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2009 Celebrity Guests

 

 

Jamie Anne Allman - A veteran of both stage and film, Jamie established as a powerful actor with her role as Connie on The Shield and her role as Martha Shaw in The Notebook.  Most recently she has appeared on the season finale of The Closer and on the Los Angeles stage in Waiting For Lefty.

 

Marshall Allman - An Austin native, Marshall began his acting career at the age of 18.  In addition to many television guest star appearances, including recently Grey's Anatomy and Law and Order SVU, he has received great recognition as LJ in the hit FOX TV series Prison Break.  His feature film credits include Hostage with Bruce Wills, Winged Creatures, and The Immaculate Conceoption of Little Dizzle, which premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

 

 

Jonathan Banks - Comfortable on stage, film, or television, Jonathan will soon be seen in an ABC pilot titled Astronauts.  He's been seen in many movies and TV shows, including Wiseguy, Beverly Hills Cop, 48 Hrs., Crocodile Dindee in L.A., and Plague Season.

 

Earl Billings - Born in Clevleand, Ohio, Earl arrived in California in 1976 and landed a role on the hit series What's Happening as Rob, the proprietor of "Rob's Place".  He was also the football official trying to find a coin to flip in the very popular Southwest Airlines commercial and currently appears in a series of commercials for AFLAC.  Recently, he has appeared in the feature films Something New and Senior Skip Day.

 

 

Dan Boever - After six years of professional baseball with the Cincinnati Reds organization, Dan traded his bat for a golf club.  Since then, his career highlights include eleven consecutive appearances at the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship, a dedicated half hour special on The Golf Channel and an Oscar-worthy "one word" scene in the 2006 New Line Cinema movie Hoot.

 


Powers Boothe - A Texas State Distinguished Alumnus and Emmy Award-winning actor, Powers has starred in more than 12 feature films and has had leading roles on numerous TV series.  Most recently, he has appeared as President Noah Daniels on the successful series 24, and as Cy Tolliver on Deadwood.  He and his wife Pam (who is also an alumnus) have two grown children and are both Texas natives.

 


Tom Buchanan - Since returning from Survivor: Africa, Tom has become very involved with elementary schools promoting reading literacy.  Tom created a reading program for kids, "Reading is The Key to Survival," which has had an enormous impact on young readers of today.  He has also donated many hours of his time to local and national fundraisers.

 


Sam Cable - Sam has been a producer of film and television features for the past 15 pears.  His most recent works have been westerns including three releases by Lionsgate this year, The Man Who Came Back, Return of the Outlaws, and Blue Eyes.  He has two more planned to begin production this fall.

 
 
Thomas Calabro - A veteran television, motion picture and stage actor, Thomas may be most recognized as the evil doctor Michael Mancini on the hit series Melrose Place, in which he currently plays the same character on the pilot of the remake, now in production.  Among his credits are NBC's Camaro, Dreamstreet and Hard Knox.  Starring roles in TV movies included Till Lies Do Us Part, The Perfect Husband and Best Actress.  His television guest spots have included Without a Trace, Cold Case, and Nip/Tuck.

 


John Castellanos - John played John Silva in 13 episodes of The Young and The Restless and District Attorney Jeff Talon in The Bold and The Beautiful.  Film credits include roles in The Belly of the Beast, Blue Eyes and Mexican Gold.  He has appeared on television series such as JAG, Babylon 5, and Miami Vice.

 

 

James Clement - In 2007, James became a castaway on the 15th season of Survivor, which took place in China.  The following year, he returned to the show as one of the "faves" in the 2008 season's Survivor: Micronesia - Fans versus Favorites.

 
 
Michael Crabtree - He's played the Governor of Texas and debated the death penalty with Kevin Spacey.  He was Deaf Smith with Dennis Quaid in The Alamo, has worked with Clint Eastwood, and has been kicked around by Chuck Norris and various casting directors, agents, and producers in his 25 year career.  Most recently, he co-starred with Claire Danes and Julia Ormond in an HBO movie titled The Temple Grandin Story, which airs in May 2009.
 

Richard Dillard - Well Known as Frank Pickford in Dazed and Confused, Richard's career spans 30 years from co-starring roles in TV mini-series like Texas Justice and Women of Independent Means to lead roles in feature films like Screen Door Jesus and Cadillac Ranch.  He can currently be seen in the new Kimberly Pierce film Stop-Loss and the BBC series Wire In The Blood.

