dern and her mother became the first mother and daughter to be nominated for an Academy Award for acting in the same film in ''Rambling Rose''. They did not play mother and daughter in the film. Dern starred as Dr. Ellie Sattler in Steven Spielberg's 1993 blockbuster ''Jurassic Park''. That same year, Clint Eastwood enlisted the actress for his film ''A Perfect World''. She also starred as Ruth in the 1996 satire ''Citizen Ruth,'' the directorial debut of Alexander Payne. In a reversal of roles, Dern's mother makes a cameo appearance, with Dern's character screaming a torrent of abuse at her. In 1997, Dern was featured in Widespread Panic's music video for their song, "Aunt Avis", which was directed by Dern's then boyfriend and future fiancé, Billy Bob Thornton. In 1998, Dern co-starred in the Jodie Foster's film ''The Baby Dance''. While dating Thornton in 1999, she was cast as his love interest in his film ''Daddy and Them'', which also includes Diane Ladd. Dern also appeared in Joe Johnston's film ''October Sky''.

Robert Altman called upon Dern's talents to play a Champagne-loving Aunt in his Texas-based comedy ''Dr. T & the Women'' in 2000. She co-starred in ''Within These Walls'', Arthur Miller's ''Focus'', and ''Novocaine''. She had a minor role in ''Jurassic Park III'', and was a supporting actor in the film ''I Am Sam''. She starred in the 2002 film ''Damaged Care'' and the 2004 film ''We Don't Live Here Anymore''. Dern was part of the ensemble dramedy ''Happy Endings'' in 2005, and she appeared in the 2006 film ''The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio''. In 2006, David Lynch and Dern reunited for ''Inland Empire'' and, also in 2006, Dern had a supporting role in ''Lonely Hearts''. [Mike White (scriptwriter)|Mike White]], known for writing ''School of Rock'' and ''The Good Girl'', hired Dern for his directorial debut in 2007, the comedy titled ''Year of the Dog'' and starring Molly Shannon, John C. Reilly and Peter Sarsgaard, and in 2008 Dern starred in ''Recount'' for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film. Since then, Dern was seen in the independent 2009 drama ''Tenderness'' and, in 2010, she appeared in ''Little Fockers'', playing an advanced school principal who dated Owen Wilson's character Kevin Rawley.

In an interview, Dern stated that she would reprise her role as Ellie Sattler for ''Jurassic Park IV''.

Dern has done much work on television, most notably ''Afterburn'', for which she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Movie. She guest-starred on ''The West Wing'', as a voice on ''King of the Hill'' and as a lesbian who coaxes Ellen DeGeneres out of the closet in the famous "The Puppy Episode" of the television series ''Ellen''. On the April 24, 2007 airing of DeGeneres' talk show, Dern revealed she did not work for more than a year following her appearance in that episode because of resulting backlash, but nevertheless called it an "extraordinary experience and opportunity."

Dern has been acknowledged with several awards from the independent film industry including the Sundance Institute and was the subject of an aggressive media campaign by David Lynch to win her an Academy Award nomination for her work in ''Inland Empire''. On November 1, 2010, she received the 2,420th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her parents, Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern, were presented with stars too.

In late 2011 Dern will star in a new HBO television series called Enlightened. She has also been cast in Paul Thomas Anderson's ''The Master'' along with Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman, set for release in 2012.

Politics and personal life

Dern is known as an activist and supporter of many charities, such as Healthy Child Healthy World, which aims to raise awareness about toxic substances that can affect a child's health.

During the 66th Golden Globe Awards, on January 11, 2009, Dern expressed support for the incoming administration of Barack Obama during her acceptance speech for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film for her work on the film ''Recount''. She is quoted as saying, "I will cherish this as a reminder of the extraordinary, incredible outpouring of people who demanded their voice be heard in this last election so we can look forward to amazing change in this country. Thank you so much!"

Dern had high-profile romances with Kyle MacLachlan, Nicolas Cage, Renny Harlin, Jeff Goldblum, and Billy Bob Thornton (who ended their relationship abruptly by marrying Angelina Jolie). She married musician Ben Harper on December 23, 2005, after dating him for five years. They have two children together, a son, Ellery Walker (born August 21, 2001), and daughter, Jaya (born November 28, 2004).

Dern's husband, Ben Harper, filed for divorce on October 8, 2010 in California, citing irreconcilable differences. Harper is asking the judge to deny Dern spousal support and requesting that he have joint custody of their two children.

Filmography

{|class="wikitable" border="2" cellpadding="4" background: #f9f9f9; |- align="center" |- ! colspan="4" style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film |- ! style="background:#ccc;" | Year ! style="background:#ccc;" | Film ! style="background:#ccc;" | Role ! style="background:#ccc;" | Notes |- |1973 || ''White Lightning'' || Sharon Anne || Uncredited |- |1974 || ''Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'' || Girl eating ice cream cone || Uncredited |- |1980 || ''Foxes'' || Debbie || |- |1981 || ''Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains'' || Jessica McNeil || |- |1984 || ''Teachers'' || Diane || |- |rowspan=2| 1985 || ''Mask'' || Diana Adams || |- | ''Smooth Talk'' || Connie ||rowspan=2|Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead |- |1986 || ''Blue Velvet'' || Sandy Williams |- |1987 || ''Predator: The Concert'' || || |- |1988 || ''Haunted Summer'' || Claire Clairmont || |- |1989 || ''Fat Man and Little Boy'' || Kathleen Robinson || |- |1990 || ''Wild at Heart'' || Lula Fortune || |- |1991 || ''Rambling Rose'' || Rose || Montréal World Film Festival Award for Best Actress (tied with Hye-suk Lee)Nominated — Academy Award for Best ActressNominated — Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best ActressNominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress |- |rowspan=2| 1993 || ''Jurassic Park'' || Dr. Ellie Sattler || Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Actress |- | ''A Perfect World'' || Sally Gerber || |- |rowspan=2| 1996 || ''Citizen Ruth'' || Ruth Stoops ||Montréal World Film Festival Award for Best Actress |- | ''Bastard Out of Carolina'' || Narrator || Voice Only |- |1999 || ''October Sky'' || Miss Frieda Riley || |- |2000 || ''Dr. T & the Women'' || Peggy || |- |rowspan=5| 2001 || ''Daddy and Them'' || Ruby Montgomery || |- | ''Jurassic Park III'' || Dr. Ellie Sattler || |- | ''Novocaine'' || Jean Noble || |- | ''Focus'' || Gertrude 'Gert' Hart || |- | ''I Am Sam'' || Randy Carpenter || |- |2002 || ''Searching for Debra Winger'' || Herself || |- |2004 || ''We Don't Live Here Anymore'' || Terry Linden ||Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress (tied with Sharon Warren) |- |rowspan=2| 2005 || ''Happy Endings'' || Pam Ferris || |- |''The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio'' || Dortha Schaefer || |- |rowspan=2| 2006 || ''Lonely Hearts'' || Rene || |- |''Inland Empire'' || Nikki Grace/Susan Blue ||Also ProducerNominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best ActressNominated — Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress |- |2007 || ''Year of the Dog'' || Bret || |- |2009 || ''Tenderness'' || Aunt Teresa || |- |rowspan=2| 2010 || ''Little Fockers'' || Prudence || |- |''Everything Must Go'' || Delilah || |- |2012 || ''The Master'' || |- ! colspan="4" style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Television |- ! style="background:#ccc;" | Year ! style="background:#ccc;" | Title ! style="background:#ccc;" | Role ! style="background:#ccc;" | Notes |- |1981 || ''Shannon'' || || "Gotham Swansong" (Season 1, Episode 1) |- |1983 || ''Happy Endings'' || Audrey Constantine || |- |1984 || ''The Three Wishes of Billy Grier'' || Crissy || |- |1989 || ''Nightmare Classics'' || Rebecca || "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (Season 1, Episode 3) |- |1990 || ''Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Broken Hearted'' || Heartbroken Woman || |- |1992 || ''Afterburn'' || Janet Harduvel ||Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television FilmNominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie |- |1993 || ''Fallen Angels'' || Annie Ainsley || "Murder, Obliquely" (Season 1, Episode 5) |- |1994 || ''The Gift'' || || (Director) |- |rowspan=2| 1995 || ''Down Came a Blackbird'' || Helen McNulty || (also executive producer) |- |''Frasier'' || June || (Voice) "Sleeping With the Enemy" (Season 3, Episode 6) |- |1996 || ''The Siege at Ruby Ridge'' || Vicki Weaver ||Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film |- |1997 || ''Ellen'' || Susan Richmond ||

