Jungle2Jungle - About The Cast

Jungle2Jungle: About The Cast

Books from Amazon.com:
Buy The Book.

Music from Amazon.com:
Buy The Soundtrack.

TIM ALLEN (Michael) made his feature film debut in Walt Disney Pictures' hit "The Santa Clause." He then starred as the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the international blockbuster "Toy Story," the first all computer-generated feature length animated film from Disney.

Born in Denver and raised, from age 13, in the Detroit suburb of Birmingham, Allen graduated from Western Michigan University in 1975 with a degree in TV production. He went on to work as a creative director for a small advertising firm in Detroit, then moved from behind the camera to become a performer and commercial spokesman.

In 1979, Allen made his stand-up debut at Detroit's Comedy Castle. Since then, he has sold out concert venues around the country including an appearance at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. He has also appeared in the cable specials "The Montreal Just for Laughs Festival," "Showtime Comedy Club All Stars VII"; and two half-hour specials of his own for Showtime: "Men Are Pigs" and "Tim Allen Rewires America."

In 1990, Allen won the CableAce Award for Best Performance in a Comedy Special at the "Just For Laughs International Comedy Festival" in Montreal. He recently received his sixth straight People's Choice Award as Favorite Male Performer on Television for his starring role in the long-running hit "Home Improvement." He was previously honored with the People's Choice Award for his role in "The Santa Clause" (Funniest Actor in a Comedy Motion Picture and Favorite Motion Picture Comedy). He has also won a Golden Globe Award for "Funniest Actor in a Television Series" for his role on "Home Improvement" which is now in its sixth season. Allen also has been nominated several times for an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, and co-hosted the 1992 Emmy Awards telecast.

Allen's first book, Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man, was also a major success, topping the New York Times Bestsellers List. His second book I'm Not Really Here is also a bestseller.

MARTIN SHORT (Richard) made his feature film debut in 1986 in "Three Amigos." Among his other films are "Innerspace," "Cross My Heart," "Three Fugitives," "Pure Luck," "The Big Picture," "Captain Ron," "Clifford," "Father of the Bride" and "Father of the Bride Part II." His most recent motion picture was Tim Burton's "Mars Attacks!"

Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Short was studying social work at McMaster University when he met actors Eugene Levy and Dave Thomas, who would become his "SCTV" co-stars. They helped cultivate his interest in acting and writing, and recommended him for his first acting job-multiple roles in the Toronto production of "Godspell." More recently, Short appeared on Broadway in Neil Simon's musical version of "The Goodbye Girl," for which he received a Tony Award nomination, and in John Patrick Shanley's "Four Dogs and a Bone" at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. This March, Short returns to the New York stage for a limited run of Neil Simon's "Promises, Promises" as part of the Encore! series at City Center.

Short joined the "SCTV" Comedy Network in 1982 where he won both an Emmy Award and its Canadian equivalent, the Nelly. In 1984 he joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live." With his genius for comic characters, it was on these shows that Short first received national recognition. In addition to spot-on impersonations of celebrities such as Katharine Hepburn, Short introduced a number of offbeat characters including the hyperkinetic Ed Grimley, the albino lounge lizard Jackie Rogers, Jr. and sleazy lawyer Nathan Thurm.

In the last 10 years Short has written, produced and starred in numerous highly acclaimed comedy specials including: "Martin Short's Concert for the North Americas" (CableACE Award), "I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood" (CableACE Award), and "The Show Formerly Known As The Martin Short Show" (Emmy Award).

In 1994 Short was awarded The Order of Canada (Canadian equivalent of British Knighthood) by the Canadian government.

LOLITA DAVIDOVICH (Charlotte) first received international recognition for her performance in the title role of "Blaze," opposite Paul Newman. She is currently starring in Paul Schroeder's "Touch." She also starred opposite John Lithgow in Brian DePalma's "Raising Caine," opposite Tom Hulce in Andrei Konchalovsky's "The Inner Circle," and appeared in Oliver Stone's "JFK." Her other feature film credits include "Boiling Point" with Wesley Snipes, "Younger and Younger," "Leap of Faith," "Intersection," "Cobb" and "Now and Then."

