A screen test is a method of determining the suitability of an actor or actress for performing on film and/or in a particular role. The performer is generally given a scene, or selected lines and actions, and instructed to perform in front of a camera to see if they are suitable. The developed film is later evaluated by the relevant production personnel such as the casting director and the director. The actor may be asked to bring a prepared monologue or alternatively, the actor may be given a script to read at sight ("cold reading"). In some cases, the actor may be asked to read a scene, in which another performer reads the lines of another character.

Types

Screen tests can also be used to judge the suitability of costume, make-up and other details, but these are generally called costume or make-up tests. Different types of actors can have different tasks for each individual test. For example, a lead for a musical theater-type movie could be requested to sing a popular song or learn a dance routine. Screen tests are routinely used in films and commercials.

International actors such as Bruce Lee are given screen tests to demonstrate that they were sufficiently articulate in the relevant language. In Lee's case, for the role of Kato in ''The Green Hornet'', he was asked to converse about Chinese culture in English to judge his grasp of the language, then to demonstrate some martial arts moves to show off his physical skills.

See also

Audition

Category:Acting Category:Performing arts

hu:Próbafelvétel nl:Screentest no:Prøveinnspilling sv:Provspelning

Coordinates	45°30′″N73°40′″N
name	Sharon Stone
birth date	March 10, 1958
birth name	Sharon Vonne Stone
birth place	Meadville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
occupation	Actress, model, producer
years active	1980–present
spouse	Michael Greenburg (1984–1990)Phil Bronstein (1998–2004)
children	3 }}

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

Early life

Stone was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania. The second of four children, she is the daughter of Dorothy (née Lawson), an accountant and homemaker, and Joseph William Stone II, a tool and die manufacturer. Stone graduated in 1975 from Saegertown High School in Saegertown, Pennsylvania, graduating early in an accelerated study program in conjunction with Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and briefly attended Edinboro.

Career

Modeling

Stone won the title of Miss Crawford County in Meadville. One of the pageant judges said she should quit school and move to New York City to become a fashion model. In 1977 Stone left Meadville, moving in with an aunt in New Jersey. Within four days of her arrival in New Jersey, she was signed by Ford Modeling Agency in New York.

1980–1989

While living in Europe, she decided to quit modeling and become an actress. "So I packed my bags, moved back to New York, and stood in line to be an extra in a Woody Allen movie," she later recalled. While auditioning, she met Michelle Pfeiffer, who recognized her from the pageant she competed in, and the two became friends. Stone was cast for a brief role in Allen's ''Stardust Memories'' (1980), and then had a speaking part a year later in the horror movie ''Deadly Blessing'' (1981). When French director Claude Lelouch saw Stone in ''Stardust Memories,'' he was so impressed that he cast her in ''Les Uns et les Autres'' (1982) starring James Caan. She was only on screen for two minutes and did not appear in the credits.

After starring on the short-lived TV series ''Bay City Blues'' in 1983, her next film role was in ''Irreconcilable Differences'' (1984), starring Ryan O'Neal, Shelley Long, and a young Drew Barrymore. Stone played a starlet who breaks up the marriage of a successful director and his screenwriter wife. The plot was based on the real-life experience of director Peter Bogdanovich, his set designer wife Polly Platt, and Cybill Shepherd. In 1984, she appeared in a two-part episode of ''Magnum, P.I.'', titled "Echoes of the Mind", where she played identical twins, one a love interest of Tom Selleck's character.

Through the rest of the 1980s she appeared in ''King Solomon's Mines'' (1985), ''Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol'' (1987), ''Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold'' (1987), ''Action Jackson'' (1988), and ''Above the Law'' (1988). Stone was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Actress for her performance in ''Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold''.

Also in 1988, Stone took over the role of Janice Henry for the filming of the miniseries ''War and Remembrance''.

1990–2002

Her appearance in ''Total Recall'' (1990) with Arnold Schwarzenegger gave Stone's career a boost. To coincide with the movie's release, she posed nude for ''Playboy'', showing off the muscles she developed in preparation for the movie (she lifted weights and learned taekwondo). In 1999, she was rated among the 25 sexiest stars of the century by ''Playboy''.

The role that made her a star was that of Catherine Tramell, a brilliant, bisexual alleged serial killer, in ''Basic Instinct'' (1992). Stone had to wait and actually turned down other offers for the mere prospect to play Tramell (the part was offered to 13 other actresses and considered to 150 women before being offered to Stone). Several better known actresses of the time turned down the part mostly because of the nudity required. In the movie's most notorious scene, Tramell is being questioned by the police and she crosses and uncrosses her legs, revealing the fact she is not wearing any underwear. According to Stone, she agreed to film the flashing scene with no panties, and although she and Verhoeven had discussed the scene from the beginning of production, she was unaware just how explicit the infamous shot would be.:

:"I knew that we were going to do this leg-crossing thing and I knew that we were going to allude to the concept that I was nude, but I did not think that you would see my vagina in the scene. Later, when I saw it in the screening I was shocked. I think seeing it in a room full of strangers was so disrespectful and so shocking, so I went into the booth and slapped him and left."

She claimed in an earlier interview, however, that "it was so fun" watching the film for the first time with strangers. Verhoeven has denied all claims of trickery and said, "As much as I love her, I hate her, too, especially after the lies she told the press about the shot between her legs, which was a straight lie". Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, who later befriended the actress, also claimed in his memoir, ''Hollywood Animal'', that the actress was fully aware of the level of nudity involved.

Following this film, she was listed by ''People magazine'' as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. In 1992, photographer George Hurrell took a series of photographs of Stone, Sherilyn Fenn, Julian Sands, Raquel Welch, Eric Roberts, and Sean Penn. In November 1995, Stone received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6925 Hollywood Blvd. That same year, ''Empire'' chose her as one of the 100 sexiest stars in film history. In October 1997, she was ranked among the top 100 movie stars of all time by ''Empire''.

In 1995, she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Dramatic Motion Picture for her role as "Ginger" in Martin Scorsese's ''Casino'' opposite Robert De Niro. She also earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for the role. The same year she starred opposite Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio in the Sam Raimi western ''The Quick And The Dead''. That same year, she was awarded the Women in Film Crystal Award.

Stone starred opposite actress Ellen DeGeneres in the 2000 HBO movie ''If These Walls Could Talk 2'', in which she played a lesbian trying to start a family. For her work on 'Walls', she was again recognized by Women in Film, this time with the Lucy Award.

In 2001, Stone was linked to a biopic of the German film director Leni Riefenstahl. The prospective director Paul Verhoeven and Riefenstahl herself favoured Stone to portray Riefenstahl in the film. According to Verhoeven, he discussed the project with Stone and she was very interested. Subsequently, Verhoeven pulled out of the project as he wanted to hire a more expensive screenwriter than the producers did.

Stone was hospitalized on September 29, 2001 for a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which was diagnosed as a vertebral artery dissection rather than the more common ruptured aneurysm, and treated with an endovascular coil embolization.

2003–present

In 2003, she appeared in three episodes from the eighth season of ''The Practice''. For her performances, she received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

Stone attempted a return to the mainstream with roles in the films ''Cold Creek Manor'' (2003) with Kristen Stewart and ''Catwoman'' (2004) with Halle Berry; however, both movies were critical and commercial flops.

After years of litigation, ''Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction'' was released on March 31, 2006. A reason for a long delay in releasing the film was reportedly Stone's dispute with the filmmakers over the nudity in the movie; she wanted more, while they wanted less. A group sex scene was cut in order to achieve an R rating from the MPAA for the U.S. release; the controversial scene remained in the U.K. version of the London-based film. Stone told an interviewer, "We are in a time of odd repression and if a popcorn movie allows us to create a platform for discussion, wouldn't that be great?"

Despite an estimated budget of $70 million, it placed only 10th in gross on its debut weekend with a meager $3,200,000, and was subsequently declared a bomb. It ultimately ran in theaters for only 17 days and finished with a total domestic gross of under $6 million. Despite the failure of ''Basic Instinct 2'', Stone has said that she would love to direct and act in a third ''Basic Instinct'' film.

She appeared in the 2006 drama ''Alpha Dog'' opposite Bruce Willis, playing Olivia Mazursky, the mother of a real-life murder victim. Stone wore a fatsuit for the role. In February 2007, Stone found her role as a clinically depressed woman in her latest film, ''When a Man Falls in the Forest'', uplifting, as it challenged what she called "Prozac society." "It was a watershed experience," she said. "I think that we live in a... Prozac society where we're always told we're supposed to have this kind of equilibrium of emotion. We have all these assignments about how we're supposed to feel about something."

In December 2006, she co hosted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway together with Anjelica Huston. The concert was in honor of the Nobel Peace Prize winners Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank.

In 2007, she appeared in a television commercial to raise awareness of the symptoms of a stroke.

On January 5, 2010, it was announced that Stone would be joining the cast of ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' for a four-episode arc beginning in April 2010. She portrayed Jo Marlowe, a former cop-turned-prosecutor. Her performance has been met with lukewarm reviews.

Criticism

Tanzania

On January 28, 2005, Stone helped solicit pledges for $1 million in five minutes for mosquito nets in Tanzania, turning a panel on African poverty into an impromptu fund-raiser at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Many observers, including UNICEF, criticized her actions by claiming that Stone had reacted instinctively to the words of Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, because she had not done her research on the causes, consequences and methods of preventing malaria; if she had done so, she would have found out that most African governments already distribute free bed nets through public hospitals.

Of the $1 million pledged, only $250,000 was actually raised. In order to fulfill the promise to send $1 million worth of bed nets to Tanzania, UNICEF contributed $750,000. This diverted funds from other UNICEF projects. According to prominent economist Xavier Sala-i-Martín, officials are largely unaware of what happened with the bed nets. Some were delivered to the local airport. These reportedly were stolen and later resurfaced as wedding dresses on the local black market.

Chinese earthquake

Stone sparked a storm of criticism for her comments made in an exchange on the red carpet with Hong Kong's ''Cable Entertainment News'' during the 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 25, 2008. When asked about the 2008 Sichuan earthquake she remarked:

}}

Observers have noted that Wenchuan County, the epicenter of the earthquake, is located in Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, where ethnic Tibetans comprise over half of the population. According to the ''Hollywood Reporter'', after her comments, one of China's biggest cinema chains released statements stating its company would not show her films in its theaters. The founder of the UME Cineplex chain and the chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, Ng See-Yuen called Stone's comments "inappropriate" and said the UME Cineplex chain would not be releasing her films in the future. Christian Dior advertisements featuring Stone's image were dropped from all ads in China amid the public uproar. Stone was struck from the 2008 Shanghai International Film Festival guest list, with the event's organizers considering a permanent ban for the actress.

Dior China had originally posted an apology in Stone's name, but Stone later denied making the apology during an interview with the ''New York Times'', saying "I'm not going to apologize. I'm certainly not going to apologize for something that isn't real and true – not for face creams," although she does admit she had "sounded like an idiot". While Stone cited the Dalai Lama as her "good friend" when she made the remark at the Cannes film festival, the Dalai Lama has reportedly distanced himself from her remark, stating, "yes, I've met that lady".

Mensa

For many years, Stone maintained that she had an IQ of 148 and was a member of Mensa, but in April 2002, she admitted she was not, and had never been a member of the high-IQ society. Jim Blackmore of Mensa said, "It's delightful to finally see Ms. Stone admit that she's not and never has been a member of our society." However, Stone went on to claim that she "went to a Mensa school." In response to this new claim, Blackmore said that would not have been possible as there had been no Mensa schools since the early 1960s.

Personal life

Stone suffers from diabetes and asthma. In March 2006, Stone traveled to Israel to promote peace in the Middle East through a press conference with Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres.

Religion

Stone became a Buddhist, after fellow actor Richard Gere introduced her to the Dalai Lama. She believes in God and is religious by self-description. She is an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church.

Relationships

Stone married television producer Michael Greenburg in 1984 on the set of ''The Vegas Strip War'', a TV movie he produced and she starred in. The couple separated three years later, and their divorce was finalized in 1990.

