Inside the Actors Studio

Alec Baldwin

Since 1980, Alec Baldwin has appeared in numerous productions on stage, in films and on television. He has received a Tony nomination (A Streetcar Named Desire, 1992) an Oscar nomination (The Cooler, 2004) and has won three Emmy awards, three Golden Globes and seven consecutive Screen Actors Guild Awards as Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his role on NBC-TV’s 30 Rock. He has been a regular host and guest star on Saturday Night Live. (For his performance on SNL parodying Donald Trump, Baldwin received his third Emmy award in 2017)

Alec hosts the MATCH GAME, the classic television game show, on ABC, a portion of the proceeds going to charity. And he will soon host a television talk show, THE ALEC BALDWIN SHOW, on ABC in the Fall of 2018

On stage, he has appeared in productions of LOOT (Theatre World Award), A LIFE IN THE THEATRE (Hartman), PRELUDE TO A KISS (Obie Award), MACBETH (NYSF), GROSS POINTS (Bay Street), ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY (Roundabout), ENTERTAINING MR. SLOANE (Laura Pels), EQUUS (Guild Hall), ORPHANS, ALL MY SONS (Guild Hall).

His films include BEETLEJUICE, MIAMI BLUES, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, MALICE, THE EDGE, THE DEPARTED, THE AVIATOR, IT’S COMPLICATED, BLUE JASMINE, STILL ALICE, and MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT, MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN, among many others. He recently voiced the lead character in the DreamWorks animated film THE BOSS BABY.

Baldwin is a 1994 BFA graduate of Tisch and received an honorary doctorate in 2010. He is Co-Chairman of the Board of the Hamptons International Film Festival, president of the board of Guild Hall in East Hampton. He serves on the board of People for the American Way, the NYU Tisch Dean’s Council, the New York Philharmonic and he is also the radio announcer for the Philharmonic.

With his wife, Hilaria Thomas Baldwin, he maintains The Hilaria and Alec Baldwin Foundation, supporting numerous causes, primarily in the arts.

He is the author of three books: A PROMISE TO OURSELVES (his critique of the California family law system), his memoir NEVERTHELESS and, along with Kurt Andersen, a Trump parody memoir entitled YOU CAN’T SPELL AMERICA WITHOUT ME.

Alec hosts an interview podcast, HERE’S THE THING, produced by WNYC Studios.

Henry Winkler

Henry Winkler co-stars as acting teacher Gene Cousineau on the hit HBO dark comedy, “Barry.” This past September, he was the recipient of the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy for his role on the series, which stars Emmy-award winning actor, Bill Hader. He also won the Television Critics Choice Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and received nominations for a Golden Globe and SAG Award.

Winkler has enjoyed over four decades of success in Hollywood and continues to be in demand as an actor, producer and director.

A 1973 audition in Los Angeles forever changed the life of the Yale School of Drama graduate when producer Garry Marshall and Tom Miller cast Winkler in the iconic role of Arthur Fonzarelli, aka “The Fonz,” in the TV series “Happy Days.’ During his 10 years on the popular sitcom, he won two Golden Globe Awards, was nominated three times for an Emmy Award and was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Both his famous leather jacket and Fonzie’s lunch box became part of an exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum in 1980.

In recent years, Winkler appeared in a number of series, including “Arrested Development,” “Children’s Hospital,” “Royal Pains.” “New Girl” and “Parks and Recreation.” He also starred and co-executive produced the NBC Reality travel series, “Better Late Than Never,” with William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw, George Foreman and Jeff Dye and is an executive producer of the new “MacGyver” series currently airing its second season on CBS.

His guest role in the ABC drama series “The Practice” earned him an Emmy Award nomination and he also starred in the CBS sitcom “Out of Practice.” His guest-star roles have included “Numb3rs,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Third Watch,” “Crossing Jordan” and “Law and Order: SVU,” and the Hallmark Channel holiday movie “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” He has lent his voice to such shows as “All Hail King Julien” on Netflix, “South Park,” “King of the Hill,” “Family Guy,” “The Simpsons” and “Clifford: The Puppy Years,” for which he received a Daytime Emmy Award.

On the big screen, Winkler starred in “Night Shift,” “Here Comes the Boom,” “The Waterboy,” “Click,” “The Lords of Flatbush,” “Heroes,” “Holes” and “Scream.”

