Friday, June 3, 2011

Who is Heidi Blair Pratt?

Who is Heidi Blair Pratt? The entertainment and acting world knows her as Heidi Montag; Montag
is an American media personality, singer and celebutante. She came to prominence with her starring role on the MTV reality series The Hills from 2006 to 2010. The majority of the episodes followed the life of her former friend and housemate Lauren Conrad.
The series' second season saw Montag date fellow cast member Spencer Pratt. In November 2008, the couple eloped to Mexico, though later got married in the United States in April 2009. In July 2010, Montag filed for divorce after fifteen months of marriage to Pratt,[2] but later called off the divorce.
Montag began working on her first studio album, Superficial, in 2007. It was released in January 2010.

Career

2006-2010: The Hills

During freshman orientation, Montag met Lauren Conrad, who at the time was a featured cast member on the MTV reality series Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County.[3] After the two transferred to Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles,[4] Conrad received her own spin-off series The Hills, which premiered on May 31, 2006.[5] She eventually left the Fashion Institute in fall of 2005 when she was hired at Bolthouse Productions.[6] According to Montag, she dropped out because she "did not find the school challenging."[7] Within two years, she was promoted to event planner at Bolthouse.[8][9]
Montag went on to star in all six seasons of The Hills, though last appeared on the series on the final season's fourth episode. Spencer had threatened to kill a series producer, and was supposed to return to the series after anger management. However, his behavior worsened, which led to them being completely removed from the cast. Montag had also filed charges against "The Hills" creator Adam Divello claiming sexual harassment.[10]
In April 2009, Montag signed on to appear on the reality series I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here!.[11] Her appearance on the show, alongside husband Spencer, was criticized after the couple claimed they were subject to torture and left the show's set multiple times before returning and ultimately withdrawing.[12]
Montag debuted her fashion line, Heidiwood, at a fashion show at the Hollywood and Highland shopping center in Hollywood on April 11, 2008.[13] In November 2008, Montag and Pratt shot scenes for an episode of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother. The two appeared as themselves in an episode aired in January 2009.[14] Also in 2009, Montag and Pratt released their first book, How To Be Famous: Our Guide to Looking the Part, Playing the Press and Becoming a Tabloid Fixture.

2007-2010: Superficial

In February 2007, Montag began working on an album with producer David Foster.[15] In March 2009, Montag hired songwriter Cathy Dennis to work on her forthcoming album.[16] On August 23, 2009, Montag performed "Body Language" during the Miss Universe 2009 pageant in the Bahamas. Montag's debut album, Superficial, was digitally released on January 11, 2010. The album sold just over 1,000 copies in the first week.[17] "More Is More" is Montag's only song that managed to chart.

2010-present: Famous Food

In early 2010, Montag was cast in a cameo role in her first feature film, the Adam Sandler comedy Just Go with It.[18]
In early 2011, there was speculation that Montag would join the cast of Bravo's The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, though this was later denied. Later that year, Montag was confirmed to be one of seven celebrities to compete in an upcoming VH1 reality series, Famous Food, that will premiere in the fall of 2011. The cast members will work to open a Hollywood restaurant, and the winner will be given a partnership stake in the business. Other cast members are Ashley Dupre, DJ Paul, Juicy J, Vincent Pastore, Danielle Staub, and Jake Pavelka.[19][20][21]

