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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"

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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

New Art!

Hello there!A few new small sketchesFirefly/Serenity

Mal

Zoe

Wash

Jayne

Kaylee

Inara

Simon

River

Book

And, so it's not totally unrelated to our beloved Star Wars here's a preliminary sketch of the....
Rancor!

More to come.
Leah

George Lucas - TIME Interview

Quickie!!
Click HERE for an interview that TIME did with George Lucas.

I loved the way they started this article!
"Movie history can be divided, without much forcing of the issue, into two eras: before Star Wars and after."
My friend TEA and I used to gauge when a film came out (or our personal history) by Star Wars and its sequels. We stopped doing that a few years after Jedi came out but we fondly remember that B SW or A SW was a part of our lives for quite a while.

Good news for Young Indiana Jones fans too.

Enjoy!
Leah

Monday, May 29, 2006

Henrik Ibsen and Star Wars

Another commemoration of sorts, this time marking the death of a noted writer...not the birth as for Arthur Conan Doyle.

Yesterday marked the 100th anniversary of the death (May 23, 1906) of Henrik Ibsen, a very talented playwright who was very much ahead of his time (considered by some to be the Godfather of feminism) in writing about Victorian morals and other social issues. His writing was the source of much controversy in his earlier years and especially in his native Norway. He moved from Norway and spent thirty years living elsewhere and only returned to live out the remainder of his life.

When we read Ibsen now it is hard for us to imagine, in our present climate, that the words would elicit so much passion. But, the Victorian era, as prosperous as it was (the height of British industrial), had strict moral standards. For example, it was considered improper to mention the word "leg"... instead the word "limb" was used.

A short description of the plays (except for An Enemy of the People, no time...but I did find a link) and their Star Wars actor connections, no inter actor connections, there weren't any to list....oh, and the order of plays is chronological (year written) and all are stage productions except where noted:


Peer Gynt (1867)
I first knew of Peer Gynt as a child through Edvard Grieg's music compositions and from reading the funny name on the albums my mother had.

I found later that Grieg, like Ibsen a Norwegian, had been asked by Ibsen to create some incidental music (small pieces) for a play called Peer Gynt, Grieg happily complied. Grieg wanted to compose more though and ended up creating what is arguably his best known work and rather haunting...much as the play became one of Ibsen's best known works.

Peer Gynt is the son of a rich man who drank to much and then lost his fortune and died leaving his wife and son in poverty. Gynt daydreams about reversing the fortune of the family but basically can't stop boasting and dreaming enough to really do anything about it. Going so far as to get drunk and kidnap a bride, Solveig (who used to be his girl), from her own wedding. But flees before he can be caught and punished and is basically banished from the parish in which he and his mother lived.

Gynt sets up house in a cabin in the woods and Solveig comes to live with him. But he leaves her and goes on a journey where he pretends he's different people in many different adventures, including a stay at a Cairo madhouse where he's regarded as an emperor. After years and years of adventures under various guises he decides to return home.

His journey home is not without it's own adventure as he meets a guy who wants his corpse so he can find where dreams come from, the ship is wrecked and he meets Death who tells him that he shall basically burn in hell unless he can prove he was ever himself during his lifetime. Gynt tries but Death refuses each explanation but Gynt is clever enough to convince Death to give him more time to find proof.

Gynt finally returns home where he is not recognized yet finds Solveig still waiting for him at his cabin, as Death closes in on him Gynt clings on to Solveig and begins to realize that she and this home are what he's wanted all the while.

My explanation could hardly do justice to Peer Gynt but it is my favorite of any of Ibsen's stuff. This one is worth a read as well as listening to Grieg's Peer Gynt suites...very recognizable even if you don't know Grieg...mostly due to their use in cartoons. Anyway here are the Star Wars actors who have been involved in Peer Gynt:

Hilton McRae - (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 (uncredited) - Arvel Crynyd)*Peer Gynt~2003 - Peer Gynt (Arcola Theatre, London, UK)

Ian McDiarmid - (Palpatine - OT/PT)<br />
*Peer Gynt~1973 - Peer Gynt (Oxford Playhouse, UK)

David Alan Grier - (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi Radio Drama~1997 - Bo Shek/various voice characterizations)
*Peer Gynt~unknown year and role (Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, PA)

Bronagh Gallagher - (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace~1999 - Radiant VII Cruiser Captain Karol)
*Peer Gynt~1994 - Chorus (Barbican Theatre, London, UK)

Bennet Guillory - (Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II~1997 - Qu Rahn)
*Peer Gynt~unknown year and role

A Doll's House (1879)
A Doll's House involves Nora who did what was expected of her, she married and had children. But Nora married for money not for love.
er husband falls ill and Nora has to find a way to get money so her husband, Torvald, can recover.