The Puppy Episode: Part 1 (Season 4, Episode 22)

The Puppy Episode: Part 2 (Season 4, Episode 23)

Nominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress – Comedy Series |- |rowspan=2| 1998 || ''The Larry Sanders Show'' || Herself || "I Buried Sid" (Season 6, Episode 8) |- |''The Baby Dance'' || Wanda LeFauve ||Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film |- |1999 || ''A Season for Miracles'' || Berry Thompson|| |- |2001 || ''Within These Walls'' || Sister Pauline Quinn || |- |rowspan=2| 2002 || ''The West Wing'' || Laureate Tabatha Fortis || "The U.S. Poet Laureate" (Season 3, Episode 16) |- |''Damaged Care'' || Linda Peeno ||(also producer) |- |2002–2003 || ''King of the Hill'' || Serving Wench & Katherine || (Voice)

Joust Like a Woman (Season 6, Episode 8)

Patch Boomhauer (Season 8, Episode 1)

|- |- |2008 || ''Recount'' || Katherine Harris ||Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television FilmNominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or a MovieNominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television FilmNominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie |- |2011 || ''Enlightened'' || Amy Jellicoe || |}

References

External links

Category:American film actors Category:Best Miniseries or Television Movie Actress Golden Globe winners Category:Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (television) winners Category:People from Los Angeles, California Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:American television actors Category:American voice actors

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Coordinates	35°0′41.69″N135°46′5.47″N
Name	Katherine Harris
Image name	Katherine Harris.jpg
Width	175
State	Florida
District	13th
Party	Republican Party
Term	January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007
Preceded	Dan Miller
Succeeded	Vern Buchanan
Office2	Secretary of State of Florida
Term2	January 5, 1999 – January 7, 2003
Governor2	Jeb Bush
Preceded2	Sandra Mortham
Succeeded2	James C. Smith
office3	Member of the Florida Senate of the 24th District
term start3	1994
term end3	1998
predecessor3	Jim Boczar
successor3	Lisa Carlton
Birth date	April 05, 1957
Birth place	Key West, Florida
Spouse	Anders Ebbeson (1996- )
Religion	Non-denominational Protestant
Alma mater	Agnes Scott College (B.A.)Harvard University (M.P.A.)
Occupation	Computer Executive
Residence	Sarasota, Florida }}

Katherine Harris (born April 5, 1957, Key West, Florida) is an American Republican politician, former Secretary of State of Florida, and former member of the United States House of Representatives. Harris won the 2002 election to represent Florida's 13th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. She held that post from 2003 to 2007. Harris lost the November 7, 2006, election to represent Florida in the United States Senate.

Harris rose to national attention as Secretary of State of Florida due to her role in the 2000 presidential election.

Background

Harris' family is one of Florida's wealthiest and most politically influential. Her father, George W. Harris, Jr., owned Citrus and Chemical Bank in Lakeland, Florida. Her grandfather was Ben Hill Griffin, Jr., a wealthy businessman in the citrus and cattle industries and a powerful figure in the state legislature, who, shortly before his death in 1990, was ranked as the 261st richest American on the Forbes 400 list. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida is named for him. Harris married Swedish businessman Anders Sven Axel Ebbeson (born March 16, 1945) in 1996 and has one stepdaughter, Louise.

Harris comes from a family that is active in Christian evangelism. Her grandfather was a Christian missionary in Africa, while her aunt and uncle were missionaries in India and now head the Arab World Missions. Harris studied under Dr. Francis Schaeffer at a L’Abris Fellowship International center. Harris attended an all girls Christian camp in the hills of Asheville, North Carolina called Greystone. She says her faith is “the most important thing in my life.” Harris grew up in the Presbyterian Church in America (she has criticized the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for being "more liberal"). Currently she attends Calvary Chapel in Sarasota, Florida.

Education and early career

Harris graduated from Bartow High School in Bartow, Florida, in 1975, and then attended the University of Madrid in 1978. Harris received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, in 1979, and then studied under Christian theologian Francis Schaeffer at the L'Abri community in Huemoz, Switzerland, not far from Lausanne. While in college she was an intern for U.S. Representative Andy Ireland. Harris received a mid-career M.P.A. from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in 1997 with a concentration in international trade. Before entering politics, Harris was a marketing executive at IBM and a vice president of a commercial real estate firm.

Early political career

Harris entered politics by winning election to the Florida Senate in 1994 in one of the most expensive state races in Florida history to date. Harris' political career was guided by Dan Berger, Adam Goodman, and Benjamin McKay, along with her campaign manager, David Lapides.

Florida Senate and Riscorp

In the 1994 state senate election, Sarasota-based Riscorp, Inc. made illegal contributions totaling $400,000 to dozens of political candidates and committees, including $20,600 to the Harris campaign. Harris played a prominent role in introducing the CEO of Riscorp to various Florida legislators. Two years later, in 1996, Harris sponsored a bill "to block Riscorp competitors from getting a greater share of Florida workers' compensation market, [and] also pushed a proposal that would hurt a particular competitor." This issue later emerged during her campaign for Florida Secretary of State in 1998. The CEO of Riscorp, William Griffin, eventually pleaded guilty to illegal campaign donations among allegations of other serious wrongdoing at Riscorp and served prison time in 1998. The election of Jeb Bush as governor of Florida was a major factor in stopping further investigation into the Riscorp scandal. According to a SunHerald column from June, 2005, "Harris denied any knowledge of the scheme, was never charged with any crime and was cleared of wrongdoing by a state investigator."

Secretary of State

Harris was elected Florida Secretary of State in 1998, defeating then-incumbent Sandra Mortham. Her office played a leading role in the closely contested 2000 U.S. presidential election. Her SoS campaign was guided by Mark Reichelderfer, Trey Evers, Benjamin McKay, Adam Goodman and sometimes Dan Berger.

International travel

During her first 22 months in office, Harris spent more than $106,000 for travel, more than any cabinet officer or the governor. She visited eight countries on ten foreign trips, which included Iran, India, and the Netherlands.

In early 2001, Florida Senate leaders eliminated the $3.4 million that Harris had budgeted for international relations for the year, assigning it instead to ''Enterprise Florida'', the state's economic development agency. But Florida House leader Tom Feeney said that he disagreed with the Senate and felt Harris was an able advocate to foreign countries. After the House refused to go along with the proposed budget action, the Senate agreed to restore the money but insisted on a review committee, appointed by Senate President John McKay, Feeney, and governor Jeb Bush, to evaluate all of Harris' expenditures on international affairs since July 1, 1999, and produce a report.

2000 US presidential election

As Secretary of State for the State of Florida (and co-chair of Bush's Florida election efforts), Harris was a central figure in the 2000 US presidential election in Florida. Harris certified that the Republican candidate, then-Texas Governor George W. Bush, had defeated the Democratic candidate, then-Vice President Al Gore, in the popular vote of Florida and thus certified the Republican slate of electors. The margin separating Bush from Gore was 537 votes. Harris ordered a halt after several recounts. Her ruling was upheld in the state circuit court, but was subsequently overturned on appeal by the Florida Supreme Court. That decision was reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court in ''Bush v. Gore.'' In a per curiam decision, by a 7–2 vote, the Court in ''Bush v. Gore'' held that the Florida Supreme Court's method for recounting ballots was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. By a 5–4 vote, the Court held that no alternative method could be established within the time limits set by the State of Florida. Three of the concurring justices also asserted that the Florida Supreme Court had violated Article II, § 1, cl. 2 of the Constitution, by misinterpreting Florida election law that had been enacted by the Florida Legislature.

The decision allowed Harris' previous certification of Bush as the winner of Florida's electoral votes to stand. Florida's 25 electoral votes gave Bush, the Republican candidate, 271 electoral votes, defeating Gore, who ended up with 266 electoral votes (with one D.C. elector abstaining).

Harris later wrote ''Center of the Storm'', her own memoir of the 2000 election controversy.

