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Robert Selden Duvall (born January 5, 1931) is an American actor and director. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards over the course of his career. Duvall has been in some of the most acclaimed and popular films of all time, among them To Kill a Mockingbird, The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, MASH, Network, True Grit, Bullitt, The Conversation, Apocalypse Now, Tender Mercies, The Natural and Lonesome Dove. He began appearing in theatre during the late 1950s, moving into small, supporting television and film roles during the early 1960s in such works as To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) (as Boo Radley) and Captain Newman, M.D. (1963). He started to land much larger roles during the early 1970s with movies like MASH (1970) (as Major Burns) and THX 1138 (1971). This was followed by a series of critical successes: The Godfather (1972), The Godfather Part II (1974), Network (1976), The Great Santini (1979), Apocalypse Now (1979), and True Confessions (1981). Since then Duvall has continued to act in both film and television with such productions as Tender Mercies (1983) (for which he won an Academy Award), The Natural (1984), Colors (1988), the television mini-series Lonesome Dove (1989), Stalin (1992), The Man Who Captured Eichmann (1996), A Family Thing (1996), The Apostle (1997) (which he also wrote and directed), A Civil Action (1998), Gods and Generals (2003), Broken Trail (2006) and Get Low (2010). Early life Duvall was born in San Diego, California, the son of Mildred Virginia, an amateur actress and relative of American Civil War General Robert E. Lee, and William Howard Duvall, a Virginia-born U.S. Navy admiral. Duvall's father was a Methodist and his mother was a Christian Scientist; Duvall was raised in the Christian Science religion and has stated that while it is his belief, he does not attend church. Duvall grew up in a military family, moving frequently from military base to military base, living for a time in Annapolis, Maryland, near the United States Naval Academy. He attended Severn School in Severna Park, Maryland and The Principia in St. Louis, Missouri and graduated, in 1953, from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. He served in the United States Army from 19 August 1953 to 20 August 1954, leaving as Private First Class. While stationed at Camp Gordon (now known as Fort Gordon) in Georgia, Duvall acted in an amateur production of the comedy "Room Service" in nearby Augusta. After leaving the Army, Duvall studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre in New York under Sanford Meisner. While working to become an actor, he worked as a Manhattan post office clerk. Duvall is friends with actors Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman whom he knew during their years as struggling actors. At one point, Duvall roomed with Hoffman while they were looking for work. Career Early career: 1956–1969 Duvall began his career in the theatre, performing in the summer theatre company, Gateway Playhouse, in Bellport, Long Island where he played the role of Virgil Blessing in BUS STOP. He was known as Bob Duval at that time. He made his professional debut Off-Broadway at the Gate Theatre as Frank Gardner in George Bernard Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession on June 25, 1958. Other notable early theatre credits include the role of Doug in the premiere of Michael Shurtleff's Call Me By My Rightful Name in 1961 and the role of Bob Smith in the premiere of William Snyder's The Days and Nights of BeeBee Fenstermaker in 1962, both at Off-Broadway theatres. He won an Obie Award in 1965 for his performance of Eddie in Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge at the Sheridan Square Playhouse; a production directed by Ulu Grosbard and Dustin Hoffman. The following year he made his Broadway debut as Harry Roat, Jr in Frederick Knott's Wait Until Dark. In 1959, Duvall made his first television appearance on Armstrong Circle Theatre in the episode The Jailbreak. He appeared regularly on television as a guest actor during the 1960s, often in action, suspense, detective, or crime dramas. His appearances during this time include performances on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Naked City, The Untouchables, Route 66, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, The Fugitive, T.H.E. Cat, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Time Tunnel and The Mod Squad to name just a few. Duvall's screen debut was as Boo Radley in the critically acclaimed To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). He was cast in the film on the recommendation of screenwriter Horton Foote, who met Duvall at Neighborhood Playhouse during a 1957 production of Foote's play, The Midnight Caller. Foote, who would collaborate with Duvall many more times over the course of their careers, said he believed Duvall had a particular love of common people and ability to infuse fascinating revelations into his roles. Foote has described Duvall as "our number one actor." After To Kill a Mockingbird, Duvall appeared in a number of films during the 1960s, mostly in mid sized parts but also in a few larger supporting roles. Some of his more notable appearances include the role of Capt. Paul Cabot Winston in Captain Newman, M.D. (1963), Chiz in Countdown (1968), and Gordon in The Rain People. Duvall has a small part as a cab driver who ferries McQueen around just before the chase scene in the movie Bullitt (1969). He was the notorious malefactor "Lucky" Ned Pepper in True Grit (1969), in which he engaged in a climactic shootout with John Wayne's Rooster Cogburn on horseback. Mid career: 1970–1989 Duvall became an important presence in American films beginning in the 1970s. He drew a considerable amount of attention in 1970 for his portrayal of Major Frank Burns in the film MASH and for his portrayal of the title role in the cult classic THX 1138 in 1971. His first major critical success came portraying consigliere (family counsel) Tom Hagen in The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974). The former film earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 1976 Duvall played supporting roles in The Eagle Has Landed and as Dr. Watson in The Seven-Per-Cent Solution opposite Nicol Williamson, Alan Arkin, Vanessa Redgrave and Sir Laurence Olivier. Duvall received another Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor and won both a BAFTA Award and Golden Globe Award for his role as Lt. Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Now (1979). His line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" from Apocalypse Now is now regarded as iconic in cinema history. The full text is as follows: You smell that? Do you smell that? Napalm, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of napalm in the morning. You know, one time we had a hill bombed, for twelve hours. When it was all over I walked up. We didn't find one of 'em, not one stinkin' dink body. But the smell! You know - that gasoline smell... the whole hill! Smelled like... victory. (Pause) Some day this war is going to end... Duvall received a BAFTA Award nomination for his portrayal of television executive Frank Hackett in the critically acclaimed film Network (1976) and garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role in The Great Santini (1979) as the hard-boiled Marine and overbearing parent LtCol. "Bull" Meechum. The latter role was loosely based on a Marine aviator, Colonel Donald Conroy, the father of the book's author Pat Conroy. He also portrayed United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the television miniseries Ike (1979). In 1977 Duvall returned to Broadway to appear as Walter Cole in David Mamet's American Buffalo. For his performance he received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Play. To date, Duvall has not returned to the New York stage. "You can't concoct or push ahead something other than what you have at that moment as yourself, as that character. It's you at that moment in time. ... Between action and cut, it's a nice world, but you can't force that any more than you can force it in life.." Robert Duvall on acting Duvall continued to appear in important films during the 1980s, including the roles of cynical sportswriter Max Mercy in The Natural (1984) and Los Angeles police officer Bob Hodges in Colors (1988). He won an Oscar for Best Actor as country western singer Mac Sledge in Tender Mercies (1983). Foote was rumored to have written the part for Duvall, who had always wanted to play a country singer and contributed ideas for the character. Foote denied this, claiming he found it too constraining to write roles for specific actors, but he did hope Duvall would be cast. Duvall was said to have written the music, but the actor said he wrote only a few "background, secondary songs." Duvall did do his own singing, insisting it be added to his contract that he sing the songs himself; Duvall said, "What's the point if you're not going to do your own (singing)? They're just going to dub somebody else? I mean, there's no point to that." Actress Tess Harper, who co-starred, said Duvall inhabited the character so fully that she only got to know Mac Sledge and not Duvall himself. Director Bruce Beresford, too, said the transformation was so believable to him that he could feel his skin crawling up the back of his neck the first day of filming with Duvall. Beresford said of the actor, "Duvall has the ability to completely inhabit the person he's acting. He totally and utterly becomes that person to a degree which is uncanny." Nevertheless, Duvall and Beresford did not get along well during the production and often clashed during filming, including one day in which Beresford walked off the set in frustration. In 1989, Duvall appeared in the landmark mini-series Lonesome Dove in the role of Augustus "Gus" McCrae. He has stated in several forums, including CBS Sunday Morning, that this particular role was his personal favorite. He won a Golden Globe Award and earned an Emmy Award nomination. For his role as a former Texas Ranger peace officer, Duvall was trained in the use of Walker revolvers by the Texas marksman Joe Bowman. Later career: 1990–present Duvall has maintained a busy film career, sometimes appearing in as many as four in one year. He received Oscar nominations for his portrayals of evangelical preacher Euliss "Sonny" Dewey in The Apostle (1997) — a film he also wrote and directed — and lawyer Jerome Facher in A Civil Action (1998). He directed Assassination Tango (2002), a thriller about one of his favorite hobbies, tango. He portrayed General Robert E. Lee in Gods and Generals in 2003 and is a relative of the Confederate general. Other roles during this period that displayed the actor's wide range included that of a crew chief in Days of Thunder (1990), a retiring cop in Falling Down (1992), an Hispanic barber in Wrestling Ernest Hemingway (1993), a New York tabloid editor in The Paper (1994), a rural doctor in Phenomenon (1996), an abusive father in 1996's Slingblade, an astronaut in Deep Impact (1998), a trail boss in Open Range (2003), a soccer coach in the comedy Kicking & Screaming, an old free spirit in Second Hand Lions (2005), a Las Vegas poker champion in Lucky You and a New York police chief in We Own the Night (both 2007). He has been referred to as "The King of Action". He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 18, 2003.[citation needed] Duvall has periodically worked in television during the last two decades. He won a Golden Globe and garnered an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in the 1992 television movie Stalin. He was nominated for an Emmy again in 1997 for portraying Adolf Eichmann in The Man Who Captured Eichmann. In 2006, he won an Emmy for the role of Prentice "Print" Ritter in the revisionist Western miniseries Broken Trail. In 2005, Duvall was awarded a National Medal of Arts by President George W. Bush at the White House. Duvall founded a production company, Butcher's Run Films, but it appears to have ceased operation. Personal life Marriages Duvall has been married four times, first to Barbara Benjamin from 1964 until 1975. He then married Gail Youngs (1982–1986; temporarily becoming the brother-in-law of John Savage, Robin Young, and Jim Youngs), and Sharon Brophy (1991–1996). He has no children, although he says he has made a number of attempts to do so. In 2005, Duvall wed Luciana Pedraza, granddaughter of famous Argentine aviator Susana Ferrari Billinghurst. He met Pedraza on a street in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They were both born on January 5, but Duvall is 41 years older. They have been together since 1997. Duvall and Luciana have been active supporters of Pro Mujer, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Latin America's poorest women help themselves through micro-credit, business training and health care linkages. Activism Politics Duvall's political views are variously described as libertarian or conservative. He was personally invited to Republican President George W. Bush's inauguration in 2001. In September 2007, he announced his support for Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.Duvall worked the floor at the GOP's 2008 national convention and, according to a 29 August 2008 MSNBC article, Duvall narrated most of the videos for the convention. In September 2008, he appeared on stage at a John McCain-Sarah Palin rally in New Mexico. Charity work In May 2009 he spoke for historic preservation against Wal-Mart's proposal to build