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Thursday, December 07, 2006

Upcoming Additions to the Star Wars Actors Database

I've been rather behind in any meaty additions to the site, other than references, due to work/time restrictions but, in the next month or so I'll be adding these names to the Star Wars Actors Database along with their bios:

Mike Harver - ROTJ
Malcolm Inch - TPM
Grant Hall - ROTJ

From Empire at War (video game):
Grant Albrecht
John Armstrong
Lloyd Floyd
Paul Darrow
Rupert Degas
Scott Lawrence
Stephen Stanton
Timothy Watson

LM

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Pre-Purchase George and Me!


In just one more week, September 30, 2006, George and Me is released on DVD!
Thanks to Sky and Vin for all their hard work!
Leah

LOTRM sketch card release date

It has been confirmed. The release date for the Lord of the Rings Masterpieces card set is now October 25th, 2006! yay!

LM

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

George Lucas Comes Up Roses

George Lucas Comes Up Roses
In case some of you didn't know already:

Our dear Flanneled One was named Grand Marshall of the Tournament of Roses Parade today, finally. ;) Here's the press release...

Lucas - TOR Press Release

This one shows a pic...
Lucas - Grand Marshall - Check out Chewie in the back!

Leah

PS - Lucas also made a record contribution to his former Alma mater, it was announced today. Read about it here.

PS² - Oh, Don't forget that there are two SW inspired floats in the parade too! Ewok themed and Naboo themed. And that there will be 200 uniformed Stormtroopers from the 501st representing 20 countries.
LM

7 Comments posted

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Edward Asner

Edward Asner
Anyone who was a fan of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lou Grant, Elf and of course the Star Wars Radio Drama Series would recognize Edward Asner (voice of Jabba the Hutt in the radio dramas).

Fans of Mr. Asner were delighted to see him in the pilot of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip airing now HERE. Eight more episodes of Studio 60 will be streamed by NBC as well as John Lithgow's (voice of Yoda in the radio dramas) new series Twenty Good Years.

Asner plays Mr. White, an executive at NBS, about half way through the 46 minute pilot. I don't know if he will be playing the exec on a regular basis but there he is.

If the pilot is any indication of the quality of the following series' episodes then it should be quite popular. It's quite good.

Enjoy!
LM

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Dermot Crowley - Posters of Montmarte

Dermot Crowley
Hey there,

Small break to make you aware of a radio program based on the posters of Toulouse Lautrec called The Posters of Montmartre.
Dermot Crowley (General Krix Madine - ROTJ) has a role as George Footit, an aging circus performer with an alcohol problem.

If you've never seen/heard Crowley (said Crow-lee) in anything other than Return of the Jedi then you will be a tad surprised at hearing him as Footit. I was.

The radio series on BBC 7 is played in 5 parts and plays each day. Two parts have already been broadcast.

Part One

Part Two

Here is the link for the "Listen Again" page at BBC Radio. The last three parts will be Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Enjoy!

Leah

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Lindsay Duncan Interview


Lindsay Duncan Interview
Another small article/interview. This time with Lindsay Duncan (voice of TC-14 - TPM). Duncan has most recently played Servilia on HBO/BBC's mini-series Rome and is tentatively scheduled to play a role in a revival (on stage) of Old Times next year.
Ms. Duncan is also married to Hilton McRae (Arvel Crynyd - ROTJ)

Here's the article.

Enjoy.
Leah

Friday, September 01, 2006

Fionnula Flanagan Interview

Fionnula Flanagan Interview
Hey there!

A super quickie to point you towards a short but good interview with Brotherhood matriarch Fionnula Flanagan (The Ewok Adventures: Caravan of Courage).

As usual Ms. Flanagan comes across as grace with a slightly fiery shell. Love her.

The Right Accents

Enjoy.
Leah

Site Update!

Site Update!
In the interest of time, I'm cutting and pasting my updates to the site here.
You can follow the links from the site HERE. :D

I have managed to make updates to the site on a semi-regular basis at least. A lot of life moving along now (good) so that means a little less time on the site. I try to make them good when I do make them. I have several actors that I'm in the middle of adding, which has been a long time in coming.

September marks the beginning of my busy season as an artist. This year a little more so due to adding commercial efforts to my regular portrait schedule.

I have an auction going on for a Lord of the Rings related portrait of Arwen Undómiel I completed two days ago. If you'd like to check it out please visit the Ebay page HERE.

It is the first in a series of portraits. Enjoy.
Please visit my art blog and MySpace for updates here and there on my ongoing art projects and events.

A winner has been chosen in my photo trivia contest. Cora correctly identified the woman in this photograph as the imitable and witty Carrie Fisher. Yes, that's her folks. She made a cameo appearance in Sean Lennon's new video Friendly Fire.

Leah

~~~
UPDATES:

Denis Lawson (Wedge Antilles - OT) - Lawson is set to star in an upcoming BBC TV production of Jekyll (as in Jekyll and Hyde), he will play Dr. Jackman's oldest friend. Jekyll will air on BBC ONE next year (2007) and is sure to be a darker version than previous incarnations.

~~
I found out through a friend that Ms. Adeal Crooms, who provided the voice for Wicket in Return of the Jedi had died in 2003. Her daughter was surprised to find that anyone knew who her mother was and said that she thought her mother would have been delighted to know there were people out there who were interested in her career.

~~
We also learned a few cool things about new blogger Mike Quinn! (Mike Quinn - Nien Nunb - ROTJ) :D

~~~
August 30, 2006
STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
Ken Hiller (update - Audio Books)
Denis Lawson (update - TV)
~~
August 28, 2006
STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
Obba Babatundé (update - Theatre)
John Lithgow (update - TV: Emmy photo; various photos)
STAR WARS REFERENCE DATABASE
Alabama Jones and the Busty Crusade (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai.net!)
~~
August 26, 2006
STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
Hilton McRae (update - Theatre)
Rebecca Jackson Mendoza (update - Theatre pic)
~~
August 25, 2006
STAR WARS REFERENCE DATABASE
TV A-C
Battlestar Galactica (2004) (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai.net!)
Colbert Report
TV G-J
Hoodwinked (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai.net!)
TV K - Q
Murder in Suburbia (Thanks to Bonnie Burton!)
TV R - Z
Throwdown with Bobby Flay (Thanks to Bonnie Burton!)
LIFE:
INTERNET
Lucky Charms (Thanks to Bonnie Burton!)
~~
August 24, 2006
STAR WARS ACTOR CONNECTIONS
The Replacements (TV)
STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
Dalyn Chew (update - Theatre/pic)
Grey Delisle (update - TV)
Harrison Ford (update - TV)
Keira Knightley (update - TV)
Daran Norris (update - TV)
Kath Soucie (update - TV: The Replacements)
STAR WARS REFERENCE DATABASE
Failure to Launch
STAR WARS REFERENCE DATABASE
TV2
Wal*Mart Commercial (Commercials)
~~
August 23, 2006
STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
New Addition! Regina Lynn Preciado
New Addition! Leroy James (Thanks to Convention Guests!)

Steven Boyle (update - Film Make-Up)
Mark Capri (update - Theatre)
Adeal Crooms (update - bio info) (Thanks to Mr. Grad!)
Robin Atkin Downes (update - Video Games)
Lindsay Duncan (update - Theatre)
Warren Duxbury (update - TV Puppeteer/Builder; Miscellany)
Joel Edgerton (update - Miscellany)
Nick Field (correction to credits, new credits posted - pics added)
Carrie Fisher (update - Live Performances)
Samuel L. Jackson (update - TV)
John Lithgow (update - Live Performances)
Timothy Omundson (update - TV)
Greg Proops (update - TV)
Raphael Sbarge (update - Film; TV)
Treat Williams (update - Film)
~~
July 29, 2006

(1940 - 2006)
Johnny Weissmuller, Jr. died on July 27, 2006 from a long battle with terminal cancer. People may recognize the name because his father Johnny Weissmuller, Sr. was a champion swimmer (as Jr. was) and the man who played Tarzan.
(Thanks to Geoff from Johnny Weissmuller's official site for the information).

