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As she inherited her love for the arts by her father, well-known playwright, actor, director and novelist Mario Peña, it is not hard to understand that actress Elizabeth Pena already had designs to become an actress by the time she was eight years old.

Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey on September 23, 1959, the petite (5' 2") actress was raised in New York City. Elizabeth's (and sister Tania's) parents, Cuban immigrants Mario and Estella Margarita Peña, would achieve a strong Latino reputation as the founders of the off-Broadway Latin-American Theatre Ensemble. They also encouraged Elizabeth's talent. In 1975, the young teenager became a founding member of the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors, and two years later graduated from New York's High School of Performing Arts, now the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts.

Elizabeth found occasional work in repertory theater and in television commercials. Making her film debut in the independent Spanish-speaking feature El Super (1979), about Cuban refugees, she continued with playing a long line of independent and rebellious characters, which showed plenty of attitude and independence. Playing offbeat roles -- from a knife-threatening waitress to a disco queen -- she appeared in such early films as They All Laughed (1981) and Crossover Dreams (1985). Elizabeth's big break came in the form a support role in the hugely popular and entertaining comedy Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986), co-starring Bette Midler, Richard Dreyfuss and Nick Nolte, in which she stole several scenes as the sultry, smoky-voiced, politically-minded maid Carmen.

Two consecutive short-lived television series came about around this time. Her first, the ensemble comedy Tough Cookies (1986), had her playing a police officer, and the second was the title housekeeper role in the sitcom I Married Dora (1987). High in demand now, Elizabeth continued to spice up both the big and small screen in such roles as Ritchie Valens' stepsister-in-law in the well-received biopic La Bamba (1987); a drug enforcement agent in the miniseries Drug Wars: The Camarena Story (1990); PTSD-suffering Tim Robbins' live-in girlfriend in the complex drama Jacob's Ladder (1990); and a dedicated legal secretary on the corporate drama series Shannon's Deal (1990) starring Jamey Sheridan.

Honors also came Elizabeth's way when she received the Independent Spirit and Bravo awards for the film Lone Star (1996), and four ALMA Awards for her performances in the television movie Contagious (1997), the films Tortilla Soup (2001) and Rush Hour (1998), and her regular role on the Latino drama series Resurrection Blvd. (2000).

Into the millennium, Elizabeth found steady employment on television with guest roles on Boston Public (2000), CSI: Miami (2002), Without a Trace (2002), Numb3rs (2005), Ghost Whisperer (2005), Charlie's Angels (2011), Prime Suspect (2011), Common Law (2012), and Modern Family (2009). One of her last roles was on the television series Matador (2014). She also found herself further down the credits in films such as On the Borderline (2001), Transamerica (2005), The Lost City (2005), Mother and Child (2009), The Perfect Family (2011), Plush (2013), and Grandma (2015). Three other films -- Girl on the Edge (2015), Ana Maria in Novela Land (2015), and The Song of Sway Lake (2018) -- were released posthumously. She also provided a voice in the popular Disney/Pixar animated film The Incredibles (2004).

A chronic alcohol problem severely hampered Elizabeth's life and she died suddenly from cirrhosis of the liver in Los Angeles, California on October 14, 2014, at age 55. She was survived by her second husband (from 1994), Hans Rolla, and their two children, son Kælan and daughter Fiona.

John Ford came to Hollywood following one of his brothers, an actor. Asked what brought him to Hollywood, he replied "the train". He became one of the most respected directors in the business, in spite of being known for his westerns, which were not considered "serious" film. He won six Oscars, counting (he always did) the two that he won for his WWII documentary work. He had one wife; a son and daughter; and a grandson, Dan Ford who wrote a biography on his famous grandfather.