Davidovich's television credits include HBO's "Prison Stories: Women on the Inside," for which she was nominated for a CableAce Award, and the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation "Harvest of Fire." She was also a member of the ensemble cast of Abby Mann's widely acclaimed "Indictment: The McMartin Trial," for which she received a CableACE nomination. Most recently, she starred in HBO's "Dead Silence."

After high school, Davidovich moved to Chicago to pursue an acting career. She trained at the prestigious Steppenwolf and Victory Garden Theaters' acting workshops, and later continued her studies at various Canadian and American schools.

SAM HUNTINGTON (Mimi-Siku) makes his feature film debut in "Jungle 2 Jungle," although he was cast in the Winona Ryder film "Boys" in a role that was subsequently edited out of the film. Sam was discovered by casting director Renee Rousselot after a national search for an actor to play Tim Allen's son.

Previously, Sam appeared in the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation "Harvest of Fire." He has also appeared in various television commercials.

Sam's regional theatre credits include "The Nerd," "Waiting for Godot," "Inspecting Carol" and "To Kill a Mockingbird" with the Peterborough Players; "A Thousand Clowns" at the Franklin Pierce College; and "The New Kid," "Gifts," "The Guest Speaker" and "Not the King" at the Black Box Theatre Company.

MYTEKA (Spider) Born and raised in Florida, Myteka is an "Amazon bird-eating spider" also known as "Theraposa Leblondi. " Weighing in at a trim 8 ounces, Myteka can devour two small mice a week, has 2 poisonous 1/2 inch long fangs and measures 10 1/2 inches across. However frightening she may seem, Myteka is actually a gentle creature who interacts well with her co-stars, especially Sam Huntington (Mimi Siku) who portrays her owner in the film.

Before Myteka arrives on the set, one of her 11 stand-ins helps Director John Pasquin prepare for her next big scene. When Myteka doesn't feel like coming out of her trailer, a blow dryer is used to entice her to the set (spiders don't like moving air). If that doesn't work, tickling her 8 little hairy legs with a teeny paint brush usually gets her to her camera mark.

Myteka has already lived 20 of her expected 30 year life span, but she's hoping to land a few of those "mature, older spider" roles in future films, spinning her own web to stardom.

DAVID OGDEN STIERS (Jovanovic) has delighted audiences with his voice performances as Cogsworth the clock in the 1991 animated feature, "Beauty and the Beast"; as the greedy Governor Ratcliffe (and his sidekick servant Wiggins) in "Pocahontas" (1995); and as the voice of the Archdeacon in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

Stiers is perhaps best known to the public for his six-year stint on the hit television show, "M*A*S*H," in which he portrayed Major Winchester. That role earned him two Emmy Award nominations. He subsequently received a third nomination for his work on the NBC miniseries "First Modern Olympics."

Born in Peoria, Illinois, Stiers began his career in the Bay area with the California Shakespeare Festival and, later, the Actor's Workshop in San Francisco. Following this, he went to New York for advanced acting studies with John Houseman at the Juilliard School and with the graduating class became a charter member of Houseman's Acting Company. With the latter, he toured in such shows as "The Beggar's Opera," "The Three Sisters," "Measure for Measure" and "The Lower Depths."

On Broadway, Stiers appeared in "Ulysses in Night Town" with Zero Mostel and starred in the hit musical "The Magic Show," where he created the role of "Feldman the Magnificent." While at Juilliard, he appeared as the "Deil" in "L'Histoire Du Soldat" and narrated and conducted portions of Saint-Saëns' "Carnival of the Animals." He has conducted many other symphony orchestras all over the country including those in Portland, Maine, San Francisco, San Diego, Honolulu, Los Angeles and Chicago. He is very proud of his post as principal guest conductor of the Yaquina Chamber Orchestra.