~~
July 26, 2006
STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
New Addition! David Rasche

Diahann Carroll (update - TV)
Celia Imrie (update - TV)
Samuel L. Jackson (update - bio pic)
Joe Matheson (update - Theatre)
Ewan McGregor (update - Miscellany)
Leanna Walsman (update - Film; TV)
~~
July 25, 2006
STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
David Alan Grier (update - Theatre)
Martin Jarvis (update - TV)
Jack Klaff (update - Theatre)
Denis Lawson (update - TV)
Natalie Portman (update - TV)
Clive Revill (update - Theatre all; Awards: Tony)
~~
July 19, 2006

19?? - 2006
Very sad to announce that Mr. Tim Condren passed away today in a London hospital. He was a stuntman for over 40 years and taught scores of young stunt hopefuls the craft at the London Stunt School. Please, show your support by sending condolences via snail-mail to:
The Condren Family/Miss Z L Boyd
12 Kingsley Court
Penhale
Fraddon
Cornwall
TR9 6PD
or
The Condren Family
c/o London Stunt School
Sudbury Primary School
Watford Road
Wembley
Middlesex
HA0 3EY
UK
Thank you for all your kind words and thoughts while Mr. Condren was in the hospital, it was very much appreciated by him and his family.
Leah

COMICS
VG Cats (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai.net!)
STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
Peter Serafinowicz (update - TV)

See you next week!
Leah

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

John Williams Composes New Music

John Williams Composes New Music
Just read about this HERE and thought I'd share it with you all. Nice start to the season I'd say. :D

Enjoy!

Leah

11 Comments posted

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Corroney, Peña, Guri, Me..and more bits and bobs...

Little bits today. I'll get a site update here sometime this week.

Thanks!

I read the Star Wars Insider #89 online supplement yesterday and to my surprise was an article by friend Joe Corroney about the illustrations he did for mutual friend Abel Pena's story, Underworld: A Galaxy of Scum and Villainy, the article for Joe's art was called The Art of the Underworld.


Yep, Corroney's Guri was based on my image. Totally cool to be rendered by one of my favorite artists and to be placed in the SW universe with Prince Xixor and BoShek no less! AH!

Friend, Milton Soares Jr., linked me up to his fan film after reading the above article. Here's the link, Shadows of the Empire - Fan Film. It's pretty good and fun to see the book in action figure form! It takes a long while to download but I think you'll enjoy.

~~
After finishing the Lord of the Rings Masterpieces cards I decided to do a few more LOTR related drawings only larger in scale. The first is Arwen, she'll be finished later tonight and will be up on Ebay at some point. I'll let you all know when that happens.
ARWEN

~~
Harry Fielder also sent his regards to all this morning!

Enjoy!
Leah

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Update!

Update!
Hey! Long time no see.

I've been hard at work getting the Lord of the Rings Masterpieces cards finished and sent off.
The experience was pretty cool.

My contribution to the total card count was 856. Here's a little sampling (top of the blog), chosen at random from the many scans...

LOTRM samples

~~~

My Boga illustration will be published in Star Wars Insider #90.
Also...look for friend, Janlomona (AKA Mark Newbold) in the same issue. I'll leave it to him to make the announcement.

The issue will be released in September.

