3. The So-called Cast (My So-Called Life)
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This article is from the My So-Called Life FAQ, by Richard Evans neppie@mindspring.com with numerous contributions by others.
3. The So-called Cast (My So-Called Life)
The MSCL regulars were:
BESS ARMSTRONG as Patty Chase
WILSON CRUZ Rickie Vasquez
CLAIRE DANES Angela Chase
DEVON GUMMERSALL Brian Krakow
A.J. LANGER Rayanne Graff
JARED LETO Jordan Catalano
DEVON ODESSA Sharon Cherski
LISA WILHOIT Danielle Chase
and TOM IRWIN Graham Chase
also SENTA MOSES as Delia Fischer
LISA WALTZ Hallie Lowenthal
JEFF PERRY Richard Katimski
KAREN MALINA WHITE Abyssinia Churchill
ADAM BIESK Corey Hellfrick
PATTI D'ARBANVILLE-QUINN Amber Vallone
Guest starring:
MARY KAY PLACE Camille Cherski
PAUL DOOLEY Chuck Wood
BARBARA BAIN Vivian Wood
DANTON STONE Neil Chase
JOHNNY GREEN Kyle Vinnovich
SHANNON LETO Shane
BENNET GUILLORY Principal Foster
WINNIE HOLZMAN Ms. Krzyzanowski
MARGARET NAGEL Ms. Chavatal
MAY QUIGLEY Ms. Lerner
STANLEY DESANTIS Mr. Demitri
NANA DESPOTOVICH Ms. Mayhew
DEL ZAMORA Mr. Renaldi
Note: The newsgroup is an excellent source for tracking of the cast's
current projects and appearances.
CLAIRE DANES - Youngest of two children, born in New York to her
painter/teacher mother and computer consultant father. Started
studying modern dance at age six, and still studies it; at nine took
acting class at Lee Strasberg Studio; attended Professional Performing
Arts School in New York. Likes gymnastics, humanities, science, and
more recently, surfing (she's currently hanging in L.A., dude).
* Credits:
Stage appearances in "Happiness," "Punk Ballet," "Kids on Stage."
TV appearances as a guest star in "Law and Order," "No Room For
Opal," and a key role in cable film "The Coming Out of Heidi
Leiter."
Film appearances in "Dreams of Love", "Thirty" (short film), The
Pesky Suitor" (film festival short), and "Little Women"
(major studio film!).
* Birthday: April 12, 1979.
BESS ARMSTRONG - A popular film and TV actress. Married (to film
producer John Fiedler) with children (two sons, ages 6 and 2-1/2).
Born in Baltimore Maryland, middle of five children; parents were both
teachers. Attended Bryn Mawr School for Girls for 14 years; graduated
from Brown University with a double degree in theater arts and the
classics.
* Credits:
Stage appearances include Jules Feiffer's "Knock, Knock."
TV appearances include series "On Our Own," "All is Forgiven,"
and "Married People," the miniseries "Lace," and the recent
telefilm "Take Me Home Again" with Kirk Douglas.
Film appearances include "The Four Seasons", "Nothing in Common",
"The High Road to China", "Jaws 3-D", and "Dream Lover".
* Birthday: Dec. 11
TOM IRWIN - A native Illinoisan, born in Peoria. Attended Illinois
State University. Joined Chicago's famed Steppenwolf Theatre
Company. Continues to act in and direct plays for the company.
Lives in Chicago and L.A., with two cats, Michael Jordan and
Frances Glass. Avid basketball fan of the Chicago Bulls and the
less successful Los Angeles Clippers.
* Credits:
Stage appearances (there are lots) include Steppenwolf
productions of "The Grapes of Wrath" as the narrator ragman,
"Love Letters" with Laurie Metcalf, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,"
"Frank's Wild Years," and "My Thing of Love."
TV appearances include the starring role in ABC's critically
acclaimed but short-lived series "My Life and Times." Telefilms
include "In the Best Interest of the Child," "To My Daughter,"
and a recent one with Jennie Garth [what was its name?].
Film appearances include "Mr. Jones", "Deceived", "Midnight Run",
"Light of Day", and "Men Don't Leave".
* Birthday: June 1
JARED LETO - Born in Bossier City, LA. First job at 12 as a
dishwasher; at sixteen he became a doorman. Enrolled at University of
the Arts in Philadelphia to study painting; transferred to the School
of Visual Arts in New York to study filmmaking; in March 1992 moved to
L.A. to pursue acting.
* Credits:
TV appearances include guest spots on "The Torkelsons" and "Camp
Wilder." Also, a starring role in Showtime's "The Cool and the
Crazy" directed by Ralph Bakshi.