United States Congresswoman

In 2002, Harris ran against Sarasota Attorney Jan Schneider for the congressional district vacated by retiring Republican Rep. Dan Miller, winning by 10 percentage points in this solidly Republican district.

Harris considered running for the seat of retiring Senator Bob Graham in 2004 but was reportedly dissuaded by the Bush White House to allow Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez to run for the open seat. Martinez went on to narrowly beat challenger Betty Castor. Harris ran for re-election to her House seat in 2004; she was re-elected with a margin almost identical to her previous showing.

In a 2004 speech in Venice, Florida, Harris claimed that a "Middle Eastern" man was arrested for attempting to blow up the power grid in Carmel, Indiana; Carmel Mayor James Brainard and a spokesman for Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan said they had no knowledge of such a plot. Brainard said he had never spoken to Harris.

During a 2004 campaign stop in Sarasota, a local resident, Barry Seltzer, "tr[ied] to 'intimidate' a group of Harris supporters" by menacing Harris and her supporters with his automobile. Witnesses described Seltzer as having swerved off the road and onto the sidewalk, directing it at Harris and her supporters. Nobody was injured in the incident. Seltzer, who claimed he was "exercising [his] political expression," was eventually arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

Involvement in the MZM scandal

In 2005 and 2006, Harris once again became immersed in political controversy when a major corporate campaign donor, Mitchell Wade, founder of defense contractor MZM was implicated in several bribery scandals concerning Harris and her campaign, said to have occurred from 2004 through 2006. One alleged incident of attempted bribery resulted in the criminal conviction and resignation of California congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, as well as the conviction of Mitchell Wade of MZM (now renamed "Athena Innovative Solutions"). Wade had bundled together and donated to Harris' campaign $32,000 in contributions from his employees at MZM, Inc., then reimbursed those employees for the contributions.

Regarding this issue, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Wainstein has recently said that Harris did not appear to know the donations were obtained illegally. Harris has maintained she had no personal knowledge that her campaign was given illegal contributions. Wade admitted that the donations to the Harris campaign were illegal and were part of an attempt to influence Harris to MZM's benefit.

Documents filed with Wade's plea say that he took Harris to dinner in March 2005, a year after the illegal contributions, where they discussed the possibility of another fundraiser and the possibility of getting funding for a Navy counterintelligence program placed in Harris' district.

Harris subsequently sent a letter on April 26, 2005 to defense appropriations subcommittee Chairman C. W. Bill Young, in which Harris sought $10 million for a Navy project backed by Wade. In the letter, Harris emphasized the importance of the project, asking that it be added to her list of five priorities and identifying it as her new No. 3. Harris later released the April 26, 2005 letter for legal scrutiny, but neither she nor Young would turn over the request form (RFP) used for the proposal.

CQPolitics noted "Harris’ former political strategist, Ed Rollins, spoke on the record about the dinner and detailed a meal that cost $2,800, far in excess of the $50 limit on gifts that members of Congress are allowed to accept" at the Washington restaurant Citronelle. Wade and Harris discussed MZM's desire for a $10 million appropriation, and Wade offered to host a fundraiser for Harris' 2006 Senate campaign. Regarding the MZM contributions, the ''Sentinel'' article goes on to say "The Justice Department has said Wade, who personally handed many of the checks to Harris, did not tell Harris the contributions were illegal". Regarding the expensive meal, the article quotes Harris as saying that she personally had only a "beverage and appetizer" worth less than "$100". House rules prohibit accepting any gift worth $50 or more.

Rollins said that he had conducted a thorough internal investigation into Harris' ties to MZM in hopes of finding conclusive proof of her innocence; but when he could not, he and other advisers, including her lawyer, urged her to drop her candidacy rather than risk federal corruption charges. Although he did not believe Harris intentionally broke any laws, "her story kept changing. Our great concern was that you get into trouble when you don't tell the same story twice ... Maybe you don't think you did anything wrong, but then maybe you start getting questioned about it and so forth, and you may perjure yourself. ... Unlike Cunningham, I don't think she set out to violate the law, but I think she was very careless. She heard whatever she wanted to hear, but we could find no evidence whatsoever that this was a project going into her district."

Although Rollins recalled discussing the $2,800 meal with Harris, Harris told the ''Orlando Sentinel'' on April 19, 2006, that the cost of the meal was "news to me", and that her campaign had since "reimbursed" the restaurant for the cost of the meal. According to the reporter, when questioned as to why she would reimburse the restaurant for a meal that had been paid for by MZM, Harris abruptly terminated the interview, and her spokesman later called and requested unsuccessfully that the story not be printed. The next day, Harris' campaign issued a statement that she had believed her campaign had reimbursed the restaurant, and that she had donated $100 "which will more than adequately compensate for the cost of my beverage and appetizer". Harris also asserted that most of the cost of the meal was from Wade ordering several unopened bottles of wine to take home, although the management of the restaurant denies ever allowing anyone to take unopened bottles of wine off the premises, saying "Why would we jeopardize our liquor license for the sake of selling a couple bottles of wine?"

In the weeks following the expensive meal, former senior Harris staffers claimed that "they initially rejected a defense contractor's $10 million appropriation request last year but reversed course after being instructed by Harris to approve it."

In May 2006, Harris' campaign spokesman Christopher Ingram acknowledged that she had also had a previous dinner with Wade in the same restaurant in March 2004, when the $32,000 in illegal donations had been given to her campaign. Ingram told the press that he did not know how much that meal cost, but that a charitable donation of an unknown amount had been given to a charity whose name he did not know, equivalent to her share of the meal. "She takes responsibility for the oversight that there was no reimbursement," he said.

Mona Tate Yost, an aide to Harris, left to work for MZM during the time Wade was pressing Harris to secure federal funding (April or May 2005).

On July 17, 2006, Ed Rollins confirmed that Justice Department lawyers and FBI agents had recently questioned her about the $32,000 in donations. Rollins noted: "I assume more [interviews] will be coming, though. They were very serious."

On September 7, 2006, Federal investigators questioned Jim Dornan, who quit as Harris' campaign manager the previous November.

2006 Senate race

Overview

On June 7, 2005, with support from her new campaign advisors of Ed Rollins and Jim Dornan, Harris announced her candidacy for the 2006 Florida United States Senate election, challenging incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson.

Both lackluster fundraising relative to Nelson and controversy over campaign contributions from MZM caused Harris to fall far behind in all polls by May 2006. Late in the primary race, Republican contender Will McBride polled only 31 points behind Nelson in a hypothetical election against him, while Harris polled 33 points behind Nelson in the same poll. However, Harris showed she was still popular among Republican voters by winning the September 5 primary over McBride and two other challengers with approximately 50% of the total vote.

Despite Harris' support of many Republican causes and her previous statewide victories, some party leaders expressed doubt about her statewide appeal:

In May 2006, Florida Governor Jeb Bush questioned Harris's ability to win the general election and encouraged others to challenge her in the primary.

Karl Rove expressed doubts about her statewide appeal.

National Republicans openly criticized her campaign and tried to convince other GOP candidates to challenge Harris in the primary.

Florida state House of Representatives Speaker Allan Bense declined the candidacy on May 11 despite public courting by many leaders including Governor Bush.

Conservative pundit and former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough was also unsuccessfully recruited to enter the race. Departing Harris aides claim that Harris called potential Scarborough supporters and raised the death of an aide in order to prevent his entry into the race. Scarborough later told Nelson that drawing Harris as an opponent in the race made him "the luckiest man in Washington".

Nelson defeated Harris by over one million votes; Harris polled less than 39% of the vote.

Campaign troubles

By late July 2006, she had gone through three campaign managers and her campaign was floundering. At that time, it was disclosed that state Republican Party leaders had told Harris they would not support her because she could not win in the general election.

Financial difficulties

Financial problems plagued her Senate campaign from the start. During the primary, it was clear that the incumbent Senator Nelson had a substantial financial advantage.

On the March 15, 2006, edition of Fox News Channel's ''Hannity & Colmes'', Harris pledged to spend $10 million of her own money, which she said was all of her inheritance, on her campaign. She also stated that her run was dedicated to the memory of her father.

Despite her promise, the $10 million never materialized. Reports surfaced that Harris would not actually receive the inheritance from her father, who instead left his entire estate to her mother. She donated $3 million to her campaign, but later took back $100,000, fueling speculation that she would be unable to donate the promised amount.

