At the Walt Disney Company’s annual meeting in 2004, shareholders the shareholders in a 43% vote ousted Michael Eisner as chairman, with board member George J. Mitchell replacing him. While Disney founded Muppets Holding Company, LLC that year (which would be moved to Walt Disney Studios and renamed Muppet Studios), it would also sell off its remaining Disney Stores to Children’s Place. In 2005, Eisner retired as CEO with then- President Bob Iger replacing him. That year it opened its 11^th park in Hong Kong, which took $3.5 billion to build. In 2006, Disney began talks with Steve Jobs to acquire Pixar with Iger appointing John Lasseter and Ed Catmull as heads of Walt Disney Animation Studios. A week later, it traded ABC sports commentator Al Michaels to NBC/Universal in exchange for the rights of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and 26 cartoons featuring the character. Disney Channel movie High School Musical aired and its soundtrack was certified triple platinum. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest became Disney’s biggest hit by that date, grossing $1 billion at the box office. Although it wasn’t as good as its 2003 predecessor. In 2007, High School Musical 2 broke several cable records. In 2009, it launched a TV channel called Disney XD aimed for older kids and bought Marvel Entertainment, paving the way for a shitload of superhero movies that my dad has made my mom and I watch for several years. They also with News Corporation and NBC/Universal in a deal in which all parties would obtain 27% equity in streaming service Hulu. Yet, at the end of the year, Roy E. Disney succumbed to stomach cancer and was the last member of the Disney family to work for the company. In 2010, Disney lost rights to the Power Rangers franchise and sold Miramax to an investment group for $660 million. In 2011, its video game unit Disney Interactive laid off 200 employees due to size reduction and began building its Disney Shanghai Resort theme park at $4.4 billion. And in 2012, Disney bought Lucasfilm, giving it rights to Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Industrial Light and Magic, and LucasArts. While Iger himself would become chairman. As for the animation, the Disney animated films would be all over the place while it would later phase out traditional animation in favor of CGI. But Pixar would be on fire throughout the 2000s.

Following the critical and commercial success of The Lion King, Michael Eisner urged for more animal-centric animated films. Taking particular inspiration from a landscape painting he recently bought, Eisner suggested a North American setting with a bear as the hero. Taking cues from Shakespeare with King Lear, it centered around an old blind bear who traveled the forest with his 3 daughters. In 1997, veteran animator Aaron Blaise joined the project as director because he wanted to be attached so that [he] could animate bears.” Because Blaise wanted a more naturalistic story, he and producer Chuck Williams produced a 2-page treatment of a father-son story where the son’s turned into a bear and remains one at the end. While Denahi was supposed to be Kenai’s father but later became his brother. After the project was greenlit, Blaise, co-director Robert Walker, and the story artists went on a research trip in August 1999 to visit Alaska where they traveled to The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, Kodiak Island, Denali National Park, and Kenai Fjords National Park. The next year, the production team took additional research trips to Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Sequoia National Park. Around 2000, the story evolved into a tale in which the transformed Kenai is taken in by an older bear Grizz who was supposed to be voiced by Michael Clarke Duncan. However, Blaise explained “we were struggling [with the story], trying to get some charm into the film. So we turned Grizz into a cub named Koda.” While they had Duncan’s character changed into the de facto leader of the salmon run bears named Tug. Although the film is traditionally animated, it includes CGI elements such as the salmon and caribou runs. According to layout artist Armand Serrano, we had to do a life drawing session with live bear cubs and also outdoor drawing and painting sessions at Fort Wilderness in Florida three times a week for two months […].” In 2001, background supervisor Barry Kooser and his team traveled to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and studied with Western landscape painter Scott Christensen, where they learned to: simplify objects by getting the spatial dimensions to work first and working in the detail later.” Upon its release in 2003, Brother Bear opened to mixed reviews and grossed $250 million against a $46 million budget. Yet, it was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature but lost to Finding Nemo. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a rating of 37%. Although it’s not exactly a masterpiece, Brother Bear is enjoyable enough compared to any mediocre superhero movie. In this post we’ll meet 3 more voice actors from Finding Nemo as well as the voices behind Koda, Tuke, Older Denahi, Tanana, and Male Lover Bear.

