Tyler Mane - Actor/Stuntman/Wrestler

Now playing everywhere at a theater near you is Rob Zombie's filmversion of John Carpenter's classic "Halloween".  The role of the masked psychopathic knife-wielding stalker known as Michael Myers is played by Tyler Mane.

Mane grew up in Saskatoon, Canada. Reportedly something of an underdog, who suffered from relentless bullying as a child, he took this mistreatment and spun it into determination, with an aggressive immersion into all forms of martial arts - including karate, judo and tae-kwon do. Then wrestling beckoned; Mane trained from the age of 19 on, first in Calgary, Alberta, then in Los Angeles. From 1986 through 1999, this Canuck import assumed the characterization of Big Sky (in a tag team with Kevin Nash) and as Nitron, and competed in professional wrestling tournaments around the world for the WCW and UWF.

Tyler Mane turned to acting in 1994, making appearances in "Bandit: Bandit Goes Country", a syndicated TV-movie based on the 1983 feature film "Smokey and the Bandit", and the Fox drama "Party of Five". That same year, the 6-foot-10, 275-pound Mane, whose real name is Daryl Karolat, also co-starred in a musical comedy about wrestling at San Diego's Lyceum Space, choreographing the hilarious show's "main event".

Mane's enormous size and expertise in karate made him a natural choice to play Wolverine's foe Sabretooth in the big-screen version of the Marvel comic "X-Men". The eagerly anticipated flick was released in the summer of 2000 and had Mane acting opposite the likes of Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen during his feature-film debut.

Indeed, it was for his skills as a former professional wrestler that Mane was first approached by producers at 20th Century Fox and Liberty Productions regarding his availability for stunt work.

Mane explains: “[They] wanted me to come in and discuss doing some stunt work for the film. Bryan Singer (X-Men’s director) had seen my picture and wanted to meet me. So when he did see me he was like, ‘oh my God! It’s Sabretooth!’

“So instead of me going to discuss doing stunts, I ended up playing Sabretooth!

He followed that up with a small role in the David Spade comedy "The Adventures of Joe Dirt" (2001).

"Halloween" film director Rob Zombie actually had Tyler in mind for the part of Michael Myers, when he wrote it.  Tyler took the part as an acting challenge.  Though it is not his first villain, it his Mane's most purely vicious. "This is the first time I played a psycho killer so the research you do and the whole thought process is totally different than preparing for a comic book character or a period piece like Troy. Everything is a little different. You just want to bring something a little different and hopefully give the people a little something more than they've seen in the last eight."

Tyler's portrayal did not disappoint audiences, as "Halloween" debut broke previous Labor Day weekend theater records with $31 million earnings.

 

Jack Lalanne - The Godfather Of Fitness

Info: Jack La Lanne turns 93 on September 26, 2007, and is often called the "Godfather of Fitness".   He gained worldwide renown for his success as a bodybuilder, as well as his prodigious feats of strength such as doing a 1000 pushups in 22 minutes or being handcuffed and swimming treacherous ocean currents while towing 10 boats filled with people. He has won numerous awards, including the Horatio Alger Award from the Association of Distinguished Americans, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Jack admits it was not always this way. "As a kid," he flatly states, "I was a sugarholic and a junk food junkie! It made me weak and it made me mean. It made me so sick I had boils, pimples and suffered from nearsightedness. Little girls used to beat me up. My mom prayed… the church prayed." It was at the age of 15 when he heard pioneer nutritionist Paul Bragg speak at the Oakland City Women's Club in the San Francisco Bay Area that Jack finally realized he was addicted to sugar. Bragg promised Jack if he would exercise and eat a proper diet he could regain good health. Jack listened attentively and was fiercely determined to walk away from that lecture ready to build a totally new Jack La Lanne.

 He discovered that the Berkeley YMCA had a set of weights and began experimenting with them and before long, Jack was able to attain the muscular, healthy body of his dreams. "I became a voracious reader and I absorbed everything that would help me to improve myself. Gray's Anatomy was my bible. During college, I studied pre-med to become a medical doctor and I also went to chiropractic college and graduated; however, I was more interested in helping people by convincing them to take preventative measures, before they became ill." Resolving to help others find the secrets to health and fitness, La Lanne opened the nation's first modern health studio in 1936 on the third floor of an old office building in Oakland, California, paying $45 per month for rent. Jack was a mere 21 years old. "I was 40 years ahead of my time," he said, "but by then I knew more about the workings of the muscles in my body than most doctors. People thought I was a charlatan and a nut," Jack says. "The doctors were against me - they said that working out with weights would give people heart attacks and they would lose their sex drive. Women would look like men and even varsity coaches predicted that their athletes would get muscle bound and banned them from lifting weights. I had to give these athletes keys so they could come in at night and work out in my gym. Time has proven that what I was doing was scientifically correct - starting with a healthy diet followed by systematic exercise, and today everyone knows it. All world class athletes now work out with weights, as do many members of the general public, both male and female."