In 1993, Stone met William J. MacDonald (aka Bill MacDonald) on the set of the film ''Sliver'', which he co-produced. McDonald left his wife Naomi Baca for Stone and became engaged to her. They separated one year later in 1994.

While working on the movie ''The Quick and the Dead'' in 1995, Stone met Bob Wagner (a second assistant director) and they became engaged. After they separated, Stone returned the engagement ring via FedEx.

On February 14, 1998, Stone married Phil Bronstein, executive editor of the ''San Francisco Examiner'' and later ''San Francisco Chronicle''. Stone and Bronstein were divorced in 2004. They adopted a baby son, Roan Joseph Bronstein, in 2000. Stone adopted her second son, Laird Vonne Stone in 2005 and her third son, Quinn Kelly Stone, in 2006.

In 2005, during a television interview for her movie ''Basic Instinct 2'', Stone hinted at an interest in bisexuality, stating "Middle age is an open-minded period". Stone also has said that in the past she's "dated" girls. Furthermore, in ''Naked Instinct'', an unauthorized biography of Stone, author Frank Sanello details a sexual liaison between Stone and a woman in the bathroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel. In an interview on the Michael Parkinson talk show in Britain on March 18, 2006, she said she was straight. However, in January 2008, she was quoted as saying, "Everybody is bisexual to an extent. Now men act like women and it's difficult to have a relationship because I like men in that old-fashioned way. I like masculinity and, in truth, only women do that now".

In 2011, Stone stated on ''Piers Morgan Tonight'' that she was never married to George Howe Englund Jr., despite contrary internet rumors.

Filmography

''Les Uns et les autres'' ''Not Just Another Affair'' ''Bay City Blues'' ''The New Mike Hammer'' ''T. J. Hooker'' ''Mr. and Mrs. Ryan'' ''Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol'' ''Tears in the Rain'' ''Beyond the Stars'' ''Total Recall'' ''He Said, She Said'' ''Basic Instinct'' ''Last Action Hero'' ''Sliver (film) ''The Quick and the Dead (1995 film) ''Diabolique (1996 film) ''Sphere (film) ''Gloria (1999 film) ''If These Walls Could Talk 2'' ''Harold and the Purple Crayon'' ''Cold Creek Manor'' ''A Different Loyalty'' ''Higglytown Heroes'' ''Alpha Dog'' ''If I Had Known I Was a Genius'' ''The Year of Getting to Know Us'' ''Streets of Blood'' ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' '':fr:Largo Winch II

style="background:#B0C4DE;"	Year	Film	Role	Notes
1980	''Stardust Memories''	Pretty Girl on train
rowspan="2">1981	|	Girl with Glenn Senior	Uncredited
''Deadly Blessing''	Lana Marcus
rowspan="2"	1982	|	Lynette	TV movie
''Silver Spoons''	Debbie
rowspan="2"	1983	|	Cathy St. Marie	(TV series)
''Remington Steele''	Jillian Montague
rowspan="5"	1984	|	Julie Eland	(TV series)
''Magnum, P.I.''	Diane Dupree and Diedra Dupree
''Calendar Girl Murders''
''The Vegas Strip War''	Sarah Shipman
''Irreconcilable Differences''	Blake Chandler
rowspan="2"	1985	|	Dani Starr
''King Solomon's Mines (1985 film)	King Solomon's Mines''	Jesse Huston
rowspan="2"	1986	|	Ashley Hamilton Ryan	TV movie
''Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold''	Jesse Huston
rowspan="2"	1987	|	Claire Mattson
''Cold Steel (film)	Cold Steel''	Kathy Connors
rowspan="4"	1988	|	Casey Cantrell	TV movie
''Action Jackson''	Patrice Dellaplane
''Above the Law (film)	Above the Law''	Sara Toscani
''Badlands 2005''	Alex Neil
1988–1989	''War and Remembrance''
rowspan="2"	1989	|	Laurie McCall
''Blood and Sand (1989 film)	Blood and Sand''	Doña Sol
1990	|	Lori Quaid
rowspan="5"	1991	|	Linda Metzger
''Scissors (film)	Scissors''	Angie Anderson
''Year of the Gun (film)	Year of the Gun''	Alison King
''Diary of a Hitman''	Kiki
''Where Sleeping Dogs Lie''	Serena Black
1992	|	Catherine Tramell	MTV Movie Award for Best Performance>MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance<	MTV Movie Award for Most Desirable FemaleNominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best ActressNominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture DramaNominated – Saturn Award for Best Actress
	1993	|	Catherine Tramell	Cameo
	1993	Sliver'' ||	Carly Norris	Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Most Desirable Female
rowspan="2"	1994	''The Specialist''
''Intersection (film)	Intersection''	Sally Eastman
rowspan="3">1995	The Quick and the Dead'' ||	Ellen 'The Lady'	Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actress
''Roseanne (TV series)	Roseanne''	Trailer Park Resident
''Casino (film)	Casino''
rowspan="2"	1996	Diabolique'' ||	Nicole Horner
''Last Dance (film)	Last Dance''	Cindy Liggett
rowspan="3"	1998	Sphere'' ||	Dr. Elizabeth 'Beth' Halperin
''Antz''	Princess Bala
''The Mighty''	Gwen Dillon
rowspan="4"	1999	Gloria'' ||	Gloria
''The Muse (film)	The Muse''	Sarah Little
''Simpatico (film)	Simpatico''	Rosie Carter
''Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child''	Henny Penny
rowspan="3"	2000	|	Fran	TV movie
''Picking Up the Pieces''	Candy Cowley
''Beautiful Joe (film)	Beautiful Joe''	Alice 'Hush' Mason
2001–2002	|	Narrator	(TV series)
2003	|	Leah Tilson
rowspan="4"	2004	|	Sally Cauffield
''Catwoman (film)	Catwoman''	Laurel Hedare
''The Practice''	Sheila Carlisle
''Kurtlar Vadisi''<	(Eng. ''Valley of the Wolves'')	Lisa
rowspan="3">2005	|	Nicky – Blind Art Teacher	voice
''Will & Grace''	Dr. Georgia Keller
''Broken Flowers''	Laura Daniels Miller
rowspan="5"	2006	|	Olivia Mazursky
''Basic Instinct 2''	Catherine Tramell
''Huff (TV series)	Huff''	Dauri Rathburn
''Bobby (2006 film)	Bobby''
''Democrazy''	Patricia Hill
rowspan="2"	2007	|	Gloria Fremont
''When a Man Falls in the Forest''	Karen Fields
rowspan="2"	2008	|	Jane Rocket
''Five Dollars a Day''	Dolores Jones
2009	|	Nina Ferraro
	2010	|	Jo Marlowe	Four episodes (TV series)
2011	Largo Winch II''||	Diane Francken

References

External links

Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:Actors from Pennsylvania Category:AIDS activists Category:American Buddhists Category:American female models Category:American film actors Category:American health activists Category:Best Drama Actress Golden Globe (film) winners Category:Converts to Buddhism Category:Edinboro University of Pennsylvania alumni Category:Emmy Award winners Category:Légion d'honneur recipients Category:LGBT rights activists from the United States Category:People from Crawford County, Pennsylvania Category:Stroke survivors Category:Tibetan Buddhists from the United States

ar:شارون ستون bs:Sharon Stone bg:Шарън Стоун ca:Sharon Stone cs:Sharon Stoneová da:Sharon Stone de:Sharon Stone et:Sharon Stone el:Σάρον Στόουν es:Sharon Stone eo:Sharon Stone eu:Sharon Stone fa:شارون استون fr:Sharon Stone fy:Sharon Stone ga:Sharon Stone gl:Sharon Stone ko:샤론 스톤 hi:शेरोन स्टोन hr:Sharon Stone io:Sharon Stone id:Sharon Stone it:Sharon Stone he:שרון סטון ka:შერონ სტოუნი hu:Sharon Stone nl:Sharon Stone ja:シャロン・ストーン no:Sharon Stone nn:Sharon Stone oc:Sharon Stone pl:Sharon Stone pt:Sharon Stone ro:Sharon Stone ru:Стоун, Шэрон simple:Sharon Stone sr:Шерон Стоун sh:Sharon Stone fi:Sharon Stone sv:Sharon Stone tl:Sharon Stone ta:ஷாரன் ஸ்டோன் th:ชารอน สโตน tr:Sharon Stone uk:Шерон Стоун zh:莎朗·史東

Coordinates	45°30′″N73°40′″N
name	Marlon Brando
birth name	Marlon Brando, Jr.
birth date	April 03, 1924
birth place	Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
death date	July 01, 2004
death place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
death cause	Respiratory failure
nationality	American
education	The New School
spouse	Anna Kashfi (1957–59)Movita Castaneda (1960–62)Tarita Teriipia (1962–72)
children	13, including:Christian Brando (deceased)Cheyenne Brando (deceased)Stephen Blackehart
parents	Marlon Brando, Sr.Dodie Brando
website	http://www.marlonbrando.com/ }}

Marlon Brando, Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor who performed for over half a century.

An enduring cultural icon, Brando was perhaps best known for his role as Stanley Kowalski in ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' (1951), his Academy Award-nominated performance as Emiliano Zapata in ''Viva Zapata!'' (1952), his role as Mark Antony in the MGM film adaptation of the Shakespeare play ''Julius Caesar'' (1953), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, and his Academy Award-winning performance as Terry Malloy in ''On the Waterfront'' (1954). During the 1970s, he was most famous for his Academy Award-winning performance as Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's ''The Godfather'' (1972), also playing Colonel Walter Kurtz in another Coppola film, ''Apocalypse Now'' (1979). Brando delivered an Academy Award-nominated performance as Paul in ''Last Tango in Paris'' (1972), in addition to directing and starring in the western film ''One-Eyed Jacks'' (1961).

Brando had a significant impact on film acting, and was the foremost example of the "method" acting style. While he became notorious for his "mumbling" diction and exuding a raw animal magnetism, his mercurial performances were nonetheless highly regarded, and he is widely considered as one of the greatest and most influential actors of the 20th century. Director Martin Scorsese said of him, "He is the marker. There's 'before Brando' and 'after Brando'.'" Actor Jack Nicholson once said, "When Marlon dies, everybody moves up one."

Brando was also an activist, supporting many issues, notably the African-American Civil Rights Movement and various American Indian Movements.

Early life

Marlon Brando was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to Marlon Brando, Sr., a pesticide and chemical feed manufacturer, and his wife, Dorothy Julia (née Pennebaker). His parents moved to Evanston, Illinois, but separated when he was eleven years old. His mother took her three children: Jocelyn (1919–2005), Frances (1922–1994) and Marlon, to live with her mother in Santa Ana, California. In 1937, Brando's parents reconciled and moved together to Libertyville, Illinois, north of Chicago.

Brando's family was of mostly Irish ancestry. He also had distant French ancestry. Brando was raised a Christian Scientist. His grandmother Marie Holloway abandoned her family when Marlon Brando, Sr., was five years old. She used the money Eugene sent her to support her gambling and alcoholism.''

Marlon Brando, Sr., was a talented amateur photographer. His wife, known as Dodie, was unconventional but talented, having been an actress. She smoked, wore trousers, and drove cars, unusual for women at the time. However, she was an alcoholic and often had to be brought home from Chicago bars by her husband; she finally joined Alcoholics Anonymous. Dodie Brando acted and was a theater administrator. She helped Henry Fonda to begin his acting career, and fueled her son Marlon's interest in stage acting. However, Brando was closer to his maternal grandmother, Bessie Gahan Pennebaker Meyers, than to his mother. Widowed while young, Meyers worked as a secretary and later as a Christian Science practitioner. Her father, Myles Gahan, was a doctor from Ireland; her mother, Julia Watts, was from England.

Brando was a mimic from early childhood and developed an ability to absorb the mannerisms of people he played and display them dramatically while staying in character. His sister Jocelyn Brando was the first to pursue an acting career, going to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Art. She appeared on Broadway, then movies and television. Brando's sister Frances left college in California to study art in New York. Brando soon followed her.