She gets the money which she says is from her father but is really from a secret source, Krogstad (Torvald's underling). Krogstad finds himself in a situation which he feels he may lose his position and tells Nora that she must help him keep his position or he'll reveal her secret.

But when it's obvious that she cannot convince her husband not to dismiss Krogstad she begins to feel helpless and ultimately leaves not only her husband but also her children.<br />

Pernilla August - (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace~1999 & Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones~2002 - Shmi Skywalker)
*A Doll's House~1989 - (Royal Dramatic Theatre, Stockholm, Sweden) Dir: Ingmar Bergman

Hilton McRae - (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 (uncredited) - Arvel Crynyd)
*A Doll's House~1996 - Torvald (Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Birmingham, UK)

Elizabeth Rider - (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lord~2004 - voice of Atris)
*Doll's House~1981 - Helen, grief stricken woman (The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, UK)

David Warner - (Star Wars: Force Commander~2000 (voice) - Grand Gen. Brashin)
*(FILM)A Doll's House~1973 - Torvald Helmer, Nora's husband

John Chapman - (Star Wars~1977 - Gil "Dirfter" Varay (Red 12))
*A Doll's House~2002 - Krogstad (Box Theatre Company, Oxford, UK)

Silas Carson - (Ki Adi Mundi in the PT; also Viceroy Nute Gunray/Ki-Adi-Mundi/Lott Dodd/Radiant VII Pilot in TPM; Nute Gunray in AOTC)
*A Doll's House~1996 - Krogstad (The Young Vic Studio, London, UK)

Stephen Markle - (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back radio drama~1983 - voice characterizations)
*A Doll's House~1991 - Krogstad (? place)


Ghosts (1881)
Ghosts, well...Ibsen, shocked many viewers in the socially/morally strict clime of the Victorian Era by using the word syphilis in his play and for having a woman forsake her socially and religiously driven morals to save herself and her child from a miserable life.

The story revolves around a woman, Mrs. Alving, is married to a philandering man and leaves him within the first year of marriage because she is so miserable.
A priest tells her to do the right thing by going back to her cheating husband and that her love should mend his immoral ways. She goes back but her love changes nothing. He continues his ways and manages to contract the STD and spreads it to his wife (Mrs. Alving) and, unknowingly, to his son, Oswald.

In order to protect her son from the atmosphere at home and the truths therein she sends him off to school (boarding) in hopes of saving him a tormented childhood. Mrs. Alving ultimately leaves her husband in order to save herself.

Sian Phillips - (Ewoks: The Battle for Endor~1985 - Queen Charal)
*Ghosts~19?? - Mrs. Alving (Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, Wales, UK; Tour)

Michael Sheard - (Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back~1980 - Admiral Crane Ozzel)
*Ghosts~19?? - Oswald (Perth Repertory Theatre, Perth, Scotland)

Lev Mailer - (Star Wars Holiday Special, The~1978 - Imperial Guard #1)
*An Enemy of the People~? - (Los Angeles, CA)

Stephen Elliott - (Star Wars: A New Hope Radio Drama~1981 - voice of Prestor (Bail Organa))
*An Enemy of the People~1971 - Dr. Thomas Stockmann (Lincoln Center Repertory, Vivian Beaumont Theatre, NY)

Mark Capri - (Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back~1980 (uncredited) - Warrant Officer M'Kae)
*An Enemy of the People~1985 - ? (Roundabout Theatre, New York, NY)

Natalija Nogulich - (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1996 - Mon Mothma)
*An Enemy of the People~2002 - ? (St. Louis, Missouri)

Tom Mannion - (Star Wars: pisode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983- Star Destroyer Captain #2)
*An Enemy of the People~1988 - Hovstadd (Young Vic and Playhouse, London, UK)


Wild Duck (1884)
Gregers Werle is one-man truth-seeking crusader who returns from a 15 year self-imposed exile to find that his best friend Hjalmar is in a marriage that was built on lies.

Hjalmar's marriage to Gina was arranged, though Hjalmar doesn't know this. Gregers learns that Gina was the one time maid and mistress of his own father and in order to conceal the truth, keep the pregnancy "legitimate" and save his own name he arranges the marriage between Gina and Hjalmar. Hjalmar believes the child, Hedvig, to be his own and everyone, including Gina are happy.

Gregers believes it's his duty to free Hjalmar of his life built on lies and works diligently to tear down the facade through what he truly believes is a selfless act. He has given no thought at all to the consequences of what he feels he must do and an entire family is destroyed because of Gregers quest for truth.

While it's easy to like Gregers despite his crusade one has to feel the tragedy in his mission as well. Very interesting story that goes against Ibsen's usual truth is sacred mantra.

