After the Walt Disney Company bought Marvel Entertainment in 2009, CEO Bob Iger encouraged the company’s divisions to explore Marvel’s properties for adaptation concepts. By deliberately choosing a more obscure title, the company would have the freedom to create their own version. While directing Winnie the Pooh, director Don Hall was scrolling through a Marvel database when he stumbled upon a comic called Big Hero 6, which he never heard before. He pitched the concept to John Lasseter in 2011 as one of 5 ideas for possible productions for Walt Disney Studios and this idea struck a particular chord with Lasseter, Hall, and Chris Williams. Because they wanted the concept to feel new and fresh, story head Paul Briggs only read a few issues of the comic. While screenwriter Robert L. Baird hadn’t read the comic at all. Although Walt Disney Studios solely produced Big Hero 6, several members of Marvel’s creative team were involved in the production. Unlike what Marvel does in its comics and movies, the production team decided early on set the film in a stand-alone universe and not connect it to the MCU. With respect to Baymax’s design, Hall mentioned in an interview, “I wanted a robot that we had never seen before and something to be wholly original. That’s a tough thing to do, we’ve got a lot of robots in pop culture, everything from The Terminator to WALL-E to C-3PO on down the line and not to mention Japanese robots, I won’t go into that. So I wanted to do something original.” Although no one had any idea of what this robot should look like, artist Lisa Keene stated it should be a huggable one.

Early on in the development process, Hall and the design team took a research trip to Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute where they met a team of DARPA-funded researchers who were pioneering a new field of “soft robotics” using inflatable vinyl, which ultimately inspired Baymax’s vinyl, inflatable, and huggable design. Hall stated that “I met a researcher (Chris Atkeson) who was working on soft robots. … It was an inflatable vinyl arm and the practical app would be in the healthcare industry as a nurse or doctor’s assistant. He had me at vinyl. This particular researcher went into this long pitch but the minute he showed me that inflatable arm, I knew we had our huggable robot.” Baymax’s face design was inspired by the copper suzu bell that Hall noticed while at a Shinto shrine. Although the robot was supposed to be introduced late in the film, story artist John Ripa conceived a way for Baymax to meet Hiro much earlier. With the entire film becoming much stronger by establishing the relationship between the two early on, yet the filmmakers had to reconstruct much of the first act to make it happen. For style and settings, the film combines Japanese and Eastern world culture with San Francisco culture. The result was San Fransokyo based on alternative history in which Japanese immigrants rebuilt San Francisco after the 1906 Earthquake. Upon its 2014 release, Big Hero 6 received positive reviews from critics and grossed $657.8 million at the worldwide box office. Not to mention, won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for good reason. In this post, we’ll meet the voices behind Tadashi, Fred, Go Go, Wasabi, Honey Lemon, Professor Callaghan, Heathcliff, and a couple of characters from Inside Out.

431. Daniel Henney

Dates: 1979-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Carson City, Michigan. Mother was a nurse and American adoptee from Busan, South Korea. Father was a factory worker. Was a basketball star at Carson City-Crystal High School and led the Eagles to the MHSAA Central Region, 2^nd place finish during his senior year in 1998. Attended various colleges such as Albion College, Albin College, and Elgin Community College but never completed his college studies due to his rising modeling career. Although many online portals have alleged that he graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with an economics degree. But an academic scandal in 2007 revealed that several South Korean celebrities including Henney had falsified academic records. Started modeling in 2001 where he worked in France, Hong Kong, and many more while attending college. After his debut on an advertisement in South Korea, he became a spokesman for commercials with Jun Ji-hyun for Olympus cameras and Kim Tae-hee for Daewoo Electronics’s Klasse air conditioners. While modeling for Olympus in 2005, he was spotted by a talent manager who got him a role in a Korean drama.

Movies and Cartoons: Big Hero 6 (2014) as well as Big Hero 6: The Series.

Characters: Tadashi Hamada

Also Known For: Actor and model best known as Dr. Henry Kim in My Lovely Sam Soon and Lan Mandragoran in The Wheel of Time. Film appearances include Seducing Mr. Perfect, My Father, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Last Stand, Shanghai Calling, One Night Surprise, Papa, The Spy: Undercover Operation, Money, Confidential Assignment 2: International, Missing (2023), and Dog Days. TV appearances include Spring Waltz, Hawaii Five-O, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Criminal Minds, Hello Franceska, Three Rivers, The Fugitive: Plan B, Revolution, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, and Dear My Friends.