Valerie Cruz has appeared in over 100 television episodes, including recurring roles on The CW series "Charmed," starring as the charmed one's mother 'Marisol,' ABC's "The Rookie" and the CW drama "Life Sentence" alongside stars Lucy Hale and Dylan Walsh. She has been a series regular on shows hailing from some of most prolific and critically acclaimed creators, counting among these credits, "Nip Tuck" for Ryan Murphy, "Off The Map" for Shonda Rhimes and "The Following" and "Hidden Palms" for Kevin Williamson. For her portrayal of 'Lt. Connie Murphy' in the SyFy Channel original series, "The Dresden Files," Valerie was honored with an Alma Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. While portraying the recurring role of 'Sylvia Prado' opposite Michael C. Hall during the Golden Globe nominated third season of the Showtime hit series "Dexter," Cruz was honored alongside the cast with a Screen Actors Guild award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble. Other notable recurring roles include 'Major Joy Mendez' on the award-winning Showtime series "Homeland," and fan favorite vampire 'Isabel Beaumont' on HBO's "True Blood." Valerie's extensive guest starring credits include celebrated shows such as "Scandal," "Law & Order: SVU," "Grey's Anatomy," "Bosch," "NCIS," "Criminal Minds," "Quantico" and "The Resident." She also starred opposite Viola Davis in the Lifetime Films original movie "Custody" for writer/director James Lapine. Cruz made her feature film debut in the action thriller "Cellular" opposite Chris Evans for director David Ellis. Subsequent film credits include the notable independents "The Line," opposite Andy Garcia and Ray Liotta, "The Devil's Tomb" opposite Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ron Perlman, "The Loft" with Rachael Taylor and Karl Urban, and the film "Locating Silverlake" with Zelda Williams and Finn Wittrock.

Debralee Scott was born in 1953 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, as the youngest of four daughters born to William Henry Scott, Jr. (March 1, 1914, Scranton, Pennsylvania - September 17, 1993, Scranton, Pennsylvania) and Marion Jones (February 11, 1916, Scranton, Pennsylvania - October 1993, Pittston, Pennsylvania); Debralee's older sisters were producer Carol Ann Scott (later known as Scott Bushnell) and Beverly Hills talent manager Jerilyn Scott, and Ardith Lynn Scott, who had died in infancy. When Scott's sisters were young adults, they relocated from Elizabeth, New Jersey, to San Francisco, California.

Scott was raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, where she was a high school cheerleader. In Elizabeth, she worked at a movie theater while she attended a Greek-Latin course at Stroudsburg High School. In 1969, the 16-year-old Scott joined her older sisters in San Francisco; she graduated from Galileo Academy of Science and Technology in 1971 and started acting at the American Conservatory Theater.

Scott's very first acting job was in 1971 as an uncredited extra in "Dirty Harry (1971)"; she played the nude corpse of Ann Mary Deacon, a 14-year-old girl who was kidnapped, raped, and buried alive by the Scorpio Killer. Following this, Scott played the girlfriend of Harrison Ford in "American Graffiti (1973)" ("Ain't he neat?" her character says).

In the mid 1970s, Scott relocated to Los Angeles, California, and got an agent. Scott played semi-recurring character Rosalie 'Hotsy' Totsy on Welcome Back, Kotter (1975). At the age of 22, Scott starred in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976) as the titular character's younger sister Cathy and reprised the role for the show's sequel Forever Fernwood (1977). After "Forever Fernwood" ended, Scott became a host for celebrity quiz game shows, including The $10,000 Pyramid (1973), Super Password (1984), and Match Game (1973). Scott also acted in Pandemonium (1982) and Police Academy (1984). She was in relationships with Desi Arnaz Jr., Micky Dolenz, Richard Dreyfuss, Jonathan Frakes, Peter P. Lucia Jr., Neal Schon, and Ringo Starr.

In the mid 1990s, Scott became a talent manager for the agency Empowered Artists. On December 15, 1995, she went to the Greenwich Village bar Hogs & Heifers and met her future fiancé, John Dennis Levi, an NYPD officer working for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Over time, Scott lived at Levi's house in Brooklyn, New York, with his mother Joanne Priavity. In 2001, while on a cross-country trip, Levi proposed to Scott at a hotel in Winslow, Arizona, and she accepted. They planned to get married in March 2002, but Levi was killed in the South Tower of the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks. Heartbroken, Scott became an alcoholic and developed cirrhosis of the liver.

In March 2005, Scott relocated from Brooklyn to Fernandina Beach, Florida, to care for her eldest sister, Carol Ann, who was suffering from emphysema and heart problems. One day, she collapsed and fell into a coma for several days. It was not known what caused the coma. On March 31, 2005, Scott woke up in the hospital, underwent eye surgery, and was released two days later on her birthday, appearing to be fine. Three days later, on April 5, 2005, Scott lay down to take a nap and died in her sleep at the age of 52. An autopsy was performed, but no specific cause of death was listed, and Scott was cremated.

