Sunshine State : About The Cast


JANE ALEXANDER (Delia Temple) won a Tony Award for her Broadway debut performance in 1968 in The Great White Hope, directed by Edwin Sherin, and has since been nominated for her roles in 6 Rooms Riv Vu, Find Your Way Home, First Monday in October, The Visit, The Sisters Rosensweig and, most recently, Honour. Other New York stage appearances including Approaching Zanzibar by Tina Howe, The Heiress, Hamlet, Monday After the Miracle and Shadowlands, in which her portrayal of Joy Davidman won critical raves. Ms. Alexander's film and television career has been equally active and her credits are extensive. She has been nominated for four Academy Awards, for THE GREAT WHITE HOPE, ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN, KRAMER VS. KRAMER and TESTAMENT. On television, she has portrayed Eleanor Roosevelt (in the much-heralded miniseries Eleanor and Franklin), Calamity Jane, Georgia O'Keefe (in the PBS production A Marriage: Georgia O'Keefe and Alfred Steiglitz), and Alma Rose in Playing For Time, for which she won an Emmy Award.

MARY ALICE (Eunice Stokes) has worked with such acclaimed directors as Clint Eastwood (A PERFECT WORLD), Spike Lee (MALCOLM X), Brian De Palma (BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES), Penny Marshall (AWAKENINGS) and Charles Burnett (TO SLEEP WITH ANGER). She was a regular on the NBC series A Different World, earned an Emmy nomination for her work in I'll Fly Away, and has appeared in many series including Providence, Touched By An Angel and Laurel Avenue, and the miniseries The Women of Brewster Place. Her numerous theatre credits include The Vagina Monologues, Having Our Say, Richard III, A Raisin in the Sun and Fences, for which she earned the both the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Featured Actress.

ANGELA BASSETT (Desiree Perry) received an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe Award for her unforgettable portrayal of Tina Turner in WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT. She recently starred in THE SCORE, co-starring Robert DeNiro, Ed Norton and Marlon Brando, and in the Athol Fugard drama BOESMAN & LENA with Danny Glover, for which she received an Image Award nomination as Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. She also recently completed filming Rosa Parks for CBS. Bassett starred in last year's sci-fi thriller SUPERNOVA with James Spader; the acclaimed MUSIC OF THE HEART, opposite Meryl Streep and directed by Wes Craven; and the 1998 screen adaptation of Terry McMillan's novel HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK, with Whoopi Goldberg and Taye Diggs. Among Bassett's other credits are the blockbuster CONTACT with Jodie Foster and the popular WAITING TO EXHALE, directed by Forest Whitaker. In 1995, Bassett starred in STRANGE DAYS and played the lead opposite Eddie Murphy in VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN. She previously starred in Spike Lee's epic film MALCOLM X (as Betty Shabazz), BOYZ IN THE HOOD, KINDERGARTEN COP, CITY OF HOPE, PASSION FISH and INNOCENT BLOOD. Born in New York City and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Bassett won a scholarship to Yale University where she received her bachelor's degree in Afro-American studies and an MFA from the prestigious Yale School of Drama. Her stage appearances include Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Colored People's Time, Black Girl, Henry IV, Part I, Joe Turner's Come and Gone and, with Alec Baldwin, a 1998 production of Macbeth at New York's Joseph Papp Public Theater.

MARC BLUCAS (Scotty Duval) recently completed work on A VIEW FROM THE TOP, opposite Gwyneth Paltrow, and THEY, a supernatural thriller. He was recently seen in the drama WE WERE SOLDIERS, with Mel Gibson and Madeline Stowe, as well as Kevin Smith's ensemble comedy JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK, with Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Jason Lee, PLEASANTVILLE and SUMMER CATCH, opposite Freddie Prinze Jr. Marc is probably best known for his portrayal of "Riley Finn," Sarah Michelle Gellar's love interest, on the hit series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

GORDON CLAPP (Earl Pickney) earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work in the ABC hit NYPD BLUE. He has worked with John Sayles since the beginning of Sayles' career, appearing in RETURN OF THE SECAUCUS SEVEN, MATEWAN and EIGHT MEN OUT; other films include RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET and GROSS ANATOMY. Clapp has appeared on television in dozens of movies of the week and miniseries and has guest-starred on series including Cheers, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Wonder Years and Cop Rock.

