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Christopher McQuarrie is an acclaimed producer, director and an Academy Award® winning writer. McQuarrie grew up in Princeton Junction, New Jersey and in lieu of college, he spent the first five years out of school traveling and working at a detective agency. He later moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film.

In 1995, his screenplay for The Usual Suspects, directed by childhood pal, Bryan Singer, garnered him the Academy Award® and the BAFTA Award for "Best Original Screenplay". McQuarrie also went on to win the Edgar Allan Poe Award and the Independent Spirit Award. The Usual Suspects has been named one of the greatest screenplays of all time by the Writer's Guild of America.

In the years following, McQuarrie directed The Way of the Gun, starring Ryan Phillippe, Benicio Del Toro and James Caan. In 2008, he collaborate with Singer once again to produce and co-write Valkyrie, starring Tom Cruise. This film would lead to many more McQuarrie-Cruise collaborations. McQuarrie re-teamed with Cruise in 2012 for his sophomore directorial outing, Jack Reacher Within hours of completing the film, he was at work with Cruise again, this time re-writing the script for Doug Liman's Edge of Tomorrow. It was while working together on the sci-fi action film that Cruise suggested McQuarrie direct what would become Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. The highly anticipated fifth installment of the Ethan Hunt saga, written also by McQuarrie, garnered the biggest opening in the history of the Mission: Impossible franchise, was the highest-grossing 2D Hollywood film ever at the Chinese box office, earning $124 million, and garnered over $680 million worldwide. McQuarrie is confirmed to write and direct the sixth chapter in the franchise, making him the first repeat director in the film's two-decade history.

Jessica Hecht is an American actress and singer who played Gretchen Schwartz on Breaking Bad, Susan Bunch on Friends, and Carol on The Boys. She has also made numerous Broadway appearances. Hecht was born in Princeton, New Jersey. When she was three, she moved with her parents and sister to Bloomfield, Connecticut. After her parents divorced, her mother married psychiatrist Howard Iger, and they raised Jessica and her sister Elizabeth. Hecht attended Connecticut College for a year and a half before graduating from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts in 1987 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drama.

Jon Tenney was born on 16 December 1961 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. He is an actor and director, known for The Closer (2005), Scandal (2012) and You Can Count on Me (2000). He has been married to Leslie Urdang since 16 June 2012. He was previously married to Teri Hatcher.

Michael Showalter is a director, writer, and producer who most recently directed the 2017 hit The Big Sick. Previously he directed and co-wrote the 2016 film Hello, My Name Is Doris starring Sally Field. Michael's first film was the The Baxter (2005) starring Michelle Williams and Justin Theroux. Michael is a co-creator of the critically acclaimed television show Search Party on TBS. He also co-created the TV mini-series Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp and Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later on Netflix.

As a writer and producer, Michael's other film credits include Wet Hot American Summer and They Came Together. Michael is a founding member of the comedy groups The State and Stella. He's also written two books: Mr. Funny Pants and Guys Can Be Cat Ladies Too.

Josh Pais (P-EYE-CE) is currently featured in the new Netflix limited series "A Man in Full," written by the award-winning creator behind "Big Little Lies," where he portrays the high-powered businessman 'Herb Richman' opposite Jeff Daniels. Most recently, Josh was seen in the award-winning Hulu miniseries "The Dropout" with Amanda Seyfried, and is playing music producer 'Lowell Gelfand,' in the latest season of Starz' "Power Book III: Raising Kanan." Josh will continue his work on the series into season five. He just completed production on the upcoming independent feature film "The Friend" with Naomi Watts and Bill Murray.

Josh's successful career includes countless high profile award-winning and nominated projects in TV and film, such as Showtime's "Ray Donovan," with Liev Schreiber, Warner Bros. "Joker" with Joaquin Phoenix and Robert DeNiro, FX's Networks "Damages," with Glenn Close, Universal Pictures' "A Beautiful Mind," with Russell Crowe, HBO's "Mrs. Fletcher" with Kathryn Hahn, and the lead in A24's "Funny Pages" produced by the Safdie brothers. He is also recognized for his work in the two fan favorite series, Paramount+'s "Younger" with Hilary Duff and HBO's Sex and the City as the modelizer. Josh's acting career initially gained momentum after he landed the lead role of 'Raphael' in New Line Cinema's iconic 90s original film "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."

