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1-50 of 297
- Actor
- Producer
- Director
John Robert Magaro was born in 1983 in Akron, Ohio, to Wendy and James Magaro, and was raised in the local suburb Munroe Falls. He began appearing in local theatre productions in and around Cleveland and Akron.
In film, Magaro has starred in Paramount's Overlord (2018), directed by Julius Avery. He was also seen in Reginald Hudlin's "Marshall," alongside Chadwick Boseman, in Netflix's "War Machine," starring Brad Pitt, and also in Paramount's award winning "The Big Short." "The Big Short" was awarded Best Ensemble by the National Board of Review for 2015 and received the Ensemble Performance Award at the Palm Springs Film Festival, as well as being nominated for a Critics' Choice Award for Best Acting Ensemble and a SAG award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Additionally, Magaro earned a Hollywood Spotlight Award from the Hollywood Film Awards for his performance in 2012's Not Fade Away (2012).
No stranger to the small screen, Magaro is known for his work in "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan," Woody Allen's "Crisis in Six Scenes," and for his memorable recurring role on Netflix's "Orange is the New Black."
A stage actor as well, Magaro starred in the Public Theatre's premiere of "Illyria," playing the Public's founder Joseph Papp. He also had a flashy supporting role in Scott Rudin's revival of "The Front Page," directed by Jack O'Brien, opposite Nathan Lane, John Slattery and John Goodman. Magaro also played the male lead in the critically acclaimed production of "Tigers Be Still," written by Kimberly Rosenstock and directed by Sam Gold for the Roundabout Theatre Company.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Moved to New York City at the age of seventeen from Akron, Ohio. Graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in English, class of '75. Without any prior film experience, he was accepted into the Tisch School of the Arts, New York.- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Melina Kanakaredes is an Emmy-nominated actor, writer, director, and philanthropist. She's best known for her starring role as Stella Bonasera in CSI: New York. Prior to that, she starred as Dr. Sydney Hansen in NBC's Providence. Most recently, Melina starred as Dr. Lane Hunter in Fox's The Resident. Melina's roots are in theatre, and throughout her career she's continued to work on stage, both in Los Angeles and New York City. One of her favorites; starring on Broadway as Sally Bowles in Cabaret. Film credits include Snitch, Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, and 15 Minutes. Melina is also a successful writer, and has multiple projects in development, including an autobiographical comedy about growing up in a candy factory, produced by Sony. Away from the set, Melina enjoys celebrating her Greek heritage with friends and family, and travels to Greece as often as possible. She's also dedicated to working with many charitable organizations: LACHSA Foundation, Americans for the Arts, Jhpiego, and Xprize to name a few.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Raymond Herbert "Ray" Wise (born August 20, 1947) is an American actor. Some of his best-known roles include Leland Palmer in Twin Peaks (1990), henchman Leon C. Nash in RoboCop (1987), Jack Taggart Sr. in Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003), the Devil in the CW television series Reaper (2007), Donald Wadsworth in Suburban Gothic (2014).
Wise was born in Akron, Ohio, graduated from Garfield High School in 1964 and attended Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. He is of Romanian descent on his mother's side.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Lola Jean Albright was born on July 20, 1924 in Akron, Ohio, the daughter of John Paul Albright and Marion Harvey, both of whom were gospel singers. She worked as a model before moving to Hollywood in the mid-1940s, studied piano for 20 years and worked as a receptionist at radio station WAKR in Akron. Considered one of the most stylish, sultriest and beautiful actresses in Hollywood, with one of the throatiest, smokiest and most distinctive voices in the business, she starred with Kirk Douglas in the film noir Champion (1949). From 1958 to 1961, she played sultry nightclub singer Edie Hart on the popular television series Peter Gunn (1958).