Sebastian Shaw - (Anakin Skywalker - ROTJ)
* (Radio) Wild Duck~1985 -

Ian McDiarmid - (Palpatine - OT/PT)
*Wild Duck~1983 - Gregers Werle (Oxford Playhouse & Royal Exchange, Manchester, UK)


Hedda Gabler (1890)
Hedda Gabler is the hard-to-please daughter of a well-known general who marries out of desperation. Instead of leaving the situation, which she feels she cannot do, unlike many of Ibsen's previous characters, she stays. And in her frustration and misery decides to go at her life and others in a mean-spirited way causing destruction.

She undermines her husband, burns the creative project (manuscript) of a family friend who has confided in her that he is a failure and wants to kill himself, she nonchalantly says go for it...which he eventually does. She also refuses to acknowledge her pregnancy, which is more and more evident as the play progresses. In the end, and quite abruptly, Hedda kills herself.

Sian Phillips - (Ewoks: The Battle for Endor~1985 - Queen Charal)
*Hedda Gabler~1957 - Hedda Gabbler (Det Nye Teater, Oslo, Norge; Vanbrugh Theatre, London, UK)

Brian Deacon - (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords~2004 (voice) - Additional Voices)
*Hedda Gabler~1991 - (Citizen's Theatre Company, Glasgow, Scotland)

Dermot Crowley - (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 - General Krix Madine)
*Hedda Gabler~19?? - (Hampstead Theatre, London, UK)


The Master Builder (1892)
The Master Builder
was one of Ibsen's most mature plays and was written when he was 64, two years after a platonic affair with a woman of 18.
Halvard Solness is a successful middle-aged builder in a loveless marriage to a cold but dutiful wife. He's afraid that his success will come to an end when someone younger comes to take over his position. He starts to flirt with his assistant Ragnar Brovik's fianc?e, Kaia (Kaja) and does everything to keep her in the office while keeping his assistant from getting promoted, but another young woman, Hilde, enters the picture and he directs his energy towards her.
There is an immediate chemistry, a certain tension, that is skirted through flirtation while he bares his soul to the young admiring woman who doesn't quite understand his problems but makes him feel like a hero.

After a chat with Solness' wife Hilde decides she needs to leave but Solness wants to keep her with him, near him and will do anything to keep her there. So he asks her what she wants and she tells him she'd like a castle. She wants her Master Builder to create a castle for her. Which he sets out to do.

In the middle of building Hilde convinces Solness to climb upon the scaffolding to regain a lost feeling of worth and satisfaction he once had in building things for people. He does this thing for her and stands on the scaffolding enjoying the moment to cheers from onlookers...then he slips and falls.

Sebastian Shaw - (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 - Anakin Skywalker)
*(TV) The Master Builder~1985 - ?
*The Master Builder~1988 - Knut Brovik (Ragnar's dying father) (?unknown venue)
Other Star Wars alum: Ellison Kemp

Ellison Kemp - (Star Wars~1977 - ?)
*(TV) The Master Builder~1985 - ?
Other Star Wars alum: Sebastian Shaw

That's it! ;)


Thanks for lookin!
Leah

Paul Gleason (1939 - 2006)

Actor Paul Gleason died Saturday (May 27, 2006) at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank of the rare lung cancer Mesothelioma. I am familiar with this disease because my father's best friend died from it in 2002. Gleason and my father's friend had similar circumstances while in their teens and twenties as both of them worked with/had close contact with their fathers who worked construction in some form or another, which dealt with asbestos...the root of Mesothelioma.

Gleason was born on May 4, 1939 in Jersey City, NY but raised in Miami, Florida. He was a man of many talents starting with sports. Gleason played football, basketball and baseball at Florida State University where, according to Johnny Holliday's book Johnny Holliday from Rock to Jock, was nicknamed "Bags" because his teammates swore that he wore the same athletic supporter for the entire 4 years at FSU. He graduated in 1966.

During the 50s Gleason played Triple A level baseball with the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox farm teams. He loved to play the game but he remained a lifelong fan of baseball and was frequently seen in the Red Sox clubhouse or out on the field during batting practice.

I vaguely recall that he played in at least a few Hollywood Stars Nights (not the minor league Stars of Gilmore field) at Dodger Stadium over the years. The "Hollywood Stars" played against the big leaguers once each year during the season, before a regular game, for charity...many teams have similar types of games once or twice a year.

Gleason got the urge to act while watching Splendor in the Grass (1961) with good friend, and father of the Beat Generation, Jack Kerouac (widely known for his novel On The Road). He then traveled to New York where he studied under Lee Strasburg at the Actors Studio and on to do many theatre productions (including the revival of The Front Page (1972), with John Lithgow), film and TV productions over the following 40 odd years.