Brando had been held back a year in school and was later expelled from Libertyville High School for riding his motorcycle through the corridors. He was sent to Shattuck Military Academy, where his father had studied before him. Brando excelled at theatre and did well in the school. In his final year (1943), however, he was put on probation for talking back to a student officer during maneuvers. He was confined to the campus, but tried going into town, and was caught. The faculty voted to expel him, though he was supported by the students, who thought expulsion was too harsh. He was invited back for the following year, but decided instead to drop out of high school.

Brando worked as a ditch-digger as a summer job arranged by his father. It was also during this time that Brando attempted to join the Army. However at his army induction physical it was discovered that a football injury that he had sustained at Shattuck had left him with a trick knee. Brando was therefore classified as a 4-F, and not inducted into the Army. He then decided to follow his sisters to New York. His father supported him for six months, then offered to help him find a job as a salesman. However, Brando left to study at the American Theatre Wing Professional School, part of the Dramatic Workshop of The New School with the influential German director Erwin Piscator and at the Actors Studio. He also studied with Stella Adler and learned the techniques of the Stanislavski System. There is a story in which Adler spoke about teaching Brando, saying that she had instructed the class to act like chickens, then adding that a nuclear bomb was about to fall on them. Most of the class clucked and ran around wildly, but Brando sat calmly and pretended to lay an egg. Asked by Adler why he had chosen to react this way, he said, "I'm a chicken, what do I know about nuclear bombs?"

Career

Early work

Brando used his Stanislavski System skills for his first summer-stock roles in Sayville, New York on Long Island. His behavior got him kicked out of the cast of the New School's production in Sayville, but he was discovered in a locally produced play there and then made it to Broadway in the bittersweet drama ''I Remember Mama'' in 1944. Critics voted him "Broadway's Most Promising Actor" for his role as an anguished veteran in ''Truckline Café'', although the play was a commercial failure. In 1946 he appeared on Broadway as the young hero in the political drama ''A Flag is Born'', refusing to accept wages above the Actor's Equity rate because of his commitment to the cause of Israeli independence. In that same year, Brando played the role of Marchbanks with Katharine Cornell in her production's revival of Candida, one of her signature roles. Cornell also cast him as The Messenger in a her production of Jean Anouilh's Antigone that same year. Brando achieved stardom, however, as Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee Williams's 1947 play ''A Streetcar Named Desire,'' directed by Elia Kazan. Brando sought out that role, driving out to Provincetown, Massachusetts, where Williams was spending the summer, to audition for the part. Williams recalled that he opened the screen door and knew, instantly, that he had his Stanley Kowalski. Brando's performance revolutionized acting technique and set the model for the American form of method acting.

Afterward, Brando was asked to do a screen test for Warner Brothers studio for the film ''Rebel Without A Cause'', which James Dean was later cast in. The screen test appears as an extra in the 2006 DVD release of ''A Streetcar Named Desire''.

Brando's first screen role was as the bitter paraplegic veteran in ''The Men'' in 1950. True to his method, Brando spent a month in bed at the Birmingham Army Hospital in Van Nuys to prepare for the role. By Brando's own account it may have been because of this film that his draft status was changed from 4-F to 1-A. He had had an operation on the knee he had injured at Shattuck, and it was no longer physically debilitating enough to incur exclusion from the draft. When Brando reported to the induction center he answered a questionnaire provided to him by saying his race was "human", his color was "Seasonal-oyster white to beige", and he told an Army doctor that he was psycho neurotic. When the draft board referred him to a psychiatrist Brando explained how he had been expelled from Military School, and that he had severe problems with authority. Coincidentally enough the psychiatrist knew a doctor friend of Brando, and Brando was able to avoid military service during the Korean War.

Rise to fame

Brando brought his performance as Stanley Kowalski to the screen in Kazan's adaptation of Tennessee Williams's ''A Streetcar Named Desire'', and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for that role, and again in each of the next three years for his roles in ''Viva Zapata!'' in 1952, ''Julius Caesar'' in 1953 as Mark Antony, and ''On the Waterfront'' in 1954. These first five films of his career established Brando, as evidenced in his winning the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in three consecutive years, 1951 to 1953.

In 1953, Brando also starred in ''The Wild One'' riding his own Triumph Thunderbird 6T motorcycle which caused consternation to Triumph's importers, as the subject matter was rowdy motorcycle gangs taking over a small town. But the images of Brando posing with his Triumph motorcycle became iconic, even forming the basis of his wax dummy at Madame Tussauds.

Later that same year, Brando starred in Lee Falk's production of George Bernard Shaw's ''Arms and the Man'' in Boston. Falk was proud to tell people that Marlon Brando turned down an offer of $10,000 per week on Broadway, in favor of working on Falk's play in Boston. His Boston contract was less than $500 per week. It would be the last time he ever acted in a stage play.

Brando won the Oscar for his role as Terry Malloy in ''On the Waterfront''. For the famous ''I coulda' been a contender'' scene, Brando convinced Kazan that the scripted scene was unrealistic, and with Rod Steiger, improvised the final product.

Brando then took a variety of roles in the 1950s: as Sky Masterson in the musical ''Guys and Dolls''; as Sakini, a Japanese interpreter for the U.S. Army in postwar Japan in ''The Teahouse of the August Moon''; as a United States Air Force officer in ''Sayonara'', and a Nazi officer in ''The Young Lions''.

In the 1960s, Brando starred in films such as ''Mutiny on the Bounty'' (1962); ''One-Eyed Jacks'' (1961), a western that would be the only film Brando would ever direct; ''The Chase'' (1966), and ''Reflections in a Golden Eye'' (1967), portraying a repressed gay army officer. It was the type of performance that later led critic Stanley Crouch to write, "Brando's main achievement was to portray the taciturn but stoic gloom of those pulverized by circumstances." He also played a guru in the sex farce ''Candy'' (1968). ''Burn!'' (1969), which Brando would later claim as his personal favorite, was a commercial failure. His career slowed down by the end of the decade as he gained a reputation for being difficult to work with.

''The Godfather''

Brando's performance as Vito Corleone or 'the Don' in 1972's ''The Godfather'' was a mid-career turning point. Director Francis Ford Coppola convinced Brando to submit to a "make-up" test, in which Brando did his own makeup (he used cotton balls to simulate the puffed-cheek look). Coppola was electrified by Brando's characterization as the head of a crime family, but had to fight the studio in order to cast the temperamental Brando. Mario Puzo always imagined Brando as Corleone. However, Paramount studio heads wanted to give the role to Danny Thomas in the hope that Thomas would have his own production company throw in its lot with Paramount. Thomas declined the role and actually urged the studio to cast Brando at the behest of Coppola and others who had witnessed the screen test.

Eventually, Charles Bluhdorn, the president of Paramount parent Gulf + Western, was won over to letting Brando have the role; when he saw the screen test, he asked in amazement, "What are we watching? Who is this old guinea?"

Brando won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance, but turned down the Oscar, becoming the second actor to refuse a Best Actor award (the first being George C. Scott for ''Patton''). Brando boycotted the award ceremony, sending instead American Indian Rights activist Sacheen Littlefeather, who appeared in full Apache dress, to state Brando's reasons, which were based on his objection to the depiction of American Indians by Hollywood and television.

The actor followed with Bernardo Bertolucci's 1973 film, ''Last Tango in Paris'', but the performance was overshadowed by an uproar over the erotic nature of the film. Despite the controversy which attended both the film and the man, the Academy once again nominated Brando for the Best Actor.

Brando, along with James Caan, was later scheduled in 1974 to appear in the final scene of ''The Godfather Part II''. However, rewrites were made to the script when Brando refused to show up to the studio on the single day of shooting due to disputes with the studio.

Later career

Brando portrayed Superman's father Jor-El in the 1978 film ''Superman''. He agreed to the role only on assurance that he would be paid a large sum for what amounted to a small part, that he would not have to read the script beforehand and his lines would be displayed somewhere off-camera. It was revealed in a documentary contained in the 2001 DVD release of ''Superman'', that he was paid $3.7 million for just two weeks of work.

Brando also filmed scenes for the movie's sequel, ''Superman II'', but after producers refused to pay him the same percentage he received for the first movie, he denied them permission to use the footage. However, after Brando's death the footage was reincorporated into the 2006 re-cut of the film, ''Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut''.

Two years after Brando's death, he "reprised" the role of Jor-El in the 2006 "loose sequel" ''Superman Returns'', in which both used and unused archive footage of Brando as Jor-El from the first two Superman films was remastered for a scene in the Fortress of Solitude, and Brando's voice-overs were used throughout the film.

Brando starred as Colonel Walter E. Kurtz in Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam epic ''Apocalypse Now''. Brando plays a highly decorated American Army Special Forces officer who goes renegade. He runs his own operations out of Cambodia and is feared by the US military as much as the Vietnamese. Brando was paid $1 million a week for his work.

Despite announcing his retirement from acting in 1980, he subsequently gave interesting supporting performances in movies such as ''A Dry White Season'' (for which he was again nominated for an Oscar in 1989), ''The Freshman'' in 1990 and ''Don Juan DeMarco'' in 1995. In his last film, ''The Score'' (2001), he starred with fellow method actor Robert De Niro. Some later performances, such as ''The Island of Dr Moreau'' (1996), earned Brando some of the most uncomplimentary reviews of his career.

Brando conceived the idea of a novel called ''Fan-Tan'' with director Donald Cammell in 1979, which was not released until 2005.

In 2004, Brando signed with Tunisian film director Ridha Behion and began pre-production on a project to be titled ''Brando and Brando''. Up to a week before his death, Brando was working on the script in anticipation of a July/August 2004 start date. Production was suspended in July 2004 following Brando's death, at which time Behi stated that he would continue the film as an homage to Brando, with a new title of ''Citizen Brando''.

Personal life

Relationships and family

In ''Songs My Mother Taught Me'', Brando claimed he met Marilyn Monroe at a party as she played piano, unnoticed by anybody else there, and they had an affair and maintained an intermittent relationship for many years, receiving a telephone call from her several days before she died. He also claimed numerous other romances, although he did not discuss his marriages, his wives, or his children in his autobiography.

Brando married actress Anna Kashfi in 1957. Kashfi was born in Calcutta and moved to Wales from India in 1947. She is said to have been the daughter of a Welsh steel worker of Irish descent, William O'Callaghan, who had been superintendent on the Indian State railways. However, in her book, ''Brando for Breakfast'', she claimed that she really is half Indian and that the press incorrectly thought that her stepfather, O'Callaghan, was her real father. She said her real father was Indian and that she was the result of an "unregistered alliance" between her parents. In 1959, Brando and Kashfi divorced after the birth of their son, Christian Brando, on May 11, 1958.

In 1960, Brando married Movita Castaneda, a Mexican-American actress seven years his senior; they were divorced in 1962. Castaneda had appeared in the first ''Mutiny on the Bounty'' film in 1935, some 27 years before the 1962 remake with Brando as Fletcher Christian. Brando's behavior during the filming of ''Bounty'' seemed to bolster his reputation as a difficult star. He was blamed for a change in director and a runaway budget, though he disclaimed responsibility for either.

The ''Bounty'' experience affected Brando's life in a profound way. He fell in love with Tahiti and its people. He bought a twelve-island atoll, Tetiaroa, which he intended to make partly an environmental laboratory and partly a resort. Tahitian beauty Tarita Teriipia, who played Fletcher Christian's love interest, became Brando's third wife on August 10, 1962. She was 20 years old, 18 years younger than Brando. A 1961 article on Teriipia in the fan magazine ''Motion Picture'' described Brando's delight at how naïve and unsophisticated she was. Because Teriipia was a native French speaker, Brando became fluent in the language and gave numerous interviews in French. Teriipia became the mother of two of his children. They divorced in July 1972. Brando eventually had a hotel built on Tetiaroa. It went through many redesigns as a result of changes demanded by Brando over the years. It is now closed. A new hotel, consisting of thirty deluxe villas, was planned.