~~~

I will be finally updating Nerf-Herders-Anonymous.net next week.

~~~

The contest, to win a personal Star Wars-based character sketch-card from me, was extended until August 31st! Please take a look and take your best educated guess there's still time!

A few people have already guessed correctly and I will choose one winner from all the correct answers.

HERE

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Johnny Weissmuller, Jr (1940 - 2006)

Johnny Weissmuller, Jr.
I'm sorry to say that another Star Wars alum has passed away. Johnny Weissmuller, Jr. passed away on July 27, 2006 after a long and hard battle with terminal cancer.

Details are few at this time. This information was passed to me from Geoff who runs Mr. Weissmuller Sr.'s official site.

I'd give a short bio but my time is extremely limited right now. Please, visit the link above and read Mr. Weissmuller Jr.'s biography and credits there.

Sad to hear of this passing.

Leah

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

My Little Boga



My Little Boga
Hey!
Just a heads up...My Miss Boga will be published in The Star Wars Insider, issue #90 scheduled for release in September.
Leah

Edit: added pic of the SW Insider page.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Lord of the Rings Sketch Cards


Lord of the Rings Sketch Cards

I've been invited to do sketch cards for the series that will be released this fall. I'll be making a few updates as I go but the deadline is super tight.
Here's some info on the series:
"On October 4th, Topps will release Lord of the Rings Masterpieces. This 90-card set will feature art from production paintings, costume designs, EA's XBox360 The Battle for Middle-Earth2 game, caricatures, and newly commissioned art. Insert sets will include Silver Foil Art cards from the end credits of the Return of the King (plus Hobby Exclusive Bronze, Gold, and Refractor Parallel sets), Hobby Exclusive One-Of-A-Kind Hand-Drawn Artist Sketch cards"

Thank you!
Leah

Post from the Blogs.StarWars.com:
Hey everyone,

I'm still recovering from Comic Con but feeling pretty good, I had a very good time and hung out with some great people. More about that later.
I was invited to be a sketch card artist for The Lord of the Rings Masterpiece collectible card series coming up this fall. I'll be holed up for a while but will try to update here and there and assure everyone that I've not fallen into the abyss of hand-cramp hell.
God speed to me Leah

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

The Origin of Anakin

Did you ever wonder where George Lucas came up with the name Anakin? Look no further than director Ken Annakin.

Annakin, who will turn 92 in August, has directed a host of films, the most recent was Ghengis Khan, but he is probably best known for The Longest Day and The Battle of the Bulge.
The short of itm as Annakin himself tells, is when George Lucas was filming Star Wars in 1976 at Pinewood Studios he told Alec Guinness that he was looking for a name. Guinness suggested the name Annakin, which he'd seen on Ken Annakin's office door earlier. Obviously it stuck...missing one 'n'.
The name is of Russian origin but Annakin was born in Yorkshire, UK.

Interesting to note that one of Annakin's films, The Pirate Movie, has two Star Wars references...
The first is from a song in the film based on the Pirates of Penzance's Major Modern General, it is sung by Stanley (Kerr):

'I comprehend contemporary culture North American. / I straighten more piratical erections than Bo Derek and, / I'm in to EST and all the rest, I've undergone analysis, / I've jumped beyond the gravitude to permanent paralysis. / My muse is into music, but my credit I'll not trouble you, / From R&B to S&M / , cross over C&W, / To groovin' with the Doobies in my Malibu white-souling tones. / Man, I'm older than the Beatles, but I'm younger than the Rolling Stones. / (He's older than the Beatles, but younger than the Rolling Stones.) / My military knowledge for I'm plucky and adventure-y. / Embraces M*A*S*H and Star Wars and the 22nd century. / Yes sir in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, / I am the very model of a modern major general. / (In short in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, / He is the very model of a modern major general.)
The second, Frederick hears "Use the Force, Frederick" in his head, at which time his sword turns into a lightsaber, and he wins his duel.

Leah

Tim Condren (1926 - 2006)

Tim Condren
I'm very sorry to say that Mr. Condren passed away at 3:05 pm (London time) today, July 19.
His niece emailed me this morning to let me know and to thank everyone for the support. The London Stunt School also wanted to thank everyone for their kindness, the letters of encouragement did lift Mr. Condren's spirits.
I'm sure Mr. Condren was surprised by the outpouring of support the Star Wars fans sent his way.
I now implore all of you to take a little bit of time, get out your extra postage and send your condolences to his family and London Stunt School where he had been teaching for years.
Ms. Boyd, Mr. Condren's niece, let me know just now that the funeral will be on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 and anyone who would like to send their condolences, wishes or anything else can send it to either one of these addresses (preferrably the latter):

The Condren Family
c/o London Stunt School
Sudbury Primary School
Watford Road
Wembley
Middlesex
HA0 3EY
UK

OR

The Condren Family/Miss Z L Boyd
12 Kingsley Court
Penhale
Fraddon
Cornwall
TR9 6PD

Thank you all very much for helping.

Leah


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While I know very little of his personal life I can give you a little bit of information about his professional life.

Tim Condren always had an interest in the physical and made a good career being physical over the last 40 or so years.Condren worked with legends such as Roger Moore, Charles Bronson, Sean Connery, Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman and Robert Mitchum to name but a few, and created stunt work for many popular movies including several Bond films, Star Wars, Superman I & II, Labyrinth, Willow and others. He also played a smattering of on-camera roles, one of which was one of the original Stormtroopers for Star Wars.

His very first stunt work in film was in the 1962 David Lean film Lawrence of Arabia (my favorite film) Sir Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi) was also in this film.

Condren's work took him to the US, Australia and to other film locations around the world and also had him gainfully employed in the UK (his home) for all of his adult life.

Condren was experienced in archery and horses and incorporated those skills into his stunt work, generally both together. While in the US he made several westerns (I'm still working on finding which films these were), usually involving horse work, many times playing an Indian (Apache and Sioux, of course), all of which were filmed here in Southern California or in Arizona. He also participated in several rodeos as a trick rider/guest performer. I believe that he did the same in Australia too.
Many years ago Condren made appearances in circuses (he had a strong acrobatic background) and also made good of his fencing and sword-fighting skills by working the show at the Tower of London (The White Tower) as a Knight...these shows are still presented now and are held in August.

Condren spent many of these past years teaching at the London Stunt School with Alasdair Monteith and others preparing scores of young stunt hopefuls for film, TV and other productions. This was his last position before his death and I do believe that he was teaching up until he became ill.

I don't know how he died (what he died of) but I do know that his family and friends were there to support him through all of it and that he was glad to hear from fans he no doubt had little idea existed until 3 days ago.

Leah

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Site Update!

Hi there.

While I'll be a little late to Comic-Con this year, only going Fri - Sun. I will, with hope of course, be bringing you a few photos from the event. I really do say "hope" because inevitably I get caught up in talking to people and don't get as many photos of people/things I want. We'll see what this year brings.

I must be busy because I could have sworn that the update I brought you last time was just last week but I see that it's from June 26!
Summer's generally seem to move so slowly even when I'm working but for whatever reason this one is blazing a trail.

As you know from my two previous blog entries Tim Condren (Stormtrooper in ANH) has fallen ill and has been in a hospital in London since Sunday. I'm told I'll be updated if anything changes.

Remember to try the TRIVIA CONTEST!!!
Thank you!
Leah

No time for the little news items on the actors, but I did want to share one:
Corey Burton does the voice of Abe Lincoln in The Amazing Screw-On Head. The entire pilot episode is online now HERE.
Watch it, very funny. Made by Mike Mignola (Hellboy) and based on the comic of the same name. Funny.

~~
Updates to existing actors in the STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
Obba Babatundé (update - Film)
Jeff Glen Bennett (update - TV)
David Birney (update - Theatre; pic: Merchant of Venice)
Clancy Brown (update - Video Games)
Keisha Castle-Hughes (update - Film: pic from The Nativity Story)
Gilda Cohen (update - character pic) (Thanks to Scarrlott!)
Tim Condren (update - all)
Seb Dewing (update - bio pic) (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Ayesha Dharker (update - Theatre)
Tracey Eddon (update - Film: Death Wish 4)
Joel Edgerton (update - Film pic: Kinky Boots)
Carrie Fisher (update - Film)
Jamie Glover (update - pic: Waterloo Road)
Julian Glover (update - Film)
Laurie Goode (update - bio pic) (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
