August 2001

BECKER

TED DANSON
(Dr. John Becker in BECKER)

Emmy and Golden Globe winner Ted Danson is well known for his role as Sam Malone in the television series "Cheers." During the show's 11-year run, he was nominated nine times for an Emmy Award as Best Actor in a Comedy Series and won twice, in 1990 and 1993. The role also earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series in 1989 and 1990. Additionally, Danson received a Golden Globe nomination for his role in BECKER.

Danson's television credits also include the series "Frasier," "Veronica's Closet," "Ellen," "Ink" and "The Larry David Show" and the films "Gulliver's Travels," "Thanks of a Grateful Nation," "The Women's Room," "When the Bough Breaks" and "Something About Amelia," for which he won a Golden Globe Award. Danson and his wife, Mary Steenburgen, will also star in the upcoming mini-series "Talking to Heaven," to be broadcast on the CBS Television Network.

Danson's numerous feature film credits include "Mumford," "Saving Private Ryan," "The Onion Field," "Homegrown," "Three Men and a Baby," "Three Men and a Little Lady," "Cousins," "Dad," "Made in America," "Pontiac Moon" and "Getting Even with Dad."

Danson became interested in drama during his second year at Stanford University. In 1972, he transferred to Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie-Mellon University). After graduation, he was hired as an understudy in an Off Broadway production of "The Real Inspector Hound," then played Tom Conway in the daytime drama "Somerset" from 1974 to 1976. He moved to Los Angeles in 1978 and landed the role in "Cheers" in 1982.

Danson is a founding member of the American Oceans Campaign (AOC), an organization established to alert Americans to the life-threatening hazards created by oil spills, offshore development, toxic wastes, sewage pollution and other ocean abuses.

Danson was born in San Diego, Calif., and raised outside Flagstaff, Ariz. He now lives in Los Angeles with his family. His birth date is Dec. 29.

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ALEX DÉSERT
(Jake in BECKER)

Alex Désert's television credits include the series "TV 101" and "The Flash," both on the CBS Television Network, "The Heights" and "Boy Meets World" and the television movie "Lush Life" with Jeff Goldblum, Forrest Whittaker and Don Cheadle. Among his feature film credits are "Swingers," "PCU," "Playing God" and "High Fidelity."

Désert is the first member of his Haitian family to be born on American soil. He recalls that CBS's "MAS*H" inspired him to be a doctor, until his brother informed him that Hawkeye and the crew were actors -- and, from that moment on, he aspired to perform.

In addition to his acting career, Désert is one of the lead singers in Hepcat, a ska/reggae band that has toured the United States and Europe with such musical groups as the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and the Specials. He has released three compact discs of songs that have been featured on "The Conan O'Brien Show."

Désert currently resides in Los Angeles. His birth date is July 18.

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TERRY FARRELL
(Reggie in BECKER)

Terry Farrell is well known for her role as science officer Lt. Cmdr. Jadzia Dax in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."

She moved to New York from her native Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at the age of 17 after the Elite modeling agency responded to pictures she had sent in. After signing with Elite, she appeared on the covers of Mademoiselle and German Vogue magazines. She continued to work steadily as a model for three years and credits photographer Bill King for much of her success.

While working as a model in New York, Farrell also studied acting with Kate McGregor-Stuart. She landed her first major role as Laurie Caswell in the television series "Paper Dolls." After moving to Los Angeles, she continued her studies at the Stella Adler Conservatory. Her additional television credits include guest-starring roles in the series "The Twilight Zone," "Quantum Leap," "The Cosby Show" and "Family Ties." She also appeared in the television movies "L.A. Madame" and "Reasons of the Heart" and the mini-series "Danielle Steel's 'Star.'" Her feature film credits include "Back to School" and "Hellraiser III."

Farrell currently lives in Los Angeles. Her birth date is Nov. 19.

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SAVERIO GUERRA
(Bob in BECKER)

Saverio Guerra's television credits include regular roles in the CBS series "Temporarily Yours" and "EZ Streets." He also had a recurring role in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and guest-starring roles in "Mad About You," "Caroline in the City" and "Homicide: Life on the Street." Among his feature film credits are "Summer of Sam," "Blue Streak," "True Love," "Bad Boys," "The Rock," "Sleepers," "For Love or Money," "7 Deadly Sins" and "Mr. Wonderful."

Guerra, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., worked on Wall Street and in his uncle's fish store, among other jobs, before a life-threatening accident prompted him to pursue his dream of becoming an actor.

He now lives in Los Angeles. His birth date is Aug. 11.

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SHAWNEE SMITH
(Linda in BECKER)

Shawnee Smith's television credits include regular roles in the series "The Tom Show" and "Arsenio." She also appeared in the television movies "Something Borrowed, Something Blue," "I Saw What You Did" and "Face of Evil," all on the CBS Television Network, "Two Cups of Joe" and "Crimes of Innocence," for which she won the Youth in Film Award for Best Actress in a Television Film. She also appeared in the mini-series "The Stand" and "The Shining."

Smith's feature film credits include "Armageddon," "Leaving Las Vegas," "Men," "The Desperate Hours," "Who's Harry Crumb?," "Dogtown," "The Blob," "Summer School," "Breakfast of Champions" and "A Slipping Down Life."

She was born in Orangeburg, S.C., and studied acting at Los Angeles' Playhouse West, run by actors Bob Carnegie and Jeff Goldblum.

When not acting, Smith is lead singer for the rock band FyDollaHo. She currently lives in Los Angeles. Her birth date is July 3.

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HATTIE WINSTON
(Margaret in BECKER)

Hattie Winston, whose acting career spans more than three decades, began performing in New York. Her Broadway credits include "The Tap Dance Kid," "Two Gentlemen of Verona" and "The Me Nobody Knows." She received two Los Angeles Critics Dramalogue Awards for her performances in "To Take Up Arms" and "Up the Mountain." As an independent producer/director, she and her partner revived Langston Hughes' "Black Nativity" Off Broadway. Also, Winston earned Obie Awards for her work in "Mother Courage" and "The Michigan."

Winston's television credits include regular roles in the series "Nurse," on the CBS Television Network, "Homefront" and "The Electric Company." She had a recurring role in the daytime series "Port Charles" and has guest starred on "The Smart Guy," "Arsenio," "Malcolm & Eddie" and "High Incident." Her television credits also include the movies "Saving Grace," "Common Ground" and "Hollow Image" and the CBS mini-series "The Dain Curse." Among her feature film credits are "Jackie Brown," "Meet the Deedles," "The Kiss," "Beverly Hills Cop III," "Clara's Heart," "Show of Force" and the Clint Eastwood film "True Crime."

Winston served as national co-chair of AFTRA's Equal Employment Opportunities Committee. She was honored by the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with a Hattie Winston Day in 1993 and 1997 and by the University of Louisville (Kentucky) with the dedication of its library's Hattie Winston Collection, which contains more than 250 scripts, books and theater memorabilia donated principally by the actress.

She was born in Lexington, Miss., and raised in nearby Greenville, Miss. She currently lives in Los Angeles. Her birth date is March 3.

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