Advanced search

Maria Bello was born on 18 April, 1967 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, to Kathy, a nurse and teacher, and Joe Bello, a contractor. She is of Italian and Polish descent. Maria went to Villanova University, majoring in political science. She had every intention of becoming a lawyer, but she took an acting class during her senior year, just for fun. She discovered she was very good at it, and she was soon cast in small off-Broadway plays, such as "The Killer Inside Me", "Small Town Gals With Big Problems" and "Urban Planning". She later guest-starred on episodes of The Commish (1991), Nowhere Man (1995), Misery Loves Company (1995), and Due South (1994). She got her big break when producers Kenny Lenhart and John J. Sakmar cast her in the spy show Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1996) as "Mrs. Smith" (they remembered her from her performance in a failed pilot that was a remake of the classic TV series 77 Sunset Strip (1958)). The show was canceled after eight weeks on the air. Then came a spot on ER (1994) as "Dr. Anna Del Amico", in which she guest-starred on the final three episodes of the third season. The show's producers were so impressed with her that they asked her back as a regular on the series.

A bold, blunt instrument of hatred and violence at the onset of his film career, Peter Boyle recoiled from that repugnant, politically incorrect "working class" image to eventually play gruff, gentler bears and even comedy monsters in a career that lasted four decades.

He was born on October 18, 1935, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, to Alice (Lewis) and Francis Xavier Boyle. He eventually moved to Philadelphia, where his father was a sought-after local TV personality and children's show host. His paternal grandparents were Irish immigrants, and his mother was of mostly French and British Isles descent. Following a solid Catholic upbringing (he attended a Catholic high school), Peter was a sensitive youth and joined the Christian Brothers religious order at one point while attending La Salle University in Philadelphia. He left the monastery after only a few years when he "lost" his calling.

Bent on an acting career, Boyle initially studied with guru Uta Hagen in New York. The tall (6' 2"), hulking, prematurely bald actor wannabe struggled through a variety of odd jobs (postal worker, waiter, bouncer) while simultaneously building up his credits on stage and waiting for that first big break. Things started progressing for him after appearing in the national company of "The Odd Couple" in 1965 and landing TV commercials on the sly. In the late 60s he joined Chicago's Second City improv group and made his Broadway debut as a replacement for Peter Bonerz in Paul Sills' "Story Theatre" (1971) (Sills was the founder of Second City). Peter's breakout film role did not come without controversy as the hateful, hardhat-donning bigot-turned-murderer Joe (1970) in a tense, violence-prone film directed by John G. Avildsen. The role led to major notoriety, however, and some daunting supporting parts in T.R. Baskin (1971), Slither (1973) and as Robert Redford's calculating campaign manager in The Candidate (1972). During this time his political radicalism found a visible platform after joining Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland on anti-war crusades, which would include the anti-establishment picture Steelyard Blues (1973). This period also saw the forging of a strong friendship with former Beatle John Lennon.

Destined to be cast as monstrous undesirables throughout much of his career, he played a monster of another sort in his early film days, and thus avoided a complete stereotype as a film abhorrent. His hilarious, sexually potent Frankenstein's Monster in the cult Mel Brooks spoof Young Frankenstein (1974) saw him in a sympathetic and certainly more humorous vein. His creature's first public viewing, in which Boyle shares an adroit tap-dancing scene with "creator" Gene Wilder in full Fred Astaire regalia, was a show-stopping audience pleaser. Late 70s filmgoers continued to witness Boyle in seamy, urban settings with brutish roles in Taxi Driver (1976) and Hardcore (1979). At the same time he addressed several TV mini-movie roles with the same brilliant darkness such as his Senator Joe McCarthy in Tail Gunner Joe (1977), for which he received an Emmy nomination, and his murderous, knife-wielding Fatso in the miniseries remake of From Here to Eternity (1979).

While the following decade found Peter in predominantly less noteworthy filming and a short-lived TV series lead as remote cop Joe Bash (1986), the 90s brought him Emmy glory (for a guest episode on The X-Files (1993)). Despite a blood clot-induced stroke in 1990 that impaired his speech for six months, he ventured on and capped his enviable career on TV wielding funny but crass one-liners in the "Archie Bunker" mold on the long-running sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond (1996). A major Emmy blunder had Boyle earning seven nominations for his Frank Barrone character without a win, the only prime player on the show unhonored. He survived a heart attack while on the set of "Everybody Loves Raymond" in 1999, but managed to return full time for the remainder of the series' run through 2005.