a store across the road from the entrance to the Wilderness Battlefield national park in Orange County, Virginia. In 2011, Duvall appeared at a record-breaking Houston charity event when he was interviewed by Bob Schieffer for 'An Evening with a Texas Legend'. The event raised over $9 million for Texas Children's Cancer Center. Filmography Armstrong Circle Theatre 1959 Berks TV series Season 10, episode 2: "The Jailbreak" Armstrong Circle Theatre 1960 TV series Season 10, episode 16: "Positive Identification" Playhouse 90 1960 TV series Season 4, episode 8: "John Brown's Raid" The Defenders 1961 Al Rogart TV series Season 1, episode 12: "Perjury" Great Ghost Tales 1961 William Wilson TV series Season 1, episode 1: "William Wilson" Shannon 1961 Joey Nolan TV series Season 1, episode 10: "The Big Fish" Cain's Hundred 1961 Tom Nugent TV series Season 1, episode 6: "King of the Mountain" Route 66 1961 Roman TV series Season 1, episode 25: "The Newborn" Route 66 1961 Arnie TV series Season 2, episode 4: "Birdcage on My Foot" Naked City 1961 Lewis Nunda TV series Season 2, episode 13: "A Hole in the City" To Kill a Mockingbird 1962 Arthur "Boo" Radley Feature film Naked City 1962 L. Francis 'Frank' Childe TV series Season 3, episode 23: "The One Marked Hot Gives Cold " Naked City 1962 Johnny Meigs TV series Season 4, episode 6: "Five Cranks for Winter... Ten Cranks for Spring" Naked City 1962 Barney Sonners TV series Season 4, episode 8: "Torment Him Much and Hold Him Long " The Untouchables 1963 Eddie Moon TV series Season 4, Episode 17: "Blues for a Gone Goose" The Defenders 1963 Luke Jackson TV series Season 2, episode 24: "Metamorphosis" Route 66 1963 Lee Winters TV series Season 3, episode 18: "Suppose I Said I Was the Queen of Spain" The Twilight Zone 1963 Charley Parkes TV series Season 4, episode 8: "Miniature" The Virginian 1963 Johnny Keel TV series Season 1, episode 24: "The Golden Door" Stoney Burke 1963 Joby Pierce TV series Season 1, episode 23: "Joby" Arrest and Trial 1963 Morton Ware TV series Season 1, episode 10: "The Quality of Justice" The Fugitive 1963 Eric Christian TV series Season 1, episode 4: "Never Wave Goodbye" Captain Newman, M.D. 1963 Capt. Paul Cabot Winston Feature film The Lieutenant 1964 TV series Season 1, episode 25: "Man with an Edge" Kraft Suspense Theatre 1964 Harvey Farnsworth TV series Season 1, episode 22: "Portrait of an Unknown Man" The Outer Limits 1964 Adam Ballard TV series Episodes 42 and 43: "The Inheritors" The Outer Limits 1964 Louis Mace TV series Episode 31: "The Chameleon" Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea 1965 Zar TV series Season 1, episode 20: "The Invaders" Combat! 1965 Karl TV series Season 3, episode 16: "The Enemy" The Defenders 1965 Bill Andrews TV series Season 4, episode 30: "Only a Child" The Fugitive 1965 Leslie Sessions TV series Season 2, episode 16: "Brass Ring" Nightmare in the Sun 1965 Motorcyclist Feature film Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre 1966 Frank Reeser TV series Season 3, episode 15: "Guilty or Not Guilty" The F.B.I. 1966 Johnny Albin TV series Season 2, episode 5: "The Scourge" Combat! 1966 Peter Halsman TV series Season 5, episode 14: "Cry for Help" Hawk 1966 Dick TV series Season 1, episode 6: "The Theory of the Innocent Bystander" Felony Squad 1966 Albie Froehlich TV series Season 1, episode 8: "Death of a Dream" Shane 1966 Tom Gary TV series Season 1, episode 9: "Poor Tom's A-Cold" T.H.E. Cat 1966 Scorpio TV series Season 1, episode 9: "Crossing at Destino Bay" Fame Is the Name of the Game 1966 Eddie Franchot TV movie The Chase 1966 Edwin Stewart Feature film The Time Tunnel 1967 Raul Nimon TV series Season 1, episode 24: "Chase Through Time" Cimarron Strip 1967 Joe Wyman TV series Season 1, episode 18: "The Roarer" The Wild Wild West 1967 Dr. Horace Humphries TV series Season 3, episode 10: "The Night of the Falcon " The F.B.I. 1967 Ernie Milden TV series Season 2, episodes 25 and 26: "The Executioners" T.H.E. Cat 1967 Laurent TV series Season 1, episode 24: "The Long Chase" Combat! 1967 Michel TV series Season 5, episode 25: "The Partisan" Cosa Nostra, Arch Enemy of the FBI 1967 Ernie Milden TV movie Flesh and Blood 1968 Howard TV movie CBS Playhouse 1968 Dr. Margolin TV series Season 2, episode 1: "The People Next Door" Run for Your Life 1968 Richard Fletcher TV series Season 3, episode 19: "The Killing Scene" Judd, for the Defense 1968 Raymond Cane TV series Season 1, episode 24: "Square House" The F.B.I. 1968 Joseph Troy TV series Season 4, episode 9: "The Harvest" The Detective 1968 Nestor Feature film Countdown 1968 Chiz Feature film Bullitt 1968 Cab driver Feature film The Mod Squad 1969 Matt Jenkins TV series Season 1, episode 23: "Keep the Faith, Baby" The F.B.I. 1969 Gerald Wilson TV series Season 5, episode 2: "Nightmare Road" True Grit 1969 Ned Pepper Feature film The Rain People 1969 Gordon Feature film MASH 1970 Frank Burns Feature film The Revolutionary 1970 Despard Feature film THX 1138 1971 THX 1138 Feature film Lawman 1971 Vernon Adams Feature film The Godfather 1972 Tom Hagen Feature film New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid 1972 Jesse James Feature film Tomorrow 1972 Jackson Fentry Feature film Joe Kidd 1972 Frank Harlan Feature film The Outfit 1973 Earl Macklin Feature film Badge 373 1973 Eddie Ryan Feature film Lady Ice 1973 Ford Pierce Feature film The Conversation 1974 The Director Feature film uncredited The Godfather Part II 1974 Tom Hagen Feature film The Killer Elite 1975 George Hanson Feature film Breakout 1975 Jay Wagner Feature film The Eagle Has Landed 1976 Oberst Max Radl Feature film The Seven-Per-Cent Solution 1976 Dr. Watson Feature film Network 1976 Frank Hackett Feature film Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role The Greatest 1977 Bill McDonald Feature film We're Not the Jet Set 1977 n/a Documentary Director Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1978 Priest on swing Feature film uncredited The Betsy 1978 Loren Hardeman III Feature film Ike 1979 Dwight D. Eisenhower TV mini-series Apocalypse Now 1979 Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore Feature film BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor The Great Santini 1979 Lieutenant Colonel Bull Meechum, USMC Feature film Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor Ike: The War Years 1980 Dwight D. Eisenhower TV movie True Confessions 1981 Thomas Spellacy Feature film Venice Film Festival Pasinetti Cup for Best Actor The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper 1981 Gruen Feature film Tender Mercies 1983 Mac Sledge Feature film Academy Award for Best Actor Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor The Terry Fox Story 1983 Bill Vigars TV movie Nominated—CableACE Award for Best Actor in a Dramatic Presentation Angelo My Love 