A

Chip Adams

Brookhaven, MS,  role of blues musician in Greasewood Flat

Mary Alice

Indianola , earned Emmy nominations on NBC-TV's I'll Fly Away, starred in Broadway's Fences and TV's The Vernon Johns Story.  Received nomination in 1995 for Tony Award as Best Actress for role in Having Our Say.

Dana Andrews

Played opposite Gene Tierney in Laura, made 69 films.  Born January 1, 1909, in Collins, Mississippi, as Carver Dana Andrews.  Died: December 17, 1992, in Los Alamitos, California, of pneumonia. Brother of actor Steve Forrest, President of Screen Actors Guild (SAG): 1963-65. American leading man of the Forties and Fifties. The son of a Baptist minister (and one of thirteen children), Andrews studied business administration at Sam Houston State Teachers College in Texas, but took a bookkeeping job with Gulf Oil in 1929 prior to graduating. In 1931, he hitchhiked to California, hoping to get work as an actor. He  drove a school bus, dug ditches, picked oranges, worked as a stock boy, and pumped  gas while trying without luck to break into the movies. His employer at a Van Nuys gas station believed in him and agreed to invest in him, asking to be repaid if and when Andrews made it as an actor. Andrews studied opera and also entered the Pasadena Community Playhouse, the famed theater company and drama school. He appeared in scores of plays there in the 1930s, becoming a favorite of the company. He played opposite future star 'Robert Preston' in a play about composers Gilbert and Sullivan,  and soon thereafter was offered a contract by Samuel Goldwyn. It was two years before Goldwyn and 20th Century Fox (to whom Goldwyn had sold half of Andrews's contract) put him in a film, but the roles, though secondary, were mostly in top quality films such as 'Westerner, The (1940)' and 'Ox-Bow Incident, The (1943)'. A starring  role in the hit 'Laura (1944)', followed by one in 'Best Years of Our Lives, The (1946)',  made him a star, but no later film quite lived up to the quality of these. Andrews slipped into a steady stream of unremarkable films in which he gave sturdy performances, until age and other interests resulted in fewer appearances. In addition, his increasing alcoholism caused him to lose the confidence of some producers. Andrews took steps to curb his addiction and in his later years was an outspoken member of the National Council on Alcoholism who decried public refusal to face the problem. He was elected  president of the Screen Actors Guild in 1963. He retired from films in the Sixties and made, he said, more money from real estate than he ever did in movies. Yet he and his second wife, actress 'Mary Todd', lived quietly in a modest home in Studio City, California. Andrews reportedly suffered from Alzheimer's Syndrome in his last years and spent his final days in a nursing facility. He died of congestive heart failure and pneumonia in 1992.

B

Rod Brasfield

Born Smithville in 1919, comedian for Grand Ole Opry for 14 years, praised for dramatic role opposite Andy Griffith in A face in the Crowd.  Elected to Country Music Hall of Fame.

Nate Bynum

Formerly a Mississippi State University drama teacher, he has had roles in various TV and movie productions including Willie Morris's My Dog Skip. Bynam is now teaching at University of Nevada in Las Vegas, is a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and holds eligible membership in the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists(AFTRA).  He also has taught in the University of Arkansas school system.  While teaching a wide-range of courses at the university level (acting, directing, and dramatic literature), Nate continues his professional acting career.  He has performed at the Lyceum Theatre in Missouri, the American Stage in Florida, and the Arkansas Repertory Theatre in Little Rock. Television and movie credits also include The Rainmaker, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Walker, Texas Ranger, Promised Land, In the Heat of the Night, Young Indiana Jones, Queen and I'll Fly Away.  Additionally, Nate has appeared in numerous regional and national commercials. He credits his greatest production to date as the creation of two lovely little daughters.

C

Lacy Chabert

Party of Five, Lost in Space>

Alvin Childress

Played Amos of Amos and Andy on TV, born in Meridian.

Jerry Clower

Born in East Fork in Amite County , 1926, country-comedy albums, written four books, Grand Ole Opry comedian and entertainer, played football for Mississippi State University. Died in 1998. Click on his name for more information.

