Had the Disney followed the traditional mythology of Hercules, this next film would’ve been a very different movie. But definitely not one suitable for children since it’s a very messed up mythology. In the original mythology, Hercules is the son of Zeus and Alcmene while Hera’s basically his antagonist mainly because he’s her husband’s illegitimate son who just happens to exist. While he undertakes his 12 Labors to a jerkass king not because he wants to be a true hero. But as penance for Hera driving him homicidal against Megara and their children. As to Hades, well, he only appears when Hercules asks him to borrow Cerberus for his 12^th Labor to which Hades says, “As long as you don’t do anything to hurt him and bring him back when you’re done.” Of course, I don’t need to explain why Disney decided to go in the direction they did. With the result being a delightful romantic comedy with the Muses singing in Gospel and not a single unlikeable character in sight. Aside from maybe Nessus and Cyclops but they’re monsters. However, I have to attest that although Hercules may be the hero in this film, this movie belongs to Hades thanks to James Woods’ comedic performance. Although Hades was originally planned to be a much more conventional villain, Woods’ interpretation as “a Hollywood agent, car salesman type,” makes this Disney baddie truly unforgettable and impossible to hate. Still, while Hercules received positive reviews and even has a higher rating than its predecessor on Rotten Tomatoes, takes over its animation style and music were mixed. While it ultimately earned $252.7 million at the box office at its 1997 release as well as a legion of fans, which is good. But for a Disney movie during the 1990s, a little underwhelming. Also, the Greeks weren’t too thrilled with this movie. In this post, you’ll meet the voices behind Zeus, Hera, Amphytrion, Alcmene, 4 of the Muses, along with Pain and Panic.

221. Rip Torn

Dates: 1931-2019

Early Life and Career: Born Elmore Rual Torn Jr. in Temple, Texas. Father was an agriculturalist and economist who worked to promote the consumption of black-eyed peas, particularly as a custom on New Year’s Day. Nickname “Rip” came from a family tradition among the Torn men, having been used by his father, uncle, and a cousin. Graduated from Taylor High School in Taylor, Texas in 1948. Was a member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. Although he graduated from the University of Texas, where he studied under Shakespearean professor B. Iden Payne and was a member of the Alpha Nu chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity. After graduation, Torn served in the Korean War with the 2^nd Infantry Division with the US Army military police. After moving to Hollywood, he starred in the 1956 film Baby Doll. Studied at the Actors Studio in New York under Lee Strasberg, becoming a prolific stage actor.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as a few video games.

Characters: Zeus

Also Known For: Actor whose career spanned roughly 60 years. Best known roles are Marsh Turner in Cross Creek, Artie in The Larry Sanders Show, Judas Iscariot in King of Kings, Thomas J. Finley Jr. in Sweet Bird of Youth, Dr. Nathan Bryce in The Man Who Fell to Earth, Bob Diamond in Defending Your Life, Zed in the Men in Black franchise, Jim Brody in Freddy Got Fingered, Patches O’Houlihan in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Don Geiss in 30 Rock, and King Louis XV in Marie Antoinette. Film appearances include Baby Doll, A Face in the Crowd, Pork Chop Hill, The Cincinnati Kid, Tropic of Cancer, Maidstone, Slaughter, Payday, Birch Interval, Nasty Habits, Coma, One Trick Pony, The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover, First Family, The Beastmaster, Airplane II: The Sequel, Flashpoint, City Heat, Summer Rental, Beer, Beautiful Dreamers, For Better or Worse, Dolly Dearest, Beyond the Law, Canadian Bacon, How to Make an American Quilt, Down Periscope, Trial and Error, Wonder Boys, Forty Shades of Blue, Love Object, Welcome to Mooseport, The Sisters, Zoom, Bee Movie, The Golden Boys, Happy Tears, The Afterlight, and The Legend of Awesomest Maximus. TV appearances include Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Untouchables, Dr. Kildare, The Man from U. N. C. L. E., Rawhide, Bonanza, Mannix, The Naked City, The Blue and the Gray, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Atlanta Child Murders, Dream West, Laguna Heat, Sweet Bird of Youth, Columbo, Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster, Heaven and Hell: North and South Book III, Ghost Stories, Passing Glory, Balloon Farm, Will & Grace, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Personal Life: First cousin of Sissy Spacek. Married 3 times. First wife was actress Anne Wedgeworth from 1956 to their divorce in 1961. They had a daughter Danae. Second wife was Geraldine Page from 1963 to her death in 1987. Had 3 children including actors Angelica Page and Tony Torn as well as Jon Torn who became an associate professor of electronic media and film at Northern Arizona University. Third wife was actress Amy Wright from 1989 until his death. They had 2 children, at least one of whom was born before they married and while Page was still alive. Which I think is very Zeus of him. Had 4 grandchildren by the time of his death. He also wasn’t a great guy to work with. While filming Maidenstone during the 1960s, he struck Norman Mailer in the head with a hammer. Mailer bit Torn’s ear and they wrestled to the ground until other cast and crew broke up the fight. It’s possible that Torn may have planned the scene since it was featured in the film. In 1994, he filed a defamation lawsuit against Dennis Hopper over a story Hopper told on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno where Torn pulled a knife on him during the pre-production of Easy Rider. According to Hopper, Torn was originally cast in the film but was replaced by Jack Nicholson because of the incident. But Torn claimed that Hopper pulled the knife on him. A trial court judge ruled in Torn’s favor and ordered Hopper to pay $475,000 in damages. But denied Torn’s request for punitive damages ruling that Hopper hadn’t acted with malice. Hopper appealed. In 1998, a California judged upheld the compensatory damages ruling as well as allowed Torn’s request for punitive damages, leading Hopper to pay $475,000 more.