Brando was an active ham radio operator, with the call signs KE6PZH and FO5GJ (the latter from his island). He was listed in the FCC records as Martin Brandeaux to preserve his privacy.

;Children

by Anna Kashfi:

* Christian Devi Brando (aka Gary Brown; May 11, 1958 – January 26, 2008, died of pneumonia)

by Movita Castaneda

* Miko Castaneda Brando (b. 1960)

* Rebecca Brando (b. 1966)

by Tarita Teriipia:

* Simon Teihotu Brando (b. 1963) – the only inhabitant of Tetiaroa

* Tarita Cheyenne Brando (1970–1995), committed suicide by hanging

adopted:

* Petra Brando-Corval (b. 1972), daughter of Brando's assistant Caroline Barrett and novelist James Clavell (aka Charles Edmund DuMaresq de Clavell)

by unidentified mothers:

Stefano Brando aka Stephen Blackehart (b. 1967)

* Maimiti Brando (b. 1977) She's the daughter of Tarita, but the father left them, so Brando adopted her.

* Raiatua Brando (b. 1982) She's the adoptive daughter of Tarita and Brando adopted her.

* Dylan Brando (1968–1988)

* Angelique Brando (unknown)

by his housekeeper, Maria Christina Ruiz:

* Ninna Priscilla Brando (b. May 13, 1989)

* Myles Jonathan Brando (b. January 16, 1992)

* Timothy Gahan Brando (b. January 6, 1994)

;Grandchildren

Michael Brando (b.1988)

Tuki Brando (b. 1990)

In May 1990, Dag Drollet, the Tahitian lover of Brando's daughter Cheyenne, died of a gunshot wound after a confrontation with Cheyenne's half-brother Christian at the family's hilltop home above Beverly Hills. Christian, then 31 years old, claimed he was drunk and the shooting was accidental.

After heavily publicized pre-trial proceedings, Christian pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and use of a gun. He was sentenced to ten years in prison. Before the sentence, Brando delivered an hour of testimony, in which he said he and his former wife had failed Christian. He commented softly to members of the Drollet family: "I'm sorry... If I could trade places with Dag, I would. I'm prepared for the consequences." Afterward, Drollet's father said he thought Brando was acting and his son was "getting away with murder." The tragedy was compounded in 1995, when Cheyenne, suffering from lingering effects of a serious car accident and said to still be depressed over Drollet's death, committed suicide by hanging herself in Tahiti. Christian Brando died of pneumonia at age 49, on January 26, 2008.

Lifestyle

Brando became well known for his crusades for civil rights, Native American rights, and other political causes. He also earned a "bad boy" reputation for his public outbursts and antics. On June 12, 1973, Brando broke paparazzo Ron Galella's jaw. Galella had followed Brando, who was accompanied by talk show host Dick Cavett, after a taping of ''The Dick Cavett Show'' in New York City. He reportedly paid a $40,000 out-of-court settlement and suffered an infected hand as a result. Galella wore a football helmet the next time he photographed Brando at a gala benefiting the American Indians Development Association.

In an interview with Gary Carey, for his 1976 biography ''The Only Contender'', Brando said, "Homosexuality is so much in fashion it no longer makes news. Like a large number of men, I, too, have had homosexual experiences and I am not ashamed. I have never paid much attention to what people think about me. But if there is someone who is convinced that Jack Nicholson and I are lovers, may they continue to do so. I find it amusing."

In 1992, he donated money to Michael Jackson to help start his Heal the World Foundation.

Final years and death

Brando's notoriety, his troubled family life, and his obesity attracted more attention than his late acting career. He gained a great deal of weight in the 1980s and by the mid 1990s he weighed over 300 lbs. (136 kg) and suffered from diabetes. Like Orson Welles or Elvis Presley, he had a history of weight fluctuations through his career, attributed to his years of stress-related overeating followed by compensatory dieting. He also earned a reputation for being difficult on the set, often unwilling or unable to memorize his lines and less interested in taking direction than in confronting the film director with odd demands. Brando also dabbled with some innovation in his last years. Brando had several patents issued in his name from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, all of which involve a method of tensioning drum heads, in June 2002 – November 2004. For example, see and its equivalents.

The actor was a longtime close friend of entertainer Michael Jackson and paid regular visits to his Neverland Ranch, resting there for weeks at a time. Brando also participated in the singer's two-day solo career thirtieth-anniversary celebration concerts in 2001, and starred in his 13-minute-long music video, "You Rock My World," in the same year. The actor's son, Miko, was Jackson's bodyguard and assistant for several years, and was a friend of the singer. He stated "The last time my father left his house to go anywhere, to spend any kind of time... was with Michael Jackson. He loved it... He had a 24-hour chef, 24-hour security, 24-hour help, 24-hour kitchen, 24-hour maid service." On Jackson's 30th anniversary concert, Brando gave a speech to the audience on humanitarian work which received a poor reaction from the audience and was unaired.

On July 1, 2004, Brando died, aged 80. He left behind eleven children as well as over thirty grandchildren. The cause of death was intentionally withheld, his lawyer citing privacy concerns. It was later revealed that he had died at UCLA Medical Center of respiratory failure brought on by pulmonary fibrosis. He also suffered from congestive heart failure, failing eyesight caused by diabetes, and liver cancer. Before his death and despite his ill-health, he recorded his voice to appear in ''The Godfather: The Game'', once again as Don Vito Corleone.

Karl Malden, Brando's fellow actor in ''A Streetcar Named Desire'', ''On The Waterfront'', and ''One-Eyed Jacks'' (the only film directed by Brando), talks in a documentary accompanying the DVD of ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' about a phone call he received from Brando shortly before Brando's death. A distressed Brando told Malden he kept falling over. Malden wanted to come over, but Brando put him off telling him there was no point. Three weeks later, Brando was dead. Shortly before his death, Brando had apparently refused permission for tubes carrying oxygen to be inserted into his lungs, which, he was told, was the only way to prolong his life.

Brando was cremated, and his ashes were put in with those of his childhood friend Wally Cox and another friend. They were then scattered partly in Tahiti and partly in Death Valley.

In 2007, a 165-minute biopic of Brando, ''Brando: The Documentary'', produced by Mike Medavoy (the executor of Brando's will) for Turner Classic Movies, was released.

Politics

Civil rights

In 1946, Brando showed his dedication to the Jewish desire for a homeland by performing in Ben Hecht's Zionist play "A Flag is Born." Brando's involvement had an impact on three of the most contentious issues of the early postwar period: the fight to establish a Jewish state, the smuggling of Holocaust survivors to Israel, and the battle against racial segregation in the United States.

Brando attended some fundraisers for John F. Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election.

In August 1963, Brando participated in the March on Washington along with fellow celebrities Harry Belafonte, James Garner, Charlton Heston, Burt Lancaster, and Sidney Poitier. Brando also, along with Paul Newman, participated in the freedom rides.

In the aftermath of the 1968 slaying of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Brando made one of the strongest commitments to furthering Dr. King's work. Shortly after Dr. King's death, Brando announced that he was bowing out of the lead role of a major film (''The Arrangement'') which was about to begin production, in order to devote himself to the civil rights movement. "I felt I’d better go find out where it is; what it is to be black in this country; what this rage is all about," Brando said on the late night ABC-TV ''Joey Bishop Show''.

The actor's participation in the African-American civil rights movement actually began well before King's death. In the early 1960s Brando contributed thousands of dollars to both the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (S.C.L.C.) and to a scholarship fund established for the children of slain Mississippi N.A.A.C.P. leader Medgar Evers. By this time, Brando was already involved in films that carried messages about human rights: "Sayonara," which addressed interracial romance, and "The Ugly American," depicting the conduct of US officials abroad and its deleterious effect on the citizens of foreign countries. For a time Brando was also donating money to the Black Panther Party and considered himself a friend of founder Bobby Seale. However, Brando ended his financial support for the group over his perception of its increasing radicalization, specifically a passage in a Panther pamphlet put out by Eldridge Cleaver advocating indiscriminate violence, "for the Revolution."

At the 1973 Academy Awards ceremony, Brando refused to accept the Oscar for his performance in The Godfather. Sacheen Littlefeather represented Mr. Brando at the ceremony. She appeared in full Apache clothing. She stated that owing to the "poor treatment of Native Americans in the film industry" Mr. Brando would not accept the award. At this time the 1973 standoff at Wounded Knee occurred, causing rising tensions between the government and Native American activists. The event grabbed the attention of the US and the world media. This was considered a major event and victory for the movement by its supporters and participants.

Outside of his film work, Brando not only appeared before the California Assembly in support of a fair housing law, but personally joined picket lines in demonstrations protesting discrimination in housing developments.

Comments on Jews, Hollywood, and Israel

In an interview in ''Playboy'' magazine in January 1979, Brando said: "You've seen every single race besmirched, but you never saw an image of the kike because the Jews were ever so watchful for that—and rightly so. They never allowed it to be shown on screen. The Jews have done so much for the world that, I suppose, you get extra disappointed because they didn't pay attention to that."

Brando made a similar comment on ''Larry King Live'' in April 1996, saying "Hollywood is run by Jews; it is owned by Jews, and they should have a greater sensitivity about the issue of—of people who are suffering. Because they've exploited—we have seen the—we have seen the Nigger and Greaseball, we've seen the Chink, we've seen the slit-eyed dangerous Jap, we have seen the wily Filipino, we've seen everything but we never saw the Kike. Because they knew perfectly well, that that is where you draw the wagons around." King, who is Jewish, replied, "When you say—when you say something like that you are playing right in, though, to anti-Semitic people who say the Jews are—" at which point Brando interrupted. "No, no, because I will be the first one who will appraise the Jews honestly and say 'Thank God for the Jews.'"

Jay Kanter, Brando's agent, producer and friend defended him in ''Daily Variety'': "Marlon has spoken to me for hours about his fondness for the Jewish people, and he is a well-known supporter of Israel." Similarly, Louie Kemp, in his article for ''Jewish Journal'', wrote: "You might remember him as Don Vito Corleone, Stanley Kowalski or the eerie Col. Walter E. Kurtz in "Apocalypse Now," but I remember Marlon Brando as a mensch and a personal friend of the Jewish people when they needed it most." Brando was also a major donor to the Irgun, a Zionist political-paramilitary group.

In an interview with ''NBC Today'' one day after Brando's death, Larry King also defended Brando's comments saying that they were out of proportion and taken out of context.

Legacy

Brando is widely considered as one of the greatest and most influential actors of the 20th century. Largely credited for popularizing the "method" acting style, he has earned great respect among critics and theatre experts for his memorable performances and charismatic screen presence. In the book ''Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia, ''edited by Philip C. DiMare, James Delmont wrote: "Marlon Brando was arguably the finest screen actor of the twentieth century, winning worldwide acceptance as both a movie star of the first rank and as a performer of uncommon skill." Richard Schickel felt that: "As a movie actor he [Brando] has no peer in this generation. That he consistently underplays, yet still packs more emotion into a scene than anyone else, is a sign of a charisma that may be an act of God." Similarly, film critic Roger Ebert, writing of his iconic performance in ''Last Tango in Paris'', said: "This was the greatest movie actor of his time, the author of performances that do honor to the cinema." Tennessee Williams, among the many who acknowledged his finesse, described Brando as "the greatest living actor ever... greater than [Laurence] Olivier." Laurence Olivier himself said: "Brando acted with an empathy and an instinctual understanding that not even the greatest technical performers could possibly match." In a 2007 ''Best Life'' article, praising his performance in ''On the Waterfront'', Rob Reiner wrote: "Marlon Brando gives the single greatest performance ever. It's just so natural, powerful, real, and honest."