1983 n/a Feature film Director The Stone Boy 1984 Joe Hillerman Feature film The Natural 1984 Max Mercy Feature film Let's Get Harry 1986 Norman Shrike Feature film Belizaire the Cajun 1986 The Preacher Feature film Waylon Jennings: America 1986 Doctor Video short The Lightship 1986 Calvin Caspary Feature film Venice Film Festival Pasinetti Cup for Best Actor Hotel Colonial 1987 Roberto Carrasco Feature film Colors 1988 Officer Bob Hodges Feature film Lonesome Dove 1989 Augustus "Gus" McCrae TV mini-series Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated—Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Miniseries or a Movie A Show of Force 1990 Howard Feature film Days Of Thunder 1990 Harry Hogge Feature film The Handmaid's Tale 1990 The Commander Feature film Rambling Rose 1991 Daddy Hilyer Feature film Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Male Convicts 1991 Soll Feature film Stalin 1992 Joseph Stalin TV movie Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated—Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Miniseries or a Movie Newsies 1992 Joseph Pulitzer Feature film La Peste 1992 Joseph Grand Feature film Falling Down 1993 Martin Prendergast Feature film Wrestling Ernest Hemingway 1993 Walter Feature film Geronimo: An American Legend 1993 Al Sieber Feature film The Paper 1994 Bernie White Feature film Something to Talk About 1995 Wyly King Feature film The Stars Fell on Henrietta 1995 Mr. Cox Feature film The Scarlet Letter 1995 Roger Chillingworth Feature film Sling Blade 1996 Karl's father Feature film Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture The Man Who Captured Eichmann 1996 Adolf Eichmann TV movie Nominated—Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Miniseries or a Movie Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie A Family Thing 1996 Earl Pilcher Jr. Feature film Phenomenon 1996 Doc Brunder Feature film The Apostle 1997 Euliss 'Sonny' Dewey — The Apostle E.F. Feature film Writer/Director Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Male Independent Spirit Award for Best Director Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama Society of Texas Film Critics Award for Best Actor Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role The Gingerbread Man 1998 Dixon Doss Feature film A Civil Action 1998 Jerome Facher Feature film Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture Deep Impact 1998 Capt. Spurgeon 'Fish' Tanner Feature film Saturday Night Live 1998 various TV series Season 23, episode 14, hosted by Garth Brooks Gone in 60 Seconds 2000 Otto Halliwell Feature film The 6th Day 2000 Dr. Griffin Weir Feature film A Shot at Glory 2000 Gordon McLeod Feature film John Q 2002 Lt. Frank Grimes Feature film Assassination Tango 2002 John J. Anderson Feature film Writer/Director Gods and Generals 2003 Gen. Robert E. Lee Feature film Secondhand Lions 2003 Hub Feature film Open Range 2003 Boss Spearman Feature film American Experience 2005 Narrator TV series, documentary Season 17, Episode 10: "The Carter Family: Will the Circle" Kicking & Screaming 2005 Buck Weston Feature film Thank You for Smoking 2005 Doak "The Captain" Boykin Feature film Broken Trail 2006 Prentice "Print" Ritter TV mini-series Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Miniseries or a Movie Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Lucky You 2007 Mr. Cheever Feature film We Own the Night 2007 Albert Grusinsky Feature film Four Holidays 2008 Howard Feature film Crazy Heart 2009 Wayne Kramer Feature film The Road 2009 Old Man (Eli) Feature film Nominated—St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Get Low 2010 Felix Bush Feature film Hollywood Award for Best Actor Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated—Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated—Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Nominated—Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Nominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor The Man Who Killed Don Quixote 2011 Don Quixote Feature film pre-production Seven Days in Utopia 2011 Johnny Crawford Feature film Hemingway & Gellhorn 2012 Russian General TV movie filming

Anthony John "Tony" Dexter (19 January 1913 — 27 March 2001) was an American actor known for his resemblance of Rudolph Valentino, whom he portayed in the 1951 biographic Valentino. Dexter sometimes used the pseudonym Walter Craig. He was known for portraying many real-life characters such as Captain John Smith, Captain William Kidd, Billy the Kid and Christopher Columbus. Biography Born Walter Reinhold Alfred Fleischmann in Nebraska, he earned an athletic scholarship to St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and later earned a Master of Arts from the University of Iowa. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army's Special Services in England earning the rank of Sergeant. After the war he performed on Broadway productions of The Three Sisters, Ah, Wilderness and The Barretts of Wimpole Street. When preparing a film biography of Rudolph Valentino Valentino, producer Edward Small chose Dexter for the lead from over 75,000 applicants and 400 screen tests. His incredible likeness to Valentino led to a contract with Columbia Pictures but hampered him in achieving substantial film roles as when he broke his contract with Edward Small due to his wanting to use him exclusively in Valentino type roles, but soon found other producers wished him to do the same-for less money. He also made three unsuccessful television pilots two of them swashbucklers. Filmography Valentino (1951) as Rudolph Valentino The Brigand (1952) as Carlos Delargo/King Lorenzo III Captain John Smith and Pocahontas (1953) as Captain John Smith Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl (1954) as Captain William Kidd The Black Pirates (1954) as Dargo Fire Maidens of Outer Space (1956) as Luther Blair He Laughed Last (1956) as Dominic Rodriguez The Parson and the Outlaw (1957) as Billy The Kid The Story of Mankind (1957) as Christopher Columbus The Phantom Planet (1961) as Herron Three Blondes in His Life (1961) as Charlie Walsh Married Too Young (1962) as Grimes Saturday Night Bath in Apple Valley (1965) as an Actor Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) as Juarez