301. Eric Bana

Dates: 1968-present

Early Life and Career: Born Eric Martin Andrew Banadinović in Melbourne, Australia. Father was a Croatian logistics manager at Caterpillar, Inc. Mother was a German hairdresser. Raised in the Tullamarine suburb and attended Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School. From the time he was 6 or 7, Bana began doing impressions of family members, first mimicking his grandfather’s walk, voice, and mannerisms. At school, he’d mimic his teachers to get out of trouble. Decided to become an actor after watching Mel Gibson in Mad Max (no judging). But didn’t really consider a career in the performing arts until 1991 when he was persuaded to try comedy while working as a bar tender at Melbourne’s Castle Hotel. Unfortunately, Bana’s stand-up gigs in inner-city pubs didn’t provide him with enough money to support himself. So he continued his work tending bars and waiting tables until he made his debut in 1993 on Tonight Live, which gained the attention of producers from a sketch comedy series Full Frontal, who invited him to join as a writer and performer. During his 4 years on the show, Bana wrote much of his own material and based some of his characters on family members. His impressions of Columbo, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Cruise, and TV personality Ray Martin, made Bana popular with the show’s audience. This success led him to record a comedy album Out of Bounds in 1994 and host his own television special. Eventually Bana would later start his own comedy sketch show called The Eric Bana Show but it was cancelled after 8 episodes due to low ratings. Made his film debut in 1997 with The Castle.

Movies and Cartoons: Finding Nemo (2003) and Chip ’n Dale Rescue Rangers (2022)

Characters: Anchor

Also Known For: Australian actor best known as Bruce Banner in Hulk, Hector in Troy, Nero in Star Trek, Lieutenant Commander Erik S. Kristensen in Lone Survivor, and Sergeant Ralph Sarchie in Deliver Us from Evil. Film appearances include The Castle, Chopper, Black Hawk Down, The Nugget, Munich, Lucky You, The Other Boleyn Girl, Mary and Max, Love the Beast, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Funny People, Hanna, Deadfall, Closed Circuit, The Finest Hours, Special Correspondents, The Secret Scripture, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, The Forgiven, The Dry, Back to the Outback, Blueback, A Sacrifice, and Memory of a Snail. TV appearances include Full Frontal, The Eric Bana Show Live, All Saints, Something in the Air, Kath & Kim, Top Gear, The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale, and Dirty John.

Personal Life: Still uses his birth surname on official identity documents. Married to Seven Network publicist Rebecca Gleeson since 1997. Gleeson’s father was Chief Justice of Australia Murray Gleeson and sister Jacqueline is High Court of Australia Judge. Bana and Gleeson have a son named Klaus born in 1999 and a daughter named Sophia born in 2002. Is a motor racing enthusiast and participates in various racing competitions in Australia and a fan of Australian rules football (which is a unique sport that’s closer to American football than soccer but not quite that either).

Later Life: Is currently an ambassador for Father Chris Riley’s charity for homeless young people called Youth Off the Streets. Also an advocate for the Mental Illness Fellowship that works to increase awareness of mental illness in Australia and appeared in several high profile advertisements for it in 2004. Actively campaigns for the Australian Childhood Foundation and the Bone Marrow Donor Institute. Since 1995, he has participated in the Motorcycle Riders Association Toy Run in Melbourne, which raises and money and toys for needy children at Christmas. During the 2019-2020 bush fire season, Bana voiced a series of TV and radio advertisements to support donations to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund.

Trivia: Appointed to the Order of Australia in 2019.