Following a superb turn as Billy Bob Thornton's unrepentantly racist father in the sobering Oscar-winner Monster's Ball (2001), the remainder of his films were primarily situated in frivolous comedy fare such as The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002), The Santa Clause 2 (2002), Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004), and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006), typically playing cranky curmudgeons. Boyle died of multiple myeloma (bone-marrow cancer) and heart disease at New York Presbyterian Hospital in 2006, and was survived by his wife Lorraine and two children. He was 71.

Kellee Stewart was born on 31 March 1976 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Guess Who (2005), Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) and Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (2015).

Born in Norristown, Pennsylvania the younger of two sons on June 15, 1917, tall (6'2"), light-haired stage and second lead film actor Richard Derr was highly intelligent and graduated from his local high school at age 16. Having appeared in school plays and pageants, he also developed a strong interest in acting and joined a theatre group (The Dramateurs) in town and appeared in amateur shows he helped produced. All the while he supported himself as a bank clerk. He later became involved in a Pennsylvania theatre group (Hedgerow Theatre) and was discovered by New York agent Maynard Morris and brought to New York.

He joined the Actor's Studio once there and became a lifelong member. After appearing in a few plays he was screen-tested by 20th Century-Fox and approved to a seven-year contract by Darryl F. Zanuck. Derr made his youthful debut at age 23 as one of many suspects in Charlie Chan in Rio (1941). A second Chan film role followed with Castle in the Desert (1942). With his handsomely staid, square-jawed good looks, he showed promise among the many other war-era hopefuls of the time, appearing typically in such WWII-themed "B" films as Man at Large (1941) (as a German spy), The Man Who Wouldn't Die (1942), Ten Gentlemen from West Point (1942), Commandos Strike at Dawn (1942), Cry 'Havoc' (1943) and Tonight We Raid Calais (1943). Unhappy with the last film and the direction of his career, he broke his Fox contract.

Following military duty with the U.S. Army Air Corps where he flew with the Army Transport Command, Richard briefly worked for MGM occasionally taking on "other man" roles. He appeared in competition with Van Johnson over June Allyson in the fluffy comedy The Bride Goes Wild (1948) and with Thomas E. Breen over Jane Powell in the minor shipboard musical Luxury Liner (1948). He also went on to have a small role as a French knight in Joan of Arc (1948) starring Ingrid Bergman in the title role.

Richard made his Broadway debut in 1949 with "The Traitor" playing a lieutenant. He followed this with roles in "The Closing Door" (1949), A Phoenix Too Frequent" (1950) and "The Grand Tour" (1951). He portrayed Halliday in the Broadway production of "Dial 'M' for Murder" (1952), later played by Robert Cummings in the 1954 film, and took on the musical lead in "Plain and Fancy" (1955).

Derr moved into TV character work in the 1950's but did take a lead pilot role opposite Barbara Rush in the sci-fi classic When Worlds Collide (1951). He appeared in a number of 50's anthology series including "Studio One in Hollywood," "Pulitzer Prize Playhouse," "Hallmark Hall of Fame," "Kraft Theatre," Goodyear Playhouse" and several episodes of "Robert Montgomery Presents." He subsequently spent the remainder of his career essaying gray-haired authoritarians on such 60's, 70's and early 80's programs as "Perry Mason," "The Outer Limits," "The Magical World of Disney," "Mannix," "Here's Lucy," "The F.B.I.," "Cannon," "Marcus Welby," "Charlie's Angels," "Starsky and Hutch," "Barnaby Jones," "Dallas" and in 1983 made his final camera appearances in episodes of "Trauma Center" and "Automan."

In between all his TV work, a few films sprang about here and there, including leads in the action crime drama Invisible Avenger (1958) and sci-fi horror Terror Is a Man (1959), plus white-collar featured parts in Rosie! (1967), Three in the Attic (1968), Adam at Six A.M. (1970), The Drowning Pool (1975), American Gigolo (1980) and Firefox (1982).