Bradford Claude "Brad" Dourif (pronounced /ˈdɔrɨf/; born March 18, 1950) is an American film and television actor who gained early fame for his portrayal of Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and has since appeared in a number of memorable roles, including the voice of Chucky in the Child's Play franchise, Younger Brother in Ragtime, the mentat Piter De Vries in David Lynch's Dune, Gríma Wormtongue in The Lord of the Rings, the homicidal Betazoid Lon Suder in the TV series Star Trek: Voyager, serial killer Charles Dexter/Brother Edward in the TV series Babylon 5, and Doc Cochran in the HBO television series Deadwood. Dourif has also worked with renowned film director Werner Herzog at many occasions, appearing in Scream of Stone, The Wild Blue Yonder, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans and My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? Early life Dourif was born in Huntington, West Virginia, the son of Joan Felton, an actress, and Jean Henri Dourif, an art collector who owned and operated a dye factory. His paternal grandparents immigrated from France, and his paternal grandfather co-founded the Standard Ultramarine and Color Company in Huntington. After Dourif's father died in 1953, his mother remarried champion golfer William C. Campbell, who helped raise Dourif and his five siblings (four sisters and one brother). From 1963 to 1965, Dourif attended the private Aiken Preparatory School in Aiken, South Carolina. There he pursued his interests in art and acting. Although he briefly considered becoming an artist, he was eventually inspired to become an actor by his mother's participation as an actress in a community theater. After Aiken Prep, he attended another private school, Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, graduating in 1969. He attended Marshall University for a time, before quitting college and moving to New York City to study acting, on the advice of actress Conchata Ferrell. Early career Starting in school productions, he progressed to community theater, joining up with the Huntington Community Players, while attending Marshall. In New York, he worked with the Circle Repertory Company. During the early 1970s, Dourif appeared in a number of plays, off-Broadway and at Woodstock, New York, including The Ghost Sonata, The Doctor in Spite of Himself, and When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?, in which he was spotted by director Miloš Forman who cast him in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). Although this film is frequently cited as his film debut, in fact, Dourif made his first big-screen appearance with a bit part in W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975). Nevertheless, his portrayal of the vulnerable Billy Bibbit in Cuckoo's Nest was his big break, earning him a Golden Globe (Best Actor Debut) and a British Academy Award (Supporting Actor); he was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Skeptical of his instant stardom, Dourif returned to New York, where he continued in theater and taught acting and directing classes at Columbia University until 1988, when he moved to Hollywood. In 1981, Vincent Canby listed Dourif as one of twelve actors to watch, calling Dourif "one of the most intense, most interesting young film actors of his generation". Film and television Despite his attempts to avoid typecasting, he frequently plays eccentric or disturbed characters, starting in Eyes of Laura Mars (1978), John Huston's Wise Blood (1979), Forman's Ragtime (1981) and Marc Didden's Istanbul. Dourif then teamed up with director David Lynch for Dune (1984) and Blue Velvet (1986). He also appears in the 1984 music video for Toto's single "Stranger in Town". He has appeared in a number of horror films, notably as the voice of the evil killer doll Chucky in Child's Play (1988) and its four sequels that followed and the upcoming reboot of the series. The Gemini Killer in The Exorcist III (1990). Dourif broke from the horror genre with roles in Fatal Beauty (1987), Mississippi Burning (1988), Hidden Agenda (1990), and London Kills Me (1991). He also played Gríma Wormtongue in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. On television, Dourif appeared in The X-Files episode "Beyond the Sea" as Luther Lee Boggs. He also played Lon Suder, a murderous psychopath who eventually redeems himself, in a three-episode story arc on Star Trek: Voyager, and has guest-appeared in shows such as Babylon 5. In 1984, he played a suspected serial killer in the episode "Number Eight" of the British TV series Tales of the Unexpected. He played a role as a bad guy by the name of Wyatt in the Miami Vice episode titled "Theresa" which aired February 13, 1987 (Season 3 - Episode 16). He is a fan of video games and appeared as Saavedro in Myst III: Exile (2001), the third game in the popular Myst franchise, and as the sadistic preacher Reed in GUN (2005). Dourif was cast as The Scarecrow in Batman Forever, while Tim Burton was attached to the project. However, Joel Schumacher eventually took over the project, and instead cast Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face and Jim Carrey as The Riddler. Other roles Dourif has played are Doc Cochran in the HBO series Deadwood, receiving a 2004 Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series". He also appeared in the film Sinner, and played Sheriff Brackett in 2007 in Rob Zombie's version of Halloween and its sequel in 2009, Halloween II. Dourif guest starred in the third-season finale of Fringe. Filmography Films 1975 W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings uncredited One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Billy Bibbit Golden Globe for Best New Star of the Year BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor Nominated - Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor 1976 The Mound Builders Chad Jasker (made for television) 1977 Group Portrait with Lady Boris Koltowski The Gardener's Son Robert McEvoy (made for television) 1978 Eyes of Laura Mars Tommy Ludlow Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force Sgt. Leonard Matlovich (made for television) 1979 Studs Lonigan Danny O'Neill (made for Television) Wise Blood Hazel Motes 1980 Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones David Langtree (made for television) Heaven's Gate Mr. Eggleston 1981 Ragtime Younger Brother 1982 Desire, the Vampire Paul (made for television) 1984 Dune The Mentat Piter De Vries 1985 Istanbul Martin Klamski (Belgian movie) 1986 Blue Velvet Raymond Rage of Angels Seymour Bourne (made for television) Vengeance: The Story of Tony Cimo Lamar Sands (made for television) Impure Thoughts Kevin Harrington 1987 Fatal Beauty Leo Nova 1988 Child's Play Charles Lee Ray (Chucky) (character and voice of Chucky) Mississippi Burning Deputy Clinton Pell 1989 Desperado: The Outlaw Wars Camillus Fly (made for television) Sonny Boy Weasel Terror on Highway 91 Keith Evans (made for television) 1990 Child's Play 2 Chucky (voice only) Spontaneous Combustion Sam Horseplayer Bud Cowan Graveyard Shift Tucker Cleveland The Exorcist III James Venamun Hidden Agenda Paul Sullivan Chaindance Johnny Reynolds Grim Prairie Tales Farley 1991 Murder Blues John Barnes a.k.a. Dead Certain Child's Play 3 Chucky (voice only) Jungle Fever Leslie Body Parts Remo Lacey Scream of Stone Fingerless London