Godzilla: About The Cast

Buy this video from Reel.com Books from Amazon.com: Buy The Book. Music from Amazon.com: Buy The Soundtrack.

An accomplished stage performer, he made his theater debut at age 17 opposite his father, the late James Broderick, in Horton Foote's "On Valentine's Day." Two years later, he won the Outer Critic's Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor in Harvey Fierstein's "Torch Song Trilogy." He went on to win his first Tony Award for Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and starred in the play's sequel, "Biloxi Blues." In 1995, Broderick won his second Tony Award for his starring role as canny advertising executive J. Pierrepont Finch in the popular Broadway revival of "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." He also starred in the world premiere of Horton Foote's "The Death of Papa," with Ellen Burstyn, Hallie Foote and Polly Holliday.

On television, he has appeared in the Showtime film "Master Harold... And the Boys" and received an Emmy nomination for the TNT production of David Mamet's "A Life in the Theater," opposite Jack Lemmon.

HANK AZARIA (Animal) recently starred opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in Great Expectations. Last year, he appeared with John Cusack and Dan Aykroyd in Grosse Pointe Blank, and in 1995 he won kudos for his scene-stealing portrayal of Guatemalan houseboy Agador Spartacus in Mike Nichols' The Birdcage, starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.

Azaria, who is the voice of many celebrated characters on the long-running comedy series, "The Simpsons," also gave voice to Bartok, the comical bat, in the animated feature Anastasia, opposite the voice of Meg Ryan.

Azaria will also appear in the forthcoming Mystery, Alaska, and lend his voice talents to the animated feature Planet Ice, both slated for release next year. He is starring with Billy Bob Thornton in the upcoming Homegrown, a black comedy about pot plantation workers.

Additional film credits include Michael Mann's action-thriller Heat, Now and Then, produced by Demi Moore, and Garry Marshall's Pretty Woman. He also turned in a bravura performance as Al Freedman, a television producer caught up in the behind-the-scenes machinations of tainted television game shows in Robert Redford's Quiz Show.

On television, Azaria starred in the CBS romantic comedy, "If Not For You," as well as the innovative comedy series "Herman's Head." He appears in a recurring role on the NBC series "Mad About You" as Nat, the idiosyncratic dog walker. The part began as a one-episode commitment, but the response to Nat was so incredible that he became a permanent member of the series' popular ensemble.

Azaria trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and played Hamlet in a Columbia University production of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead." He continued his theater studies at Tufts University, where he appeared in productions of such plays as "Uncle Vanya," "The Merchant of Venice," "The Ballad of the Sad CafÇ" and "The Dumb Waiter." He subsequently moved to Los Angeles, where he became a favorite at local comedy clubs. He co-wrote "An Evening on Thin Ice," which was presented at The Comedy Store. He also won a DramaLogue Award for his work in the play, "Conspicuous Consumption."

JEAN RENO (Philippe Roache) is arguably France's hottest actor, having starred in Jean-Marie Poire's comedy, Les Visateurs, which is the highest grossing film in French boxoffice history, and its record-breaking sequel, Les Visateurs II. He has equally impressed American audiences with his recent performances in Brian DePalma's spy thriller Mission: Impossible, opposite Tom Cruise, Paul Weiland's romantic comedy For Roseanna, with Mercedes Ruehl, and Lawrence Kasdan's French Kiss, with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline. His work in Luc Besson's thriller The Professional, opposite Gary Oldman and Natalie Portman, won him widespread critical and popular plaudits. The busy actor recently completed Ronin, opposite Robert DeNiro and directed by John Frankenheimer.

Born in Casablanca to Spanish parents, Reno pursued his dream of acting in France after serving his military service in Germany. Settling in Paris, he joined stage director Didier Flamand in a traveling theater company that took him around the country. His screen break came with Costa-Gavras' Claire de Femme in 1979, and his bravura turn in Luc Besson's Le Dernier Combat earned him critical and audience recognition. Reno went on to collaborate with Besson in several subsequent films, including Subway, starring Isabelle Adjani, The Big Blue, with Roseanna Arquette, and the acclaimed thriller, La Femme Nikita.

Reno's other film credits include Francis Veber's Le Jaguar, Christian Le Jale's Loulou Graffiti, Jean-Marie Poire's L'Operation Corned Beef, Eric Duret's L'Homme Au Masque D'Or, Marco Ferreri's I Love You, Bertrand Blier's Notre Histoire and Jacques Monnet's Signes Exterieurs de Richesse.

MARIA PITILLO (Audrey) has starred in such films as Garry Marshall's Dear God, opposite Greg Kinnear, Bye, Bye Love, with Matthew Modine, Paul Reiser and Randy Quaid, and She-Devil, with Meryl Streep and Roseanne. She played Mary Pickford in Sir Richard Attenborough's Chaplin and made her movie debut in Spike of Bensonhurst. Pitillo recently completed the film Something To Believe In, opposite William McNamara, which shot on location in Italy. Additional film credits include Natural Born Killers, True Romance and White Palace.