Throughout his career, Josh has had the privilege of working alongside esteemed talent such as Robert DeNiro, Edward Norton, Matt Damon, Kristen Stewart, Mark Ruffalo, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Parker Posey, Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Zac Efron, Michael Caine, Jesse Eisenberg, and Meryl Streep.

Josh grew up in NYC's infamous Alphabet City. His upbringing was influenced by his parents' diverse background; his father, a theoretical physicist, who worked with Albert Einstein for 11 years, while his mother was a poet and painter. He began acting in his living room as a young child, with locals crowding in his apartment to watch and participate. This early passion for the craft eventually led him to pursue formal training in acting and directing. Sensing there was something missing in his training he went on a two year journey to discover how he could increase his spontaneity by creating from impulse. This journey lead him to work with directors and acting companies from all over the world.

He collaborated with members of Joe Chaikin's Open Theater and Shuji Terayama's Avante-Garde Theater of Tokyo, trained with innovator Tadashi Suzaki and his acting company, worked extensively with Gabrielle Roth and he became a member of Circle Rep Lab Company. Based on what he had discovered on his two-year exploration, NYU unexpectedly asked him to teach. This led him to establish Committed Impulse, a renowned actor training program tailored for professionals in the acting industry, public speakers, and individuals across various professions. Through Committed Impulse, Josh combines years of experience and insight to empower individuals to unleash their deepest creative potential and excel in their respective fields.

Also unexpectedly, Josh recently received a book deal from Penguin Random House to share his insights from Committed Impulse with the general public. The book, "Lose Your Mind, The Path to Creative Invincibility," will drop September 2025. The book is going to offer readers invaluable insights and practical strategies for unstoppable creativity and presence.

Josh resides in NYC and Sag Harbor with his sweetheart, Marie Forelo.

Adam Bernstein began his career as an animator, and at age 26 produced the first original programming for the Nickelodeon Network. He went on to direct over seventy music videos, including "Love Shack" for the B-52's, "Hey Ladies" for the Beastie Boys and "Baby's Got Back" for Sir Mix a Lot. In addition to the pilots for "Fargo" "30 Rock" "Scrubs" "Alpha House" and "Strangers with Candy," Adam has directed multiple episodes of "Oz" and "Breaking Bad." He is the recipient of a Golden Globe (Fargo) an Emmy Award (30 Rock), an MTV Award (Love Shack), a Peabody Award (Homicide - Life on the Street), and a Good Citizenship Medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution (1973). He lives in New York City with his wife, the actress Jessica Hecht.

Michael E. Knight was born on 7 May 1959 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for All My Children (1970), Date with an Angel (1987) and Hexed (1993). He was previously married to Catherine Hickland.

Shelley Smith was born on 25 October 1952 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. She was an actress, known for For Love and Honor (1983), Magnum, P.I. (1980) and Simon & Simon (1981). She was married to Michael Maguire, Reid Nathan and Jonathan Axelrod. She died on 8 August 2023 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Florencia is most thankful that her parents moved to the United States from Argentina because she's "had so many opportunities having been born and raised here." Playing the witty, intelligent, hard as nails attorney Tèa Delgado is Florencia's first television series. She has acted in regional theatre in such plays as "Hamlet." Describing herself as curious, she is presently learning how to meditate. Florencia is currently living in New York City and is single.

Rich Wilkes was born on 15 August 1966 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. He is a writer and actor, known for xXx (2002), The Dirt (2019) and Airheads (1994).