Thomas Mitchell was one of the great American character actors, whose credits read like a list of the greatest American films of the 20th century: Lost Horizon (1937); Stagecoach (1939); The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939); Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939); Gone with the Wind (1939); It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and High Noon (1952). His portrayals are so diverse and convincing that most people don't even realize that one actor could have played them all. He won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1940 for his role as the drunken Doc Boone in John Ford's Stagecoach (1939).

Wesley Taylor made his Broadway debut in the original cast of Rock of Ages, before starring opposite Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth in the original cast of Broadway's The Addams Family. Taylor then originated the role of Sheldon J. Plankton in Broadway's Spongebob Squarepants, before it was filmed for Nickelodeon as "The Spongebob Musical, Live on Stage!" Taylor is a Theatre World Award Winner, Chita Rivera Award Winner, and Outer Critics Circle Award nominee.

One of IndieWire's Breakthrough TV Performances of 2023, Taylor played 'Cliff Demeo' on season three of Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building," and received a SAG Award nomination alongside his cast for Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Taylor's extensive credits in Television include "Looking," "The Good Wife," and fan favorite 'Bobby' on NBC's "Smash."

Taylor has co-created and starred in three original digital series, the latest being the Emmy-nominated "Indoor Boys," (HereTV) with Alex Wyse. Their feature film debut as writer-directors, "Summoning Sylvia," (AMC+, Shudder) has stayed at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes since its release in Spring 2023. Taylor & Wyse recently made their directorial stage debut helming the comedy "Cellino v. Barnes" at Off Broadway's Asylum.

Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and raised in Orlando, Florida, Taylor graduated from the Visual Performing Arts Magnet at Dr. Phillips High School. He then received a BFA in Drama from the University at North Carolina School of the Arts.

Suzanne Shepherd was born on 31 October 1934 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA. She was an actress, known for Lolita (1997), Uncle Buck (1989) and Goodfellas (1990). She was married to Carroll Calkins and David Shepherd. She died on 17 November 2023 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.

Synonymous with chic, the ever-fashionable Faye Emerson certainly qualified as one of the "first ladies" of TV glamour. Bedecked in sweeping, rather low-cut gowns and expensive, dangling jewelry, she was a highly poised and stylish presence on the small screen during its exciting "Golden Age". An enduring presence throughout the 1950s, she could have lasted much longer in her field of work had she so desired.

Born in 1917 in Elizabeth, Louisiana, her father was both a rancher and court stenographer. The family subsequently lived in Texas and Illinois before settling in California. Her parents divorced after she entered her teens and she went to live with her mother (and new husband) in San Diego where she was subsequently placed in a convent boarding school. Following graduation from high school, she attended San Diego State College and grew interested in acting, performing in several Community Players productions. She made her stage debut with "Russet Mantle" in 1935.

Her first marriage to a San Diego car dealer, William Crawford, was short-lived, but produced one child before it ended in 1942. Both Paramount and Warner Bros. talent scouts spotted her in a 1941 San Diego production of "Here Today" and were impressed, offering her contracts. She decided on Warner Bros. and began uncredited in such films as Manpower (1941) and Blues in the Night (1941). During her five-year tenure at Warners she progressed to a variety of swanky secondary and co-star roles in such "B" war-era movies as Murder in the Big House (1942) starring Van Johnson, Air Force (1943) with Gig Young, The Desert Song (1943) starring Dennis Morgan, The Mask of Dimitrios (1944) with Peter Lorre, Between Two Worlds (1944) with John Garfield, The Very Thought of You (1945) (again) with Dennis Morgan, Hotel Berlin (1945) starring Helmut Dantine, Danger Signal (1945) with Zachary Scott, and Nobody Lives Forever (1946) (again) starring John Garfield. A large portion of the roles she received were interesting at best. For the most part, however, Faye was caught in glittery roles that were submerged in "men's pictures".

At this juncture, Faye was probably better known as Mrs. Elliott Roosevelt, the fourth child of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, whom she married in 1944. Her husband was a war hero and author and the couple lived in the White House for a spell (FDR died in 1945). Faye abruptly abandoned the Hollywood scene after her marriage and the couple instead became major figures in the New York social scene. Sometime after the war Elliott and Faye entered the Soviet Union as journalists where they interviewed Joseph Stalin for a national publication.