Over time, Jack began to formulate a basic approach to physical fitness and nutrition. His methods would be scientifically sound as he developed the first prototypes of exercise equipment presently available in contemporary health spas. His inventions include: the first leg extension machine and the first pulley machines using cables, and the first weight selectors. He was the first to have women work out with weights and he also encouraged the disabled and elderly to exercise for health. "There are 640 muscles in the human body," Jack explains, "and I take every one of them into account as I plan each exercise routine."

Jack's reputation began to spread and by the early 1950's, he was given the opportunity to utilize the new medium of television to reach even more people. Ever the innovator, Jack used television to reach out to millions of Americans everywhere with his gospel message of get out of your chair, work out and feel better. He was magnetic and the public responded! His motivational message spread across the country like wildfire and his show was an instant nationwide hit! Jack La Lanne believes in daily, vigorous, systematic exercise and proper diet. "My top priority in life is my workout each day." Jack lives by what he says to others, and he has been doing it for over 75 years. Much of what Jack has advocated through his teaching and beliefs has become common knowledge today. Today's doctors and fitness experts all acknowledge daily systematic and proper diet as the principle keys to a longer healthier life.

Jack's wife, Elaine, has written four books including Dynastride, Fitness After 50 and Fitness After 50 Workout, as well as a juicing book called Total Juicing. Jack has millions of fans all over the world who have followed his philosophy and have benefited from his teachings. Jack's book, Revitalize Your Life, is geared toward improving your looks, health and overall well being.

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Info: Jack LaLanne is an American fitness, exercise and nutritional expert, celebrity, lecturer, and motivational speaker. LaLanne has been referred to as "the godfather of fitness."

LaLanne gained worldwide renown for his success as a bodybuilder, as well as his prodigious feats of strength. He has won numerous awards, including the Horatio Alger Award from the Association of Distinguished Americans, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Born in San Francisco, California, the son of French immigrants, Jennie Garaig and John La Lanne. LaLanne admits that as a child he was addicted to sugar and junk foods. He was very troubled and prone to rages, which led to his attempting to burn down his family's house, as well as chasing his brother with an axe. At age 15, he heard Paul Bragg give a talk on health and nutrition. Bragg's message was very simple, but had a powerful influence on the troubled boy. LaLanne decided to focus on his diet and exercise habits. He studied Henry Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body and concentrated on bodybuilding and weightlifting, which, in the 1930s, was uncommon.

LaLanne originally planned to enter the field of chiropractic health care to become a Doctor of Chiropractic,  but in 1936 decided to open his own health spa in California and encourage clients to better themselves through weight-training. He designed the first leg extension machines, pulley machines using cables, and weight selectors, equipment which is now standard in the fitness industry. He was the original inventor of the Smith machine. He also encouraged women to lift weights (in spite of the fact that at the time, it was thought that this would make women look masculine and unattractive). By the 1980s there were more than 200 health clubs bearing his name. LaLanne eventually licensed all his health clubs to the Bally company, and they became known as Bally Total Fitness. Today he is no longer associated with any gym but is still actively pumping iron.

Between 1951 and 1984, LaLanne presented fitness and exercise advice on television. "The Jack LaLanne Show" was the first ever television program devoted to exercise. Critics said the show would be off the air in six weeks, but it lasted 34 years. He has also published books and videos on fitness and nutrition, appeared in films, recorded a song with Connie Haines and marketed exercise equipment, a range of vitamin supplements, as well as two models of electric juicer.

Jacks' feats of strength are legendary and include herculean labors at every decade of his life such as being handcuffed and towing 10 boats full of people for several miles through strong ocean currents or doing a thousand chin-ups in 22 minutes.

The recipient of numerous health and fitness awards and profiled on ESPN and interviewed on NBC's Today Show by Katie Couric, Jack remains as physically fit and active today with his lovely companion and wife Elaine. 