She also made guest appearances on the television series Gunsmoke (1955), Bonanza (1959), Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955), The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964). She played Constance McKenzie on the night-time soap opera Peyton Place (1964) after Dorothy Malone became sick and could no longer play the role. She received critical acclaim for her performances in A Cold Wind in August (1961), Joy House (1964) and How I Spent My Summer Vacation (1967). Retired from acting, Lola Albright died at age 92 on March 23, 2017 in Toluca Lake, California.- Actress
- Producer
Angie Everhart was born on 7 September 1969 in Akron, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Last Action Hero (1993), Take Me Home Tonight (2011) and Bandido (2004). She has been married to Carl Ferro since 6 December 2014. She was previously married to Ashley Hamilton.- Actor
- Additional Crew
William Boyett was born on 3 January 1927 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He was an actor, known for When a Stranger Calls (1979), Newsies (1992) and Turner & Hooch (1989). He was married to Joan Amelia Reynolds and Willagene Wither. He died on 29 December 2004 in Mission Hills, California, USA.- Producer
- Writer
- Actor
LeBron James is an American basketball player and film producer who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers. He is one of the most accomplished basketball players of the 21st century. He played himself in Space Jam: A New Legacy and Trainwreck. He is the owner of a film production company called SpringHill Company.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Sydne Rome was born on 17 March 1951 in Akron, Ohio, USA. She is an actress, known for The Pumaman (1980), Some Girls Do (1969) and What? (1972). She has been married to Roberto Bernabei since 20 May 1987. They have two children. She was previously married to Emilio Lari.- Actor
- Art Director
Trent Manley Ford was born in Akron, Ohio to a US Navy test pilot father and a British Airways head stewardess mother from Birmingham, West Midlands. He moved to the United Kingdom at the age of one with his parents and grew up in Cradley and Malvern with his brother and two sisters. He studied Economics and English Literature at Clare College, Cambridge University. Ford is an accomplished actor known for Gosford Park (2001), How to Deal (2003) and Burning Blue (2013).
Trent is most recognized for his onscreen work, often appearing as the slick heartthrob in film and television. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a high level of dramatic versatility, while maintaining a successful modeling career. Ford has been photographed by some of the most prestigious names in fashion photography, including Mario Testino, Bruce Weber and Peter Lindbergh. Trent has appeared multiple times in V Magazine and Italian Vogue, and campaigns for Gap and Valentino, among others. He was the leading man in the global advertising campaign for Calvin Klein perfume 'Eternity Moment' opposite Scarlett Johansson.
In May 2020, after falling gravely ill, Trent received a life-saving liver transplant from UCLA. Fully recovered and forever changed for the better, deepened and stiller, as an actor- being told one will face their own mortality with no chance of surviving, and then miraculously receiving grace will do that to a person. This is all thanks in largest part to the love of his life, Natalie Cohen. Trent and Natalie continue to be of service to other transplant patients and caregivers, and advocate for organ donation. In 2023, they founded their nonprofit RELIVE, providing free ongoing support and resources for patients and caregivers affected by liver failure and liver transplantation, specializing in helping those suffering from alcohol and addiction related liver disease. They live in perpetual happiness and gratitude with their two cats.
The best chapters are yet to come. The book is not yet written...- Actor
- Soundtrack
Jimmy Butler was born on 20 February 1921 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He was an actor, known for The Awakening of Jim Burke (1935), No Greater Glory (1934) and Battle of Greed (1937). He was married to Jean Fahrney. He died on 18 February 1945 in Théding, Moselle, France.- Kate Manx was born on 19 October 1930 in Akron, Ohio, USA. She was an actress, known for Hero's Island (1962), Private Property (1960) and Perry Mason (1957). She was married to Leslie Stevens and Anthony Brady Farrell. She died on 15 November 1964 in Torrance, California, USA.
- Actor
- Producer
- Stunts
Drew Waters was born on 20 August 1973 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for True Detective (2014), NCIS: Los Angeles (2009) and Bones (2005). He has been married to Erin Bethea since 17 July 2020.- Actress
- Music Department
- Composer
Chrissie Hynde was born on 7 September 1951 in Akron, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and composer, known for Happy Feet (2006), Stealth (2005) and The Living Daylights (1987). She was previously married to Lucho Brieva and Jim Kerr.- Producer
- Actor
- Director
Stephen Curry was born on 14 March 1988 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for Finding Forrester, Breakthrough (2019) and Ballers (2015). He has been married to Ayesha Curry since 30 July 2011. They have three children.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Marian Mercer was born on 26 November 1935 in Akron, Ohio, USA. She was an actress, known for 9 to 5 (1980), Out on a Limb (1992) and Great Performances (1971). She was married to Patrick Hogan and Martin Cassidy. She died on 27 April 2011 in Newbury Park, California, USA.- Elizabeth Franz was born on 18 June 1941 in Akron, Ohio, USA. She is an actress, known for Sabrina (1995), School Ties (1992) and The Secret of My Success (1987). She was previously married to Edward Binns.
- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
River "RB" Butcher is a Los Angeles-based standup comic, actor and writer. Originally from the Midwest, River grew up skateboarding the mean streets of Akron, Ohio. Their blue collar brand of cool has endeared audiences nationwide, as they have performed standup and appeared on shows such as Freeform's GOOD TROUBLE, HBO's 2 DOPE QUEENS, THE MELTDOWN WITH JONAH AND KUMAIL, @MIDNIGHT and CONAN. River's first television series TAKE MY WIFE premiered as a critical hit and was reviewed by Vanity Fair, The New York Times, Vulture, IndieWire and countless other outlets. River was a recurring performer on the TruTv series ADAM RUINS EVERYTHING and continues to tour the country. Their debut standup album "Butcher" debuted at number one on iTunes, and they were also named one of Variety's Top Ten Comics To Watch 2017 at the Just For Laughs festival.- Actor
- Additional Crew
Busy American character actor, renowned for his numerous portrayals of Benjamin Franklin on both stage and screen. Born Fredd Wiener in Akron, Ohio, Fredd worked briefly as a delivery boy at Warner Brothers before being called up for military service during World War II. Being appointed as a 'special service' NCO, he was put in charge of providing entertainment for troops as writer, producer and actor of army productions. After demobilisation, he supported himself by working a daytime job at J. C. Penney's department store in New York while also taking nightly drama classes at the American Theatre Wing (along with fellow alumni Lee Marvin, Martin Balsam and James Whitmore). Fredd's career developed slowly at first. In 1947, he lost out to another Wayne (David, who ended up winning a Tony Award) for the role of Og the leprechaun in "Finian's Rainbow". Undeterred, Fredd eventually landed his breakthrough role on Broadway two years later as Brewster Ames II in the musical comedy "Texas, Li'l Darlin". From there, he went on to appear once more on Broadway (in the 1951 satirical play "Not for Children" by Elmer Rice) and in the original London Theatre Royal cast of "South Pacific" as the 'comic relief' character Luther Billis. Regularly on television from the early 50s -- beginning with live anthology dramas -- Fredd became a familiar presence in popular fare across all genres, including The Twilight Zone (1959) (twice), Perry Mason (1957), 77 Sunset Strip (1958), Have Gun - Will Travel (1957), The Rockford Files (1974) and (a little more recently) Simon & Simon (1981). Bringing Benjamin Franklin to life he guested in a fondly remembered two-part instalment of Bewitched (1964), appeared in "Go Fly a Kite" at Aldo Tambellini's Gate Theatre in New York and toured nationwide and internationally with his painstakingly researched and hugely successful one-man stage show which he also wrote, produced and directed (audio-taped as "Benjamin Franklin, Citizen" in 1976).- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Graduate of Woodridge High School in Peninsula, Ohio.
Attended Kent State University (1970-73) in Kent, Ohio, to focus on attaining an art degree. While at Kent State Mothersbaugh met Jerry Casale and Bob Lewis, who ultimately joined him in forming the 1970-80s avant-garde band Devo.
Awarded an honorary doctorate degree (2008) from Kent State in humane letters. Dr. Mothersbaugh has reciprocated KSU in diverse fashion as is his style-- gifting it with music & art, as well as time-- which is spent touting the Kent State experience through public promotions & media spots.- Actor
- Composer
- Writer
Maynard James Keenan was born on 17 April 1964 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010), End of Watch (2012) and Escape from L.A. (1996).- Writer
- Actress
- Producer
Leah Rachel was born in Akron, Ohio, USA. She is a writer and actress, known for Chambers (2019), Curious Females (2017) and The Young, the Hot, and the Bothered.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Sebastian La Cause was born on 12 December 1971 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He is an actor and director, known for Orange Is the New Black (2013), Hustling (2011) and Keep the Lights On (2012).- Tall (5'8"), busty, and shapely blonde bombshell Heather Kozar was born on May 4, 1976 in Akron, Ohio. Heather was raised in a strict Christian household. She graduated from Green High School in 1994. Kozar was the Playmate of the Month in the January, 1998 issue of "Playboy." Heather graced the cover of the June, 1999 issue of the famous men's magazine and was named Playmate of the Year that same year. Kozar was the St. Pauli Beer spokeswoman for 2002 and a Barker's Beauty on the popular game-show "The Price Is Right." Moreover, Heather has worked as a model for such high profile clients as Brut, BMW, Wendy's, and Cutty Sark Scots Whisky. She married ex-Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch on February 26, 2005. The mother of sons Chase and Brady, Kozar lives with her family in Lexington, Kentucky.