Personal Life: Married to actress Ru Kamagai since 2023.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Said he pursued an acting career in South Korea because he wanted to know about his mother’s biological family.

432. T.J. Miller

Dates: 1981-present

Early Life and Career: Born Todd Joseph Miller in Denver, Colorado. Mother was a clinical psychologist. Father was an attorney from Kansas. Attended Graland Country Day School and graduated from Denver’s East High School where he participated in drama productions. Graduated from George Washington University in Washington D.C. in 2003 with a degree in psychology containing a concentration in persuasion theory and social influence. While at GWU, he was a member of the comedy group Recess and the Lambda chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa. Also studied the circus arts at Firchess Theatre Urbain in Paris and attended the British Dramatic Academy in London, where he studied Shakespeare for a summer. After college, Miller moved to Chicago to perform improvisation and stand-up comedy, working with many troupes and toured with The Second City for 2 years. Made his screen debut in 2007 and his film debut in 2008.

Movies and Cartoons: Big Hero 6 (2014) as well as the series Gravity Falls and the Kingdom Hearts III video game.

Characters: Frederick Flamarian “Fred” Frederickson IV

Also Known For: Actor, stand-up comedian, producer, and screenwriter best known as Erich Bachman in Silicon Valley and Weasel in Deadpool and Deadpool 2. Film appearances include Yogi Bear, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, Goon: Last of the Enforcers, Unstoppable, Ready Player One, Underwater, How to Train Your Dragon, The Emoji Movie, Cloverfield, Extract, She’s Out of My League, Get Him to the Greek, Gulliver’s Travels (2010), Our Idiot Brother, Rock of Ages, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Search Party, Hell and Back, Office Christmas Party, Underwater, Jason Nash Is Married, and The Stand-In. TV appearances include DreamWorks Dragons, Carpoolers, Happy Endings, The League, Fact Checkers Unit, How to Rock, The Gorburger Show, American Dad!, The Goodwin Games, The Jeselnik Offensive, High School USA!, Garfunkel and Oates, Family Guy, Those Who Can’t, Lip Sync Battle, Crashing, and F Is for Family.

Personal Life: Married to actress and installation artist Kate Gorney since 2015. Had an undiagnosed cerebral arteriovenous malformation on his right frontal lobe that made him unable to sleep while filming Yogi Bear 2010. This was later corrected by brain surgery that ran the risk of a 10% fatality.

Later Life: Has been dogged by allegations such as assaulting an Uber driver, sexually violently assaulting a fellow student at George Washington University in 2001 (which he didn’t handle well at all but it’s debatable whether he was held accountable at the time), and orchestrating a fake bomb threat while aboard an Amtrak train (which he may have done while drunk in 2021). Although his career seems to have survived these scandals (since there’s a TBA in a film project on his Wikipedia page), it’s cost him since the people of DreamWorks booted him from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise while filming How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.

Trivia: Hosted the Critics’ Choice Awards in 2015 and 2016.

433. Jamie Chung

Dates: 1983-present

Early Life and Career: Born in San Francisco, California. Parents were Korean immigrants who came to the US in 1980 and ran a hamburger restaurant. Attended Commodore Stoat Elementary School, Aptos Middle School, and Lowell High School where she graduated in 2001. Attended and graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a B.A. in economics in 2005 and where she was in the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Was a cast member on The Real World: San Diego in the MTV reality show’s 14^th season in 2004. At the time, MTV described her as a hard-working student who worked two jobs to pay her tuition but also enjoyed partying. Her friends also described her as not having the best taste in men. After appearing on The Real World, she was on its spin-off game show Real World/Road Rules Challenge as a cast member of their 2005 season The Inferno II, during which she was a member of the “Good Guys” team, which squared off against the “Bad Asses.” By the season’s end, after several cast members were eliminated from the competition, Chung still remained along with a few of her teammates and ultimately defeated the Bad Asses, winning the competition. After her stint in reality television, she began her acting career in minor roles on various TV shows and films. Made her breakthrough role in the series Samurai Girl. First film role was that of a Hooters Girl in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry in 2007.

Movies and Cartoons: Big Hero 6 (2014) as well as Big Hero 6: The Series, the TV film Princess Protection Program, and the Kingdom Hearts III video game.

