Greg Kinnear
Greg Kinnear in May 2006
Born	Gregory Kinnear (1963-06-17) June 17, 1963 (age 48) Logansport, Indiana, U.S.
Occupation	Actor/TV personality
Years active	1988–present
Spouse	Helen Labdon (1999–present)

Gregory "Greg" Kinnear (born June 17, 1963) is an American actor and television personality who first rose to stardom in 1991. He has appeared in more than 20 motion pictures, and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in As Good as It Gets.

Early life[link]

Kinnear was born in Logansport, Indiana, the son of Suzanne, a homemaker, and Edward Kinnear, a career diplomat who worked for the US State Department.^[1][2] He has two brothers, James and Steven. When he was a child, the Kinnear family moved around frequently, from Beirut to Athens, part of a group sometimes referred to as the "Foreign Service Brats". While a student at the American Community Schools in Athens, Greg Kinnear first ventured into the role of talk show host with his radio show "School Daze With Greg Kinnear". Returning to the United States for a college education, he attended the University of Arizona, where he graduated in 1985 with a degree in broadcast journalism. At Arizona, Greg was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.^[3]

Career[link]

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Talk shows[link]

Kinnear hosted a short-lived game show, College Mad House, which was spun off from the kids' show, Fun House. Later he would become the creator, co-executive producer, and host of Best of the Worst which aired from 1990 to 1991. In 1991, Kinnear became the first host of Talk Soup, which he did until 1995, when he left the show for the NBC late-night talk show, Later with Greg Kinnear (1994).

Film roles[link]

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It was in 1994 that Kinnear had his first big screen role, as a talk show host in the Damon Wayans comedy Blankman. In 1995 he won the part of David Larrabee in Sydney Pollack's remake of Billy Wilder's 1954 classic Sabrina. He later played the lead role in the 1996 comedy Dear God. In 1997, he was cast in James L. Brooks' comedy-drama, As Good as It Gets, for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His next film, A Smile Like Yours, had him starring opposite Lauren Holly as part of a couple trying to have a baby. His next film was the popular You've Got Mail, in which he played Meg Ryan's significant other. His following films were Mystery Men, Nurse Betty, Loser, The Gift, and Someone Like You. Kinnear often alternated roles, often playing good guys like a playboy in Sabrina or a gay painter in As Good as It Gets, to bad guys such as a sleazy college professor in Loser and an egotistical soap opera star in Nurse Betty.

In 2002, Kinnear starred in the movie Auto Focus about the life and murder of actor Bob Crane. In 2003 he starred in Stuck On You, a comedy in which he played opposite Matt Damon as a conjoined twin who pursues his dream of becoming a Hollywood actor in spite of his joined brother's desire for a different kind of life. In 2005 he starred in the black comedy The Matador opposite Pierce Brosnan and voiced the main antagonist, Ratchet in the compter-animated film Robots.

In 2006, Kinnear co-starred with Steve Carell in the Oscar-winning comedy-drama Little Miss Sunshine, and with Mark Wahlberg in Invincible, based on the true story of a bartender who tries out for the Philadelphia Eagles football team. He also appeared in Fast Food Nation, playing a fast food executive who discovers secrets about his company. In 2008 starred in the movie Flash of Genius, a docudrama about Robert Kearns who invented the intermittent windshield wiper.

His portrayal of then-Major Bruce P. Crandall in 2002's We Were Soldiers brought public attention to Crandall's heroism during the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang. (On February 26, 2007, Crandall was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bush.)

Greg also appeared in the movie Baby Mama with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. He played a man working in a local smoothie shop and sparked a romantic interest in Tina Fey's character. In 2010, Kinnear starred as the estranged father of Miley Cyrus' character in The Last Song.

In 2011, Kinnear starred in the miniseries The Kennedys playing the lead role as John F. Kennedy. It was originally planned to air on the History Channel, however, it was announced in January 2011 that the miniseries had been pulled from that network.^[4] It was subsequently picked up by ReelzChannel and then first aired on April 3, 2011.

Kinnear is set to star as a famous novelist in the directorial debut of Josh Boone, Writers. The film will follow his complicated relationships with his ex-wife (Jennifer Connelly) and teenage children.^[5]

Personal life[link]

Kinnear married British model Helen Labdon in 1999. Labdon was previously a former Page 3 glamour model.^[6] They have three daughters, Lily Katherine (born September 2003), Audrey Mae (born June 2006) and Kate "Katie" Grace (born fall 2009).

Filmography[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

Academy Awards

• 1997: Nominated, "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" – As Good as It Gets

Blockbuster Entertainment Award

• 1999: Won, "Favorite Supporting Actor in a Comedy/Romance" – You've Got Mail

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

• 1996: Won, Most Promising Actor – Sabrina

Daytime Emmy Awards

• 1995: Won, "Outstanding Special Class Program" – "Talk Soup" (shared w/producers)

Golden Apple Awards

• 1996: Won, "Male Discovery of the Year"

Golden Globe Awards

• 1998: Nominated, "Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture" – As Good as It Gets

Gotham Awards

• 2006: Nominated, "Best Ensemble Cast" – Little Miss Sunshine (shared w/castmembers)

National Board of Review Awards

• 1997: Won, "Best Supporting Actor" – As Good as It Gets

The last song Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards

• 2006: Won, "Best Ensemble Cast" – Little Miss Sunshine (shared w/castmembers)

Satellite Awards

• 1998: Nominated, "Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy/Musical Motion Picture" – As Good as It Gets

Screen Actors Guild Awards

• 1998: Nominated, "Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role" – As Good as It Gets
• 2007: Won, "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture" – Little Miss Sunshine (shared w/castmembers)

Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards

• 1998: Won, "Best Supporting Actor" – As Good as It Gets

References[link]

External links [link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Greg Kinnear

• Greg Kinnear at the Internet Movie Database
• "Greg Kinnear interview". Archived from the original on 2008-02-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20080211114234/http://www.moviehole.net/news/20031126_2795.html. 
• Greg interview on WHO.com

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (July 2009)

Graham Norton
Norton in May 2010
Birth name	Graham William Walker
Born	(1963-04-04) 4 April 1963 (age 49) Clondalkin, Dublin, Ireland
Medium	Television, radio, stand-up
Nationality	Irish
Years active	1992–present
Genres	Observational comedy
Subject(s)	Everyday life, pop culture, current events, celebrities, sex
Notable works and roles	So Graham Norton V Graham Norton The Graham Norton Effect Graham Norton's Bigger Picture The Graham Norton Show

Graham William Walker, known by his stage name Graham Norton, (born 4 April 1963)^[1] is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist. He is the host of comedy chat programme The Graham Norton Show on BBC One in the UK and BBC America in the US. Hot Press has described him as "the 21st century's answer to Terry Wogan", with both men sharing an Irish background and the common link of being a BBC Radio 2 presenter and the BBC television commentator of the Eurovision Song Contest.^[2] Norton has won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Entertainment Performance on five occassions.