David Alan Grier (update - Film)
Jennifer Hale (update - TV)
Mark Hamill (update - Film; TV)
Stephen Hoye (update - Audio Books: bottom list)
Celia Imrie (update - TV; Theatre)
Samuel L. Jackson (update - Film; CDs)
Martin Jarvis (update - various pics; Film; Live Appearances: 2004)
James Earl Jones (update - Film; Live Appearances)
Tom Kenny (update - TV)
Julian Khazzouh (update - bio pic; Basketball)
Keira Knightley (update - Film; various pics)
Phil LaMarr (update - TV)
Denis Lawson (update - Theatre; Awards: Emmy)
George Lucas (update - Miscellany)
Jason Marsden (update - Film)
James McBryde (update - bio and bio pic; character pics)
Hilton McCrae (update - Theatre)
Ewan McGregor (update - TV; Theatre)
Steve McPartlin (update - bio pic; TV; TV Producer; Radio; Miscellany)
Liam Neeson (update - various pics; Film; Albums)
Ray Park (update - Film; TV)
Siân Phillips (update - various pics; Live Appearances: 2004)
Michael Ralph (update - bio pic; Commercials; Video Games)
Kevin Michael Richardson (update - Film; TV)
Rino Romano (update - TV)
Sebastian Shaw (update - various pics; various credits: look for Susanna's entries; TV: A Midsummer Night's Dream~1968; Miscellany)
Marc Silk (update - Live Appearances)
Jimmy Smits (update - Live Appearances)
Terence Stamp (update - Film)
David Warner (update - TV: A Midsummer Night's Dream~1968)
Lucy Wilson (Lucy Autrey Wilson) (update - bio pic; Books; Miscellany)
Masa Yamaguchi (update - Theatre)

~~
Newly added actors to the SWAD:
Zac Kohen (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Ted Berg (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Mauy Chaykin (Thanks to Tom MacNeill!)
Ron Conrad (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Giles Melville (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Ian Roberts (Thanks to Arf Maul for the alert!)

~~
Actor Deaths
None

~~
Actor Connections
STAR WARS ACTOR CONNECTIONS
Death Wish 4: The Face of Death (Film)
Lawrence of Arabia (Film)
Sword of Valiant (Film)
Class of 3000 (TV)
Guardians of Luna (TV)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (TV)
The Stars Shine for Autism (Live Appearances)
All Tomorrow's Parties (Film)
A Love Letter to Dan: A Tribute to Dan Crawford (Theatre)

~~ References
Main Page
FILMS A-C
American Pie (Thanks to Colton!)
American Pie II #2 (Thanks to Colton!)
FILMS D-F
Detroit Rock City (Thanks to Colton!)
Detroit Rock City (images!)
Failure to Launch (Thanks to RojoTrooper!)
FILMS R-Z
Robots #2 (Thanks to Chris Brown!)
GAMES
Atari 2600 Catalog (correction by John at Obroa-Skai!)
Jak II (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memory - Pic (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
Second Sight - Pic (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
World of Warcraft (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
TV A-C
Attack of the Show (Thanks to RojoTrooper!)
Celebrity Death Match #3 (Thanks to Colton!)
TV K-RMy So Called Life
TV G-JGilmore Girls #1, #2 (Thanks to Ekasra for #1!)
Jimmy Neutron #4
TV S-Z
Step By Step (Thanks to Tom!)

REVERSE REFERENCES

Enjoy!!
Leah

Tim Condren - Stormtrooper

Fellow fans.

I received word just now that Mr. Condren is not getting any better but is fighting hard.

His niece and the head coach/director of the London Stunt School send their sincerest thanks and have said that the email letters have lifted his spirits so please, keep them coming.

Albin Johnson, founder of the 501st Legion, will be inducting Mr. Condren into the 501st as an honorary member.

Thanks for your support!

Leah

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Seriously Ill Stormtrooper

Hello everyone.

Just moments ago I received news of Tim Condren (Stormtrooper ANH; Stuntman). A relative of his says that he is seriously ill in a London hospital and is not expected to leave. I'm hoping that I can enlist anyone here to help send messages to him.

Either you can post them here and I can gather them up or you can email them to me directly (click the email button to the left) and I will pass them along to the person who contacted me.

Thank you.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

The Heat is On

I always come closer to understanding what Tatooine, er Tunisia, was/is like during their hot months.

The air quality is pretty poor today too, of course normally it's not wonderful during the summer but there is a huge fire not far from here that is spreading smoke all over the valley.

It's a little warm outside today.
It was two degrees cooler yesterday...not that it matters much at those temps. I'd gone out yesterday to run some errands and one of the stores I visited had a power issue the day before and their A/C compressor had gone out, it was nearly as hot in the store as it was outside and much more humid...yuk.

Sure is pleasant at 3am though.

Last year we had the same record heat only over the Comic Con weekend, thankfully we left here to go there. San Diego was, at 75°, 43° cooler and it's only 2 ½ hours away. It would be nice if it weren't so hot for the drive to San Diego this year. We'll cross our fingers.

LM

Trivia Contest with a Prize!

Hey all!

Who is this woman?

I'm holding a small, one-question, visual trivia contest.
A winner will be chosen at random from all the correct entries.
Contest ends on Monday July 24th, 2006.
Winner receives a personal sketch (non-color, penciled, 2.5" x 3.5") of their favorite Star Wars character (films only, no EU).
International entries welcome.
Winner will be announced after the 24th of July, 2006.

Prize to be delivered 6-8 weeks after confirmation of winner.
ENTER HERE

Good luck, Leah

PS - There is a Star Wars connection.
LM

A Little About Lucy Wilson

Lucy Autrey Wilson added a little "walla" to Star Wars (1977) for the Cantina scene. But she's also been the longest employed person at Lucasfilm (besides The Flanneled One himself) at 32 years...and counting.

I found this article that speaks a little of Ms. Wilson and her career but also mentions the book Cinema By The Bay (by Sheerly Avni) that was recently published by George Lucas Books where Ms. Wilson is now the director of publishing.

Here's the OS article.
Leah

Thursday, July 13, 2006

THX 1138:4EB

Hello.

Thought I'd share this.
I'm sure some of you have already seen this short made by The Flanneled One in 1967 but for those of you who have not...here it is, THX 1138:4EB

Enjoy!
LM

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Maul turns Vampire

Did anyone see this? I totally missed it.

Ray Park who was the physical presence of Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace plays twin vampires in Slayer. The production was a remake and update of the cheesy 80's film Hawk the Slayer and premiered on the Sci-Fi channel on July 8th.

John Terry played the original Hawk, if anyone remember the poster he's dressed a bit like Han Solo.
Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers) and Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman) also starred.

Park's also playing a security guard in the film Fanboys.

LM

Monday, July 10, 2006

Star Wars and (ahem) San Diego Comic Con

San Diego Comic Con appearances of SW alum and other Star Wars related persons...
Samuel L. Jackson (Snakes on a Plane promotion and his first ever appearance at CC), Wally Wingert, Kevin J. Anderson, Stan Winston, Greg Bear, Karen Traviss, Jess Harnell, John Jackson Miller, Billy Dee Williams (Hood of Horror promotion), Lorne Peterson, Mark Cotta Vaz, Dan Wallace, Steve Sansweet, Grey DeLisle, Aaron Allston, Troy Denning, Pablo Hidalgo, Genndy Tartakovsky (with Brian Froud at the Power of the Dark Crystal panel), Phil LaMarr, Gregg Berger, Michael Bell, John Knoll, April Stewart, Bonnie Burton, Brian Ching, Michael Atiyeh, Dustin Weaver, J. W. Rinzler, Abel G. Peña, Charles Martinet.

Not to mention the SW artists and autograph guests:
Joe Corroney, Randy Martinez (Drawing instructor!), Cynthia Cummens, Justin Chung, Grant Gould, Tom Hodges, Matt Busch, Otis Frampton, Adam Hughes, Russell Walks, Cat Staggs, Brian Rood, Dan Parsons, Monty Moore, Jeff Moy, Mike Lilly, Paul Gutierrez, Jan Duursema, Doug Wheatley, Brandon Badeaux, Dustin Weaver, Michael Atiyeh, Alison Sohn, Matt Busch, Jerry Vanderstelt.

Any more? Let me know. R.A. Salvatore, Carrie Fisher, Amy Allen, Daniel Logan, Temuera Morrison, Dave Prowse.
Guests that are mildly related...Aaron McGruder (creator of Boondocks which have numerous SW references), Steve Troop (Melonpool creator...SW refs), Triumph The Insult Comic Dog (remember his spoofing of the fans in line?), Kevin Smith (promoting Clerks II), Scott Kurtz (PvP, more SW refs in online comic strip), Chris Gore (SW fan and Indie film director and promoter).
Don't forget Star Wars Day is on Friday the 21st of July! Let me know if you have any more!

Leah

SW Alum in the News & Site Updates

SW Actors in the news...and other updates.

~~Bai Ling - an impromptu photo session at the airport.

~~Kenny Baker - As mention in my previous post HERE. His Rolls Corniche is up for auction.

~~Jeff Glen Bennett - will voice Dr. Hamsterviel in the straight-to-video sequel Leroy & Stitch with Kevin Michael Richardson reprising his role as Captain Gantu.

~~Clancy Brown - voices a villain in the new video game Saint's Row.

~~Hayden Christensen - summer plans: "I'm re-landscaping my parents' backyard" ...I know that's really big news. :P

~~Oliver Ford Davies - review of the stage production Life of Galileo in which he plays a rather bad Cardinal very well.

~~Peter Dennis reads Winnie the Pooh - only a casual mention.

~~Julian Glover - though it's just a mention of his credit for the film Scoop -

~~Mark Hamill - Part of the cast of the animated Danger Rangers.

~~Kelly Hu - Will be taking part in a poker tournament.

~~Samuel L. Jackson - cast in the upcoming sci-fi thriller Jumper. SLJ will also be appearing in this years Comic-Con promoting his film Snakes on a Plane (which has just got to draw loads of fans), also...Dominic West's 300 will be sneak peeked at CC.