- Director
- Writer
- Music Department
Liam Lynch was born on 5 September 1970 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He is a director and writer, known for Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006), The Sifl & Olly Show (1998) and School of Rock (2003).- Actor
- Composer
- Music Department
As a sophomore at the University of Akron, he left town to come to Los Angeles with his band, Revelation Funk. The band broke up shortly after arriving in L.A. Shortly afterward, Ingram started working with Ray Charles as a piano player.
After Quincy Jones heard James Ingram's voice on "Just Once," he invited Ingram to sing on his album. James originally didn't think his voice was good enough to be a lead vocal. He won a Grammy award for best R&B vocal performance for his work on Jones' album, "The Dude."
Won a Grammy with Michael McDonald in 1984 for Best R&B Performance for their duet, "Yah Mo B There"
His mom, Alistine Wilson Ingram, and dad, Henry Ingram Sr., died within a year of one another [2001-2002]
Married his childhood sweetheart, Debra Robinson
Played keyboards on the classic hit songs "PYT" by Michael Jackson and "Bad Mama Jama" by Carl Carlton.
Plays keyboards, guitar, and electric bass.- Actor
- Writer
Married high school sweetheart, Suzi, during their junior year of college at The University of Akron, in their hometown of Akron, Ohio. Promoted to Los Angeles in April 1999 while working for The Guinness Import Company, Gary left the corporate world behind in May 2004 to pursue acting full-time. Gary and Suzi devote much of their spare time working on behalf of animals and have enjoyed the loving companionship of seven rescued stray cats over the years.- Producer
- Writer
- Actress
Rachel Sweet began her career as a singer before moving towards acting, writing, and producing. She started out at 12 years old as a Country singer, mostly in New York and Nashville, but had already been in a few TV commercials before that. Her debut record was released in 1976 ,and two years later she signed a contract with British indie company Stiff, for whom she made several records. In 1981 she signed a contract with Columbia Records, with whom she turned even more in a Pop direction.- Sound Department
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Gary A. Hecker was born on 25 August 1960 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He is an actor, known for War of the Worlds (2005), Independence Day (1996) and Watchmen (2009).- Ina Fried was born on 17 December 1974 in Akron, Ohio, USA. She is an actress, known for Rocky III (1982), The Secret of NIMH (1982) and St. Elsewhere (1982).
- Director
- Producer
- Actor
Writer/director/producer Richard Compton was born on March 2, 1938, in Philadelphia, PA. He began his career in the early 1960s making government propaganda movies for the United States Information Agency. His debut feature "The French Way", was never released in America. Compton followed this film with the nifty biker flick Angels Die Hard (1970), which was the first movie to be released by Roger Corman's New World Pictures. Compton then did the excellent and unjustly overlooked psycho Vietnam veterans exploitation winner Welcome Home Soldier Boys (1971). He scored his biggest hit with the outstanding cult classic Macon County Line (1974); the unexpected enormous box-office success of this movie begot a handful of similar Southern-fried "don't go down to Dixie" drive-in pictures, which include Jackson County Jail (1976), A Small Town in Texas (1976), and Nightmare in Badham County (1976). Both the tepid semi-sequel Return to Macon County (1975) starring then-unknowns Nick Nolte and Don Johnson and the strictly so-so post-nuke sci-fi survivalist opus Ravagers (1979) were regrettably mediocre, although Assault in Paradise (1977) was a solid and gripping thriller. In the early 1980s Compton began directing more and more for television; he's done several made-for-TV pictures and numerous episodes of such TV shows as Peacemakers (2003), JAG (1995), The Lone Gunmen (2001), Charmed (1998), Sliders (1995), Profiler (1996), Babylon 5 (1993), L.A. Law (1986), The Commish (1991), Home Improvement (1991), Baywatch (1989), Miami Vice (1984), Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), The Equalizer (1985), Hill Street Blues (1981), Hotel (1983) and T.J. Hooker (1982).
Compton also did some acting in the 1960s and '70s; his acting credits include guest spots on two episodes of the original Star Trek (1966) TV show and the enjoyably trashy The Sadistic Hypnotist (1969). He was married to actress Veronica Cartwright. He died at age 69 on August 11, 2007.- James Harrison Jr. was born on 4 May 1978 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He is an actor, known for S.W.A.T. (2017), Remember Amnesia (2019) and Heels (2021).
- Jane A. Johnston was born on 4 August 1934 in Akron, Ohio, USA. She is an actress, known for The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Corvette Summer (1978) and Cold Case (2003). She was previously married to George D. Wallace, Will Kuluva and John Shearing.