BILL COBBS (Dr. Lloyd) first worked with John Sayles on BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET; his more than sixty other film appearances include roles in SILKWOOD, THE COTTON CLUB, THE COLOR OF MONEY, TRADING PLACES, BIRD, NEW JACK CITY, THE HUDSUCKER PROXY, THE BODYGUARD, GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI, THAT THING YOU DO, HOPE FLOATS and RANDOM HEARTS. He was a series regular on The Gregory Hines Show, I'll Fly Away, The Others and The Michael Richards Show and has guest-starred on Six Feet Under, The Practice, The Sopranos, ER, NYPD Blue and many, many other shows.

RICHARD EDSON (Steve Tregaskis) made his memorable screen debut in Jim Jarmusch's STRANGER THAN PARADISE. He has since appeared in dozens of films, including THICK AS THIEVES, THE WOMEN THEN THE FIREWORKS, JUNGLE FEVER, PLATOON, GOOD MORNING VIETNAM, DO THE RIGHT THING, WEDDING BELL BLUES, BLOODHOUNDS OF BROADWAY, FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF, DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN and John Sayles' EIGHT MEN OUT.

EDIE FALCO (Marly Temple) became the only actress to ever receive the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Dramatic Series, the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Dramatic Television Series, and the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama, all in the same year for her performance as "Carmela Soprano" in the hit HBO series The Sopranos' debut season. She won the Emmy for that role again this year and has been nominated once again for the Golden Globe, as well as the American Film Institute's award for Female Television Actor of the Year. She is also known to television audiences from her recurring roles in the HBO dramatic series Oz and the acclaimed NBC series Law and Order and Homicide. Ms. Falco made her Broadway debut in the Tony Award winning play Sideman, which she originated in its off-Broadway production. For her performance, she received a Theatre World Award and a Drama Desk Award nomination for the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play. Ms. Falco went on to make her London stage debut in the West End premiere of Sideman. This past summer she opened the London production of the highly successful play The Vagina Monologues. She has also been seen in New York in the off-Broadway productions of Shooting Gallery, The Way and A Fabulous Beast. For the feature film COST OF LIVING, Ms. Falco received the American Film Institute's Best Actress Award. Her other film credits include A PRICE ABOVE RUBIES, COPLAND, TROUBLE ON THE CORNER, PRIVATE PARTS, HURRICANE, LAYIN' LOW, BREATHING ROOM, THE FUNERAL, THE ADDICTION, BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, LAWS OF GRAVITY, TRUST, THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUTH and RANDOM HEARTS. She last starred as the title character in the award-winning film JUDY BERLIN.

MIGUEL FERRER (Lester) has happily played a long line of offbeat characters, from the forensic examiner he plays in NBC's Crossing Jordan, to the drug dealer who ate poisoned eggs in TRAFFIC, to the pathologist in Twin Peaks, to the coke-snorting executive in ROBOCOP. The son of Jose Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney, Ferrer started out as a studio musician and still plays with a band called The Jennerators with bandmate Bill Mumy of Lost in Space fame. Since his breakout in ROBOCOP, Ferrer has starred in WHERE'S MARLOWE? and THE HARVEST, lent his voice to Disney's MULAN, appeared in the Stephen King miniseries THE STAND and THE SHINING, and appeared in a Los Angeles production of Visions and Lovers opposite Jenna Elfman.