In October, Harris announced that she was trying to sell her house in Washington to raise money for her campaign, but the home was not publicly listed for sale and no sale was ever announced.

Staff resignations

In late February 2006, in the midst of revelations surrounding Mitchell Wade's illegal contributions, Harris' campaign finance director and campaign treasurer both resigned.

On April 1, 2006 Harris' top campaign advisor, pollster and campaign manager all resigned with a half-dozen other staffers. Republican pollster and consultant David Johnson said, "I've never seen staffers go like this. It's just imploding."

In early April 2006, Harris told the ''Tampa Tribune'' that some of her ex-campaign staffers and the national Republican party were deliberately sabotaging her campaign by "putting knives in her back" and had warned her that if she did not back out of the campaign, she would get an "April surprise". Former campaign staffer Ed Rollins said "They were all good professionals...There was no backstabbing. It's insulting that she would even say that. If she wants to know what went wrong with the campaign, maybe she needs to take a good look in the mirror."

In June, the Harris campaign received a legal bill for thousands of dollars that contained a reference to "DOJ subpoena". Later, an ex-aide told the Associated Press that Harris had received a grand jury subpoena from federal investigators, but kept it from her top advisers, prompting several staff members to quit when they found out.

On June 8, 2006, Harris' fourth chief of staff, Fred Asbell, left in order to pursue a "business opportunity". Asbell said he'd "greatly enjoyed" his time with the campaign and he would remain in a consultant position.

On July 12, 2006, Harris' campaign spokesman Chris Ingram left the campaign. The next day he was followed by campaign manager Glenn Hodas,field director Pat Thomas, political director Brian Brooks and Deputy field director John K. Byers all resigned from her campaign. Hodas cited Harris' "tantrums" and "increasingly erratic behavior" as his reasons for leaving. An anonymous campaign worker described Harris as "very difficult to work with. The more that we put her out there, the more she shot herself in the foot."

In late August, Harris lost another key staffer, Rhyan Metzler, in the wake of a disastrous political rally at Orlando Executive Airport. Only 40 people showed up for the event, and Harris blamed the paltry turnout in part on a last-minute change in location. She claimed that a tree fell on the hangar that was originally scheduled to hold the rally, forcing her campaign to switch to another hangar. Airport officials, however, stated that not only had no trees had fallen, but that there are no trees as they get in the way of the airplanes; further adding that the event in fact took place in the hangar that Harris' campaign had originally booked. Harris' campaign blamed Metzler for the comments Harris made after the rally.

On August 31, 2006, Harris was interviewed on ''Hardball with Chris Matthews'', where she responded to the criticisms from her former staffers with "We have their email traffic, we know what was behind all that, we know who's been paid and who isn't."

Lack of Republican support

The ''Pensacola News Journal'' suggested that Harris might withdraw from the Senate race after winning a primary victory, thereby allowing the Republicans to nominate another candidate, such as Tom Gallagher, to run against Bill Nelson.

In August, Katherine Harris touted political endorsements from fellow Republican lawmakers on her campaign web site. However, some of those cited claim that they never endorsed her. This conflict resulted in several Republican congressmen calling the Harris campaign to complain after the ''St. Petersburg Times'' notified them of the endorsements listed on Harris' Web site. A short time later, their names were removed without comment from Harris' Web site.

Of Harris' three primary opponents, only Will McBride endorsed her candidacy for the general election. In the first few days after the primary, a number of Republican nominees such as Charlie Crist and Tom Lee went on a statewide unity tour with Gov. Bush. Harris was not invited; Republicans said the tour was only for nominees to statewide offices. Harris claimed Bush would campaign with her sometime in the two months before the election, but the governor's office denied this.

President Bush did not make public appearances or private meetings with Harris before the primary. He did, however, appear with her at a fundraiser on September 21 in Tampa.

When it came time for newspapers to make their op-ed endorsements, all 22 of Florida's major daily newspapers supported Senator Nelson. The only endorsement Harris received was from the ''Polk County Democrat'', a newspaper in Bartow which publishes four days out of the week.

Controversy over religion

Harris was a headline speaker at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church's "Reclaiming America for Christ" conference held in Ft. Lauderdale on March 17–18, 2006. The conference web site invited attendees to attend in order to "reclaim this nation for Christ." The stated mission of ReclaimAmerica.org is "To inform, equip, motivate, and support Christians; enabling them to defend and implement the Biblical principles on which our country was founded." As part of her speech, Harris urged conferees to "win back America for God." Her appearance was noted in a ''Rolling Stone'' article covering the conference.

In an interview with the ''Florida Baptist Witness'' on August 24, 2006, Harris called for Christians to vote on religious lines. She said, Retrieved on January 9, 2007.}}

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) said she was "disgusted" by the comments "and deeply disappointed in Representative Harris personally,” adding "clearly shows that she does not deserve to be a representative." Two of Harris’ primary opponents denounced her statements, Republican Will McBride (an attorney and son of a pastor) stated “I’m a Christian, and I’m a Republican, and I don’t share her views. There are people of other faiths and backgrounds of outstanding integrity who know how to tell the truth.” Real estate developer Peter Monroe, another GOP primary opponent, called on her to quit the race and resign from Congress. He called her suggestion that non-Christian voters are ignorant of morality when voting as “contemptible, arrogant and wicked.”

On August 26, 2006, Harris' campaign released a "Statement of Clarification", that stated, “In the interview, Harris was speaking to a Christian audience, addressing a common misperception that people of faith should not be actively involved in government. Addressing this Christian publication, Harris provided a statement that explains her deep grounding in Judeo-Christian values." The press release went on to mention her past support of Israel and quoted her Jewish campaign manager Bryan G. Rudnick, who stated “As the grandson of Holocaust survivors, I know that she encourages people of all faiths to engage in government so that our country can continue to thrive on the principles set forth by our founding fathers, without malice towards anyone.” At an appearance at an Orlando gun show that same day, she said "it breaks my heart" to think people understood her comments as bigoted. When asked if she thought the Founding Fathers intended the nation to have secular laws she replied,

On October 3, 2006, Harris participated in a prayer service via phone call and stirred even more controversy. In one instance, she called for the elimination of the separation of church and state when she said, Harris then went on and called for Jews to be converted to Christianity. }}

Replacements in the 13th Congressional District

Vern Buchanan was the Republican nominee and Christine Jennings the Democratic nominee to replace Harris in the 2006 election. The race had been ranked as "leaning Democratic" by CQ Politics, but Buchanan scored a very narrow victory, winning the election by a few hundred votes.

Political positions and voting record

Harris is a conservative Republican on most issues. She is pro-life and has voted against embryonic stem cell research. She opposes oil-drilling in Florida's coastal waters. Harris supported reforming Social Security to include private accounts. She has voted in favor of granting legal status to fetuses via the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. She supports tax cuts and the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, which restricts bankruptcy filings. Harris is also in favor of welfare reform, school vouchers, the Patriot Act, the Flag Desecration Amendment, the Federal Marriage Amendment, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In a televised debate with Nelson on November 1, however, she repeatedly declined to say whether she would still support the Iraq War Resolution knowing that Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction. In an earlier debate with Nelson, Harris was asked to comment on trade of arms with foreign nations and the potential threat of their acquisition by terrorist groups. Harris responded that "we know we don't want to have arms going to the rogue nations like China."

In popular culture

Katherine Harris was the subject of some popular skits on ''Saturday Night Live'', in which she was played by Ana Gasteyer; she was also portrayed by actress Laura Dern in the 2008 film ''Recount'', which won Dern a Golden Globe for the role. Harris is also referenced in one of filmmaker Kevin Smith's monologues for the DVD ''An Evening with Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder''.