Following retirement from acting, Richard earned a license as a realtor. He died on May 8, 1992 of pancreatic cancer.

Janet Lake was born on 11 March 1936 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. She is an actress, known for Hawaiian Eye (1959), Johnny Staccato (1959) and Thriller (1960). She was previously married to Pepper Rogers, Charles Livingston and Robert Dix.

Tommy Lasorda was one of the best managers in baseball until his retirement in July 1996. He was involved with the Los Angeles Dodgers for over 50 years. He managed the team from 1976 to 1996. He retired due to a heart attack. He thought being a manager would be too stressful.

Courtney Friel was born on 22 April 1980 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. She is an actress, known for xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013) and American Horror Story (2011). She was previously married to Carter Evans.

American character actor of rustic types, Si Jenks was born Howard Hansell Jenkins in Norristown, Pennsylvania, on 23 September 1876, to John (a shopkeeper) and Catherine Jenkins. He was the sixth of seven children. Little is known of his boyhood. At 21, on 21 April 1898, the first day of the Spanish-American War, he enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard (Co. F, 6th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry). He served until October, 1898 (two months following the end of the war), but never left the U.S. during his tour of duty. The following January, he enlisted for three years in the U.S. Army, but only served eight months, as an artilleryman, again without leaving the U.S. He returned to Norristown in 1899 after his military service and worked at a local inn as a hostler through at least 1904. At some point, he developed an interest in entertainment as a career. By 1919, he was married to Victoria Allen, with whom he teamed up in a vaudeville act called "Small Town Wise Crackers." They toured the Orpheum Circuit, appearing in 45 theatres in 36 cities across the U.S. At some point, the marriage and the act broke up, and Jenkins, now billing himself as Si Jenks, continued with a variety of new partners in the act. In 1922, the tour landed him in Los Angeles. Comic actor-director Al St. John, whose later career as a bearded Western sidekick would come to resemble Jenks's, gave the 46-year-old vaudevillian small parts in a couple of his comedy shorts at Fox, where Jenks also was also cast in his first feature film, John Ford's The Village Blacksmith (1922) After a lapse of a couple of years, Jenks came to the attention of Mack Sennett, who put Jenks to work in some 15 pictures over the next decade. Jenks's most familiar roles called for him to work without his dentures and with a scrubby beard, and he quickly found work in a large number of mainly comedic roles, primarily in Westerns. Despite his familiarity as bearded sidekick types, he never achieved the fame of a George 'Gabby' Hayes or Al 'Fuzzy' St. John, but he was very much of a type with those actors. Largely in smaller roles, Jenks made over 220 films, as well as a handful of TV episodes, over the course of his thirty-year career. He retired in 1954 at 78 and lived much of the rest of his life with his wife and fellow ex-vaudevillian, British actress Lilian Hartford, at the Motion Picture Country House & Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. He died there of heart disease at 93, on 6 January 1970. She followed him in death at age 100, in 1983.

Mike Piazza was born on 4 September 1968 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Two Weeks Notice (2002), Constantine the Great and Baywatch (1989). He has been married to Alicia Rickter since 29 January 2005. They have two children.

David Carfagno was born on 6 May 1993 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. David is known for Ask the StoryBots (2016), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012) and Stuck on Someday (2017).

Jaco Pastorius was born on 1 December 1951 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a composer, known for American Playhouse (1980), Chuck Brown: We Got This (2010) and Jaco Pastorius: Live and Outrageous (2007). He was married to Ingrid Muller and Tracy. He died on 21 September 1987 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

Patrick M. Sullivan Jr. was born on 11 November 1967 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. Patrick M. is an art director and production designer, known for Behind the Candelabra (2013), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) and A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001).

Page Peter Wilson is an American actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in national brand campaigns for Head & Shoulders, Nationwide Insurance, and the National Football League.

Wilson co-wrote, produced, and starred in the short film Trio, which premiered at the Phoenix Film Festival in April 2019. He went on to write, direct, and star in the critically acclaimed short film These Are My Brothers, alongside Keraun Harris and Niatia 'Lil Mama' Kirkland. His work as a writer continues to garner industry recognition, with his pilot script, No Love Lost, winning the TV Prime Time Award at the SIP Screenwriting Competition, presented by the Greater Philadelphia Film Office.

