One of Allred's earliest film roles was in "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" (1993), directed by Mel Brooks. Since then he has had many lead roles, including playing the title role in 6 feature length direct-to-video productions in the "Josh Kirby: Time Warrior" series. In "Diamonds" (1999), his father was played by Dan Aykroyd and his grandfather by Kirk Douglas.
Allred played has had starring roles on two television series, playing "Steve Beauchamp" on "Teen Angel" (1997-1998) and "Chip Wigley" on "Social Studies" (1997). He has had guest roles on other series, including "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch", "Touched by an Angel", and "Saved by the Bell".
Local audiences may know Allred from his starring role as Elder Tomberline in Bristone Films' video "Christmas Mission" (1999), directed by Michael L. Schaertl. He also had a supporting role in the Feature Films for Families production "Address Unknown" (1997).
Photo: Official Corbin Allred Home Page
Birth name: Ryan Thomas Gosling. Actor. Starred on the New Mickey Mouse Club ("MMC") during seasons 6 and 7, alongside major music and TV stars Christina Aguilera, J.C. Chasez, Keri Russell, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. Played "Sean Hanlon" on the TV series "Breaker High" (1997). Starred as "Hercules" on the "Young Hercules" TV series of the late 1990s. TV guest roles include: Hercules: The Legendary Journeys; Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal; Goosebumps; Road to Avonlea. Major roles in a couple TV movies in the late 1990s and the family film "Frankenstein and Me" (1996) preceded a string of critically acclaimed starring feature film roles. He played "Alan Bosley" in "Remember the Titans" (2000), part of a cast led by Denzel Washington. His breakout performance was as the lead in "The Believer" (2001), in which he played an Orthodox Jew who becomes a Nazi. The director cast Gosling partially because, as a practicing Latter-day Saint, Gosling understood religious culture and could understand the role. After winning awards at the Sundance Film Festival, the controversial movie was finally released in theaters in 2002, shortly after the release of Gosling's first big budget feature as a marque name, "Murder By Numbers," in which featured him opposite Sandra Bullock. Since then he has had lead roles in "The United State of Leland (2002) and "The Slaughter Rule" (2002).
Excerpt from article: "Beliefs collide in 'The Believer'", by Donna Freydkin (USA Today, 14 March 2002):
When Ryan Gosling, then 19, shaved his head, bulked up and pasted on a tattoo to play a tormented Jewish neo-Nazi in The Believer, he never thought the controversial film would find an audience."I didn't think being in it would hurt or benefit me," says the actor, now 21. "I just didn't think anyone would see it."
After a troubled journey from festival darling to untouchable film property, The Believer will premiere Sunday on Showtime (8 p.m. ET/PT) and in theaters in May.
In The Believer, Gosling plays Danny Balint, a Jew who embraces neo-Nazism while still clinging to Judaism.
Initially, the movie exceeded expectations. Based on the true story of Daniel Burros, the film bedazzled critics at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival and won the Grand Jury Prize... The Believer was scheduled to premiere Sept. 30, but after Sept. 11, the film was shelved. Now, Gosling's performance will finally see the light of day.
Gosling's journey from neophyte actor to neo-Nazi included Disney's Mickey Mouse Club -- alongside Britney Spears, Keri Russell and 'N Sync's J.C. Chasez -- and several... TV shows before he beat out more than 150 actors to play Balint.
"He looked totally wrong, like a surfer," Bean says. "And then I found out he was an observant Mormon, and that really sold me. (He) understands what this is about, a religion with a history of persecution."
Says Gosling: "I didn't meet with any neo-Nazis, because I didn't think it was important. I can see hate all around me. I can pull it from other places."
Actor Bart Johnson has spent more than 10 years working in film, television and theater. Perhaps his most memorable role was as "Nelson Tucker" on the TV series "Hyperion Bay".
Born in Hollywood, Calif., Johnson spent much of his early childhood on television sets with his mother, who has a hairstylist for shows including "Mork and Mindy" and "The Brady Bunch." He moved with his family from Los Angeles to Midway, Utah, When he was 12 years old. After performing in his high school production of "West Side Story," he knew he wanted to be an actor. From there, Johnson took a brief detour to study pre-med at the University of Utah, and then attended Yale University's prestigious School of Drama, where he performed in stage productions of "Hedda Gabler" and "Cherry Orchard."