 

 

Leslie Easterbrook - Leslie is probably best known as Callahan in the Police Academy movies, Rhonda Lee in Laverne and Shirley and Mother Firefly in The Devil's Rejects.  This past year, she was in Rob Zombie's Halloween and the Farrelly Brother's Heartbreak Kid.  Her newest films are Black Water Transit, Blue Eyes, and House.  They are all in post-production and coming to a theatre and/or video store near you.

 

 

Josh Emerson - Josh received a degree in motion picture arts from Red Deer College, then moved to Vancouver and signed with one of Canada's leading agencies.  He was soon working on both sides of the border.  American audiences first saw him in the CW network series Aliens in America.  His big break came when he was cast as Greg Saloga on I Love You, Beth Cooper and as Jonas Konelle on Jennifer's Body.

 

 

Charlie Frazier - A former NFL All Star Team member, Charlie was an All-American at Texas Southern, as well as All-Conference, and in 1961 was named Athlete of the Year.  He played for the Houston Oilers from 1962-1968 and with the New England Patriots in 1969 and 1970. Currently, Charlie teaches biology and coaches football and golf at John H. Reagan High School in Houston.

 

 

Richard Gant - Richard is a fixture on over 30 sitcoms, numerous dramas including Chicago Hope, NYPD Blue, Picket Fences, and a multitude of movies of the week.  His role as Detective Sergeant Dornan was seen on the hit show NYPD Blue. He also appeared in an episode of Deadwood.

 

Jerry Giles - Jerry has been in the acting business for over twenty years, appearing in commercials, feature films like Little Miss Sunshine and having guest appearances on great shows such as The X-Files and many more. You will see him this summer in the true story about the 1956 Little League World Series called The Perfect Game.  Jerry is very happy to be back at Texas State.

 

 

Burton "Bubba" Gilliam - Burton's acting debut in Blazing Saddles has been followed by many films and more than 100 television shows, including three seasons on Evening Shade.  He has had roles on Knight Rider, Everyone Loves Raymond, Alice, and Fall Guy.  Burton's credits include nearly 200 other television appearances

 

Sara Gravrock - She began her acting career with roles on The Bold and The Beautiful and Days of Our Lives.  In film, she starred as Penny in the wedding comedy Cake (starring other Texas State celebs and directed by her husband Will Wallace).  This past year, Sara acted alongside Patrick Warburton in the film Rock Slyde, and worked with Sean Penn in the film, The Tree of Life, scheduled for 2010 release.

 

Jerry Hopkins - A graduate of Mart, Texas High School, Jerry made all-state high school football teams in 1957 and 1958.  He was all Southwest Conference at Texas A&M in 1961 and 1962 and All American in 1963.  He went on to play for the Denver Broncos from 1963 to 1966, the Miami Dolphins in 1967 and the Oakland Raiders in 1968.  The former owner of Hopkins Oil Co. Inc., he retired in 2007.

 

Samuel L. Jackson - Samuel's versatile talent is reflected by the 17 acting awards he's received and the 33 nominations for others.  He is currently in pre-production on 4 new films, filming Unthinkable for 2010 release and in post-production on 3 more.  Usually playing bad guys and drug addicts, he became a leading man and an action hero in films like The Long Kiss Goodnight and Die Hard: With a Vengeance.

 

 

Richard Karn - An actor with many credits, Richard is probably best known as Tim Allen's sidekick, Al Borland, for 8 seasons of Home Improvement.  He was also the host of the game show Family Feud, and is currently the new host of Bingo America.

 

Eugene Lee - A Distinguished Texas State Alumnus Eugene recently returned from Atlanta, where he was featured in the critically acclaimed True Colors Theatre production of Miss Evers Boys with Jasmine Guy, directed by Kenny Leon.  He is currently an Artist in Residence with the Texas State Department of Theatre and Dance.  He was the recipient of the Classic's 2007 Jerry Award.

 

Kenny Leon - Kenny is founder and Artistic Director of True Colors Theatre Company.  He has directed nine of the ten plays in August Wilson's cycle, including the Broadway productions of Gem of the Ocean and Radio Golf.  He also directed the Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun featuring Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and Phylicia Rashad.