Lyle Menendez was born to a to a Cuban-American business executive, Jose Menendez and a schoolteacher, Kitty Menendez. After his birth, his mother became a full-time homemaker and his father immediately set about making sure his oldest son was even more successful in business then he was and give him a good name in the process. In achieving that goal, Jose became a stern, domineering, perfectionist father who controlled what Lyle would eat, who he could associate with, what books and television shows he was exposed to, and even tried to control his thoughts. Starting in grade school, Jose would question him about current events at the dinner table and berate him for unsatisfactory answers. His mother supported his father's methods, and in addition was subject to dramatic mood swings that her sons had to endure. The pressure took a toll on Lyle, who developed a bed-wetting problem at the age of 14 and suffered from insomnia. He also came to have a fierce temper. In high school his father ordered him to find a sport at which to excel, one that didn't involve being on a team. Lyle chose tennis, and was the highest-ranked member of the tennis squad. His grades were only average, however, which caused further tension at home. After graduating high school he was rejected by Princeton University and attended a local community college. He fell in love with a girl and wanted to open a restaurant, but his parents disapproved and their interfering ended the romance, engendering enormous resentment in Lyle. He was accepted into Princeton on his second try, but shortly afterwards was suspended for plagiarism. He returned a year later and fell in love with a model, but again his parents put an end to his romance. Lyle disliked school and only went through the motions, and his low grades led to academic disciplinary action. The brothers' home life became, to them, more tense and unbearable by the day, and the result was that on August 20, 1989, they killed both of their parents in their living room with a shotgun. They then went on a spending spree until Lyle's arrest in March of 1990. The ensuing trial caused nationwide publicity, as the brothers said they killed their parents after years of horrific abuse, particularly from their father. Also disturbing was Lyle's statement to a psychiatrist that their father would be proud of them for committing such a brutal, efficient murder. Their testimony was so compelling that the first trial ended in a hung jury. However, in the second trial, both were convicted of first-degree murder, though spared the death penalty. They were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Kelly Hutchinson was born on 17 March 1976 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. She is a writer and producer, known for Dead to Me (2019), Don Peyote (2014) and Catch Me If You Can (2002).

Bret Ernst was born on 4 May 1972 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Weeds (2005), Beer League (2006) and CSI: NY (2004).

This handsome, eloquent and highly charismatic actor became one of the foremost interpreters of Eugene O'Neill's plays and one of the most treasured names in song during the first half of the twentieth century. He also courted disdain and public controversy for most of his career as a staunch Cold War-era advocate for human rights, as well as his very vocal support for Joseph Stalin and the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956. While the backlash of his civil rights activities and left-wing ideology left him embittered and practically ruined his career, he remains today a durable symbol of racial pride and consciousness.

Born in Princeton, New Jersey, on April 9, 1898, Paul LeRoy Bustill Robeson and his four siblings (William, Benjamin, Reeve, Marian) lost their mother, a schoolteacher, in a fire while quite young (Paul was only six). Paul's father, a humble Presbyterian minister and former slave, raised the family singlehandedly and the young, impressionable boy grew up singing spirituals in his father's church. Paul was a natural athlete and the tall (6'3"), strapping high school fullback had no trouble earning a scholarship to prestigious Rutgers University in 1915 at age 17 -- becoming only the third member of his race to be admitted at the time. He excelled in football, baseball, basketball, and track and field, graduating as a four-letter man. He was also the holder of a Phi Beta Kappa key in his junior year and was a selected member of their honorary society, Cap and Skull. Moreover, he was the class valedictorian and in his speech was already preaching idealism.

Paul subsequently played professional football to earn money while attending Columbia University's law school, and also took part in amateur dramatics. During this time he met and married Eslanda Cardozo Goode in 1921. She eventually became his personal assistant. Despite the fact that he was admitted to the New York bar, Paul's future as an actor was destined and he never did practice law. His wife persuaded him to play a role in "Simon the Cyrenian" at the Harlem YMCA in 1921. This was followed by his Broadway debut the following year in the short-lived play "Taboo", a drama set in Africa, which also went to London. As a result, he was asked to join the Provincetown Players, a Greenwich Village theater group that included in its membership playwright Eugene O'Neill. O'Neill personally asked Paul to star in his plays "All God's Chillun Got Wings" and "The Emperor Jones" in 1924. The reaction from both critics and audiences alike was electrifying...an actor was born.

In 1925 Paul delivered his first singing recital and also made his film debut starring in Body and Soul (1925), a rather murky melodrama that nevertheless was ahead of its time in its depictions of black characters. Although Robeson played a scurrilous, corrupt clergyman who takes advantage of his own people, his dynamic personality managed to shine through. Radio and recordings helped spread his name across foreign waters. His resonant bass was a major highlight in the London production of "Show Boat" particularly with his powerful rendition of "Ol' Man River." He remained in London to play the role of Shakespeare's "Othello" in 1930 (at the time no U.S. company would hire him), and was again significant in a highly controversial production. Paul caused a slight stir by co-starring opposite a white actress, Peggy Ashcroft, who played Desdemona. Around this time Paul starred in the landmark British film Borderline (1930), a silent film that dealt strongly with racial themes, and then returned to the stage in the O'Neill play "The Hairy Ape" in 1931. The following year he appeared in a Broadway revival of "Show Boat" again as Joe. In the same production, the noted chanteuse Helen Morgan repeated her original 1927 performance as the half-caste role of Julie, but the white actress Tess Gardella played the role of Queenie in her customary blackface opposite Robeson.