Stiers' other stage credits include numerous productions at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego and recent roles in A.R. Gurney's "Love Letters" opposite Michael Learned and Meredith Baxter Birney. As a director, Stiers helmed a stage production of "Love Letters" at Interlochen, Michigan and a 1984 award-winning Old Globe production of "Scapino."

Last year, the busy actor played judges in two films ("Steal Big, Steal Little" and "Bad Company"), and reteamed with director Woody Allen to appear as a member of the Greek chorus in "Mighty Aphrodite," and in the musical "Everyone Says I Love You." Stiers' other recent credits include "Oh God!" "Magic," "The Man with One Red Shoe," "Better Off Dead," "Another Woman," "The Accidental Tourist" and "Doc Hollywood." His television work includes such distinguished programs as "North and South," "The Innocents Abroad," "The Day My Bubble Burst," "Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry," "Anatomy of an Illness," "The Final Days" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

BOB DISHY's (Langston) feature film credits include "Lovers and Other Strangers," "The Tiger Makes Out," "The Big Bus," "The Last Married Couple in America," "First Family," "Stay Tuned," "Author! Author!" "Brighton Beach Memoirs," "Critical Condition," "Used People" and "Don Juan De Marco."

On television Mr. Dishy was a regular member of "That Was the Week That Was" and "Story Theatre" for which he also directed several episodes. He has been a frequent guest on such shows as "Law & Order," "Columbo," "Barney Miller," "All in the Family" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." He has also appeared in several PBS productions such as Neil Simon's "The Good Doctor" and I.B. Singer's "The Cafeteria."

His first audition in New York led to his Broadway debut as Rocky in the George Abbott musical "Damn Yankees." Drafted from the musical into the Army, he spent two years (as a result of winning an all-Army entertainment contest) traveling to Army bases around the world performing with Special Services.

Upon returning to New York he worked for more than a year as a member of the "Second City" company, also directing some of the shows. Dishy returned to Broadway with varied starring roles in such productions as the George Abbott musical "Flora, the Red Menace," Peter Ustinov's "The Unknown Soldier and His Wife," Carl Reiner's "Something Different," Herb Gardner's "The Goodbye People," Arthur Miller's "The Creation of the World and Other Business," Murray Schisgal's "An American Millionaire," Larry Gelbart's "Sly Fox" (Tony Award nomination and Drama Desk Award), Bobrick and Clark's "Murder At the Howard Johnsons," Jules Feiffer's "Grown Ups" and the revivals of Hy Kraft's "Cafe Crown" and Paddy Chayefsky's "The Tenth Man."

Off-Broadway Mr. Dishy played the leading role of Sapiens (created by Ray Bolger) in the revival of Rogers and Hart's "By Jupiter," various musical reviews and Cynthia Ozick's "The Shawl." He also appeared as Malvolio in the American Shakespeare Theatre production of "Twelfth Night" in Stratford, Connecticut.

Bob Dishy majored in drama at Syracuse University. His early training includes working as a member of the resident companies at Green Mansions and Tamiment, resorts in New York and Pennsylvania, once famous for comic acting and writing talent. Mr. Dishy's first major role was the boy in "Six Who Pass As the Lentils Boil."

JoBETH WILLIAMS (Patricia) made her screen debut in "Kramer Vs. Kramer" as Dustin Hoffman's overnight guest, who has an embarrassing introduction to his son. She has continued to distinguish herself with memorable performances in more than a dozen other motion pictures, a well as on television and on the stage.

Following her role in "Kramer Vs. Kramer," Williams was cast in "Stir Crazy" and "The Dogs of War," playing the love interest of Gene Wilder and Christopher Walken, respectively. Steven Spielberg then cast her in her first leading role-the terrified housewife in "Poltergeist." Her success in that film led to starring roles in "Poltergeist II: The Other Side," "The Big Chill," "Teachers," "Stop! or My Mom Will Shoot," "Switch," "Dutch," "Me, Myself and I" and "Wyatt Earp." Her other film credits include "Endangered Species," "American Dreamer," "Desert Bloom" and "Memories of Me."