~~Julian Kazzouh - was signed by the West Sydney Razorbacks (basketball) he is 20 years old.

~~Denis Lawson - Received an Emmy nomination for his role as John Jarndyce in Masterpiece Theatre's Bleak House.
Lawson also starred in special live reading, A Love Letter to Dan with Celia Imrie and Ewan McGregor.

~~George Lucas judges a car competition

~~Hilton McRae - stars in the stage production Marrying Meg at the Highland Quest in Scotland. No more details than that so far.

~~Ralph McQuarrie - limited edition Raiders "Ark of the Covenant" print (the one from the massive old bible) available.

~~Natalie Portman - The super-rumor persists...this time out of the mouth of Raiders alum Karen Allen...

~~Kevin Michael Richardson - will have a small part in the upcoming Kevin Smith sequel Clerks II. He'll play a cop.
KMR also has a TV show coming out which hadn't yet been titled until now...we think. The new show will be called Knights of Prosperity and will air this fall.

~~Alan Rosenberg - claims a victory in getting actors their due residuals at least for two years.

~~Terence Stamp - will star in the film These Foolish Things with Angelica Huston and Lauren Becall starting next year.Site Updates

~~ Updates to existing actors in the STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
Jeff Glen Bennett (update - Film)
David Birney (update - Theatre; pic: Merchant of Venice)
Guy Boyd (update - Theatre)
Clancy Brown (update - Video Games)
Keisha Castle-Hughes (update - Film: pic from The Nativity Story)
Gilda Cohen (update - character pic) (Thanks to Scarrlott!)
Joel Edgerton (update - Film pic: Kinky Boots)
Jamie Glover (update - pic: Waterloo Road; Audio Books)
Julian Glover (update - Film)
Mark Hamill (update - Film; TV)
Stephen Hoye (update - Audio Books)
Celia Imrie (update - TV; Theatre)
Samuel L. Jackson (update - Film)
Martin Jarvis (update - various pics; Live Appearances: 2004)
Julian Khazzouh (update - bio pic; Basketball)
Keira Knightley (update - Film; various pics)
Denis Lawson (update - Theatre; Awards: Emmy)
Toby Longworth (update - Audio Books)
George Lucas (update - Miscellany)
James McBryde (update - bio and bio pic; character pics)
Hilton McCrae (update - Theatre)
Ewan McGregor (update - Theatre)
Kevin Michael Richardson (update - Film; TV)
Rob Paulsen (update - Film)
Siân Phillips (update - various pics; Live Appearances: 2004)
Marc Silk (update - Live Appearances)
Jimmy Smits (update - Live Appearances)
Terence Stamp (update - Film)
Susan Zelinsky (update - pic: Chivalrous Deeds)

~~Newly added actors to the SWAD:
Ron Conrad (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Giles Melville (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Ian Roberts (Thanks to Arf Maul for the alert!)

~~Actor Deaths
None

~~Actor Connections
STAR WARS ACTOR CONNECTIONS
All Tomorrow's Parties (Film)
Leroy & Stitch (Film)
The Stars Shine for Autism (Live Appearances)
A Love Letter to Dan: A Tribute to Dan Crawford (Theatre)

~~ REFERENCES
Main Page
FILMS A-C
American Pie (Thanks to Colton!)
American Pie II #2 (Thanks to Colton!)
FILMS D-F
Detroit Rock City (Thanks to Colton!)
Detroit Rock City (images!)
GAMES
Atari 2600 Catalog (correction by John at Obroa-Skai!)
Jak II (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memory - Pic (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
Second Sight - Pic (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
World of Warcraft (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
TV A-C
Attack of the Show (Thanks to RojoTrooper!)
TV D - F
Failure to Launch (Thanks to RojoTrooper!)
TV - G - J
Jimmy Neutron #4
TV K - R
My So Called Life
TV S - Z
Step By Step (Thanks to Tom!)

~~New Art Work
See the ART BLOG

Thank you!
Leah

Saturday, July 08, 2006

R2D2 is selling his Rolls Royce

You have the chance to bid on Kenny "R2D2" Baker's 1982 Blue Corniche with only 63,000 miles driven. 1982 was the last year that the Corniche was made as a coupe (coupé if you like), only the convertible was available after 1982.
They expect the auction to yield about £11,000 - £13,000 ($20,000 - $24,000) which really is a bargain. Oh no...sorry, this just popped in the grey matter. "Excuse me, sir, but that R2 unit is in prime condition. A real bargain" (there's no hope for me *sigh*)

Here's the article.
And the link to the auction page.

I'm hoping that the car will fall to a lucky fan somewhere (not me, hehe)

Good luck!
LM

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Uncle Owen and The Operative

Two nights ago I went to see a film that I'd wanted to see for a while, Kinky Boots.

The film stars Star Wars prequel trilogy actor Joel Edgerton (Uncle Owen) and Serenity's "The Operative" *Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Charlie Price (Edgerton) grows up under the loving guidance of his father, a successful, third generation shoe manufacturer in provincial Northampton, who intends for Charlie to take over his position as head of the factory. But Charlie has different aspirations and wants to escape the small-town life so he moves to London with his girlfriend. Then the unthinkable happens, his father dies. The factory, by this time, is ailing and Charlie has to find a solution in order to save the jobs of his father's loyal employees and to reluctantly preserve (at first) his legacy. By a small twist of fate Charlie, in a drunken state, meets Lola (Ejiofor), a drag queen, and becomes inspired to make a positive and bold change for his factory.

Australian Edgerton gives a fine performance as Charlie Price who manages to convince as a Midlander and has some sweet scenes, but it is Ejiofor that absolutely steals this show head-to-toe. More so because Lola is larger than life but delightfully lacking the over-the-top caricatures so often seen in other films. Ejiofor offers an intelligent guilelessness, a subtle warmth and reality (humanity in other words) to the diva very much like Terence Stamp's award-winning performance as Ralph/Bernadette Bassenger in The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Even though this film is part of the typical British little-guy-against-the-odds genre it is set apart by one glittering special performance and is worth the effort to see for that alone.

To see this alone would be shorting Ejiofor his due as an actor with an exceedingly large range. Check out his **performances in Dirty Pretty Things, Amistad, Serenity, Four Brothers, Love Actually, She Hate Me, Melinda and Melinda (clearly the best thing about this film) and you'll see what I mean.

Leah

*Chewy to his friends.
** and all the Star Wars connections

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Discovery Health Channel

Three years ago I was part of a program called Babies: Special Delivery which was filmed by Discovery Health Channel. It's a series that focused on women with high risk pregnancies.

The small crew filmed the last week of the 18 days I spent in the labor & delivery section of the maternity ward at DRMC in Palm Springs.

The show only touches on what it was like at the end but doesn't even begin to tell the story of the worst summer of my life up to that point. What you will see on the video is me trying the best I could to be upbeat under the circumstances.

If you're brave enough to watch, don't worry they do NOT show any private areas but there is some intensity (it's got a PG rating), then please tune in on July 25, 2006.
Here's the page link you can check the box and have a reminder sent to you a couple of days before the show airs.

Leah

Friday, June 30, 2006

George & Me - Documentary Blog

As many of you know I am part of the documentary called George & Me that is being made by Sky Wilson. I wanted to let you all know that there is not only a trailer for the doc but a brand new George & Me blog which give us the opportunity to see what's going on with the production and other updates. I will have a permanent link to the blog too. :D

The documentary comes out at the end of September 2006 and will be available to purchase at that time.

Leah

Discovery Shuttle Launch

The STS-121 is due to launch tomorrow (Saturday July 1, 2006). Coverage begins at 10AM Eastern time.

You can tune into NASA TV and watch on the web. You can watch it on your TV too, NASA TV (of course).

These launches never fail to amaze me.
LM

EDIT 1:21 PM PST: Darn it! Scrubbed due to weather. They'll try again Sunday July 2. L

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Advice From Harrison Ford

Just a quickie to let you read a very short blurb of advice given from Harrison Ford to up-and-coming filmmakers during his appearance at the LAFF (Los Angeles Film Festival) as the host of the Filmmaker Reception.

EDIT: 11:00 PM - A more expanded article.

Thanks!

LM

*Note: Director George Lucas and Star Wars alum Alan Rosenberg are also involved at the LAFF.
I'll see what comes down the pipe regarding their appearances.

Monday, June 26, 2006

Actor/Site Update!

Short and sweet...well, at least short.

~~
Arye Gross (voice of Lando Calrissian in ROTJ radio drama) you can hear Gross in a radio play called All My Sons on Saturday July 1, 2006 on The Play's the thing which airs at 10 PM on KPCC-FM (89.3) in San Bernardino, CA

~~
Alan Rosenberg (voice of Boba Fett in the ROTJ radio drama and president of the Screen Actors Guild) will help host a cocktail reception for the LAFF (Los Angeles Film Festival). Harrison Ford and George Lucas are also participating in events related to the Festival.

~~
Adrian Zmed (voice of Cavic Toth in Jedi Starfighter video game) will be hosting an interesting event that involves making people aware of the ills of chaining the family pet to a tree or to their doghouse.
Here's the article.

~~
Updates to existing actors in the STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
David Acord (update - bio pic)
Rick Baker (update - Film: Zorgon: The H-Bomb Beast From Hell)
