Prominent Buffalo-Native Actors
By: Mike Lewandowski
Introduction
There are many people that have a reserved feeling about the City of Buffalo and all it has to offer. When people watch movies and television, Buffalo is usually a city that people can picture in their minds. Many will picture Hollywood and the state of California and basically, the West Coast. What people may not know is that there are many famous and predominant actors that are from Buffalo. Buffalo houses many successful actors and actresses of both the stage and film. And there are many that went on to have successful careers in television as well. Here are some actors that you may never have thought would be from Buffalo. All can be linked to Buffalo and all have their own relationship with Buffalo.
Actors/Actresses
Nick Bakay
- He was born on October 8, 1959 in Buffalo New York. Nick graduated from Kenyon College in Ohio and later graduated from the Professional Acting Program at SMU in Dallas, Texas. Before moving to New York, he was involved in many different theater productions [(1)]. He is best known for his role as the voice of the cat, Salem on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996). He has also had success with appearances on such shows as The King of Queens (1998) and That 70’s Show (1998). Nick has also been a producer on such shows as The King of Queens (2000-2006), ‘Til Death (2006-2010), and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996-2000). For more of Nick Bakay's body of work, check out: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0048169/#Producer For more of Nick Bakay's biography, check out: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/nick_bakay/biography.php
Christine Baranski
- She was born on May 2, 1952 in Buffalo, New York. She attended Villa Maria Academy and would later go on to study at Julliard. Christine has had a very successful career on Broadway earning two Tony Awards. (Wikipedia). She is also an Emmy Award winner and has been nominated for two Golden Globes for her prominent role the 1995 sitcom Cybill. She has also had many more successes on television such as in Cybill (1995-1998), and in the currently running CBS hit, The Good Wife (2009- ) (1). Some of her earlier film successes came with The Birdcage (1996), and Cruel Intentions (1999). (2) Among her other notable film appearances are in Addams Family Values (1993), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) as Martha May Whovier, and in Mamma Mia! (2008) as Tanya. (1). For more of Christine Baranski's body of work, check out: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004724/ For more of Christine Baranski's biography, check out: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/christine_baranski/biography.php For more of Christine Baranski's biography, check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_Baranski
David Boreanaz
- He was born on May 16, 1969 in Buffalo, New York. He was born in Buffalo but grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studied cinema and acting at Ithaca College in New York. (1). He worked through college to pursue a career in film. David broke onto the scene in the early 2000’s with Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997). (2). With the success of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, David would star in Angel (1999), a spin-off of Buffy. His success in television would continue with another predominant role in the FOX hit Bones (2005). David Boreanaz has proven much success with his presence in television over the last decade and a half. For more of David Boreanaz's body of work, check out: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004770/ For more of David Boreanaz's biography, check out: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/david_boreanaz/biography.php
Jeffrey DeMunn
- He was born on April 25, 1947 in Buffalo, New York. He would later study acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in England. When he returned to America he joined the National Shakespeare Company which would lead to him performing in a numerous amount of on and off Broadway productions.(1). Jeffrey has worked in many films since the late 1970’s. His more predominant roles have been in films such as The Shawshank Redemption (1994), The Green Mile (1999), and The Mist (2007).(1). He has also had recent success in AMC’s The Walking Dead which has been running since 2010. Throughout his years in film he has been a favorite of director Frank Darabont who has cast him in almost every major film he has directed. (2). In between his work with Darabont, DeMunn predominantly now works in feature films and in television. (2). For more of Jeffrey DeMunn's body of work, check out: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0218810/ For more of Jeffrey DeMunn's biography, check out: http://movies.yahoo.com/person/jeffrey-de-munn/biography.html
William Fichtner
- He was born on November 27, 1956 in East Meadow in Long Island, New York. Bill was born in New York City but was raised in Cheektowaga, New York when he would graduate from Maryvale High School in 1974.(1) Growing up in the Buffalo area, he still remains a huge Buffalo sports fan despite moving on to acting where he would end up in many different locations. He is known as a small-town guy with much pride for his hometown of Buffalo. Bill studied criminal justice in college before he decided to move back to New York City where he would study acting. (2). He made his start on soap operas such as As the World Turns (1956) and sitcoms like Grace Under Fire (1993). He has made appearances in numerous successful films throughout his acting years such as Armageddon (1998), The Perfect Storm (2000), Black Hawk Down (2001), Crash (2004), and The Dark Knight (2008). (1). For more of William Fichtner's body of work, check out: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001209/bio For more of William Fichtner's biography, check out: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/william_fichtner/biography.php