Behind the scenes he has also made his mark as a producer and director. Winkler has executive produced or produced TV series and specials for 19 years, including “MacGyver,” “So Weird,” “Mr. Sunshine,” “Sightings,” “A Family Again,” “All Kids Do It,” (which won him a Daytime Emmy Award), “Ryan’s Four,” “Scandal Sheet” and the ABC documentary “Who Are the DeBolts and Where Did They Get 19 Kids?,” which won the prestigious Humanitas Prize.

He also directed several movies, including “Memories of Me,” starring Billy Crystal and the late Alan King and “Cop and a Half,” starring the late Burt Reynolds. On stage, Winkler has appeared on Broadway in “Neil Simon’s The Dinner Party” (with the late John Ritter) and “The Performers.”

Winkler has always been concerned about the quality of children’s television programming. He has produced countless worthwhile projects for young audiences, including “Happily Ever After” for PBS and its sequel, “Two Daddies to Love Me.” Additional specials include “Run, Don’t Walk,” and “All the Kids Do It,” which was about teenage drunk driving (he also directed).

Winkler can also add to his resume the title of New York Times best-selling author. His first book, “Niagara Falls or Does It? Hank Zipzer the World’s Greatest Under-Achiever,” became a bestseller. The book was inspired by Winkler’s struggle throughout his education due to his learning challenges.

To date, he and his co-author, Lin Oliver, have written 34 children’s novels. Their latest (and last in the series) is HERE’S HANK: Everybody is Somebody. All the books are sold in bookstores and online across the United States and have been published around the world in seven languages, with more than 4 million copies sold. They are currently at work on a new series due to be published later this year.

Winkler has always believed in helping others and is especially passionate about children. He has been a featured speaker at WE Day Celebrations promoting education and service for students. His work also includes Honorary Chairman of United Friends of the Children; Founding Member of the Children’s Action Network; the first National Honorary Chairman of the Epilepsy Foundation of America; National Chairman of the annual Toys for Tots campaign; the National Committee for Arts for the Handicapped; the Special Olympics; and the Los Angeles Music Center’s Very Special Arts Festival for children who are physically challenged; as well as participating in numerous teenage alcohol and drug abuse programs.

He has received a number of accolades from a variety of prestigious organizations, including B’nai B’rith, Peace Prize by the United Nations and Women in Film’s Norma Zarky Humanitarian Award, presented to both Henry and his wife, Stacey, for their tireless efforts and devotion to the “improvement of the human condition.”

He also received the Chevallier de l’Ordre des Artes et Lettres, the French government’s highest honor. In addition, Winkler was one of 10 individuals honored by AARP with their 2010 Inspire Award.

Of all the titles he has received, the ones he relishes most are husband, father and grandfather. Winkler and his wife, Stacey, have three children, Jed, Zoe and Max and five grandchildren. They reside in Los Angeles with their two dogs, Linus and Sadie.

Jane Lynch

Jane Lynch is the two-time Emmy Award-winning host of “Hollywood Game Night.”

She currently co-stars on the award-winning comedy series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and is well known for her Emmy and Golden Globe-winning portrayal of Sue Sylvester on “Glee.”

Additional television credits include portraying Janet Reno in “Manifesto,” “Criminal Minds,” “The Good Fight,” “Portlandia,” “Angel From Hell,” “Party Down,” “Lovespring International,” “Two and a Half Men” and The “L Word.”

Lynch’s film credits include “Wreck It Ralph I and II,” “The Three Stooges,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Talladega Nights,” “Role Models,” “Julie & Julia,” “A Mighty Wind,” “Best In Show” and “For Your Consideration.”

She made her Broadway debut in the 2013 production of “Annie.” Her additional theater work includes “Oh Sister, My Sister” at the Tamarine Theatre and “Love, Loss and What I Wore” at the Off-Broadway Westside Theatre.

Lynch embarked on her own 2015 live concert tour, “See Jane Sing,” with Kate Flannery, Tim Davis and the Tony Guerrero Quintet. Their Billboard top 10 holiday album, “A Swingin' Little Christmas,” is available from iTunes, Amazon and other outlets.

Lynch was raised near Chicago and cut her theatrical teeth at the Second City and Steppenwolf Theatre. Her memoir, “Happy Accidents,” topped several national bestsellers lists, including The New York Times and Los Angeles Times.

David Oyelowo

David Oyelowo, Golden Globe, BAFTA, NAACP Image Award and Emmy-nominated actor and producer, will star next in the BBC and PBS masterpiece adaptation of “Les Misérables,” for which he also serves as executive producer. In 2019, Oyelowo will star opposite Angelina Jolie in the fantasy adventure “Come Away,” an imagined prequel to the classics Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan. This will follow his leading role in “Relive,” the latest from Blumhouse Productions, which recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Oyelowo will also produce both films through his Yoruba Saxon banner. Additionally, he is set to star in Sony’s “Peter Rabbit 2.”