Williams recently completed productions of two independent films, "Little City," opposite Penelope Ann Miller and "Just Write," with Sherilyn Fenn and Jeremy Piven. This past December, she was seen in the ABC made for television movie, "Breaking Through," starring opposite Kellie Martin. She made her directorial debut with a 30-minute short film, "On Hope," for Showtime's "Directed By" series, which earned an Academy Award® nomination.

Williams is also noted for her highly acclaimed television work, which has garnered her three Emmy Award nominations. In 1995 she earned an Emmy nomination for her guest starring role in a special two-part episode of the NBC series "Frasier." Her portrayal of surrogate mother Mary Beth Whitehead in the miniseries "Baby M" and her performance as the anguished mother of her missing child in "Adam," earned her two other nominations. This past year she starred opposite Tom Selleck in Showtime's "Ruby, Jean & Joe." Williams also appeared in the memorable telefilms: "My Name is Bill W." "The Day After," "Kids Don't Tell," "Victim of Love," the miniseries "Murder Ordained," "Final Appeal," "Voices From Within," "A Season of Hope" and the improvisational movie for Showtime, "Parallel Lives," directed by Linda Yellen, who also directed her in the critically acclaimed "Chantilly Lace." She was most recently seen starring in the CBS drama series, John Grisham's "The Client," in which she portrayed attorney "Reggie Love," opposite Ossie Davis and John Heard.

Although she graduated from Brown University with a major in English, Williams gravitated toward drama. Upon leaving Brown, she joined the prestigious Trinity Repertory Theatre in Rhode Island. Making her New York stage debut in the off-Broadway production of Michael Weller's "Moonchildren," she continued to accumulate notable theatre credits which include "The Daughter-in-Law," "Uncle Vanya," "A Coupla White Chicks Sittin' Around Talkin'," "Ladyhouse Blues" and "Gardenia." She also appeared in director Peter Sellars production of "Idiot's Delight," at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as well as Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra," opposite Robert Foxworth at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre and "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof," at Princeton's McCarter Theatre.

Williams currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband director John Pasquin and their two children.

VALERIE MAHAFFEY (Jan) won an Emmy Award for her recurring role on "Northern Exposure," and was nominated for the award for her performance on the NBC series "The Doctors." Her other television series credits include such hit sitcoms and episodics as "Caroline in the City," "Wings" (recurring role), "Seinfeld," "Newhart," "Cheers," "The Client," "The Powers That Be" (series regular role), "The Father Dowling Mysteries," "L.A. Law," "The Young Riders," "Quantum Leap" and "Grand Slam."

In addition to roles in such feature films as "National Lampoon's Senior Trip," Mahaffey has appeared in a long list of made-for-television movies and miniseries including "Witchhunt" for HBO, "An Enemy of the People" and "The Rise & Rise of Daniel Rocket" for PBS, "They" for Showtime, "Her Secret Life," "Tell Me My Name," "Perry Mason," and "Women of Valor." She also appeared in the comedy miniseries "Fresno," and in "Tales of the Unexpected."

On Broadway Mahaffey appeared in Hal Prince's production of "Play Memory," as well as such plays as "Dracula," "The Love of Anatol," "Fearless Frank," "Rex," and "Scenes of Revelations." Off-Broadway she appeared in "Custom of the Country," "Romance Language," "Top Girls," "Translations" and "Twelve Dreams." She also has a wide range of regional theatre credits including "Our Country's Good," "Carnal Knowledge," "Loot," "The Middle Ages," "The Importance of Being Earnest," "Othello," "All's Well That Ends Well," "Romeo & Juliet," "Ethan Frome" and "I Married An Angel."

LEELEE SOBIESKI (Karen) is the animal loving daughter of an artist and writer. Her father is Jean Sobieski, a French painter. During the first decade of her life, Leelee lived on a ranch in the Carmarque region of France. She also attended school in Miami where she first acted in a school play.

As an actress on television, Leelee enjoyed guest lead roles on "Grace Under Fire" and "The Home Court." She also appeared in the movies-of-the-week "Reunion" and "A Horse For Danny," and starred as Jenny Grace opposite Mark Harmon on the series "Charlie Grace."