With her movie career on the outs, the recently-transplanted New Yorker made her Broadway debut in "The Play's the Thing" (1948), then entered the world of television where she truly found her niche. Managing to combine both beauty and brains, Faye was a sparkling actress of both drama and comedy and a stylish, Emmy-nominated personality who became an emcee on Paris Cavalcade of Fashions (1948); a hostess of her own show The Faye Emerson Show (1949); a moderator of Author Meets the Critics (1947); and a regular panelist on the game shows Masquerade Party (1952) and I've Got a Secret (1952). In addition she enjoyed time as a TV columnist, appeared on such covers as Look magazine, and was performed as guest host for other permanent TV headliners such as Garry Moore, Dave Garroway and even Edward R. Murrow on his "Person to Person" vehicle. All the while Faye continued to return sporadically to the stage and added to her array of Broadway credits such shows as "Parisenne" (1950), "Heavenly Twins (1955), "Protective Custody" (1956) and "Back to Methuselah" (1958), the last mentioned pairing her with Tyrone Power. Regional credits included "Goodbye, My Fancy", "State of the Union", "The Pleasure of His Company", "Mary Stuart", "Elizabeth the Queen" and "The Vinegar Tree". One highlight was gracing the stage alongside such illustrious stage stars as Eva Le Gallienne, Viveca Lindfors and Basil Rathbone in the 1953 production of "An Evening with Will Shakespeare".

Divorced from Roosevelt in 1950, her third (and final) marriage also would figure prominently in the public eye. She wed popular TV band leader Skitch Henderson shortly after her second divorce was final. The couple went on to co-host a 15-minute music show Faye and Skitch (1953) together. This union would last seven years.

Faye was a welcomed as a guest panelist on other game fun too such as "To Tell the Truth" and "What's My Line?". The actress, once dubbed the "Best-Dressed Woman on TV," focused on traveling in the early part of the 1960s and never returned actively to Hollywood. For nearly two decades she lived completely out of the limelight in and around Europe, including Switzerland and Spain, returning to the United States very infrequently and only for business purposes. She died of stomach cancer in 1983 in Majorca, Spain.

Daniel Hugh Kelly was born on August 10, 1952 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the middle of five children. His father was a police officer/detective and his mother was a social worker. He received his B.A. from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and pursued his M.F.A. on a full scholarship at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Kelly has appeared in numerous off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions, primarily at the Public Theater and the Second Stage. A product of regional national theater, he has been a company member of the Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Folger Theater, Arena Stage, and the Actors Theater of Louisville among others. He toured with the National Players, the oldest classical touring company in the United States. He starred on Broadway as Brick opposite Kathleen Turner in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", and as Paul Verrall opposite Madeline Kahn in "Born Yesterday". In 2003, he appeared at the Mark Taper Theater Forum, originating the role of Richard in "Living Out" by Lisa Loomer.

Kelly starred as Senator Frank Ryan on the daytime soap opera Ryan's Hope (1975), and as race-car driver Mark "Skid" McCormick on the ABC series Hardcastle and McCormick (1983) opposite Brian Keith. In addition, he has been a series regular in such varied television productions as the NBC series Chicago Story (1982), the ABC sitcom I Married Dora (1987), the ABC series Second Noah (1996), the PAX series Ponderosa (2001) as Ben Cartwright, and the NBC series The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage (1991). He returned to daytime television as Colonel Winston Mayer on the soap opera As the World Turns (1956). His feature film roles include Cujo (1983), Someone to Watch Over Me (1987), The Good Son (1993), Bad Company (1995) and Star Trek: Insurrection (1998).

Kelly has made many notable appearances in miniseries and television films including Citizen Cohn (1992), The Tuskegee Airmen (1995), From the Earth to the Moon (1998) as Gene Cernan, Passing Glory (1999), Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot (2001) as President John F. Kennedy, and Joe and Max (2002) among others. He has also guess-starred on many television series including several appearances on Law & Order (1990), its spin-offs Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) and Law & Order: LA (2010), as well as Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) The West Wing (1999), Las Vegas (2003), Boston Legal (2004), Supernatural (2005), NCIS: Los Angeles (2009) and Memphis Beat (2010).