Christian Craft

10 year old from Richland, MS, in John John in the Sky

Mart Crowley

Television producer and playwright, wrote The Boys in the Band, which was made into a movie. Click on his name for the SHS writer's project about him.

Shea Curry 

Performed in Showboat on Broadway, from Hattiesburg

D

Jefferson Davis

Midway, Mississippi, director and writer for movie John John in the Sky

Donna Douglas

Elly Mae Clampett of the Beverly Hillbillies

Michael Clarke Duncan

Nominated for a Golden Globe Award as Best Supporting Actor in 2000, starred with Tom Hanks in The Green Mile, played Bear in the 1998 film Armageddon, numerous other movies and television shows, played basketball for Alcorn State University in Mississippi, now 37 years old, trademark is his massive physique, which helped him land his first four TV and movie roles--as bouncer and security guard.

John Dye 

John plays "Andrew, the Angel of Death" on the CBS drama "Touched By An Angel."  Born and raised in Amory, Mississippi (near Tupelo)  and graduated from Tupelo High School, John received "Best Actor" awards from Mississippi State University before transferring his sophomore year to the University of Memphis (known then as Memphis State University). Born  January 31,  he landed his first film role in Makin' The Grade in 1984 while still attending Memphis State. John has participated in the Stars Over Mississippi, a charity event for Mississippi students.  His  film credits include Perfect Weapon, The Best of the Best, Mother, Mother, Sioux City and Campus Man.  Dye's television credits include regular roles in "Hotel Malibu" and "Tour of Duty," both on CBS, and "Jack's Place." He also appeared in the mini-series "The Billionaire Boys Club" and  guest-starred in the CBS series "Promised Land."   Today he lives in San Francisco and Salt Lake City.

 

E

Aunjanue Ellis

Latest film Ray with Jamie Fox, from Magnolia, Mississippi,  graduated from South Pike High School.  Ellis attended Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi, before she transferred to Brown University, where she completed her undergraduate studies. She has also appeared in numerous TV roles and acted on the stage in New York. Her television credits include New York Undercover, The Practice, and 100 Centre Street. She has played on stage in George C. Wolfe's The Tempest and Drowning Crow. She played opposite Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Robert De Niro in Men of Honor, and opposite Eddie Griffin in Malcolm Lee's Undercover Brother. She is to play Zora Neale Hurston in the independent film Brother to Brother opposite Anthony Mackie. Ellis will play in Fox's show, Johnny Zero. In her current film, Ray, Ellis plays Mary Ann Fisher, the first female singer Ray Charles hired to perform with him and his band.

F

Brett Favre

Played himself in Something About Mary.

Ruth Elizabeth Ford

Born in Hazlehurst, 1915.  In film The Keys of the Kingdom and the play Dinner at Eight., sister of Charles Henri Ford, a poet, painter, filmmaker, editor, novelist.

Jim Fraiser

Actor and author, played veterinarian in Willie Morris's My Dog Skip. Click on his name for more information about his writings.

Morgan Freeman

(Photo right by Alan Weissman) Grew up in Mississippi around Greenwood.  Many movies to his credit including Shawshank Redemption, Driving Miss Daisy, Robin Hood:  Prince of Thieves, Kiss the Girls, Street Smart, now lives in Charleston, Mississippi, and owns a restaurant nearby.

Vivica A. Fox

West Point, Mississippi, made her feature film debut as Jasmine DuBrow in Independence Day opposite Will Smith. She most recently starred in the  hit action thriller Set It Off for New Line Cinema. She will soon appear opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger's Mr. Freezeas Ms. B. Haven in Batman and Robin, as well as starring in the family drama Soul Food opposite Vanessa Williams. She will also star opposite Arsenio Hall in  the new DreamWorks SKG television series for ABC entitled Arsenio. Her previous television  credits include a series regular role opposite Patti LaBelle in the primetime program Out All Night. Other television credits include guest roles on Living Single, Family Matters, Matlock, Beverly Hills 90210, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and China Beach, as well as a recurring role on The Young and the Restless, and a series regular role on Generations.