Oyelowo is set to make his directorial debut with feature “The Water Man,” written by Emma Needell. Yoruba Saxon will produce alongside Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films. Oyelowo will star in the film alongside Rosario Dawson, Lonnie Chavis, Amiah Miller, Alfred Molina and Maria Bello.

Additional film credits include: “A United Kingdom,” “Queen of Katwe,” “Selma,” “Interstellar,” “A Most Violent Year,” “Captive,” “The Butler,” “Lincoln,” “Middle of Nowhere,” “Jack Reacher,” “The Paperboy,” “Red Tails,” “The Help,” “The Last King of Scotland.”

Pedro Pascal

Pedro Pascal made his Broadway debut last month in Sam Gold’s production of “King Lear,” playing Edmund, alongside Glenda Jackson and Ruth Wilson. “King Lear” opened on April 4th and will run through Sunday, July 7th.

Pascal can currently be seen in TRIPLE FRONTIER, an action-adventure story set on the border zone between Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. The film also stars Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Garrett Hedlund and Charlie Hunnam, and released globally on Netflix on March 13th.

Also this year, Pascal will be seen playing the titular role in the first ever live-action STAR WARS series, THE MANDALORIAN, as a mysterious lone gunfighter who exists in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic. Written and executive produced by Jon Favreau, the series will launch on Disney’s direct-to- consumer streaming service, Disney+, on November 12th.

Pascal recently wrapped production on Patty Jenkins’ WONDER WOMAN 1984, in which he will star in a key role alongside Gal Gadot and Kristen Wiig. The film, which is slated to release on June 5th of 2020, marks the second time he and Jenkins have worked together.

Last year, Pascal appeared in Barry Jenkins’ critically acclaimed IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe and won AFI’s “Movie of the Year” award. Also last year, Pascal starred in Antoine Fuqua’s (Training Day, The Equalizer) THE EQUALIZER 2 opposite Denzel Washington, which was released by Sony on July 20th.

Pascal starred in the first, second, and third seasons of the critically-acclaimed, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Netflix original series NARCOS, the true-life story of the growth and spread of cocaine drug cartels around the world. Pascal portrayed the role of DEA agent Javier Peña, who led the manhunt for Colombian drug kingpin, Pablo Escobar in seasons one and two – and for the Cali Cartel is season three.

In 2014, Pascal starred in HBO's critically acclaimed series GAME OF THRONES where he played the fan favorite Oberyn Martell. Pedro has had recurring roles on USA’s GRACELAND, ABC's BROTHERS & SISTERS, CBS' THE GOOD WIFE, FX's LIGHTS OUT, CBS’ THE MENTALIST, and ABC's RED WIDOW. Other television credits include Showtime's award winning NURSE JACKIE, the LAW & ORDER trifecta, BODY OF PROOF, WITHOUT A TRACE, NYPD BLUE and BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, among others.

Pascal has originated roles in New York for The Manhattan Theater Club, Classic Stage Company, Playwrights Horizons, and Terrence McNally's Drama Desk Nominated play SOME MEN at Second Stage. He starred alongside Jennifer Ehle and Liev Schreiber in Shakespeare in the Park's production of MACBETH, as well as their Production of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING with Lily Rabe. He won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and Garland for ORPHANS at The International City Theater. Pedro has also directed Florencia Lozano's UNDERNEATHMYBED, David Anzuelo's KILLING PLAY and Daniel Talbott's YOSEMITE at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater in New York. Pedro is also a member of the Labyrinth Theater Company.

Willem Dafoe

Having made over one hundred films in his legendary career, Willem Dafoe is internationally respected for bringing versatility, boldness, and dare to some of the most iconic films of our time. His artistic curiosity in exploring the human condition leads him to projects all over the world, large and small, Hollywood films as well as independent cinema.

His natural adventurousness is evident in roles as diverse as the elite assassin who is mentor to Keanu Reeves in the neo-noir “John Wick,” as the obsessed FBI agent in the cult classic “The Boondock Saints,” and as Vulko the mentor to “Aquaman” in James Wan’s billion-dollar blockbuster. His voice work can be heard in Gil the Moorish Idol in “Finding Nemo,” as Ryuk the Death God in “Death Note,” and as the narrator of “Vox Lux.”