Characters: Go Go Tomago

Also Known For: Actress and former reality television personality who’s best known as Mulan in Once Upon a Time and Ji-Ah in Lovecraft Country. Film appearances include Dragonball Evolution, Grown Ups, Premium Rush, Sorority Row, The Hangover Part II, Sucker Punch, Eden, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Burning Palms, The Man with the Iron Fists, Knife Fight, The Hangover Part III, Flight 7500, Bad Johnson, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, Rudderless, A Year and Change, Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong, Flock of Dudes, Office Christmas Party, Band Aid, 1985, Dangerous Lies, The Misfits (2021), Junction, and Reunion. TV appearances include The Real World: San Diego, Real World/Road Rules challenge: Inferno II, Samurai Girl, The Gifted, Veronica Mars, ER, Days of Our Lives, CSI:NY, Castle, Grey’s Anatomy, Believe, Resident Advisors, Gotham, Sherwood, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, This Is Us, Star Wars: Visions, Dexter: New Blood, Finding Your Roots, Succession, My Dad the Bounty Hunter, Unprisoned, Batman: Caped Crusader, Twilight of the Gods, and Krapopolis. Video game appearances include Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Uprising, X-Men: Destiny, and Destiny 2 – Warmind.

Personal Life: Married to actor and musician Bryan Greenberg since 2015. They have twin sons born via surrogacy in 2021. Have acquired homes in Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York City.

Later Life: In 2025, Chung and Greenberg’s house was destroyed by the Southern California wildfires. They and their twin boys were unharmed.

Trivia: Won the Female Stars of Tomorrow Award at the 2009 ShoWest industry trade show along with her Sorority Row castmates. In 2012 Seattle International Film Festival, she won the Golden Space Needle Award for Best Actress for Eden.

434. Damon Wayans Jr.

Dates: 1982-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Huntington, Vermont. Father is Damon Wayans Sr. Mother was an actress. Made his film debut in 1994 when cast in his dad’s film Blankman and later appeared on his dad’s sitcom My Wife and Kids as one of Junior’s friends. Later became a staff writer on the series. Later served as a writer in The Underground and garnered a standing ovation during his debut appearance in Def Comedy Jam. Made his big break in 2011 in Happy Endings.

Movies and Cartoons: Big Hero 6 (2014)

Characters: Wasabi

Also Known For: Actor and comedian best known as Brad Williams in Happy Endings and Coach in New Girl. Film appearances include Let’s Be Cops, Blankman, Dance Flick, Marmaduke, The Other Guys, Someone Marry Barry, How to Be Single, Super Troopers 2, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, Cherry, Long Weekend, The Harder They Fall (2021), Supercool, Players, and Kinda Pregnant. TV appearances include My Wife and Kids, The Underground, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair, Happy Together, Sherman’s Showcase, Bob’s Burgers, The Twilight Zone, Kenan, Raid the Cage, Poppa’s House, and Shrinking.

Personal Life: Nephew of Keenan Ivory Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans, and Marlon Wayans. Married to Samara Saraiva since 2016. They have 4 children comprising of 2 daughters and 2 sons. Also has 2 daughters to with his ex-girlfriend Aja Metoyer from high school as well as a granddaughter. Once sued his ex for custody during his 2 older daughters’ teenage years due to concerns of their mother’s lifestyle affecting them. Which I kind of see as somewhat warranted because one of them had a daughter with her now ex-high school boyfriend.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Has been nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award for his role in New Girl.

435. Genesis Rodriguez

Dates: 1987-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Miami, Florida. Mother was a Cuban fashion model. Father is Venezuelan actor Jose Luis Rodriguez known as “El Puma.” They married in 1996. Attended Miami’s Carrolton School of the Sacred Heart and later trained as an actress at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Returning to Miami, she continued private instruction and obtained a recurring role in Days of Our Lives and was a returned special guest in Top Chef. She also landed Spanish language roles on Telemundo series such as Dame Chocolate as Rosita Amado and Violeta Hurtado. Made her big break in 2012 in the film Casa de Mi Padre.

Movies and Cartoons: Big Hero 6 (2014) as well as series like Big Hero 6: The Series and Elena of Avalor along with the Kingdom Hearts III video game.

Characters: Honey Lemon

Also Known For: Actress best known as Sarah in Entourage and Jane Walker in Time After Time. Film appearances include Man on a Ledge, Casa de Mi Padre, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, The Last Stand, Tusk, Run All Night, Identity Thief, Hours, Yoga Hosers, Delirium, Centigrade, and The 4:30 Movie. TV appearances include Prisonera, Dame Chocolate, Dona Barbara, El Cub de Los Tigritos, The Screen Junkies Show, Made in Hollywood, The Passage, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, The Umbrella Academy, Neon, and Lioness.