302. Bruce Spence

Dates: 1945-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Auckland, New Zealand. Grew up in Henderson within a family of winemakers and worked in their winery from a very early age. Attended Henderson High School and Massey University, where he studied horticulture. At 20, he moved to Australian where he was accepted into the National Gallery of Victoria Art School. In 1969, Spence joined a group of actors at Melbourne’s tiny La Mama theater, which later became the Australian Performing Group. Went on to perform numerous plays with the group as well as the Melbourne Theatre Company, the Sydney Theatre Company, the South Australian Theatre Company as well as others including the National Arts Centre of Canada.

Movies and Cartoons: Finding Nemo (2003)

Characters: Chum

Also Known For: New Zealand-born Australian actor who’s amassed more than 100 film and television credits as well as acted on stage. Film appearances include Stork, Moving On, The Cars That Ate Paris, Let the Balloon Go, Oz, Mad Dog Morgan, Eliza Fraser, Mad Max 2, Double Deal, The Return of Captain Invincible, Midnite Spares, Buddies, Where the Green Ants Dream, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Bullseye, The Year My Voice Broke, Rikky and Pete, Wendy Cracked a Walnut, The Shrimp on the Barbie, Hercules Returns, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Dark City, Queen of the Damned, The Matrix Revolutions, Peter Pan (2003), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Aquamarine, Solo, Australia, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Mystery Road, Backtrack, Blue World Order, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Winchester, Occupation, Love and Monsters, Children of the Corn, The Dry, and The Drover’s Wife. TV appearances include Division 4, Boney, Certain Women, Ryan,  Matlock Police, Case for the Defence, Barnaby and Me, Skyways, Cop Shop, And Here Comes Bucknuckle, Deadline, Kingswood Country, Special Squad, Carson’s Law, Zoo Family, Great Expectations: The Untold Story, The Dirtwater Dynasty, Rafferty’s Rules, Tanamera – Lion of Singapore, Dearest Enemy, Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left, After the Beep, Return to Jupiter, Twisted Tales, Moby Dick, Chuck Finn, Tales of the South Seas, Beastmaster, Farscape, Short Cuts, Always Greener, The Brush Off, Nightmares & Dreamscapes, Double the Fist, City Homicide, Legend of the Seeker, All Saints, Cloudstreet, Rake, Let’s Talk About, The Wizards of Aus, Black Comedy, The True Story of Hamish & Andy, Back to the Rafters, and Nautilus. Video game appearances include Enter the Matrix and Borderlands: The Prequel!. Stage appearances include Dimboola, The Coming of Stork, A Stretch of the Imagination, The Marvellous Boy, and The Secret River.

Personal Life: Married to a woman named Jenny since 1973. Has 2 children and 4 grandchildren.

Later Life: Lives in Sydney, Australia.

Trivia: Is a passionate gardener and has created a succession of beautiful gardens for himself and his friends.

303. Bill Hunter

Dates: 1940-2011

Early Life and Career: Born in Ballarat, Victoria in Australia. Was a champion swimmer during his teens and briefly held the world record for the 100-yard freestyle until John Devitt broke it 10 minutes later in the very same heat. Qualified for the Australian swimming team for the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. But a bout of meningitis ended his Olympic dreams. Made his film debut in 1957 as an extra in Shiralee. An introduction to Ava Gardner led him to a job as an extra and swimming double in On the Beach. Claimed he was inspired to take up acting after watching one of the leads do 27 takes of a scene, thinking he could do better. Took an intensive drama course in Melbourne and sailed board the RHMS Ellinis on New Year’s Eve 1964 for England. There he won a 2-year scholarship to the prestigious Northampton Repertory Company. Made his first television appearance in 1966. Returned to Australia in 1967 to work in TV dramas and feature films.