 

G

M. C. Gainey

Has played on numerous TV shows, played Roscoe P. Coltrane in Dukes of Hazzard film

Cynthia Geary

(Northern Exposure) played Shelby, newest film is John John in the Sky, also Eight Seconds. Geary was born on March 21, 1965, in Jackson, Mississippi. She is the youngest of four children. At an early age Geary studied ballet, voice, and piano. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in vocal performance and graduated with honors from the University of Mississippi. Cynthia now lives with her family in Issaquah, WA, near Seattle.

Gary Grubbs

From Amory, MS, actor, in Double Take, Gone Fishin'  The Ernest Green Story, The Burning Bed,  Fatal Vision, River of Rage, Foxfire, Telling Secrets, North & South, Heaven and Hell, appeared on The X-Files, Touched by an Angel, JAG, The Profiler,  ten episodes of Will and Grace for NBC, X-Files – The Movie and The Astronaut’s Wife, married to the former Glenda Meadows of Richton, Mississippi, married to Glenda, has two children--  Molly and Logan,  resides in Burbank, California.

 

H

Alice Haiming

Born in Jackson in 1959, played Jodie Fields on TV's Search for Tomorrow, Angel Lange Snyder on As the World Turns and various roles on other soap operas.  Acted in On Borrowed Time and The Cover of Life.

Jim Henson

Creator of Muppets, many films to his credit, TV shows, born in Greenville, Mississippi, 1936, and died in 1990 of walking pneumonia. Click on his name for additional information.

Anthony Herrera

Born in Wiggins, Mississippi,  in 1944, played such villains as Dane Hammond in Loving and James Stenbeck on As the World Turns.  Author of The Cancer War, an autobiographical story of Herrera's battle against a rare form of cancer, also writer and director of PBS film based on Eudora Welty's  The Wide Net.
Photo of Anthony Herrera by Nancy N. Jacobs

Shauntay Hinton

Miss USA (crowned March 2002), born in Starkville, Mississippi, graduate of Starkville High School in 1997. In the Cuts episode entitled “The Love Below,” Hinton guest starred as “Angel,” the former girlfriend of R&B singer and series star, Marques Houston. Hinton co-starred on the CBS drama entitled “Criminal Minds,” and served as red-carpet host for “The 14th Annual Trumpet Awards” hosted by Chris Tucker and LisaRaye McCoy.  A 1997 graduate of Starkville High School, Hinton studied broadcast journalism at Howard University and the School for Film and Television's Conservatory Program in New York. Hinton can be seen daily as a host on the STARZ! On Demand cable network. Her other credits include hosting lifestyle and entertainment programming for King World Productions, Fox Sports, Lifetime, Twentieth Television and the recently-launched Current TV. A former Miss USA who has raised a record high $35+ million for charity, Hinton supports causes that benefit women's health including breast and ovarian cancer education, research and legislation. She has traveled nationwide as an advocate for organizations such as the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, the National Breast Cancer Coalition and Gilda's Club.

See photo above: Starkville grad Miss USA Shauntay Hinton with SHS cheerleaders, Ashley Gillespie and Lateshia Harris.  Photo by N. Jacobs, SHS

Eddie Hodges

Born in Hattiesburg, on March 5,1947, child actor who played Frank Sinatra's son in A Hole in the Head and  sang High Hopes with Sinatra. More info here.  Also played Huck Finn.  Was Winthrop in The Music Man on Broadway.

Michael Humphreys

Born in Independence, Mississippi, played young Forrest in Forrest Gump.

Alan Hunter

MTV  DJ personality

 

J

Kate Jackson

Went to Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi, best known for Charlie's Angels, born in Alabama, Kate Jackson played in prime time series The Rookies (1972 - 1976), in 2007 had guest role in the CBS action series Criminal Minds. The Episode's title is 'Honor Among Thieves.' She plays in the 1994 movie Hard Evidence which is based on a true story. She plays a civil service worker in Georgia places her family at risk when she agrees to help expose high-level corruption. She starred in the films Making Love in 1982, Loverboy starring with Patrick Dempsey and Kirstie Alley in 1989, and Thunder and Lightning in 1977 with David Carradine.