Personal Life: I couldn’t find anything about her personal life.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

436. James Cromwell

Dates: 1940-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Los Angeles. Mother was actress Kay Johnson. Father was director John Cromwell who was blacklisted during the McCarthy era. Parents divorced in 1946. Was raised in Manhattan in New York City. Graduated from The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania in 1958. Went to Middlebury College and Carnegie Mellon University, the latter where he graduated with a BFA in 1964. Received acting training at HB Studios. Experiences of the Civil Rights Movement while on a theatre tour through several Deep South states in 1964, particularly with the courage of local campaigners and visiting activists, convinced him to become a lifelong activist on progressive causes. Especially since he played high school football with civil rights worker Mickey Schwermer, who was murdered with his colleagues in Mississippi that same year. During the 1960s, he was a member of Committee to Defend the Panthers, a group organized to defend 13 members of the Black Panther Movement who had been imprisoned in New York on charges of conspiracy.  Was also involved in the anti-Vietnam War Movement as well. Although he made his film debut as an extra in 1958, his acting career really began when he appeared on The Rockford Files in 1974.

Movies and Cartoons: Big Hero 6 (2014) as well as Big Hero 6: The Series.

Characters: Professor Robert Callaghan

Also Known For: Actor best known for his extensive work in character roles. Has nearly 200 credits to his name. Frequently plays authority figures who are often corrupt or bluntly unethical. Film appearances include Babe, Star Trek: First Contact, L. A. Confidential, Deep Impact, The Green Mile, Space Cowboys, The Sum of All Fears, I, Robot, The Longest Yard, The Queen, W., Secretariat, The Artist, Still Mine, The Promise, Marshall, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Emperor, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Murder by Death, The Cheap Detective, The Man with Two Brains, Revenge of the Nerds, Pink Cadillac, The Babe, The People vs. Larry Flynt, The Education of Little Tree, The General’s Daughter, Snow Falling on Cedars, Dante’s Inferno, Becoming Jane, Spider-Man 3, A Lonely Place for Dying, Surrogates, Memorial Day, Soldiers of Fortune, The Trials of Cate McCall, The Laundromat, Never Too Late, Prancer: A Christmas Tale, and Rebel Ridge. TV appearances include Angels in America, Six Feet Under, American Horror Story: Asylum, Boardwalk Empire, The Young Pope, Counterpart, Succession, Sugar, 24, Halt and Catch Fire, The Rockford Files, All in the Family, Maude, Hot I Baltimore, The Nancy Walker Show, M*A*S*H, Three’s Company, Barney Miller, Eight Is Enough, Diff’rent Strokes, Flo, Little House on the Prairie, Father Murphy, Dallas, Night Court, Family Ties, Knight Rider, Hill Street Blues, The Twilight Zone, Scarecrow and Mr. King, Amazing Stories, Magnum P.I., Mr. Belvedere, Matlock, Star Trek: The Next Generation, L. A. Law, Home Improvement, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, ER, Star Trek: Enterprise, Citizen Baines, The West Wing, Salem’s Lot, Pope John Paul II, My Own Worst Enemy, Pius XII: Under the Roman Sky, Do No Harm, Betrayal, Murder in the First, The Detour, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Berlin Station, The Family, Operation Buffalo, Law & Order: Organized Crime, Julia, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Murder in a Small Town. Stage appearances include Othello, Hamlet, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Waiting for Godot, and Rupert.

Personal Life: Married 3 times. First wife was Ana Ulvestad from 1977 until their divorce in 1986. They have 3 children named Kate, John, and Colin. Second wife was actress Julie Cobb from 1986 to their divorce in 2005. Third and current wife is actress Anna Stuart since 2014. Was a vegetarian since 1974 and a vegan since 1995.

Later Life: Has been an advocate for progressive causes particularly environmental and animal rights. He’s also been arrested at many protests over the years for these causes. Not to mention, he has a close association with PETA, too. Lives in Warwick, New York.

Trivia: Was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Babe and 5 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Has won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for American Horror Story: Asylum. At 6’7,” he’s the tallest actor nominated for an Academy Award. His son John is 6’8” and often plays the younger version of his dad’s characters in some projects.

437. David Shaughnessy

Dates: 1957-present

Early Life and Career: Born in London, England. Father was TV screenwriter Alfred Shaughnessy. Mother was actress Jean Lodge. Most likely attended Eton College along with his brother Charles. At 16, Shaughnessy was  the youngest student admitted to the Central School of Speech and Drama. After graduating, he starred in repertory theaters in the UK and went on to become a principal actor at the Old Vic and touring around the world. Later went on to perform in national tours, including 18 months in a production of Godspell. Made screen debut in 1979.