For many people Gleason will forever remembered for his role as Principal Richard "Dick" Vernon in the now classic 1985 John Hughes film The Breakfast Club..."Mess with the bull you get the horns". Which totally overshadowed his role as **Jeremitt Towani in Ewoks: The Battle for Endor released that same year. For others Gleason was etched into the brains as the corporate spy, Clarence Beeks, in Trading Places (1983) with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd..."Back off or I'll rip out your eyes and piss on your brain!"

Gleason also wrote poetry and published a book called Uleta Blues & Haikus - Songs, Poesy, Sketches which was filled with his collected writings on growing up in America, poetry, drawings, humorous and satirical tales involving baseball, films, Hollywood, his friend Jack Kerouac, time travel and baseball legend Ted Williams

He was once married to Monty Hall's daughter Joanna Hall but had been married to Susan Gleason until his death on Saturday. He is survived by his wife, a son, a daughter and a granddaughter.

RIP Mr. Gleason.

Leah

PS - I haven't been able to update the site with this info as I am not at home for the next couple of days.

LM

**He was the second to play the role of Jeremitt Towani, the first was actor Guy Boyd for the Ewok Adventures (1984)

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Sherlock and Star Wars

I have been an admirer of the Sherlock Holmes saga since I can remember. Never obsessive or fanatic but simply enjoying each incarnation of Holmes that has come along.

Doyle's original creations I find the most intriguing simply because they are created BY him, the way he felt they needed to be. But I have found just as much enjoyment in authors/directors that have given life to the fictional detective beyond the near 60 original stories by Doyle.

In honor of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 147th birthday I present to you the Holmes/Star Wars connection. These 44 SW actors have been involved in Sherlock Holmes projects over the years in stage, radio, film or other media. I made a couple of random comments here and there


Mark Adair-Rios - (Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Radio Drama~1996 - Admiral Ackbar)
*(TV) Return of Sherlock Holmes~1993 .... Zapper
A somewhat anachronistic (at least for the Holmes character), along the lines of Time After Time with Malcolm McDowell...and a music score by Miklós Rózsa. Holmes wakes up in modern day San Francisco and Zapper (Adair-Rios) heads Holmes' "team".

Caroline Blakiston - (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 - Mon Mothma)*Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes~1994 .... Dowager Duchess of Lomond in The Three Gables
Brett and Hardwicke!
Other Star Wars alum: Sebastian Shaw

Brian Blessed - Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace~1999 - Boss Nass
*Hound of the Baskervilles~1983 .... Geoffrey Lyons

Bruce Boa - (Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back - General Rieekan)
*Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother~1975 ....?
Other Star Wars alum: Harry "Aitch" Fielder, John Hollis

Mark Capri - (Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back~1980 (uncredited) - Warrant Officer M'Kae)
Mr. Capri is currently playing Sherlock Holmes at the Pasadena Playhouse, in California but that production, Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, started at the Temple of Music and Art in Tucson, Arizona.
Capri has received mostly very good reviews for his portrayal of the famous sleuth in this new play by Steven Dietz.

Michael Carter - (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 - Bib Fortuna)
*(TV) Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The~1984 .... Godfrey Norton in A Scandal in Bohemia
Jeremy Brett as Holmes here, very good.

Tim Condren - (Star Wars~1977 - Stormtrooper/stunts)
*(TV) The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes~1984 .... Thorne (as Timothy Condren) in The Speckled Band

Dermot Crowley - (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi - General Krix Madine)
*Mystery!~1980 - Elkins in Murder Rooms: The Dark History of Sherlock Holmes : The Photographer's Chair

Michael Culver - (Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back~1980 - Captain Lorth Needa)
*(TV) Return of Sherlock Holmes~1986 .... Reginald Musgrave in The Musgrave Ritual

Peter Cushing - (Star Wars~1977 - Governor Tarkin)
The Hound of the Baskervilles~1959 - Sherlock Holmes.
Cushing works very well as Holmes bringing to the role the same feeling that he put into Dr. Frankenstein and Van Helsing in previous films. Really neat that it works for this Holmes tale...of course "Hammer" and "The Hound" are a good match for Cushing. It's always worth seeing Cushing in anything.
*(TV) Hound of the Baskervilles~1968 .... ?
*(TV) Masks of Death~1984 - Sherlock Holmes
*(TV mini series) Sherlock Holmes~1968 - Sherlock Holmes
Other Star Wars alum: Christopher Lee

Peter Diamond - (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 - Gamorrean Guard/Scout Trooper; Raiders of the Lost Ark~1981 - German Soldier; Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back~1980 - Snowtrooper Gunner; Star Wars~1977 (uncredited) - Stormtrooper/Garouf Lafoe/Tusken Raider/Corporal Prescott - Death Star Trooper)
*Sherlock Holmes~? - stunts

