Tuesday 26 February 2013

Jane Alexander biography

Jane Alexander biography


  • MAIDEN NAME: Jane Quigley
  • ZODIAC SIGN: Scorpio

Synopsis

Jane Alexander was born on October 28, 1939, in Boston, Massachusetts. In the 1960s, she made her Broadway debut inThe Great White Hope. During the 1970s, she continued to perform on stage, TV and in films. She received her first Emmy Award in 1980 for Playing for Time. In 1992 she became chairwoman of the National Endowment for the Arts. She won her second Emmy for the 2005 TV film Warm Springs.

Early Career

Actress Jane Alenaxder was born Jane Quigley on October 28, 1939, in Boston, Massachusetts. A talented stage, film and television actress, Alexander has been nominated for or won nearly every major award in her field. The daughter of a doctor, she grew up in an affluent home with lots of exposure to culture and the arts. Alexander discovered her love of acting while attending Sarah Lawrence College in the late 1950s.
Alexander’s career really took off in the late 1960s with her Broadway debut in the original drama The Great White Hope co-starring James Earl Jones. The play explored life of black boxer Jack Jefferson (played by Jones) and the racial issues surrounding his relationship with a white woman, Eleanor Bachman, played by Alexander. She won the 1969 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play, and was nominated for Academy Award for Best Actress in 1970, after reprising her role for the film version.

Career Highlights

During the 1970s, Jane Alexander continued to turn in stellar performances on stage and in films. She was nominated twice for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She was first up for 1976’s Watergate scandal film All the President’s Men with Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as famed journalists Bob Woodwardand Carl Bernstein, respectively. Alexander played a bookkeeper who helped out the pair on their quest for the truth. She scored her second supporting actress nomination in the divorce drama Kramer vs. Kramer with Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep.
On Broadway, Jane Alexander wowed audiences and critics alike, earning Tony Award nominations for her roles in 1973’s 6 Rms Riv Vu, 1974’s Find Your Way Home and 1978’s First Monday in October. Alexander also won raves for her stunning portrayal ofEleanor Roosevelt in two miniseries - Eleanor and Franklin (1976) and Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1977) for ABC, garnering an Emmy nomination for each production.
Jane Alexander found more success in the 1980s and 1990s. She received her first Emmy Award for the 1980 Holocaust dramaPlaying for Time, winning in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special category. Continuing to tackle challenging roles, Alexander was again nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her work in Testament (1983), in which she played Carol Wetherly, a wife and mother, trying to look after her family during the catastrophe that followed nuclear war. Returning to Broadway, she won a Drama Desk Award and received a Tony Award nomination for her work on Wendy Wasserstein’s play, The Sisters Rosensweig, in 1993. 

Personal Life

Outside of acting, Jane Alexander assumed an important advocacy role in 1992 when she became chairwoman of the National Endowment for the Arts. She took the reins of the agency at a difficult time - by the mid-1990s there was political pressure to cut funding to the organization. Leaving the NEA in 1997, Alexander wrote about her experience in the book Command Performance: An Actress in the Theater of Politics (2000).
Most recently, Jane Alexander has tackled some interesting real-life characters. She won her second Emmy Award for playing Sara Delano Roosevelt in the cable television film Warm Springs. On the big screen, Alexander played the mother of famed photographer Diane Arbus in 2006’s Fur.

Jason Alexander biography

Jason Alexander biography

Synopsis

Jason Alexander was born on September 23, 1959, in Newark, New Jersey. In 1989, he was awarded a Tony for Jerome Robbins' Broadway. After winning his Tony, he moved to Los Angeles, where he co-starred as George Costanza in Seinfeld. After Seinfeld signed off in 1998, Alexander tackled a variety of projects, including starring in a Los Angeles production of the musical The Producers in 2003.

Early Life

Jason Scott Greenspan was born to Ruth and Alex Greenspan on September 23, 1959, in Newark, New Jersey, and was raised in Livingston, New Jersey. As a youth with an eye always toward the stage, Alexander connived his parents into giving him voice lessons so that he could "train for his bar mitzvah." His first tentative acting steps were taken in school plays, and by age 15 he had adopted his professional name: Jason Alexander.
Despite being granted a full scholarship to the School of Fine Arts at Boston University, he left after two years to act in a "B" film, The Burning (1981), and a made-for-TV movie, Senior Trip. His big break, however, came when he landed the lead role in the Broadway production of the Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical, Merrily We Roll Along. Unfortunately for Alexander, the play closed after just two weeks, but it gave him important visibility.
Alexander's stage reputation grew as he portrayed Tevye in a Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof and Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. In 1989, his proudest moment came when he was awarded a Tony for Best Performance as a Leading Actor in a Musical for Jerome Robbins' Broadway.