- Actor
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Jani Lane was born on 1 February 1964 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Shazam! (2019), Bring It On (2000) and Rock of Ages (2012). He was married to Kimberly Nash, Rowanne Brewer and Bobbie Jean Brown. He died on 10 August 2011 in Woodland Hills, California, USA.- Actor
- Stunts
- Producer
Born Ali Alherimi in Akron, Ohio, on December 20th, 1978, Alec Rayme was raised mostly in Florida. He was very athletic spending most of his younger days playing sports. After high school he went on to play college football at USM and then Pro Arena football in Florida. After a short lived football career he hit the road in search of something new. He got approached by an agent while working for his fathers store, with nothing to lose he gave it a shot. The first audition he was sent on he booked as Batman in the Batman Stunt Spectacular at Six Flags New Orleans. He had always been into anything that had to do with art, but this very much got his foot into the entertainment industry. From there he fell into stunts and would usually book stunt acting roles. After almost 10 years of stunts he decided that it was enough for him and started to focus mainly on acting. After booking a couple big roles he knew he had made the right decision. He now acts full time as well as owns a food truck called "The Holy Grill" He has never been married and has no children. He hopes to continue to act and also will be making his directing debut in 2014. Recent films "Left Behind" and "Lets Be Cops" both will be released in 2014.- Actress
- Stunts
- Producer
Ashleigh Morghan was born on 29 May 1990 in Akron, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for The Rehearsal (2022), Grand Crew (2021) and Ruthless (2020).- Carroll Nye was born on 4 October 1901 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He was an actor, known for Gone with the Wind (1939), King of the Wild (1931) and The Heart of Maryland (1927). He was married to Dorothy Barnes Stewart, Roberta Clementine Woodburn and Helen Lynch. He died on 17 March 1974 in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Bru Muller was born in Akron, Ohio, USA. He is known for The Future (2011), Division III: Football's Finest (2011) and Diwa (2018). He is married to Aina Dumlao.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Writer
Hugh Downs was born on 14 February 1921 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Live from Lincoln Center (1976), Car 54, Where Are You? (1961) and Concentration (1958). He was married to Ruth Shaheen. He died on 1 July 2020 in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.- Actor
- Music Department
- Composer
Howard Hewett was born on 1 October 1955 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Bulletproof (1996), The Santa Clause (1994) and The Meteor Man (1993). He has been married to Angie since 1998. They have one child. He was previously married to Nia Peeples, Rainey Riley and Mari Molina.- The younger son of two male children born to Frank and Lucy Leona (Dugan) Waltz, Jack Richard had an elder brother, Frank. Jack married Phyllis Dolores Showalter (born September 27, 1923 - died March 5, 1981) on September 27, 1941 in Summit County, Ohio by the deputy clerk in the office of Probate Judge Dean Fay. Waltz was 16 years old and it was Showalter's 18th birthday but both are listed as being 17 years old. His age is incorrectly recorded as "17 years of age on the 6 day of December 1940". The license was taken out on September 23, 1941. The daughter of Earl W. and Bertie (Calvert) Showalter, her parents are listed as giving their consent for their still minor age daughter. The union was apparently childless and ended in divorce on September 22, 1954. He married, secondly, to co-star Lisa Davis on June 28, 1958. The couple had three children. The marriage ended in divorce in 1971, one year before Waltz's death at age 47.
- Paula Reid was born on 19 August 1982 in Akron, Ohio, USA.
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
James III is an American writer, producer and actor best known for Co-Creating and Co-Starring in the Netflix sketch series Astronomy Club (2019). James served as a Consulting Producer on the Nickelodeon series Young Dylan (2020) and was a Staff Writer on the reboot of All That (2019), also for Nickelodeon. With Astronomy Club members, Jonathan Braylock and Jerah Milligan, James co-hosts the podcast Black Men Can't Jump [In Hollywood].- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Ben Begley was born on 18 January 1982 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for For All Mankind (2019), The Mindy Project (2012) and The Funhouse Massacre (2015).- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Vaughn Wilton Monroe was born October 7, 1911 in Akron, Ohio, and his family moved to Wisconsin shortly thereafter. Monroe showed an early talent for the trumpet and focused most of his early efforts on that. Monroe wanted to be an opera singer, but the Depression made pursuing such a career impractical. Instead, he sang as a vocalist with several bands, among them Austin Wylie (who later worked for Artie Shaw), Larry Funk (for which he made his recording debut), and Jack Marshard. It was Marshard who realized Monroe's talent, brought him out from the brass section, and turned him into a conductor. At the urging of Marshard and many others, Monroe started his own orchestra in 1940. RCA Victor immediately signed him to a contract. From 1940 until 1954, he had over 70 chart hits. One of these is the one he's best known for today: "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!", the 1946 version of which is heard at the end of the first two Bruce Willis "Die Hard" films.