Shannon Lee - Actress and daughter of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee

Info: Shannon Lee is an American actress and daughter of Bruce Lee and his widow Linda Lee Cadwell. Shannon's brother was the late actor and martial artist Brandon Lee.  Shannon's father, Bruce Lee, was an American-born martial artist, philosopher, instructor, and actor widely regarded as the most influential martial artist of the 20th century.

Shannon was born in Los Angeles, California, the second child to Bruce and Linda Lee. Shannon and her family lived in Hong Kong from 1971 to 1973, after which her mother moved back to the United States following the death of her father. She has Chinese, German, Swedish and English descent.

Graduating from The Chadwick School in 1987, Shannon then attended Tulane University in New Orleans, where she studied voice and graduated in 1991. She moved back to Los Angeles in 1993 after her brother's death to pursue acting. She married lawyer Ian Keasler in 1994, and they have one daughter, Wren, who was born in 2003.

As a young girl Shannon learned basic fighting forms from her father and has since trained under Tae-kwondo Master and Kung Fu Superstar, 'Flashleg' Tan Tao Liang AND World Kick-boxing Champion Benny 'The Jet' Urquidez!

Shannon has acted in films in the 1990s such as Cage II (1994), High Voltage (1997) and Enter the Eagles (1998). She also had brief appearances in her father's biopic Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (she was the one singing "California Dreaming" in the dance scene at the Hollywood producer's house as Bruce and Linda dance), the film Blade and the television series Martial Law which starred Sammo Hung. In 2000 she appeared in the science-fiction television film Epoch which aired on the Sci Fi Channel.

Shannon was also the television host of WMAC Masters for the first season.  You may have recently seen her host Enter The Dragon on Spike TV and also briefly interviewed on Spike's UFC Championship Fight series.

Shannon has also sung on the band Medicine's album The Mechanical Forces of Love in 2003 and a cover of "I'm in the Mood for Love" for the movie China Strike Force (2000), which starred Lee Hom Wang and Aaron Kwok.

Shannon and her husband Ian currently run The Bruce Lee Foundation, which is dedicated to educating, inspiring and helping others understand the attributes and virtues of courage, tolerance, persistence, creativity, intelligence and creativity that Bruce Lee cherished and exemplified during his life.

Canadian born Father Brian Kolodiejchuk joined the Missionaries of Charity Fathers at the time of their foundation on 13 October 1984.   He was ordained in 1985 in the Ukrainian Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist in Newark, New Jersey, USA, by the late Metropolitan-Archbishop of Winnipeg, Maxim Hermaniuk, C.Ss.R.

Father Brian received a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Michael’s College of the University of Toronto, Canada, in 1977 and an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Manitoba, Canada, in 1981 and a M.Div. in Theology from St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, New York, USA He received his Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from Saybrook Institute, San Francisco, USA.   

He was appointed Postulator of the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of Mother Teresa of Kolkata, 19 March 1999. and became Director of the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Center, 18. June 2004.  He is author of a soon to be released book on Mother Teresa’s interior life, "Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light" (Published by Doubleday, September 4, 2007).

Rae Dawn Chong is a Canadian born actress and daughter of Tommy Chong. She is of African, First Nations, Chinese and Irish ancestry. Her half-sister Robbi Chong is a model and actress.

She is best known for appearing in the films Quest for Fire (1981), The Color Purple (1985), Choose Me (1984), Commando (1985), Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers (1984), and Far Out Man (1990), in the latter two appearing with her father. Her latest film is The Constellation (2007)

As a strong, modern woman, Chong describes herself as a civil activist, concerned with contributing to the betterment of mankind. She has an active schedule volunteering for various projects including A Place Called Home, where she taught acting and creative writing to children at risk in South Central Los Angeles. She has also been a volunteer and supporter for Habitat for Humanity and Byron Katie's work with prison inmates as well as hosting a series of "safe sex" cautionary videos aimed at teens.

Tommy Chong is a Canadian-born actor and musician who is well-known for his stereotypical portrayals of hippie-era stoners. He is most widely known for his role as Chong in the marijuana-themed Cheech and Chong comedy movies with Cheech Marin.

In the late 1980s, Chong became a naturalized citizen of the United States.  Before branching out into film, Chong was a guitarist and songwriter for Motown band Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, briefly featuring a very young Jimi Hendrix.  Chong was a recurring character and later a regular character as the hippie "Leo" during the second, third, fourth, seventh, and eighth seasons of That '70s Show.