Kills Me Hemingway the Restaurant Manager 1992 Final Judgement Father Tyrone Critters 4 Al Bert 1993 Wild Palms Chickie Levitt television miniseries Trauma Dr. Lloyd Amos & Andrew Officer Donnie Donaldson 1994 Color of Night Clark A Worn Path Hunter (Made for Television) 1995 Death Machine Dante Murder in the First Byron Stamphill Escape from Terror: The Teresa Stamper Story Sheriff Bill Douglass (Made for Television) Escape to Witch Mountain Luther/Bruno (Made for Television) Phoenix Reiger 1996 Blackout Thomas Payne (Made for Television) If Looks Could Kill M. Eugene 'Gene' Hanson (Made for Television) Sworn to Justice Teddy A Step Toward Tomorrow Kirby 1997 Jamaica Beat Tom Peterson Nightwatch Duty Doctor Best Men The Vet Alien Resurrection Dr. Gediman 1998 Brown's Requiem Edwards Senseless Dr. Wheedon Progeny Dr. Bert Clavell Urban Legend Michael McDonnell, gas station attendant (uncredited) Bride of Chucky Chucky (voice only) 1999 The Diary of the Hurdy-Gurdy Man Gabriel Cypress Edge Colin McCammon Interceptors David M. Webber Silicon Towers Alton 2000 Shadow Hours Roland Montague The Prophecy 3: The Ascent Zealot 2001 The Ghost Lt. Garland a.k.a. Code of the Dragon Soulkeeper Mr. Pascal 2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Gríma Wormtongue 2003 The Box Stan Vlad Radescu The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Gríma Wormtongue (extended version only) 2004 Seed of Chucky Chucky (voice only) The Devil's Due at Midnight The Dark One Deadwood Doc The Hazing Professor Kapps El Padrino Cyrus 2005 Drop Dead Sexy Herman The Wild Blue Yonder The Alien Man of Faith B. B. Gallen 2006 Pulse Thin Bookish Guy 2007 Sinner Caddie The List Johan Gabini The Wizard of Gore Dr. Chong Halloween Sheriff Lee Brackett 2008 Humboldt County Jack Touching Home Clyde Winston 2009 Born of Earth Mayor Lock and Roll Forever Zee Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans Ned Schoenholtz Halloween II Sheriff Lee Brackett My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? Uncle Ted 2010 Chain Letter Mr. Smirker 2011 Blood Shot Bob Fading of the Cries Mathias Priest Salesman Death and Cremation Stan Video games Myst III: Exile (2001) - as Saavedro Run Like Hell (2002) - as Fred (voice only) GUN (2005) - as Reverend Josiah Reed (voice only)

John Derek (August 12, 1926 – May 22, 1998) was an American actor, director and photographer most famous for the women he married. Early life Derek was born Derek Delevan Harris in Hollywood, California. Career His matinee-idol good looks quickly got him supporting roles, most notably as Broderick Crawford's son in All the King's Men (1949), but he also enjoyed leads such as "Nick Romano" in Knock on Any Door (1949) opposite Humphrey Bogart (who told him, "You look great, but kid, that's not enough"), "Brock Mitchell" in Fury at Showdown, and as Robin Hood in Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950) with Alan Hale. Perhaps Derek's most memorable film appearance was as the noble Joshua in The Ten Commandments (1956). Derek also worked as a film director. He directed his wives, Ursula Andress, in two movies, and Linda Evans in one. His best known films as a director are those he directed with his fourth wife, Bo Derek (she starred in four of his movies). The 1990 film Ghosts Can't Do It was his last film in the director's chair. He also directed a pornographic film, Love You (1980), as well as two hit music videos for Shania Twain, "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" and "Any Man of Mine". Personal life He was first married to actress Pati Behrs, née Pati Behrs Eristoff (February 13, 1922 - July 10, 2004). Pati Behrs was a Russian-born American actress, a grandniece of Leo Tolstoy. She was married to Derek from 1951 to 1957. They had two children, Russell and Sean. Derek took photos of all three of his last wives (at different times) for Playboy magazine. Spouses Pati Behrs (1951–1957) Ursula Andress (1957–1966) Linda Evans (1968–1974) Bo Derek (1976–1998) Death He died from cardiovascular disease in Santa Maria, California at the age of 71. His remains were cremated. Filmography As actor Features: Since You Went Away (1944) I'll Be Seeing You (1944) A Double Life (1947) Knock on Any Door (1949) All the King's Men (1949) Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950) Mask of the Avenger (1951) Saturday's Hero (1951) The Family Secret (1951) Scandal Sheet (1952) Thunderbirds (1952) Prince of Pirates (1953) Ambush at Tomahawk Gap (1953) The Last Posse (1953) Mission Over Korea (1953) Sea of Lost Ships (1954) The Outcast (1954) The Adventures of Hajji Baba (1954) Prince of Players (1955) An Annapolis Story (1955) Run for Cover (1955) The Leather Saint (1956) The Ten Commandments (1956) Pirate of the Half Moon (1957) Fury at Showdown (1957) The Flesh Is Weak (1957) Omar Khayyam (1957) High Hell (1958) Prisoner of the Volga (1959) Exodus (1960) Nightmare in the Sun (1965) Once Before I Die (1966) Short Subjects: The Nest (1943) Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Awards (1951) Screen Snapshots: Meet Mr. Rhythm, Frankie Laine (1952) Screen Snapshots: Hollywood's Mr. Movies (1952) Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Stars to Remember (1954) As director Nightmare in the Sun (1965) Once Before I Die (1966) A Boy... a Girl (1969) Childish Things (1969) Love You (1980) Fantasies (1981) (filmed in 1973) Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) Bolero (1984) Ghosts Can't Do It (1990)

Born:March 18, 1928 in Louisiana When Peggy Josephine Varnadow was signed by Universal Pictures in 1949, the public relations staff whittled down her name to the barest essentials, and thus Peggy Dow was born. The blonde actress was shown off to excellent advantage in her very first film, Undertow (1949), playing a witness to a gangland slaying. Peggy was also quite good in the thankless romantic-lead role in Harvey (1950), and even better as the steadfast girlfriend of blind war veteran Arthur Kennedy in Bright Victory (1951). Peggy Dow voluntarily ended her burgeoning film career when she married a wealthy Oklahoma oil man.