Later Life: In 2010, Torn was arrested after breaking into a Litchfield Bancorp branch in Lakeville, Connecticut. He was charged with carrying a weapon without a permit, carrying a firearm while intoxicated, first-degree burglary, second-degree criminal trespassing, and third-degree criminal mischief. Connecticut State Police said Torn, who lived in Lakeville, broke into the bank thinking it was his home. In court, his attorney argued that Torn needed help with alcohol abuse and that he could start treatment in New York. Torn was released on $100,000 bail. As a condition for release, Torn was evaluated for substance abuse. That August, he was denied special probation, which would’ve cleared his name of all charges. The judge cited Torn’s history of alcohol abuse and the possession of a weapon while intoxicated, which carries a minimum of a one-year sentence. At the end of the year, Torn pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, and possession of a firearm, and received a 2 ½ – year suspended jail sentence and 3 years’ probation. Died in 2019 from complications from Alzheimer’s Disease at his home in Lakeville, Connecticut at 88. He was buried in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Trivia: Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Cross Creek in 1983. Received 6 Emmy nominations for The Larry Sanders Show.

222. Samantha Eggar

Dates: 1939-2025

Early Life and Career: Born Victoria Louise Samantha Marie Elizabeth Therese Eggar in Hampstead, London, England. Father was a brigadier general in the British Army. Soon after her birth, her family moved to rural Bledlow, Buckinghampshire due to World War II, where she spent her childhood. Raised Roman Catholic and was educated at St. Mary’s Providence Convent in Working, Surrey. Eggar once said of her schooling, “The nuns didn’t have too much success with me – I’ve always had a violent temper. In fact, once I almost killed one of the nuns.” Began to go by Samantha at 16. Although she wanted to be an actress from a very young age, her parents urged her against a theater career. Was offered a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts but studied fashion at the Thanet School of Art instead. After completing her studies, Eggar enrolled in the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Her career began in several Shakespearean companies, notably playing Titania in a 1962 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Tony Richardson. Also appeared on stage in a production of Douglas Seale’s Landscape with Figures where a talent scout noticed her. Made her first film that same year with Dr. Crippen. Moved to the United States in 1973.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as the Hercules TV series.

Characters: Hera

Also Known For: British-American actress best known as Emma Fairfax in Doctor Doolittle (1967) and Charlotte Devane in All My Children. Film appearances include Dr. Crippen, The Wild and the Willing, Return from the Ashes, The Collector, Walk, Don’t Run, The Molly Maguires, The Lady in the Car with the Glasses and the Gun, The Light at the Edge of the World, The Dead Are Alive, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, The Uncanny, Welcome to Blood City, Why Shoot the Teacher?, The Brood, The Exterminator, The Hot Touch, Curtains, Love Among Thieves, Dark Horse, The Phantom, Everything to Gain, and The Astronaut’s Wife. TV appearances include The Saint, Anna and the King, Love Story, Columbo, Starsky and Hutch, Fantasy Island, Hawaii Five-O, The Love Boat, Hart to Hart, Murder, She Wrote, Magnum P. I., Tales of the Unexpected, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Legend of Prince Valiant, L. A. Law, and Commander in Chief. Stage appearances include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, The Seagull, and Auntie Mame.