Robeson spent most of his time singing and performing in England throughout the 1930s. He also was given the opportunity to recapture two of his greatest stage successes on film: The Emperor Jones (1933) and Show Boat (1936). In Britain he continued to film sporadically with Sanders of the River (1935), Song of Freedom (1936), King Solomon's Mines (1937), Dark Sands (1937) and The Tunnel (1940) in important roles that resisted demeaning stereotypes.

During the 1930s he also gravitated strongly towards economics and politics with a burgeoning interest in social activism. In 1934 he made the first of several trips to the Soviet Union and outwardly extolled the Soviet way of life and his belief that it lacked racial bias, despite the Holodomor and the later Rootless Cosmopolitan Campaign. He was a popular figure in Wales where he became personally involved in their civil rights affairs, notably the Welsh miners. Developing a marked leftist ideology, he continued to criticize the blatant discrimination he found so prevalent in America.

The 1940s was a mixture of performance triumphs and poignant, political upheavals. While his title run in the musical drama "John Henry" (1940), was short-lived, he earned widespread acclaim for his Broadway "Othello" in 1943 opposite José Ferrer as Iago and Uta Hagen as Desdemona. By this time, however, Robeson was being reviled by much of white America for his outspoken civil rights speeches against segregation and lynchings, particularly in the South. A founder of the Progressive Party, an independent political party, his outdoor concerts sometimes ignited violence and he was now a full-blown target for "Red Menace" agitators. In 1946 he denied under oath being a member of the Communist Party, but steadfastly refused to refute the accusations under subsequent probes. As a result, his passport was withdrawn and he became engaged in legal battles for nearly a decade in order to retrieve it. Adding fuel to the fire was his only son's (Paul Jr.) marriage to a white woman in 1949 and his being awarded the Stalin Peace Prize in 1952 (he was unable to receive it until 1958 when his passport was returned to him).

Essentially blacklisted, tainted press statements continued to hound him. He began performing less and less in America. Despite his growing scorn towards America, he never gave up his American citizenship although the anguish of it all led to a couple of suicide attempts, nervous breakdowns and a dependency on drugs. Europe was a different story. The people continued to hold him in high regard as an artist/concertist above reproach. He had a command of about 20 languages and wound up giving his last acting performance in "Othello" on foreign shores -- at Stratford-on-Avon in 1959.

While still performing in the 1960s, his health suddenly took a turn for the worse and he finally returned to the United States in 1963. His poet/wife Eslanda Robeson died of cancer two years later. Paul remained in poor health for pretty much the rest of his life. His last years were spent in Harlem in near-total isolation, denying all interviews and public correspondence, although he was honored for speaking out against apartheid in South Africa in 1978.

Paul died at age 77 of complications from a stroke. Among his many honors: he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995; he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998; was honored with a postage stamp during the "Black Heritage" series; and both a Cultural Center at Penn State University and a high school in Brooklyn bear his name. In 1995 his autobiography "Here I Stand" was published in England in 1958; his son, Paul Robeson Jr., also chronicled a book about his father, "Undiscovered Paul Robeson: An Artist's Journey" in 2001.

Nicholas Baroudi was born in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for The Hating Game (2021), Person of Interest (2011) and Sins of the Son (2018).

Dani Druz was born on 28 April 1986 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. She is an actress and casting director, known for The Fighter (2010) and Oliver's Ghost (2011).

Born in New Jersey, and raised in Texas by two native New Yorkers. Moved to New York City the day after she turned 18. Returned to Texas to do Equity theater at the Tony-Award-Winning Alley Theater. Eventually decided to try Los Angeles. At the last minute, the friend that was moving to LA with her decided not to go, and she moved by herself, knowing no one. She was homeless for the first 3 & 1/2 months in California - living out of her car. Did still photos with Tom Cruise for promotional use for "Magnolia". (Was the "Dimples Girl")

Maurice Oldham was born on 30 December 1958 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. He is known for Woman Thou Art Loosed (2004) and A Guy Walks Into a Bar (1997). He was married to Kimberly Elise. He died on 21 May 2007 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Keto Shimizu was born on 23 December 1984 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Arrow (2012), DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016) and Tron: Legacy (2010). She has been married to Chris Lastrapes since 3 May 2014. They have one child.