James Earl Jones (update - Film)
Mark Hamill (update - Video Games: Dark Cloud 2) (Thanks to Tom Earley!)
Ian McDiarmid (update - Radio) (Thanks to Claudia Groiss!)
TV Moore (update - bio pic)
Natalie Portman (update - Film)

~~
Newly added actors to the SWAD: None

~~
Actor Deaths
None

~~
Actor Connections STAR WARS ACTOR CONNECTIONS
None

~~
REFERENCES
Main Page
BOOKS A-C
Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire
COMICS
BrownStik
REVERSE REFERENCES
ESB>Other Influences>Nazis (pic)

~~
New Art WorkSee the ART BLOG
*Bettie Page
*Pulp Fiction

Thank you!
Leah

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

George Lucas -

George Lucas

Beware! The unedited version has R rated cursing:
unedited version edited version

Read his lips! Looks like Rick McCallum had some verbal influence on our dear Flanneled One.

lol
Enjoy!
Leah

Long Overdue Actor and Site Update!

Blog and Site update!

~~
Adam Arkin (Fixer A New Hope Radio Drama) will star as tony in Losing Louie at the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York.

~~
Mark Adair Rios (voice of Admiral Ackbar in the ROTJ radio drama) will star in the stage production of Nowhere on the Border at the Hayworth Theatre in Los Angeles, CA until July 16, 2006.

~~
Douglas Chamberlain (voice of Logray the Ewok Mystic in Ewoks) starred in Anne of Green Gables at the Drayton Festival Theatre in Drayton, Ontario, CAN. Which ran from may 3, to June 10, 2006.

~~
Richard Bonehill (Various characters - OT) was named Cornwall Sports coach of the Year 2006.

~~
Adrian Dunbar (Bail Antillies - TPM) stars in the play Exiles starting on July 26, 2006 at National Theatre's Cottesloe stage (UK).

~~
Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia - OT) will star in her own one-woman show entitled Wishful Drinking at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. Starting on October 6, 2006 and running through December 17, 2006.Trivia: Carrie Fisher owns a plot of land on the moon.

~~
Harrison Ford (Han Solo - PT) was chosen as an honorary chairperson for the LAFF (Los Angeles Film Festival, George Lucas is also participating). He will be host for the filmmaker reception on June 26th. The 12th Annual LAFF runs from June 22 to July 2, 2006 at Westwood Theatres in Westwood, CA (near UCLA).

~~
Peter Michael Goetz (voice of Admiral Ozzel in the ESB Radio Drama; voice of General Madine in the ROTJ Radio Drama) will star in Guthrie's Opening Night: A Midsummer's Celebration at the Guthrie Theatre, in Minneapolis, MN on June 24, 2006 which opens the 2006/2007 season.

~~
Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker - OT) has been chosen to voice the character of Majima in Yakuza (video game), Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs, Sin City, Kill Bill) will voice Shimano. The video game will be released on September 5, 2006 (SEGA).

~~
Rebecca Jackson Mendoza (Queen Organa - ROTS)s nominated for a Dora Award for her performance as Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings Musical in Toronto.

~~
Tom Kenny (voice of Biggs in SW Rogue Squadron II & III) will be an upcoming guest on People Speak (on www.paltalk.com).

~~
John Lithgow (Yoda - ESBr/ROTJr) is on the 15th anniversary edition of LA Story DVD. Lithgow and Scott Bakula (Enterprise, Quantum Leap) were both cut from the original film but their deleted scenes are shown on the DVD.

~~
George Lucas (Baron Papanoida - ROTS) Not a personal appearance this is a symposium. "George Lucas and Modesto - George Lucas' influence on Modesto and Modesto's influence on George Lucas will be the subject of several presentations on June 24th, 2006 1- 5 pm at Modesto Junior College in Modesto, CA. Free admission and parking.
Lucas is also the guest director for the LAFF (which Harrison Ford is also participating), the guest director chooses several films that have had a direct influence or driving inspiration on their film-making. The films that Lucas has chosen are:
*Jean Luc Godard's Masculine/Feminine*Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai
*Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.

The 12th Annual LAFF runs from June 22 to July 2, 2006 at Westwood Theatres in Westwood, CA (near UCLA).

~~
Charles Martinet (voice characterizations in Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast video game) was featured (as Mario) in the third of a four part series of podcasts about Super Mario Bros (he is the voice of Luigi/Mario) http://feeds.feedburner.com/NewSuperMarioBrosPodcast click Interview with Mario (June 5, 2006)

~~
Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi - PT) may do Moulin Rouge the Musical on stage with Nicole Kidman. No date has been secured but the production would be produced and presented in London and would be the most lavish production in years.

~~
Jarion Monroe (voice characterizations in X-Wing Alliance/Galactic Battlegrounds/Battle for Naboo video games) starred this past week (June 11, 2006) in Displaced as Amador a blocked Cuban American playwright. The play kicks off the 2006/2007 season for the Marin Theatre in Mill Valley, CA.

~~
Kevin Pollack (voice characterizations in Ewoks: The Battle for Endor) has adapted a screenplay for the Buzz Bissinger novel 3 Nights in August which chronicles a three night series between the Cardinals (mostly Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa) and the Cubs in 2003. Pollack will also produce the feature film.

~~
Natalie Portman (Padme Naberrie/Queen Amidala - PT) may star in the film version of Kavalier & Clay, based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Michael Chabon called The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. At this point Portman is just a strong possibility for the role of Rosa. We'll know by mid-July if the project will move forward and if Portman will indeed be attached.
Portman was also named as a runner up in the World's Sexiest Vegetarian poll held annually by PETA online. Prince & Christen Bell were at the top.

~~
Adrian Zmed (voice of Cavic Toth in SW: Jedi Starfighter) will star in the stage production of Aida penned by Elton John and Tim Rice for Disney. He will play Zoser. Aida runs from July 18 - 23 at the Wells Fargo Pavilion in Sacramento, CA.
He also starred in Moll Flanders on June 3 - 4, 2006 at the Old Town Temecula Theatre, in Temecula, CA.

~~
Updates to existing actors in the STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
Mark Adair Rios (update - Theatre)
Adam Arkin (update - Theatre)
Graham Ashley (update - TV: mostly in the earliest years and 1994; Radio)
Edward Asner (update - Film; TV: Out of the Woods)
Rick Baker (update - Film Effects: Make-Up)
Steve Ballantine (update - Theatre)
Ed Begley Jr. (update - Film)
Richard Bonehill (update - Awards)
David Bowers (update - bio pic)
Steven Boyle (update - character pic)
Silas Carson (update - bio pic and pic: Hidalgo)
Hayden Christensen (update - Awards: MTV with pic)
David Clennon (update - TV; Theatre: As You Like It)
Frederick Coffin (update - Theatre: As You Like It)
Roy Conrad (update - character pic; Full Throttle character pic)
Sofia Coppola (update - bio info, last line)
Seb Dewing (update - character pic) (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Greg Ellis (update - Video Games) (Thanks to Tom Earley!)
Nick Field (update - character pic)
Carrie Fisher (update - Theatre; Live Appearances; Miscellany)
Fionnula Flanagan (update - Film; various pics)
Oliver Ford Davies (update - Theatre)
Glori Gage (update - Live Appearances)
Salo Gardner (update - TV)
Peter Geddis (update - TV: various)
Isaac Grand (update - TV: Comedy Playhouse)
Bennet Guillory (update - Theatre: The Last Season)
Garrick Hagon (update - Film)
Mark Hamill (update - TV; Video Games)
Christine Hewett (update - TV: Rutland Weekend Television)
Olivia Hussey (update - Film; TV)
Rebecca Jackson Mendoza (update - Awards)
Samuel L. Jackson (update - TV with pic)
David Jeremiah (update - TV; Video Games)
James Earl Jones (update - TV; CDs)
Ellison Kemp (update - TV)
Tom Kenny (update - Theatre)
Sara Kestelman (update - TV: Nationwide 1981; Theatre pic: Midsummer Night's Dream)
Jack Klaff (update - Theatre with pic)
Jay Laga'aia (update - Live Performances)
Phil LaMarr (update - TV)
George Lucas (update - TV; Music Videos - Actor)
Joe Matheson (update - Theatre)
Ian McDiarmid (update - Theatre; Awards: Tony)
Ewan McGregor (update - Film: The Doctor, The Tornado and The Kentucky Kid; TV Commercials; Theatre)
Jarion Monroe (update - bio pic; Theatre)
Temuera Morrison (update - pic: Barb Wire)
Timothy Omundson (update - bio pic)
Kevin Pollack (update - Film Producer; Film Writer)
Pete Renaday (update - bio pic and character pics; TV; Video Games)
Diana Sadley-Way (update - character pic) (correction: Nebrun Leids to Thuku. Thanks to Tom MacNeill!)Sebastian Shaw (update - TV: Theatre Night - The Master Builder; added RADIO section)
Katherine Smee (update - TV: Fimbles; Tikkabilla)
Jimmy Smits (update - TV)
Roy Staite (update - TV)
Terence Stamp (update - Commercials)
Courtenay Taylor (update - Video Games: Call of Duty 2)
J. Karen Thomas (update - Film)
Nia Vardalos (update - Live Appearances)
Tommy Weldin (update - TV)Simon Whyman (update - Film)
Adrian Zmed (update - Theatre)

~~
Newly added actors to the SWAD:
Francis Batsoni (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
John HarkinsReg Harding (Thanks to Tom MacNeil!)
Frank Henson (Thanks to Tom MacNeill!)
Stuart Fell (Thanks to Tom MacNeill!)
Tim Harrington (Thanks to Tom MacNeill!)
Melissa Kurtz (Thanks to Tom MacNeill!)
Tiffany L. Kurtz (Thanks to Tom MacNeill!)
David Payne (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Robin Scobey (Thanks to Tom MacNeill!)
Jerry Walters
Bill Weston (Thanks to Tom MacNeill!)
Kelly Varney (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Roger Williams (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
~~
Actor Deaths
John Ghavam

~~
Actor Connections
STAR WARS ACTOR CONNECTIONS