In 2003, Chong was one of those targeted by two American investigations code-named Operation Pipe Dreams and Operation Headhunter, which sought out businesses selling drug paraphernalia, mostly marijuana pipes. He was charged for his part in financing and promoting Chong Glass/Nice Dreams, a company started by his son Paris. Chong agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute drug paraphernalia in exchange for non-prosecution of his wife, Shelby, and his son.

While most of the approximately 55 individuals charged as a result of the operations were sentenced to fines and home detentions, Chong was sentenced on September 11, 2003, to 9 months in a federal prison, forfeiture of $103,000, and a year of probation.

While government officials denied that Chong was treated any differently from the other defendants, many felt that he was made an example of by the government. Soon afterwards, marijuana advocates started the Free Tommy Chong! movement that called for his release.  Chong served his sentence from October 8, 2003 to July 7, 2004, and in December 2004 was to appear off-Broadway in a one-man show entitled "The Marijuana-Logues", a parody of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues. His legal concerns, including that audiences were actually smoking marijuana in some of the shows early in its tour ultimately caused him to quit the show.

In 2005, Chong returned to his role as Leo on That '70s Show. In September of 2005 a/k/a Tommy Chong premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The documentary, directed by Josh Gilbert, chronicles Chong's recent legal troubles and features interviews with Cheech Marin, Bill Maher, Lou Adler, Eric Schlosser and Jay Leno. 

Tommy's book, The I Chong : The Tell-all Prison Diaries of a Comedian Behind Bars by Simon and Schuster is due out later in 2006.

The tall, lanky, Tantoo Cardinal is a metis, the term in Canada applying to those of mixed Native American and European descent. Raised among the Cree, she turned her political activism into an acting career that has included roles as the knowing wife of the Medicine Man in "Dances With Wolves" (1990), the poignant childless companion of Rip Torn in "Where the Rivers Flow North" (1993) and the mother of Brad Pitt's wife in "Legends of the Fall" (1994).

Being involved with the Amer-Indian activism of the 1970's Tantoo felt acting would be a way to reach people and send her message of "truth" to the world. Along with Russell Means, Graham Greene and others she has accomplished a part of her "mission." She began with public speaking and lecturing on the Native-American condition which gave her confidence.  Cardinal was a leader of a youth group petitioning to get the Canadian government to build more schools on Indian reservations in the province of Alberta when she was cast in a small role in a 1971 Canadian docudrama on the life of Albert Lacombe, a 19th century Roman Catholic missionary.

Though uncomfortable with having to portray Lacombe as a savior, Cardinal made the most of her part and, bitten with the acting bug, began performing in films, TV, on stage, and even in industrial films. By 1986, when she moved to the US to pursue a career in Hollywood, she was nationally known in Canada. Strong parts in feature films followed.

Having auditioned for Kevin Costner by translating the dialogue into her native Cree, she landed the role of Black Shawl, the knowing wife of medicine man Kicking Bird in "Dances With Wolves". In 1991, she was cast by director Bruce Beresford in "Black Robe", which earned her critical acclaim for her death scene, complete with an arrow in her neck. Cardinal went on to portray Bangor, the companion to Vermont logger Rip Torn in "Where the Rivers Flow North", making a strong impression in a scene in which she laments not having children, and in Sam Shepard's "Silent Tongue" (1993), she had the title role as the ghost of a raped and murdered woman who haunts her husband. As the decade wound to a close, Cardinal portrayed the title character's wise grandmother in "The Education of Little Tree" (1997) and had a featured role in the popular Sundance premiere "Smoke Signals" (1998).

Cardinal has also worked extensively on TV, often in PBS dramas or films on historical First American figures and stories. She broke into network TV with "Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge" (CBS, 1987), and followed with the PBS "Wonderworks" special "Places Not Our Own" (billed as Tantoo Martin-Cardinal), as one of the metis women trying to cope with the difficulties of the Depression. Cardinal also appeared in "Tecumseh: The Last Warrior" (TNT, 1995) and was featured in "Grand Avenue" (HBO, 1996). She made the first of her recurring appearances on the CBS drama series "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" in 1993, cast as Snow Bird, the stalwart Cheyenne friend of frontier physician Jane Seymour. In 2000, Cardinal played a relative of twin sisters separated at birth and reunited as adults in the heartwarming "Hallmark Hall of Fame" production "The Lost Child".