Alastair Duncan - (Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy~2003 (voice) - Reborn 1/Cultist 2/Imperial Officer 1)
*The Return of Sherlock Holmes~1996 .... Dr. Mortimer in The Hound of the Baskervilles

John Ellis - (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace~1999 - Pod Race Spectator; also worked on Return of the Jedi and Ewoks in the optical effect/photography areas.)
* Young Sherlock Holmes~1985 - (optical supervisor - ILM)
He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Effects, Visual Effects. I still love this film, totally fun Holmes in a fantasy setting. Cutting edge effects in 1985.
Other Star Wars alum: Harry "Aitch" Fielder

Nick Field - (Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith~2005 - Passell Argente (UK unit) *++(TV) The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes~1984 - Harold Latimer in The Greek Interpreter
Other Star Wars alum: Oliver Maquire

Harry "Aitch" Fielder - (Star Wars~1977 - Death Star Guard; Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jed~1983 - background artist) (also in Raiders of the Lost Ark~1981 - German during the Ark opening)
* Young Sherlock Holmes~1985 .... background artist
*+ Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother~1975 .... background artist
Other Star Wars alum: John Ellis
+Other Star Wars alum: Bruce Boa, John Hollis

Peter Geddis - (Star Wars~1977 - Captain Raymus Antilles (Rebel Officer choked by Vader on Tantive IV))
*(TV) The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes~1990 - Mr. Gresty in The Last Vampyre

Julian Glover - (Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back~1980 - General Maximillian Veers) (also Walter Donovan in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade~1989)
*(Theatre) Sherlock's Last Case~1974 .... Sherlock Holmes

John Hollis - (Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back~1980 - Lobot)
* The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother~1975 .... Moriarity's gunman
This film is one of my favorites but for reasons other than being Holmes related. I mean...Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, silliness...the bonus is the Holmes theme.

Gerald Home - (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 - Tessek/Controller/Aide
*(Theatre) Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Sumatran Devil~1985 - Moriarty

William Hootkins - (Star Wars~1977 - Jek Porkins)
*(TV) ; Return of Sherlock Holmes~1987 .... Spelman
Other Star Wars alum: Michael Pennington, Shane Rimmer
*(Audio Book) Casebook of Sherlock Holmes~1995 .... J. Neil Gibson

Roger L. Jackson - (voice characterizations for 13 Star Wars related video games)
*(Video Games) The Lost Casebooks of Sherlock Holmes: Case of the Rose Tattoo~1996 ... Dr. John Watson (and about 30 other characters)
Other Star Wars alum: Jarion Monroe

Sara Kestelman - (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords~2004 - voice of Kreia)
* The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes~1971 .... Hagar in The Mystery of the Amber Beads

Jack Klaff - (Star Wars~1977 - Red Four (John D.))
*(TV) Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, The~1990 - The Hon. Philip Green in The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax

Christopher Lee - (Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones~2002; Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith~2005 - Count Dooku) Well known for two roles in his life previous to Dooku and Saruman and those are Dracula and Sherlock Holmes. Lee is one of the only actors in film who have portrayed three different characters in Holmes related movies: Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft Holmes and Henry Baskerville. Lee's Sherlock related films are as follows:
* Incident at Victoria Falls~1991 .... he played Sherlock Holmes
* Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady~1990 ....Sherlock Holmes
* The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes ~1970 .... Mycroft Holmes (the elder brother of Sherlock who appeared in two of Doyle's original stories: Adventure of the Greek Interpreter and The Bruce-Partington Plans.)
I really enjoyed this Billy Wilder directed film and the terrific score by one of the greatest film music composers of all time, Miklós Rózsa (who, by the way, was asked by George Lucas to create the music for Star Wars but turned the project down...he was 70 at the time). Lee is always fun to watch, no matter the role.
Other Star Wars alum: Clive Revill, Alex McCrindle
* Sherlock Holmes und das Halsband des Todes (Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace)~1962 ... Sherlock Holmes
* The Hound of the Baskervilles~1959 .... Sir Henry Baskerville (the last of the allegedly cursed Baskervilles)
Other Star Wars alum: Peter Cushing.