TIMOTHY HUTTON (Jack Meadows) won an Academy Award, Golden Globe and Los Angeles Film Critics' award for his performance in Robert Redford's ORDINARY PEOPLE and has gone on to perform in numeros films, including TAPS, DANIEL, THE FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN, MADE IN HEAVEN, Q&A, GENERAL'S DAUGHTER, FRENCH KISS and BEAUTIFUL GIRLS. As a member of New York's Circle Repertory Company, Hutton originated the role of Peter Haskins in the Broadway production of Craig Lucas' Prelude to a Kiss. Starring opposite Henry Fonda, Hutton appeared in the Los Angeles stage production of The Oldest Living Graduate, which was later broadcast live on NBC. Again at Circle Rep, he starred in Babylon Gardens with Mary Louise Parker; he also directed Nicole Burdette's Busted for the Naked Angels Theater Company in New York. On television, Hutton is currently executive producing and directing the critically acclaimed A&E series Nero Wolfe, as Wolfe's dapper aide, Archie Goodwin. For Showtime, Hutton produced and starred in Mr. And Mrs. Loving and also starred as the title character in Aldredge Ames: Traitor Within. Working behind the camera, Hutton has directed a number of music videos and his feature film directorial debut, Digging to China, earned raves at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival.

CLIFTON JAMES (Buster Bidwell) made his Broadway debut in William Saroyan's The Cave Dwellers in 1956 and has since appeared in 40 Broadway and off-Broadway productions including five Pulitzer Prize-winning plays - J. B. , All The Way Home, The Time of Your Life, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Shadow Box. He appeared in A Sense of Humor with Jack Lemmon at Circle in the Square, in American Buffalo with Al Pacino and at the Booth Theatre in Total Abandon. In 1959, he was acclaimed for his portrayal of Willie Stark in Robert Penn Warren's All The King's Men. He has appeared on all the major television networks including England's BBC and for two years was "Striker" Bellman on the soap opera Texas. His extensive Shakespearean credits include the roles of Casca, Sir Toby Belch, Stephano, Bottom, Ajax and Enobarus. He has been featured in thirty motion pictures and one of his most memorable film roles was J. W. Pepper, the redneck sheriff in the James Bond films. Other movies include John Sayles' EIGHT MEN OUT, LONE STAR, SHE-DEVIL, DAVID AND LISA, COOL HAND LUKE, THE CHASE, WILL PENNY, THE NEW CENTURIONS, RANCHO DELUXE, THE LAST DETAIL, THE UNTOUCHABLES, THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES, etc. Mr. James is a graduate of the University of Oregon and a member of the Actors Studio.

ALAN KING (Murray Silver) is a renowned comedian and actor who has appeared in dozens of films including RUSH HOUR 2, CASINO, NIGHT AND THE CITY, THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES, ENEMIES: A LOVE STORY, AUTHOR! AUTHOR!, I THE JURY, JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT, THE ANDERSON TAPES and THE HELEN MORGAN STORY.

PERRY LANG (Greg) has acted in numerous films, including JENNIFER 8, THE BIG RED ONE, 1941 and Sayles' EIGHT MEN OUT, but has spent the last six years as a television director on series such as NYPD Blue, ER, Dawson's Creek, Arli$$ and others. PERRY LANG (Greg) has acted in numerous films, including JENNIFER 8, THE BIG RED ONE, 1941 and Sayles’ EIGHT MEN OUT, but has spent the last six years as a television director on series such as NYPD Blue, ER, Dawson’s Creek, Arli$$ and others.

JAMES McDANIEL (Reggie Perry), best-known to TV viewers as Lt. Arthur Fancy on the hit series NYPD Blue, has appeared in numerous films including Spike Lee's MALCOLM X, Kevin Hooks' STRICTLY BUSINESS, Woody Allen's ALICE and Daniel Petrie's ROCKET GIBRALTAR. McDaniel won the prestigious Obie Award and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his portrayal of Wendall in the New York stage production of Before It Hits Home. He also received the Clarence Derwent Award for his performance as Paul Portier in the Tony Award-winning Broadway play, Six Degrees of Separation. McDaniel appeared on Broadway in Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, with Steven Rae and Alec McGowan. Additional theater credits include roles in Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Balm in Gilead and A Soldier's Play. Besides NYPD Blue, McDaniel has appeared in numerous television series including Civil Wars, L. A. Law, Gabriel's Fire and Crime Story, and miniseries including Common Ground, The Old Man and the Sea, Murder in Black and White and Internal Affairs.

