Zach Braff

Zach Braff stars as fresh-faced medical intern John “J.D.” Dorian’ who is embarking on his career at a hospital full of unpredictable staffers and patients. Braff’s love of acting dates back to his childhood in South Orange’ New Jersey’ where he watched his father’ an attorney’ work in community theater for fun. At age 11’ he attended the renowned children’s acting camp’ StageDoor Manor’ and was scouted by a talent manager who got him started professionally. Braff’s first role came at 14 in a television pilot produced by Bruce Paltrow (“St. Elsewhere”)’ where he co-starred opposite the producer’s daughter’ Gwyneth Paltrow. He went on to appear in the films “Getting to Know You” (opposite Heather Matarazzo and Bebe Neuwirth)’ and Woody Allen’s “Manhattan Murder Mystery’” where he played the son of Allen’s and Diane Keaton’s characters. He recently co-starred in “The Broken Hearts Club’” winner of a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film. Braff has also appeared in theater in New York’ working opposite Alec Baldwin’ Angela Bassett and Liev Schreiber in “Macbeth” at New York’s Public Theatre and as Romeo in Shakespeare-on-the-Sound’s production of “Romeo and Juliet.” Displaying a chameleon-like ability to transform himself into a wide range of characters’ Braff has played a blond’ gay drug addict’ a nerdy introvert and a Scottish warrior’ among other roles. A graduate of Northwestern University’s film school’ Braff studied theater acting while writing and directing his own short films’ including “Lionel on a Sun Day’” which won numerous awards during the 1998 festival season. He has also directed a number of commercials and public-service announcements in both New York and Los Angeles. When he’s not busy with his acting career’ Braff continues to work on his screenplay and looks forward to his next opportunity to act in theater.

Victor Mature

Victor Mature (born in Louisville, Kentucky; 1915-1999) was an American film actor. He was most commonly associated with the term “beefcake” due to his muscular physique and stolid onscreen manner.

His first leading role was as a fur-clad caveman in One Million B.C. (1940), after which he joined 20th Century Fox to star opposite actresses such as Betty Grable and Rita Hayworth. However, with the US entry into World War II, Mature entered military service.

After the war, Mature was cast by John Ford in My Darling Clementine, playing Doc Holliday opposite Henry Fonda’s Wyatt Earp. For the next decade, Mature settled into playing hard-boiled characters in a range of genres such as westerns and Biblical films, such as The Robe (with Richard Burton and Jean Simmons) and the popular sequel to The Robe, Demetrius and the Gladiators (with Susan Hayward). Both films deal with the fate of the robe worn by Jesus before the crucifixion. Victor also starred with Hedy Lamarr in Cecil B. Demille’s Bible epic, Samson and Delilah.

Additional films by Victor Mature include The Egyptian (1954) and Chief Crazy Horse (1955).

Toto

Toto was formed in Los Angeles in 1978 by David Paich (b. June 21, 1954, Los Angeles; keyboards, vocals), Steve Lukather (b. October 21, 1957, Los Angeles; guitar, vocals), Bobby Kimball (b. Robert Toteaux, March 29, 1947, Vinton, LA; vocals), Steve Porcaro (b. September 2, 1957, Connecticut; keyboards), David Hungate (b. Texas; bass), and Jeff Porcaro (b. April 1, 1954, Hartford, CT; d. August 5, 1992, Hidden Hills, CA; drums). Paich was the son of arranger Marty Paich; the Porcaros were the sons of percussionist Joe Porcaro. The bandmembers had met in high school and at studio sessions in the 1970s, when they became some of the busiest session musicians in the music business. Paich, Hungate, and Jeff Porcaro wrote songs for and performed on Silk Degrees, the multi-million-selling 1976 album that combined pop, rock, and disco elements into a slick combination which heavily influenced mainstream pop music.

Toto released its self-titled debut album in October 1978, and it hit the Top Ten, sold two-million copies, and spawned the gold Top Ten single “Hold the Line.” The gold-selling Hydra (October 1979) and Turn Back (January 1981) were less successful, but Toto IV (April 1982) was a multi-platinum Top Ten hit, featuring the number-one hit “Africa” and the Top Tens “Rosanna” (about Lukather’s girlfriend, movie star Rosanna Arquette) and “I Won’t Hold You Back.” At the 1982 Grammys, “Rosanna” won awards for Record of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Instrumental Arrangement With Vocal; and Toto IV won awards for Album of the Year, Best Engineered Recording, and Best Producer (the group). In 1984, a third Porcaro brother, Mike (b. May 29, 1955), joined the group on bass, replacing Hungate. Then lead singer Kimball quit and was replaced by Dennis “Fergie” Frederiksen (b. May 15, 1951, Wyoming, MI).