Bruce MacLeish Dern (born June 4, 1936) is an American film actor. He also appeared as a guest star in numerous television shows. He frequently takes roles as a character actor, often playing unstable and villainous characters. Dern has appeared in more than 80 feature films and made for TV movies. Personal life Dern was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Jean and John Dern. His paternal grandfather was George Henry Dern, a former Utah governor and Secretary of War, and his uncle was poet Archibald MacLeish. His godfather was well-known politician Adlai Stevenson and his godmother was Eleanor Roosevelt. Dern attended The Choate School (now Choate Rosemary Hall) and the University of Pennsylvania. Dern is the father of actress Laura Dern (1967), whom he had with his ex-wife Diane Ladd; married 1960-1969. He married his current wife, Andrea Beckett, in 1969. Career Early in his career he acted in the Philadelphia premier of Waiting for Godot opposite Lyle Kessler and first appeared on screen, for an uncredited role, in the 1960 film Wild River. He then appeared, as a guest star, in several popular 1960s television shows, including Route 66, Naked City, Sea Hunt, Surfside 6, 77 Sunset Strip, The Outer Limits, and several others. In 1964, he appeared in a major Alfred Hitchcock film, the psychological thriller Marnie, in a short role as the sailor seen in flashbacks about Marnie's mother. Also in 1964, he had a small but crucial film role in Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte as the lover of the young Charlotte (a role played by Bette Davis). During the next five years, Dern continued appearing in several popular TV war, crime and western shows, but with multiple episodes per show, as different characters, including: Wagon Train (3), The Virginian (3), Rawhide (1), 12 O'Clock High (4), The Fugitive (5), The F.B.I. (2), The Big Valley (5), Gunsmoke (4) and Bonanza (2), among others. During that period, he also appeared in several films, including The Wild Angels (1966), The War Wagon, The Trip (1967), Psych-Out, Will Penny (1968), and the early Clint Eastwood film, Hang 'Em High (1968) as a rustler/murderer. Among Dern's first 20 film roles was a part in the Sydney Pollack picture They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, in 1969. In 1972, he played in four films: as the enemy and killer of John Wayne's character in The Cowboys; then, in the dark sci-fi film Silent Running; next with Jack Nicholson in The King of Marvin Gardens; and also in Thumb Tripping, after having been seen in over 90 TV episodes or films. Dern is generally regarded as a character actor. He has a reputation of playing unstable and villainous characters, although his best-known role may be that of Freeman Lowell, the caretaker of Earth's last forests in Silent Running (1972). Other memorable roles include Tom Buchanan in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby; or a psychotic blimp pilot who launches a terrorist attack at the Super Bowl in 1977's Black Sunday, and as Capt. Bob Hyde in 1978's Coming Home, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 1976, he appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's final film Family Plot, playing the boy friend of a medium played by Barbara Harris; Dern told an interviewer that, due to Hitchcock's failing health, the director often asked his assistance during the production. In 1983, he won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival for his role in That Championship Season. His most recent efforts include the independent movies The Astronaut Farmer and Monster, a recurring role on the HBO series Big Love, and the monster movie Swamp Devil for RHI Films New York and the Sci Fi Channel. On November 1, 2010, he was presented the 2,419th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His daughter Laura Dern and his ex-wife Diane Ladd received stars on the same date too. Filmography Wild River (1960) ... Jack Roper (uncredited) The Crimebusters (1961) ... Joe Krajac The Zanti Misfits (1963) (TV-Outer Limits) ... Ben Marnie (1964) ... Sailor Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964) ... John Mayhew The Wild Angels (1966) ... Loser Waterhole #3 (1967) ... Deputy Sam Tippen The War Wagon (1967) ... Hammond The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967) ... John May The Trip (1967) ... John Will Penny (1968) ... Rafe Quint Psych-Out (1968) ... Steve Davis Hang 'Em High (1968) ... Miller, Cooper Hanging Party Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) ... Joe Danby Castle Keep (1969) ... Lt. Billy Byron Bix Number One (1969) ... Richie Fowler The Cycle Savages (1969) .... Keeg They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) ... James Bloody Mama (1970) ... Dirkman The Rebel Rousers (1970) ... J.J. Weston The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant (1971) ... Roger Drive, He Said (1971) ... Coach Bullion The Cowboys (1972) ... Asa Watts ("Long Hair") Silent Running (1972) ... Freeman Lowell The King of Marvin Gardens (1972) ... Jason Staebler Thumb Tripping (1972) ... Smitty The Laughing Policeman (1973) ... Leo Larsen The Great Gatsby (1974) ... Tom Buchanan Posse (1975) ... Jack Strawhorn Smile (1975) ... Big Bob Freelander Family Plot (1976) ... George Lumley Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) ... Grayson Potchuck Folies bourgeoises (1976) ... William Brandels Black Sunday (1977) ... Michael Lander Coming Home (1978) ... Capt. Bob Hyde The Driver (1978) ... The Detective Middle Age Crazy (1980) ... Bobby Lee Tattoo (1981) ... Johnny That Championship Season (1982) ... George Sitkowski Harry Tracy, Desperado (1982) ... Harry Tracy Space (1985) (TV) ... Stanley Mott Toughlove (1986) (TV) ... Rob Charters On the Edge (1986) ... Wes Holman Uncle Tom's Cabin (1987) (TV) ... Augustine St. Claire The Big Town (1987) ... Mr. Edwards World Gone Wild (1988) ... Ethan 1969 (1988) ... Cliff The 'Burbs (1989) ... Mark Rumsfield After Dark, My Sweet (1990) ... Uncle Bud Into the Badlands (1991) ... T.L. Barston Diggstown (1992) ... John Gillon Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight (1994) (TV) ... George Putnam A Mother's Prayer (1995) ...Grandpa Mrs. Munck (1995) ... Patrick Leary Wild Bill (1995) ... Will Plummer Mulholland Falls (1996) (uncredited) ... The Chief Down Periscope (1996) ... Admiral Yancy Graham Last Man Standing (1996) ... Sheriff Ed Galt Small Soldiers (1998) (voice) ... Link Static The Haunting (1999) ... Mr. Dudley If... Dog... Rabbit... (1999) ... McGurdy All the Pretty Horses (2000) ... The Judge Madison (2001) ... Harry Volpi The Glass House (2001) ... Begleiter Masked and Anonymous (2003) ... The Editor Milwaukee, Minnesota (2003) ... Sean McNally Hard Ground (2003) (TV) ... Nate Hutchinson Monster (2003) ... Thomas The Hard Easy (2005) ... Gene Down in the Valley (2005) ... Charlie Believe in Me (2006) ... Ellis Brawley Big Love (2006 – 2011) ... Frank Walker Payne (2006) ... Unknown The Astronaut Farmer (2007) ... Hal The Cake Eaters (2007) ... Easy The Golden Boys (2008) ... Captain Perez Swamp Devil (2008) ... Howard Blaime American Cowslip (2009) ... Cliff Choose (2009) ... Dr. Ronald Pendleton Trim (2009) ... Dale Banks The Lightkeepers (2009) ... Bennie The Hole 3D (2009) ... Creepy Carl Twixt Now and Sunrise (2011) ... Bobby LaGrange

I have Washington: A Life but I haven't read it yet.

Hell yes Does your family irritate the hell out of you?

hungry again

It was very good. And David McCullough is a great writer. You'll enjoy his books.