Jeffrey Jones
- He was born on September 28, 1946 in Buffalo, New York. Growing up in Buffalo, Jeffrey became fond of theater from his visits to the Stratford Theater in Ontario, Canada. He would then go on to become a successful American character actor of both the stage and the screen. (3). Since making his first screen appearance in 1970, Jones has appeared in many well-known films such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), Amadeus (1984), Beetle Juice (1988), The Devil’s Advocate (1997), and Sleepy Hollow (1999). He is also known for his role in HBO’s Deadwood (2004-2006). (1). Jeffrey has been nominated for many awards including his Golden Globe Nomination for Amadeus (1984). (1). For more of Jeffrey Jones' body of work, check out: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000470/ For more of Jeffrey Jones' biography, check out: http://movies.yahoo.com/person/jeffrey-jones/biography.html
Wendie Malick
- She was born on December 13, 1950 in Buffalo, New York. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1972, where she would go on to work for Buffalo-Area Congressmen, Jack Kemp. She soon after left Washington D.C. to act in theater. (1). She started as a Wilhelmina model in the 1970’s. (2). She has had recurring roles in many television series such as Baywatch (1989), NYPD Blue (1993), and Frasier (1993). She won much recognition for her role in the popular sitcom Just Shoot Me! (1997), where she was nominated for both an Emmy and Golden Globe Award. Currently, Wendie has had much success in the hit TV Land series Hot In Cleveland (2010), which is still currently airing and receiving award recognition.(1). For more of Wendie Malick's body of work, check out: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005176/ For more of Wendie Malick's biography, check out: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/wendie_malick/biography.php
Chad Michael Murray
- He was born on August 24, 1981 in Buffalo, New York. Chad got his start in modeling before moving to the West Coast. (2). Murray is more specifically from Clarence, New York where he graduated from Clarence High School. (Wikipedia). His major modeling job was for Tommy Hilfiger, which would be his major source of income, allowing him to pursue his acting career. He made appearances on several successful television series such as Dawson’s Creek (1998) and Gilmore Girls (2000). His big break and most famous role were as Lucas Scott in One Tree Hill (2003), which is still running. He has also had notable film roles such as Freaky Friday (2003), A Cinderella Story (2004), and House of Wax (2005). For more of Chad Michael Murray's body of work, check out: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0614877/ For more of Chad Michael Murray's biography, check out: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/chad_michael_murray/biography.php For more of Chad Michael Murray's biography, check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Michael_Murray
William Sadler
- He was born on April 13, 1950 in Buffalo, New York. William was raised on a farm in Orchard Park, New York. He was in a local Buffalo band in his teenage years called “The Knight Ryders”. His path toward acting was more accidental in the sense that he was cast in a local production in his teenage years which drew him to acting. He pursued a degree in acting at SUNY Geneseo and would go on to have a successful career in both television and film. (3). His more notable television appearances are in such shows as Roseanne (1988) and Murphy Brown (1988). He has also made many film appearances in movies such as Die Hard 2 (1990), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), The Green Mile (1999), The Mist (2007), and Eagle Eye (2008). (1). For more of William Sadler's biography, check out: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006669/bio For more of William Sadler's biography, check out: http://movies.yahoo.com/person/william-sadler/biography.html
James Whitmore
- He was born on October 1, 1921 in White Plains, New York. James graduated from Yale and went on to serve in World War 2 in the 1940’s as a marine. He studied acting on the G.I. Bill at the American Theatre Wing. He was most known for his many television and film appearances in the 1940’s. (3). He would have much success on Broadway for many years and would move on to many notable films throughout his later years. Whitmore’s more notable films include Planet of the Apes (1968), Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970), Give em’ Hell, Harry! (1975), and The Shawshank Redemption (1994). His success throughout his long career has earned him two Oscar nominations and many awards on Broadway. For more of James Whitmore's body of work, check out: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926235/ For more of James Whitmore's biography, check out: http://movies.yahoo.com/person/james-whitmore/biography.html
Sources
(1) www.imdb.com (2) www.rottentomatoes.com (3) www.movies.yahoo.com Bold text