Early life and career[link]

Norton was born in Clondalkin, a suburb of Dublin, but grew up in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland to a Protestant family. He was educated at Bandon Grammar School, in County Cork and then University College Cork but did not complete his studies.

In 1992 his stand-up comedy drag act in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as a tea-towel clad Mother Teresa of Calcutta made the press when Scottish Television's religious affairs department mistakenly thought he represented the real Mother Teresa.^[3]

His first appearances in broadcasting were in his spot as a regular comedian and panellist on the BBC Radio 4 show Loose Ends, when the show ran on Saturday mornings, in the early 1990s. His rise to fame began as one of the early successes of Channel 5, when he won an award for his performance as the stand-in host of a late-night TV talk show usually presented by Jack Docherty.^[4][5] This was followed by a comic quiz show on Channel 5 called Bring Me the Head of Light Entertainment, which was not well received as a programme, but did further enhance Norton's individual reputation as a comic and TV host. In 1996, Norton co-hosted the late-night quiz show Carnal Knowledge on ITV with Maria McErlane.

In 1996, Norton played the part of Father Noel Furlong in three episodes ("Hell", "Flight Into Terror", "The Mainland") of the Channel 4 series Father Ted. Father Noel Furlong was often seen taking charge of a small youth folk-group.

Channel 4[link]

After this early success, Norton moved to Channel 4 to host his own chat shows including So Graham Norton and V Graham Norton. As a performer who is not only openly gay,^[6] but also camp and flamboyant, it was here that Norton's act was fully honed as a cheeky, innuendo-laden joker.

In 2003, he was the subject of controversy when, on his show on Channel 4, he made a comedic reference to the recent death of Bee Gees singer Maurice Gibb. The Independent Television Commission investigated after complaints about this insensitivity were forwarded to it and eventually Channel 4 had to make two apologies: one in the form of a caption slide before the show, another from Norton in person.

Also in 2003, he was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. (Though Norton is Irish, the bulk of his television career has been in the UK.)

In the summer of 2004, Norton moved across the Atlantic to start a new venture in American television. The Graham Norton Effect debuted on 24 June 2004 on Comedy Central, and was also broadcast in the UK on BBC Three. In the midst of controversy surrounding Janet Jackson's Super Bowl performance, Norton was wary of moving into the market.^[7]

BBC[link]

Norton at 2009 BAFTA awards

In 2005, Norton moved to the BBC and began hosting the Saturday evening reality TV series Strictly Dance Fever on BBC One, as well as a new comedy chat show, Graham Norton's Bigger Picture. He also read stories some nights on the BBC children's channel CBeebies as part of Bedtime Hour.

In 2006, Norton hosted the BBC One series How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? in which Andrew Lloyd Webber tried to find a lead actress for his West End version of The Sound of Music. Norton has subsequently presented the 3 follow-up series: Any Dream Will Do in 2007, in which a group of males competed to win the role of Joseph in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; I'd Do Anything in 2008, in which Andrew Lloyd Webber seeks to find the part of Nancy and Oliver for Sir Cameron Mackintosh's production of Lionel Bart's Oliver!; and Over the Rainbow in 2010, following a similar format to find a new Dorothy for a Wizard of Oz West end Production.

Norton hosted various other shows for the BBC during this time, including When Will I Be Famous? (2007), The One and Only (2008) and Totally Saturday (2009). Since 2007, Norton has also been a regular host of The British Academy Television Awards. On 7 July 2007, Norton presented at Live Earth and undertook a trip to Ethiopia with the Born Free Foundation to highlight the plight of the Ethiopian wolf – the rarest canid in the world. In the same year, he was the subject of an episode of the BBC1 genealogy documentary Who Do You Think You Are?.

Norton's chat show, The Graham Norton Show, began on 22 February 2007 on BBC Two. Although in a format that he had not been involved in for 4 years, it is very similar to his previous Channel 4 shows. On 6 October 2009, the show moved to BBC One, in a new one-hour format.

In May 2010, he stood in for Chris Evans' breakfast show on BBC Radio 2. Later that month, it was confirmed that he would be replacing Jonathan Ross's Saturday morning slot on the same station.

In December 2011, the panel show Would You Rather...? with Graham Norton premiered on BBC America in the time slot immediately following The Graham Norton Show. Recorded in New York, it is one of BBC America's earliest efforts at producing original programming, and is also the first panel game the channel has shown, either of British or American origin.

In January 2012, he called on listeners to his Radio 2 show to help find his car hours after it was stolen. He called it "The Great Car Hunt" and told listeners to “Keep your eyes out for it. It was filthy by the way."

Eurovision[link]

Norton with Josh Dubovie at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010

Norton hosted the first annual Eurovision Dance Contest alongside Claudia Winkleman which was held on 1 September 2007 in London, England. The format was based on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and the EBU's Eurovision Song Contest. Norton and Winkleman also hosted the 2008 Contest in Glasgow, Scotland.

In October 2008, it was confirmed by the BBC that Norton would replace Terry Wogan as the BBC's presenter for the UK heats of the Eurovision Song Contest, in a show to be called Your Country Needs You.

On 5 December 2008 it was announced that Norton would also take over from Wogan as the presenter of the main Eurovision Song Contest.^[8] The 54th Eurovision Song Contest was held in the Olimpiyskiy (Olympic) Stadium, Moscow on 16 May 2009.

Norton's jokes during his debut received some positive reviews from the British media. The Guardian noted his comments on Iceland's entry, which finished in second place, had "rooted around in a cupboard and found an old bridesmaid dress from 1987" and the Armenian singers, who finished in tenth place, were sporting traditional dress, "which would be true if you come from the village where Liberace is the mayor."^[9] The Times noted his highlighting of the arrest of thirty gay rights protesters in Moscow – "heavy-handed policing has really marred what has been a fantastic Eurovision."^[9]

His comment “The bad news is you’re about to watch Albania. She’s only 17 so please bear that in mind. Where was her mother? Why didn’t she step in and say no?” which was made just before Albanian singer Kejsi Tola was set to take the stage dubbed an insult by many, sent ripples of outrage through not only Albania, but also the Albanian population in Britain. He then announced that Albania should get no points and that he didn't care what anybody else thought. There was a petition circling the net calling for a formal apology from Norton. The petition, which called his comment “very rude and insulting,” had drawn over 1,000 signatures. He never responded.^[10]

In 2011, he snarked that if Jedward's entry into the competition that year won, the twins would never sleep again. In the end, they were eighth. Earlier in that year's televote, he joked "Quick, someone take a picture", when The British entry that year went temporarily in the lead early on after high votes from Russia(4), Bulgaria(12) and Italy(10). In the end, the song dropped down the 11th, earning 100 points. Very annoyed, Norton claimed 'We were better than Jedward'.