James Earl Jones

Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, performed in The Great White Hope, Paul Robeson, , Fences,  on stage, and in the movies: Dr. Strangelove, Coming to America, Field of Dreams, The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, Cry, The Beloved Country, The Lion King, voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars trilogy, and many others.

Robert Earle Jones

Actor born in Coldwater.  Appeared in The Sting, Trading Places and The Cotton Club.  Starred in several Broadway productions including Othello.

 

K

Born 1971 in Jackson, Mississippi, plays Nina on Third Rock from the Sun.  She plays the assistant to college professors Dr. Albright (Jane Curtin) and Dr.  Solomon (John Lithgow) who often finds herself in the roles of referee and translator between them.  Khali was raised in Chicago, IL.   Married to Cress Williams in  2000.

L

Diane Ladd

Born Rose Diane Ladnier in Meridian, Mississippi,  on November 29, 1932.  Three Academy Award nominations for Alice Doesn't Live  Here Anymore, Wild at Heart, and Rambling Rose.  She has  appeared in over seventy films.  She has also appeared in many television shows. In 1960 she  married  Bruce Dern and divorced him in 1969.  She married William A. Shea, Jr., in 1969 and divorced him in 1977.  She married Robert Charles Hunter in 1999 and is still married him. She is the mother of actress Laura Dern and the first cousin of Mississippi playwright Tennessee Williams (born Thomas Lanier Williams).

Ben Lang

Born in Starkville, Mississippi, and a graduate of Starkville High School, Ben has played on ER, Boston Public, The Young and the Restless, and The Guardian. He traveled to the Donna Reed Festival in 1999 as a National scholarship finalist and received encouragement and support from his festival instructors. Following his freshman year at the University of Southern Mississippi, Ben moved to Los Angeles in the fall of 2000. He has been seen as the lead in the SAG festival film Boychick directed by Glen Gaylord; as a guest star on Yes, Dear, with Mike O’Malley and Liza Snyder, and directed by Steven Levitan;  Ben pursued  classes at UCLA while pursuing his career in film and television, but he is currently attending Mississippi State University in Starkville.

Daniel Curtis Lee

Clinton, MS, brother of Nathaniel Lee, played in Friday After Next, The Rising Place, First Monday and The Shield on TV, presently stars in Nickelodeon's "Ned's Declassified Middle School Survival Guide" in which he plays a nerd. Daniel is an eighth-grader at Stanford Middle School in Long Beach, California, produced first Christian/gospel album in August, 2004 titled "Warming" with his brother Nathaniel, Jr., Brother Lee is the name of their group in Nick's Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide 

Nathaniel Lee, Jr.

Born in Clinton, Mississippi, in 1989,  now resides in Long Beach, California. Nathaniel plays the role of Sammy in "My Dog Skip." He played as Talmadge Pepper in the PBS film "The Ponder Heart."  He played one of the "Ice Boys" in Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou?  Nathaniel Lee, Jr., got his first starring role in a PBS film scheduled to air in the fall of 2003 called "Warming By The Devil's Fire," part of the series titled "The Blues."  He has also appeared in commercials for Coke and Frito Lay. With his brother Daniel (see above) has recorded their first gospel album, "Brother Lee."   He plays the bass guitar, guitar, string bass, drums and some piano. Nathaniel is a ninth-grader at Millikan High School, loves video games, music and is a member of "Best Buddies," where he teams up to help children with special needs.  He lives with his family in Long Beach, California, newest acting assignments: CBS  Judging Amy - Dancing in the Dark , Disney  Tiger Cruise , Paramount  Art School Confidential   

Tom Lester

Born in Jackson, family moved to Laurel, played farm hand Eb Dawson in TV's Green Acres.