Movies and Cartoons: Finding Nemo (2003)

Characters: Philip Sherman

Also Known For: Australian actor of film, stage, and television as well as a prominent voice artist. Appeared in more than 60 films. Film appearances include Ned Kelly (1970), 27A, Stone, The Man from Hong Kong, Eliza Fraser, Mad Dog Morgan, Backroads, In Search of Anna, Newsfront, Weekend of Shadows, Dead Man’s Float, Hard Knocks, Gallipoli, Heatwave, Far East, The Hit, The Return of Captain Invincible, Street Hero, An Indecent Obsession, Rebel, Death of a Soldier, Sky Pirates, Rikky and Pete, Fever, Mull,  Call Me Mr. Brown, Deadly, The Last Days of Chez Nous, Strictly Ballroom, Broken Highway, The Custodian, Shotgun Wedding, Muriel’s Wedding, Cody: Fall from Grace, Race the Sun, River Street, Road to Nhill, 15 Amore, Crackerjack, Bad Eggs, Horseplay, Kangaroo Jack, Tom White, The Square, Australia, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, Red Dog, and The Cup. TV appearances include Doctor Who – The Ark, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, The Keepers, Cassidy, The Leaving of Liverpool, Stark, Blue Murder, Space: Above and Beyond, A Difficult Woman, Two Twisted, and The Pacific. Stage appearances include The World of Suzie Wong, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Down Under, The Season of Sarsaparilla, and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Personal Life: Married 3 times. First wife was Robbie Anderson from 1963 until their divorce in 1973. They had a son named James. Second wife was Pat Bishop from 1976 until she ran off with their marriage celebrant. Third wife was artist and TV presenter Rhoda Roberts from 1993 until his death. Although they had been separated since 1999 because he didn’t want her to have to nurse him. Although he struggled with alcoholism in his early days, he was in Alcoholics Anonymous by the time he met Roberts.

Later Life: In May 2011, he was admitted to Caritas Christi hospice in Kew, after refusing to go to a hospital. Surrounded by family, he died from liver cancer later that month at 71. Memorial service was held for him at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre. Close friend and co-star Mick Molloy paid tribute to Hunter on stage at the Logie Awards in 2012.

Trivia: Has won 2 AFI Awards and received the Centenary Medal.

304. Michaela Jill Murphy

Dates: 1994-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Southern Indiana. Became interested in acting at 4. Mother moved the family to Los Angeles where she began her career appearing in commercials for Barbie and Mitsubishi. Starred as an orphan in Oliver! when she was 5. At 7, she began to audition for voice over roles and parts where she provided automated dialogue replacement (ADR) and additional voices. First voice role was in Finding Nemo (2003).

Movies and Cartoons: Finding Nemo (2003) and Meet the Robinsons (2007) as well a couple direct-to-video installments and the series The Emperor’s New School.

Characters: Young Franny

Also Known For: Voice actress best known as Toph Beifong in Avatar: The Last Airbender as well as Chaca in Kronk’s New Groove and The Emperor’s New School. Film appearances include Spider-Man 2, Curious George, Akeelah and the Bee, Over the Hedge, The Ant Bully, Night at the Museum, An American Affair, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, and That’s What I Am. TV appearances include Random! Cartoons, The Legend of Korra, Super Cub, Platinum End, and Camp WWE. Video game appearances include Nicktoons MLB, World of Final Fantasy, and Goddess of Victory: Nikke.

Personal Life: Is openly bisexual.

Later Life: Became an assistant theater manager at Yale University in 2014 but didn’t perform until the next year, joining the university’s theater scene. Graduated with a B.A. in Theater and Film Studies with concentrations of playwriting and screenwriting in 2017. Lives in Los Angeles.

Trivia: Has performed under stage name Jessie Flower.

305. Jeremy Suarez

Dates: 1990-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Burbank, California. Was of Afro-Cuban descent and raised Muslim. Began his acting career at 5 as Tyson Tidwell in Jerry Maguire. Later appeared in a short-lived sitcom Built to Last as the youngest son in a family of seven. After guest appearances on Sister, Sister and The Wayans Bros. as well as a recurring role in Chicago Hope, Suarez joined the cast of The Bernie Mac Show at 8.