References

External links

Recount Movie

Top contributors at opensecrets.org

Audio of Katherine Harris' controversial October 3, 2006 prayer call

Profile piece at Washington Post

Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of women's universities and colleges Category:American Christians Category:Female members of the United States House of Representatives Category:Florida Republicans Category:IBM employees Category:John F. Kennedy School of Government alumni Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Florida Category:Secretaries of State of Florida Category:People associated with the United States presidential election, 2000 Category:United States presidential election in Florida, 2000 Category:Women in Florida politics Category:People from Key West, Florida Category:Agnes Scott College people Category:American evangelicals

de:Katherine Harris fr:Katherine Harris

Coordinates	35°0′41.69″N135°46′5.47″N
birth name	Rose Diane Ladner
birth date	November 29, 1935
birth place	Meridian, Mississippi, U.S.
years active	1958–present
occupation	Actress, director, producer, writer
spouse	Bruce Dern (1960–1969)William A. Shea, Jr. (1969–1977)Robert Charles Hunter (1999–present)
website	Official website }}

Diane Ladd (born November 29, 1935) is an American actress, film director, producer and published author. She has appeared in over 120 roles, on television, and in miniseries and feature films, including ''Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'' (1974), ''Wild at Heart'' (1990), ''Rambling Rose'' (1991), ''Ghosts of Mississippi'', ''Primary Colors'', ''28 Days'' (2000), and ''American Cowslip'' (2008). Twice divorced and currently married, Ladd is the mother of actress Laura Dern by ex-husband actor Bruce Dern.

Personal life

Ladd was born Rose Diane Ladner in Meridian, Mississippi, the only child of Mary Bernadette (née Anderson; August 15, 1912 – May 23, 2002), a housewife and actress, and Preston Paul Ladner (August 14, 1906 – April 1982), a poulterer. Ladd is a second cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams and is also related to poet Sidney Lanier. Ladd was raised in the Roman Catholic faith of her mother.

Ladd was formerly married to actor and one-time co-star Bruce Dern from 1960–1969; the couple had two children, Diane Elizabeth Dern and actress Laura Elizabeth Dern. Diane died at 18 months from head injuries caused by falling into a swimming pool. Ladd and Laura Dern co-starred in the films ''Wild at Heart'' and ''Rambling Rose''. They also appeared together in ''Inland Empire'', another film by David Lynch. Ladd is now married to Robert Charles Hunter.

Career

In 1971, Ladd joined the cast of the CBS soap opera, ''The Secret Storm''. She was the second actress to play the role of Kitty Styles on the long-running daytime serial. She later had a supporting role in Roman Polanski's 1974 film ''Chinatown'', and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role as Flo in the film ''Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore''. That film inspired the TV series ''Alice'', in which Flo was portrayed by Polly Holliday. When Holliday left the TV series, Ladd succeeded her as waitress Isabelle "Belle" Dupree. In 1993, Ladd appeared in the episode "Guess Who's Coming to Chow?" of the CBS comedy/western series ''Harts of the West'' in the role of the mother of co-star Harley Jane Kozak. The 15-episode program, set on a dude ranch in Nevada starred Beau Bridges and Lloyd Bridges.

In 2004, Ladd played psychic Mrs. Druse in the television miniseries of Stephen King's ''Kingdom Hospital''. In April 2006, Ladd released her first book entitled: ''Spiraling Through The School Of Life: A Mental, Physical, and Spiritual Discovery''. In 2007, she co-starred in the Lifetime Television film ''Montana Sky''.

In addition to her Academy Award nomination for ''Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'', she was also nominated (again in the Best Actress in a Supporting Role category) for both ''Wild at Heart'' and ''Rambling Rose'', both of which she starred alongside her daughter Laura Dern. Dern received a nomination for Best Actress for ''Rambling Rose''. The dual mother and daughter nominations for Ladd and Dern in ''Rambling Rose'' marked the first time in Academy Award history that such an event had occurred. They were also nominated for dual Golden Globe Awards in the same year.

Ladd has worked in the theatre as well. She made her Broadway debut in the play ''Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights'' in 1968. In 1976 she starred in the play, ''A Texas Trilogy: Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander'', for which she received a Drama Desk Award nomination.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

On November 1, 2010, Ladd, Laura Dern and Bruce Dern received adjoining stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; this is the first time family members have been given such consideration on the Walk. Her star is the 2,421st.

Filmography

''The Wild Angels'' (1966)

''The Reivers'' (1969)

''The Rebel Rousers'' (1970)

''Macho Callahan'' (1970)

''WUSA'' (1970)

''The Steagle'' (1971)

''White Lightning'' (1973)

''Chinatown'' (1974)

''Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'' (1974)

''Embryo'' (1976)

''All Night Long'' (1981)

''Sweetwater'' (1983)

''Something Wicked This Way Comes'' (1983)

''Grace Kelly'' (1983)

''Black Widow'' (1987)

''Spies Inc.'' (1988)

''Plain Clothes'' (1988)

''Christmas Vacation'' (1989)

''Wild at Heart'' (1990)

''A Kiss Before Dying'' (1991)

''Rambling Rose'' (1991)

''Forever'' (1992)

''The Cemetery Club'' (1993)

''Carnosaur'' (1993)

''Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me'' (1993)

''Father Hood'' (1993)

''Mrs. Munck'' (1995)

''Raging Angels'' (1995)

''Citizen Ruth'' (1996)

''Mother'' (1996)

''Ghosts of Mississippi'' (1996)

''Primary Colors'' (1998)

''Route 66'' (1998)

''More Than Puppy Love'' (2000)

''28 Days'' (2000)

''The Law of Enclosures'' (2000)

''Can't Be Heaven'' (2000)

''Daddy and Them'' (2001)

''Redemption of the Ghost'' (2002)

''The Virgin'' (2002)

''Charlie's War'' (2003)

''Gracie's Choice'' (2004)

''The World's Fastest Indian'' (2005)

''Come Early Morning'' (2006)

''When I Find the Ocean'' (2006)

''Inland Empire'' (2006)

''Jake's Corner'' (2008)

''American Cowslip'' (2008)

References

External links

Diane Ladd at Allmovie

Diane's Bio (from ALICE Website)

Category:1935 births Category:Living people Category:Actors from Mississippi Category:Actors Studio alumni Category:American film actors Category:American stage actors Category:American television actors Category:BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress Category:Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (television) winners Category:Independent Spirit Award winners Category:People from Meridian, Mississippi

de:Diane Ladd es:Diane Ladd fr:Diane Ladd id:Diane Ladd it:Diane Ladd he:דיאן לאד nl:Diane Ladd ja:ダイアン・ラッド no:Diane Ladd pl:Diane Ladd pt:Diane Ladd ru:Ладд, Дайан fi:Diane Ladd sv:Diane Ladd tl:Diane Ladd

Coordinates	35°0′41.69″N135°46′5.47″N
birth name	Bruce MacLeish Dern
birth date	June 04, 1936
birth place	Kenilworth, Illinois, U.S.
occupation	Actor
years active	1960–present
spouse	Marie Dean (divorced)Diane Ladd (1960-1969; divorced; 2 daughters)Andrea Beckett (1969-) }}

Bruce MacLeish Dern (born June 4, 1936) is an American film actor. He also appeared as a guest star in numerous television shows. He frequently takes roles as a character actor, often playing unstable and villainous characters. Dern has appeared in more than 80 feature films and made for TV movies.

Personal life

Dern was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Jean (née MacLeish) and John Dern. His paternal grandfather was George Henry Dern, a former Utah governor and Secretary of War, and his great uncle was poet Archibald MacLeish. His godfather was well-known politician Adlai Stevenson and his godmother was Eleanor Roosevelt. Dern attended The Choate School (now Choate Rosemary Hall) and the University of Pennsylvania. Dern is the father of actress Laura Dern (1967), whom he had with his ex-wife Diane Ladd; married 1960-1969. He married his current wife, Andrea Beckett, in 1969.

Career

Early in his career he acted in the Philadelphia premier of ''Waiting for Godot'' opposite Lyle Kessler and first appeared on screen, for an uncredited role, in the 1960 film ''Wild River''. He then appeared, as a guest star, in several popular 1960s television shows, including ''Route 66'', ''Naked City'', ''Sea Hunt'', ''Surfside 6'', ''77 Sunset Strip'', ''The Outer Limits'', and several others. In 1964, he appeared in a major Alfred Hitchcock film, the psychological thriller ''Marnie'', in a short role as the sailor seen in flashbacks about Marnie's mother. Also in 1964, he had a small but crucial film role in ''Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte'' as the lover of the young Charlotte (a role played by Bette Davis). During the next five years, Dern continued appearing in several popular TV war, crime and western shows, but with multiple episodes per show, as different characters, including: ''Wagon Train'' (3), ''The Virginian'' (3), ''Rawhide'' (1), ''12 O'Clock High'' (4), ''The Fugitive'' (5), ''The F.B.I.'' (2), ''The Big Valley'' (5), ''Gunsmoke'' (4) and ''Bonanza'' (2), among others. During that period, he also appeared in several films, including ''The Wild Angels'' (1966), ''The War Wagon'', ''The Trip'' (1967), ''Psych-Out'', ''Will Penny'' (1968), and the early Clint Eastwood film, ''Hang 'Em High'' (1968) as a rustler/murderer.