 

David Magee - Continuously acclaimed as one of the country's top sleight-of-hand artist and most sought after entertainers, David delivers strong and powerful performances.  His skills as he retrieves thoughts, manipulates cards and demonstrates the gambling techniques make him well recognized in casinos worldwide.

 


Jason Manns - An actor, producer and musician, Jason appeared in the films Cake: A Wedding Story and The Plight of Clownana.  He is currently in post-production on Rock Slyde, which he is in and produced.  As a musician, he has recorded albums and has had his original music featured in shows like ABC's Carpoolers.

 


James McDaniel - Audiences may know James from his Emmy-nominated role as Lt. Arthur Fancy on NYPD Blue or in his recent ABC series Life as We Know It.  Last year, he won the Emmy and Peabody awards for his film Edge of America.  He will appear in the soon to be released film See You in September and Bunker Hill and served as Executive Producer of the upcoming The Only Good Indian.



Charley Pride - An internationally recognized artist, Charley has been releasing hit recordings since the late fifties.  His incredible legacy includes 36 No. 1 hit singles, over 70 million albums sold, 31 gold and 4 platinum - including one quadruple platinum.  On RCA Records, Charley Pride is second only to Elvis Presley.  The Country Music Awards named him Entertainer of the Year in 1971 and Top Male Vocalist in 1971 and 1972.

 

 


Steve Prince - A graduate of Texas State, Steve recently starred in the film Murders and Acquisitions, and also had a role in the Texas-based The Alamo. He will be seen soon in the yet to be released films Pineapple and Red Ridge. Television credits include appearances on JAG, Walker, Texas Ranger, Allie & Me, and numerous other series.




Charles Robinson - A very prolific actor, Charles has appeared in more than 16 feature films, most recently Krews and Sweet Kandy.  He has appeared in over 40 TV series, such as Night Court, Touched By An Angel, and Home Improvement.  He has been wih the Actor's Studio for over 30 years.




Alan Stepp - A Texas State alumnus, Alan has been busy in Hollywood for years, acting, writing, and producing for television and film.  He produced and co-starred in the successful ABC television movie Willing To Kill - The Texas Cheerleader Story.  He recently appeared in Desperate Housewives opposite Teri Hatcher and Nicollette Sheridan.   Alan is currently preparing for his directing debut with his latest script, BLITZ 96.

 

 

Buck Taylor - With over 50 acting credits in film and television, including an eight-year run as Newly on Gunsmoke, Buck's acting career has been nonstop since he began.  Also a recognized watercolor artist, his works are dedicated to preserving and celebrating the heritage of the American West.

 
 
 
Glynn Turman - After more than 50 years in the entertainment industry, award-winning actor, producer and director Glynn Turman recently scored his first Emmy win in the Outstanding Guest Actor category for his special appearance in the new HBO series In Treatment as Alex Sr.  Turman's other acknowledgements include 3 NAACP Image Awards, a Los Angeles Critics Award nomination, and a Dramalogue Award.

 

 

Basil Wallace - An actor, Basil has worked on and off Broadway as well as in regional theatres.  Television credits include NYPD Blue, Judging Amy, West Wing, CSI and NCIS.  Feature films he has appeared in include Marked For Death, Grand Canyon, The Wood, and Blood Diamond.

 

 
 
Will Wallace - Will has worked on over 30 films, including The Thin Red Line, I Am Sam, Rules of Engagement, The New World and Broke Sky, for which he received a Best Actor nomination.  He is currently producing the Sunflower Production entitled The Marfa Lights and co-producing Aloft with Robert Redford.  Recent projects include producing Rock Slyde, starring Patrick Warburton and his lovely wife Sara Gravrock, and Clear Lake, WI, starring Michael Madsen.

 

 

Dan Wilcox - Dan has worked in television and film for 36 years.  He was a writer-producer on M*A*S*H, and he ran the Newhart and Growing Pains series.  Other credits include Cosby, The Jeff Foxworthy Show, F.M., and Roots II.  He is on the Board of Directors of the Writers Guild of America, West.  He wishes it noted that his writing is better than his golf.

 

 

Ellis "Skeeter" Williams - Skeeter has been an actor for over 25 years.  He has appeared in some of your favorite television shows, films and commercials.  He has done guest performances on Seinfield, The Hughleys, and NYPD Blue.  Skeeter is the only person to have made a hole-in-one in the history of the Celebrity Golf Classic.