Toto’s fifth album, Isolation (November 1984), went gold, but was a commercial disappointment. Frederiksen was replaced by Joseph Williams (b. Santa Monica), the son of the conductor/composer John Williams, for Fahrenheit (August 1986). Steve Porcaro quit in 1988, prior to the release of The Seventh One. In 1990, Jean-Michel Byron replaced Williams for the new recordings on Past to Present 1977-1990, then left, as Lukather became the group’s lead singer. Jeff Porcaro died of a heart attack in 1992, but was featured on the group’s next album, Kingdom of Desire. By this time, Toto was far more popular in Japan and Europe than at home. The group added British drummer Simon Phillips. Tambu, released in Europe in the late fall of 1995, appeared in the U.S. in June 1996. For 1999’s Mindfields, Bobby Kimball returned to the lineup after a 15-year absence. The group members continued to do session work during the band’s tenure, contributing significantly to the sound of mainstream pop/rock in the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s.

Terry Kinney

Some actors have such defining traits that they seem to have “leading man” written all over them, while others, like Terry Kinney, succeed with an uncanny ability to drastically alter their appearance at the drop of a hat. Though his chameleon-like skills have helped the actor land numerous roles on the stage and screen, it’s his talent that ultimately formed the backbone of his enduring career. After graduating from high school, the Lincoln, IL, native attended Illinois State University. It was there that he befriended aspiring actor Jeff Perry, who invited Kinney to Chicago to watch his best friend perform in a stage production of Grease. Perry’s friend was an ambitious young actor named Gary Sinise, and the three soon began planning to open their own regional theater.

Though it was founded in 1974, the Steppenwolf Theater wouldn’t quite get off the ground until two years later—when Kinney and Perry graduated from I.S.U. The venture was largely unprofitable at first, so its founders supported themselves and their dream through a series of odd jobs before the theater moved from a Highland Park church basement to the old St. Nicholas Theater building in the early ‘80s. The change of scenery proved to be just what the theater needed to flourish, and it was soon drawing good crowds. In the years that followed, the company moved once again—this time to a permanent location in Chicago—and Kinney served as Steppenwolf’s artistic co-director alongside Sinise. During this profitable period, Kinney and his co-founders were nominated for numerous theatrical awards, while their productions made headway on Broadway. Kinney, of course, had aspirations beyond regional theater, and, in 1986, made his film debut with a small part in the romantic comedy Seven Minutes in Heaven. The remainder of the ‘80s found the actor landing bit parts in No Mercy (1986) and Sinise’s Miles From Home (1988), in addition to a brief stint on television with thirtysomething. It wasn’t until the following decade, however, that his film career truly began to blossom.

Following an appearance in The Last of the Mohicans (1992), Kinney drew favorable reviews for his top-billed turn in Abel Ferrara’s Body Snatchers, and his billing remained high with The Firm (1993), Fly Away Home (1996), and Sleepers (1998). In 1997, Kinney landed an extended gig on the acclaimed HBO prison drama Oz. Cast as Cell Block Five Unit Manager Tim McManus, Kinney’s hardened performance lent the show both dimension and a certain foundation. Kinney frequently balanced his role on this series with a number of feature performances, including such films as The Young Girl and the Monsoon (1999, his second lead), Luminous Motion (1998), and The House of Mirth (2000). Although the bulk of his work in Save the Last Dance (2001) ended up on the cutting room floor, audiences could still get a good look at Kinney in such features as The Laramie Project (2001) and the 2004 soccer drama The Game of Their Lives.

Peter Horton

Peter is a multi-talented actor, being both an accomplished actor and musician. Capable of playing the classical piano, he is also a musical composer. Born in Bellevue, Washington, his father was in the shipping business. While in school, he pursued his musical talent and got his degree in music composition from the University of California.

His career aspiration of becoming a music conductor eventually yielded to a fascination with acting. After studying acting under Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler, Horton landed his first major role, playing a teenage basketball player accused of being gay in an episode of the late seventies television series The White Shadow.

In 1981, he married Hollywood starlet Michelle Pfeiffer. As her career took off in film, so did his in television. The marriage only lasted a few years and in 1988, they were divorced.

In 1991, he was chosen by People Magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World. It seems Jurassic Park’s Laura Dern would agree. She began dating him soon after his divorce with Michelle.