In 2012, Norton joked about the Spanish singer Pastora Soler and the economic situation of Spain. This statements unleashed many bad reviews on the internet. Norton joked about Rona Nishliu (the singer of Albania) too. He said that Rona was a singer that "she shout a lot".

Other[link]

In July 2000 Graham was one of three judges of the Miss Lesbian Beauty Contest 2000 held at The Talk of London, Drury Lane. The contest was won by 42 year old Carol Hutchins who wowed the audience with her sit-down comedy routine from a wheelchair. Graham described Carol as a "very bright, funny lady."

Graham Norton played Mr. Puckov in the 2006 American comedy spoof film Another Gay Movie. In 2007, Norton played Taylor in the romantic comedy film I Could Never Be Your Woman.

Norton was involved in a high-publicity advertising campaign for the UK National Lottery as an animated unicorn, the stooge to a character based on Lady Luck (played by Fay Ripley). He has also advertised McVitie's biscuits.

In 2007, Norton featured in Girls Aloud and Sugababes' Comic Relief video for the single "Walk This Way."

In January 2009, Norton made his West End stage debut in a revival of La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre.

Since 2009, Norton has been the host of the comedy game-show Most Popular on US cable television channel WE tv.^[11]

Norton currently writes an advice column in The Daily Telegraph newspaper. In October 2010, these columns were made into a book entitled Ask Graham, published by John Blake Publishing.

Personal life[link]

Norton with a dog in 2006, supporting Crusaid.

Norton has stated that he felt "out of place" growing up in Ireland; his family are Protestant yet the Republic of Ireland is overwhelmingly Catholic. Norton took part in the TV programme, Who Do You Think You Are?, to trace his ancestry. It was discovered that his family were originally planters sent over from England to take over Irish land. Some members of his family had fought for the British Monarchy during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and taken part in a massacre of Catholics in Carnew Castle. Another member of his family was later killed in battle by the United Irishmen. Norton said he was comforted to find out that his family had resided in Ireland for generations.^[12]

In 1989 while living in London, Norton was mugged, beaten and stabbed by a group of attackers on the street. He says he lost half his blood and nearly died, and he was hospitalised for two and a half weeks.^[13][14]

Norton is openly gay.^[6][15][16]

Norton owns a holiday home in Ahakista, County Cork, which is near to where he grew up, in Bandon. The house has a private beach and overlooks Dunmanus Bay.

TV appearances[link]

Main presenting credits[link]

• Carnal Knowledge (TV series, co-presenter) (1996, 27 one hour shows)
• Bring Me the Head of Light Entertainment
• So Graham Norton (1998–2002)
• V Graham Norton (2002–2003)
• NY Graham Norton (2004)
• The Graham Norton Effect (2004–2005)
• Graham Norton's Bigger Picture (2005–2006)
• Strictly Dance Fever (2005–2006)
• BBC/Andrew Lloyd Webber musical theater talent searches (2006–present)
  • How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? (2006)
  • Any Dream Will Do (2007)
  • I'd Do Anything (2008)
  • Over the Rainbow (2010)
• The Big Finish (2006–)
• When Will I Be Famous? (2007)
• The Graham Norton Show (2007–present)
• The British Academy Television Awards (2007)
• Live Earth (2007)
• Eurovision Dance Contest (2007)
• The One and Only (2008)
• Eurovision Dance Contest (2008)
• Eurovision: Your Country Needs You (2009–present)
• Eurovision Song Contest (UK commentator, 2009–present)
• Totally Saturday (2009)
• Most Popular (2009–present)
• Would You Rather...? with Graham Norton (BBC America, 2011–present)

Other television credits[link]

Radio[link]

• Just a Minute

Sitting in for Steve Wright August 2009 BBC Radio 2

Sitting in for Chris Evans May /July 2010 BBC Radio 2

On 2 October 2010, he began his weekly BBC Radio 2 Saturday show taking over from Jonathan Ross. The show airs from 10.00am-1.00pm and combines a mixture of music, chat and celebrity guests.

2011/12 Radio 2 Saturday mornings

Filmography[link]

Stand-Up videos[link]

• Live At The Roundhouse (19 November 2001)

Awards[link]

• 1999 : Gaytime Award for Gay Entertainer of the Year
• 2000 : BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance – So Graham Norton
• 2001 : BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance - So Graham Norton
• 2001 : RTS Television Award for Best Presenter – So Graham Norton
• 2001 : TRIC Award TV Personality of the Year
• 2002 : BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Perfromance - So Graham Norton
• 2011 : BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance – The Graham Norton Show ^[17]
• 2012 : BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance - The Graham Norton Show

References[link]

External links[link]

• Graham Norton Radio 2 at BBC Programmes
• The Graham Norton Show at BBC Programmes
• Graham Norton at the Internet Movie Database
• Graham Norton at the British Film Institute's Screenonline

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (October 2009)

Ruth Jones
Born	(1966-09-22) September 22, 1966 (age 45) Bridgend, South Wales, U.K.
Residence	Cardiff[1]
Nationality	British
Occupation	Actress, writer, producer
Years active	1991–present

Ruth Jones (born 22 September 1966) is a Welsh TV actress and writer. She co-starred in and co-wrote the award-winning British TV comedy Gavin & Stacey (2007-2010), and has appeared in many television comedies and dramas, such as Jimmy McGovern's The Street with Timothy Spall (2009), and starring as Hattie Jacques in Hattie for BBC4 (2011) and as Stella in Stella for Sky 1 (2012).

She was co-founder of Tidy Productions (2008), which she runs with TV producer, David Peet.