Malinda Williams was born on 24 September 1970 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for High School High (1996), First Sunday (2008) and The Undershepherd (2012). She has been married to Tariq Walker since January 2020. She was previously married to D-Nice and Mekhi Phifer.

Kate Jennings Grant was born on 23 March 1970 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA. She is an actress, known for Notorious (2016), Billions (2016) and Love & Other Drugs (2010). She is married to Doug Hughes.

Dave Register was born on 16 September 1988 in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Fallout (2024), The Witch Files (2018) and FBI (2018).

Marisa Petroro is an American film and television actress from Elizabeth, New Jersey, who is of Italian and Argentine descent. She is recognized for developing a diverse range of on-screen personalities. It's no wonder this Jersey girl has made a spot for herself in Hollywood.

At the tender age of four, Marisa started participating in East Coast beauty pageants. By eight, this young starlet was taking trips to New York City to study acting at the highly acclaimed HB Studio. After making the pageant circuit as a teenager, Marisa won the title of Miss Italia USA and then retired her pageant days after she went on to place top five in Miss Italia World in 1996.

Marisa then crafted a five-year road-map, packed her bags and convinced a good friend to join her on a 3,000 mile cross-country drive that ended in Los Angeles. Within the first few years, Marisa was landing principal roles in hit films such as MGM's 'Pumpkin' and Columbia Pictures' 'Tomcats'. Also during this breakout period, she built notable television credits on NBC's 'The Pretender', CBS's 'The Young and the Restless', a national commercial directed by David Lynch and starred opposite Rick Schroder in the award-winning country music video, Whiskey Lullaby, sung by Allison Krause and Brad Paisley.

2007-2008 were banner years for this seasoned actor as she starred in Roadside Attraction's feature film, 'Everybody Wants to Be Italian', the story of the struggle of two Italians and their quest to win each other's hearts in Boston's famed North End. She had also returned for her fourth season as one of the most recognized briefcase models (#18) on NBC's top game show 'Deal or No Deal', as well as landed roles on CBS's popular sitcom 'Rules of Engagement', acting alongside David Spade and ABC's award winning comedy drama series 'Desperate Housewives', acting alongside Eva Longoria Parker.

2011-2012 were also banner years with guest star roles on TNT's 'Franklin & Bash', Fox's 'Touch', Lifetime's 'Drop Dead Diva' and a co-star on Disney's 'Kickin' It'.

Over the past decade, Marisa has had a wonderful path working on films opposite Dominic Monaghan in 'The Millionaire Tour,' Richard Tyson in 'Booneville Redemption', French Stewart in 'Hopeless, Romantic' and most recently in 'Ford v. Ferrari' as Mrs. Henry Ford opposite Tracy Letts, Josh Lucas and Jon Bernthal, which won 2 Academy Awards in 2020.

Outside of acting, Marisa holds philanthropy close to her heart. She was the national spokesperson for the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA), an organization dedicated to increasing sarcoma related research from 2007-2010. In fact, Marisa, a cancer survivor of Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare childhood cancer, that affects the muscles, has said that taking on this responsibility allowed her to achieve one of her lifetime goals. She continues to volunteer her time to helping individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer and are undergoing chemotherapy.

Marisa is always involved with charity organizations including the Tomorrow's Children Fund, The Young Storytellers Foundation and Project Angel Food.

In 2007, Marisa was asked to be Commencement Speaker at her alma mater, Kean University in New Jersey and was honored as "Woman of the Year" by The Center for Italian and Italian-American Culture in her home state of New Jersey. She also contributed to the book The Vision Board: The Secret to An Extraordinary Life by Joyce Schwarz.

Luis Da Silva Jr. is an American entertainment industry professional from Elizabeth, New Jersey. Raised in a loving, but humble environment allowed him to focus and nurture his love for sports and competition. Luis was always a very good baseball player since a child. It wasn't until the age of eleven that he realized his passion for basketball grew. His enthusiasm for the game and to display his ability in ball handling was growing.