Upcoming projects include Dee Rees’ “The Last Thing He Wanted,” Edward Norton’s “Motherless Brooklyn,” Robert Eggers’ “The Lighthouse,” Abel Ferrara’s “Tommaso,” and Ericson Core’s “Togo.” He recently completed lensing Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch” and Abel Ferrara’s “Siberia.”

Dafoe has been recognized with four Academy Award nominations: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “Platoon, Best Actor” in a Supporting Role for “Shadow Of The Vampire,” for which he also received Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations, Best Actor in a Supporting Role for The Florida Project, for which he also received Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations, and most recently, Best Leading Actor for “At Eternity’s Gate,” for which he also received a Golden Globe nomination. Among his other nominations and awards, he has received two Los Angeles Film Critics Awards, a New York Film Critics Circle Award, a National Board of Review Award, an Independent Spirit Award, Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup, as well as a Berlinale Honorary Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement.

He and his wife, director Giada Colagrande, have made four films together: “Padre,” “Bob Wilson’s Life and Death of Marina Abramovic,” “A Woman,” and “Before It Had A Name.” A fifth, “Tropico,” is currently in pre-production.

Dafoe is one of the founding members of The Wooster Group, the New York-based experimental theatre collective. He created and performed in all of the group's work from 1977 thru 2005, both in the U.S. and internationally. Since then, he worked with Richard Foreman in “Idiot Savant” at The Public Theatre (NYC) and most recently two international productions with Robert Wilson: “The Life & Death of Marina Abramovic” and “The Old Woman” opposite Mikhail Baryshnikov. He most recently performed a new theatre piece, “The Minister's Black Veil,” based on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story and directed by Romeo Castellucci.

Ellen Burstyn

Known for her iconic performances in classics such as "The Last Picture Show," "Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore" (Academy Award and BAFTA winner for Best Actress), and the cultural phenomenon "The Exorcist," Ellen Burstyn is widely regarded for her acting. Her many other memorable performances include "The King of Marvin Gardens," "Same Time Next Year" (both the Broadway play for which she won the Tony Award, and the film adaptation for which she won the Golden Globe), "Resurrection," "How to Make an America Quilt," and a tour-de-force in "Requiem for a Dream," which earned Ellen her 6th Academy Award nomination and led director Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan and Noah) to describe her as “the greatest artist I have ever worked with.”

In recent years, Burstyn has appeared in the blockbusters "Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood" and "Interstellar," won two Emmy’s for her work on Law and Order SVU and Political Animals (joining the list of just 24 actors in history who have won the Academy Award, Emmy and Tony “triple crown”) and earned her 8th Emmy nomination in Netflix’s hit series "House of Cards."

Al Pacino

Al Pacino was born in East Harlem and grew up in New York City’s South Bronx. He attended the School of Performing Arts until he moved on to study acting at the Herbert Berghof Studio with Charles Laughton, and later, at The Actors Studio with Lee Strasberg.

Between 1963 and 1969 his credits include William Saroyan’s "Hello Out There" for his off-Broadway debut, "Why is a Crooked Letter" for which he won an off-Broadway Obie Award, "The Indian Wants" the Bronx that earned him another Obie Award as Best Actor, and "Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?" for his Broadway debut and first Tony Award. He received his second Tony Award in 1970 for The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel. In 2011 he portrayed Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice" on Broadway, garnering a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Play and in 2013 appeared on Broadway playing Shelley Levene in David Mamet’s "Glengarry Glen Ross."

His first leading part in a feature film was in the 1971 drama Panic in "Needle Park." The following year, Francis Ford Coppola selected him to take on the breakthrough role of Michael Corleone in "The Godfather," for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. Within the next six years he received another four Academy Award nominations for the films "Serpico," "The Godfather Part II," "Dog Day Afternoon and ... And Justice For All." In 1992 he won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in "Scent of a Woman." Television work includes a rich relationship with HBO, including the 2003 miniseries "Angels in America" and the 2010 film "You Don't Know Jack," both of which garnered Golden Globe and Emmy Awards for his performances. In 2013 he won Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for the title role in David Mamet’s "Phil Spector" and most recently for his role in "Danny Collins."

He has been awarded the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement in Motion Pictures, the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award and in 2011 he received the National Merit of Arts from President Obama. Most recently, he received the Kennedy Center Honor. He will be seen in soon to be released "The Irishman" directed by Martin Scorsese.

