TIM ALLEN (Brad Sexton) graduated from Western Michigan University
in 1975 with a degree in television production, and went to work as a creative
director for a small advertising firm in Detroit. Soon he moved from behind
the camera to in front of it as a performer and commercial spokesman.
In 1979, on a dare from a friend, Allen made his first stand-up appearance
at Detroit's Comedy Castle. Since then, he has become "an 18-year overnight
success," and has sold out concert venues around the country and appeared
in several cable television specials: The Montreal Just For Laughs Festival,
Showtime Comedy Club All Stars VII and two of his own half-hour specials
for Showtime: Men Are Pigs and Tim Allen Rewires America.
In 1990, Allen won an ACE Award for Best Performance in a Comedy Special
at the Just For Laughs International Comedy Festival in Montreal. In 1991,
Allen was nominated for People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer
in a Television Series and Home Improvement for Funniest Television Series.
He proceeded to win the awards in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996, and won
for America's Favorite TV Personality for the third year in a row by the
1995 Harris Poll. He was also awarded last year with Nickelodeon Kids' Choice
Awards in the categories of Favorite TV Actor and the coveted Kids Choice
Hall of Fame. Allen won again at this year's Kids Choice Awards in the Favorite
TV Actor category. In 1995, Allen won a Golden Globe Award as Funniest Actor
in a Television Series for his role on Home Improvement and was again nominated
in 1996 in the same category. In addition to winning awards, Allen was one
of the co-hosts at the 1992 Emmy Awards and has been nominated twice for
an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series.
In 1994, Allen made his motion picture debut in the Hollywood Pictures/Disney
film The Santa Clause, starring as Santa himself. The movie was released
in November 1994 and was the number one comedy of the year. For his role
in the film, Allen was honored with a Blockbuster Entertainment Award as
Favorite Male Newcomer, Theatrical and a People's Choice Award as Funniest
Actor In A Comedy Motion Picture. The Santa Clause was voted Favorite Motion
Picture Comedy at the People's Choice Awards that same year.
Allen's second film was the blockbuster hit Toy Story, the first film to
ever be entirely animated using computers. Allen was the voice of spaceman
action figure "Buzz Lightyear" and he will reprise his role in
the straight-to-video sequel. Allen then went on to star in the Disney hit
film, Jungle 2 Jungle, which was released in March 1997.
In 1994, Allen penned his anecdotes in his first book entitled Don't Stand
Too Close to a Naked Man, which topped the New York Times bestseller list.
Allen's second book, I'm Not Really Here, hit bookstores last November.
In this book, we find Allen one weekend looking for the hood ornament of
a car and instead stumbles across the meaning of life. He takes a comedic
look at men in midlife--and their relationships with wives, children, friends,
the universe and God.
In the Fall of 1997, Allen returned for his seventh season as "Tim
Taylor" on Home Improvement, where he will continue to bring his unique
slant of masculinity to series television. Home Improvement, which Allen
describes as "Men Are Pigs" at home, is also a huge success in
syndication. Allen's role as the host of a fictional cable home improvement
show called "Tool Time" is one that he wistfully hopes to recreate
in real life someday.
KIRSTIE ALLEY (Caroline Sexton) has marked her career with multiple
awards and success in top-grossing films and highly-acclaimed television
shows. This year, Alley poses a triple threat with her own television series
and three films--all before the new year.
Alley stars in the highly-anticipated Woody Allen film, Deconstructing Harry,
in theatres December 19th. She also stars in Nevada, a feature for Cineville,
also slated for a winter release. She will go on to star in Common Ground,
which reunites her with John Travolta in a drama and will begin filming
in early 1998.
Alley has an overall deal with Warner Brothers, which encompasses features
and television projects, including the series, Veronica's Closet, in which
she plays the head of a lingerie company. This series was developed for
Alley with Bright, Kauffman & Crane--the creators of Friends --and airs
Thursday nights on NBC at 9:30 p.m.