Movies and Cartoons: Brother Bear (2003) as well as a direct-to-video sequel and The Proud Family Movie.

Characters: Koda

Also Known For: Actor best known as Tyson Tidwell in Jerry Maguire and Jordan Thomkins in The Bernie Mac Show. Film appearances include Susan’s Plan, The Ladykillers (2004), Fat Albert, Extreme Movie, Zambezia, and Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie. TV appearances include Chicago Hope, The Wayans Bros., Beverly Hills 90210, MADtv, Max Steel, Hey Arnold!, and King of the Hill.

Personal Life: Has been married to a woman named Maria since 2017.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Has been nominated for 2 NCAAP Image Awards, 2 Young Artist Awards, and an Annie Award. Auditioned for the role of Nemo in Finding Nemo (2003) but lost out.

306. Dave Thomas

Dates: 1948-present

Early Life and Career: Born David William Thomas in St. Catherines, Ontario in Canada to British parents. Mother was a Scottish church organist for 30 years and a composer. Father was John E. Thomas, a medical ethicist, head of the Philosophy Department at McMaster University, and author of several books. Family temporarily moved to Durham, North Carolina where his father earned his PhD in philosophy from Duke University. Later moved back to Dundas, Ontario in 1961 where Thomas attended Dundas District High School and graduated with an honors Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from McMaster University. Started as a copywriter at ad agency McCann Erickson in 1974 and became head writer of the Coca Cola account within a year. After watching a Second City stage show in Toronto and well suffering from self-described “boredom” in advertising work, he auditioned for the Second City troupe and was chosen as a performer. Was a cast member for the Toronto production of Godspell alongside Victor Garber, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, and Andrea Martin with Paul Schaffer as music director. Achieved fame as a cast member of the Canadian TV comedy SCTV joining Levy, Martin, and later Short as well as Rick Moranis, John Candy, Harold Ramis, Catherine O’Hara, and others.

Movies and Cartoons: Brother Bear (2003) as well as a direct-to-video sequel and the series The Legend of Tarzan.

Characters: Tuke

Also Known For: Canadian actor, comedian, and television writer best known as being half of the duo of Bob and Doug McKenzie with Rick Moranis. Appeared as Doug McKenzie in SCTV, the film Strange Brew, and the LP albums The Great White North and Strange Brew. Also know as Rusell Norton in Grace Under Fire. Film appearances include Deadly Companion, Stripes, Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird, My Man Adam, In the Mood, Love at Stake, Moving, Cold Sweat, Coneheads, Pippi Longstocking, MVP: Most Valuable Primate, Who’s Your Daddy?, Beethoven’s 5^th, Intern Academy, Love on the Side, Santa’s Slay, and The Aristocrats. TV appearances include Riel, The Get Along Gang, The Dave Thomas Comedy Show, Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, Boris and Natasha: The Movie, Animaniacs, The Larry Sanders Show, The Red Green Show, Picture Perfect, Duckman, Kidz in the Wood, Nightmare Ned, The Simpsons, CatDog, King of the Hill, Cosby, That ‘70s Show, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Justice League, Arrested Development, Weeds, Pound Puppies, Bones, How I Met Your Mother, and The Blacklist.

Personal Life: Older brother of Canadian singer-songwriter Ian Thomas. Married twice. First wife was a producer, director, and casting director named Pamela until they divorced. Second and current wife is a woman named Kimberly Ann since 1994. Has 4 children.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Has won a Primetime Emmy, a Juno, a Gemini, and a People’s Choice Award. Despite the name, he has nothing to do with the founding of Wendy’s (that was a different Dave Thomas). Appointed to the Order of Canada in 2020. Also in 2020, life-sized statues of Thomas and Rick Moranis as their characters Bob and Doug McKenzie were put in place at the ICE District Sports Arena in Edmonton, Alberta. In 2021, Thomas teamed with Max Alan Collins to write a sci-fi mystery novel called The Many Lives of Jimmy Leighton.