Johnson's first movie role was a cop in the feature film "Mi Familia," the epic story of an immigrant family produced by Francis Ford Coppola. He also featured in "Double Jeopardy"; Richard Donner's "Maverick," starring Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster; and Francine McDugall's short film "The Date," which won Best Short and the Sundance Film Festival. On television, Johnson has guest starred on the series "Walker, Texas Ranger," "Jag," "Clueless," "Diagnosis Murder," "Babylon 5," and "Sunset Beach." In addition, on stage Johnson has been a guest performer and trained with the famous Groundings comedy troupe in Los Angeles and won rave reviews for his performances in "The Country Club," an award-winning stage production at L.A.'s Mojo Theater.
When not working, Johnson enjoys flying airplanes; surfing; mountain biking; kickboxing, which he studies with world champion kickboxer Billy Blanks; and playing football, soccer and basketball. He also excels at freestyle snow skiing, in which he competed against the U.S. Olympic team while living in Utah. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, actress Robyn Lively.
[Main source: http://members.nbci.com/kingrich28/hyperion24.html]
One of Hawaii's finest actors remembered as Mr. Miyagi's archrival "Sato"
[Sources: Helen Altonn. "Danny Kamekona, one of Hawaii's top actors, dies in L.A. at the age of 60" in Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 3 May 1996; Karate Kid Movie Website; IMDb.]
In May of 1996 one of the undeniably greatest Hawaiian actors in the history of stage, film, and television passed away. Danny Kamekona was in many ways a very typical resident of islands. His ancestry was mixed: one-half Hawaiian, one-quarter Japanese and one-quarter Chinese. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Kamekona was a versatile actor, and during his acting career he played Hawaiian, Chinese and Japanese characters. Perhaps his most popular role was as the villainous (but ultimately redeemed) "Sato" in The Karate Kid II, a film which grossed $115 million at the box office in 1986. This was one of many films he appeared with his long-time friend Pat Morita. Kamekona's subtle performance as "Sato" soared above the stereotypical and one-dimensional portrayals of Asian villains more typical of action films.
Fans of the long-running television show "Hawaii Five-O" will remember Kamekona for not one but two recurring roles on that series. He played "Che Fong" in 1968 nd 1969, and later returned to the show as "Nick Noble" in 1974 and 1975. During other years he played many guest roles as other characters. He typically appeared in 9 or 10 episodes of "Hawaii Five-O" each year. The show's producers asked him to commit to be a regular cast member, but he declined because he preferred having a variety of roles and wanted to avoid being typecast, and he also didn't want to spend too much time away from his successful insurance business.
In addition to many other film and television roles, Kamekona also had was a regular cast member (as Henry) from 1994 to 1995 on "Burke's Law", a revival of the 1960's cop thriller.
Kamekona served for three years as a full-time missionary for the Church. His mission was in Osaka, Japan -- the first time he experienced his ancestral homeland firsthand. He attended Brigham Young University - Hawaii Campus on a football scholarship. At BYU-Hawaii he he was voted "Most Likely to Succeed." He also attended the University of Hawaii. He died May 1 in California. His memorial service was held May 11 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Beretania Street in Honolulu.
Kamekona married a Japanese native and had two children.
Today Whitaker hosts the "Dr. Zod & Johnny Show", but he may be best remembered as the child actor who played "Jody" on the popular TV series "Family Affair" from 1966 to 1971.
Before that, he had a regular role on the TV daytime drama "General Hospital", and he later had a regular role on "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters", which starred Billy Barty.
Whitaker starred in many films, including "The Biscuit Eater", "Mystery in Dracula's Castle", "Napoleon and Samantha", "Snowball Express" -- all in 1972. In 1973 he had the title role in "Tom Sawyer."
Whitaker received the Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1999 Young Artist Awards. Today Whitaker accepts some acting roles, and most recently starred in "The Red Head is Dead."
Photo: Dr. Zod & Johnny Show