Among Dern's first 20 film roles was a part in the Sydney Pollack picture ''They Shoot Horses, Don't They?'', in 1969. In 1969, he also co-starred with James Garner and Walter Brennan in the classic film ''Support Your Local Sheriff!''as gunfighter Joe Danby. In 1972, he played in four films: as the enemy and killer of John Wayne's character in ''The Cowboys'' notable for his character cold-bloodedly shooting Wayne in the back. Wayne warned Dern, "America will hate you for this." Dern wryly replied, "Yeah, but they'll love me in Berkeley."; then, in the dark sci-fi film ''Silent Running''; next with Jack Nicholson in ''The King of Marvin Gardens''; and also in ''Thumb Tripping'', after having been seen in over 90 TV episodes or films. Dern is generally regarded as a character actor. He has a reputation of playing unstable and villainous characters, although his best-known role may be that of Freeman Lowell, the caretaker of Earth's last forests in ''Silent Running'' (1972). Other memorable roles include Tom Buchanan in F. Scott Fitzgerald's ''The Great Gatsby''; or a psychotic Goodyear Blimp pilot who launches a terrorist attack at the Super Bowl in 1977's ''Black Sunday'', and as Capt. Bob Hyde in 1978's ''Coming Home'', for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 1976, he appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's final film ''Family Plot'', playing the boy friend of a medium played by Barbara Harris; Dern told an interviewer that, due to Hitchcock's failing health, the director often asked his assistance during the production.

In 1983, he won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival for his role in ''That Championship Season''.

His most recent efforts include the independent movies ''The Astronaut Farmer'' and ''Monster'', a recurring role on the HBO series ''Big Love'', and the monster movie ''Swamp Devil'' for RHI Films New York and the Sci Fi Channel.

On November 1, 2010, he was presented the 2,419th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His daughter Laura Dern and his ex-wife Diane Ladd received stars on the same date too.

Bruce Dern was honored with a Legend Award at the inaugural Gold Coast International Film Festival on June 1, 2011.

Filmography

''Wild River'' (1960) ... Jack Roper (uncredited)

''The Crimebusters'' (1961) ... Joe Krajac

''The Zanti Misfits'' (1963) (TV-Outer Limits) ... Ben

''Marnie'' (1964) ... Sailor

''Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte'' (1964) ... John Mayhew

''The Wild Angels'' (1966) ... Loser

''Waterhole #3'' (1967) ... Deputy Sam Tippen

''The War Wagon'' (1967) ... Hammond

''The St. Valentine's Day Massacre'' (1967) ... John May

''The Trip'' (1967) ... John

''Will Penny'' (1968) ... Rafe Quint

''Psych-Out'' (1968) ... Steve Davis

''Hang 'Em High'' (1968) ... Miller, Cooper Hanging Party

''Support Your Local Sheriff!'' (1969) ... Joe Danby

''Castle Keep'' (1969) ... Lt. Billy Byron Bix

''Number One'' (1969) ... Richie Fowler

''The Cycle Savages'' (1969) .... Keeg

''They Shoot Horses, Don't They?'' (1969) ... James

''Bloody Mama'' (1970) ... Dirkman

''The Rebel Rousers'' (1970) ... J.J. Weston

''The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant'' (1971) ... Roger

''Drive, He Said'' (1971) ... Coach Bullion

''The Cowboys'' (1972) ... Asa Watts ("Long Hair")

''Silent Running'' (1972) ... Freeman Lowell

''The King of Marvin Gardens'' (1972) ... Jason Staebler

''Thumb Tripping'' (1972) ... Smitty

''The Laughing Policeman'' (1973) ... Leo Larsen

''The Great Gatsby'' (1974) ... Tom Buchanan

''Posse'' (1975) ... Jack Strawhorn

''Smile'' (1975) ... Big Bob Freelander

''Family Plot'' (1976) ... George Lumley

''Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood'' (1976) ... Grayson Potchuck

''Folies bourgeoises'' (1976) ... William Brandels

''Black Sunday'' (1977) ... Michael Lander

''Coming Home'' (1978) ... Capt. Bob Hyde

''The Driver'' (1978) ... The Detective

''Middle Age Crazy'' (1980) ... Bobby Lee

''Tattoo'' (1981) ... Johnny

''That Championship Season'' (1982) ... George Sitkowski

''Harry Tracy, Desperado'' (1982) ... Harry Tracy

''Space'' (1985) (TV) ... Stanley Mott

''Toughlove'' (1986) (TV) ... Rob Charters

''On the Edge'' (1986) ... Wes Holman

''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' (1987) (TV) ... Augustine St. Claire

''The Big Town'' (1987) ... Mr. Edwards

''World Gone Wild'' (1988) ... Ethan

''1969'' (1988) ... Cliff

''The 'Burbs'' (1989) ... Mark Rumsfield

''After Dark, My Sweet'' (1990) ... Uncle Bud

''Into the Badlands'' (1991) ... T.L. Barston

''Diggstown'' (1992) ... John Gillon

''Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight'' (1994) (TV) ... George Putnam

''A Mother's Prayer'' (1995) ...Grandpa

''Mrs. Munck'' (1995) ... Patrick Leary

''Wild Bill'' (1995) ... Will Plummer

''Mulholland Falls'' (1996) (uncredited) ... The Chief

''Down Periscope'' (1996) ... Admiral Yancy Graham

''Last Man Standing'' (1996) ... Sheriff Ed Galt

''Small Soldiers'' (1998) (voice) ... Link Static

''The Haunting'' (1999) ... Mr. Dudley

''If... Dog... Rabbit...'' (1999) ... McGurdy

''All the Pretty Horses'' (2000) ... The Judge

''Madison'' (2001) ... Harry Volpi

''The Glass House'' (2001) ... Begleiter

''Masked and Anonymous'' (2003) ... The Editor

''Milwaukee, Minnesota'' (2003) ... Sean McNally

''Hard Ground'' (2003) (TV) ... Nate Hutchinson

''Monster'' (2003) ... Thomas

''The Hard Easy'' (2005) ... Gene

''Down in the Valley'' (2005) ... Charlie

''Believe in Me'' (2006) ... Ellis Brawley

''Big Love'' (20062011) ... Frank

''Walker Payne'' (2006) ... Unknown

''The Astronaut Farmer'' (2007) ... Hal

''The Cake Eaters'' (2007) ... Easy

''The Golden Boys'' (2008) ... Captain Perez

''Swamp Devil'' (2008) ... Howard Blaime

''American Cowslip'' (2009) ... Cliff

''Choose'' (2009) ... Dr. Ronald Pendleton

''Trim'' (2009) ... Dale Banks

''The Lightkeepers'' (2009) ... Bennie

''The Hole 3D'' (2009) ... Creepy Carl

''Twixt '' (2011) ... Bobby LaGrange

References

External links

Cinema Retro's Evening with Bruce Dern at The Players, New York City

Category:1936 births Category:Choate Rosemary Hall alumni Category:Actors from Chicago, Illinois Category:Actors Studio alumni Category:American film actors Category:American television actors Category:Living people Category:New Trier High School alumni

de:Bruce Dern es:Bruce Dern fr:Bruce Dern he:ברוס דרן id:Bruce Dern it:Bruce Dern nl:Bruce Dern ja:ブルース・ダーン no:Bruce Dern pl:Bruce Dern pt:Bruce Dern sk:Bruce Dern fi:Bruce Dern sv:Bruce Dern tl:Bruce Dern

Coordinates	35°0′41.69″N135°46′5.47″N
name	Ellen DeGeneres
birth name	Ellen Lee DeGeneres
birth date	January 26, 1958
birth place	Metairie, Louisiana, United States
active	1981 – present
medium	Stand-up, television, film, books
nationality	American
subjects	Observational comedy, celebrity comedy, political comedy, family comedy, everyday life
influences	Steve Martin, Woody Allen, Bob Newhart, Johnny Carson
spouse	Portia de Rossi (2008–present)
domesticpartner	Anne Heche (1997–2000)Alexandra Hedison (2001–2004)

}}

Ellen Lee DeGeneres (; born January 26, 1958) is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show''.