Laura Elizabeth Dern (born February 10, 1967) is an American actress, film director and producer. Dern has acted in such films as Smooth Talk (1985), Blue Velvet (1986), Fat Man and Little Boy (1988), Wild at Heart (1990), Jurassic Park (1993) and October Sky (1999). She has won awards for her performance in the 1991 film Rambling Rose, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She was awarded a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film for her portrayal of Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris in the film Recount (2008). Early life and career Dern was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of actors Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd and the great-granddaughter of former Utah governor George Dern. Scottish-American poet, writer and Librarian of Congress Archibald MacLeish was her great-uncle. Laura Dern's film debut was a cameo in her mother's film White Lightning. She also made a brief appearance in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, one of Ladd's signature roles. Her mother objected to her 13-year-old daughter's presence on the set of Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains, but Dern sued for emancipation. In the mid-1980s she gained critical acclaim for roles in Mask, Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart. Dern's starring role in Blue Velvet was a breakthrough however her next notable film took almost four years to be released, Wild at Heart. Dern's affiliation with Lynch has continued with her role in Inland Empire. In 1992, Dern and her mother became the first mother and daughter to be nominated for an Academy Award for acting in the same film in Rambling Rose. They did not play mother and daughter in the film. Dern starred as Dr. Ellie Sattler in Steven Spielberg's 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park. That same year, Clint Eastwood enlisted the actress for his film A Perfect World. She also starred as Ruth in the 1996 satire Citizen Ruth, the directorial debut of Alexander Payne. In a reversal of roles, Dern's mother makes a cameo appearance, with Dern's character screaming a torrent of abuse at her. In 1997, Dern was featured in Widespread Panic's music video for their song, "Aunt Avis", which was directed by Dern's then boyfriend and future fiancé, Billy Bob Thornton. In 1998, Dern co-starred in the Jodie Foster's film The Baby Dance. While dating Thornton in 1999, she was cast as his love interest in his film Daddy and Them, which also includes Diane Ladd. Dern also appeared in Joe Johnston's film October Sky. Robert Altman called upon Dern's talents to play a Champagne-loving Aunt in his Texas-based comedy Dr. T & the Women in 2000. She co-starred in Within These Walls, Arthur Miller's Focus, and Novocaine. She had a minor role in Jurassic Park III, and was a supporting actor in the film I Am Sam. She starred in the 2002 film Damaged Care and the 2004 film We Don't Live Here Anymore. Dern was part of the ensemble dramedy Happy Endings in 2005, and she appeared in the 2006 film The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio. In 2006, David Lynch and Dern reunited for Inland Empire and, also in 2006, Dern had a supporting role in Lonely Hearts. [Mike White (scriptwriter)|Mike White]], known for writing School of Rock and The Good Girl, hired Dern for his directorial debut in 2007, the comedy titled Year of the Dog and starring Molly Shannon, John C. Reilly and Peter Sarsgaard, and in 2008 Dern starred in Recount for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film. Since then, Dern was seen in the independent 2009 drama Tenderness and, in 2010, she appeared in Little Fockers, playing an advanced school principal who dated Owen Wilson's character Kevin Rawley. In an interview, Dern stated that she would reprise her role as Ellie Sattler for Jurassic Park IV. Dern has done much work on television, most notably Afterburn, for which she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Movie. She guest-starred on The West Wing, as a voice on King of the Hill and as a lesbian who coaxes Ellen DeGeneres out of the closet in the famous "The Puppy Episode" of the television series Ellen. On the April 24, 2007 airing of DeGeneres' talk show, Dern revealed she did not work for more than a year following her appearance in that episode because of resulting backlash, but nevertheless called it an "extraordinary experience and opportunity." Dern has been acknowledged with several awards from the independent film industry including the Sundance Institute and was the subject of an aggressive media campaign by David Lynch to win her an Academy Award nomination for her work in Inland Empire. On November 1, 2010, she received the 2,420th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her parents, Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern, were presented with stars too. In late 2011 Dern will star in a new HBO television series called Enlightened. She has also been cast in Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master along with Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman, set for release in 2012. Politics and personal life Dern is known as an activist and supporter of many charities, such as Healthy Child Healthy World, which aims to raise awareness about toxic substances that can affect a child's health. During the 66th Golden Globe Awards, on January 11, 2009, Dern expressed support for the incoming administration of Barack Obama during her acceptance speech for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film for her work on the film Recount. She is quoted as saying, "I will cherish this as a reminder of the extraordinary, incredible outpouring of people who demanded their voice be heard in this last election so we can look forward to amazing change in this country. Thank you so much!" Dern had high-profile romances with Kyle MacLachlan, Nicolas Cage, Renny Harlin, Jeff Goldblum, and Billy Bob Thornton (who ended their relationship abruptly by marrying Angelina Jolie). She married musician Ben Harper on December 23, 2005, after dating him for five years. They have two children together, one son, Ellery Walker (born August 21, 2001), and one daughter, Jaya (born November 28, 2004). Dern's husband, Ben Harper, filed for divorce on October 8, 2010 in California, citing irreconcilable differences. Harper is asking the judge to deny Dern spousal support and requesting that he have joint custody of their two children. Filmography Film 1973 White Lightning Sharon Anne Uncredited 1974 Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Girl eating ice cream cone Uncredited 1980 Foxes Debbie 1981 Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains Jessica McNeil 1984 Teachers Diane 1985 Mask Diana Adams Smooth Talk Connie Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead 1986 Blue Velvet Sandy Williams Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead 1987 Predator: The Concert 1988 Haunted Summer Claire Clairmont 1989 Fat Man and Little Boy Kathleen Robinson 1990 Wild at Heart Lula Fortune 1991 Rambling Rose Rose Montréal World Film Festival Award for Best Actress (tied with Hye-suk Lee) Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actress Nominated — Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress 1993 Jurassic Park Dr. Ellie Sattler Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Actress A Perfect World Sally Gerber 1996 Citizen Ruth Ruth Stoops Montréal World Film Festival Award for Best Actress Bastard Out of Carolina Narrator Voice Only 1999 October Sky Miss Frieda Riley 2000 Dr. T & the Women Peggy 2001 Daddy and Them Ruby Montgomery Jurassic Park III Dr. Ellie Sattler Novocaine Jean Noble Focus Gertrude 'Gert' Hart I Am Sam Randy Carpenter 2002 Searching for Debra Winger Herself 2004 We Don't Live Here Anymore Terry Linden Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress (tied with Sharon Warren) 2005 Happy Endings Pam Ferris The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio Dortha Schaefer 2006 Lonely Hearts Rene Inland Empire Nikki Grace/Susan Blue Also Producer Nominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best Actress Nominated — Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress 2007 Year of the Dog Bret 2009 Tenderness Aunt Teresa 2010 Little Fockers Prudence Everything Must Go Delilah 2012 The Master Television 1981 Shannon "Gotham Swansong" (Season 1, Episode 1) 1983 Happy Endings Audrey Constantine 1984 The Three Wishes of Billy Grier Crissy 1989 Nightmare Classics Rebecca "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (Season 1, Episode 3) 1990 Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Broken Hearted Heartbroken Woman 1992 Afterburn Janet Harduvel Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie 1993 Fallen Angels Annie Ainsley "Murder, Obliquely" (Season 1, Episode 5) 1994 The Gift (Director) 1995 Down Came a Blackbird Helen McNulty (also executive producer) Frasier June (Voice) "Sleeping With the Enemy" (Season 3, Episode 6) 1996 The Siege at Ruby Ridge Vicki Weaver Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film 1997 Ellen Susan Richmond The Puppy Episode: Part 1 (Season 4, Episode 22) The Puppy Episode: Part 2 (Season 4, Episode 23) Nominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress – Comedy Series 1998 The Larry Sanders Show Herself "I Buried Sid" (Season 6, Episode 8) The Baby Dance Wanda LeFauve Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film 1999 A Season for Miracles Berry Thompson 2001 Within These Walls Sister Pauline Quinn 2002 The West Wing Laureate Tabatha Fortis "The U.S. Poet Laureate" (Season 3, Episode 16) Damaged Care Linda Peeno (also producer) 2002–2003 King of the Hill Serving Wench & Katherine (Voice) Joust Like a Woman (Season 6, Episode 8) Patch Boomhauer (Season 8, Episode 1) 2008 Recount Katherine Harris Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or a Movie Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie 2011 Enlightened Amy Jellicoe

I am glad I don't have to deal with crazy spouses