Tantoo has garnered many acting awards for her work. Already with two children of her own: Cheyenne and Clifford, she married John Lawlor in 1988 and they have a child, Riel. She continues as an Amer-Indian activist and has done much for the Native-American community throughout her life.  Recently she accepted the Sun Hill Award for Excellence in Native American Filmmaking at the Harvard Film Archive. The award is given in honor of a director, actor, producer, or writer who has made a significant contribution to the legacy of Native American film.

NATIVE SPIRIT AND THE SUNDANCE WAY...

Native Spirit is narrated by Tantoo Cardinal (Dances with Wolves), who takes the viewer back to the days of Red Cloud when "Our old men talked to spirits and made good medicine. Our young men herded the horses and made love to the girls. In this way our grandfathers lived and were happy."

In the second documentary, The Sun Dance Way, Gordon Tootoosis (Legends of the Fall) brings to life the voice of Thomas Yellowtail as he describes the mysterious and ancient Sun Dance ceremony. For more information on the cast and characters, the content of the documentaries, and to see video clips, visit the web site of the DVD program. Educators should go to the version for classroom use when purchasing the program.

Mary Youngblood - Native American musician

Bio: Bending tradition, Mary Youngblood is a modern American Indian woman of one half Aleut (Alaskan) and one half Seminole (Floridian) descent. With her children, she currently resides in Northern California. Youngblood is often touted as the first Native American female to professionally record the Native flute. Verifying her talent and mastery of this ancient instrument traditionally played only by men, she was the first woman to win the 'Flutist of the Year' award in both 1999 and 2000 as well as, the 'Best Female Artist' award in 2000 at the Native American Music Awards (NAMMYS).

Each of Youngblood's three recordings are different stylistically from one another. Her debut 'The Offering' is a solo flute recording that was recorded live to DAT in the huge underground chamber of the Moaning Cavern in California. These natural acoustics lend an amazing echo and organic quality to the distinctly memorable melodies that Youngblood creates with her flutes.

"In addition to the haunting sounds of various handcrafted wooden flutes, the listener can occasionally hear the drip of water in the cavern, which adds a surreal you-are-there feeling." -Monterey County Herald News

'Heart of the World' found Youngblood weaving her flute melodies with the lush accompaniment of guitar, percussion and the exquisite voice of Joanne Shenandoah. The impetus for this recording is the U'wa people of the Rainforest in South America who are struggling to save their land from drilling development by oil companies. Heart of the World is the name the U'wa have given their native land in South America and proceeds from each sale of this album benefit their resistance struggle. 'Heart of the World' won numerous awards and accolades including:

'BEST NATIVE AMERICAN RECORDING'

Association for Independent Music INDIE Award - 2000

Youngblood's newest release, 'Beneath the Raven Moon', can be considered a poetic concept album. The title of each track is a line from a poem written by Youngblood. Thematically, this album is all about the human condition; growth, interaction, and journeys. For the first time ever, this album also showcases Youngblood's strong voice harmonizing along with her many flutes. Further instrumentation is arranged by award winning producer Tom Wasinger who has worked on each of Youngblood's three albums. 'Beneath the Raven Moon' explores Youngblood's exemplary flute playing with other American music styles such as Classical and Blues (two of Youngblood's favorite genres).

"Mary Youngblood brings a fresh perspective to original melodies." -Dirty Linen Magazine

Mary Youngblood co-founded the Northern California Flute Circle and is a secretary on the board of directors for the Sacramento Urban Indian Health Project. Youngblood has a lifetime of musicianship behind her. She started with piano lessons at age six, violin at eight, classical flute and guitar at ten. As an adult, when Youngblood received her first wooden Native flute, she was driven to pursue the mastery of this instrument so tied to her own heritage. Now years later with three unique and accomplished albums under her belt, Youngblood owns over 125 hand carved Native flutes in her collection and uses a wide variety of them throughout every one of her albums. Each of her flutes is masterfully crafted from different types of wood, bringing a unique sound and texture to each song.

When Youngblood performs it takes only a moment to acknowledge the profound spirituality of the sacred Native American flute and its historical courtship and wooing attributes. Her haunting music is much more than a song ... it's liquid poetry, a prayer. Mary Youngblood takes little credit for the intense emotions people feel when they listen to her music. "I am only a vessel between Creator and this instrument. As a sculptor would tell you, the clay has a spirit of its own and decides what it will become; so it is with the flute. These songs came from those who walked before me."