Pitillo is known to television audiences for her role on the Fox comedy series, "Partners," in which she starred opposite Jon Cryer and Tate Donovan. She is currently starring in the NBC sitcom, "House Rules." Other television credits include the telefilms, "Between Love & Honor," which aired on CBS; NBC's "Escape from Terror;" and "Cooperstown" and "The Lost Capone," both for TNT.

Pitillo began her career on the daytime drama "Ryan's Hope" and had a recurring role on the critically acclaimed series "Middle Ages" with Peter Reigert.

KEVIN DUNN (Colonel Hicks) is a familiar face to both film and television audiences. He will be seen this summer in Small Soldiers, the period comedy Almost Heroes, and Brian DePalma's detective thriller Snake Eyes opposite Nicolas Cage.

His notable film roles include convicted Watergate conspirator Charles Colson in Oliver Stone's Nixon, presidential press secretary Alan Reed conspiring with Frank Langella in Ivan Reitman's Dave, and J. Edgar Hoover in Richard Attenborough's Chaplin, to name only a few. He most recently co-starred in the films The Sixth Man, Picture Perfect and Chain Reaction, and he includes among his other film credits Mad Love, Little Big League, Beethoven's 2nd, Hot Shots!, Only the Lonely, Bonfire of the Vanities, Marked for Death, Blue Steel, and Mississippi Burning.

On the small screen, Dunn appeared in HBO's "The Second Civil War" directed by Joe Dante, as well as in the telefilms "Blue Heaven," "Shattered Mind," "Unforgivable," "Jack Reed IV," "The Four Diamonds," "Double Edge" and "Taken Away." He was a series regular on "Arsenio" and "Jack and Mike," and has guest-starred on such shows as "Seinfeld," "Jag," "Roseanne" and "Cheers."

VICKI LEWIS (Dr. Elsie Chapman) is known to television audiences as Beth, the quirky, quick-witted secretary on the hit NBC series "NewsRadio," currently in its fourth season. She recently completed filming a role starring opposite John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton in the upcoming Fox 2000 film, Pushing Tin, for director Mike Newell. She will also be seen in a supporting role in the upcoming feature Breakfast of Champions, starring Bruce Willis and directed by Alan Rudolph. This past December, she starred opposite Nathan Lane in Dreamworks' MouseHunt.

Lewis worked consistently on the New York stage before a role in James L. Brooks' comedy feature I'll Do Anything brought her to Los Angeles. She then began working steadily on television, with guest appearances and recurring roles on such hit shows as "Seinfeld," "Murphy Brown," "Home Improvement" and "Caroline in the City."

Lewis continues to return to the stage, most recently appearing in the Broadway revival of "Damn Yankees" and the City Center Production of "Pal Joey."

ARABELLA FIELD (Lucy) was featured in the boxoffice hit, Dante's Peak, starring Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton. She recently completed production on the independent feature Freak Talks About Sex, also starring Steve Zahn and Josh Hamilton.

Field is best known for her starring role in Nick Gomez's cult favorite Laws of Gravity, a saga about two couples living on the fringe of society. Additional movie credits include Feeling Minnesota, The Pompatus of Love, the romantic comedy Naked in New York, and Mr. Wonderful.

On television, she recently appeared on an episode of "Seinfeld," joining the pantheon of George's many girlfriends, and was a series regular on the drama "Under Suspicion."

Off-Broadway, Field starred in "Four Dogs and A Bone," directed by John Patrick Shanley, and "Snowing at Delphi." Her performances in both plays earned her 1994 Theatre World Awards. Other off-Broadway credits include "Expecting Bobby," "10 Reasons That Aren't Good Enough," The Naked Angels' production of "The Question," "The Largest Elizabeth in the World," "Rain, Some Fish, No Elephants," at the New Theatre Brooklyn and "If You're Glad, I'll Be Frank." She has also toured the country with several regional productions.

The Brooklyn native studied at New York's Fordham University and later pursued her schooling at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.

HARRY SHEARER (Charles Caiman) is a multi-talented actor, director, and writer whose gifts have graced film, television, radio, stage and many publications. He gained national recognition as one of the creators and stars of the classic mock rockumentary This is Spinal Tap, in which he portrayed heavy metalist Derek Smalls. He also appears in the upcoming feature The Truman Show, directed by Peter Weir and starring Jim Carrey. Other film credits include The Right Stuff, Oscar, The Fisher King and Pure Luck.

His television work includes Martin Mull's "Portrait of a White Marriage," "HBO Comedy Hour Live: The Magic of Live," "Fernwood 2 Night," "Saturday Night Live," "Ellen," "Murphy Brown," "L.A. Law," "Chicago Hope," "E.R.," "The Visitor" and "The News Hole," for which he won his second CableACE Award for Best Game Show. Shearer is also well-known to television audiences as the voices of Mr. Burns, Smithers and Ned Flanders, among others, on the animated series "The Simpsons," now in its ninth season. He recently reunited with Michael McKean and David L. Lander for the 25th Anniversary Reunion of the classic comedy group, The Credibility Gap.