The tall, handsome Monroe, whose signature tune was "Racing With the Moon", was very popular in the 1940s and early 1950s. His band was heard every Sunday on the radio in America (under contract to Camel cigarettes) and played to full ballrooms everywhere they went. Some of the musicians who regularly toured with Monroe included guitarist 'Bucky Pizzarelli', saxophonist Adny Bagni, Bobby Nichols, singer Mary Jo Grogan, Trumpeter Bobby Nichols, trombonist Ray Conniff, and well-known jazz pianist Arnold Ross.
The big band business started losing steam in the early 1950s, and Monroe gave up his band in 1953. For the next 20 years, he worked as a single and on the nightclub circuit, while maintaining his contract with RCA Victor as their spokesman.
Monroe died May 21, 1973, shortly after undergoing stomach surgery.- Producer
- Editor
- Actor
J.R. Bookwalter began his filmmaking career at the tender age of 11 years old in Akron, Ohio. Born August 16th, 1966, Bookwalter was raised on Dark Shadows (1966), the classic soap opera, which his mother used to watch religiously. After graduating high school in 1984, Bookwalter took photography classes at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. When his apartment was robbed a week into his second year there, the fledgling director took it as a sign to return home, and a mere month later he touched base with filmmaker Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead (1981)), who would wind up financing his first feature-length effort, The Dead Next Door (1989). That production dragged on for nearly four years, finally being completed in Los Angeles, where Bookwalter ran into David DeCoteau (Creepozoids (1987)), a producer who was in the early stages of starting a distribution company. From 1989 to 1992, Bookwalter wound up either writing, directing, producing, scoring or mixing the sound for nine features and four special interest videos for DeCoteau. In 1991, Bookwalter used what he learned from DeCoteau to start Tempe Entertainment and began self-distributing his features, such as the critically-acclaimed Ozone (1993). Bookwalter has taught himself the ins and outs of low-budget production; in addition to the duties above, he has also done a bit of acting, explosives work, makeup effects, lighting, cinematography...you name it, and J.R. Bookwalter has probably at least tried it. He feels that working with talents as varied as Raimi, DeCoteau, Night of the Living Dead (1990) co-creator John A. Russo and B-movie maven Charles Band has taught him when and where to cut corners in the name of a low-cost movie and when and where to work harder in the name of art.- Actor
- Producer
Frank Dicopoulos was born in Akron, Ohio, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Forever and a Day (2020), Guiding Light (1952) and Acton Vale. He has been married to Teja Anderson since 20 October 1990. They have two children.- Editor
- Director
- Cinematographer
The name which could have been synonymous with Steven Spielberg. Perhaps in a parallel dimension, but as things would turn out, not this one. Packard grew up in a rural district of Akron. His father Ray Packard was a professor of fine arts and highly regarded artist/collector/gallery-owner of Akron. The Packard Gallery on W. Exchange St was a well known staple in the 60s & 70s, with its statue of Minerva and three Packard automobiles parked in front, art collectors and other notable clientele (which included Orson Welles) had frequented the place. Packard's mother Francis was a stage and commercial actress of Akron whose career was cut short by her passing from a strange illness in 1968. It can be noted that she had almost married the actor Kier Dullea a few years earlier. Packard spent his later early years growing up in Chatsworth, California and began making experimental films in 1979 at the age of 11, the first of which were a series of animated and stop motion shorts, some made for school credit. In the early 80s Packard embarked on a series of ambitious productions (Amazing Stories, The Afterlife, Werewolf Hunters, etc) the prior mentioned preceded, but had no direct connection with the mid-80s Spielberg TV series. He now resides in a small cheap rented room in Eagle Rock, California, destitute, debased, and devoid of future projects.- Actor
- Composer
- Soundtrack
David Allan Coe was born on 6 September 1939 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995), The Outsiders (1983) and Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013).- Actor
- Producer
Andrew was born and raised in Akron, Ohio and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a B.F.A. in Acting. Right after college he married his college sweetheart, Jessica Rivera, and they moved out to LA. Since then he has appeared in dozens of TV shows and movies, most recently in "Brews Brothers" and "Switched at Birth". He and Jessica have 4 boys, all named after Roman emperors. Andrew is also a long-suffering fan of all Cleveland sports teams.