STORY/BIOS

CAST

JOSH HOPKINS (WILL): A dynamic and versatile actor, Josh Hopkins is a veteran of both television and feature films.  He can currently be seen starring opposite Courteney Cox-Arquette on the ABC program “Cougar Town” and will next be seen on the big screen in the drama Lebanon, Pa. directed by Ben Hickernell.

Hopkins made his debut as a season regular on FOX’s critically acclaimed series “Ally McBeal.”  Created by David E. KelleyHopkins portrayed Raymond Milberry, a rival lawyer and love interest to Calista Flockhart’s “Ally McBeal.”  Hopkins’ additional television credits include a recurring role on the ABC drama “Private Practice,” the CBS drama “Swingtown,” “CSI: Miami,” “Ghost Whisperer,” the ABC  drama “Brothers & Sisters” opposite Calista Flockhart and Sally Field, the CBS drama “Surrender, Dorothy”, with Diane Keaton, the CBS mini-series “Robert Ludlum’s Covert One: The Hades Factor,” the TNT original movie “Pirates of Silicon Valley” opposite Noah Wyle and Anthony Michael Hall, FOX’s “New York Undercover,” the WB’s “Jack & Jill,” and “Kate Brasher.” In addition, Hopkins starred opposite Rebecca Romijn in the WB romantic comedy “Pepper Dennis.”

Hopkins’ most recent film credits include the comedy Pretty Ugly People co-starring Missi Pyle and Melissa McCarthy, directed by Tate Taylor and the independent film, Insatiable, co-starring Sean Patrick Flanery and Michael Biehn, directed by Chack Konzelman and Cary Solomon. Prior to that, he starred in the film One Eyed King opposite William Baldwin, Chazz Palminteri and Armand Assante. Hopkins’ additional feature film credits include The Perfect Storm where he portrayed helicopter pilot Darryl Ennis, Love & Sex opposite Famke Janssen, G.I. Jane and Paulie.

Son of former representative Larry Hopkins, Josh grew up in Lexington, Kentucky and attended Auburn University.

SAMANTHA MATHIS (VICKI): A native of New York City, Samantha Mathis has crafted a distinguished career in television, film and theatre.  Recently, Samantha wrapped the thriller film “The New Daughter,” opposite Kevin Costner.  Samantha will also be seen in the upcoming thriller “The Chaos Theory,” opposite Milo Ventimiglia and Mimi Rogers.

Samantha’s television credits include the highly acclaimed TNT miniseries, “Nightmare’s and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King.”  Also on TNT, she starred opposite Rob Lowe, Andre Braugher and Donald Sutherland in “Salem’s Lot.”  She was seen in the series “First Years,” the telefilm “Collected Stories” for PBS and the critically lauded miniseries “The Mists of Avalon.” Last year she was seen in the Hallmark Channel movie “A Stranger’s Heart,” and “Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom’s For One More Day.” Samantha was also seen on an episode of ABC’s hit series “Lost.”

Samantha burst onto the film scene in “Pump Up The Volume” opposite Christian Slater, followed by the film “The Thing Called Love” alongside River Pheonix.  Additional film credits include a starring role opposite John Travolta in “The Punisher,” “Attraction,” “The Simian Line,” “American Psycho,” “Broken Arrow,” “The American President,” “How to Make an American Quilt,” “Jack and Sarah,” “Little Women,” “This is My Life,” “The Music of Chance” and “Touched.”  Samantha’s indy film credits include “Believe in Me,” “Local Color” and playing alongside Kathy Baker, Clea Duvall and Bradley Whitford in “Fathers and Sons.”

In 2002, Mathis made her Broadway debut in Arthur Miller’s “The Man Who Had All the Luck” opposite Chris O’Donnell. She has also made stage appearances starring opposite Tony Award-winner Linda Lavin in “Collected Stories’ at the Geffen Playhouse and “Fortin Bras” at the Signature Theater in New York.