He has appeared in a number mediocre feature films, but seems intent on making a name for himself as a director. His first feature film directorial effort was the 1995 film The Cure, which tells the story of a friendship between two young boys, one of whom is dying of AIDS.

Pedro Martinez

Pedro Jaime Martinez (born October 25, 1971 in Manoguayabo, Dominican Republic) is a baseball pitcher who plays for the New York Mets. He has won three Cy Young Awards and has been considered one of the top pitchers in baseball since the late 1990s. Martinez is unusual for a power pitcher as he is 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) and 170 pounds (77 kg), small by modern-day standards. Martinez’s pitches include a tailing fastball, an outstanding changeup , and a hard curveball.

Martinez throws from a low three-quarter position that hides the ball very well from batters, who have remarked on the difficulty of picking up Martinez’s delivery. Throughout his career, his arm angle has dropped increasingly lower; he presently throws from the “low 3/4” slot. Earlier in his career, his fastball was consistently clocked in the 95 mph (153 km/h) range, but in recent years, his fastball has slowed. In many games, his fastball now tops out in the 88-89 mph (142-144 km/h) range, although he is still occasionally able to throw a mid-90s fastball. As the speed of his fastball has slowed, he has come to rely more on his changeup as his “out” pitch.

Contents

1 Early years
2 Best years
3 Memorable games
4 Quotes
5 Facts

Early years

Martinez’s career started with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1992 as a relief pitcher. Before the 1994 season, he was traded to the Montreal Expos for Delino DeShields, and became one of the top starters in baseball. In 1997 he posted a 17-8 record for the Expos, and led the league in half a dozen pitching categories, including a 1.90 ERA, 305 strikeouts and 13 complete games pitched, and won the National League Cy Young Award. Pedro Martinez was also the first righthanded pitcher to reach 300 strikeouts with an ERA under 2.00 since Walter Johnson in 1912.

The 13 complete games were tied for the second-highest single-season total in all of baseball since Martinez’s own career began (Curt Schilling had 15 in 1998; Chuck Finley and Jack McDowell also reached 13 in a year). However, this 1997 total is by far the highest in Martinez’s career, as he has only compiled as many as 5 complete games in any other season on two other occasions.

Best years

Martinez was traded to the Boston Red Sox in November 1997 for Carl Pavano and Tony Armas, Jr., and was soon signed to a six-year, $75,000,000 contract by the Sox, at the time the largest ever awarded to a pitcher. In 1999 he enjoyed one of the greatest pitching seasons of all time, finishing 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts, winning his second Cy Young Award (this time in the American League), and coming in second in the Most Valuable Player ballot. The MVP vote was controversial as Martinez received the most first-place votes, but was totally omitted from the ballot of two sportswriters who believed pitchers were not sufficiently all-around players to be considered. Martinez was named the AL Pitcher of the Month in April, May, June, and September of 1999, an unprecedented feat for a single season.

In the 1999 playoffs against the Cleveland Indians, though hampered by an injury, Martinez dominated the final game of the series. Entering the game in relief with an 8-8 score, Martinez pitched six no-hit innings for the win. In the American League Championship Series, he pitched seven shutout innings to beat the New York Yankees in Game 3, handing them their only loss of the postseason.

Martinez’s strikeouts and win count were slightly down in 2000, but he posted an exceptional 1.74 ERA, the AL’s lowest since 1978, winning his third Cy Young award with his ERA about a third of the park-adjusted league ERA (4.97). No other single season by a starting pitcher has had such a gigantic differential. He also set a record in the lesser known sabermetric statistic of Weighted Runs allowed per 9 innings pitched (Wtd. RA/9). Martinez posted a remarkably low 1.55 Wtd. RA/9.

In 2000, Pedro Martinez’s WHIP was 0.74, breaking a 77-year-old record set by Walter Johnson. The American League slugged just .259 against him. Martinez became the only starting pitcher to have more than twice as many strikeouts in a season (284) than hits allowed (128).

In 1999 and 2000 Martinez allowed 288 hits, 597 strikeouts, 69 walks and a 1.90 ERA in 430 innings. Some statisticians believe that under the circumstances-with lefty-friendly Fenway Park as his home field, in a league with a DH, during the highest offensive period in baseball history-this performance represents the peak for any pitcher in baseball history.