LaTanya Richardson Jackson

LaTanya Richardson Jackson is a critically acclaimed actress of the stage and screen. In 2014, Richardson Jackson received a Tony Award Best Actress nomination for her performance as “Lena Younger” in the Broadway revival of Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun.” She also received the Distinguished Performance Drama League Award nomination.

She currently stars on Broadway as “Calpurnia” in Aaron Sorkin’s critically acclaimed adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” alongside Jeff Daniels and Celia Keenan-Bolger, and directed by Bartlett Sher. This Spring, Richardson Jackson was honored at the 10th Annual Lilly Awards, which celebrate women of distinction in the theater community.

This year, Richardson Jackson appeared in Netflix’s drama film “Juanita” alongside Alfre Woodard and directed by Clark Johnson. In 2018, Richardson Jackson narrated the feature length documentary “Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart” on playwright Lorraine Hansberry, who penned the iconic “A Raisin in the Sun.” The world premiere took place at the Toronto International Film Festival and the documentary premiered on PBS’ “American Masters.” She also appeared in a recurring arc as Diane Pierce in Shondaland’s “Grey’s Anatomy” on ABC, as well as Mama Mabel in the Netflix Original Series “Luke Cage.”

In 2016, Richardson Jackson starred in the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park’s production of “Taming of the Shrew” as “Baptista” under Phyllida Lloyd’s direction, in honor of the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death. She also starred in “Show Me a Hero,” HBO’s six-hour miniseries from “The Wire” co-creator David Simon and directed by Oscar winner Paul Haggis. For her performance, she received the NAACP Image Award Nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.

Richardson Jackson’s extensive theatre credits include “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” (Broadway), “For Colored Girls…,” “Spell #7,” “Casanova,” “Unfinished Women” (Public Theater), “Stop Reset” (Signature Theatre), and August Wilson’s “Century Cycle” (Kennedy Center), among others. In 2016, she was honored with the NAACP Theater Awards Trailblazer Award in recognition of her pioneering theatrical contributions.

Richardson Jackson’s additional film and television credits include “The Fighting Temptations,” “U.S. Marshals,” “Freedomland,” “Losing Isaiah,” “Mother and Child,” “Damages” and Sidney Lumet’s critically acclaimed “100 Centre Street.”

Richardson Jackson has received numerous awards for her philanthropic work including The United Negro College Fund and the N.Y. Keeper of the Dream Award. This year she was honored by the LadyLike Foundation, which is a faith based non-profit organization whose purpose is to educate, empower and inspire young women living in underprivileged communities. In 2016, she and her husband Samuel L. Jackson were honored by the Children’s Defense Fund for their longstanding commitment to the organization and their “Leave No Child Behind” mission.

Richardson and her husband Samuel L. Jackson established the Samuel L. & LaTanya R. Jackson Foundation to carry out their commitment to a range of philanthropic issues in the United States and Africa. A graduate of Spelman College, she has served on their Board of Trustees and presently serves on the Advisory Board of their Women’s Center. She serves on the advisory council of Atlanta’s True Colors Theatre, the Ebony Repertory Theatre of Los Angeles, and is currently a board member of the American Theatre Wing and the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

LaTanya Richardson Jackson and her husband Sam have one incredible, Emmy Nominated daughter, the beautiful Zoe Dove.

Alfre Woodard

Woodard can currently be heard as the voice of “Sarabi" in Jon Favreau’s Disney blockbuster THE LION KING. This Fall, she co-stars with Jason Momoa in the highly anticipated Apple series SEE, created by Steven Knight and also headlines the feature film CLEMENCY, which won the Grand Jury prize at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and will be released by Neon. Woodard has just wrapped the Sony Pictures film FATHERHOOD, starring alongside Kevin Hart.

Recent film appearances include the blockbusters CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR for Marvel and ANNABELLE for New Line. On the small screen, she most recently starred as the fierce "Mariah Dillard” in MARVEL’S LUKE CAGE and as the title character in the Netflix Original film JUANITA, which she also developed and produced.

Acclaimed dramatic performances include her roles in Steve McQueen’s 12 YEARS A SLAVE, John Sayles’ PASSION FISH, Maya Angelou's DOWN IN THE DELTA, Peter Bratt’s FOLLOW ME HOME, Gina Prince-Blythwood’s LOVE AND BASKETBALL, Spike Lee’s CROOKLYN, Lawrence Kasdan’s GRAND CANYON and MUMFORD, Tyler Perry’s THE FAMILY THAT PREYS, Billie Woodruff’s BEAUTY SHOP with Queen Latifah, Richard Donner’s SCROOGED opposite Bill Murray, as well as MANDELA and MISS EVER’ BOYS (both for HBO Films).