Early life[link]

Ruth Alexandra Elizabeth Jones was born on 22 September 1966 in Bridgend in South Wales. Her father was a legal executive for British Steel, Port Talbot, and her mother was a psychiatrist.^[2] She has two older brothers and a younger sister.^[3] When she was a child, her family moved to Porthcawl where she attended the same school as Rob Brydon. After graduating from Warwick University with a drama degree she spent a year at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff.^[4]

After graduation Jones found it difficult to get acting work, and considered training as a solicitor. However she then received her first professional role in pantomime in Cardiff. She was also helped by Rob Brydon, who invited her to join an improv group in Bath; the group also included Julia Davis, with whom Jones would later appear in Nighty Night.^[5]

Career[link]

She first worked in TV and radio comedy for BBC Wales from 1991. Theatre roles with the RSC and The National Theatre were followed by her performance in the hit British movie, East Is East.

After this Jones appeared on television as Kelly in four series of ITV's comedy Fat Friends, where she met future Gavin and Stacey co-writer James Corden. She also appeared in several BBC comedies, playing Myfanwy in Little Britain, Magz in Saxondale, and Linda in Nighty Night.^[6]

Jones achieved prominence in 2008 with the BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey, which she co-wrote with James Corden and also starred in as Nessa, the main character's best friend. The character became widely known for her catchphrase, "Oh, what's occurring?". The programme became a hit for BBC 3 and moved to BBC 1. Jones has said of it, "It wasn't as deliberate as us saying, 'Right, we're going to react against cynical comedy'. We just wrote what we wanted. And it just so happens that the show does generate a lot of warmth. People seem to like that, especially when things aren't terribly jolly. It's nice to have your cockles warmed."^[7]The series won a number of awards, including two BAFTAs and four British Comedy Awards.^[8] Jones and co-star Rob Brydon recorded Islands in the Stream (a song performed by their characters in the programme) as a single for Comic Relief in 2009; the song reached No. 1 in the chart.^[9]

In 2008 Jones also featured in the two BBC One television period costume dramas, Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Little Dorrit, as well as in two episodes of The Street. In December 2009 Jones starred in A Child's Christmases In Wales. In 2010 she starred in BBC Four comedy The Great Outdoors alongside Mark Heap, and in December presented a one-off chat show on BBC Two, Ruth Jones' Christmas Cracker.^[10] In January 2011 she starred as Carry On actor Hattie Jacques in BBC Four drama Hattie, which tells the story of Jacques' affair with her young driver John Schofield while she was married to Dad's Army actor John Le Mesurier.^[11]

In 2008, Jones co-founded Tidy Productions with producer David Peet. The company produced the series Jones presented on BBC Radio Wales in 2008-9, Ruth Jones' Sunday Brunch.^[12][13] In 2010, the company had comedy and light entertainment production credits with BBC2 and BBC 3. It has made two 90-minute comedy dramas for S4C and light entertainment shows for BBC Wales.

Jones's company has also produced a ten-hour comedy drama Stella for Sky TV, which aired in 2012. It was Jones' first major comedy project since Gavin and Stacey: as well as producing, Jones created the series, stars, and wrote four episodes. Jones has stated that she was worried about comparisons to Gavin and Stacey when setting a second programme in Wales, leading to the decision to set Stella in the Valleys rather than the South Wales coast: 'I know people from the Valleys and it is just a joyously colourful place and full of characters. My sister is actually a GP up there and the stories are fantastic.'^[14] A second series of Stella has been commissioned; it will be filmed in summer 2012 and air in early 2013.^[15]

She lives in Cardiff with her producer husband David Peet, whom she met while working on a comedy pilot in the early 1990s. She has three grown-up step-children, Fiona, Louise and Alex.^[16][17][18]

Recognition and awards[link]

Winner of Best Female Comedy Newcomer at the 2007 British Comedy Awards, Jones was also nominated for Best Television Comedy Actress.^[19]

Winner of "Ultimate Funny Woman" at the annual Cosmopolitan 'Ultimate Women Of The Year Awards' November 2009.^[20]

Filmography[link]

Films[link]

TV[link]

Guest appearances[link]

Writing work[link]

Production work[link]

• Gavin & Stacey (Series 1, 6 episodes: BBC3 and BBC2 2007)
• Gavin & Stacey (Series 2, 7 episodes: BBC3 2008)
• Gavin & Stacey (Christmas Special: December 2008)
• Gavin & Stacey (Series 3, 6 episodes: BBC1 2009,2010)
• Ar Y Tracs Exec. Producer Tidy Productions S4C 2009)

Music work[link]

• Islands in the Stream (cover version for Comic Relief)

Charity work[link]

In 2010, Jones took part in Channel 4's Comedy Gala, a benefit show held in aid of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, filmed live at the O2 Arena in London on 30 March.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ruth Jones at the Internet Movie Database
• Ruth Jones at David Higham^{[clarification needed]}

Lea Thompson
Thompson in 2008
Born	Lea Kathleen Thompson (1961-05-31) May 31, 1961 (age 51) Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
Occupation	Actress/Director
Years active	1982–present
Spouse	Howard Deutch (1989-present)
Children	Madeline Deutch, Zoey Deutch

Lea Kathleen Thompson^[1] (born May 31, 1961) is an American actress and director. She is best known for her 1990s NBC situation comedy Caroline in the City and her portrayal of Lorraine Baines in the Back to the Future trilogy. As a staple in big budget/high profile blockbusters of the 1980s and '90s, other roles include Red Dawn, Howard the Duck, Jaws 3-D, Some Kind of Wonderful, The Beverly Hillbillies, and All the Right Moves.

Early life[link]

Thompson was born in Rochester, Minnesota, the daughter of Barbara Anne (née Barry), a singer and musician, and Clifford Elwin "Cliff" Thompson. She studied ballet as a girl and practiced three to four hours every day. She was dancing professionally by the age of 14.^[2] She won scholarships to several ballet schools, including the American Ballet Theatre, the San Francisco Ballet, and the Pennsylvania Ballet. Thompson danced in more than 45 ballets with the American Ballet Theatre. She also danced with the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Minnesota Dance Theatre and the Ballet Repertory. Her brother Andrew also took ballet classes and went on to become a professional.

Thompson was told by ballet legend and then ABT artistic director Mikhail Baryshnikov that she was "a beautiful dancer, but too stocky. Your legs are too short." Due to this (as well as some small nagging past injuries), she decided to give up dancing in favor of an acting career. She moved to New York at age 20 and performed in a number of Burger King advertisements in the 1980s along with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elisabeth Shue, her eventual co-star in Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future Part III.^[2]

Career[link]

Thompson's first significant film roles came in 1983, with Jaws 3-D and All the Right Moves (the latter opposite Tom Cruise). These were followed by Red Dawn (1984) and The Wild Life (1984). In a 2008 interview, she explained that she learned tactics and how to shoot and field strip Soviet weapons for the movie Red Dawn. Her most famous role was that of Lorraine Baines McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy, the first released in 1985. Thompson's character is the mother of Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox.