Up next, Wilson will star as King in an upcoming feature film-a contemporary retelling of the legendary story of Queen Makeda. Set against the backdrop of modern-day Harlem, the film re-imagines the ancient tale through themes of power, legacy, and identity.

Jimmy Smith was born on 8 December 1925 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Event Horizon (1997), Casino (1995) and Friday Night Lights (2004). He was married to Lola. He died on 8 February 2005 in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.

Bernard Glincosky was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. He is known for The Listing (2017), Booked (2018) and What Death Leaves Behind (2018).

Born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, Bill Freas began his work in the arts and entertainment industry at a young age. During his youth, he studied creative writing with renowned author and screenwriter S.C. Sykes. A state-champion musician during his time as a student at Wissahickon High School in Ambler, Pennsylvania, Bill also performed professionally in the Philadelphia area with such dynamic, eclectic ensembles as the City Rhythm Orchestra/Big Band (bass trombone), the Black-Eyed Peas Jazz Band (tuba), the Philadelphia Sinfonia II (tuba), the United States Army Reserve Bands (bass trombone), Purple Sunset (piano/keyboards, bass, and drums), and indie pop-rock band Marah (tuba).

While at WHS, he won numerous music awards, including the prestigious John Philip Sousa Award, and earned top positions in major ensembles, including sweeping first-chair tuba distinctions in PMEA District 11 Band and Orchestra, Region 6 Band and Orchestra, and Pennsylvania All-State Band, all within his senior year. Over four years at WHS, he earned tuba seats in a total of eight PMEA band and orchestra festivals, as well as being chosen in back-to-back years as the bass trombonist for the elite Cavalcade All-Star Jazz Band. As his musical interests peaked, Bill studied intensive music theory, composition, orchestration, and learned to play every instrument. Following graduation from WHS in 1997, Bill continued his musical studies at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania while maintaining his professional career as a performer, composer, and arranger.

In 2000, Bill was hired to compose and produce the musical score and theme song for a Philadelphia-based television pilot produced by Ron Smolin for Fat Hat Films, Inc. That opportunity branched out for him into positions as head writer and cast member for the project, which garnered interest from networks such as TBS and Comedy Central. Following his involvement with the project, Bill began writing for film full-time and soon secured numerous deals for his projects, with various US and international film companies. Over the next few years, he expanded his technical, business, and creative capabilities and began producing, directing, and acting as well. In 2011, Bill made his first major directorial debut with "Ain't So Funny," which he also wrote and produced. The film made its world premiere at the popular Blue Snowman Film Festival in Montreal, Quebec, to rave reviews. In addition to writing for film and television, he has authored a satirical comedy book, an eclectic horror and sci-fi short-story collection, and a number of acclaimed works of fiction that have been published in top-selling anthologies and literary compilations by domestic and international literary entities.

Founded in 2010, Bill's production company, Crazy Owl Films, has worked in various development, production, and post-production capacities on a number of film and television projects both in-house and outside of the company. The firm frequently partners with Canadian film label Foresight Entertainment to produce genre films and television content, such as "Friends in Dark Places," "Nocturne Six," "Shadow Hill," and "Kemical Kacee." In 2014, Crazy Owl Films expanded and opened a music division, known as Crazy Owl Entertainment, that composes and produces original music for established professional musical artists and for placement in film, television, and assorted multimedia projects. "Yellowstone Lake," Bill's neo-classical/New Age concept album with the Cottage City Symphony Orchestra, and one of the division's marquee projects, was released in 2021 to superb reviews and quickly made its way to the top of numerous domestic and international radio and sales charts. Aside from his work with the Crazy Owl and Foresight labels, Bill also holds the positions of Head of the USA Division and Global Director of Development with Auspol Media, an Australian-based international creative agency. Bill's alma mater, Wissahickon High School, honored his school and career achievements by inducting him into its Hall of Fame in 2017.

Leonard Simon was born on 9 December 1936 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for Blue Thunder (1984), Columbo (1971) and Stitches (1985). He died on 3 June 2014 in Claremont, California, USA.