Though he pitched well while healthy, carrying a sub-2.00 ERA to the midpoint of the season, Martinez was injured for much of 2001 with a rotator cuff injury as the Red Sox slumped to a poor finish. He rebounded in 2002 to lead the league with a 2.26 ERA and 237 strikeouts, going 20-4. However, that season’s American League Cy Young award went to Barry Zito of the Oakland A’s. despite a higher ERA, fewer strikeouts, and a lower winning percentage. Martinez became the first pitcher in history to lead his respective league in ERA, strikeouts, and winning percentage, but not win the Cy Young Award.

After the 2004 season, Martinez became a free agent and signed a 4 year, $53 million contract with the New York Mets.

Memorable games

Martinez has come about as close to throwing a perfect game as possible without actually getting credit for it. On June 3, 1995, while pitching for Montreal, he retired the first 27 Padres hitters he faced to accumulate nine innings of perfect pitching. However, the score was still tied 0-0 at that point and the game went into extra innings, and Martinez surrendered a double to the 28th batter. According to Major League Baseball rules, that meant that Martinez accomplished neither a perfect game nor a no-hitter.

Martinez also came close to the feat on September 10, 1999, when he beat the New York Yankees 3-1. He faced just 28 batters while striking out 17 and walking none; only a solo home run by Chili Davis separated Martinez from a no-hitter. Martinez had previously thrown a 1-hitter against the Reds in 1997.

Martinez was also on the mound for Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS versus the Yankees. He was left in by manager Grady Little in the 8th inning and proceeded to allow the Yankees to tie the score, and his team eventually lost.

Quotes

Don Zimmer being thrown to the ground by pitcher Pedro Martinez during Game 3 of the ALCS

Martinez is a very controversial pitcher, both on and off the field. He refuses to yield the inside part of the plate, and has a high numbers of batters hit as a result. His career rate for hitting batters is historically high. When asked about the Red Sox – Yankees rivalry, he responded: “I’m starting to hate talking about the Yankees. The questions are so stupid. They’re wasting my time. It’s getting kind of old … I don’t believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I’ll drill him in the ass, pardon me the word.” In Game 3 of the 2003 ALCS, Martinez threatened to hit Yankee catcher Jorge Posada in the head, angering 72-year-old Yankee bench coach Don Zimmer. Zimmer ran towards Martinez during a bench-clearing incident and Martinez, grabbing Zimmer’s head, violently threw the coach to the ground. After a Red Sox loss to the Yankees late in the 2004 season, Martinez remarked in a press conference, “They beat me. They’re that good right now. They’re that hot. I just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy”. The New York media publicized the quote heavily, and whenever Martinez pitched at Yankee Stadium in the 2004 American League Championship Series, fans chanted “Who’s Your Daddy?”

Facts

Martinez’s brother Ramon Martinez was also a Major League pitcher and the brothers have twice been teammates, with the Dodgers (1992-93) and Red Sox (1999-2000). Their younger brother, Jesus, also pitched in the Dodgers farm system for several years.

Martinez’s first cousin, Denny Bautista, is a Major League pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.
Pedro pulled out of the 2005 All Star Game because of short rest, pitching Sunday July 10th. This was not the first time Martinez had pulled out of an All-Star Game.

Pedro Martinez also skipped his last start in 2002, after the Red Sox had been eliminated from the postseason; some have suggested that this hurt him in the Cy Young voting that year, when he finished second to Oakland’s Barry Zito.

Pedro has a friend from the Dominican Republic named Nelson who is only 2 feet tall, and was believed to be the Red Sox good luck charm during the 2004 season.

Paul Holmes

Paul Holmes is president and CEO of The Holmes Group, which provides knowledge and insight for public relations professionals, and also serves as editor of The Holmes Report, a weekly e-mail newsletter of opinion and analysis for the public relations industry.

Holmes has spent 15 years writing about the public relations industry. He was news editor of PR Week in the U.K., launch editor of PR Week in the U.S., and an editor at Adweek and Adweek’s Marketing Week before launching Inside PR in 1990. For the past five years he was editor of Inside PR and Reputation Management magazine, before leaving to start his own consulting and knowledge management business at the end of 2000.

Holmes is a frequent speaker on public relations topics including trends in corporate reputation management, crisis communications, public relations ethics, agency management, and recruiting and retaining top talent. He has served as a consultant to seven of the top 10 public relations agencies in the world. He also spent 10 years as chairman of the judges for the Creativity in Public Relations Awards and currently manages the SABRE (Superior Achievement in Branding and Reputation) Awards for The Holmes Group.

Holmes was raised and educated in northern England, and worked on newspapers in Lancashire and South London before focusing on the public relations field.