Career Breakthrough

In films, Alexander played supporting roles in Peter Weir's Mosquito Coast (1986), in Adrian Lyne's chilling Jacob's Ladder (1990)and in the Julia Roberts star vehicle, Pretty Woman (1990). On TV, he had small parts in a few ill-fated sitcoms and in an NBC mini-series,Favorite Son (1988). He also sang and danced the praises of McDLT sandwiches in a 1985 McDonald's commercial.
After winning his Tony, Alexander moved to Los Angeles, where he co-starred in a sitcom pilot, Seinfeld Chronicles, featuring a relatively unknown comedian, Jerry Seinfeld. The show, renamedSeinfeld, started slowly but soon gained a cult following. Eventually the series became a ratings powerhouse and critical success, with numerous Emmys to its credit.

Seinfeld Fame

Sometimes called "the show about nothing," Seinfeld followed the day-to-day misadventures of a stand-up comedian (Seinfeld) and his friends. Alexander played Seinfeld's longtime pal, George Constanza, who was terribly neurotic, esteem-deprived and often cheap. Despite this list of unappealing attributes, his character won over audiences with his humor, humanity and oddball schemes. For seven years in a row, Alexander was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Later Career

While working on Seinfeld, Alexander pursued a sideline as a voice-over actor, lending his voice to the ABC puppet show, Dinosaurs(1991); as Duckman in the animated show on the USA cable network(1994); as Abis Mal in the TV series, Aladdin (1993); and as Hugo in the animated feature, The Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996). After Seinfeld signed off in 1998, Alexander tackled a variety of projects. He had two sitcoms—Bob Patterson in 2001 and Listen Up from 2004 to 2005—and made guest appearances on such shows as Monk and Curb Your Enthusiasm featuring Seinfeld alum Larry David.
On the big screen, Alexander has appeared in a number of comedies, including 2001's Shallow Hal withJack Black. Much of his energy, however, has been devoted to theatrical projects. Alexander co-starred with Martin Short in the Los Angeles production of the hit musical The Producers in 2003. Currently, he serves as the creative director for the Reprise Theatre Company in Los Angeles. He has appeared in and directed several of the company's productions.

Personal Life

Outside of acting, Alexander is a supporter of many charities, including the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Autism Speaks, and Aid for AIDS. He is married to screenwriter Daena E. Title. The couple has two children: Gabriel, born in 1991, and Noah, born in 1996.

Samuel Alexander biography

Samuel Alexander biography


  • PLACE OF BIRTH: Sydney, Australia
  • PLACE OF DEATH: Manchester, England

Profile

Samuel Alexander was an Australian-born British philosopher who was the first Jewish fellow of an Oxbridge college. Born in Sydney, he left for England at age 18 in hopes of winning a scholarship. By 1882, he was working as a Fellow of Lincoln College, where he taught philosophy. Employing an unusual teaching style for his era, his works focused on the relationship between time and space.

Shaun Alexander biography

Shaun Alexander biography


Profile

Shaun Alexander was born on August 30, 1977, in Florence, Kentucky, and was named an All-American football player during high school. As a running back for the Seattle Seahawks, he became an NFL MVP and one of the top touchdown scorers of all time. He has also worked with a number of charitable and mentoring organizations.

Alexander I of Serbia biography

Alexander I of Serbia biography

  • NAME: Aleksandar Obrenovi?
  • OCCUPATION: King
  • BIRTH DATE: August 141876
  • DEATH DATE: June 11, 1903
  • PLACE OF BIRTH: Belgrade, Serbia
  • PLACE OF DEATH: Belgrade, Serbia

Profile

Alexander ascended the Serbian throne after his father's abdication. He alienated supporters through authoritarian moves and suspension of the constitution. In 1900, he married a woman 10 years his senior of dubious reputation and his cabinet resigned in protest. His reign ended in a coup d'état in 1903 when military conspirators invaded the royal palace and murdered Alexander and his court.

Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander biography

Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander biography


  • PLACE OF BIRTH: London, England
  • PLACE OF DEATH: Slough, England

Profile

British commander Harold Alexander fought in both world wars. In World War II he helped drive Nazi forces from Northern Africa and assisted U.S. commander George Patton with campaigns in Italy. He later served as minister of defense under Winston Churchill.

Archibald Alexander biography

Archibald Alexander biography


Synopsis

Archibald Alexander was a Protestant clergyman and educator. The son of a farmer, he underwent a religious conversion in 1789, began to evangelize and became a fluent and persuasive preacher. Ordained in the Presbyterian faith, he served two terms as president of Hampden-Sidney College and became a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary (1812), where remained for the rest of his life.

CONTENTS

Profile

Protestant clergyman and educator, born near Lexington, Virginia, USA. The son of a merchant farmer, he underwent a religious conversion in 1789, began to evangelize, and proved to be a fluent and persuasive preacher. Ordained in the Presbyterian ministry (1794), he served two terms as president of Hampden-Sidney College (1796??1801, 1802??7). He became a professor at the newly established Princeton Theological Seminary (1812) and remained there for the rest of his life. His teaching, along with a series of published essays, reviews, tracts, and sermons, gave him wide influence among the Presbyterians of his time.
© 2013 A+E Networks. All

Sholem Aleichem biography

Sholem Aleichem biography


  • PLACE OF DEATH: New York City, New York
  • AKA: Sholem Yakov Rabinowtiz
  • ORIGINALLY: Solomon Naumovich Rabinovich

Profile

Russian writer Sholem Aleichem was interested in writing from the time he was young. While serving as a government rabbi he published more than 40 widely translated volumes in Yiddish. English translations of his collected works include Jewish Childrenand The Old Country. Tevye the milkman was the subject of a volume of short stories that later was the basis for the musicalFiddler on the Roof.