307. Harold Gould

Dates: 1923-2010

Early Life and Career: Born Harold Vernon Goldstein in Schenectady, New York. Father was a postal worker. Mother did part-time work for the New York State Health Department. Was raised in Colonie, New York and graduated valedictorian of his high school class. Enrolled in Albany Teachers College where he studied to become a social studies or English public high school teacher. However, 2 years in, Gould enlisted in the US Army during World War II where he saw combat in France in a chemical mortar battalion. Developed trench foot and was sent to England to recover. After convalescence, he served in a rail transport unit in France. After the war, Gould returned to Albany Teachers College but switched his major to drama and theatre as well as graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1947. After performing in summer stock theater on Cape Cod, he enrolled at Cornell University to study drama and speech. Earned a Master of Arts degree in 1948 and a Ph.D. in theatre in 1953. Upon graduation, Gould accepted a position at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia where he spent 3 years teaching and doing stage work. Made his professional debut in 1955 portraying President Thomas Jefferson in The Common Glory in Williamsburg. In 1956, he accepted a professorship in the drama department at UC Riverside and taught there for 4 years until 1960 when he decided to try professional acting himself. Had difficulty finding acting jobs at first and had to take side work as a security guard and part-time acting teacher at UCLA. Made his film debut in 1962.

Movies and Cartoons: Brother Bear (2003)

Characters: Older Denahi

Also Known For: Character actor who’s been in film and television for nearly 50 years, appearing in more than 300 TV shows, 20 major films, and over 100 stage plays. Usually played elegant, well-dressed men as well as Jewish characters and grandfatherly-type figures. Best known as Martin Morganstern in Rhoda and Miles Webber in The Golden Girls. Film appearances include The Man from Planet X, The Couch, Two for the Seesaw, The Yellow Canary, Marnie, The Satan Bug, Inside Daisy Clover, Harper, An American Dream, Project X (1968), The Arrangement, The Lawyer, Mrs. Polifax-Spy, Where Does It Hurt?, The Sting, The Front Page (1974), The Strongest Man in the World, Love and Death, Silent Movie, The Big Bus, Gus, The One and Only, Seems Like Old Times, Playing for Keeps, Romero, Killer: A Journal of Murder, My Giant, Beloved, Patch Adams, Brown’s Requiem, Stuart Little, The Master of Disguise, Freaky Friday, Nobody’s Perfect, and Whisper of the Heart. TV appearances include Dennis the Menace, Dr. Kildare, The Donna Reed Show, The Eleventh Hour, Hazel, The Virginian, The Twilight Zone, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Perry Mason, The Fugitive, Gunsmoke, That Girl, Mister Ed, The F.B.I., The Green Hornet, Get Smart, Hogan’s Heroes, The Flying Nun, The Wild Wild West, The Big Valley, Mission: Impossible, I Dream of Jeannie, Columbo, The Mod Squad, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Hawaii Five-O, The Streets of San Francisco, Ironside, Petrocelli, Police Story, Soap, The Rockford Files, St. Elsewhere, L.A. Law, Night Court, Empty Nest, Midnight Caller, The Ray Bradbury Theater, Dallas, The Golden Palace, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, The Outer Limits, Touched by an Angel, Felicity, The King of Queens, Judging Amy, Cold Case, and Nip/Tuck. Stage appearances include The House of Blue Leaves, The Skin of Our Teeth, The Substance of Fire, Visiting Mr. Green, Old Wicked Songs, and Tuesdays with Morrie.

Personal Life: Married to Lea Vernon from 1950 until his death. Met her while studying at Cornell. Had 2 sons named James and Lowell as well as a daughter named Deborah.

Later Life: Died of prostate cancer in Woodland Hills, California at 86.

Trivia: Was nominated for 5 Primetime Emmys.