Marlon Brando is a cultural icon whose popularity has endured for over six decades. Brando's rise to national attention in the 1950s had a profound effect on the motion picture industry and influenced the broader scope of American culture. According to film critic Pauline Kael, "[Marlon] Brando represented a reaction against the post-war mania for security. As a protagonist, the Brando of the early fifties had no code, only his instincts. He was a development from the gangster leader and the outlaw. He was antisocial because he knew society was crap; he was a hero to youth because he was strong enough not to take the crap ... Brando represented a contemporary version of the free American ... Brando is still the most exciting American actor on the screen." Sociologist Dr. Suzanne Mcdonald-Walker states: "Marlon Brando, sporting leather jacket, jeans, and moody glare, became a cultural icon summing up 'the road' in all its maverick glory." His portrayal of the gang leader Johnny Strabler in ''The Wild One'' has become an iconic image, used both as a symbol of rebelliousness and a fashion accessory that includes a Perfecto style motorcycle jacket, a tilted cap, jeans and sunglasses. Johnny's haircut inspired a craze for sideburns, followed by James Dean and Elvis Presley, among others. Dean copied Brando's acting style extensively and Presley used him as a model for his role in ''Jailhouse Rock''. The "I coulda been a contenda" scene from ''On the Waterfront'', according to the author of ''Brooklyn Boomer'', Martin H. Levinson, is "one of the most famous scenes in motion picture history and the line itself has become part of America's cultural lexicon."

Brando's estate still earns about $9,000,000 per year, according to ''Forbes''. He was named one of the top-earning dead celebrities in the world by the magazine.

Filmography

Honors, awards and nominations

Brando was named the fourth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute, and part of ''Time'' magazine's Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century. He was also named one of the top 10 "Icons of the Century" by ''Variety'' magazine.

References

Bibliography

Bain, David Haward. ''The Old Iron Road: An Epic of Rails, Roads, and the Urge to Go West''. New York: Penguin Books, 2004. ISBN 0-14303-526-6.

Bosworth, Patricia. ''Marlon Brando''. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2001. ISBN 0-297-84284-6.

Brando, Anna Kashfi and E.P. Stein. ''Brando for Breakfast''. New York: Crown Publishers, 1979. ISBN 0-517-53686-2.

Brando, Marlon and Donald Cammell. ''Fan-Tan''. New York: Knopf, 2005. ISBN 1-40004-471-5.

Brando, Marlon and Robert Lindsey. ''Brando: Songs My Mother Taught Me''. New York: Random House, 1994. ISBN 0-67941-013-9.

Pierpont, Claudia Roth. ''Method Man''. ''New Yorker'', October 27, 2008.

External links

The Oddfather, ''Rolling Stone'', Jod Kaftan, April 25, 2002

Court TV: Christian Brando: A Hollywood Family Tragedy

Vanity Fair: ''The King Who Would Be Man'' by Budd Schulberg

Marlon Brando: Never-Seen Portraits – slideshow by ''Life magazine''

The New Yorker: ''The Duke in His Domain'' – Truman Capote's influential 1957 interview.

Obituaries

Marlon Brando, Oscar-Winning Actor, Is Dead at 80

Obituary from ''The Washington Post''

Obituary at Slate

MSNBC: Marlon Brando dies in Los Angeles hospital

Long article on auction of Brando's possessions at ''The Observer'' (UK)

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Coordinates	45°30′″N73°40′″N
name	Emmy Rossum
birth name	Emmanuelle Grey Rossum
birth date	September 12, 1986
birth place	New York City, New York U.S.
occupation	Actress, singer, songwriter
years active	1996–present (actress)1993–present (singer)
website	}}

Emmanuelle Grey "Emmy" Rossum (born September 12, 1986) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She first starred in a string of movies including ''Songcatcher'' (2000), ''An American Rhapsody'', (2001) and ''Passionada'' (2002). However, it was her role in ''Mystic River'' (2003) that garnered her wider recognition. She then starred in the blockbuster film ''The Day After Tomorrow'' (2004) and ''The Phantom of the Opera'' (2004) for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe. She has since starred in ''Poseidon'' (2006), ''Dragonball: Evolution'', (2009) and ''Dare'' (2009). In 2010, Rossum joined the cast of the Showtime television drama series ''Shameless'' in a leading role. The series, which stars William H. Macy, premiered in January 2011.

In 2007, Rossum released her debut album, ''Inside Out''. She also released a Christmas EP the same year titled ''Carol of the Bells''.

Early life

Rossum was born in New York City, New York, the only child of Cheryl, a single mother who worked as a corporate photographer and an investment banker. She was named after her grandfather, whose first name was Emanuel, using the feminine spelling Emmanuelle. She is the niece of Vera Wang, to whom she is related by marriage. Her mother is Jewish and her father is "a WASP". Rossum's parents divorced before she was born. She was raised by her mother and only met her father twice while growing up.

Upon singing "Happy Birthday" in all 12 keys, Rossum was welcomed to join the Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus by chorus director Elena Doria at the age of 7. Over the course of five years, she sang onstage with the chorus and had the chance to perform with other opera greats, such as Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. For anywhere from $5 to $10 a night, Rossum sang in six different languages in 20 different operas, including ''La bohème'', ''Turandot'', a Carnegie Hall presentation of ''La damnation de Faust'', and ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''. She also worked under the direction of Franco Zeffirelli in ''Carmen''. Rossum joked in interviews that her vocal talent and affinity for music developed because her mother always listened to classical music and operas while she was pregnant with her.

By age 12, Rossum had grown too big for the children's costumes. An increasing interest in pursuing acting led to taking classes with Flo Salant Greenberg of The New Actors Workshop in New York City. She also hired an agent and auditioned for many acting roles.

Career

Acting

1997 was Rossum's television debut with a guest appearance on ''Law & Order'' as Alison Martin. In 1999, she had a recurring role as the original Abigail Williams in the long-running daytime soap opera ''As the World Turns''. She also had a guest role as Caroline Beels in ''Snoops''. Rossum was nominated for a Young Artist Award nomination in 1999 for Best Performance in a TV Movie for her work in the made-for-tv movie, ''Genius''. Following that movie, she portrayed a young Audrey Hepburn in the ABC TV movie, ''The Audrey Hepburn Story'' (2000).

Rossum made her silver screen debut in 2000's ''Songcatcher'' as Deladis Slocumb, an Appalachian orphan. Debuting at the Sundance Film Festival, the film won the Special Jury Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance. For her role, Rossum received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Debut Performance and also had the opportunity to sing a duet with Dolly Parton on the ''Songcatcher'' soundtrack. ''Variety magazine'' named Rossum as "One of the Ten to Watch" in 2000.

In ''Nola'' (2003), Rossum played the title character, who was an aspiring songwriter. In her first major studio film, Clint Eastwood's ''Mystic River'', Rossum starred as Katie Markum, the ill-fated daughter of small-business owner Jimmy Markum, played by Sean Penn. As Katie, Rossum was said to have "projected an aura of innocence that made her character's tragic death memorable and heartbreaking."

Following ''Mystic River'', Rossum had a breakthrough role as Laura Chapman in the Roland Emmerich eco-disaster film ''The Day After Tomorrow.'' She later returned to New York, where she was the last to audition, in full costume and make-up, for the coveted role of Christine Daae in the on-screen adaptation of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's ''The Phantom of the Opera''. Following an international search for talent, and having nearly missed the audition on account of a family engagement, Rossum was asked to audition in person for Webber at his home in New York. “When I arrived, he just said, ‘Shall we?’ meaning I was to sing. And I did," Rossum has said of the audition. After seeing her audition, Webber felt she proved her ability to play the young opera singer who becomes the object of the phantom's obsessive love. For her role as Christine Daae, Rossum received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a musical or comedy. She is the youngest actress ever to be nominated for that particular award. She also received a Critics' Choice Award for Best Young Actress, along with a Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor and other awards.

In 2006, Rossum appeared in ''Poseidon'' - Wolfgang Petersen's high-budget remake of the disaster film ''The Poseidon Adventure''. She played Jennifer Ramsey, the daughter of Kurt Russell's character, Robert Ramsey. As Jennifer, she is described as a 19-year-old heroine because she is not a damsel in distress, and is very proactive and strong in all situations.

Rossum also appeared as Juliet Capulet in a 2006 Williamstown Theatre Festival production of William Shakespeare's ''Romeo and Juliet''. In early 2009, Rossum appeared in ''Dragonball Evolution''. Rossum described her action role in ''Dragonball'' as the hardest thing she's ever done.

Her next big screen venture was the indie ''Dare'' which was an official selection of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. In November 2009, Rossum appeared in Broadway's 24 Hour Plays in which actors, writers, and directors collaborate to produce, and perform six one act plays within 24 hours to benefit the Urban Arts Partnership. Rossum appeared in Warren Leight's "Daily Bread", directed by Lucie Tiberghien.

In December 2009, Rossum joined the cast of the Showtime drama series pilot ''Shameless'', based on the hit British series of the same name. The pilot costars William H. Macy, Joan Cusack and Justin Chatwin. In April 2010, Showtime announced that they would be picking up the series for a full season of twelve episodes. Production began in September 2010 and continued through the fall with shooting taking place in Los Angeles and Chicago. The show was renewed for a second season on February 28, 2011.. In the summer of 2011 Rossum starred in DJ Caruso's social film, ''Inside.'' Sponsored by Intel and Toshiba, the online film aired in several segments, incorporating multiple social media platforms including Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter. ''Inside'' used the ideas from the fans to shape the plot, as well as have contests to have fans make cameo appearances through via Facebook video.

Singing and recording

After her role in ''The Phantom of the Opera'', Rossum was offered several deals to record classical albums, but refused, opting to create an album of contemporary, more mainstream music. "I was inspired to cut this album because I'm so frustrated listening to the radio these days," Rossum lamented. "There is so little emotional honesty." Regarding the sound and style of her music, she said, "It's pop music, but not Britney Spears bubblegum pop. I want it to have a David Gray or Annie Lennox feel. I've been spending up to 12 hours a day in the studio." Rossum cites Dolly Parton, Madonna, Cher and Barbra Streisand as some of her influences.

Rossum's album ''Inside Out'' was produced by Stuart Brawley. It was released on October 23, 2007 and peaked at 199 in the U.S. charts. For the promotion of the record, Geffen Records featured the song, "Slow Me Down," as part of the second volume of Hollywood Records' ''Girl Next'' compilation album, which was released on July 10, 2007. Later that year, she was chosen as Yahoo's "Who's Next" artist of the month and a "One to Watch" by MSN. In December 2007, Rossum released three Christmas songs on the EP ''Carol of the Bells.''

It was also this year that Rossum sang the national anthem at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Infineon Raceway and performed at the first ever Perez Hilton Presents event at the El Rey Theatre in Hollywood. On October 27, 2007, Rossum again sang the national anthem at the New Jersey Devils's first home game of the 2007–08 NHL season, which was also the first game the team played in the newly-constructed Prudential Center. She also performed at the Hollywood Christmas Celebration at the Grove in Los Angeles and the Lighting of the Great Tree in Atlanta, Georgia.

Rossum describes herself as a lyric soprano, though she admits her voice is still developing.

In the summer of 2008, Rossum announced that she was in the process of writing and recording her second studio album.

She joined Counting Crows, Augustana, and Michael Franti & Spearhead as a "special guest" for select performances of the "Traveling Circus and Medicine Show" tour in the summer of 2009.

In 2010, Rossum sang a song called "Cruel One" on singer Alex Band's debut solo album ''We've All Been There''. On the track she sings with Band, and Chantal Kreviazuk. The song is available on the album's deluxe edition.

Rossum continues to train vocally at ZajacStudio, Inc, a studio run by soprano Joann C. Zajac.

Charity work and public service campaigns

Rossum is a YouthAIDS ambassador. She is also the official spokesperson for "PiNKiTUDE" - a campaign to help raise breast cancer awareness. Additionally, Rossum is an environmentalist. She has appeared in several Public Service Announcements for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Action Fund. She also works with Global Green USA to raise money for environmental protection and awareness of ecological issues. On May 26, 2009, Emmy Rossum attended a march in West Hollywood California protesting the California Supreme Court's ruling to uphold Proposition 8.