Who Killed the Electric Car (Film)
Troilus and Cressida (Radio)
As You Like It (Theatre)
The Judas Kiss (Theatre)
The Master Builder (Theatre)
Chelworth (TV)
Fry and Laurie Host a Christmas Night with the Stars (TV)

~~
References
Main Page
BOOKS P-T
Proven Guilty (Thanks to TalynDerre!)
FILMS A-C
Citizen Toxie (Thanks to SnortPiggySnort!)
FILMS D-F
Fanboys
FILMS G-J
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
FILMS K-Q
Over the Hedge (THX reference)
MUSIC
Bondur - No Mercy (Thanks to Nick_Evil666!)
Gnarls Barkley: link to his "Crazy" performance at the MTV Movie Awards (Thanks to Bonnie Burton!)
Star Wars Rock (Thanks to Michael!) ...top of page.
Gnarls Barkley (Thanks to Keith for the pic and John/me/MissPadmé for the alert!)
TV A-C
According to Jim #4 (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
Alias #7
Arthur #2 (Thanks to Nailwraps!)
TV K-RThe Oblongs (Thanks to Nailwraps!)
Robot Chicken #11 - #18 and the link to the Palpy sketch! (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
TV S-Z
What's Happening!South Park #31 (Thanks to Nailwraps!) (I took the screenshots)
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #4 (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
X-Play (formerly Game Spot TV and Extended Play) (Thanks to Paige!)
REVERSE REFERENCES
First Spaceship on Venus (Thanks to Eugene!)

Enjoy!!

Leah

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Happy Birthday Ralph McQuarrie - From a special friend

Happy Birthday Ralph McQuarrie

I got a special note today from Peter Fischl for Mr. Ralph McQuarrie (General McQuarrie in ESB) to wish him a Happy Birthday. I'd like to pass this on to you and an article I found that was produced by Metrolink (Los Angeles) in the March edition of their monthly newsletter (PDF format) that featured Mr. Fischl.

I have a few other links as well.

HERE

An article from the Daily BulletinThe posters The ones designed by Ralph McQuarrie are so noted.

And here is McQuarrie's official site. Drop by, wish him happy birthday!

Here is the note from Mr. Fischl submitted through Ralph McQuarrie's page in the SWAD:


Ralph McQuarrie is a friend of mine for 38 Years.

I am Peter L. Fischl who won the Award "Hero In Education" and CBS called me a World Renown Poet. My works are being taught now in Germany and Greece -besides the USA- and all this because Ralph stood beside me and did most of the artwork ABSOLUTELY FREE for the Holocaust !!!! The whole world should wish Ralph a Happy Birthday on June/13, please . He is almost one year older than I am. My many thanks to the publishers of this out of the world Web - Site!
Peter L. Fischl

If You like to know what we did with Ralph type in my name in the web search and you will see it . Thank You I hope You will like it.
Peter L. Fischl

How interesting the timing of this note with

*another artist who inspired me growing up.

Thanks all.
Leah

*the others being The Brothers Hildebrandt. See my blog about Tim Hildebrandt

Monday, June 12, 2006

Tim Hildebrandt (1939 - 2006)

I'm truly saddened to report that one half of the team that brought us that first Star Wars poster back in 1977 is gone. Tim Hildebrandt died yesterday from complications of diabetes. He was 67 years old.

The Hildebrandt's were one of my first inspirations when it came to drawing, I was particularly smitten with their use of color, placement of their subjects and that they were just cool guys who loved what they did and loved to share.

I had met them, as so many others did, on several occasions many years ago at conventions in Los Angeles. It was just neat to be around them and listen to anything they said.Here is a bio and the site of the brothers Hildebrandt. Some Star Wars art from their site.

A Google search will give you a world of wonderful art at your fingertips and you can marvel at their enormous talent.

I hope that as Star Wars fans we can make an effort to send Greg Hildebrandt our best at this time. click on "Tim Hildebrandt" above to see where to write.

So sorry to have to add this sort of blog entry.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Hildebrandt, you'll be missed.

Leah

Ian McDiarmid - Tony Award Winner!

Ian McDiarmid
Tonight was a very special one for actor Ian McDiarmid (Palpy himself) he won a Tony Award (outstanding performances in Broadway plays). The award was for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role as Teddy in Faith Healer.

Here's the pic of him accepting his Tony.
After his speech he let out a "Fantastic!!" hehe

He played opposite Ralph Fiennes (Frank Hardy, the Faith Healer) and Cherry Jones in the much talked about play about a faith healer whose powers were only intermittent, McDiarmid played Teddy, Frank Hardy's manager.

Here's a little excerpt from the play (his performance in it) and a slide show from The New York Times. Click "Skip this ad"

Congrats to Mr. McDiarmid!

Enjoy!
Leah

Ian McDiarmid - Tony Award Winner

Ian McDiarmid
Addition to this blog from earlier this morning...

Ian McDiarmid's Tony Awards acceptance speech:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I got on a plane from London just under two short months ago, and I am astonished to be standing before so many of you here tonight.
It gives me a chance to pay tribute my distinguished acting colleagues, Ralph Fiennes, Cherry Jones, great artists both, and my very good friend, the director Jonathan Kent. He enabled us to give life to one of the most emotionally intricate and musically perfect pieces of writing for the stage in the English language, written, unsurprisingly, by an Irishman, Brian Friel.

Brian Friel's Faith Healer had its debut on Broadway over 20 years ago and was not a success. I'm really proud to be associated with this triumphant return and restoration. These are two words that occur in the play regularly and there's one other word that my character uses, that perhaps I should mention. He's a London show business manager and therefore totally unreliable and prone to wild exaggeration. But it fits the occasion, and it's the way I feel tonight: FANTASTIC!

Thank you."


:D
Leah

PS - An interview with McDiarmid from 6/4/06

Sunday, June 11, 2006

John Ghavam (1939 - 2006)

John Ghavam

In April an actor named John Ghavam died of liver failure in Northampton, UK. This actor had played an Ewok in Return of the Jedi and was credited as John Gavam.

One of the most astonishing things about Mr. Ghavam was an accident he'd had in 2002. He had awoken very early (dark) one morning to get a glass of water, in the process he slipped and fell. He managed to pick himself up, get his water and go back to bed. He got up later that morning and drove to Darlington's Civic Theatre, where he was starring in a stage production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

His cast mates noticed how much pain he was in and called a doctor. After a short exam the doctor determined that Ghavam has broken his collar bone which is exceedingly painful.

I'm currently trying to find a little more information on him to share with you.
I'll let you know when/if I receive such info.

Leah

EDIT: When this article was written in June of 2006, there was only a hair of information that was released, that info stated that he died in May. It was only in 2007 that we learned the real date of his death being April 4 and the true circumstances surrounding his death.

I have updated the information so as not to confuse anyone. Thanks. LM

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Fact Check File - Tsk Tsk

Fact Check File
For shame, and they call themselves fans.
Princess Amidalah and liberty.Hm, ROTS - Episode 4.

Amazing what comes down the pipe. I find these every week, most are just obvious typos but others...wow...

LM

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Sunday, June 04, 2006

MTV Movie Awards

MTV Movie Awards
While ROTS did not win for best picture...Hayden Christensen won the MTV Movie Awards' Golden Bucket of Popcorn award last night for Best Movie Villain in his role as Darth Vader in ROTS. This is in stark contrast to his awards (Razzies) for his previous Star Wars films.

~~
Samuel L. Jackson took the stage as a presenter in a SoaP t-shirt.Jackson was also honored by Spike Lee, who won the Silver Bucket of Excellence award for his film Do The Right Thing. The award is given out each year to past films which still remain relevant today.

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DJ AM (from Bonnie Burton's most recent Star Wars Rocks article) wore a shrunken black jacket over a
vintage Star Wars shirt which you can barely see behind Nicole Ritchie.

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Did anyone notice *Judd Nelson?? Whoa!!*
Nelson starred with recently passed Star Wars actor Paul Gleason in The Breakfast Club.

EDIT:
MissPadmé says that Gnarles Barkley performes in SW costumes

Leah

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Hot Stuff - non-SW Princess

Hot Stuff - non-SW Princess

It is HOT today. It's not even noon and the temp is 117°, this is fairly unusual for this time of year here. These temps don't get this hot until the dead of summer (they don't call it that for nothin'!).
I had planned on going out this afternoon but I might wait until later to run my errands.

~~
In VERY light local news:
I passed our church/school this past Thursday and saw a group of reporters, being kept at bay, hanging out near the school entrance and wondered what was happening. Our church has been in the news before (former president Ford, among others, attend) but I did wonder what this was about since it was not just the local news people this time.

I then get an email from my mother-in-law mentioning our church and Prince Andrew...I'm confused and think that my m-i-l has confused our church with the one in Scotland that the royals have been associated with (it is our sister church). So I ask her if she's got an article.