For the past 15 years, Shearer has been entertaining audiences on a weekly basis with his nationally syndicated radio show, "Le Show," which is also fed worldwide via the Internet. Excerpts from that show became a two-CD compilation, entitled "O.J. On Trial: The Early Years" and "O.J. On Trial: That Endless Summer." In his capacity as a writer, he covered the O.J. Simpson civil trial for Microsoft's Slate magazine and he also reported on the 1996 presidential conventions. For the stage, Shearer co-wrote the dark musical comedy, "J. Edgar," with Tom Leopold and Peter Matz. He also starred in the original production of Rupert Holmes' "Accomplice."

The Los Angeles native began acting at age seven and made his film debut in the classic, Abbott and Costello Go To Mars. He also appeared in the first Cinemascope movie, The Robe. He was featured on several of the early live television shows, including "The Jack Benny Program," "GE Theatre" and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." He played the role of Eddie Haskell in the pilot episode of "Leave it to Beaver."

MALCOLM DANARE (Mendel Craven) has appeared in a diverse collection of films, such as Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men In Tights, Walter Hill's Crossroads, Amy Heckerling's National Lampoon's European Vacation, Adrian Lyne's Flashdance and John Carpenter's Christine, among others.

Danare's first film was Franc Roddam's coming-of-age drama The Lords of Discipline, set in a South Carolina military school in 1964 and based on Pat Conroy's novel. The opportunity to appear in the film happened because Roddam's car had broken down as he traveled to an appointment at Paramount Studios. Roddam approached another driver, who happened to be Danare's father. Danare's father drove Roddam to Paramount and mentioned that his son was an actor. At that point, Danare's only encounter with acting had been through a high school elective course. Nevertheless, Danare eventually met with Roddam, who "discovered" the 19-year-old aspiring thespian and cast him in The Lords of Discipline. That film literally led to Flashdance; Danare ran into director Adrian Lyne at Paramount while looking for the The Lords of Discipline production office. Lyne immediately cast him in the film. Danare worked in several subsequent movies, but considers Heaven Help Us, with Kevin Dillon and Andrew McCarthy, his first starring role.

Born in England, Danare moved to California at age 12. His television credits include recurring roles on "Capitol News" and "Knight and Day." His theater credits include "The Ruffian on the Stair," "Entertaining Mr. Sloane," "Lovers and Other Strangers," "A Rich and Full Life," and "Vespers Eye." Danare has also written several scripts, which are currently in various stages of development in Hollywood.

MICHAEL LERNER (The Mayor) is a veteran actor, perhaps best-known for his bravura performance in the Coen brothers' Barton Fink. In the film, Lerner portrayed the bombastic Hollywood mogul Jack Lipnick and earned an Academy Award(r) nomination for Best Supporting Actor, as well as many other accolades, including the Los Angeles Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 1997, Lerner completed several films in addition to Godzilla, including For Richer or Poorer, with Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley, the independent comedy Safe Men, which premiered at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival and the upcoming features, The Mummy, opposite Shelly Duvall and Jason Scott Lee and My Favorite Martian, with Jeff Daniels, Christopher Lloyd and Elizabeth Hurley.

Lerner's additional film credits include Radioland Murders, The Road to Wellville (in which he worked with his Godzilla co-star Matthew Broderick), The Girl in the Cadillac, No Way Back, Newsies, Blank Check, No Escape, Amos & Andrew, The Postman Always Rings Twice and The Candidate, among others. He has also portrayed the famous and the infamous, such as Jack Ruby in the acclaimed docudrama "Ruby and Oswald," Arnold Rothstein in John Sayles' 8 Men Out, Pierre Salinger in "The Missiles of October," and the head of Columbia Pictures, Harry Cohn, in "Rita Hayworth: Love Goddess."

Lerner began studying acting in London on a Fulbright scholarship. He was an early member of San Francisco's acclaimed American Conservatory Theatre, where he played a wide variety of roles. Recently, he starred in a Los Angeles production of "Hurlyburly," opposite Sean Penn and Danny Aiello.

DOUG SAVANT (Sergeant O'Neal) is well-known to television audiences for his portrayal of Matt Fielding on "Melrose Place," one of the few recurring, openly-gay characters to star on a prime-time television show. Recently, Savant starred as a serial killer/rapist in the top-rated NBC Monday night movie "Fight for Justice: The Nancy Conn Story," opposite Marilu Henner. He also starred opposite Nia Peeples in another NBC telefilm, "Terminal." Additional television credits include "China Beach," Cagney and Lacey" and the pilot for "In The Heat of the Night." He appeared in a recurring role on "Knots Landing" and starred in such television movies as "Aftermath" and "Bonnie & Clyde: The True Story."

His feature credits include Masquerade, Hanoi Hilton, Trick or Treat and Red Surf.