Oliver Maguire - (Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back~1980 - Imperial Officer (Lt. Cabbel))
* The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes~1984 .... Inspector Gregson in The Greek Interpreter Other Star Wars alum: Nick Field

Christopher Malcolm - (Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back~1980 - Zev Senesca)
* The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It~1977 .... The Other CIA Man
This film is totally silly but worth watching. John Cleese (Fawlty Towers) wrote this Holmes parody and starred as Arthur Sherlock Holmes. Basically the grandsons of Professor Moriarty, Dr. Watson and Holmes play out a detective farce. Holmes is a bungling drug-addict, Watson is an idiot and Moriarty is still the villain. It's worth it just for Cleese alone but the movie is funny all around considering it's "no budget" budget and silliness.
Other Star Wars alum: Nick Tate (Denholm Elliott of Raiders of the Lost Ark also stars)

Peter Mandell - (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 - Ewok)
* Sherlock Holmes and the Sign of Four~1983 .... ?
Other Star Wars alum: Kiran Shaw

Anthony May - (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords~2004 - voice characterizations)
* Murder By Decree~1979 .... Lanier

Alex McCrindle - (Star Wars~1977 - General Jan Dodonna)
* Private Life of Sherlock Holmes~1970 .... baggageman
Other Star Wars alum: Christopher Lee, Clive Revill

Jarion Monroe - (Star Wars: Episode I - Battle for Naboo~2001 .... voices of Ivar Nitu/Ned Greeby/Gungan; Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds~2001 (voice) - AT-ST driver/E-Stap pilot/Gen. Jan Dodonna; Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance~1999 (voice) - Adm. Yamarus)
*(Video Game) Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes: Case of the Rose Tattoo~1996 .... Sherlock Holmes
Other Star Wars alum: Roger L. Jackson

Michael Pennington - (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi - Moff Jerjerrod)
*(TV) Return of Sherlock Holmes~1987 ..... Sherlock Holmes
Holmes is revived after 80 years in chryogenic suspension. Like the other "Return" not really for the purist but a nice re-telling none the less. Really neat to see Pennington here as Holmes. Other Star Wars Alum: William Hootkins, Shane Rimmer

Tamara Phillips - (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic~2003 (voice) - Additional Voices; Star Wars: Bounty Hunter~2002 (voice) - Komari Vosa)
* Sherlock Holmes in the 21st Century~1986 .... voice characterizations

Clive Revill - (Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back~1980 - voice of Emperor Palpatine)
* The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes~1970 .... Nicolai Rogozhin (director-general of the Imperial Russian Ballet and translator for Madame Petrova)
Revill in another one of his underrated performances.
Other Star wars alum: Alex McCrindle, Christopher Lee

Shane Rimmer - (Star Wars~1977 (uncredited) - InCom Engineer (also guides R2D2 into Luke's ship))
* The Return of Sherlock Holmes~1987 .... Stark
Other Star Wars alum: Michael Pennington, William Hootkins

Leslie Schofield - (Star Wars~1977 - Chief Bast)
*(TV) Casebook of Sherlock Holmes~1990 .... William McCarthy in The Boscombe Valley Mystery
Brett and Hardwicke as Holmes and Watson, respectively.

Kiran Shah - (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 - Ewok)
* Return of Sherlock Holmes~1986 - Tonga in The Sign of Four (connection)
Other Star Wars alum: Peter Mandell

Sebastian Shaw - (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi - Anakin Skywalker)
* Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes~1994 - ?
Other Star Wars alum: Caroline Blakiston

William Morgan Sheppard - (Star Wars: Force Commander~2000 (voice) (as W. Morgan Sheppard) - Heavy Gun Trooper/Ruulian Strip Miner)
* (Theatre) Sherlock Holmes~1974-6 .... Jim Craigin
*(Radio) Sherlock Holmes Theatre ~ .... ?
Other Star Wars alum: Kristoffer Tabori, Andre Sogliuzzo

André Sogliuzzo - (Star Wars: Clone Wars~2003 (voice) - ARC Captain/Battle Droid/Clone Trooper/ARC Trooper/Captain Typho; Star Wars: The Clone Wars~2002 - Clone Trooper/Cydon Prax)
*(Radio) Sherlock Holmes Theatre (LA Theatre Works, Los Angeles, CA)
Other Star Wars alum: Kristoffer Tabori, William Morgan Sheppard

Kristoffer Tabori - (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords~2004 - voices of HK-47/HK50; Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic~2003 - voice of HK-47/Additional Voices)
*+(TV Series) The Return of Sherlock Holmes~1986 .... Sir Henry Baskerville in The Hound of the Baskervilles (naturally)
*++(Audio Book) Sherlock Holmes Theatre .... Dr Watson

*+ The Return of Sherlock Holmes was a great series and Brett and Hardwicke as Holmes and Watson, respectively, were hard-to-top casting. Brett remains one of my favorite Holmes. Worth watching the whole series on DVD.
++Other Star Wars alum: André Sogliuzzo, William Morgan Sheppard

Nick Tate - (Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire~1996 (voice) - Prince Xizor/IG-88)
* The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It~1977 ....1st Australian
Other Star Wars alum: Christopher Malcolm

David Warner - (Star Wars: Force Commander~2000 (voice) - Grand Gen. Brashin)
*(Radio) Sherlock Holmes~ .... Sherlock Holmes (CART production)

Time Winters - (Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II~1997 - Boc)
* Sherlock Holmes' Last Case~200? (Colony Theatre, Burbank, CA) .... as Sherlock Holmes
* The Curse of the Sign of Four~2003 (Dorset Theatre, Dorset, VT) .... as Sherlock Holmes

While there have been MANY more incarnations of Sherlock Holmes these are only the productions that have included Star Wars actors.