Woodard has been nominated for 17 Emmy Awards (winning four), 7 SAG Awards (winning three), 3 Golden Globe Awards (winning one), 21 NAACP awards (wining nine) and 2 Independent Spirit Awards (winning one). Her Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress was for her performance in Martin Ritt's CROSS CREEK.

She directed and produced NELSON MANDELA’S FAVORITE AFRICAN FOLKTALES, which garnered a Grammy Award nomination for “Best Children’s Spoken Word Album”. It hosts a collaboration of talent both broad and diverse, featuring Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Helen Mirren, Alan Rickman, and Samuel L. Jackson.

In addition to her acting career, Woodard is a longtime activist who has been involved in countless nonprofit organizations including Artists for a New South Africa, a nonprofit she co-founded which is working to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and further the cause of democracy and human rights in South Africa. In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed her to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. As part of her work on the Committee, Woodard adopted several high poverty and under-performing public schools around the country, including ReNew Cultural Arts Academy in New Orleans and Noel Community Arts School in Denver. She is an active advocate for the arts in education, largely through her work on the Committee’s “Turnaround Arts” initiative, which was launched in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education and the White House Domestic Policy Council to narrow the achievement gap and increase student engagement through the arts.

Greta Gerwig

Academy Award-nominated actress, playwright, screenwriter, and director Greta Gerwig continues to make a mark on the entertainment industry as a powerful storyteller.

Up next is Gerwig’s sophomore directorial project, LITTLE WOMEN. The classic story features an all-star cast including Meryl Streep, Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Timothee Chalamet, Florence Pugh and Eliza Scanlen. Sony Pictures is set to release the film on December 25th, 2019.

In Spring 2020, Gerwig will appear on stage opposite Oscar Isaac in Sam Gold’s Off-Broadway production of Anton Checkhov’s Three Sisters at The New York Theatre Workshop. This will mark her second collaboration with Gold following The Village Bike, for which she received an Outer Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Play in 2014.

Gerwig is perhaps best known for LADY BIRD, her debut film as a solo writer and director. In 2018, Gerwig made history by being the fifth woman to be nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Director category, and the first to be nominated for a debut film. The film also earned four additional Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and acting nominations for stars Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf. The film received the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy), and garnered various guild and critics circle nominations including NBR, WGA, DGA, and BAFTA.

Previously, Gerwig has collaborated with director Noah Baumbach on several films, including GREENBERG, MISTRESS AMERICA, and FRANCES HA, for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination. Her additional acting credits include JACKIE, MAGGIE’S PLAN, 20th CENTURY WOMEN, LOLA VERSUS, DAMSELS IN DISTRESS, ARTHUR, NO STRINGS ATTACHED, and most recently, the voice of Tracy Walker in Wes Anderson’s ISLE OF DOGS.

Laura Dern

Two-time Academy Award nominee, Emmy and Golden Globe winner, Laura Dern has touched audiences and critics alike with her moving and heartfelt performances. In addition to her two Oscar nominations, Dern has won four Golden Globe Awards with seven nominations, as well as earned a Primetime Emmy Award and seven Primetime Emmy Award nominations. On television, Dern was most recently seen as Renata in the second season of HBO’s "Big Little Lies," which airted on HBO this past summer. On the big screen, Dern starred alongside Kristen Stewart in Justin Kelly’s "JT LeRoy" and in Ed Zwick’s "Trial by Fire.” This winter, she will be seen in Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” for Netflix in theaters November 6th, as well as Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” for Sony Pictures out December 25th.

Additional film credits include “Star Wars: Episode VIII” “Wilson,” “The Founder,” “Certain Woman,” “Wild” for which she earned her second Academy Award nomination,“99 Homes,” “The Fault in our Stars,” “The Master” “Everything Must Go” “Little Fockers,” “Year of the Dog” "Inland Empire.” Lonely Hearts,” “Happy Endings,” “We Don’t Live Here Anymore” “I Am Sam,” “Novocaine,” “Focus,” “Citizen Ruth,” “Jurassic Park,” “A Perfect World,” "A Perfect World," I "Rambling Rose," (Academy Award Nomination) "Smooth Talk" and “Mask.” "Blue Velvet" "Wild at Heart,"“Dr. T and the Women,” “October Sky,” "Mask," "Fat Man and Little Boy," "Haunted Summer," "Teachers," “Foxes” and "Ladies and Gentleman, The Fabulous Stains."