Ben Mezrich graduated magna cum laude from Harvard in 1991. Since then he has published eight books with a combined printing of more than a million copies in nine languages. He is the author of the blockbuster New York Times bestseller Bringing Down the House: The True Story of Six MIT Kids Who Took Vegas for Millions, which is being made into a major motion picture produced by Kevin Spacey and MGM. Ugly Americans is Mezrich's eighth book and his second foray into nonfiction.

The number is now 25 books (as of August 2021).

James Murphy is an American musician, DJ, singer, songwriter, and record producer. His most well-known musical project is LCD Soundsystem, which first gained attention with its single "Losing My Edge" in 2002 before releasing its eponymous debut album in February 2005 and top 20 success in the UK. LCD Soundsystem's second and third studio albums, Sound of Silver (2007) and This Is Happening (2010) respectively, were met with universal acclaim from several music review outlets. Both albums have also reached the top 50 in the Billboard 200.

LCD Soundsystem has been recognized as a major force in recent music and on March 5, 2013 was named one of Rolling Stone's New Immortals - "active artists who they think will stand the test of time." In 2011, it was announced that LCD Soundsystem would disband with a final show on April 11, 2011 at Madison Square Garden. In the following years, Murphy continued to pursue other artistic projects: some music related, others not.

James Murphy recorded a song with Gorillaz and Outkast's André 3000, called "DoYaThing", for their Converse collection. It was released on February 23, 2012. He produced a song with Pulp called "After You". It was released as a present on Christmas Day 2012 to fans. Murphy also appeared in The Comedy (2012) with Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim.

James Murphy was listed as a producer for Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 2013 album, Mosquito. He also wrote the musical scores for the Noah Baumbach films Greenberg (2010) and While We're Young (2014).

Noah Gregory Hamdan was born in Princeton, New Jersey and raised in Hopewell, New Jersey. His mother is Kelly Minery Hamdan and his father is Nabil Gregory Hamdan.

In 2009, Noah Hamdan attended the Savannah College of Art & Design where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Effects. He graduated in the Spring of 2012.

Noah Hamdan joined MPC in 2013 at their studio in Montreal, Quebec. Over the course of two years he has worked on eight feature films as an Environment TD and Digital Matte Painter.

At the end of 2015, Noah Hamdan started working for Image Engine Inc. in Vancouver, British Columbia. His role is a Digital Matte Painter and an Environment TD.

James Mount was born in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. He is an actor, known for Homeland (2011), Gotham (2014) and The Blacklist (2013). He has been married to Tracy Mount since April 2007.

Justin Paul was born in Princeton, NJ, to Illinois natives Sherwin and Sherry Lynn. After discovering his love for the craft at age 19, he began taking various workshops and programs studying with some of the industry's most prominent teachers; Paramount film coach Bob McAndrew, Robert Easton and Margie Haber, to name a few. He went on to book small roles in ABC's "All My Children" and HBO's "Sex In The City", before auditioning and being selected to study with Tony award winning theater legend, Frank Langella. In four hour classes with an elite twelve students, it was here where Justin reached a deeper level in his work. Langella took a liking to Justin and they parted as friends, before Langella referred Justin to his agent. He then began to study with Emmy award winning director and Colombia University professor, Peter Miner. After working with Peter for a short time, He invited Justin to come to Colombia to work with various up and coming students in the directors program. Although Justin thoroughly enjoyed this, he withdrew after being cast on daytime television drama, One Life to Live, where he received praise for his work as troubled Navy SEAL vet, Wes Granger. He later went on to star in the film "Dry River Road", where he again played a down and out war vet, and the film got notoriety and fond review at the 2011 Palm Springs International Film Festival. Involved in various other projects, Justin is up and back between New York and Los Angeles, where he continues to expand his work.

Erik Weihenmayer was born on 23 September 1968 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Blindsight (2006), Touch the Top of the World (2006) and Blind Skiers Edge (2009). He has been married to Ellie Reeve since August 1997. They have one child.