 

M

Thalia Mara

Born in 1911 in Chicago, moved to Jackson in 1975.  Professional dancer and founder of  the Jackson Ballet troupe which became Ballet Mississippi, brought International Ballet Competition to Jackson.

Daniel Martinez

Member SAG/AFTRA , roles in Pretty Woman and Miami Vice

John Maxwell

Director of New Stage Theater in Jackson, Mississippi.  Oh, Mr.  Faulkner, Do You Write? is his one man play.  Click on his name for interview and more complete information by SHS student Krystal Jenkins.

Shane McRae

Born Shane Michael McRae to John and Sharon McRae on July 23, 1977,  in Gainesville, Florida.  The family  moved to Starkville, Mississippi,  in 1987 when his father became dean of the MSU School of Architecture.   Shane is a 1995 graduate of Starkville High School in Starkville, Mississippi.  He is the oldest of three children. His sister Kelley was born November 14, 1979, and she also graduated from SHS.  His brother Ryan was born December 9, 1982.  His father was Dean of the School of Architecture at Mississippi State University before the family moved from Starkville to Maryland.

In 1992 Shane tried out for Starkville High School's spring musical Oklahoma!  Despite being chosen for the production, there was a conflict between the play and soccer, and  Shane chose to play soccer instead.  In 1993, he tried out for Bye, Bye, Birdie, another Starkville High School production.   He played the part of Randolph MacAfee. In 1994, he played  Barnaby Tucker, one of the main characters in Hello, Dolly, also an SHS production.

The spring of 1995 found Shane McRae in two other high school drama class productions. He was Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream. He was also Jack in Pals.  In the spring of 1996 (Shane's freshman year at  Mississippi State University in Starkville),  he performed in the MSU's  production of South Pacific as Luther Billis. As a result of this role, he was an Irene Ryan Regional Finalist.  The fall of that same year, Shane decided to attend the University of Evansville where he would study theatre.  He then graduated with an MFA from New York University.

In 1998, Shane McRae played the part of Ryan in the Promised Land episode "Balancing Act."  Shane McRae played the part of Nelson in All Over Again, which was filmed the summer of 2000. Since then he's played the part of Jason Chenier in Take Me Out ( which won a Tony), Chris Olshansky in the Hack episode Fog Of War, an engineer named Bill in Pullman Car Hiawatha and filled in for David Tom as Paul Cramer in One Life to Live. In August and again in November of 2004, he performed in an off-Broadway play called WarPlay which he wrote along with David Flaherty and Daniel Larlham. In October, he played the part of Richard's nemesis, Richmond, in <Richard III. Shane McRae currently lives in New York.  He plays Bobby in Four Kings, which will premiere Sunday January 1, 2006 on NBC.  The Emmy-winning creators of NBC's Will and Grace David Kohan and Max Mutchnick are creating Four Kings, the new comedy pilot for NBC. The pilot centers on a quartet of guys, childhood best friends, who live in New York.

Gerald McRaney

Born in Collins, Mississippi, August 19, 1947. Co-starred in Simon and Simon on TV and Major Dad, also Promised Land, married to Delta Burke of Designing Women
 
 

 
 
 
 

Hailee Melton

Plays one of the Peacock children in The Ponder Heart, a made-for-PBS movie adapted from  Mississippi writer Eudora Welty's novel.  Hailee is from Clinton, Mississippi, and is ten years old.  She began by acting in the Clinton Children's Theatre when she was eight, and has done several commercials, and a safety video which will be shown in Mississippi schools.  Parents are Don and Debbie Melton.  Hailee began modeling at age five and wants to be an actress.  She also swims, sings, and dances.

 

Mary Ann Mobley

Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, 1939.  Miss America in 1959, played on Broadway  in Nowhere to Go But Up, and in movies with Elvis Presley called Girl Happy and Harum Scarum, married to Gary Collins, Golden Globe, 1965, diagnosed with Crohn's disease

Mike Moore

Attorney general of Mississippi, playing himself in film The Insider!