SAM McMURRAY (Todd Northrup) has appeared on television in countless series including The Sopranos, Malcolm in the Middle, Freaks and Geeks, Friends, Chicago Hope, Wings, Home Improvement, Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice and Kojak. His feature film credits include ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES, L. A. STORY, LITTLE VEGAS, RAISING ARIZONA and John Sayles' BABY, IT'S YOU.

MARY STEENBURGEN (Francine Pickney) won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award and Golden Globe for MELVIN AND HOWARD. She also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for CROSS CREEK and a Golden Globe nomination for RAGTIME. Her performance in the BBC/Showtime miniseries Tender is the Night earned her a British Broadcasters Guild Award, and she received an Emmy nomination for The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank. Steenburgen was "discovered" by Jack Nicholson in the reception room of Paramount's casting offices in New York. Nicholson gave her a script and was so impressed with her reading that he sent her to Hollywood for a screen test. She soon found herself working opposite Nicholson in GOIN' SOUTH (1978), which launched her film career. Her many other films include NIXON, POWDER, WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE, PHILADELPHIA, THE BUTCHER'S WIFE, BACK TO THE FUTURE PART III, PARENTHOOD, MISS FIRECRACKER, END OF THE LINE (which she also executive produced), DEAD OF WINTER, ROMANTIC COMEDY, ONE MAGIC CHRISTMAS, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S SEX COMEDY, and most recently LIFE AS A HOUSE.

RALPH WAITE (Furman Temple) is best-known for role as the patriarch of television's The Waltons but he has been active in film, television and theatre for more than three decades. His many feature film credits include THE GIN GAME, CLIFFHANGER, THE BODYGUARD, FIVE EASY PIECES and COOL HAND LUKE (with SUNSHINE STATE actor Clifton James). He has appeared on Broadway and in theatrical productions across the U. S. and in London. In addition to The Waltons, Waite has also been seen on television in series including Mississippi, Murder One and Shannon's Deal (written by John Sayles) and TV movies including A Good Sport with Lee Remick, The Secret Life of John Chapman, The Lemon Grove and The Third Twin. An active Democrat, Waite recently ran for the California congressional seat won by Mary Bono.

CHARLAYNE WOODARD (Loretta) most recently appeared on stage in In Real Life, the third play in her personal trilogy, which continues the saga of a young African-American woman on her journey into the charged world of New York theatre. Ms. Woodard's first two plays, Pretty Fire and Neat were emotional autobiographies, recounting her childhood and her family in upstate New York. Pretty Fire received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award and the NAACP theatre awards for best play and best playwright; Neat received Irving and Blanche Theatre Vision Award and Backstage Laurel Awards. Woodard's Broadway credits include the original cast of Ain't Misbehavin', for which she received both a Tony and Drama Desk nomination. Her film credits include MILLION DOLLAR HOTEL, UNBREAKABLE and EYE FOR AN EYE. Woodard starred as "Gina Wilkes" on the hit series Chicago Hope for four years; other TV credits include the lead in Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story and the miniseries Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Wedding.

TOM WRIGHT(Flash Phillips) has appeared in John Sayles' BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET, CITY OF HOPE, MATEWAN and PASSION FISH; his extensive list of film credits include PALMETTO, MURDER AT 1600, TALES FROM THE HOOD, TO FORGET PARIS, REVERSAL OF FORTUNE, THE COTTON CLUB, and FUNNY VALENTINES, opposite Alfre Woodard. He is currently shooting MGM's BARBERSHOP. Wright was a series regular on CBS's Martial Law and had a recurring role on Lifetime's Any Day Now. Other television credits include appearances in Family Law, NYPD Blue and Seinfeld. On stage, Wright has appeared at the Manhattan Theatre Club, the New York Shakespeare Festival, the Kennedy Center, and Yale Rep.

Author : Sony Pictures Classics