Leelee's feature film credits include "Canadian Bacon Promo" and the upcoming "Eyes Wide Shut," directed by Stanley Kubrick.

LUIS AVALOS (Abe) has appeared in a long list of motion pictures, television and stage productions. Among his more prominent feature film credits are "Stir Crazy," "Hot Stuff," "Ghost Fever," "The Butcher's Wife," "The Hunter" and "Fires Within." He will be seen with Greg Kinnear and Lauren Holly in the up-coming "A Smile Like Yours." His movies-of-the-week and miniseries include "The Gambler V," "An American Love Affair," "Ghost of Flight 401" and "Perry Mason." As a television series guest star he has enjoyed roles on "ER," "JAG," "Empty Nest," "Full House," "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper," "Ned Blessing," "NYPD Blue," "Barney Miller," "Soap" and "Benson," among many others

On stage, Avalos appeared in the Lincoln Center Repertory productions of "Camino Real," "Narrow Road To the Deep North," "Beggar on Horseback," and "The Good Woman of Setzuan," as well as the New York Shakespeare Festival productions of "As You Like It" and "More Than You Deserve." Off-Broadway he appeared in productions of "El Grande De Coca Cola," "The Architect & The Emperor of Assyria," "Marco Polo" and "Zoo Story." He most recently starred as Vladimir in the 40th anniversary production of "Waiting For Godot" at the Cocoanut Grove Playhouse in Florida.

FRANKIE J. GALASSO (Andrew) most recently starred as Mickey Canetti in the television series "Hudson Street." He also appeared in the hit Broadway production of "An Inspector Calls," as well as in staged readings of the musicals "Faust" directed by James Lepine; "Mame," in which he starred as Young Patrick opposite Bette Midler; and "Bye Bye Birdie" with Tommy Tune and Ann Reinking.

When not busy acting, the light-brown haired, hazel-eyed New Yorker spends his time taking voice, karate, gymnastics and swimming lessons. He also ice skates and plays on a Little League team.

CAROLE SHELLEY (Fiona) most recently starred on Broadway in the critically acclaimed, Hal Prince-directed revival of "Show Boat." Just prior to that she starred in the New York production of Neil Simon's "London Suite," directed by Daniel Sullivan, and was first seen on the New York stage in Simon's "The Odd Couple" as Gwendolyn Pigeon. A Tony Award winner as Best Actress for her performance in "The Elephant Man," she was also nominated for that award for her performances in "Stepping Out" and "Absurd Person Singular." Her other notable Broadway credits include "Loot," "The Miser," "Noises Off" and "Hay Fever." Off-Broadway, she starred for the New York Shakespeare Festival in "Richard II," and in "Later Life" (for which she received a Drama Desk Award nomination), "Cabaret Verboten," "What the Butler Saw," "Little Murders," "Twelve Dreams" (for which she won an Obie Award) and "Tartuffe."

Shelley starred in national tours of "Broadway Bound," "The Royal Family" (both of which earned her nominations for the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award) and "Noises Off." Her repertory credits include "The Country Wife," "Macbeth," "Twelfth Night" and "Romeo and Juliet" at Stratford, Connecticut; and "Waiting for the Parade," in London, Ontario (also filmed for CBC TV). As a member of the Canadian National Shakespeare Company she toured Europe and Russia. In London's West End, she starred as Lettice in the hit comedy, "Lettice and Lovage." In addition, she received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for her performance in "The Norman Conquests."

Among Shelley's recent film credits are "Quiz Show" and "The Road to Wellville." She is also the voice of Lachesis in Walt Disney Pictures' soon-to-be-released animated feature "Hercules." Other films include "The Odd Couple," "The Super," and voices for Disney's animated films "The Aristocats" and "Robin Hood."

Ms. Shelley has co-starred in numerous television pilots, and starred on many daytime dramas including "Another World," "All My Children," and "One Life to Live."

Back to "Jungle2Jungle"

Suggestions? Comments? Fill out our Feedback Form.