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- Actor
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Don Knotts, the legendary television character actor, was born Jesse Donald Knotts on July 21, 1924 in Morgantown, West Virginia, to William Jesse Knotts and the former Elsie Luzetta Moore. He was the youngest of four sons in a family that had been in America since the 17th century.
His first stint as an entertainer was as a ventriloquist, performing paid gigs at parties and other events in Morgantown. He decided to make a stab at a career in show business, moving to New York City after graduating from high school, but he only lasted in the Big Apple for a few weeks. He decided to go to college, enrolling at West Virginia University but, when World War II engulfed America, he enlisted in the United States Army. The 19-year-old soldier was assigned to the Special Services Branch, where he entertained the troops. It was while in the Army that Don ditched ventriloquism for straight comedy.
Don returned to West Virginia University after being demobilized. After graduating with a degree in theater in 1948, he married and moved back to New York, where connections he had made while in the Special Services Branch helped him break into show business. In addition to doing stand-up comedy at clubs, he appeared on the radio, eventually playing the character "Windy Wales" on "The Bobby Benson Show". From 1953 to 1955, he was a regular on the soap opera Search for Tomorrow (1951). Destiny intervened when he was cast in the small role of the psychiatrist in the Broadway play "No Time for Sergeants", which starred Andy Griffith, who would play a large part in Don's future career. Don also appeared in the film adaption of the play with Griffith.
Don's big break before he hooked up again with Andy Griffith was a regular gig on the The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1956) hosted by Steve Allen, starting in 1956. He became well-known for his "nervous man" shtick in the "Man-on-the-Street" segments that were a staple of Allen's show. His character in the segments was a very nervous man obviously uptight about being interviewed on camera. He developed this into the fidgety, high-strung persona that he used successfully for the rest of his career.
When "The Tonight Show" moved to Hollywood in 1959 with new host Jack Paar, Don also moved to California as a regular. However, he was soon cast in Andy Griffith's new television series about a small-town sheriff, The Andy Griffith Show (1960), in the role that would make him a legend. For playing "Deputy Barney Fife", Don was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor five times from 1961 to 1967, winning each time. He soon tasted big-screen success, starring in The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964). Don cut back his appearances on The Andy Griffith Show (1960) to concentrate on making movies after signing a five-year contract with Universal Pictures. For Universal, Don appeared in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966), The Reluctant Astronaut (1967), The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968), The Love God? (1969) and How to Frame a Figg (1971). His mid-1960s popularity as a movie comedian began to wane towards the end of the decade, and the contract was not renewed. Don returned to television as the star of his own variety show, but it was quickly canceled.
During the 1970s, Don had a spotty career, appearing in regional theater and making guest appearances on other television series. He eventually made some slapstick movies with Tim Conway for the Walt Disney Company, but it wasn't until the end of the decade that he tasted real success again. He was cast as would-be-swinger landlord "Ralph Furley" on the popular sitcom Three's Company (1976) after the original landlords, "The Ropers", were spun off into their own series. Since the show was canceled in 1984, he appeared as "Barney Fife" for a 1986 reunion of The Andy Griffith Show (1960) and in television guest spots, including a recurring gig as the pesky neighbor "Les Calhoun" on Griffith's Matlock (1986) series until 1992.
He remained busy for the next ten years touring with plays and doing voice-over work for cartoons. In 2005, Don provided the voice of "Mayor Turkey Lurkey" in Disney's animated film Chicken Little (2005). It turned out to be one of his final films. He died at age 81 on February 24, 2006.- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Elizabeth McLaughlin was born in Morgantown, West Virginia and raised in a small town outside of Tampa, Florida. Soon after moving to Los Angeles in 2007, she booked the role of 'Massie Block' in The Clique (2008). She is also known for her role as 'Alicia' in Amazon's Hand of God (2014), Pretty Little Liars (2010), November Christmas (2010), and as 'Sasha' in First Day (2010).- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Soundtrack
Tall (6'3"), darkly handsome, seriously-looking David Selby, highly regarded for his villainous work on both daytime and nighttime soap classics, was born on February 5, 1941, in Morgantown, West Virginia. He attended West Virginia University and graduated with both B.S. and M.A. degrees from West Virginia University, then earned a Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
In his hometown, he made his stage debut in 1961 and appeared in such productions as "Brigadoon," "Oklahoma!, "Tiger at the Gates" and "Romeo and Juliet (as Mercutio). He went on appear in repertory and stock productions throughout the decade in such productions as "The Last Days of Lincoln" (as Abraham Lincoln), the title role in "Oedipus Rex," "Inherit the Wind," the title role in "Krapp's Last Case," "You Can't Take It With You," "Brecht on Brecht" and "The Tempest." In New York from 1967, he appeared in "The Impossible Years" and "Sticks and Bones."