Personal life

Heidi was  born September 15, 1986 in Crested Butte, Colorado on September 15, 1986.[1] After graduating from high school, she moved to California where she enrolled at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.[4] Holly Montag is Heidi's older sister by about three years. On March 3, 2008, Montag's stepbrother Eric O'Hara was killed in an accidental fall from an icy roof. O'Hara was a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and served in the 82nd Airborne Division.[22]
In 2006, she began dating Spencer Pratt. In May 2007, Montag and Pratt announced their engagement.[23] During The Hills season finale in December 2007, the couple broke off their engagement. On November 20, 2008, Montag and Spencer had a marriage ceremony in Mexico. No family members were present and the wedding ceremony lasted 15 minutes.[24][25] Montag and Pratt married a second time on April 25, 2009 in Pasadena, California.[26] On June 8, 2010, Heidi filed for legal separation from Pratt, listing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their separation.[27] On July 30, 2010, Montag filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences in the petition.[28] However, the couple called off the divorce in September 2010.[29] In November 2010, Montag and Pratt announced that the reason behind the couple's divorce was to help Montag's career.[30] Later that November, Montag and Pratt renewed their wedding vows.[31]

Plastic surgeries

In April 2007, Montag had a breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, and collagen lip injections. At first, she did not confirm this, but after months of speculation and rumors, Montag spoke to Us Weekly about her surgeries in September 2007.[32]
In January 2010, Montag revealed to People magazine that she had ten plastic surgery procedures in one day, done by Dr. Frank Ryan on November 20, 2009. Among the procedures were brow-lifts, ear-pinnings, a chin reduction, as well as a second rhinoplasty and second breast augmentation. She revealed that she almost died from too much Demerol, reducing her breath rate to five breaths per minute, but said it was worth it.[33]
In December 2010, Montag appeared on the cover of Life & Style magazine, revealing scars and marks caused from her surgeries. In the magazine interview, Montag says, "Parts of my body definitely look worse than they did presurgery. This is not what I signed up for." She adds, "I definitely think I should have been way more informed. I think that doctors should really walk you through all aspects of it, not just the glamorous side of it. Doctors, it's like they're selling you cookies or something. I would love to not be 'plastic girl' or whatever they call me. Surgery ruined my career and my personal life and just brought a lot of negativity into my world. I wish I could jump into a time machine and take it all back. Instead, I'm always going to feel like Edward Scissorhands."[34]

Filmography

List of appearances in film and television
Year↓ Title↓ Role↓ Notes
2006–2010 The Hills Herself TV series, main cast member for all six seasons
2009 How I Met Your Mother Herself TV series, one episode as guest star along with Spencer Pratt
2009 I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here! Herself TV series, featured with Spencer Pratt; ultimately withdrew from series
2011 Just Go With It Kimberly Cameo role, first appearance in a feature film

Published works

  • How To Be Famous: Our Guide to Looking the Part, Playing the Press and Becoming a Tabloid Fixture (with Spencer Pratt) (2009)

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected details
Title Album details
Superficial

Extended plays

Year Album details
2009 Wherever I Am
  • Format: Digital download
2009 Here She Is…
  • Format: Digital download
Wherever I Am
  1. "Your Love Found Me" – 3:52
  2. "More Is More" – 3:06
  3. "Party Is Wherever I Am" – 3:28
  4. "Turn Ya Head" – 3:39
  5. "Look How I'm Doing" – 3:39
Here She Is…
  1. "No More" – 4:05
  2. "Overdosin'" – 3:45
  3. "Look How I'm Doing" – 3:29
  4. "Turn Ya Head" – 3:39
  5. "More Is More" – 3:06
  6. "Blackout" – 3:31
  7. "Your Love Found Me" – 3:52

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Look How I'm Doing" 2009 Wherever I Am
"Blackout" 2009 Here She Is...
"Body Language" 2009 Non-album single
"Superficial" 2009 Superficial
"Sex Ed" 2010 Non-album singles
"Trash Me" 2010

Promotional singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Higher" 2008 Non-album song
"Overdosin'" 2008 Here She Is...
"No More" 2008
"More Is More" 2009 Wherever I Am
"Your Love Found Me" 2009

Music videos

Year Song Director
2008 "Higher" Spencer Pratt
"Overdosin'" Spenser Cohen
2009 "Blackout" Spencer Pratt

 


















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Who is Richard Preston Carlisle ?