Personal life

Rossum attended the Spence School, a private school in Manhattan, for a year before dropping out to pursue career opportunities. She received her high school diploma at 15 years old via online extension courses offered by Stanford University's Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY). She currently attends Columbia University.

Rossum has celiac disease, an autoimmune disease in which the body can't tolerate any foods containing gluten or wheat. She revealed her condition on MTV News after being given a cupcake on-camera to celebrate her 22nd birthday; she was only able to eat the frosting. One of her best friends is actress Leighton Meester, a member of the ''Gossip Girl'' cast.

Rossum was married to music executive Justin Siegel for a year and a half before he filed for divorce on September 25, 2009. Rossum began dating Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz after touring with the band in the summer of 2009. They broke up in September 2010.

Filmography

+ Film
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1996	''Grace & Glorie''	Luanne	Television film
1998	''Only Love''	Lily	Television film
1999		Claire Addison	Television filmNominated — Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Television film or Pilot - Supporting Young Actress
2000	''''	young Audrey Hepburn	Television film
2000	''Songcatcher''	Deladis Slocumb
2000	''It Had to Be You''	Young Girl
2001	''''	Sheila (at age 15)
2001	''Happy Now''	Nicky Trent / Jenny Thomas
2002	''Passionada''	Vicky Amonte
2003		Nola
2003		Katie Markum
2004	''''	Laura Chapman	Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance
2004	''''	Christine Daaé
2006		Jennifer Ramsey
2009	''Dragonball: Evolution''	Bulma
2009		Alexa Walker
2011		Christina Perasso

+ Television
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1997	''Law & Order''	Alison Martin	"Ritual" (Season 5, Episode 14)
1998	''''	Young Sarah	Mini-series
1999		Caroline Beels	"Separation Anxiety" (Season 1, Episode 6)"Blood Lines" (Season 1, Episode 11)
1999	''As the World Turns''
2001	''The Practice''	Allison Ellison	"The Candidate" (Season 6, Episode 1)
2011–present		Fiona Gallagher	Main cast

Awards and nominations

{|class="wikitable" border="2" cellpadding="4" background: #f9f9f9; |- align="center" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Award ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Category ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Nominated Work ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Result |- | 2000 || Young Artist Award || Best Performance in a TV Movie or Pilot - Supporting Young Actress || ''Genius'' || |- | 2001 || Independent Spirit Award || Best Debut Performance || ''Songcatcher'' || |- | 2004 || National Board of Review || Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actress || rowspan="4"| ''The Phantom of the Opera'' || |- | rowspan="7"| 2005 || Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films || Best Performance by a Younger Actor || |- | Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards || Best Young Actress || |- | Golden Globes || Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy || |- | MTV Movie Awards || Breakthrough Female || ''The Day After Tomorrow'' || |- | Online Film Critics Society Awards || Best Breakthrough Performance || rowspan="3"| ''The Phantom of the Opera'' || |- | Satellite Awards || Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical || |- | Young Artist Awards || Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress || |- | 2009|| Savannah Film Festival || Young Hollywood Award || ''Dare'' || |}

Discography

Albums

{|class="wikitable" border="1" |- ! rowspan="2"|Year ! rowspan="2" width="200"|Album details ! colspan="1"|Chart peak positions ! rowspan="2" width="300"|Notes |- !style="width:3em;font-size:75%;"| US |- | 2007 |''Inside Out''

Released: 23 October 2007

Label: Geffen (B0010157-02)

Formats: CD

|align="center"| 199 |

U.S. Billboard Top New Age Albums - 2

U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers - 3

U.S. Billboard Top Digital Albums - 15

28,090 units sold in the U.S.

|}

EPs

{|class="wikitable" border="1" |- ! rowspan="1"|Year ! rowspan="1" width="200"|EP details ! rowspan="1" width="300"|Notes |- | 2007 |''Carol of the Bells''

Released: 27 November 2007

Label: Geffen (B000YAX4FY)

Formats: CD

|Christmas Special |- |}

Singles

Year	Single	Notes
			*Hot Canadian Digital Singles #37

Music videos

{|class="wikitable" border="1" |- !Year !width="220"| Title !width="120"| Director |- |rowspan="5"| 2007 | "Slow Me Down" |Thomas Kloss |- | "The Great Divide" | |- | "Inside Out" | |- | "Stay" | |- | "Falling" |Adam Egypt Mortimer |}

Endorsements

The Body Shop

Mt Rainier Cafe Latte

AK Plaza

Suave

References

External links

Emmy Rossum on Twitter

Emmy Rossum on Geffen Records

Category:1986 births Category:American child actors Category:American female singers Category:American film actors Category:American Jews Category:American singers Category:American sopranos Category:American people of European descent Category:American television actors Category:Living people Category:Jewish singers Category:People from New York City Category:Saturn Award winners Category:New York Democrats

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Coordinates	45°30′″N73°40′″N
birth name	Leslie William Nielsen
birth date	February 11, 1926
birth place	Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
death date	November 28, 2010
death place	Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
death cause	Pneumonia
occupation	Actor
nationality	Canadian-American
education	Victoria Composite High School
alma mater	Lorne Greene Academy of Radio Arts, Toronto
years active	1948–2010
relatives	Erik Nielsen (brother)Jean Hersholt (half-uncle)
spouse	Monica Boyer (1950–1956)Alisande Ullman (1958–1973)Brooks Oliver (1981–1983)Barbaree Earl (2001–2010)
signature	LeslieNielsen.png }}

Leslie William Nielsen, OC (11 February 1926 28 November 2010) was a Canadian and naturalized American actor and comedian. Nielsen appeared in more than one hundred films and 1,500 television programs over the span of his career, portraying more than 220 characters. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Nielsen enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and worked as a disc jockey before receiving a scholarship to Neighborhood Playhouse. Making his television debut in 1948, he quickly expanded to over 50 television appearances two years later. Nielsen made his film debut in 1956, and began collecting roles in dramas, westerns, and romance films. Nielsen's performances in the films ''Forbidden Planet'' (1956) and ''The Poseidon Adventure'' (1972) received positive reviews as a serious actor, though he is primarily known for his comedic roles.

Although Nielsen's acting career crossed a variety of genres in both television and films, his deadpan delivery in ''Airplane!'' (1980) marked a turning point in his career, one that would make him, in the words of film critic Roger Ebert, "the Olivier of spoofs." Nielsen enjoyed further success with ''The Naked Gun'' film series (1988 1994), based on a short-lived television series ''Police Squad!'' in which he starred earlier. His portrayal of serious characters seemingly oblivious to (and complicit in) their absurd surroundings gave him a reputation as a comedian. In the final years of his career, Nielsen appeared in multiple spoof and parody films, many of which were met poorly by critics, but performed well in box office and home media releases. Nielsen married four times and had two daughters from his second marriage. He was recognized with a variety of awards throughout his career, and was inducted into the Canada and Hollywood Walks of Fame.

Early life

Nielsen was born on 11 February 1926 in Regina, Saskatchewan. His mother, Mabel Elizabeth (née Davies), was a Welsh immigrant from Fulham, London, and his father, Ingvard Eversen Nielsen, was a Danish-born Constable in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Nielsen had two brothers; his older brother, Erik Nielsen (1924–2008), was Deputy Prime Minister of Canada during the 1980s. Ingvard was a troubled man who beat his wife and sons, and Leslie longed to escape. As soon as he graduated from high school at 17, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, even though he was legally deaf (he wore hearing aids most of his life).

His half-uncle, Jean Hersholt, was an actor best known for his portrayal of Dr. Christian in the long-running radio series of the same name and the subsequent television series and films. In a 1994 ''Boston Globe'' article, Nielsen explained, "I did learn very early that when I would mention my uncle, people would look at me as if I were the biggest liar in the world. Then I would take them home and show them 8-by-10 glossies, and things changed quite drastically. So I began to think that maybe this acting business was not a bad idea, much as I was very shy about it and certainly without courage regarding it. My uncle died not too long after I was in a position to know him. I regret that I had not a chance to know him better."

Nielsen spent several years living in Fort Norman (now Tulita), Northwest Territories where his father was stationed with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. At the age of 17, following his graduation from Victoria Composite High School in Edmonton, Nielsen enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and was trained as an aerial gunner during the latter part of World War II (but was too young to be fully trained or sent overseas). He worked briefly as a disc jockey at a Calgary, Alberta radio station, before enrolling at the Lorne Greene Academy of Radio Arts, Toronto. While studying in Toronto, Nielsen received a scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse. He noted, "I couldn't refuse, but I must say when you come from the land of the snow goose, the moose and wool to New York, you're bringing every ton of hayseed and country bumpkin that you packed. As long as I didn't open my mouth, I felt a certain security. But I always thought I was going to be unmasked: 'OK, pack your stuff.' 'Well, what's the matter?' 'We've discovered you have no talent; we're shipping you back to Canada.'" He moved to New York City for his scholarship, studying theater and music at the Neighborhood Playhouse, while performing in summer stock theatre. Afterward, he attended the Actors Studio, until making his first television appearance in 1948 on an episode of ''Studio One'', alongside Charlton Heston, for which he was paid US$75.

Career

Early career

Nielsen's career began in dramatic roles on television during what is known as "Television's Golden Age", appearing in almost 50 live programs in 1950 alone. Nielsen reported that for his salary that there " was very little gold, we only got $75 or $100 per show." His distinct voice narrated several documentaries and commercials but, with a handful of exceptions, his early work as a dramatic actor was uneventful. Hal Erickson of Allmovie noted, "...much of Nielsen's early work was undistinguished; he was merely a handsome leading man in an industry overstocked with handsome leading men." In 1956 he made his feature film debut in the Michael Curtiz-directed musical film ''The Vagabond King''. In the ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'', Nielsen pointed out that he remembers Curtiz as "a sadist, a charming sadist, but a sadist". Nielsen would go on to call this film "The Vagabond Turkey". Though the film was not a box office success, Nielsen caught the eye of producer Nicholas Nayfack who offered him an audition for a role in the science fiction film ''Forbidden Planet'', resulting in Nielsen being signed to a long-term contract by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).

''Forbidden Planet'' became an instant success, and roles in other MGM films such as ''Ransom!'' (1956), ''The Opposite Sex'' (1956) and ''Hot Summer Night'' (1957) followed. In 1957 he won the lead role opposite Debbie Reynolds in the romantic comedy ''Tammy and the Bachelor'', which, as a ''Chicago Tribune'' critic wrote in 1998, made people consider Nielsen as both a dramatic actor and a handsome romantic lead. However, dissatisfied with the quality of the films he was offered, calling the studios " a Tiffany, which had forgotten how to make silver", Nielsen left MGM, but not before auditioning for the role of Messala in the 1959 historical piece ''Ben-Hur''. Stephen Boyd was eventually given the role. After leaving the studios, Nielsen landed the lead role in the Disney miniseries ''The Swamp Fox'', as American Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion. In a 1988 interview he reflected on the series, stating, "That was a great experience, because the Disney people didn't do their shows like everyone else, knocking out an episode a week. We only had to do an episode a month, and the budgets were extremely high for TV at that time. We had location shooting rather than cheap studio backdrops, and very authentic costumes." Eight episodes were produced and aired between 1959 and 1961.

His television appearances include parts in ''Justice'', ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'', ''The Virginian'', and ''The Wild Wild West''. In 1961, he was the lead in a taut Los Angeles police drama called ''The New Breed''. In 1968, he had a major role in the pilot film for the popular police series ''Hawaii Five-O'', and later appeared in one of the seventh season episodes. In 1969, he had the leading role as a police officer in ''The Bold Ones: The Protectors''.

In 1972, Nielsen appeared as the ship's captain in the all-star disaster epic ''The Poseidon Adventure''. He also starred in the William Girdler-directed 1977 action film ''Project: Kill''. His last role before portraying mainly comedy roles was the Canadian disaster film ''City on Fire'' in which he played a corrupt mayor. In 1980, he guest starred as Sinclair on the CBS miniseries ''The Chisholms''.