DeGeneres has hosted both the Academy Awards and the Primetime Emmys. As a film actress, she starred in ''Mr. Wrong'', appeared in ''EDtv'' and ''The Love Letter'', and provided the voice of Dory in the Disney-Pixar animated film ''Finding Nemo'', for which she was awarded a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress, the first and only time a voice performance won a Saturn Award. She was a judge on ''American Idol'' for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season. She also starred in two television sitcoms, ''Ellen'' from 1994 to 1998 and ''The Ellen Show'' from 2001 to 2002. During the fourth season of ''Ellen'' in 1997, DeGeneres came out publicly as a lesbian in an appearance on ''The Oprah Winfrey Show''. Shortly afterwards, her character Ellen Morgan also came out to a therapist played by Winfrey, and the series went on to explore various LGBT issues including the coming out process. She has won thirteen Emmys and numerous other awards for her work and charitable efforts.

In November 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton named her a Special Envoy for Global AIDS Awareness.

Early life and education

DeGeneres was raised in Metairie, Louisiana, the daughter of Elizabeth Jane DeGeneres (née Pfeffer), a speech therapist, and Elliott Everett DeGeneres, an insurance agent. She has one brother, Vance DeGeneres, who is a producer and musician. She is of French, English, German and Irish descent. DeGeneres was raised as a Christian Scientist until the age of thirteen. In 1973 DeGeneres's parents filed for separation and were divorced the following year. Shortly after, Betty Jane remarried Roy Gruessendorf, who worked as a salesman. Betty Jane and Ellen moved with Gruessendorf from the New Orleans area to Atlanta, Texas. Vance stayed with their birth father.

DeGeneres graduated from Atlanta High School in May 1976, after completing her first years of high school at Grace King High School in Metairie, Louisiana. She moved back to New Orleans to attend the University of New Orleans, where she majored in communication studies. After one semester, she left school to do clerical work in a law firm with her cousin Laura Gillen. She also held a job selling clothes at the chain store the Merry-Go-Round at the Lakeside Shopping Center. Other working experiences included being a waitress at TGI Friday's and another restaurant, a house painter, a hostess, and a bartender. She relates much of her childhood and career experiences in her comedic work.

Ancestry

On a February 9, 2009 episode of ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'', DeGeneres told her studio audience via a letter from the New England Genealogical Society that she is The Duchess of Cambridge's 15th cousin via their shared common ancestor Thomas Fairfax.

Stand-up comedy

DeGeneres started performing stand-up comedy at small clubs and coffee houses. By 1981 she was the emcee at Clyde's Comedy Club in New Orleans. DeGeneres cites Woody Allen and Steve Martin as her main influences at this time. In the early 1980s she began to tour nationally, being named Showtime's ''Funniest Person in America'' in 1982. In 1986 she appeared for the first time on the ''Tonight Show'' with Johnny Carson, who likened her to Bob Newhart. When Carson invited her over for an onscreen chat after her performance, she became the first comedienne in the show's history to be treated this way.

Film career

Early screen work

Television and film work in the late 1980s and early 1990s included roles on television in ''Open House'' and in the film ''Coneheads''.

''Ellen's Energy Adventure''

DeGeneres starred in a series of films for a show named ''Ellen's Energy Adventure'', which is part of the Universe of Energy attraction and pavilion at Walt Disney World's Epcot. The film also featured Bill Nye, Alex Trebek, Michael Richards, and Jamie Lee Curtis. The show revolved around DeGeneres's falling asleep and finding herself in an energy-themed version of ''Jeopardy!'', playing against an old rival, portrayed by Curtis, and Albert Einstein. The next film had DeGeneres hosting an educational look at energy, co-hosted with Nye. The ride first opened on September 15, 1996, as ''Ellen's Energy Crisis'' but was quickly renamed to the more positive-sounding ''Ellen's Energy Adventure''.

Television career

''Ellen'' (1994–1998)

DeGeneres's comedy material became the basis of the successful 1994–1998 sitcom ''Ellen'', named ''These Friends of Mine'' during its first season. The ABC show was popular in its first few seasons due in part to DeGeneres's style of observational humor; it was often referred to as a "female ''Seinfeld''."

''Ellen'' reached its height of popularity in February 1997, when DeGeneres made her homosexuality public on ''The Oprah Winfrey Show''. Subsequently her character on the sitcom came out of the closet in April to her therapist, played by Oprah Winfrey, revealing that she is gay. The coming-out episode, titled "The Puppy Episode", was one of the highest-rated episodes of the show. Later episodes of the series did not match its popularity, and after declining ratings, the show was canceled. DeGeneres returned to the stand-up comedy circuit, and later re-established herself as a successful talk show host.

''The Ellen Show''

DeGeneres returned to series television in 2001 with a new CBS sitcom, ''The Ellen Show''.

''The Ellen DeGeneres Show''

DeGeneres launched a daytime television talk show, ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' in September 2003. Amid a crop of several celebrity-hosted talk shows surfacing at the beginning of that season, such as those of Sharon Osbourne and Rita Rudner, her show has consistently risen in the Nielsen ratings and received widespread critical praise. It was nominated for 11 Daytime Emmy Awards in its first season, winning four, including Best Talk Show. The show has won 25 Emmy Awards in its first three seasons on the air. DeGeneres is known for her dancing and singing with the audience at the beginning of the show and during commercial breaks. She often gives away free prizes and trips to her studio audience with the help of her sponsors.

DeGeneres celebrated her thirty-year class reunion by flying her graduating class to California to be guests on her show in February 2006. She presented Atlanta High School with a surprise gift of a new electronic LED marquee sign.

In May 2006, DeGeneres made a surprise appearance at the Tulane University commencement in New Orleans. Following George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton to the podium, she came out in a bathrobe and furry slippers. "They told me everyone would be wearing robes," she said. Ellen then went on to make another commencement speech at Tulane in 2009.

The show broadcast for a week from Universal Studios Orlando in March 2007. Skits included DeGeneres going on the Hulk Roller Coaster Ride and the Jaws Boat Ride.

In May 2007, DeGeneres was placed on bed rest due to a torn ligament in her back. She continued hosting her show from a hospital bed, tended to by a nurse, explaining "the show must go on, as they say." Guests sat in hospital beds as well.

On May 1, 2009, DeGeneres celebrated her 1000th episode, featuring celebrity guests such as Oprah, Justin Timberlake, and Paris Hilton, among others.

''American Idol''

On September 9, 2009, it was confirmed that DeGeneres would replace Paula Abdul as a judge of the ninth season of ''American Idol''. Her role started after the contestant auditions, at the beginning of "Hollywood Week". It is reported that DeGeneres also signed a contract to be a judge on the show for at least five seasons. She made her ''American Idol'' debut on February 9, 2010.

On July 29, 2010, DeGeneres and Fox executives announced that the comedienne would be departing from the series after one season. In a statement, DeGeneres said that the series "didn't feel like the right fit for me".

Award shows

2001 Emmy Awards

DeGeneres received wide exposure on November 4, 2001 when she hosted the televised broadcast of the Emmy Awards. Presented after two cancellations due to network concerns that a lavish ceremony following the September 11, 2001 attacks would appear insensitive, the show required a more somber tone that would also allow viewers to temporarily forget the tragedy. DeGeneres received several standing ovations for her performance that evening, which included the line: "What would bug the Taliban more than seeing a gay woman in a suit surrounded by Jews?"

In August 2005, DeGeneres hosted the 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony held on September 18, 2005. This was three weeks after Hurricane Katrina, making it the second time she hosted the Emmys following a national tragedy. She also hosted the Grammy Awards in 1996 and in 1997.