In 1986, Thompson starred in SpaceCamp and Howard the Duck. For the latter film, she sang several songs on the soundtrack, in character, as musician Beverly Switzler, who was the lead vocalist for a band called Cherry Bomb. The recordings appeared on both the soundtrack album and on singles. Rounding out film appearances in the late 1980s, Thompson starred in Some Kind of Wonderful, Casual Sex?, Going Undercover and The Wizard of Loneliness. She also had a prominent role in the 1989 TV movie Nightbreaker, for which she was nominated for a CableACE Award. In the early 1990s, Thompson starred in Dennis the Menace (1993), The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) and The Little Rascals (1994). She also appeared in several TV movies throughout the 90s, including The Substitute Wife (1994), The Unspoken Truth (1995) and The Right To Remain Silent (1996).

Thompson found moderate critical and popular success as the star of the NBC sitcom Caroline in the City, from 1995-1999. In 1996, Thompson received a People's Choice Award for "Favorite Female Performer in a New TV Series."^[3]

After a break from acting, Thompson went on to star in several Broadway plays. She later appeared in a TV series called For The People, which only lasted one season. Then came a TV movie, Stealing Christmas (2003), starring Tony Danza and Betty White. Thompson also appeared in several episodes of the dramedy series Ed and in a guest role for one episode in 2004 on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; she played a woman whose embryos were stolen.

In 2005, Thompson began a series of made-for-TV movies for the Hallmark Channel, in which she plays "Jane Doe," an ex-secret agent turned housewife, who helps the government solve mysteries. Thompson directed two films from the Jane Doe series - Jane Doe: The Harder They Fall and Jane Doe: Eye of the Beholder.

Thompson was a featured singer on Celebrity Duets and the second contestant eliminated in 2006.

In April 2007, another TV movie, A Life Interrupted, premiered on Lifetime Television. A rape survivor overcomes her debilitating fear by finding funding to process the enormous backlog of rape kits, so that other women will not have to suffer for years as she did.

Thompson guest-starred on the show Head Case in January 2008. She appeared in the TV movie Final Approach, which debuted in the U.S. on May 24, 2008.^[4] Her recent film credits include Exit Speed and Spy School. She recently starred in the television movie The Christmas Clause, which received good reviews and ratings. She stars in the new films Splinterheads and Prettyface, and recently filmed the movie Adventures of a Teenage Dragon Slayer.

Currently, Thompson is starring in the ABC Family hit Switched at Birth about a family realizing their 16 year old daughter is not biologically theirs and was switched with another at the hospital.

Personal life[link]

Thompson has been married to film director Howard Deutch since 1989. They first met on the set of Some Kind of Wonderful.

Thompson and Deutch have two daughters, Madeline Erin and Zoey Francis, with whom she sang on stage in the Bye Bye Birdie production for the 16th annual Alzheimer's Association "A Night at Sardi's" in March 2008.^[5] Thompson has stated that her career break to raise her children has helped with her subsequent portrayal of soccer mom Cathy Davis/Jane Doe.

Thompson has four siblings, brothers Andrew (a professional ballet dancer) and Barry, and sisters Colleen Goodrich and Shannon Katona.

Partial credits[link]

Film[link]

• Jaws 3-D (1983) - Kelly Ann Bukowski
• All the Right Moves (1983) - Lisa Lietzke
• Red Dawn (1984) - Erica Mason
• The Wild Life (1984) - Anita
• Back to the Future (1985) - Lorraine Baines/McFly
• SpaceCamp (1986) - Kathryn Fairly
• Howard the Duck (1986) - Beverly Switzler
• Some Kind of Wonderful (1987) - Amanda Jones
• Going Undercover (1988)
• Casual Sex? (1988) - Stacey
• Back to the Future Part II (1989) - Lorraine Baines/McFly/Tannen
• Back to the Future Part III (1990) - Maggie McFly/Lorraine McFly
• Article 99 (1992) - Dr. Robin Van Dorn
• Dennis the Menace (1993) - Alice Mitchell
• The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) - Laura Jackson
• The Little Rascals (1994) - Ms. Roberts
• The Unknown Cyclist (1998) - Melissa Cavatelli
• Fish Don't Blink (2002) - Clara
• Haunted Lighthouse (Short) (2003) - Peg Van Legge
• Come Away Home (2005) - Carol
• 10 Tricks (2006) - Grace
• California Dreaming (2007) - Ginger Gainor
• Senior Skip Day (2008) - Cathleen Harris
• Spy School (2008) - Claire Miller
• Exit Speed (2008) - Maudie McMinn
• The Check (short) (2009) - Darla
• Balancing the Books (2009) - Rebecca
• Splinterheads (2009) - Susan Frost
• Rock Slyde (2009) - Master Bartologist
• PrettyFace (2010) - Mary Penny
• Adventures of a Teenage Dragon Slayer (2010) - Laura
• Mayor Cupcake (2011) - Mary Maroni
• The Convincer (2011) - Jo Ann Prohaska
• J. Edgar (2011) - Lela Rogers

Television[link]

• Tales from the Crypt (TV series, one episode, 1989) "Only Sin Deep" - Sylvia Vane
• Montana (TV movie, 1990) - Peg Guthrie
• Stolen Babies (TV movie, 1993) - Annie Beales
• The Substitute Wife (TV movie, 1994) - Amy Hightower
• The Unspoken Truth (TV movie, 1995) - Brianne Hawkins
• Friends (TV series, one episode, 1995) "The One with the Baby on the Bus" - Caroline Duffy
• The Right To Remain Silent (TV movie, 1996) - Christine Paley
• A Will of Their Own (TV mini-series, 1998) - Amanda Steward
• Caroline in the City (TV series, 97 episodes, 1995–99) - Caroline Duffy
• For The People (TV series, 2002–03) - Chief Dep. Dist. Atty. Camille Paris
• Stealing Christmas (TV movie, 2003) - Sarah Gibson
• Ed (TV series, three episodes, 2004) - "Pressure Points," "Hidden Agendas," "Back in the Saddle" - Liz Stevens
• Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (TV series, one episode, 2004) "Birthright" - Michelle Osborne
• Jane Doe: Vanishing Act (TV movie, 2005) - Cathy Davis/Jane Doe
• Jane Doe: Now You See it, Now You Don't (TV movie, 2005) - Cathy Davis/Jane Doe
• Jane Doe: Til Death Do Us Part (TV movie, 2005) - Cathy Davis/Jane Doe
• Jane Doe: The Wrong Face (TV movie, 2005) - Cathy Davis/Jane Doe
• Jane Doe: Yes, I Remember It Well (TV movie, 2006) - Cathy Davis/Jane Doe
• Jane Doe: The Harder They Fall (TV movie, 2006) - Cathy Davis/Jane Doe
• Jane Doe: Ties That Bind (TV movie, 2007) - Cathy Davis/Jane Doe
• Jane Doe: How to Fire Your Boss (TV movie, 2007) - Cathy Davis/Jane Doe
• A Life Interrupted (TV movie, 2007) - Debbie Smith
• Jane Doe: Eye of the Beholder (TV movie, 2008) - Cathy Davis/Jane Doe
• Final Approach (TV movie, 2008) - Alicia Bender
• The Christmas Clause (TV movie, 2008) - Sophie Kelly
• Greek (TV series) April (Cappie's Mom)
• "Private Practice: What Happens Next"
• Switched at Birth (TV series, 2011) - Kathryn Kennish
• "The Cabin" (TV movie, 2011)
• "Game of Your Life" (TV movie, 2011)