''Airplane!'' and ''The Naked Gun''

Nielsen's supporting role in 1980's ''Airplane!'' was a major watershed in his career. The ethos of the movie, a parody of dramatic disaster films such as ''Zero Hour!'' and ''Airport'', is largely based on building a comedy around actors who were then known exclusively for their dramatic roles (other stars included Robert Stack, Peter Graves, and Lloyd Bridges). Nielsen was the movie's linchpin, his deadpan delivery contrasting with the continual absurdity surrounding him. When asked, "Surely you can't be serious?", he responds with a curt, "I am serious. And don't call me Shirley." In several interviews he later reflected on the significance of the comedic line: "I thought it was amusing, but it never occurred to me that it was going to become a trademark. It's such a surprise...the thing comes out, people say, 'What did he say?!'" Nielsen also stated that he was "...pleased and honoured that [he] had a chance to deliver that line." The comedic exchange was at #79 on the American Film Institute's list of Top 100 movie quotes. The American Film Institute also included the film in its list of the top ten comedy films of all time.

Critics praised the film, which also proved to be a success with audiences. The film's directors, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, chose Nielsen for the role based on his ability to play "a fish in water", stating that "You could have cast funny people and done it with everybody winking, goofing off, and silly...we wanted people to be oblivious to the comedy." For Nielsen, ''Airplane!'' marked a shift from dramatic roles to a new focus on deadpan comedy. When it was suggested that his role in ''Airplane!'' was against type, Nielsen protested that he had "always been cast against type before," and that comedy was what he always really wanted to do.

The directors, interested in the success of the new comedy, decided to bring a similar style of comedy to television, casting Nielsen in the lead role in their new series, ''Police Squad!''. The series introduced Nielsen as Frank Drebin, the stereotypical police officer modeled after serious characters in earlier police TV series.

''Police Squad'''s opening sequence was based on the 1950s cop show ''M Squad'', (which starred Lee Marvin), which opened with footage of a police car roving through an after-dark urban setting with a big band playing a jazz theme song in the background. The voice-over and the show's organization into "acts" with an epilogue was homage to Quinn Martin police dramas including ''The Fugitive'', ''The Streets of San Francisco'', ''Barnaby Jones'', ''The F.B.I.'', and ''Cannon''. Much like in ''Airplane!'', Nielsen portrayed a serious character whose one-liners appeared accidental next to the pratfalls and sight gags around him. Although the show was quickly canceled, lasting only six episodes after being juggled between time slots, Nielsen received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

Non-comedic roles included ''Prom Night'' (1980) and ''Creepshow'' (1982), both horror films. His last dramatic role was as Allen Green, a violent john killed in self-defense by Barbra Streisand's prostitute character, Claudia Draper, in Martin Ritt's courtroom drama ''Nuts'' (1987).

Six years after the cancellation of ''Police Squad!'', its directors decided to make a feature length version for theaters. Titled ''The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!''. The film returned Nielsen to his role as Frank Drebin. It involved a comical scheme of a ruthless drug kingpin using hypnosis in an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II. Drebin, like the doctor in ''Airplane!'', seemed unaware of the absurdity around him even when unintentionally contributing toward it. Nielsen later said in an interview that he had done many of his own stunts, "You have an idea of how you're going to do something, and it's your vision... unless you do it, it really doesn't stand a chance." This movie grossed over $78 million at the box office and was well-received by critics. Ebert's 3½–star review (out of four) noted, "You laugh, and then you laugh at yourself for laughing."

''The Naked Gun'' spawned two sequels: ''The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear'' (1991) and ''Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult'' (1994). ''Naked Gun 2½'' grossed more than the original, with $86,930,400, while ''Naked Gun 33⅓'' grossed $51,132,600 in receipts. Nielsen remained open to the prospects of acting in a fourth ''Naked Gun'' film, although he doubted that it would ever be produced—"I don't think so," he said in 2005. "If there hasn't been one by now, I doubt it. I think it would be wonderful."

Nielsen briefly appeared on the World Wrestling Federation program in the summer of 1994 on ''Monday Night RAW''; capitalizing on his Frank Drebin character, Nielsen (and George Kennedy) were hired as "super-sleuths" to unravel the mystery of The Undertaker who had disappeared at January's Royal Rumble event. At SummerSlam 1994, in a ''Naked Gun'' parody, they were hot on the case (in fact, they were literally standing on a case). Although they did not actually find The Undertaker, the case had been closed (the literal case had been shut) and thus, they solved the mystery.

Later comedies

Nielsen attempted a variety of similar roles with none achieving the prominence of Frank Drebin. These films mostly emulated the style of ''The Naked Gun'' series with varying degrees of critical and commercial success: many were panned by critics and most performed poorly. In 1986, Nielsen played against recent type as a dramatic (and unsympathetic) character in the comedy, ''Soul Man''. In 1990, Nielsen also appeared as a Frank Drebin-style character in a series of advertisements in the United Kingdom for Red Rock Cider.

Although ''The Naked Gun'' series parodied police dramas in general, Nielsen's later parody films focused on specific targets. Critics panned ''Repossessed'' (1990) and ''2001: A Space Travesty'' (2001), parodies of ''The Exorcist'' and ''2001: A Space Odyssey'', respectively. Both films attempted the absurdist comedy Nielsen is recognized for, but were poorly received. Even a leading role in a Mel Brooks comic horror parody, ''Dracula: Dead and Loving It'', failed to generate much box office excitement, although it did gain somewhat of a following on its later release to video. Both 1996's ''Spy Hard'' and 1998's ''Wrongfully Accused'', a parody of James Bond films and ''The Fugitive'', respectively, received more popularity on home video but were not well-received by critics.

His attempt at children's comedies met with additional criticism. ''Surf Ninjas'' (1993) and ''Mr. Magoo'' (1997) faced scathing reviews. Several critics were disappointed that Nielsen's role in ''Surf Ninjas'' was only "an extended cameo" and film critic Chris Hicks recommended that viewers "...avoid any comedy that features Leslie Nielsen outside of the ''Naked Gun'' series." Jeff Miller of the ''Houston Chronicle'' panned ''Mr. Magoo'', a live action remake of the 1950s cartoon, by saying, "I'm supposed to suggest how the film might be better but I can't think of anything to say other than to make the film again."

Nielsen's first major slapstick success since ''The Naked Gun'' came in a supporting role in ''Scary Movie 3'' (2003). His appearance as President Harris proved popular enough for a second appearance in its sequel, ''Scary Movie 4'' (2006). This became the first time Nielsen reprised a character since his appearances as Frank Drebin. In one scene, Nielsen appeared almost fully nude, and one critic referred to the scene as putting "the 'scary' in ''Scary Movie 4''."

Nielsen also hosted a series of instructional golf videos beginning with 1993's ''Bad Golf Made Easier''. The videos were not serious, instead combining absurdist comedy with golf techniques. The series were popular enough to spawn two additional sequels, ''Bad Golf My Way'' (1994) and ''Stupid Little Golf Video'' (1997). Nielsen also co-wrote a fictional autobiography titled ''The Naked Truth''. The book portrayed Nielsen as a popular actor with a long history of prestigious films.

Final years

Even in his eighties, Nielsen continued to have an active career. He performed serious roles on screen and stage (such as his one-man theatre show ''Darrow'', in which he played Clarence Darrow), as well as providing voice-overs and on-camera appearances for commercials; cartoons like ''Zeroman'' where he had the leading role/voice; children's shows, such as ''Pumper Pups'', which he narrated, in addition to comedic film roles. The sibling relationship with his elder brother, the Honourable Erik Nielsen, a former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, served as the premise of an HBO mockumentary entitled ''The Canadian Conspiracy'' in which Leslie Nielsen appeared, along with other prominent Canadian-born media personalities. He was a celebrity contestant on CBS's ''Gameshow Marathon'', where he played ''The Price is Right'', ''Let's Make a Deal'', ''Beat the Clock'', and ''Press Your Luck'' for charity.

Beginning in February 2007, Nielsen began playing a small role as a doctor in the humorous yet educational television show ''Doctor*Ology''. The show chronicles real-life medical techniques and technology, and airs on the Discovery Channel. In an interview, Nielsen admitted his admiration for the doctors on the show: "There are any number of things that you think about when you ponder if you hadn't been an actor, what would you be, and I've always said I'd like to be an astronaut or a doctor. I have such admiration for doctors. I just don't know how you go around to thank them enough for coming up with the world's most remarkable new discoveries."

In 2007, Nielsen starred in the drama ''Music Within''. In 2008, he portrayed a version of Uncle Ben for ''Superhero Movie'', a spoof of superhero films. He then appeared in the 2008 parody film ''An American Carol'', which David Zucker directed, produced, and co-wrote. He appeared in the 2009 parody ''Stan Helsing''. Nielsen portrayed the Doctor in the Spanish horror comedy ''Spanish Movie'', a spoof comedy like ''Scary Movie'', but making fun of popular Spanish films.

Nielsen appeared in over 100 films and 1,500 television programs over the span of his career, portraying over 220 characters.

Personal life

Nielsen married four times: Monica Boyer (1950–1956), Alisande Ullman (1958–1973), Brooks Oliver (1981–1983) and Barbaree Earl (2001–2010; his death). Nielsen had two daughters from his second marriage, Maura and Thea Nielsen.

Nielsen was a fan of golf, and he often played it in his free time. Nielsen joked about his view on golf, "I have no goals or ambition. I do, however, wish to work enough to maintain whatever celebrity status I have so that they will continue to invite me to golf tournaments." Nielsen's interest in the sport led him to star in several comedic instructional films.

Nielsen stated in several interviews that he had a few medical problems such as hearing impairment. He was legally deaf and wore hearing aids for most of his life. Because of this impairment, he publicly supported the Better Hearing Institute.

Death

In November 2010, Nielsen was admitted to a Fort Lauderdale, Florida hospital for treatment of pneumonia. On 28 November, Doug Nielsen, Nielsen's nephew, announced to the CJOB radio station that Nielsen had died in his sleep, due to complications from pneumonia, around 5:30 pm EST, surrounded by family and friends. As a final bit of humor, Nielsen chose "Let 'er Rip" as his epitaph.

Achievements

Among his numerous awards, in 1995 Leslie Nielsen received UCLA's Jack Benny Award for his comedic roles. In 1988, he became the 1,884th personality to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6541 Hollywood Blvd. In 2001 he was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. The following year he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, although he was also a naturalized U.S. citizen. With his American status, he maintained his Canadian heritage: "There's no way you can be a Canadian and think you can lose it ... Canadians are a goodly group. They are very aware of caring and helping." On 19 May 2005, during the centennial gala of his birth province, Saskatchewan, Leslie Nielsen was introduced to HM Queen Elizabeth II.

On 20 February 2002, Nielsen was named an honorary citizen of West Virginia and an "Ambassador of Mountain State Goodwill". Nielsen visited the state many times to speak and visit friends. In 2003, in honor of Nielsen, Grant MacEwan College named its school of communications after him. Also in 2003, the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists awarded him the ACTRA Award of Excellence.