Movies and Cartoons: Big Hero 6 (2014) as well as Big Hero 6: The Series.

Characters: Heathcliff

Also Known For: British actor, producer, and director best known for his voice work and directing soap operas. Film appearances include Labyrinth, The Whistle Blower, Death Spa, Adventures in Zambezia, Top Cat Begins, and Birds of a Feather. TV appearances include Peter Pan and the Pirates, Star Wars Rebels, Danger UXB, The Brief, The Haunting of Cassie Palmer, Q.E.D., Three Up Two Down, Minder, The Clairvoyant, War and Remembrance, Newhart, Guys with Kids, Random! Cartoons, Robot Chicken, Avengers Assemble, The Tom and Jerry Show, Star Wars Resistance, Cleopatra in Space, Blood of Zeus, Dota: Dragon’s Blood, Young Justice, and Tales of the Jedi. Video game appearances include Mass Effect, The Darkness II, The Elder Scrolls, Warcraft, Destroy All Humans! 2, Resistance: Fall of Man, Flushed Away, The Lord of the Rings: Conquest, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, Final Fantasy XIV, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, Grand Theft Auto V, Hearthstone, Smite, Lichdom: Battlemage, The Order: 1886, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Crackdown 3, World War Z, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, Asgard’s Wrath, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, Diablo IV, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Has directed episodes for Santa Barbara, Trial by Jury, The Bold and the Beautiful, Tribes, The Young and the Restless, and Days of Our Lives.

Personal Life: Younger brother of Charles Shaughnessy, 5^th Baron Shaughnessy and is heir presumptive to his title. Married to writer Anne Schoettle. They have 3 daughters Amy, Katie, and Josie.

Later Life: Lives in Los Angeles.

Trivia: Great-grandson of American-Canadian railway administrator Thomas Shaughnessy, 1^st Baron Shaughnessy. Has won 2 Daytime Emmys.

438. Abraham Benrubi

Dates: 1969-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Indianapolis, Indiana. Father was the lead singer of Roadmaster and a radio personality in St. Louis. Paternal grandmother helped shelter Jews in Greece during World War II and later converted to Judaism. Graduated from Broad Ripple High School. Made his breakthrough in the show Wings.

Movies and Cartoons: Big Hero 6 (2014) and Strange World (2022) as well as the short Olaf’s Frozen Adventure.

Characters: General and Lonnie Redshirt

Also Known For: Actor best known as Jeff Markovic in ER, Larry Kubiac in Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, and Dennis in Without a Paddle. Film appearances include Wagons East, Twister, George of the Jungle, The Rugrats Movie, The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001), Open Range, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous, Charlotte’s Web (2006), A Night in Old Mexico, Little Boy, The Finest Hours, The Belko Experiment, Bliss, The Call of the Wild (2020), Christmas Bloody Christmas, and The Old Way. TV appearances include Robot Chicken, Growing Pains, Wings, Married…with Children, Blossom, Roseanne, Grace Under Fire, The X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Criminal Minds, American Dad!, Men in Trees, Happy Town, Memphis Beat, Community, Bones, Star Wars Detours, Brickleberry, Once Upon a Time, Bosch, Beware the Batman, TripTank, Outcast, APB, Chicago Fire, and It’s Pony. Video game appearances include the World of Warcraft series, Myth III: The Wolf Age, Skylanders: Giants, Diablo III: Reaper of Souls, Heroes of the Storm, and StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void.

Personal Life: I can’t find anything on his personal life.

Later Life: Member of the Los Angeles Sacred Fools Sacred Fools Theater Company.

Trivia: None.

439. Phyllis Smith

Dates: 1979-present

Early Life and Career: Born in St. Louis, Missouri. Graduated from Cleveland High School. Later graduated from the University of Missouri – St. Louis in 1972 with a degree in elementary education. During the 1970s and 1980s, she was a dancer, a cheerleader for the St. Louis Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals), and a burlesque performer. Later was forced to quit all that after suffering a knee injury. Later worked in Hollywood as an actress and in casting. Made her big break as Phyllis Lapin in The Office, a character written specifically for her.

Movies and Cartoons: Inside Out (2015) and Inside Out 2 (2024) as well as the short Riley’s First Date, the series Dream Productions, and the video game Disney Infinity 3.0.