Theatre[link]

• I Love My Wife, Reprise Theatre
• Bus Stop, Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena, CA, c. 1990
• Sally Bowles, Cabaret, Roundabout Theatre Company, Studio 54 Theatre, New York City, 2000
• The Vagina Monologues, Canon Theatre, Beverly Hills, CA, 2001
• They're Playing Our Song (musical; staged reading), L.A. Reprise!, Los Angeles, 2002
• Charlie Bacon's Family, John Drew Theater, East Hampton, NY; The Illusion, Los Angeles *Theatre Center, Los Angeles; LongTime Coming, Powerhouse Theatre; and The Trip Back Down, Actors Repertory Theatre.

Directing[link]

• Jane Doe: The Harder They Fall (2006) (TV)
• Jane Doe: Eye of the Beholder (2008) (TV)

Special Appearances[link]

• Lea Thompson - "Hottie or Nottie?" on Corvette Forum

Further reading[link]

• Papp, Adrienne (2007-02-01). "Lea Thompson: Still America's Sweetheart". Westside Today. http://www.adriennepapp.com/pdf/BMG_FEB_LeaTfull.pdf. Retrieved 2008-05-19. 

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lea Thompson

• Lea Thompson at the Internet Movie Database
• Lea Thompson at AllRovi
• Lea Thompson at the Internet Broadway Database
• 2009 interview with Bullz-Eye.com

Melissa Etheridge
Etheridge at a ceremony to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in September 2011
Background information
Birth name	Melissa Lou Etheridge
Born	(1961-05-29) May 29, 1961 (age 51)
Origin	Leavenworth, Kansas, U.S.
Genres	Heartland rock,[1] folk rock, blues rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, activist
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, mandolin
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Island
Website	www.melissaetheridge.com

Melissa Lou Etheridge (born May 29, 1961) is an American rock singer-songwriter and activist.

Etheridge is known for her mixture of confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals.^[1] She has also been an iconic gay and lesbian activist since her public coming out in January 1993.^[2]

Life and career[link]

Born in Leavenworth, Kansas, the younger of two girls, to John Etheridge, a psychology teacher at Leavenworth High School, and Elizabeth Williamson, a computer consultant. She attended David Brewer School, which is still located at 17th and Osage Streets. She graduated in 1979 from Leavenworth High School (LHS), 10th Avenue and Halderman. Etheridge was a member of the first "Power and Life" musical/dance group at LHS which is still active today. Her childhood home was at 1902 Miami Street.

Etheridge's interest in music began early; she picked up her first guitar at 8. She began to play in all-men country music groups throughout her teenage years, until she moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music.

While in Berklee, Etheridge played the club circuit around Boston. After three semesters, Etheridge decided to drop out of Berklee and head to Los Angeles to attempt a career in music.^[1] Etheridge was discovered in a bar called Vermie's in Pasadena, CA. She had made some friends on a women's soccer team and those new friends came to see her play. One of the women was Karla Leopold, whose husband, Bill Leopold, was a manager in the music business. Karla convinced Bill to see her perform live. He was impressed, and has remained a pivotal part of Etheridge's career ever since.^[3] This, in addition to her gigs in lesbian bars around Los Angeles, got her discovered by Island Records chief Chris Blackwell. She got a publishing deal to write songs for movies including the 1986 movie Weeds.^[4]

In 1985, prior to her signing, Etheridge sent her demo to Olivia Records, a lesbian record label, but was ultimately rejected. She saved the rejection letter, signed by "the women of Olivia", which was later featured in Intimate Portrait: Melissa Etheridge, the Lifetime Television documentary of her life.

After an unreleased first effort that was rejected by Island Records as being too polished and glossy, she completed her stripped-down self-titled debut in just four days. Her eponymous debut album Melissa Etheridge was an underground hit, and the single, "Bring Me Some Water", a turntable hit, was nominated for a Grammy.^[4]

At the time of the album's release, it was not generally known that Etheridge was a lesbian. While on the road promoting the album, she paused in Memphis, Tennessee, to be interviewed for the radio syndication, Pulsebeat—Voice of the Heartland, explaining the intensity of her music by saying: "People think I'm really sad--or really angry. But my songs are written about the conflicts I have . . . I have no anger toward anyone else."^[5] She invited the radio syndication producer to attend her concert that night. He did and was surprised to find himself one of the few men in attendance.^[6]

1986–92: Road to rock stardom[link]

Etheridge followed up her first album's modest success by contributing background vocals to Don Henley's album The End of the Innocence. She went into the studio and recorded her sophomore effort Brave and Crazy which was released in 1989.

Brave and Crazy followed the same musical formula as her eponymous debut garnering a Grammy nomination. The album peaked at #22 on the Billboard charts (equal to her first album). Etheridge then went on the road, taking a page from one of her musical influences Bruce Springsteen, and built a loyal fan base.^[7] Etheridge is a Bruce Springsteen fan, and she has covered his songs "Thunder Road" and "Born to Run" during live shows.

In 1992, Etheridge released her third album Never Enough. Similar to her prior two albums, Never Enough didn't reach the top of the charts peaking at #21 but gave Etheridge her first Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female for her single "Ain't It Heavy". Never Enough was considered a more personal and mature album from Etheridge at that time. With rumors circulating around her sexuality (Etheridge was not out yet at this point), the album seemed to inadvertently address these rumors.^[8]

In 1992, Etheridge established a performing arts scholarship at Leavenworth High School in honor of her father. She said her father used to "spend his weekends driving me to Kansas City and all points around there so I could play in bands. I was underage so I couldn't have gone without him."