Alley gained popularity for her portrayal of Rebecca Howe on NBC's Cheers,
one of the most highly rated and critically-acclaimed television shows of
all time. During her six years on the show, she won the Emmy, Golden Globe
and People's Choice Awards for Best Actress in a comedy series.
MICHAEL LERNER (Phil Kleinman), having been nominated for an Academy
Award® as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Barton Fink,
has continued to delight audiences with his numerous and diversified film
and television roles.
His most recent projects include TriStar's upcoming Godzilla, as the Mayor
of New York, and the upcoming independent feature Safe Men. His other feature
film work includes, The Road to Wellville, The Postman Always Rings Twice,
Harlem Nights and Eight Men Out, among many others.
Lerner has also completed many movies-of-the-week including, Ruby &
Oswald, where he portrayed "Jack Ruby," and The Missiles of October
for ABC. Additionally, he has completed various cable projects including
The Painted Word for Showtime, Tales From the Crypt and Comrades of Summer
for HBO, and Melba for BBC/PBS, among others.
Lerner is currently working on the fall 1998 Woody Allen project.
WAYNE KNIGHT (Bob Lachman) is best known to television viewers as
Neuman, Jerry's annoying neighbor in the hit series Seinfeld. Knight's other
television credits include 3rd Rock From the Sun, The Edge, Second Half,
Assaulted Salts and the pilot for the series Middleman.
His feature films reflect a wide diversity, including such credits as Steven
Spielberg's Jurassic Park, Gus Van Sant's To Die For, Paul Verhoeven's Basic
Instinct, Taylor Hackford's Everybody's All-American, Kenneth Branagh's
Dead Again and two films for Oliver Stone, JFK and Born on the Fourth of
July. Knight's other feature films include Space Jam, Dirty Dancing and
V.I. Warshawski.
Among his many theatrical credits, his work on Broadway includes the long
running hit comedy Gemini and Larry Gelbart's Mastergate.
JAY O. SANDERS (Samuel) recently appeared in the film Daylight with
Sylvester Stallone and will soon be seen in major roles in The Matchmaker
with Denis Leary and Jeaneane Garofalo, Kiss the Girls with Morgan Freeman
and Ashley Judd and Odd Couple II with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. A
few of his more familiar films include JFK, Tucker, Angels in the Outfield,
Kiss of Death, The Big Green, Meeting Venus, Defenseless, Glory and V.I.
Warshawski.
His television credits include the upcoming Nothing Sacred pilot, Ziggy
the biker on Roseanne, The Outer Limits, Crime Story and The Prosecutors
with Stockard Channing and films for cable including State of Emergency,
Nobody's Children and as Terry Anderson in HBO's Hostages. Jay is a veteran
of Broadway, where he appeared in Loose Ends, The Caine Mutiny Court Martial
and Saint Joan (playing opposite his wife Maryann Plunkett in the title
role).
His off-Broadway credits include Three Birds Alighting on a Field, King
John and the premiere of Sam Shepard's Pulitzer Prize-winning Buried Child
and regular appearances at regional theatres including the Eugene O'Neill
Playwrights Festival. His voice is recognized by many as the narrator of
over twenty-five Audio Books.
MEGAN CAVANAGH (Levinia) made her feature film debut in 1992 in Penny
Marshall's A League of Their Own. Subsequent movie appearances include Robin
Hood: Men in Tights and Dracula: Dead and Loving It, directed by Mel Brooks,
I Love Trouble, Junior, Renaissance Man and That Darn Cat.
Cavanagh was a series regular on Bob and the television adaptation of A
League of Their Own, in which she reprised her role as Marla. Her other
television credits include the telefilms Murder of Innocence and Condition:
Critical. She has also made guest appearances on Friends, Roseanne, Tales
From the Crypt and Brotherly Love.
Cavanagh has a music and improvisational background and has worked extensively
on stage in Chicago. She performed with the renowned Second City comedy
troupe in Santa Monica and participated in the national tour of The Best
of Second City as well as Santa Monica Pier Pressure and Lord of the Medflies.