Personal Life: Married to actor Tom Stern from 1964 to their divorce in 1971. They had 2 children: a son named Tom who became a producer and a daughter named Jenna who became an actress.

Later Life: Held dual UK and US citizenship. Retired from acting in 2012 and resided in Los Angeles until her death at 86 in 2025.

Trivia: Has won a prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Golden Globe, and a Sant Jordi Award as well as received an Academy Award nomination.

223. Lillias White

Dates: 1951-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Brooklyn, New York City. Made her Broadway debut in Barnum in 1981. That same year, she understudied for the role of Effie White in the original production of Dreamgirls and later played her in the 1987 revival.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as the direct-to-video Hercules: Zero to Hero and the series Hercules and Mickey Mouse Funhouse.

Characters: Calliope

Also Known For: Actress and singer best known for her performances in Broadway musicals. Best known roles include Sonja in The Life, Funmilalyo in Fela!, Evette in Pieces of April, Fat Annie in The Get Down, and Bloody Mary in South Pacific. Is also an active cabaret singer who’s appeared in concert with the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Boston Philharmonic, and at Carnegie Hall. Film appearances include Me and Him, North, Bleeding Hearts, Anastasia (1997), Gloria, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Interview with the Assassin, Game 6, Then She Found Me, Nasty Baby, The Chaperone, and The Drummer. TV appearances include Sesame Street, The Jury, Gotham, Person of Interest, Russian Doll, Search Party, and Grotesquerie.

Personal Life: Has a son named Mwambu and a daughter named Jamilah.

Later Life: During a 2022 production of Hadestown, White twice reprimanded an audience member from the stage for recording. Yet, she was unaware that the person was disabled and was in fact using a captioning device to understand the musical’s dialogue. Theater and production issued official apologies, affirming their commitments to accessibility, and offered a complimentary ticket to the audience member in question in order to make up for the incident. White didn’t comment on the incident herself. While the audience member has taken to social media to urge users not to harass her, as White’s social media profiles had been flooded with ageist and racist insults in response to the matter.

Trivia: Has won a Tony, an Obie, and a Drama Desk Award.

224. LaChanze

Dates: 1961-present

Early Life and Career: Born Rhonda LaChanze Sapp in St. Augustine, Florida. Got her stage name from her grandmother which is Creole for “charmed one.” Family later moved to Connecticut where her childhood love of singing and dancing cause her mother to enroll her in the Bowen Peters Cultural Arts Center in New Haven. There she discovered her art of performing. At Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport, LaChanze made her debut as Lola in a school production of Damn Yankees. After graduating high school, La Chanze studied drama at Baltimore’s Morgan State University before transferring to Philadelphia’s University of the Arts where she studied theater and dance. First summer job was as a tap dancer in the ensemble of Uptown…It’s Hot! at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Show later opened on Broadway in 1986 where LaChanze began her professional career in theater.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as 2 direct-to-video installments, the series Hercules, and a video game. Was also a featured artist on the album Disney’s Princess Favorites.

Characters: Terpsichore

Also Known For: Actress, singer, and dancer who won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2006 as Celia Harris Johnson in The Color Purple. Film appearances include My New Gun, Leap of Faith, For Love or Money, Heartbreak Hospital, Breaking Upwards, The Help, Side Effects, Diane, Birth/Rebirth, and Genie. TV appearances include The Cosby Show, Sex and the City, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, One Life to Live, Person of Interest, The Village, The Good Fight, The Underground Railroad, East New York, and Gossip Girl. Stage appearances include Uptown…It’s Hot!, Dreamgirls, Once on This Island, Company, Ragtime, Out of This World, The Vagina Monologues, Funny Girl, Dessa Rose, The Wiz, If/Then, Cabin in the Sky, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, The Secret Life of Bees, A Christmas Carol, and Trouble in Mind.

Personal Life: Married twice. First husband was securities trader Calvin Gooding from 1998 until Gooding’s untimely death during the 9/11 attacks where he was working at Cantor Fitzgerald in Tower One of the World Trade Center. Had 2 daughters including actress and singer Celia Rose and Zaya born a month after her father’s death. Second husband was artist and educator Derek Fordjour from 2005 until their divorce in 2014.

