Ed Harris Every Actor's Hero (SAG Foundation - Program - Conversation, 2002-09-25)

+ http://www.sagfoundation.org/conversations/20020925/

Ed Harris Every Actor's Hero Wednesday, September 25 Los Angeles Tonight's "Conversations" features award winning, multi-talented stage, film, television, actor and director Ed Harris. Ed Harris won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for both an Academy Awardand a Golden Globe for his role as Gene Kranz in Apollo 13. Harris earned an Academy AwardBest Actor nomination for Pollock, his acclaimed directorial debut, in which he starred as the pioneering Abstract Expressionist Jackson Pollock. The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, followed by a North American debut at the Toronto Film festival and the prestigious Centerpiece slot at the New York Film Festival. Pollock co-starred Marcia Gay Harden, who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar - for her portrayal of Pollock's wife Lee Krasner. The film also featured Harris's wife, actress Amy Madigan, in the role of Peggy Guggenheim. Since then, Harris starred opposite Jude Law in Jean-Jacques Annaud's Enemy at the Gate. He can also be seen in the independent feature Buffalo Soldiers opposite Joaquin Phoenix and alongside Meryl Streep in The Hours and opposite Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman in The Human Stain. He begins filming the true-life drama Radio, co-starring Cuba Gooding Jr., in early October for director Michael Tollin. Harris was most recently seen as agent William Parcher in Ron Howard and Brian Grazer's Academy Award winning A Beautiful Mind. He starred opposite Anne Heche in Agnieszka Holland's The Third Miracle and opposite Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon in Stepmom for director Chris Columbus. For that performance, together with his performance in Peter Weir's critically acclaimed The Truman Show, he won the 1998 National Board of review award for Best Supporting Actor. Harris also won a Golden Globe Award and received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for The Truman Show. Harris' other films include Borderline, Knightriders, The Right Stuff, The Firm, Just Cause, Places in the Heart, Glengarry Glen Ross, State of Grace, The Abyss, Jackknife, To Kill a Priest, Walker, Sweet Dreams, The Rock, Absolute Power, Alamo Bay, A Flash of Green, Swing Shift, Under Fire and China Moon. His television credits include HBO's The Last Innocent Man and Running Mates, and Showtime's Paris Trout. Harris and Madigan co-produced and co-starred in a critically acclaimed film adaptation of Zane Grey's Riders of the Purple Sage, which premiered on TNT in January of 1996. Harris was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award as Best Actor for his performance, and for their roles as both actors and producers of Riders of the Purple Sage, Harris and Madigan were presented with the prestigious Western Heritage Wrangler Award for "Outstanding Television Feature Film." Born in Tenafly, New Jersey, Harris attended Columbia University for two years and then attended the University of Oklahoma, where he began to study acting. In 1973, Harris moved to California nd entered the California Institute of the Arts, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. Harris made his New York stage debut in Sam Shepard's Fool for Love, for which he earned the 1983 Obie Award for Outstanding Actor. Harris earned a Tony nomination and the Drama Desk Award for his Broadway debut in George Furth's Precious Sons. In the fall of 1994, Harris appeared off Broadway in the New York Shakespeare Theater's production of Sam Shepard's Simpatico and won the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Actor. Harris returned to Broadway in the Fall of 1996 for a limited run engagement opposite Daniel Massey in Ronald Harwood's acclaimed drama, Taking Sides. Attendee Comments -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: JOE RUSSELL Location: Burbank, CA Comments: We all really appreciate you taking time out and talking with us and to us. I will take what you told me and bend it into something that works for me. The best advice that you gave is that it is all about persistance. I wish you continued success. Name: Carolyn Cable CA Comments: Ed Harris' "Conversations" night was insightful and had a particular significance that I want to share with you. We worked with the same first agent --only years apart, so I never met ED HARRIS but heard these funny stories. This was also prior to ED HARRIS being a familiar movie star and household name. The agent compared me favorably to Ed Harris. Naturally, I was curious ever since -- I am a girl and thus being compared to this man; what ever did we have in common? I had no prior means to this discovery until the "Conversations" 9/25/02. I now understand that the compliment was simple yet complex. To put it simply : I am the first Actress in my family and the Screen Actors Guild Foundation "Conversations" is the best program I have ever had the means of access to in the Acting profession. I love learning from people who really were in my position before me. These people are achieving their dreams. I THANK YOU Bob Nuchow who's idea sparked and developed this program which specifically contributes to the actor's world oft non-expressed pieces of knowledge. THANK YOU, Name: Cami Elen CA Comments: I went and made it in last night. Mr. Harris was fabulous, what a treat! Thanks. Name: Kassie Frenzelas Comments: Ed Harris was fabulous. Through sharing his knowledge, awareness and sensitivity, he shared what he really knew was important without holding back on anything. "Conversations" is an invaluable program. Name: Harrison Held Comments: It was a great evening and Ed was a great guest - very informative and entertaining. Name: Faith Rafner Comments: Dear Ed, you are such a great example for actors like me who are just starting. I admire your talent and work ethic. Name: Gray Sabatini Comments: Ed, you are a great gift to the industry. I adore your work. You are an inspiration to me and I am so honored to be here tonite. Thanks for all you've given. Name: Atticus Todd Comments: Mr. Harris, I have to be your biggest fan. Did I mention I'm 6' 2", 400 lbs. Thank you for being. Name: Steve Pandis Comments: Mr. Harris, thanks for the inspiration, the honesty and for sharing your time with those of us who truly appreciate it. Name: Andie Ximenes Comments: Hi Ed, you thought me one of the most important lessons of my life - not to be afraid to ask for what I want. Name: Larry Reinhardt-Meyer Comments: Ed, you're the real McCoy! Thanks for your authenticity. The "toupee" story was brilliant! I've played King Arthur too! Had an "OBE" doing that myself; mine had to do with a tequila binge. Continued peace and blessings. Name: Karen Gardner Comments: Ed, thank you for appreciating the work and putting it into perspective with life and family. It makes a difference to hear it and see it from someone as successful as yourself. Continued success. Name: Sandra Logan Comments: May good fortune continue to shine upon you - I'm richer for hearing you and exchanged energies. Thank you.