1993: Yes I Am - 1994[link]

On September 21, 1993, Etheridge released what would become her mainstream breakthrough recording Yes I Am. Co-produced with former The Police and Genesis Grammy-winning and Producer of the Year award-winning producer Hugh Padgham, Yes I Am spent 138 weeks on the Billboard 200 charts and peaked at #15 and scored mainstream hits "Come to My Window" and her only Billboard Top 10 single "I'm the Only One", which also hit #1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. Sales-wise, Yes I Am earned a RIAA certification of 6× Platinum^[9] making it her biggest selling album to date.

Etheridge earned her second Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female for her single "Come to My Window". She also garnered two additional nominations in the Best Rock Song category for "I'm the Only One" and "Come to My Window" losing to Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Philadelphia".

In 1993, Etheridge boycotted playing shows in Colorado over its passage of Amendment 2.^[7]

In a visit to Leavenworth in November 1994, she performed a benefit concert for a new park to be built near the high school. A ball field at the park will be named after her father. While she was here, she also donated money to help refurbish the Performing Arts Center in Leavenworth at 401 Delaware.

In 1994, Etheridge played a cover version of "Burning Love" live in Memphis, during the "It's Now Or Never, The Tribute To Elvis".

Also in 1994, she was honored by VH-1 for her work with the AIDS organization L.A. Shanti. During the televised occasion, she highlighted the appearance with a performance of "I'm the Only One" and a duet covering The Rolling Stone's Honky Tonk Woman with Sammy Hagar.^[10]

1995–2002: After her breakthrough[link]

The success of Yes I Am helped increase sales of Etheridge's earlier albums. In 1995 Melissa Etheridge earned a RIAA certification of 2× Platinum^[9] while Never Enough earned a RIAA certification of Platinum^[9]

Etheridge's follow-up to Yes I Am was the moderately successful Your Little Secret which wasn't as well received by critics as prior recordings. Your Little Secret is the highest charting album of Etheridge's career reaching #6 on the Billboard album charts, but only spent 41 weeks on the chart. The album produced two Top 40 singles "I Want to Come Over" (Billboard #22) and "Nowhere to Go" (Billboard #40) and earned a RIAA certification of 2× Platinum,^[9] less than "Yes I Am."

In 1996, Etheridge won ASCAP Songwriter of the Year award. She also took a lengthy break from the music business to concentrate on her domestic arrangements.^[4] She also recorded "Sin Tener A Donde Ir (Nowhere to Go)" for the AIDS benefit album Silencio=Muerte: Red Hot + Latin produced by the Red Hot Organization.

In 1997, she appeared as herself on the sitcom Ellen on "The Puppy Episode Part 2".

Etheridge returned to the music charts with the release of Breakdown in October 1999. Breakdown peaked at #12 on the Billboard charts and spent 18 weeks in the charts. Despite this, Breakdown was the only album of Etheridge's career to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album (losing to Santana's Supernatural). In addition, her single "Angels Would Fall" was nominated in two categories: Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female (losing to Sheryl Crow) and Best Rock Song (losing to Red Hot Chili Peppers) in 2000. A year later, another single from the album "Enough of Me" was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female (also losing to Sheryl Crow).

The album earned a RIAA certification of Gold,^[9] below her prior 5 albums.

2001 saw the release of Skin an album she described as "the closest I've ever come to recording a concept album. It has a beginning, middle and end. It's a journey." Skin garnered generally positive reviews with Metacritic scoring the album 73/100 from 9 reviews.^[11] Recorded post her breakup with first partner Julie Cypher, critics noted that Skin was "A harrowing, clearly autobiographical dissection of a decaying relationship." Despite the positive reviews, Skin sold less than 500,000 copies. On the Billboard charts, it peaked at #9 but dropped out of the Top 200 after just 12 weeks. The single "I Want to Be in Love" was nominated for the Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female (losing to Lucinda Williams).

In 2002, Etheridge released her autobiography titled, "The Truth Is: My Life in Love and Music."

[edit] 2004–present: Lucky, cancer diagnosis, Academy Awards and Fearless Love

Etheridge began 2004 with the release of her eighth album Lucky on February 10. Etheridge was now in a new relationship with actress Tammy Lynn Michaels whom she began dating in 2001. Lucky performed similarly to Skin, selling fewer than 500,000 copies, peaking on the Billboard charts at #15 and spending 13 weeks on the charts. It also garnered a Grammy nomination for Etheridge's cover of the Greenwheel song "Breathe" for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo (losing to Bruce Springsteen).

In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the 2005 Grammy Awards (the same ceremony for which "Breathe" was nominated), she made a return to the stage and, although bald from chemotherapy, performed a tribute to Janis Joplin with the song "Piece of My Heart". . Etheridge's performance was lauded in song in India.Arie's "I Am Not My Hair".^[12]

On September 10, 2005, Etheridge participated in ReAct Now: Music & Relief, a telethon in support for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. ReAct Now, part of an ongoing effort by MTV, VH1, CMT, seeks to raise funds for the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and America's Second Harvest. Etheridge introduced a new song specially written for the occasion called "Four Days". The a cappella song included themes and images that were on the news during the aftermath of the hurricane. Other charities she supports include The Dream Foundation and Love Our Children USA.

On November 15, 2005, Etheridge appeared on the Tonight Show to perform her song "I Run for Life".

Etheridge wrote "I Need to Wake Up" for the film documentary An Inconvenient Truth, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2006. The song was released only on the enhanced version of her greatest hits album, The Road Less Traveled.^[13][14]

Etheridge was also a judge for the 5th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.^[15]

In August 2006, Melissa also produced and sang the vocal tracks on the Brother Bear 2 soundtrack, including collaborations with Josh Kelley.^[16]

Etheridge performs during the third night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

On July 7, 2007, Etheridge performed at the Giants Stadium on the American leg of Live Earth. Etheridge performed the songs "Imagine That" and "What Happens Tomorrow" from The Awakening, her tenth album, released on September 25, 2007, as well as the song "I Need To Wake Up" before introducing Al Gore. On December 11, 2007 she performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, together with a variety of artists, which was broadcast live to over 100 countries.^[17] In addition, she performed at the U.S. 2008 Democratic National Convention on August 27, 2008. In July 2009, Etheridge announced through her website that she and John Shanks would begin recording her 11th studio album the following summer. This was the first time since 1999 Etheridge and Shanks were the only ones involved in the production of a project.