 

N

Rashad Naylor

1995 graduate of Hattiesburg High School,  Rashad  understudied the Dynamites role in Shampoo on Broadway. When he performed,  it was done more as a group from that era with a lead man and two girls.He and  Shayna Steele sang together 'Welcome to the 60's.  Played  Vernon Jordan in Monica! The Musical

Brandy (Norwood)

Star of Moesha, Cinderella, many albums.  See link to our music site.

 

 

 

Willie (Ray-J) Norwood

Brother of Brandy, also on Moesha.  Appeared in Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored. See link.
 
 
 
 
 

Carrie Nye

Born Caroline Nye McGeoy in Greenwood, Mississippi, in 1937, married to TV's Dick Cavett, played in Divorce His, Divorce Hers (1973) and The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979), Creepshow (1982)

 

O

Paul Ott

Listen to the Eagle show

 

P

Bob Pittnam

Founder and producer of MTV, Born in Brookhaven, 1953.

Parker Posey

Moved at twelve to Laurel, Mississippi, with her family.  Played role of Tess on CBS's As the World Turns, several films such as The Daytrippers and Party Girl.  More info at Internet Movie Database.

 

Elvis Presley

Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, King of rock 'n roll, Click on Presley's name for complete SHS project

 

R

Beah Richards

Born Beulah Richardson in Vicksburg in 1920, played Sidney Poitier's mother in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner,  also in The Great White Hope, Beloved, several TV series, died at age 80 (Sept. 14, 2000).  Won Emmy in 2000 for guest appearance on The Practice.  Emmy in 1988 for guest appearance on Frank's Place and an ACE Award in 1987.  Subject of HBO documentary Beah: A Black Woman Speaks.  Her obituary from the Guardian can be read here.

Tim Rice

Film director for John John in the Sky, The Rising Place, screenwriter

Eric Roberts

Born in Biloxi in 1956, movies include King of the Gypsies, Raggedy Man, The Pope of Greenwich Village, The Coca-Cola Kid, The Runaway Train, Nobody's Food, In Cold Blood, brother of Julia Roberts.

Le Ann Rimes

Country music star, played in Holiday in Your Heart,  many albums, married to Dean Sheremet with whom she has written children's book Jag.  Click here for her home site biography

 

 

 

S

Toni Seawright

Former Miss Mississippi, runner-up for Miss USA, starred on Broadway in The Wiz, married to Pittsburgh Steeler Louis Lipp

Symba Smith

Born in Gulfport, in movie Beverly Hills Cop III, also appeared in TV shows: Will & Grace,  The West Wing, Letters From A Nut (Pilot),   Friends, The Parkers, Veronica’s Closet,  Hyperion Bay, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager,  Sliders, The Bold and The Beautiful (4 episodes), The Young and The Restless, Melrose Place,  Models, Inc.,  Daddy’s Girls (Pilot), Land’s End, Star Search (Spokesmodel Winner),  Don’t Talk to Strangers (M.O.W.),  Campus Cops,  Blossom,  Cheers, In Living Color, Murder She Wrote, Club MTV, The Tonight Show (twice) and many others.  Films include L.A. Confidential, Abandoned Minds, Freedom Flyers, The Other Woman,  Beverly Hills Cop III,  First Finish,   The Underground,  Last Action Hero, Naked Gun 33 1/3 as well as commercials for  Sprint PCS ("Backed-Up E-mails"),  JC Penney ("S.U.V."), Acura ("San Francisco"), Lowe's Home Improvement (Multiple Spots), Mazda ("Personals"), Mazda ("Penny Down"),  Miller Lite ("Sportscasters"), Miller Lite ("Boxing"),  Miller Genuine Draft ("Road Crew"), Sears ("Celebrity Garages"), Audi and others.