At the age of 18, Luis' life changed forever. After walking into an open audition for a Nike basketball commercial, he was immediately recognized for his talent. In the days following, he was signed to contract and became the focal point of the now iconic 'Nike Freestyle' campaign. To this day, this commercial visually represents one of the top-10 ad campaigns of all time. Not only was it profitable for Nike, but it also inspired a movement among those it touched. Some might even claim that they created, defined, or even influenced a whole culture. The popularity of this movement earned Luis the distinction of becoming the youngest non-professional athlete ever to receive a Nike endorsement. This made it possible for him to realize a number of personal goals, including appearing on the cover of Time magazine, setting a Guinness World Record, making the front page of the Wall Street Journal, and appearing in a number of hugely popular video games. Thousands of billboards worldwide and basketball backboards in Asia. His commercial success was also portrayed in Scary Movie 2 2001. Where they reenacted his commercial on the featured comedy. Luis was the centerpiece of Nike and there success in 2001 introducing the Nike basketball domain and also his 'Freestyle campaign', in which he was the only athlete with a solo commercial at age 18 years of age. Not only making him the youngest athlete to date that Nike has ever signed to a contract moment deal but also Luis and his success was the introduction of Basketball to Asia. The advertisement is still cited and used as inspiration for the hip hop and feature film industries today, 22years later.Know on many digital marketing and sites including Complex and Espn as the best basketball commercial of all time. "Luis Da Silva Jr is the Michael Jordan of his profession", quoted by Patrick Cassidy for Dime magazine. His sought out as the pioneer of freestyle basketball. One of the greatest basketball dribblers in the world.

Using his newfound Nike fame, Mr. Da Silva set his sights on Hollywood. It wasn't long before he found his second calling in life - acting. Right out of the gate, in 2007, Luis starred alongside Jodie Foster, and Terrence Howard, in Neil Jordan's 'The Brave One.' His performance led him to multiple projects over the next few years. Then in 2011 and 2012 he had his breakout year by landing the role of Diogo in the fifth installment of 'The Fast & The Furious' franchise titled 'Fast Five.' Later that year he also played alongside Johnny Depp in '21 Jump Street.'

Luis has since appeared in films with several of Hollywood's elite. From Kate Winslet, Woody Harrelson, and Ruby Rose to Casey Affleck, Arron Paul, and John Travolta. With his no-nonsense approach and work ethic, which one can only develop from training as a top-tier professional athlete, Mr. Da Silva continues to develop, learn, and excite the industry.

For Luis, another amazing year is just around the corner. In Andrew Baird's 'One Way,' he stars alongside Colson Baker (MGK), Kevin Bacon, and Travis Fimmel. Then, in the tenth entry of the 'Fast & Furious' series, 'Fast X,' Universal and Vin Diesel have brought him back to reprise his fan-favorite character of Diogo.

At five years old, all Marcus wanted to become was Superman. When he realized that couldn't happen, he decided taking Karate lessons was the next best thing. Marcus went on to earn a black belt in Karate, but along the way he began developing a love for various martial art forms. In addition to Karate, Marcus began intensive training in: Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Capoeira, and Hapkido, and has more than twenty years of training in these forms. Marcus holds the rank of Kru in Muay Thai. Marcus also trains in several other martial art forms including: Kung Fu, Boxing, Judo, Ninjitsu, Gracie Jui Jitsu, etc. He has fought in tournaments and won titles including: the NJ StateTaekwondo Champion 1994, YB Choi Taekwondo Invitational Champion 1995, and the Muay Thai Warriors Cup Super-Heavy Weight Champion 2010. He has also worked as a certified personal trainer, gym owner, professional fighter, bodyguard, and has taught martial arts and self-defense locally and internationally for the last twenty-four years. Marcus also works as an actor and stuntman, where his strongest areas are fight scenes, stunt doubling, choreography, and stunt falls. Although being Superman was unrealistic, he's found that being a student of martial arts was far more rewarding. Marcus has 40 years of experience in martial arts and is hoping for many more years of learning and teaching the art form he came the art form he came to love as a child.