Later Life: Became a Broadway producer in 2022, launching Tima Productions with fellow actress Marylee Fairbanks. In 2024, she launched a multimedia company called LC Productions.

Trivia: Has won 4 Tony Awards. In 2002, she sang the National Anthem at a joint meeting of Congress in Federal Hall Memorial, the first congressional meeting in New York since 1790. Also sang “Amazing Grace” at the dedication of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in 2014, dedicating her performance to her late husband. Also she and her daughter appeared simultaneously on Broadway in 2019.

225. Roz Ryan

Dates: 1951-present

Early Life and Career: Born Rosalyn Bowen in Detroit, Michigan. Father worked for the local Board of Education. Graduated from Mackenzie High School in 1969. Worked as a nightclub singer for 13 years before a friend suggested that she audition for the Fats Waller revue Ain’t Misbehavin.’ Her audition was successful and she was on stage 10 days later. Continued to star in numerous Broadway musicals, including the Tony Award-winning Chicago, for which she holds the longest tenure for the character of Matron “Mama” Morton.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as the direct-to-video Hercules: Zero to Hero, various series, and a couple of video games.

Characters: Thalia

Also Known For: Actress, singer, and comedian who’s worked for productions in film, television, and Broadway theatre for over 40 years. Film appearances include Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God…Be Back by Five, I Think I Love My Wife, Divine Intervention, Whatever Lola Wants, Steppin: The Movie, The Invention of Lying, Waiting for Forever, and Hello, My Name Is Doris. TV appearances include Amen, Sparks, Good News, Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, The Journey of Allen Strange, Danny, All About the Andersons, Half & Half, JAG, Barbershop, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, The Looney Tunes Show, Adventure Time, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, General Hospital, Bee and PuppyCat, Teen Titans Go!, Mighty Magiswords, Summer Camp Island, and That Girl Lay Lay. Video Game appearances include Tonic Trouble and Multiversus. Stage appearances include Ain’t Misbehavin,’ Dreamgirls, Chicago, One Mo’ Time, The Pajama Game, Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson.

Personal Life: Married and divorced to a guy named Lance. Said to have a son named Dante with him.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

226. Vaneese Thomas

Dates: 1952-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Memphis. Attended Swarthmore College where she was part of the gospel choir. Enjoyed some success during the late 1980s, with her solo releases made on the Geffen label. Her self-titled debut album spawned a couple of top 20 R&B hit singles in “Let’s Talk It Over,” featuring a saxophone solo by Najee and “(I Wanna Get) Close to You.” However, follow up release didn’t sustain her earlier success levels. So she switched to working as a backup singer appearing on many recordings made by other musicians.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997)

Characters: Clio

Also Known For: Jazz, R&B, and soul singer best known for her 1987 hit single, “Let’s Talk It Over.”  Yet, in more recent times, she supplied backing vocals on a long list of other musicians’ work. Her session duties include working alongside artists like Lenny White, Bob James, Carl Anderson, Freddie Jackson, Beau Williams, Melba Moore, Joe Cocker, Sarah Dash, Luciano Pavarotti, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Eric Clapton, Carly Simon, and Dr. John. Work has also included record producing, supervising vocal arrangements, and songwriting duties. Material has been recorded by Patti Austin, Freddie Jackson, Larry Coryell, and Diana Ross with “One Shining Moment” that was a Top 10 UK single. Film appearances include Anastasia, The Mighty Aphrodite, and The First Wives Club. Also appeared in Shining Time Station.

Personal Life: Younger sister of musician Marvell and singer Carla Thomas. Lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband Wayne Warnecke.

Later Life: Once taught school in France when she lived there for a time. Also most recently taught at the City College of New York.

Trivia: None.

227. Bobcat Goldthwait

Dates: 1962-present

Early Life and Career: Born Robert Francis Goldthwait in Syracuse, New York. Mother worked in a department store. Father was a sheet metal worker. Decided on a career as a comedian from a very young age, inspired by enjoying making his friends laugh. During his time at St. Matthew’s Grammar School, he’d regularly host performances for his friends. He’d also experiment with new content and develop a strong liking for props. Graduated from Bishop Grimes Junior/Senior High School. Golthwait and Tom Kenny then formed a comedy troupe called The Generic Comics and adopting the monikers “Bobcat” and “Tomcat” after seeing an ad for an open-mic night at the Snakeateles that featured comedian Barry Crimmins under the name “Bear Cat.” He also co-wrote with Martin Olson, who’s listed as a writer in his first 2 comedy specials. When he embarked on a solo stand-up career, Goldthwait became known for combining elements of political satire with often bizarre or unsettling black humor. All delivered through an energetic stage persona with an unusual raspy and high-pitched voice.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as a couple direct-to-video installments and several series.