Etheridge performing live in 2010

Etheridge was featured in UniGlobe Entertainment's breast cancer docudrama titled 1 a Minute released in 2010.^[18] The documentary is being made by actress Namrata Singh Gujral and will also feature breast cancer survivors Olivia Newton-John, Diahann Carroll, Namrata Singh Gujral, Mumtaz and Jaclyn Smith as well as William Baldwin, Daniel Baldwin and Priya Dutt. The feature is narrated by Kelly McGillis. The film will also star Bárbara Mori, Lisa Ray, Deepak Chopra and Morgan Brittany.

Etheridge also held a private listening party hosted at Michele Clark's Sunset Sessions 2010. She debuted her new album Fearless Love at the event held at the Rancho Bernardo Inn where she did a question and answer and played an acoustic set of her new singles in front of convention attendees and about 50 listeners of host station KPRI/SAN DIEGO.

Etheridge performed her title track "Fearless Love" from her new album and "Come to My Window" from 1993 on the April 27, 2010, airing of "Dancing With the Stars" on ABC.

Etheridge performed the role of St. Jimmy in Green Day's hit Broadway musical, American Idiot from February 1–6, 2011.^[19][20]

Etheridge said in July 2011 that she is writing songs for a musical that her partner, Linda Wallem, is writing.^[21]

Etheridge will play her first Pride event on Saturday, June 9,2012 at Pittsburgh Pride's - Pride in the Street. Pride in the Street is a block party that takes place on the made famous by Queer as Folk series Liberty Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets.

Personal life[link]

Etheridge's father, John Etheridge, was a high school psychology teacher, counselor and athletic director at her alma mater, Leavenworth High School. He died in 1993. Her mother Elizabeth was a homemaker and a computer analyst and is now retired.

Etheridge came out publicly as a lesbian in January 1993 at the Triangle Ball, a gay celebration of President Bill Clinton's first inauguration. Etheridge supported Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign and since her coming out has been famous as a gay rights activist. She is also a committed advocate for environmental issues and in 2006, she toured the US and Canada using biodiesel.^[22]

Etheridge had a long-term partnership with Julie Cypher, and their relationship occasionally received press coverage. During this partnership, Cypher gave birth to two children, Bailey Jean, born February 10, 1997, and Beckett, born November 1998, fathered by sperm donor David Crosby. In 2000, Cypher began to reconsider her sexuality and on September 19, 2000, Etheridge and Cypher announced they were separating. In 2001, Etheridge documented her breakup with Cypher and other experiences in her memoir.

In 2002, Etheridge began dating actress Tammy Lynn Michaels.^[23] The two had a commitment ceremony on September 20, 2003.^[24] In April 2006, Etheridge and Michaels announced that Michaels was pregnant with twins via an anonymous sperm donor. Michaels gave birth to a daughter, Johnnie Rose, and a son, Miller Steven, on October 17, 2006.^{[citation needed]}

Etheridge performing at a September 2011 ceremony where she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

In October 2008, five months after the Supreme Court of California overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage, Etheridge announced that she and Michaels were planning to marry but were currently "trying to find the right time... to go down and do it".^[25] In November 2008, in response to the passing of California's Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage, Etheridge announced that she would not pay her state taxes as an act of civil disobedience.^[26] On April 15, 2010 Etheridge and Michaels announced they had separated.^[27]

In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy.^{[citation needed]} In October 2005, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Etheridge appeared on Dateline NBC with Michaels to discuss her struggle with cancer. By the time of the interview, Etheridge's hair had grown back after being lost during chemotherapy. She said that her partner had been very supportive during her illness. Etheridge also discussed using medicinal marijuana while she was receiving the chemotherapy.^[28] She said that the drug improved her mood and increased her appetite. In a June 15, 2009 interview with Anderson Cooper, Etheridge mentioned that she still uses marijuana to lessen the effects of acid reflux or in extremely stressful situations. Medical marijuana is legal in the state of California.

Etheridge supported Barack Obama's decision to have Pastor Rick Warren speak at his 2009 Presidential inauguration, believing that he can sponsor dialogue to bridge the gap between gay and straight Christians. She stated in her column at The Huffington Post that "Sure, there are plenty of hateful people who will always hold on to their bigotry like a child to a blanket. But there are also good people out there, Christian and otherwise, that are beginning to listen."^[29]

Awards[link]

Academy Awards[link]

The Academy Awards are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)^[30]

Grammy Awards[link]

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Etheridge has won two awards from fifteen nominations.

Other accolades[link]

At the 20th Annual Juno Awards in 1990, Etheridge won International Entertainer of the Year.^[31]

In 1996, she was awarded ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year Award.

In 2001, she won the Gibson Guitar Award for Best Rock Guitarist: Female.^[32]

In 2006, at the 17th GLAAD Media Awards, Etheridge received GLAAD's Stephen F. Kolzak Award, which honors openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender media professionals who have made a significant difference in promoting equal rights.^[33] In addition, she was awarded as Outstanding Music Artist for Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled.

On May 13, 2006, at Berklee College of Music's 2006 commencement, held at Northeastern University's Matthews Arena, in Boston, Massachusetts, Berklee's president, Roger H. Brown, presented Etheridge with an Honorary Doctor of Music Degree ". Etheridge delivered the commencement address in front of more than 800 graduating students and 4,000 guests.^[34]

On February 18, 2009, Etheridge was named the "Celebrity Marshall" for Boston's 2009 Pride Parade by the Boston Pride Committee. The interesting part about this award is she actually didn't attend. The committee bestowed this honor without checking to see if she was available.

On September 27, 2011, Etheridge received the honor of having her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Located at 6901 Hollywood Boulevard, it is the 2,450th star awarded.

Discography[link]

• 1988: Melissa Etheridge
• 1989: Brave and Crazy
• 1992: Never Enough
• 1993: Yes I Am
• 1995: Your Little Secret
• 1999: Breakdown
• 2001: Skin
• 2004: Lucky
• 2005: Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled
• 2007: The Awakening
• 2008: A New Thought For Christmas
• 2010: Fearless Love
• 2011: Icon

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Melissa Etheridge

• allaccess.com
• sunsetsessions.org
• JUST CAUSE Magazine interview about activism, family, breast cancer. (Sept, 2009)
• Melissa Etheridge @ Island Records
• Melissa Etheridge Information Network
• Melissa Etheridge at the Internet Movie Database
• 60 Minutes II Interview (June 30, 2000) with Charlie Rose
• CNN interview (May 24, 2003)
• CBS Early Show interview (October 26, 2005) (includes video)
• CMT.com: Melissa Etheridge: Biography
• Melissa Etheridge: Fearless interview with The 420 Times