Her television credits include HBO’s “The Tale,” which earned Dern her seventh Emmy nomination, and in “Big Little Lies” which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe award for her role as Renata; “Enlightened.” “Recount,” “Damaged Care,” “Within These Walls,” "Daddy and Them,” "The Baby Dance," "Afterburn." “Fallen Angels, Down Came a Blackbird.” In 1997, Dern was nominated for an Emmy Award and won an American Comedy Award for her guest-starring role in the controversial ‘puppy episode’ of the ABC comedy, “Ellen.”

In addition to her extensive film and television credits, Dern has been prolific in her producing career. In 2017 she established Jaywalker Pictures, a Los Angeles-based production company founded with partner Jayme Lemons with emphasis on great storytelling in film and television. They have a first-look TV Deal with Platform One Media, in which they have an hour-long series “Mr. and Mrs. American Pie” in development. In addition to the first-look TV deal with Platform One Media, Jaywalker Pictures will produce “The Dolls” for HBO, a limited series in which Dern is set to star alongside Issa Rae. On the feature side, the projects in development include the films “Candy & Mel” and “The Dog of the South.” Jaywalker Pictures is represented by CAA.

Out of appreciation and respect for the extraordinary gift the Dern family has brought to the big and small screen, The Hollywood Entertainment Museum honored Bruce, Diane and Laura with the Hollywood Legacy Award. In 2010, in celebration of their family legacy in film and television, Dern, her mother, Diane Ladd, and father, Bruce Dern, were awarded with the first ever “Family Star Ceremony” on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2016, she was also selected to serve on The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors.

Kelsey Grammer

Kelsey Grammer has excelled at the highest level in theatre, television and film as an actor, producer and director.

An initial role as Dr. Frasier Crane on "Cheers" developed into the cornerstone of the Juilliard-trained actor’s career. Grammer played the celebrated character in three different television series (“Cheers,” "Wings" and "Frasier") over a span of 20 years, tying the record for longest-running television character.

Grammer has won six Emmys, three Golden Globes and a SAG Award and has received an unparalleled 18 Emmy nominations, eight Golden Globe nominations, 16 SAG nominations and one Tony nomination.

He will next be seen in the movies The Space Between, Grand Isle and The God Committee about the U.S. organ transplant system.

Announced in May 2018, through his production company Grammnet (in conjunction with AwesomenessTV and Wattpad,) Grammer sold a 10-episode straight-to-series, supernatural thriller to Hulu called “Light as a Feather,” based on the story by Zoe Aarsen. Grammer’s recent television voiceover projects include the character Blinky in all three seasons of Netflix’ animated series “Trollhunters,” created by Guillermo Del Toro, for which he won his sixth Emmy Award last season. The third season is available for streaming now.

2019 will see Grammer return to London’s West End in one of the most anticipated stage performances of the year, “Man of La Mancha.” Grammer will star in the beloved role of Don Quixote.

In 2010 Grammer earned a Tony nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, for his starring role in “La Cage aux Folles” on Broadway. In 2015 Grammer returned to the Broadway stage to star in “Finding Neverland.” He reprised the role again in 2016.

Accomplished as a voice-over artist, Grammer has played the iconic character Sideshow Bob on “The Simpsons” since 1990, for which he won an Emmy in 2006. As part of his extensive voiceover work, recent films include Warner Bros.’ animated film “Storks” and the adventurous and comedic animated film “Bunyan and Babe.” He has also lent his voice to the feature films “Toy Story 2,” “Anastasia” and “Teacher’s Pet,” to the television series “Father of the Pride” and “Gary the Rat,” and to the Emmy-nominated “Animal Farm” for TNT.

James Burrows

James Burrows is one of television’s most respected and honored creative talents. Over his distinguished career, Burrows has been the recipient of ten Emmys, four Directors Guild of America Awards, the 1996 American Comedy Awards’ Creative Achievement Award, and in 2014 the Television Critics Association’s Career Achievement Award. In 2006 he was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Science’s Hall of Fame and was honored by the US Comedy Arts Festival with their Career Tribute Award.

He has been the recipient of 21 nominations for the Director’s Guild of America Award, thus bestowing him the honor of being the most nominated director in the history of television at the Guild. He was recently honored by the DGA with the Inaugural 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award in Television. In November 2015 he directed his 1000th episode which was recognized by a TV Special on NBC in January of 2016.