LM

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Actor and Site Updates!

Hey there.

I'm still working out the glitches for my site but I have been able to do some updating so I'm getting on with it in spite of everything.

LM

Blog and Site update for May 5 - May 16, 2006!

Keisha Castle-Hughes (Queen Apilana - ROTS) will be playing the title role in Hey, Hey It's Esther Blueburger, which also stars Toni Colette.

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Clancy Brown (voice of Montross - Bounty Hunter) will be appearing again on Lost . When he appeared on the show before (ep: One of Them) he played a character named Joe Inman, this time he's playing Kelvin Inman, hm. The episode, called Live Together, Die Alone will air on May 24, 2006.
Also, there is a trailer now online for the film Pathfinder (Brown plays Gunnar, the Viking Chieftan) alongside LOTR: Two Towers and LOTR: Return of the King star Karl Urban. The trailer is HERE. There's also a cool pic of Brown as Gunnar HERE .

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Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader - PT) will star in Guilty Pleasures with Mischa Barton and Tim Roth. The picture is due out in January 2007.

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Adrian Dunbar (Bail Organa - PT scenes unused) is set to direct a biopic about Irish Republican Commander James Connolly. Filming will begin soon. A little more info HERE .

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Arye Gross (Lando Calrissian - ESB/ROTJ radio dramas) will play John Bergin in the stage production The Winchester House . The play opened on May 4 and will be playing through June 18 at The Theatre @ Boston Court in Pasadena, CA.

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Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine - OT/PT) is up for a Tony Award for his role as Teddy in Faith Healer . The play also stars Ralph Fiennes and Cherry Jones and is playing at the Booth Theatre in New York City.

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Guy Siner (voice characterizations in Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast; Galactic Battlegrounds; Force Commander and TIE Fighter Collector's CD ROM) let me know that his site is now up. Go visit him at www.guysiner.com

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Updates to existing actors in the STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
Obba Babatundé (update - Live Appearances)
Alexandra Boyd (update - bio; TV; Miscellany)
Clancy Brown (update - Pathfinder pic)
Diahann Carroll (update - TV)
Keisha Castle-Hughes (update - Film)
Hayden Christensen (update - Film)
David W. Collins (update - bio pic; Video Games)
Anthony Daniels (update - TV Commercials) (Thanks to DarthCharlie32!)
Adrian Dunbar (update - Director)
Carrie Fisher (update - Miscellany)
Oliver Ford Davies (update - Theatre)
Marvin Goldhar (update - Albums)
Arye Gross (update - various pics; Theatre)
Mark Hamill (update - TV)
Samuel L. Jackson (update - various pics)
Nick Jameson (update - TV)
James Earl Jones (update - TV)
Gervais Koffi (update - bio and character pics)
Jay Laga'aia (update - TV)
Bai Ling (update - TV; Video Games)
George Lucas (update - Awards: WorldFest; Toy Industry Hall of Fame)
Ian McDiarmid (update - Awards: Outer Critics Circle; Tony nom)
Alethea McGrath (update - character pics)
Ewan McGregor (update - Film)
Siân Phillips (update - Theatre)
Kevin Pollack (update - TV: Untitled CBS project)
Lloyd Sherr (update - Radio)
Guy Siner (update - TV; Miscellany: link to his new site!)
Jimmy Smits (update - Awards: ALMA)
Courtenay Taylor (update - Video Games)
Kari Wahlgren (update - Video Games)
Jim Ward (update - Radio)
Larry Ward (update - Dakotas pic)
Billy Dee Williams (update - Film)
Wally Wingert (update - character pic - Nym: Jedi Starfighter)
Adrian Zmed (update - character pic)

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Bio Sketches:
David Ackroyd
Tux Akindoyeni
Joe Alaskey
Jamie Alcroft
Tom Sylla

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Actor Connections STAR WARS ACTOR CONNECTIONS
Theatre:
Quartet
Video Games>>Other
Metroid Prime I & II (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)

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References
Main Page

TV S - Z
Teamo Supremo (Thanks to Nailwraps!)


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LMangue's Art


Enjoy!
Leah

George Lucas

Today it was announced that our dear Flanneled One will be inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame for 2007.