Characters: Sadness

Also Known For: Actress best known as Phyllis Lapin Vance in The Office and Betty Broderick-Allen in The OA. Film appearances include I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, Bad Teacher, Butter, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. TV appearances include Arrested Development, Trophy Wife, and The Middle. Worked in casting for Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Roswell, Spin City, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Office.

Personal Life: I can’t find anything about her personal life.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Was a spokeswoman for JoAnn Fabrics in 2021.

440. Diane Lane

Dates: 1965-present

Early Life and Career: Born in New York City. Mother was nightclub singer and onetime Playboy centerfold (Miss October 1957) Colleen Leigh Farrington. Father was a Manhattan drama coach who ran an acting workshop with John Cassavetes and supplemented his income as a cab driver as well as later taught humanities at City College. Shortly after her birth, her parents divorced. Lived with her mom until she was 6 years old. Father received custody of her after her mom moved to Georgia. Also landed her first acting role in La Mama Experimental Company’s 1971 production of Medea and continued acting in theater throughout the 1970s. All while she and her dad lived in a number of residential New York hotels and she rode in his taxi. Made her film debut at 13 with A Little Romance. At 15, Lane declared her independence from her father and flew to Los Angeles for a week with actor and friend Christopher Atkins with whom she starred in the 1981 film Child Bride of Short Creek. Later returned to New York where she moved in with a friend’s family, paying them rent. In 1981, Lane enrolled at Hunter College High School after taking correspondence courses. Although she was in the accelerated program, her acting career led her grades to suffer. However, Lane’s mother kidnapped her and took her back to Georgia. Lane and her dad challenged her mom in court and was back in New York. She wouldn’t speak to her mom for the next 3 years but they eventually reconciled. Made her breakthrough roles with The Outsiders and Rumble Fish during the 1980s.

Movies and Cartoons: Inside Out (2015) and Inside Out 2 (2024) as well as the short Riley’s First Date and the series Dream Productions.

Characters: Riley’s Mom

Also Known For: Actress best known as Constance “Connie” Summer in Unfaithful and Martha Kent in Man of Steel, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Justice League. Film appearances include A Little Romance, Streets of Fire, The Cotton Club, The Big Town, Lady Beware, A Walk on the Moon, My Dog Skip, The Perfect Storm, The Glass House, Hardball, Under the Tuscan Sun, Must Love Dogs, Nights in Rhodanthe, Fierce People, Hollywoodland, Untraceable, The Outsiders, Rumble Fish, The Cotton Club, Jack, Paris Can Wait, Let Him Go, Touched by Love, National Lampoon’s Movie Madness, Cattle Annie and Little Britches, Chaplin, Indian  Summer, Judge Dredd, Wild Bill, Mad Dog Time, The Only Thrill, Murder at 1600, Jumper, Secretariat, Every Secret Thing, Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House, Tully, and Serenity (2019). TV appearances include Lonesome Dove, Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, A Man in Full, Extrapolations, Great Performances, A Child Bride of Short Creek, Descending Angel, Fallen Angels, Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All, Grace and Glorie, Cinema Verite, Half the Sky, The Romanoffs, House of Cards, and Y: The Last Man. Stage appearances include The Trojan Women, The Good Woman of Szechuan, Blood Wedding, As You Like It, The Cherry Orchard, Agamemnon, Runaways, Twelfth Night, and Sweet Bird of Youth.

Personal Life: Married twice. First husband was actor Chris Lambert from 1988 until their divorce in 1994. They have a daughter. Second husband was actor Josh Brolin from 2003 until their divorce in 2013. Although Lane did call the police on him for a domestic altercation shortly after their wedding. Brolin was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. However, Lane declined to press charges and the couple’s spokesperson said the incident as just a “misunderstanding.”

Later Life: Is involved in several charities including Heifer International, Artists for Peace and Justice, and the BraindAID Project. Although she doesn’t try to draw any attention to herself for her humanitarian efforts. Featured heavily in Half the Sky documentary as one of many A-List celebrities visit Africa and other areas where women are oppressed and has become an ambassador for this kind of work and charity work in general.

Trivia: Has won a Satellite, a New York Film Critics Circle, and a National Society of Film Critics award for Unfaithful. Has also been nominated for an Academy Award, a Critic’s Choice, 2 Golden Globes, an Independent Spirit Award, 2 Emmys, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2014, she was honored for her work at Heifer International at its third annual Beyond Hunger: A Place at the Table gala at the Montage Beverly Hills.