He achieved instant attention on TV when he was signed on as Quentin Collins, a werewolf, on the gothic daytime drama Dark Shadows (1966), inheriting heartthrob status and even recorded two songs during the show's run, "Quentin's Theme" and "I Wanna Dance With You." After the series' demise, he made his movie debut with Night of Dark Shadows (1971), the second film based on the cult series.
Selby toyed with film stardom in the early 1970s after co-starring as Barbra Streisand's beleaguered husband in the riotous comedy Up the Sandbox (1972), playing the lead opposite Maud Adams in the minor Canadian drama The Girl in Blue (1973), and sharing the title role with Ron Leibman in the crime comedy The Super Cops (1974)). When it didn't pan out, he aggressively turned back to TV with guest parts on "The Waltons," "Police Woman," "Kojak" and "Family," and a role in the acclaimed mini-series Washington: Behind Closed Doors (1977), plus several TV movies. He also continued his high-profiled pace on the New York theatre stage with productions of "The Playboy of the Western World," "The Heiress," with Jane Alexander and Richard Kiley, and "Eccentricities of a Nightingale" opposite Betsy Palmer. He also played Brick in the 1975 national tour of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."
Returning to either co-star or support roles in films, David's credits would include Rich Kids (1979), Raise the Titanic (1980) and Rich and Famous (1981). He was given an extra shot of adrenalin when, in 1981, he joined the night-time soap opera scene with the second season of Flamingo Road (1980). He didn't hit real pay dirt, however, until he squared off with tough-as-nails Jane Wyman as her scheming son in the long-running series Falcon Crest (1981) in which he won a Soap Opera Digest award.
Following the end of his hit series in 1990, David returned to the big screen offering white-collar support to Julia Roberts in Dying Young (1991); Richard Gere in Intersection (1994); Jeff Bridges in White Squall (1996); James Spader in Shadow of Fear (2004); Ben Affleck in Surviving Christmas (2004); Cuba Gooding Jr. in End Game (2006); Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network (2010); a guest cameo in the Johnny Depp remake of Dark Shadows (2012); Owen Wilson in Are You Here (2013); and Kristen Stewart in Equals (2015). He also kept busy on TV with guest appearances on "Touched by an Angel," "Ally McBeal," "Cold Case," "Castle Rock," "Chicago Fire" and "NCIS: New Orleans."
Always returning to his love for the live stage, later theatrical credits include "The Crucible" (as John Proctor), "The Night of the Iguana" (as Shannon), "Much Ado About Nothing" (as Benedick), several productions of "Love Letters," "A Long Day's Journey Into Night" (as James Tyrone), "Lincoln and James" (as Lincoln, which he wrote), and "A Delicate Balance" (as Tobias). David also penned the play "Final Assault" which premiered in 2003. A long-time staple player in radio drama with the L.A. Theatre Works, he has written books of poetry, plays and several novels including Promises of Love and A Casualty of Indifference.
David and his wife Chip ran a summer children's musical theatre in New York for ten years before moving to Los Angeles. They have three children.- Emily Maynard Johnson was born on 1 February 1986 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. She has been married to Tyler Johnson since 7 June 2014. They have four children.
- Actor
- Director
- Music Department
Brice Richard Kennedy was born in the college town of Morgantown, West Virginia. He began acting at the age of 15. He took center stage in high school theatre productions performing on the same stage where the legendary Don Knotts once stood. While serving in the United States Army, Brice landed his first screen role as an organ player in the CBS mini-series, Mama Flora's Family (1998). He has appeared in numerous independent films and hosted his own cable comedy show The Brice Kennedy Show (2002). Brice's work also extends to television commercials, voice-overs for radio and television as well as modeling in print work.- Dylan Keith Summers was born on 13 July 1973 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. He is an actor, known for The Wrestler (2008), XCW Wrestling (2006) and IWA Mid-South We're No Joke (2006). He has been married to Megan Peterson since 5 October 2001. They have two children.
- Tom Gorman was born on 21 April 1907 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. He was an actor, known for Dark Shadows (1966), Rocky King, Detective (1950) and The Plainclothesman (1949). He was married to Madeleine Hooley. He died on 2 October 1971 in Flushing, New York, USA.