308. Joan Copeland

Dates: 1922-2022

Early Life and Career: Born Joan Maxine Miller in New York City to a middle-class Jewish family. Father was a woman’s clothing manufacturer. Mother was a schoolteacher. Began her career in theatre, making her professional debut as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1945. Made her Broadway debut as Nadine in the original 1948 production of Sundown Beach. Maintained an active career in theatre thereafter often appearing extensively in Off-Broadway plays in New York City.

Movies and Cartoons: Brother Bear (2003)

Characters: Tanana

Also Known For: Actress who’d become one the first members admitted to the Actors Studio. Best known as Andrea Whiting on Search for Tomorrow and Gwendolyn Lord Abbott in One Life to Live. Film appearances include The Goddess, Middle of the Night, Roseland, It’s My Turn, Happy New Year, The Laser Man, Her Alibi, Jungle 2 Jungle, The Peacemaker, The Object of My Affection, The Adventures of Sebastian Cole, and The Private Lives of Pippa Lee. TV appearances include Suspense, The Web, Love of Life, The Edge of Night, How to Survive a Marriage, As the World Turns, Law & Order, The Patty Duke Show, Chicago Hope, All in the Family, and Naked City. Stage appearances include Romeo and Juliet, Sundown Beach, Pal Joey, The American Clock, Detective Story, Not for Children, Handful of Fire, Tovarich, Something More!, The Price, Coco, Two by Two, Checking Out, 45 Seconds from Broadway, Wit & Wisdom, Othello, The Grass Is Greener, Conversation Piece, Candida, Are You Now or Have You Ever Been, Isn’t It Romantic?, Over the River and Through the Woods, The Torch-Bearers, and The American Plan.

Personal Life: Younger sister of legendary playwright Arthur Miller and aunt of Rebecca Miller as well as onetime sister-in-law of actress Marilyn Monroe and aunt-in-law of actor Daniel Day Lewis. Married to George Kupchik from 1946 until is death in 1989. Had a son named Eric.

Later Life: Died in 2022 at her Manhattan home from natural causes at 99.

Trivia: Won an Obie Award in 1991.

309. Michael Clarke Duncan

Dates: 1957-2012

Early Life and Career: Born in Chicago, Illinois. Raised by a single-parent household with his sister Judy after his father left. Mother was a house cleaner. When he was younger, he wanted to play football and tried out for the Chicago Bears. But decided to become an actor after his mom refused to let him play, fearing he’d get injured (which science as confirmed that 10 times over). Always wanted to act but had to drop out of the communication program at Alcorn State University to support his family when his mother became ill. His massive 6’5” and 315-pound frame helped him in his jobs digging for People’s Gas Company and as a bouncer at several Chicago clubs. He also played basketball at Kankakee Community College and for one season for the Alcorn State Braves. In 1979, he participated in Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park, where he was one of first 100 people to run onto the field and slide into third base. His silver belt buckle was stolen during the ensuing riot while he was stealing a baseball bat from the dugout. Later took various security jobs in Los Angeles while trying to get some acting and modeling work in commercials. During this time, worked as a bodyguard for celebrities like Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, and The Notorious B.I.G. All while doing bit parts in television and films, mostly playing bouncers. When rapper Notorious B.I.G. was killed in 1997, Duncan quit the personal protection business. Soon Duncan would be cast as Bear in the Michael Bay action film Armageddon where he befriended Bruce Willis. And it Willis’ influence that helped Duncan get his role as the gentle giant John Coffey in The Green Mile.

Movies and Cartoons: Brother Bear (2003) as well as a few direct-to-video installments, the Brother Bear video game, and the series The Proud Family and The Suite Life of Zach & Cody.