Samantha has recently become a small-business owner with the creation of Succulent, her line of elegantly arranged plants.  Images and more information about these living sculptures can be found at www.succulentla.com.

Samantha is as enthusiastic about her philanthropic work as she is with her acting and entrepreneurial roles.  Her work with Amnesty International on their Stop the Violence Campaign Against Women has done much to stop the femicide in Guatemala.  She is also a longtime supporter of New Leash on Life, the largest no-kill animal shelter in Los Angeles.

RACHEL KITSON (CJ): Rachel Kitson is a theater major at Temple University. She was recently in Temple’s production of “The Darker Face of the Earth” and a senior project production of “Moonchildren.” She is also a member of the sketch comedy group “Eskimo?” While at Temple Rachel hopes to work on her acting skills for both theater and film.

Lebanon is Rachel’s first feature film and hopefully not her last. Working on the film has helped her grow tremendously as an actor and the chance to work with such a talented cast is one of the greatest learning experiences a young actress can ask for.
A former resident of Harleysville Pennsylvania, Rachel has performed in local community theater shows for the past 7 years. Some of her favorite roles include: Sandy from “Grease,” Grace from “Saving Grace,” Lisa from “David and Lisa” Tiger Lilly from “Peter Pan” and her all time favorite the Coconut Tree from “Jungle Book.”

When not performing or working with her sketch comedy group Rachel likes to spend time designing and sewing her own clothing and sometimes her creations come out all right.

IAN PEAKES (ANDY): Ian Merrill Peakes makes his home just outside of Philadelphia. He most recently played the title role in Macbeth (directed by Teller and Aaron Posner) in a co-production between Two River Theater Company and The Folger in DC. Regional: Actors Theatre of Louisville: The Crucible(John Proctor), 12th Night; Folger Shakespeare Theatre: Game of Love and Chance (Helen Hayes Nomination), Measure for Measure, Two Gents; Shakespeare Santa Cruz: Much Ado (Benedict); Pittsburgh Irish and Classic; Peterborough Players; Boarshead Theatre:Hamlet (Hamlet). Philadelphia: Arden: All My Sons (Barrymore Award); Walnut Street; People’s Light; Wilma: Invention of Love; Philadelphia Theater Company: Sideman (Barrymore Award); Theatre Exile Red Light Winter (Barrymore Nomination); Philadelphia Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet (Barrymore Nomination); Penn. Shakespeare Festival: Othello (Iago), Henry IV Part I (Hotspur), Much Ado (Benedict); TV: Still Standing, Hack, Homicide, All My Children. Film: I’d Rather be in Philadelphia, Seduction of the Will, Gentleman’s Game. Winner of the 2003 F. Otto Haas Award for Emerging Artist in Philadelphia. For Karen and Owen.

MARY BETH HURT (JEANETTE): A consummate actress with a long and distinguished career in film and theater, Mary Beth Hurt first rose to international fame with her BAFTA nominated performance in Woody Allen’s “Interiors.” She soon followed with “The World According to Garp,” opposite Robin Williams. Here more recent film projects include “The Dead Girl,” for which she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award, “The Exorcism of Emily Rose,” “Lady in the Water,” “Affliction,” “Bringing Out the Dead,” and ”The Age of Innocence.”
Mary Beth’s theater credits include “A Delicate Balance” at the Lincoln Center Theater, and Broadway productions “The Secret Rapture,” ”Benefactors” (Tony nomination), “Crimes of the Heart” (Obie award and Tony nomination), “The Misanthrope,” and “Trelawney of the Wells” (Tony nomination). She has also performed at the Phoenix Repertory Theater and in several Off-Broadway productions, and for the New York Shakespeare Festival in “Othello,” “As You Like It,” “Pericles” and ”The Cherry Orchard.”

Ms. Hurt has also made numerous television appearances. She resides near New York City.

CREW