Characters: Pain

Also Known For: Comedian, actor, director, and screenwriter who’s known for his black comedy stand-up act and who came to prominence with his stand up specials: An Evening with Bobcat Goldthwait, Share the Warmth and Bob Goldthwait, and Is He Like That All the Time?. Best known roles are Zed in the Police Academy franchise, Eliot Loudermilk in Scrooged, and Pop Fizz in the Skylanders video game franchise. Film appearances include Massive Retaliation, Twisted Sister: Come Out and Play, One Crazy Summer, Burglar, Hot to Trot, Tapeheads, Cranium Command, Meet the Hollowheads, Little Vegas, Shakes the Clown, Freaked, Radioland Murders, Destiny Turns on the Radio, Back to Back, Sweethearts, Dog’s Best Friend, Rusty: A Dog’s Tale, Lion of Oz, G-Men from Hell, Blow, Hansel and Gretel, Grind, A Halfway House Christmas, Sleeping Dogs Lie, World’s Greatest Dad, and Henchmen. TV appearances include Tales from the Crypt, Married…with Children, The Golden Palace, Capitol Critters, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Herman’s Head, Eek! The Cat, The Moxy Show, Duckman, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, ER, Beavis and Butt-Head, Unhappily Ever After, Living Single, The Tick, Mad TV, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Hollywood Squares, The Simpsons, The Army Show, Penn & Teller’s Sin City Spectacular, Strip Mall, The Man Show, Crank Yankers, That ‘70s Show, Chapelle’s Show, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Windy City Heat, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Random! Cartoons, Back at the Barnyard, Important Things with Demetri Martin, Fish Hooks, Randy Cunningham: 9^th Grade Ninja, Adventure Time, Regular Show, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Maron, Bob’s Burgers, Patton Oswalt: Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time, Community, Those Who Can’t, Summer Camp Island, AJ and the Queen, DC Super Hero Girls, and The Patrick Star Show.  

Personal Life: Married 3 times. First wife was Amy Luly from 1986 to their divorce in 1998. Was engaged to actress Nikki Cox from 1997 until 2005. Second wife was Sara Sa Rego from 2009 to their divorce in 2014. Third and current wife is actress and director Pollyanna McIntosh since 2024. Has 2 children. Also hasn’t drank alcohol or used drugs since he was 19.

Later Life: Has been a regular panelist on the radio quiz show Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! Since 2012.

Trivia: Childhood friends with Tom Kenny. Was best man at Robin Williams’ 3^rd wedding.

228. Matt Frewer

Dates: 1958-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Washington D.C. to Canadian parents. Father was a Royal Canadian Navy officer. Raised in Peterborough, Ontario where he graduated from Lakefield College School. Went on to train at the British Old Vic Theatre School, graduating from its 3-year acting course in 1980.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as the direct-to-video Hercules: Zero to Hero, various series, and a few video games.

Characters: Panic as well as Jackal in Gargoyles.

Also Known For: Canadian-American actor and comedian best known for portraying Max Headroom in the 1985 TV film and the 1987 TV series. Other roles include Russell Thompson Sr. in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Jobe Smith in Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace, Sherlock Holmes in The Sign of Four (2001), Frank in Dawn of the Dead, Moloch in Watchmen, Mitch in 50/50, Archibald Stanley in Night at the Museum: Secrets of the Tomb, Dr. Mike Stratford in Doctor Doctor, Bob in Shaky Ground, Trashcan in The Stand, Matt Prager in Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal, Dr. Jim Taggart in Eureka, Dr. Leekie in Orphan Black, General #2 in The BFG, Carnage in Altered Carbon, Logan in Fear the Walking Dead, Binder in The Magicians, Peter Morton in The Order, Inspector 47 in The Magic School Bus, The Pink Panther in The Pink Panther animated series, Lloyd Christmas in the Dumb and Dumber animated series, and Dedgar Deadman in Toonsylvania. Film appearances include The Lords of Discipline, The Crimson Permanent Assurance, Spies Like Us, The Fourth Protocol, Supergirl, Ishtar, Speed Zone, Far from Home, Short Time, Return to Moon Junction, National Lampoon’s Senior Trip, Cyberworld, A Home at the End of the World, Going the Distance, Geraldine’s Bullet, Weirdsville, Rampage, Darfur, Frankie and Alice, Foreverland, and Pixels. TV appearances include The First Olympics: Athens 1896, Robin of Sherwood, St. Elsewhere, Miami Vice, Sesame Street, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Bonkers, In Search of Dr. Seuss, American Playhouse, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Bruno the Kid, The Outer Limits, Apollo 11, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Quicksilver Highway, Dead Man’s Gun, DaVinci’s Inquest, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Royal Scandal, The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire, Masters of Horror, How I Met Your Mother, The Librarians, Olympus, Castlevania, The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair, and Perry Mason.