Jamie Lynn Spears

Starred on Nickelodeon sitcom Zoey 101, Fiance Casey Aldridge and Jamie Lynn are parents of daughter Maddie Briann (born in McComb, MS), she is seventeen and younger sister of Britney Spears

Taylor Spreitler

Born 1993, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" playing "Chloe Sellers" in episode: (episode # 6.18) 8 March 2005 "Pure"

Stella Stevens

Film and television star, born Estelle Egglestone in either Yazoo City or Hot Coffee, 1936, movies include Li'l  Abner, Girls! Girls! Girls!, Too Late Blues, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, The Nutty Professor, The  Silencers, The Poseidon Adventure, Dukes of Hazzard,
others.

Laurie Gayle Stephenson

Graduated from Ole Miss and was a member of Tri delta sorority there. She played the role of Christine in Phantom of the Opera on broadway. She also was an original cast member of the Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber In Concert as well as many other roles.

Tonea Stewart

Born in Greenwood, TV role of Aunt Etta in In the Heat of the Night.  Movies include Mississippi Burning, A Time to Kill.

Elliott Street

Actor, director, playwright  from Meridian, parents were founders of Meridian Little Theatre,  went to Sewanee, but in junior year transferred to Pasadena Playhouse College of the Arts for bachelor's degree in theater arts, worked in film, television miniseries such as Hawaii 5-0 (Draw Me a Killer, 1973 episode) Mayberry, RFD, The Rockford Files, Eight is Enough , The Mod Squad  and others, film credits include Elvis, the Movie, The Winds of War and The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang, was producer and artistic director with The Company of Angels, oldest professional theater company in LA, moved to Atlanta in 1978, 1980, did commercials and on-location films, now teachers at Meridian Community College while acting, directing and writing plays,  has written A Whitehouse Christmas, The Legend of Willie Homer, The Elixir of Life,  Tornado Bait, nationally recognized actor-director Elliot Street presents T.R., a portrait of Theodore Roosevelt  which provides an entertaining and educational view of American politics and history through the recreation of a "romp with the Colonel," putting the audience on the campaign trail with the first president of the 20th Century.  Mr. Street  also does teacher workshops and artist residencies.

 

T

Byron Thomas

Guest starring roles in  21 Jump Street - Dylan Taylor- Bad Influence (1987),  1994  Blackout : Character played-- Komandant  1982,  The Curse of Fred Astaire - Character played: Guardian Angel/Drunk

Keith Thibodeaux

Played Little Ricky (photo right) on I Love Lucy.
                                                                                                      Photo left:  Keith Thibodeaux today.
 
 

 

 

 

Kathy Thibodeaux

Ballet dancer, Jackson, International Ballet Competition silver medalist

 

 

 

W

Ernestine Wade

Played Sapphire on TV show The Amos 'n' Andy Show, born in Jackson.

Sela Ward

Born in Meridian, Mississippi, played Teddy on Sisters. Movies The Man Who Loved Women, Rescuers, and The Fugitive (1993), star of Once and Again, does Sprint ads, cheerleader in college for the University of Alabama, Phi Beta Kappa, Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, husband is Howard, two children.

 

Ray Walston

Born in Laurel, 1917. numerous stage, screen, and TV credits.  On Broadway in Damn Yankees and South Pacific, Movies include Paint Your Wagon,  Of Mice and Men, The Sting. On TV as My Favorite Martian.  Died in 2001. Obituary here.

Spencer Williams, Jr.

Went to high school at Wards Academy in Natchez.  Played Andy Brown on comedy series. The Amos 'n' Andy Show.

Oprah Winfrey

Kosciusko, Mississippi, Born in 1954, Star of TV and screen. Has own TV show.  Played in The Color Purple and Beloved. Click on Oprahs's highlighted name for more SHS information.

Gloria Jackson Winters

Played  Mrs. Shepard in Larry Brown's Big Bad Love, Mrs. Fezziwig/Mrs. Dilberin New Stage's A Christmas Carol, plays the woman guard in Grisham's The Chamber.

 

 

Y

Billie Jean Young

Moved to Jackson in 1981.  Best known for one-woman show called Fannie Lou Hamer--This Little  Light, Winner of 1995 Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts

 

Z

Zig Ziglar

Motivational speaker and author