79th Academy Awards

On September 7, 2006, DeGeneres was selected to host the 79th Academy Awards ceremony, which took place on February 25, 2007. This makes her the first openly gay or lesbian person to have hosted the event. During the Awards show, DeGeneres said, "What a wonderful night, such diversity in the room, in a year when there's been so many negative things said about people's race, religion, and sexual orientation. And I want to put this out there: If there weren't blacks, Jews and gays, there would be no Oscars, or anyone named Oscar, when you think about that." Reviews of her hosting gig were positive, with one saying, "DeGeneres rocked, as she never forgot that she wasn't just there to entertain the Oscar nominees but also to tickle the audience at home." Regis Philbin said in an interview that "the only complaint was there's not enough Ellen."

DeGeneres was nominated for an Emmy Award as host of the Academy Awards broadcast.

2007 Writers Guild strike

DeGeneres, like many actors who are also writers, is a member of both the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Thus, although DeGeneres verbally supported the 2007 WGA strike, she did not support it when she crossed the picket line the day after the strike began. Her representatives said she was competing with other first-run syndicated shows during the competitive November sweeps period, and that she could not break her contracts or risk her show's losing its time slot. As a show of solidarity with the strikers, DeGeneres omitted her monologue during the strike, typically written by WGA writers. The WGA condemned her while the AFTRA defended her.

Other ventures

Voice acting

DeGeneres lent her voice to the role of Dory, a fish with short-term memory loss, in the summer 2003 hit animated Disney/Pixar film ''Finding Nemo''. The film's director, Andrew Stanton, claimed that he chose Ellen because she "changed the subject five times before one sentence had finished" on her show. For her performance as Dory, DeGeneres won the Saturn Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films for "Best Supporting Actress"; "Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie" from the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards; and the Annie Award from the International Animated Film Association for "Outstanding Voice Acting". She was also nominated for a Chicago Film Critics Association Award in the "Best Supporting Actress" category. She also provided the voice of the dog in the prologue of the Eddie Murphy feature film ''Dr. Dolittle''. Her win of the Saturn Award marked the first and only time the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films has given the acting award for a voice performance.

Commercial spokeswoman

In November 2004, DeGeneres appeared, dancing, in an ad campaign for American Express. Her most recent American Express commercial, a two-minute black-and-white spot in which she works with animals, debuted in November 2006 and was created by Ogilvy and Mather. In 2007, the commercial won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Commercial.

DeGeneres began working with Cover Girl Cosmetics in September 2008, for which she has been criticized, as her animal-friendly values clash with Procter and Gamble's (the maker of Cover Girl Cosmetics) animal testing. Her face is the focus of new Cover Girl advertisements starting in January 2009. The beauty campaign will be DeGeneres's first.

Eleveneleven

On May 26, 2010, Ellen announced on her show that she was starting her own record label entitled "eleveneleven". Ellen explained her choice of name, claiming that she often sees the number 11:11 when looking at her clocks, that she found Greyson on the 11th, and that the singer's soccer jersey has the number 11. She mentioned that she had been looking for videos of performances on YouTube to start her label. The acts thus far signed to the label are Greyson Chance, Tom Andrews, and Jessica Simpson.

Personal life

DeGeneres was in a relationship (1997–2000) with actress Anne Heche. From 2001 to 2004, DeGeneres and actress/director/photographer Alexandra Hedison were in a relationship. They appeared on the cover of ''The Advocate'' after their separation had already been announced to the media.

Since 2004, DeGeneres has had a relationship with Portia de Rossi. After the overturn of the same-sex marriage ban in California, DeGeneres announced on a May 2008 show that she and de Rossi were engaged, and gave de Rossi a three-carat pink diamond ring. They were married on August 16, 2008 at their home, with nineteen guests including their mothers. The passage of Proposition 8 cast doubt on the legal status of their marriage but a subsequent California Supreme Court judgment validated it because it occurred before November 4, 2008.

DeGeneres and de Rossi live in Beverly Hills, with three dogs and four cats, and both are vegan. DeGeneres served as campaign ambassador to Farm Sanctuary's Adopt-A-Turkey Project in 2010, asking people to start "a new tradition by adopting a turkey instead of eating one" at Thanksgiving.

On August 6, 2010, de Rossi filed a petition to legally change her name to Portia Lee James DeGeneres The petition was granted on September 23, 2010.

In her book ''Love, Ellen'', DeGeneres's mother Betty DeGeneres describes being initially shocked when her daughter came out as a lesbian, but has become one of her strongest supporters, an active member of Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign's Coming Out Project.

In 2007, ''Forbes'' estimated DeGeneres's net worth at US$65 million.

She is a fan of the National Football League, and has shown particular support for the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers. In 2011, she attended a Saints practice dressed as Packers Hall of Famer Don Hutson.

Filmography

Film

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1990	''Arduous Moon''	Herself	Short film
1991	''Wisecracks''	Herself	Documentary
1993		Coach
1994		Herself	Short film
		Herself	Short film
	Martha Alston
	''Goodbye Lover''	Sgt. Rita Pompano
	Prologue Dog
	''EDtv''	Cynthia
	Janet Hall
	''Pauly Shore Is Dead''	Herself
''Finding Nemo''	Dory	Voice
Year	Film	Role	Notes
1988	''Women of the Night''	Herself
1989		Margo Van Mete	Episode: "The Bad Seed" Episode: "Let's Get Physicals"
1992	''[[Laurie Hill">Annie Award
2004	''My Short Film''	Herself	Short film

Television

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1988	''Women of the Night''	Herself
1989		Margo Van Mete	Episode: "The Bad Seed" Episode: "Let's Get Physicals"
1992	''[[Laurie Hill''	Nancy MacIntyre	Episode: "Pilot" Episode: "The Heart Thing" Episode: "Walter and Beverly"
1994–1998
1995		Dr. Whitman
1998	''Mad About You''	Nancy Bloom
	''Ellen DeGeneres: The Beginning''	Herself	Comedy special
''If These Walls Could Talk 2''	Kal	Segment: "2000"
2001		Operator	Segment: "Reaching Normal"
2001	''Will & Grace''	Sister Louise
2001–2002	''The Ellen Show''	Ellen Richmond
	''Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now''	Herself	Comedy special
''MADtv''	Herself
2003–present	''The Ellen DeGeneres Show''	Herself	TV show
	''E! True Hollywood Story''	Herself
	Herself
2005		Herself
	''Ellen's Really Big Show''	Herself
''Sesame Street''	Herself	Episode: "The Tutu Spell" ''(uncredited)''
''Forbes 20 Richest Women in Entertainment''	Herself
''The Bachelorette''	Herself
2007–2008	''American Idol''	Herself	Episode: "Idol Gives Back
2008	''Ellen's Even Bigger Really Big Show''	Herself	Comedy special
	''Ellen's Bigger, Longer & Wider Show''	Herself	Comedy special
	Guest Judge
2010	''[[American Idol''	Judge
2010	''The Simpsons''	Herself	Episode: "Judge Me Tender"

Discography

Year	Album	Notes
1996	''Ellen Degeneres: Taste This''	Stand-up comedy Live CD

Awards and honors

;Daytime Emmy Awards

Outstanding Talk Show, ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' – 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011

Outstanding Talk Show Host, ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Outstanding Special Class Writing, ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' – 2005, 2006, 2007

;Emmy Awards

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series, ''Ellen:'' "The Puppy Episode" – 1997

;People's Choice Awards

Favorite Funny Female Star – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Favorite Talk Show Host – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Favorite Yes I Chose This Star – 2008

;Kids' Choice Awards

Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie – 2004

; Tulane University President's Medal 2009

; Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards 2000 Lucy Award, actor, If These Walls Could Talk 2, in recognition of her excellence and innovation in her creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television.

Bibliography

References

External links

The Ellen DeGeneres Show's official website

Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century actors Category:21st-century actors Category:Actors from Louisiana Category:American film actors Category:American Christian Scientists Category:American people of English descent Category:American people of French descent Category:American people of German descent Category:American people of Irish descent Category:American philanthropists Category:American stand-up comedians Category:American television actors Category:American television talk show hosts Category:American vegans Category:Daytime Emmy Award winners Category:Emmy Award winners Category:GLAAD Media Awards winners Category:Lesbian actors Category:LGBT comedians from the United States Category:LGBT rights activists from the United States Category:LGBT television personalities from the United States Category:People from New Orleans, Louisiana Category:Reality television judges Category:Saturn Award winners Category:University of New Orleans alumni Category:Women comedians

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