Also directed and starred in a film entitled "Crying Joy" while in
film school.
*Birthday: Dec. 26, 197?
A.J. LANGER - A native Ohioan who moved to L.A. at five. A.J. stands
for Allison Joy; the nickname comes from being the only girl in little
league. An algebra teacher suggested acting after A.J. was elected
student-body president in 9th grade. Likes reading the sports
section, hiking, camping and fishing. Also creates one-of-a-kind
necklaces, picture frames, and decorative pieces as gifts. Lives in
the San Fernando Valley.
* Credits:
TV appearances include the Fox series "Drexell's Class" and
noteworthy guest starring roles on "The Wonder Years," "In the
Heat of the Night, "Blossom," "Baywatch," "Parker Lewis Can't
Lose," and even "90210."
Film appearances include a starring role in Wes Craven's "The
People Under the Stairs" and in "You Thought Your Parents Were
Weird".
* Birthday: May 22, 1972
WILSON CRUZ - New Yorker who moved to San Bernadino, CA with his
Puerto Rican family when he was 10. Eldest of three brothers. Sang
and toured with Young Americans. Featured in shows at Disneyland,
Disney World, and Sea World/Orlando. Graduated from Eisenhower High
School and pursued a double major in English and theater before
joining MSCL. Plays saxophone and collects vintage photos of actors.
* Credits:
Stage appearances include "Cradle of Fire," "Supporting Cast," and
a number of Shakespearean productions.
TV appearances include a recurring role in the Fox series "Great
Scott!"
* Birthday: Dec. 27, 1973
DEVON ODESSA - A native West Virginian brought up on a farm. Moved to
New Orleans, then to Los Angeles. Graduated from Notre Dame High
School (Sherman Oaks, CA). Likes dancing, horseback riding, tennis,
rollerblading, and cooking. Has three dogs and two cats. Splits her
time between her home in Parkersburg WV, and the San Fernando Valley.
* Credits:
Stage appearances include "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "The
Hobbit."
TV appearances include a recurring role as Dana on "Angel Falls."
Guest starring roles include "The Wonder Years," "Full House,"
"Step By Step," and "The Facts of Life." Also, the telefilms
"Girl of the Limberlost" and the Herskovitz-Zwick production
"Extreme Close-Up."
Film debut in "Pumpkinhead".
* Birthday: Jan. 18, 1974
DEVON GUMMERSALL - Born in Colorado, middle son of three boys. Father
is artist C. Gregory Gummersall. Moved to Los Angeles area. Did
commercials at 10. Currently a 10th grader. Likes poetry,
literature, J.D. Salinger, and sports. Has a German shepherd named
Nick and a cat named Feisty.
* Credits:
TV appearances include guest starring roles in "Dr. Quinn,
Medicine Woman," "Step By Step," "Dream On," and "Blossom."
Film appearances in "My Girl II" and "Beethoven's 2nd".
* Birthday: Oct. 15, 1978
LISA WILHOIT - Native Los Angelena. Third generation of a show-biz
family. Grandfather scored TV music, father is a sound effects
editor, and her cousins are the twin boys on "Full House." At five,
trained in gymnastics; at ten, did stunt work on "Hook." An honors
student and Girl Scout. Takes dance classes, and likes bowling, ice
skating, Thai food, and UB40. Owns collections of frogs, music boxes,
seashells, nutcrackers. Lives in San Fernando Valley with three cats,
a bird, and lotsa frogs.
* Credits:
TV appearance in "Talking with T.J."
Film debut as Baby Tinkerbell in "Hook". Voice-overs in films
such as "When a Man Loves a Woman", "Fearless", "Home Alone 2",
and "Searching for Bobby Fisher".
* Birthday: July 30, 198?
WINNIE HOLZMAN - Born in New York City, raised in Long Island.
Graduated from Princeton University with a major in English and a
concentration in creative writing. Won many poetry awards, including
the Academy of American Poets Prize. Studied acting at The Circle in
The Square Theatre School; joined the N.Y.U. Musical Theatre Program.
Joined the "thirty-something" writing staff in 1989, writing 9
episodes during her 2 seasons. Married to actor Paul Dooley (Chuck
Wood!); they have an 8-year-old daughter named Savannah, and live in
the San Fernando Valley.
* Credits:
Stage writing credits include "Serious Bizness," and "Birds of
Paradise."
TV credits as story editor and writer for "thirtysomething."
Guest-role as Ms. Krzyzanowski in "My So-Called Life."
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