John Joseph DiRenzo (born 1968) is an American actor, filmmaker and culinary professional. He was born and raised in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and is the son of Lena (Pergine), a housewife, and Nicholas A., a butcher and food market owner. His ancestry is Italian (mother) and Italian (father). John found his love for entertainment at an early age. In his early teens John was a marching, concert and stage band percussionist at Norristown Area High School and graduated in 1986. During his adolescent years, John remained in school music studies and began performing with local garage bands. In his early 20's John worked as a night club lighting tech and disc jockey performing at Philadelphia area venues. Johns career as a professional actor began at age 43 appearing as a background performer in the feature film After Earth (2012). John is a member of SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and AEA (Actors Equity Association) actors unions. John has worked on projects including short films, feature films, television, Live Television, commercials, print and voice over productions. John has credits as an professional actor, stand-in, executive producer, producer, assistant director, and casting associate. John has worked on print modeling projects with west coast photographer Brian Kuhlmann and world renown portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz. In 2014 John starred in Friends from the Neighborhood, the story of an undercover police detective who infiltrates an organized crime operation. Once inside he discovers the boss of the operation is a childhood friend from the neighborhood. In 2014 John had a supporting role in One Night at Dante's, the story of the fictionalized accounts of true events behind the double murder that took place in a Philadelphia night club in 1964 - Dante's Infrerno. In 2015 John starred in Deadly Gamble, the story of a degenerate gambler who has nothing left, so he puts his loved ones on the line and borrows money from the mafia for one last run of luck. In 2016 John starred in Variety, the story of what happens when a young man from Russia winds up working at the Jersey shore. In 2017 John starred in and executive produced The Listing, the story of Michael Mourer, a family man and a successful Realtor. However his current listing could be his last as he is unexpectedly black mailed with a harsh time restraint. In 2017 John had a starring role in and in part produced the television series Chase Street, the story of Camden, NJ, the county seat of Camden County, NJ and a city abandoned- by the state, employers, and its middle-class white residents and suburban neighbors-its people left to fend for themselves and caught in a vortex of drugs and political corruption. In 2018 John starred in a short film titled Circles, the story of two men who pontificate on existence and the balance of fate and free will, in 2021 John starred in a SAG short film titled Hitchhiker. John is a culinary professional with over 35 years in the grocery, produce, fresh meat, restaurant business and is an experienced chef, butcher, bartender and restaurant consultant. From Oct 2016 - March 2020 John worked as a guest host on the QVC shopping networks accumulating over 3000 hours of live television presenting products for kitchen and cookware companies on the QVC networks. John's culinary journey began at age 10 in his hometown Norristown, Pa working along side his father, mother and siblings in the family's food markets, butcher shops and restaurants located throughout the Philadelphia suburbs from the early 1960's through 2008. At an early age John learned the art of meat cutting working as an apprentice butcher. As a young child and teen John spent the majority of his time working in the family markets.

Johns hobbies and interests include cooking, 70's music, salt water fishing, playing the drums, investing in penny stocks, keeping active, living a health lifestyle trough diet and exercise.

Jerry Spinelli was born on 1 February 1941 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Milkweed, Stargirl (2020) and Hollywood Stargirl (2022). He is married to Eileen Spinelli.

Kati Jordan was born on 6 March 1979 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Post-Mortem (2010), S.K.I.N.S.: Serial Killers in Need of Support (2009) and Head Cases: Serial Killers in the Delaware Valley (2013).

Tim Boyle was born on 2 August 1948 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. He is known for South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999), Starship Troopers (1997) and True Lies (1994). He was married to Karen Tobin. He died on 22 December 2019 in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Rob Mancini was born on 30 July 1981 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. Rob is a producer and director, known for Home Made Simple (2011), Blank Wall Overhaul (2018) and Treehugger TV (2010).

Bullethead was born on 22 July 1970 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor, known for A Bothered Conscience (2006), Chicano Blood (2008) and The Mojo Manifesto: The Life and Times of Mojo Nixon (2022).

Jules Fisher was born on 12 November 1937 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. He is a producer, known for The Stepford Wives (2004), Beauty and the Beast (2017) and Burlesque (2010).

Sam Cahill was born on 23 April 1987 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an editor and actor, known for A Reality Check for Miss Betty (2008), A Star Without a Star: The Untold Juanita Moore Story (2022) and The Bay (2010).