Claribel Alegría biography

Claribel Alegría biography


Profile

Claribel Alegría spent her childhood in exile in El Salvador. A graduate of George Washington University, she lived in the United States, Mexico, Chile, and Uruguay and on the island of Majorca, Spain, before returning to Nicaragua in 1979. She collaborated with her husband, writer Darwin Flakoll, on such works as New Voices of Hispanic America, Ashes of Izalco, and They Won't Take Me Alive.

Ciro Alegría biography

Ciro Alegría biography


  • PLACE OF BIRTH: Saltimbanca, Peru
  • PLACE OF DEATH: Lima, Peru

Profile

Peruvian novelist Ciro Alegria was born on November 4, 1909, in Saltimbanca, Peru. His novels depicted the struggles of Peruvian Indians trying to survive in the Peruvian highlands against the greed of land-hungry white men. A collection of short fiction was his last work. In 1930, Alegria became an militant agitator for pro-Indian social reform, which led to his arrest and exile to Chile. He died in Lima, Peru, on February 17, 1967.

Bronson Alcott biography

Bronson Alcott biography


Synopsis

Born near Wolcott, Connecticut in 1799, Amos Bronson Alcott found his own school in Boston in 1834. By this time he was a mystic and transcendentalist, and his radical ideas led to the failure of his school. After a trip to England where a school based on his theories had been set up, he returned to establish a Utopian community where he spent most of the rest of his life.

CONTENTS

Profile

Teacher, mystic, and writer, born near Wolcott, Connecticut, USA. The father of Louisa May Alcott, he was largely self-educated and became an itinerant teacher (1823–33) before settling in Boston to found his own school (1834). By this time he was a mystic and transcendentalist, and his radical ideas of educating children, plus his acceptance of a black girl as a pupil, led to the failure of his school (1839). He settled in Concord, MA, but after a trip to England (1842), where a school (Alcott House) based on his theories had been set up, he returned to establish a utopian community, Fruitlands, outside Boston (1844). Devoted to vegetarianism as well as to high thinking, the community failed within eight months. He took his family back to Concord, and although he moved around to teach and lecture, he spent most of the rest of his life there, the centre of the transcendentalists. He was appointed superintendent of schools in Concord (1857), and is credited with several innovations, including the first parent–teacher association. The success of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women (1868) gave the family financial security and allowed him to set up his Concord Summer School of Philosophy and Literature (1879). He wrote poetry, several books on his theories of education, a biography of Ralph Waldo Emerson, and an autobiography, but his greatest impact seems to have come through his personal presence and conversation.

Louisa May Alcott biography

Louisa May Alcott biography


  • PLACE OF DEATH: Boston, Massachusetts
  • AKA: Louisa Alcott

Synopsis

Louisa May Alcott was born on November 29, 1832, in Germantown, Pennsylvania. Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson were family friends. Alcott wrote under various pseudonyms and only started using her own name when she was ready to commit to writing. Her novel "Little Women" gave Louisa May Alcott financial independence and a lifetime writing career. She died in 1888.

QUOTES

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."
– Louisa May Alcott

Early Life

Famed novelist Louisa May Alcott was born on November 29, 1832, in Germantown, Pennsylvania. Alcott was a best-selling novelist of the late 1800s, and many of her works, most notably Little Women, remain popular today. 
Alcott was taught by her father, Amos Bronson Alcott, until 1848, and studied informally with family friends such as Henry David ThoreauRalph Waldo Emersonand Theodore Parker. Residing in Boston and Concord, Massachusetts, Alcott worked as a domestic servant and teacher, among other positions, to help support her family from 1850 to 1862. During the Civil War, she went to Washington, D.C. to work as a nurse.

Acclaimed Author

Unknown to most people, Louisa May Alcott had been publishing poems, short stories, thrillers, and juvenile tales since 1851, under the pen name Flora Fairfield. In 1862, she also adopted the pen name A.M. Barnard, and some of her melodramas were produced on Boston stages. But it was her account of her Civil War experiences,Hospital Sketches (1863), that confirmed Alcott's desire to be a serious writer. She began to publish stories under her real name inAtlantic Monthly and Lady's Companion, and took a brief trip to Europe in 1865 before becoming editor of a girls' magazine, Merry's Museum.
The great success of Little Women (1869–70) gave Alcott financial independence and created a demand for more books. Over the final years of her life, she turned out a steady stream of novels and short stories, mostly for young people and drawn directly from her family life. Her other books include Little Men (1871), Eight Cousins(1875) and Jo's Boys (1886). Alcott also tried her hand at adult novels, such as Work (1873) and A Modern Mephistopheles (1877), but these tales were not as popular as her other writings.