Turns out that it's not Prince Andrew but Prince Albert (of Monaco - the family has history here). Prince Albert had a daughter out-of-wedlock 14 years ago, which was only revealed in the last couple of years..or last year (I didn't follow this too closely). Journalists have been trying to locate the child since the word got out. Three days ago I wondered if they would find her and what a scene it would no doubt be once they did.

Was I right. They did locate her, here. It's been a media circus and the news has spread so quickly around the globe it's amazing. She's been attending our church/school for several years (an honor student), and many people already knew her (just not her lineage), she will be graduating in a week.

Articles abound from everywhere...Australia, UK, Canada, France, New Zealand, China, Malaysia, India, Russia, Dominican Republic, Bahrain, Norway, Japan, Netherlands, Brazil, Chile...you name it. Plus every state in the US. :P

Here's one from Australia

While it is sort of "neat" that they've taken an interest, I wonder why it's so important. We have a lot of celebrities here in the valley, many of them within walking distance of my home (I'm surrounded by them :P) and it's sort of business as usual here when they're out and about, but the 14 year old daughter of a Prince?Should make church going an interesting experience in the future.

bleh.

Ah well.

~~Three hours later...The temp has dropped down to a respectable 112° :P gee, I'm so relieved. Apparently I've wasted enough time to push myself to the errands. So...there it is.

A blog about nothing.
Leah

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Actor and Site Updates!

Blog and Site update!

Another quickie but a lot of news! Work is stretching me a bit for other updates to the blog. Thanks for stopping by!
LM

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Obba Babatundé (voice of Lando Calrissian - Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike; Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds) will reprise his role as Billy Flynn in the Musical Chicago starting on April 19, 2006 at the Ambassador Theatre in New York City (Broadway). Babatundé created the role in the National touring company of the production in 1997. For more info go to chicagothemusical.com.

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Ed Begley Jr. (Boba Fett - ROTJ Radio Drama) will reprise his role in a production of Romance at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. He plays the attorney in the play that is put on by LA Theatre Works which was the production company that made the Star Wars radio dramas. The play starts on April 5, 2006.

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Richard Bonehill (Various characters - OT) came in 6th at the National (Fencing) Championships in Men's Sabre, 25th in Men's Foil, 24th in Men's Epee and 3rd at Men's Champion at Arms.

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Mark Capri (Warrant Officer M'Kae - ESB) is voicing a character for a TV program/series with Loni Anderson and Tori Spelling called, Notorious. He will voice the father of Tori Spelling.

The show is about Tori, in a way, it is based on her life except with more unusual twists - it's a comedy. Capri voices Tori's father, in a sort of "Charlie's Angels" Charlie sort of way, so you'll only hear him but never see him.
Also, here's a review of Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure in which Capri currently stars as Sherlock Holmes.

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Diahann Carroll (Holographic Wow in SWHS) will be a keynote speaker at the Regards to Broadway luncheon at the Breakers in Palm Beach, FL, sponsored by the JFK Medical Center Foundation on Tuesday April 4, 2006.

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Oliver Ford Davies (Sio Bibble - PT) was cast as the lead in the stage production Larkin With Women at the Orange Tree Theatre in London (Richmond), UK. Davies played the famous post-war writer, Philip Larkin. The play is about the writer, Larkin, and the three women who dominated his life for 30 years.

The play opened on March 29, 2006 for a single performance.
Here's a review.

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Nash Edgerton (double for Obi-Wan/Ewan McGregor - PT) is featured in the March/April issue of RES Magazine as a creator (film) to watch this year and in years to come.

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Joel Edgerton (Owen Lars - PT) Kinky Boots, one of Edgerton's latest films, just received the audience choice award at the Bermuda International Film Festival on Saturday March 25, 2006.
Note: for Serenity fans...Chiwetel Ejiofor, who plays The Operative in Serenity, stars as a drag queen in Kinky Boots...talk about a departure!! wow.

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Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia - OT) An AskMen.com poll put Carrie Fisher (as The Mystery Woman in The Blues Brothers, 1980) as the 9th deadliest screen vixen with the line, "For me, for my mother, my grandfather, my father, my uncle and for the common good, I must now kill you, and your brother"

~~
Peter Michael Goetz (General Madine - ROTJ radio drama) is currently starring as Polonius in Hamlet at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, MN.
Here's a review

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Harrison Ford (Han Solo - OT) received the Tower Award from the Russian Nights Festival (in Los Angeles) this week for his contribution to world culture.

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Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu - PT) will be narrating a spoof on the Oscar-winning documentary March of the Penguins called Farce of the Penguins the film is set for a late summer release.

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Dennis Lawson (Wedge - OT) has been nominated for a BAFTA (British Oscar) for Best Actor as John Jarndyce in BBC's Bleak House which played last year (2005) to much acclaim. Note: X-Files fans will be glad to hear that Gillian Anderson garnered a nomination for Best Actress for this series as well.

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Christopher Lee (Count Dooku - PT) Has voiced the character Diz in the Kingdom Hearts II video game.

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Bai Ling (Senator Bana Breamu (deleted scenes) - ROTS) is going to write a book on her experiences as a soldier and performer in the People's Liberation Army in Tibet. No release date has been given for the publication.

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Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine - OT/PT). Remember, only three weeks until McDiarmid's appearance as Burghley on HBO's Elizabeth I on April 22!

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Pip Miller (Star Destroyer Captain #1 -Captain (hologram on left) who's Star Destroyer gets hit by an asteroid - ROTJ) is starring in The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? at the Seymour Centre in Sydney Australia. This play opens on Wednesday April 5, 2006.The play was highly controversial when it was initially released in 2002 in New York for it's very taboo content.

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Ethan Phillips (voices several characters in KOTOR, Galactic Battlegrounds and Force Commander) has joined the cast of Transformers: The Movie. Steven Spielberg is producing this film and Michael Bay is directing. No other cast has been announced but the film is scheduled for release in 2007.

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Kevin Pollak (voice characterizations in Ewoks TV series) received a career achievement award from the Method Fest Film Festival 2006 this week, the festival is held in Calabasas, CA each year.

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Natalie Portman (Padmé Amidala - PT) her film Free Zone is being released (wide) this month, April 2006. Previously the film was in limited released in mid December of last year and made it's debut at the Chicago International Film Festival last October. Good timing with V for Vendetta out.

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Updates to existing actors in the STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
Obba Babatundé (update - Theatre)
Ed Begley, Jr. (update - Theatre)
Mark Capri (update - TV)
Diahann Carroll (update - Live Performances)
Nash Edgerton (update - Miscellany)
Harrison Ford (update - Awards: Russian Nights Festival)
Peter House (update - bio pic) (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Dennis Lawson (update - Awards: BAFTA nom)
Christopher Lee (update - Video Games)
Jason Marsden (update - Film; TV; Video Games)
Ethan Phillips (update - Film; TV)
Kevin Pollack (update - Awards: Method Fest)
Dave Bowers (Mas Amedda AOTC/ROTS) - Wattographs is holding a private signing for Dave Bowers until April 7, 2006. You can have personal items signed or get one of the photographs of him as Mas Amedda signed. Deadline for items received is April 7! CLICK HERE!

~~Newly added actors:
Phil Harvey (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)

~~Actor Connections
STAR WARS ACTOR CONNECTIONS
None this week!

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References
Main Page

BOOKS D-F
Death Gate Novel: The Seventh Gate

BOOKS G-J
Goosebumps: Choose Your Own Adventure: Zapped in Space

COMICS/COMIC STRIPS
Shortpacked (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!) 3/24 - 3/27
Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai for the following:
Penny Arcade 3/29/06
Shortpacked 3/31/06

Life - Computers/Software: Sudoku Susser (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
TV2
Distraction #3, #4 (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)

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LMangue's Art
New sketch

Enjoy!!
Leah