Personal Life: Married to British actress Amanda Hillwood since 1984 and has a daughter.

Later Life: He and his wife bought a house in Marina del Ray, California in 1989.

Trivia: None.

229. Hal Holbrook

Dates: 1925-2021

Early Life and Career: Born Harold Rowe Holbrook Jr. in Cleveland, Ohio. Mother was a vaudeville dancer. When he was 2, his parents abandoned him and his 2 older sisters. They were raised by their paternal grandparents in Weymouth, Massachusetts and later the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, Ohio. Graduated from the Culver Military Academy and then from Denison University, where an honors project of Mark Twain led him to develop the one-man show that he’s best known for, a series of performances called Mark Twain Tonight!. Also studied acting at HB Studio in New York City. Served in the US Army during World War II from 1942 until 1946, achieving the rank of staff sergeant while stationed in Newfoundland. There, he performed in theater productions such as the play Lady Precious Stream. First solo performance as Mark Twain was at what is now Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania in 1954. Ed Sullivan saw Holbrook and gave him his first national exposure on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956. Was also a member of the Valley Players from 1941-1962, a summer stock theater company based in Holyoke, Massachusetts which performed at Mountain Park Casino Playhouse at Mountain Park. Joined the Lambs Club in 1955 where he began developing his one-man show. Was a cast member for several years and performed Mark Twain Tonight! as the 1957 season opener. The State Department even sent him on a European tour, which included pioneering appearances behind the Iron Curtain. Continued to play Twain for over 60 years, only retiring the show in 2017 due to failing health.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) and Planes: Fire and Rescue (2014) as well as Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.

Characters: Amphitryon and Mayday

Also Known For: Actor who first received critical acclaim in 1954 for a one-man stage show that he developed called Mark Twain Tonight! while at Denison University, which won him a Tony for Best Actor in a Play in 1966. Gained international fame for his portrayal of Deep Throat in All the President’s Men. Also played President Abraham Lincoln in the 1974 miniseries Lincoln and the 1985 miniseries North and South. Other roles include Ron Franz in Into the Wild, Abner Meecham in The Evening Sun, and Francis Preston Blair in Stephen Spielberg’s Lincoln. Film appearances include The Group, Magnum Force, Julia, Capricorn One, The Fog, Creepshow, Wall Street, The Firm, Men of Honor, Wild in the Streets, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Brotherhood, The Girl from Petrovka, Midway, The Kidnapping of the President, Girls Nite Out, The Star Chamber, The Unholy, Fletch Lives, Carried Away, Cats Don’t Dance, Eye of God, Hush, Judas Kiss, Rusty: A Dog’s Tale, Waking the Dead, The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus, The Majestic, Purpose, Country Music: The Spirit of America, Flying Lessons, Promised Land, Holbrook/Twain: An American Odyssey, Water for Elephants, Savannah, and Blackway. TV appearances include The Brighter Day, Mr. Citizen, The Glass Menagerie, Coronet Blue, The F.B.I., The Name of the Game, That Certain Summer, Pueblo, Great Performances, 33 Hours in the Life of God, Our Town, The Awakening Land, Murder by Natural Causes, The Legend of the Golden Gun, George Washington, The Three Wishes of Billy Grier, Designing Women, Plaza Suite, The Fortunate Pilgrim, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, Emma: Queen of the South Seas, A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle, A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Grimacing Governor, A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Jealous Jokester, Operation Delta Force, The Outer Limits, The West Wing, Becker, Hope & Faith, The Sopranos, NCIS, ER, Sons of Anarchy, Monday Mornings, Rectify, Bones, Grey’s Anatomy, and Hawaii Five-O.