Filmography

Films

''Hot Summer Night (1957 film) ''The Sheepman'' ''See How They Run (1964 film) ''Dark Intruder'' ''The Plainsman (1966 film) ''Code Name: Heraclitus'' ''How to Steal the World'' ''Trial Run'' ''Night Slaves'' ''Incident In San Francisco'' ''The Poseidon Adventure (1972 film) ''...And Millions Die!'' ''Can Ellen Be Saved'' ''Grand Jury (1976 film) ''Sixth and Main'' ''Little Mo (1978 film) ''Institute for Revenge'' ''OHMS (1980 film) ''A Choice of Two'' ''Twilight Theater (film) ''Prime Time'' ''Murder Among Friends'' ''The Patriot (1986 film) ''Nightstick (film) >''Dangerous Curves (1988 film) ''Repossessed (film) ''All I Want for Christmas (film) ''Digger (1993 film) ''S.P.Q.R. 2000 e 1/2 anni fa'' ''Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree'' ''Spy Hard'' ''Mr. Magoo (film) ''Safety Patrol (film) ''Pirates 4D'' ''Santa Who?'' ''Camouflage (film) ''Men with Brooms'' ''Scary Movie 3'' ''Scary Movie 4'' ''Music Within'' ''Superhero Movie'' ''Spanish Movie'' ''Stonerville ''Waterman (series)#The Waterman Movie

Year			! Role	! Other notes
rowspan="4"	1956	''Ransom!''	Charlie Telfer
''Forbidden Planet''	Commander John J. Adams
''The Vagabond King (1956 film)	The Vagabond King''	Thibault
''The Opposite Sex''	Steve Hilliard
rowspan="2"	1957	Hot Summer Night'' ||	William Joel Partain
''Tammy and the Bachelor''	Peter Brent
1958	|	Col. Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe
rowspan="2"	1964	See How They Run'' ||	Elliot Green	First television movie.
''Night Train to Paris''	Alan Holiday
rowspan="2"	1965	|	Brett Kingsford
''Harlow (Paramount film)	Harlow''	Richard Manley
rowspan="2"	1966	The Plainsman'' ||	Col. George Armstrong Custer
''Beau Geste (1966 film)	Beau Geste''	Lieutenant De Ruse
rowspan="4"	1967	|	Fryer
''The Reluctant Astronaut''	Major Fred Gifford
''Gunfight in Abilene''	Grant Evers
''Rosie!''	Cabot Shaw
rowspan="4"	1968	|	General Maximilian Harmon	''The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'' film.
''Counterpoint (1968 film)	Counterpoint''	Victor Rice
''Dayton's Devils''	Frank Dayton
''Companions in Nightmare''	Dr. Neesden
rowspan="4"	1969	|	Jason Harkness
''Deadlock (1969 film)	Deadlock''	Lieutenant Sam Danforth
''How to Commit Marriage''	Phil Fletcher
''Change of Mind''	Sherrif Webb
rowspan="3"	1970	|	Sherrif Henshaw
''The Aquarians''	Official
''Hauser's Memory''	Joseph Slaughter
rowspan="3"	1971	|	Lieutenant Brubaker
''Four Rode Out''	Mr. Brown
''They Call It Murder''	Frank Antrim
1972	The Poseidon Adventure'' ||	Captain Harrison
rowspan="4"	1973	|	Jack Gallagher
''Snatched''	Bill Sutting
''Amanda Fallon''	Mr. Cummings
''The Return Of Charlie Chan''	Alexander Hadrachi
rowspan="2"	1975	|	Arnold Lindsey
''Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience''	Narrator
rowspan="3"	1976	Grand Jury'' ||	John Williams
''Project Kill''	Jonathan Trevor
''Brinks: The Great Robbery''	Agent Norman Houston
rowspan="5"	1977	|	John Doe
''Day of the Animals''	Paul Jenson
''Viva Knievel!''	Stanley Millard
''The Kentucky Fried Movie''	Man in Feel-O-Rama Movie
''The Amsterdam Kill''	Riley Knight
1978	Little Mo ||	Nelson Fisher
rowspan="4"	1979	|	Counselor Hollis Barnes
''The Albertans''	Don MacIntosh
''Riel (1979 film)	Riel''	Major Crozier
''City on Fire (1979 film)	City on Fire''	Mayor William Dudley
rowspan="3"	1980	OHMS'' ||	Governor
''Airplane!''	Dr. Rumack
''Prom Night (1980 film)	Prom Night''	Mr. Raymond Hammond
rowspan="1"	1981	|	Unknown
rowspan="4"	1982	Twilight Theater'' ||	Various Characters
''Foxfire Light''	Reece Morgan
''Wrong Is Right''	Mallory
''Creepshow''	Richard Vickers
rowspan="4"	1983	|	Unknown
''The Night the Bridge Fell Down''	Paul Warren
''Cave-In!''	Joseph 'Joe' Johnson
''The Creature Wasn't Nice'' (''Spaceship'')	Capt. Jamieson
rowspan="4"	1985	|	Unknown
''Reckless Disregard''	Bob Franklin
''Blade in Hong Kong''	Harry Ingersoll
''Striker's Mountain''	Jim McKay
rowspan="2"	1986	The Patriot'' ||	Admiral Frazer
''Soul Man (film)	Soul Man''	Mr. Dunbar
rowspan="3"	1987	Nightstick'' ||	Thad Evans
''Nuts (film)	Nuts ''	Allen Green
''Home Is Where The Hart Is''	Sherrif Nashville Schwartz
rowspan="3"	1988	Dangerous Curves'' ||	Greg Krevske
''The Railway Dragon''	Narrator
''The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad	''	Lieutenant Frank Drebin>Frank Drebin
1990	Repossessed'' ||	Father Jebedaiah Mayii
rowspan="3">1991	All I Want for Christmas''||	Santa Claus	Family holiday film.
''The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear''	Lt. Frank Drebin
''Chance of a Lifetime (1991 film)	Chance of a Lifetime''	Lloyd Dixon
rowspan="2"	1993	Digger'' ||	Arthur Evrensel
''Surf Ninjas''	Colonel Chi
rowspan="2"	1994	|	Lucio Cinico
''Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult''	Lt. Frank Drebin
rowspan="3"	1995	|	Willowby's butler
''Rent-a-Kid''	Harry Haber
''Dracula: Dead and Loving It''	Count Dracula
1996	|	Dick Steele, Agent WD-40
1997	Mr. Magoo'' ||	Mr. Magoo
rowspan="4"	1998	Safety Patrol'' ||	Mr. Penn
''Family Plan (1997 film)	Family Plan''	Harry Haber
''Harvey (1998 film)	Harvey''	Dr. Chumley
''Wrongfully Accused''	Ryan Harrison
1999	|	Captain Lucky	4D Cinema Show presented at various Busch Gardens amusement parks.
rowspan="2"	2000	|	Santa Claus
''2001: A Space Travesty''	Marshal Richard 'Dick' Dix
rowspan="2"	2001	Camouflage'' ||	Jack Potter
''Kevin of the North'' (''Chilly Dogs'')	Clive Thornton
2002	|	Gordon Cutter
rowspan="2"	2003	|	President Harris
''Noël Noël''	English Narrator
2006	|	President Harris
2007	|	Bill Austin
rowspan="3"	2008	|	Uncle Albert
''An American Carol''	Grampa / Himself
''Slap Shot 3: The Junior League	Mayor of Charlestown
rowspan="2"	2009	|	Doctor
''Stan Helsing''	Kay
rowspan="1"	2011	|	Producer
rowspan="1"	2012	The Waterman Movie'' ||	Ready Espanosa	Voice acting is complete; will be released posthumously.

Television

''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' ''The Swamp Fox (TV series) ''Thriller (U.S. TV series) ''Wagon Train'' ''The Untouchables (1959 TV series) ''The New Breed (TV series) ''Channing (TV series) ''The Fugitive (TV series)'' ''Your First Impression'' ''The Alfred Hitchcock Hour'' ''The Virginian (TV series) '' Peyton Place (TV series) ''Bonanza'' ''The Bold Ones: The Protectors'' ''Hawaii Five-O'' ''Columbo (TV series) ''Bearcats!'' ''Night Gallery'' ''M*A*S*H (TV series) ''The Streets of San Francisco'' ''Cannon (TV series) ''Kojak'' ''Kung Fu (TV series) ''S.W.A.T. (TV series) ''Backstairs at the White House (miniseries) ''The Littlest Hobo'' ''Police Squad!'' ''Shaping Up'' ''Murder, She Wrote'' ''Who's The Boss'' ''Day by Day (TV series) ''Saturday Night Live'' ''The Golden Girls'' ''Due South'' ''Katie and Orbie'' ''Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree'' ''Santa Who?'' ''Liocracy'' ''Chilly Beach'' ''Zeroman'' ''Doctorology''

Year	! Title	! Role	! Other Notes
1953	''Jukebox Jury''	Himself
1958–1961	|	Lloyd Ashley & DA Rudolph Cox	Two episodes
1959	The Swamp Fox'' ||	Colonel Francis Marion
1960	Thriller'' ||	Alan Patterson (lead role)	Episode "The Twisted Image"
1960, 1964	|	Jeremy Dow, Brian Conlin	Two episodes
1960	The Untouchables'' ||	Tom Sebring	Episode "Three Thousand Suspects"
1961	The New Breed'' ||	Lt. Price Adams	Regular
1963	Channing'' ||	Professor Paul Stafford	Single episode
1963–1964	|	Martin C. Rowland & Harold Cheyney	Two episodes
1964	|	As himself	Single episode
1964	|	Steven Grainger	Single episode
1964–1969	The Virginian'' ||	Ben Stratton	Five episodes
1965	Peyton Place'' ||	Vincent and Kenneth Marham (twins)	19 episodes
1967	|	Sheriff Paul Rowan	One episode
1969	|	Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth	Seven episodes
1969–1974	|	Brent & Colonel Faraday	Two episodes
1971–1975	Columbo'' ||	Peter Hamilton & Geronimo	Two episodes
1971	|	Col. Ted Donovan	Single episode
1971	|	Col. Dennis Malloy	Single episode "A Question of Fear"
1973	M*A*S*H'' ||	The Ringbanger>Buzz Brighton	Episode "The Ringbanger"
1973–1974	|	Ofc. Joe Landers, Insp. John T. Connor, & Big Jake Wilson	Three episodes
1974	Cannon'' ||	Eric Strauss	Single episode
1974	|	Michael Hagar	Single episode "Loser Takes All"
1975	Kung Fu'' ||	Vincent Corbino	Four episodes
1975–1976	S.W.A.T.'' ||	Larry Neal/Vince Richie	Three episodes
1979	Backstairs at the White House'' ||	Ike Hoover	Three episodes
1980	|	Mayor Chester Montgomery	Episode "Romiet and Julio"
1982	|	Det. Frank Drebin	Nominated for an Emmy Award
1984	|	Buddy Fox
1985–1986	|	Captain Daniels & David Everett	Two episodes
1988	|	Max
1988	Day By Day'' ||	Jack Harper	One episode, nominated for an Emmy Award
1989	|	Himself	Single episode
1992	|	Lucas Hollingsworth	Series finale
1994–1999	|	Sgt. Buck Frobisher	Four episodes
1994–1996, 2001–2002	|	Narrator
1995	|	Mr. Willowby's Butler, Baxter	Television Christmas special
2000	|	Santa Claus	Television film
2001	|	Terrence Brynne McKennie
2003	|	Santa Claus	Single episode
2004	|	Les Mutton / Zeroman
rowspan="3"	2007	|	Presenter>Host
''Lipshitz Saves the World''	Lipshitz's mentor
''Robson Arms''	Cado Vasco

Video

1993: ''Bad Golf Made Easier''

1994: ''Bad Golf My Way''

1997: ''Stupid Little Golf Video''

1997: ''National Geographic Video: The Savage Garden''

Nielsen also appeared in a promotional video for Layman Allen's mathematics game called "Equations"

Writing

1993: ''The Naked Truth''

References

External links

Leslie Nielsen at Box Office Mojo

Leslie Nielsen at Hollywood.com

CBC Digital Archives – Leslie and Erik Nielsen laugh it up

Photographs and literature

Category:1926 births Category:2010 deaths Category:20th-century actors Category:21st-century actors Category:Actors from Alberta Category:Actors from the Northwest Territories Category:Actors from Saskatchewan Category:American people of Welsh descent Category:American comedians Category:American film actors Category:American film producers Category:American people of Danish descent Category:American television actors Category:American voice actors Category:Canadian comedians Category:Canadian film actors Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States Category:Canadian military personnel of World War II Category:Canadian people of Danish descent Category:Canadian people of Welsh descent Category:Canadian television actors Category:Canadian voice actors Category:Deaths from pneumonia Category:Infectious disease deaths in Florida Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States Category:Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre alumni Category:Officers of the Order of Canada Category:People from Edmonton Category:People from Regina, Saskatchewan Category:Royal Canadian Air Force personnel

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