Joan Felt was born on January 18, 1931, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Her mother was quite a famous piano player in the 1930s. Six-year-old Joan made her film debut in Walking Down Broadway (1938). She played the role of Sunny, and changed her name from Felt to Carroll. A role in Two Sisters (1938) followed, and the next year she had supporting roles in Barricade (1939) and Tower of London (1939). It wasn't until 1940 when Joan had her breakthrough. She had important parts in Anne of Windy Poplars (1940) and especially Primrose Path (1940), as Ginger Rogers' younger sister. In 1941, she won her first lead role in Obliging Young Lady (1942) as Bridget Potter, a young girl stuck in the middle of her parents' divorce case. The film costarred Ruth Warrick.

In 1942, she was the first child star from Hollywood to appear in a Broadway play.This play, "Panama Hattie", garnered Carroll national fame, and she was featured in many magazine articles and newspapers. In 1943, she won her second lead role in Petticoat Larceny (1943), in which she played Joan Mitchell, a radio star who goes undercover to get a better feel of her roles. That film reunited Joan with Warrick.

In 1944, she played Agnes, the middle sister between Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944). In 1945, she had an important supporting role in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945), which starred Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman. That same year she appeared in Tomorrow, the World! (1944), after which she retired.

Guyviaud Joseph was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA. He is an actor, producer and assistant director, known for Power (2017), Zatima (2022), Harlem (2021) and Red Dead Redemption (2018). He received a Degree in business from Penn State University; after working as an Account Executive at CBS for several years he reluctantly quit to pursue his passion as an actor.

Kim Yates was born on 6 June 1969 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA. She is an actress, known for Teach Me Tonight (1997), The Big Lebowski (1998) and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000).

As a performer, Jon has been a part of four Tony-nominated Broadway shows, originating roles in the Tony and Grammy Award-winning hit musical Hamilton, SpongeBob Squarepants, Hands on a Hardbody, and In The Heights. On screen, Rua has guest-starred on Blacklist, Blue Bloods, Law & Order, and in films such as Smile 2, Fall to Rise, First Reformed, and Isn't It Romantic.

The recipient of the 2022 SDCF Breakout Award, Jon is recognized as a 'rising star' creative director & choreographer for his innovative work on stage. He has helmed Phish's 'Send in the Clones' performance at the sold-out Madison Square Garden, the world premier of The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson musical at La Jolla Playhouse, an associate choreographer of BOOP! The Musical, co-choreographed individual production numbers for Broadway's SpongeBob Squarepants, The Cher Show, SpongeBob Musical Live on Nick, the rom-com Isn't It Romantic, and numerous regional productions such as Macbeth & Rent (OSF), West Side Story (Mil Rep), Godspell (PCLO), The Hombres (Two River), Jesus Christ Superstar & Aida (Muny). Crossing all mediums, Jon has conceived music videos and commercials for Coheed & Cambria ("Old Flames"), Lawrence ("More"), and the New York Lotto to name a few.

Always innovating and creating, Jon's explorative short film Unknown was selected for the 2022 New York HBO Latino Film Festival. First Gen, his new play with movement and music, is being developed with La Jolla Playhouse.

Ron Karabatsos was born on 22 April 1933 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA. He was an actor, known for Flashdance (1983), Surviving Christmas (2004) and Get Shorty (1995). He died on 17 April 2012 in Beaumont, California, USA.

Beth McCarthy-Miller was born on 3 September 1963 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA. She is a director and producer, known for 30 Rock (2006), Modern Family (2009) and Saturday Night Live (1975).

Edward Snowden was born on 21 June 1983 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Citizenfour (2014), Snowden (2016) and The Alternative Christmas Message 2013 (2013). He has been married to Lindsay Mills since 2017. They have two children.

Anthony Smith was born on 28 June 1967 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, USA. He has been married to Teresa Obello White since August 1998. He was previously married to Vanity.

Masasa Mbangeni is a South African actor born and bred in Port Elizabeth. She holds a BA in Dramatic Arts( Directing &Performance Studies) from the University of the Witwatersrand .Masasa is known for her work as " Thembeka " on etv flagship soapie ,'Scandal' for which she won the Best Actress Award at the 2015 SAFTA and Royalty Soapie Awards. A former Mandela Rhodes Scholar , Masasa has a special interest in promoting the transformative power of the arts .

Judy Blume was born on 12 February 1938 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA. She is a writer and actress, known for Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023), Forever and Tiger Eyes (2012). She has been married to George Cooper since 6 June 1987. She was previously married to Thomas A. Kitchens and John Morton Blume.