Burrows’ success as the director of television pilots is legendary. He will soon be at the helm of the third season of the new NBC comedy reunion of “Will & Grace.” The current primetime television schedule features four shows- “Big Bang Theory,” “Man with the Plan,” “Neighborhood,” and “Will & Grace”- whose pilot episodes Burrows directed.

Burrows is probably best known as co-creator, executive producer and director of the critically acclaimed series, “Cheers.” The hit show, which aired for 11 seasons, is the most nominated series in the Television Academy’s history and is in third place for most Emmys received. Burrows has also received numerous awards for his work on “Will & Grace,” “Frasier,” “Friends,” “Wings,” “Night Court,” “Taxi,” and “Dear John.” For the first time in 25 years, he returned to the stage in the spring of 1998 to direct the highly acclaimed “Man Who Came To Dinner” at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, starring John Mahoney.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in New York, Burrows graduated from Oberlin College and continued his education at Yale, where he earned a master’s degree in fine arts. Burrows relocated to Hollywood to work as a dialogue coach for “O.K. Crackerby!,” a short-lived television series starring Burl Ives. When the show ended, he returned to New York and initially worked as a stage manager before directing several off-Broadway shows, such as “The Castro Complex,” and stock productions of “The Odd Couple” and “Never Too Late.”

Uzo Aduba

A formidable talent to be reckoned with, Uzo Aduba is an award-winning actress whose work spans television, film, and theatre.

Uzo Aduba has most recently wrapped the FX miniseries MRS. AMERICA portraying The Hon. Shirley Chisholm opposite Cate Blanchett.

Uzo is best known for her two-time Emmy Award-winning portrayal as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren on Netflix's hit series, ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, which just wrapped its 8th and final season. She also won the 2015 SAG AWARD for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series and the 2014 Critic’s Choice Award for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series. The show won the 2015 SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, the 2014 People's Choice Award for Favorite Streaming Series and the 2013 AFI Award for TV Program of the Year. She was also nominated for a 2014 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.

Theatre highlights include the Broadway revival of GODSPELL and The Jamie Lloyd Company's contemporary adaptation of Jean Genet's THE MAIDS

Lupita Nyong’o

LUPITA NYONG’O is a Kenyan actress, producer and New York Times Bestselling author. She made her feature debut in Steve McQueen’s Academy Award® winning film “12 Years a Slave.” For her portrayal as Patsey, Nyong’o received the Academy Award® as well as multiple accolades including the Screen Actors Guild® Award, the Critics’ Choice Award, the Independent Spirit Award, and the NAACP Award.

Nyong’o stars in “Us,” Jordan Peele’s critically acclaimed horror film for Universal Pictures, as both “Red” and “Adelaide.”

Nyong’o played Nakia in Marvel’s Oscar-nominated film, “Black Panther,” which has broken numerous box office records. Ryan Coogler directed the film which co-starred Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, and Danai Gurira. The cast won the SAG Award for Best Ensemble and her performance earned Nyong’o a nomination for an NAACP award.

She will star in the female-driven spy thriller “355,” which Universal purchased out of Cannes.  Additionally, she will co-produce and feature in “Born a Crime,” the bio-pic based on Trevor Noah’s New York Times best-selling book of the same name.  

Nyong’o and Danai Gurira’s upcoming adaptation of the novel “Americanah” has received a straight-to-series order at HBO Max, as a limited 10-episode series. Nyong’o will star, with Gurira writing and serving as showrunner.

   Past credits include Abe Forsythe’s zombie comedy-horror, “Little Monsters,” Mira Nair’s “Queen of Katwe” and voicing Raksha in Jon Favreau’s “The Jungle Book.” Nyong’o starred as Maz Kanata in J.J. Abrams’ “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” She will return as Maz in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” in December 2019.

    Nyong’o earned a Tony® nomination for her Broadway debut in Danai Gurira's Tony-nominated play “Eclipsed.” It tells the story of five extraordinary women brought together by the upheaval of war in their homeland Liberia.

      Nyongo’s debut children's book Sulwe is a New York Times #1 Best Seller. The book, released by Simon & Schuster, discusses colorism, the preferential treatment of those with lighter skin, which is an issue across the globe, and impacts children from a young age.

   Nyong’o graduated from the Yale School of Drama’s acting program where her stage credits included playing Perdita in “The Winter's Tale” (Yale Repertory Theater), Sonya in “Uncle Vanya,” Katherine in “The Taming of the Shrew,” as well as being in the original production of Michael Mitnick’s “Elijah.”  

Nyong’o resides in Brooklyn.