- Director
- Producer
- Editor
Joshua Tunick was born on 4 April 1977 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Do You Take This Man (2016), Mr. Smithereen Goes to Washington (2001) and Last Day (2006).- Actor
- Production Manager
- Writer
Taggart Casey was born on 26 August 1912 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. He was an actor and production manager, known for Office Love-in (1968), It Conquered the World (1956) and My World Dies Screaming (1958). He died on 19 March 1998 in Burlingame, California, USA.- Linda Goodman was born on 9 April 1925 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. She was married to Sam O. Goodman and William Herbert Snyder. She died on 21 October 1995 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.
- Writer
- Actor
Matthew Antonelli was born on 25 May 1983 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. He is a writer and actor, known for 5000 Blankets (2022), Cruel Summer (2021) and Jinn (2019).- Princess Sarah Culberson is an actress, philanthropist, TEDx presenter, public speaker, and author who has dedicated her life to humanitarian efforts. Having grown up as an adopted daughter in a loving family, Sarah underwent a journey of self-discovery where she reconnected with her biological family and made a life changing discovery: she's a Princess in Sierra Leone! Her responsibility as a member of the ruling Mende family in Sierra Leone has led her to be an impassioned role model who advocates for the arts, education, diversity and inclusion, women's empowerment, and the importance of finding your roots. Princess Sarah's extraordinary journey has been featured on CNN, GMA, NBC, and BBC among numerous other publications worldwide which has trended #1 globally in over 60 countries.
Prior to her lineage discovery, Princess Sarah won an undergraduate acting scholarship to West Virginia University and earned her MFA at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. She has years of experience as a part of the LA acting community as she starred in All of Us (2005), American Dreamz (2006), Boston Legal (2006), and The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2009). After taking a 15 year hiatus from a flourishing acting career to serve her community, she's currently working on a film with Disney with Stephanie Elaine (First African-American Woman to Co-Produce the 2020 Oscars), an animation with singer-songwriter, producer and entrepreneur, Randy Jackson, a Roblox game with Melon Development, and a TV series with Good Story Entertainment. - Holly Hoxter was born on 6 October 1988 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
- Actor
- Make-Up Department
- Writer
Zane Crosby has been working in special effects since he was a teenager, learning the craft from working part time at a makeup shop called The Illusive Skull that was down the road from his home and eventually taking home first place in various theater competitions, including placing 1st several times at the WV Thespian State Competition in high school and training under the Wolfe Brothers and is set to goto Tom Savini's Effects School in June.
As an actor, Zane has not only filled the roles of makeup artist, but also played the lead characters in all IWC Films productions under director Justin Channell. Crosby was praised for his comedic timing in Raising the Stakes (2005) by Tom Root, claiming he could "make stereo instructions funny". As a makeup artist, he has worked on Kiss of Death Productions's I, The Killer, and just finished Die and Let Live.- Nora Williams was born on 16 February 1903 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. She was an actress, known for Two Hearts in Harmony (1935), In Town Tonight (1935) and Hot from Petrograd (1933). She died on 23 October 1978 in Arlington, Virginia, USA.
- Director
- Writer
- Visual Effects
Joseph Riggi was born on September 24, 1987. With a background in visual effects he has worked as a vfx artist on various music videos, commercials, and independent films. In 2020 he released his first short film Life (2020) which he wrote, directed, and produced. He followed that up with the film "Swipe Right for Love" in 2021.- Animation Department
- Art Department
- Additional Crew
Olga Gerdjikov was born on 3 May 1960 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. She is known for The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015), AkaTaMuS (1988) and CatDog (1998).- Alexis Eddy was born on 28 March 1996 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. She died on 9 January 2020 in Mannington, West Virginia, USA.
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Actor
- Art Director
Ryan Harris was born March 19, in Morgantown, West Virginia. He went to college at the University of Texas at Arlington and received a BFA Film/Video in 2006. He went to graduate school at the University of New Orleans and received a MFA Film Production in 2011.
He is frequently credited as Rion Harris, Rion Fish, and Ryan Fish; probably due to inability to spell his own name.- Andrew Bearce was born on 5 July 1969 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. He is an actor, known for Thor's Hammer (2009).
- Earl Anderson was born on 24 June 1919 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. He was married to Jane. He died on 12 November 2015 in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
- Jeff M. Sell was born on 12 May 1972 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
- Bob Huggins was born on 21 September 1953 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. He has been married to June Fillman since 19 August 1977. They have two children.
- Robert DeProspero was born on 31 December 1938 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. He was married to Patricia Townsend. He died on 4 March 2019 in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
- Leonard Perroots was born on 24 April 1933 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. He was married to Mary Savensky. He died on 29 January 2017 in Lake Ridge, Virginia, USA.