Personal Life: Married 3 times. First wife was Newfoundlander Ruby Elaine Johnston from 1945 until their divorce in 1965. They had 2 children. Second wife was Carol Eve Rossen from 1966 until their divorce in 1983. They had one child. Third wife was actress and singer Dixie Carter from 1984 until her death from endometrial cancer in 2010. Had a home in McLemoresville, Tennessee that he said had the feel of Mark Twain’s Hartford, Connecticut home and there was no other place to which he felt so ideally suited. Also had a residence in Beverly Hills.

Later Life: Memoir Harold: The Boy Who Became Mark Twain was published in 2011 by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. In 2016, Holbrook wrote a letter to The New York Times defending director Nate Parker over his alleged 1999 rape of a woman and Parker’s controversial film The Birth of a Nation (2016). He urged readers to “move on” from Parker’s past and see the movie, which was “an exceptional piece of artistry and a vital portrait of our American experience.” Retired from acting in 2017 due to failing health. Died in 2021 in his Beverly Hills home at 95. No cause was made public. Buried in McLemoresville Cemetery next to his wife, Dixie Carter.

Trivia: Was honored with a National Humanities Medal by George W. Bush in 2003. Has won a Tony and 5 Primetime Emmy Awards as well as been nominated for an Academy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Carter’s hometown of McLemoresville, Tennessee built the Dixie Theatre for Performing Arts in nearby Huntington, which features the Mark Twain Auditorium.

230. Barbara Barrie

Dates: 1931-present

Early Life and Career: Born Barbara Ann Berman in Chicago, Illinois but raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. Graduated from Corpus Christi High School in 1948. Briefly attended Del Mar College as a journalism major before transferring to The University of Texas at Austin where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drama in 1952. During her time at UT-Austin, she received 2 scholarships, including the Kappa Kappa Gamma Donna Dellinger annual scholarship for Most Outstanding Junior in the Drama Department as well as awards for specific performances, such as the Atlas Award from the Globe Theatre in San Diego for “Best Female Performance for 1950–51” based on her role in the California Theatre’s summer production of Much Ado About Nothing as Beatrice. Made her Broadway debut in 1955.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as the Hercules TV series.

Characters: Alcmene

Also Known For: Actress and author. Breakthrough role was Julie in the 1964 film One Potato, Two Potato for which she won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Best known roles include Evelyn Stohler in Breaking Away, Elizabeth Miller in Barney Miller, and Sarah in Company. Film appearances include Giant, The Caretaker, Summer of My German Soldier, The Bell Jar, Private Benjamin, End of the Line, Real Men, Judy Berlin, 30 Days, Second Best, The Six Wives of Henry LeFay, and Twelve Thirty. TV appearances include Pond’s Theater, Kraft Television Theatre, Playwrights ’56, Robert Montgomery Presents, Play of the Week, Armstrong Circle Theatre, The United States Steel Hour, Route 66, The Untouchables, Dr. Kildare, The Virginian, The Twilight Zone, Alcoa Premiere, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Defenders, The Fugitive, Ben Casey, Rawhide, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, Play for Today, The ABC Afternoon Playbreak, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, McMillan & Wife, 79 Park Avenue, Lou Grant, Roots: The Next Generations, American Playhouse, Trapper John M. D., Double Trouble, Family Ties, Law & Order, ABC Afterschool Special, CBS Schoolbreak Special, Suddenly Susan, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Dead Like Me, Pushing Daisies, Surviving Suburbia, Army Wives, and Enlightened. Has written 4 books including Lone Star, Adam ZigZag, Second Act, and Don’t Die of Embarrassment.

Personal Life: Married to actor, director, and producer Jay Malcolm Harnick from 1964 until his death in 2007. Had 2 children including a daughter named Jane Caroline in 1965 and a son named Aaron Louis in 1969. Harnick founded Theatreworks USA and was brother of Tony Award-winning musical lyricist Sheldon Harnick.

Later Life: Was successfully treated for colorectal cancer in 1994. In 2014, Barrie announced that she had been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which is incurable. She lives in New York City.

Trivia: Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1979 and an Emmy Award in 1981. Also nominated for a Tony in 1971.