Characters: Tug

Also Known For: Actor best known as John Coffey in The Green Mile, Kingpin in Daredevil and Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, Leo Knox in Bones and The Finder, and Benjamin King in Saints Row. Film appearances include Armageddon, The Whole Nine Yards, Planet of the Apes (2001), The Scorpion King, Sin City, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Kung Fu Panda, Green Lantern, Friday, Bulworth, A Night in Roxbury, Breakfast of Champions, Cats & Dogs, Racing Stripes, The Island, School for Scoundrels, One Way, Air Buddies, The Last Mimzy, Slipstream, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, Delgo, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, Cross, In the Hive, Redemption Road, A Crush on You, A Resurrection, From the Rough, and The Challenger. TV appearances include Two and a Half Men, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Married…with Children, The Jamie Foxx Show, Living Single, King of the Hill, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Static Shock, The Fairly OddParents, George Lopez, Teen Titans, CSI: NY, Family Guy, Chuck, Ultimate Spider-Man, and Fish Hooks. Video game appearances include Varuna’s Forces, Panic in the Park, Star Trek: Klingon Academy, Soldier of Fortune, SOCOM II U. S. NAVY SEALs, Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone, The Suffering: Ties That Bind, and God of War II.

Personal Life: Dated reality television personality Omarosa Manigault from 2010 until his death. They may have also been engaged at some point as well. According to Duncan’s Wikipedia entry, his family didn’t really like her much. Since they later claimed that Manigault changed his will and testament. They also claimed that Manigault manipulated Duncan in his final days, lied about their engagement, and sold his belongings without his family’s knowledge. In 2013, Manigault appeared in the cast of The All-Star Celebrity Apprentice and played in Duncan’s honor for his favorite charity and one he had benefitted from himself, the Sue Duncan Children’s Center. Won $40,000 for the charity in the second episode.

Later Life: In July 2012, Duncan was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack. By August, he had been moved from the intensive care unit but remained hospitalized. In September while in the hospital, Duncan died of respiratory failure at 54. A private funeral service was held in Los Angeles with Tom Hanks in attendance. Was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.

Trivia: Was friends with Bruce Willis. Received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Green Mile. Trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the Gracie Academy in Torrance, California and held a purple belt in the discipline. Said to have 5 cats and a chinchilla named Chucky.

310. Greg Proops

Dates: 1959-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Phoenix, Arizona. Grew up in San Carlos, California and attended San Carlos High School. Went to the College of San Mateo and spearheaded the comedy duo “Proops & Brakeman.” Took classes in improvisation and acting at San Francisco University but never finished college. After dropping out, Proops joined an improv group with Mike McShane, both later impressing both producers Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson who put them on their show Whose Line Is It Anyway?.

Movies and Cartoons: Brother Bear (2003)

Characters: Male Lover Bear

Also Known For: Actor, stand-up comedian, and TV host widely known for his work on the UK and US versions of Whose Line Is It Anyway?. Also voiced Bob the Builder for a time on the US version of his show. Film appearances include The Nightmare Before Christmas, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Kaena: The Prophecy, Asterix and the Vikings, Super High Me, Bad Actress, Hell and Back, and Duck Duck Goose. TV appearances include Midnight Caller, Anna Lee, Family Matters, Dennis the Menace, Space Cadets, Men Behaving Badly, 3^rd Rock from the Sun, The Jamie Foxx Show, Veronica’s Closet, The Drew Carey Show, Hollywood Squares, Just Shoot Me!, 10-8: Officers on Duty, Stripperella, Ugly Betty, Red Eye, Flight of the Conchords, Star Wars: Clone Wars, Drew Carey’s Improv-A-Ganza, Qi, @midnight, Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures, Uncle Grandpa, The Powderpuff Girls, Star Wars Resistance, and Schooled. Video game appearances include Pandemonium!, Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars Episode I: Racer, Driven, MadWorld, Kinect Star Wars, Skylanders: Imaginators, and Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.

Personal Life: Has been married to Jennifer Canaga since 1990.

Later Life: Has hosted a podcast called The Smartest Man in the World since 2010, often with his wife Jennifer Canaga in which he talks about current events, celebrity culture, and his personal life, usually in front of a life audience. Even wrote a book based on his show in 2015. Also hosted Odd News on yahoo.com for several years, which was a weekly program in which he told funny stories from around the world.

Trivia: None.