Excerpts:
"From the time it premiered in 1977, George Lucas' "Star Wars" saga took the world by storm and created a cultural phenomenon that has touched generations of kids with its epic battles and legendary characters. In addition to winning eight Academy Awards, the "Star Wars" movies set new standards for sophistication in film visuals and sound, and revolutionized the toy industry at the same time. The first "Star Wars" film inspired Kenner Products' creation of the 3-3/4-inch action figure scale, which remains an industry standard today. Designed, manufactured and marketed by Hasbro, Inc. since its purchase of Kenner in 1991, "Star Wars" toys and games are one of the best-selling toy lines in the industry's history."

"The ceremony inducting Lucas will take place as part of the seventh annual T.O.T.Y. (Toy Of The Year) Awards event, set for the evening of Saturday, February 10, 2007, in New York City at the Marriott Marquis Times Square. Lucas, the 50th Hall of Fame inductee, will be present to accept the honor in person."

Here's the full press release

It's awesome that they made an exception and made Lucas the sole inductee for 2007.
LM

In The Spotlight!

Hi!
I just wanted to share a nice interview with Tom Sylla that I ran across recently. It is conducted by Jamie Nelson from PlanetNelson. It was a nice surprise to find the interview podcast.

After the interview please take a moment to tell Mr. Nelson and Mr. Sylla what you think. They were both kind enough to let me borrow the photo of Mr. Sylla to sketch (the bio sketch, hit the link above for Mr. Sylla) and I'd just like to return the favor to them and to give fans something to enjoy as well.

Here's the podcast

Thanks!

Leah

PS- forgive the glitches in my site, I'm still trying to work them out. Bear with me!
LM

Friday, May 12, 2006

Actor News!

Ok, so it's not really a site update yet. Still waiting for everything to settle with my site, which doesn't seem close.

I do, however, have a few notes I'd like to share.
This time NOT in alphabetical order...I know...I live dangerously. :P

Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi - PT) may star in the film I, Lucifer with newly chosen Bond man Daniel Craig.
McGregor has also been chosen to play a role in a new film by Woody Allen (no title yet). Filming begins in London in mid-July.

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Oliver Ford Davies - (Sio Bibble - PT) Just a note: I watched him in an episode of British mystery, Rosemary & Thyme called Enter Two Gardeners over the weekend. Nice episode. I almost didn't recognize him at first.

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Paul Hecht (Emperor Palpatine - Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Radio Drama) is starring with Siân Phillips (Queen Charal - Ewoks: Battle for Endor) in the Bay Street Theatre's production of Quartet. The Bay Street Theatre is in Baltimore, MD. Quartet runs through June 4, 2006.

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James Earl Jones talked about the film Birth of a Nation with other celebs on May 2, 2006 on TCM (Turner Classic Movies).

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Bai Ling - (Senator Bana Breemu - ROTS - cut) will be one of the hosts for a new program on E! Entertainment television called Stranded with a Star. She's also doing a voice characterization for the new video game Scarface: The World is Yours.

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Cree Summer (Princess Kneesha - Ewoks; Luminara Unduli - Clone Wars) also provides voice characterization for the Scarface VG.

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Jay Laga'aia - may make an appearance at the Logie Awards because the show he has been involved with for many years, Play School, is being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia Organa - OT) Trivia: Fisher was once considered for the role of Betty Rizzo in the film production of Grease. That role would go to Stockard Channing who played Abbey Bartlet on West Wing. Side note: Grease, way back, was the third highest grossing film of all time after Jaws and Star Wars.

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Adam Arkin (Fixer - Star Wars: A New Hope Radio Drama) - will star in Murder on Pleasant Drive on May 8 on Lifetime. He plays a creepy, maybe murderous, business man.
He's also been cast in Graduation.

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Clancy Brown (Montross, Science Officer - Star Wars: Bounty Hunter) * A Little blurb at the NY Times (free subscription required to view) HERE

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Jimmy Smits (Bail Organa - PT) - won an ALMA award the other night for his portrayal of presidential hopeful Matthew Vincente Santos on West Wing. Congrats to him!!

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Kath Soucie (voice work - Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds; Tavion in Star Wars: Jedi Knight II - Jedi Outcast; Tavion in Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy; Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords) - will also voice a character in Ben & Izzy.

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Kari Wahlgren - (Sera Keto - Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith) and Courtenay Taylor (Juhani - Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic) will voice Zatanna and Wonder Woman, respectively, in the Justice League Heroes video game.
*Here's a small article on Kari Wahlgren

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Neil Kaplan (Boss Ganne, Goonga Trooper, Grenade Battle Droid, Gungan Trooper, Missile Battle Droid - Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds; Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic )
* A video interview with the voice actor.

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