LARRY MILLER (Derek Lester) is an accomplished stand-up comic who
effectively made the transition from live performance to work in film and
television. Miller's feature film credits include Pretty Woman, Necessary
Roughness, Suburban Commando, Frozen Assets, Undercover Blues and Dream
Lover. More recently, he appeared in The Nutty Professor and Waiting for
Guffman. Miller has also worked extensively on television co-starring in
last season's Life's Work and guest appearances on the series' Seinfeld,
The Single Guy, Dream On, Law and Order and Mad About You.
MIGUEL A. NUÑEZ, JR. (Frank Hall) made his feature film debut
with a small role in The Joy of Sex in 1984, going on to supporting roles
in films like Harlem Nights, Action Jackson, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Lethal
Weapon 3, There Goes My Baby and Street Fighter, among others. More recent
feature film credits include Slam Dunk Ernest, Carnosaur, Leprechaun 4:
In Space and A Thin Line Between Love and Hate.
Nuñez has worked extensively in television. He is currently a series
regular on Sparks. His company Man Jr. Productions produced last year's
UPN series Homeboys in Outer Space and has a development deal with UPN.
He has had regular roles on the series The Faculty, Rhythm & Blues and
Tour of Duty. He also appeared in the made-for-television movies Danielle
Steel's Secrets and W.E.I.R.D. World.
MARLA MAPLES TRUMP (Cynthia) first gained attention as an actress
in 1992 for her critically-acclaimed performance in the Tony Award winning
Will Roger's Follies. After the birth of her daughter Tiffany, Maples returned
to the Follies for a national tour, playing to sold out audiences across
the country. Her love for comedy also made her a natural for guest starring
appearances on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Designing Women, and most recently
on ABC's top-rated Spin City. Along with her sitcom work, Maples also took
a recent dramatic turn on the USA Network's The Big Easy.
Maples' film career began to 'take off' with 1996's terror-in-the-skies
blockbuster Executive Decision. In 1997, after the filming of For Richer
or Poorer, Maples began shooting director Todd Solondz' (Welcome to the
Dollhouse ) untitled new feature for October Films. Her company, Angelfire
Productions, is currently developing a number of projects for television
and film.
CARRIE PRESTON (Rebecca) made her feature film debut this past year
in My Best Friend's Wedding which she followed with an independent film,
The Journey, currently making the festival circuit.
Born in Macon, Georgia, she has worked extensively on the stage. Preston
is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Evansville and earned
a second diploma at New York's prestigious Juilliard School, where she won
the Michel St. Denis award for Best Actor in her class.
Preston appeared in the Broadway production of The Tempest opposite Patrick
Stewart and this winter starred with Vanessa Redgrave in Antony and Cleopatra
at the NY Public Theatre. She has acted in the Georgia, Alabama, Utah and
Santa Cruz Shakespeare Festivals. She also appeared in the Baltimore Center
Stage production of The Cherry Orchard.
Carrie is currently filming Mercury Rising with Bruce Willis and Alex Baldwin.
JOHN PYPER-FERGUSON (Henner) has worked extensively in both film
and television. Having previously worked with director Bryan Spicer on McHale's
Navy, this Canadian-born actor's additional film credits include Unforgiven
and Roadkillers.
He has also completed a variety of independent movies such as Somebody is
Waiting, Drive, Space Marines, Every Breath and Hard Core Logo.
Pyper-Ferguson's work in television includes the telefilms Children of the
Dust, Miracle on I-880 and Night Tide. He has also appeared on such popular
series as The X-Files, Millennium, Poltergeist, The Outer Limits, Star Trek,
MacGyver, The Highlander and The Client. The actor was a series regular
on The Osiris Chronicles and The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.
Copyright 1994-2008 Film Scouts LLC
Created, produced, and published by Film Scouts LLC
Film Scouts® is a registered trademark of Film Scouts LLC
All rights reserved.