Who is Richard Preston Carlisle? The Professional basketball world knows him as Rick Carlisle. Carlisle is the head coach of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. He has also coached the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons, and was previously a player in the NBA.[1][2][3][4]

Playing career

Carlisle was born October 27, 1959 raised in Lisbon, New York. He graduated from Worcester Academy and played two years of college basketball at the University of Maine from 1979 to 1981 before transferring to the University of Virginia in 1982, where he co-captained the Cavaliers of the coach Terry Holland to the Final Four in 1984. In his college years he averaged 12.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

NBA

After graduating that same year, he was drafted by the Boston Celtics (23rd pick in the third round), where he played alongside Larry Bird. With the Celtics under coach K.C. Jones he won the NBA championship in 1986 against the Houston Rockets and lost in the NBA Finals in 1985 and 1987 to the Los Angeles Lakers. From 1984 to 1987 he averaged 2.2 points, 1.0 assists and 0.8 rebounds per game in a limited reserve role. Carlisle then played for Bill Musselman's Albany Patroons, and was then signed as a free agent by the New York Knicks under coach Rick Pitino, where he played alongside future star Patrick Ewing. In 1989, Carlisle played in 5 games with the New Jersey Nets under Bill Fitch.

Coaching career

Later in 1989, he accepted an assistant coaching position with the Nets, where he spent five seasons under Bill Fitch and Chuck Daly. In 1994, Carlisle joined the assistant coaching staff with the Portland Trail Blazers under coach P. J. Carlesimo, where he spent three seasons.
In 1997, Rick Carlisle joined the Indiana Pacers organization as an assistant coach under his former teammate, Larry Bird. During his time as Pacers assistant coach, he helped the Pacers to two of their best seasons ever. First, in 1997-98, the Pacers stretched the Chicago Bulls to the limit, narrowly losing the deciding seventh game of the Eastern Conference finals to the eventual NBA champion. Then, in 1999-2000, the Pacers made the NBA Finals for the first time, ultimately losing to the Los Angeles Lakers. Bird stepped down as coach, and pushed for Carlisle to be selected as his replacement, but Pacers team president Donnie Walsh gave the job to Isiah Thomas.

Detroit Pistons

For the 2001 season, Carlisle was recruited by the Detroit Pistons to be their new head coach. In two seasons as Pistons' head coach with players like Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace, Mehmet Okur and Tayshaun Prince, Carlisle led them to consecutive 50-32 records (.610) with Central Division titles and playoff appearances, and was named Coach of the Year in 2002. However, the Pistons fired Carlisle after the 2002-03 season with a year remaining on his contract and hired Larry Brown. Friction between Carlisle and team ownership was cited as one of the primary reasons for the firing. Ironically, Carlisle's Pistons had just dispatched Brown's Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semifinals.

Indiana Pacers

For the 2003-04 season, Carlisle was re-hired by the Indiana Pacers—but this time, as its head coach (Isiah Thomas had been fired, almost immediately after Larry Bird was brought back as the new President of Basketball Operations). In his first season, Carlisle led the Pacers to the Central Division title and NBA's best regular-season record (61-21; 74.4%). In the playoffs, the team eliminated both the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, before losing to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. In that year he was nominated coach for the All-Star Game. In 2005, the Pacers roster was decimated by injuries (most notably, those of Jermaine O'Neal, Stephen Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley), and suspensions (due to the Pacers–Pistons brawl attributed to Ron Artest at the Palace of Auburn Hills). Carlisle was still able to rally the Pacers to the NBA Playoffs that season, though. As the sixth seed, they again defeated the Boston Celtics in the first round, before being defeated once again by the eventual Eastern Conference Champion, the Pistons.
After the Pacers finished the 2006-07 season with a 35-47 record (missing the playoffs for the first time since 1997), Carlisle's tenure as head coach ended; it is unclear whether he voluntarily resigned, was fired, or was pushed to resign. In four seasons with the Indiana Pacers, Carlisle compiled a 181-147 record.[5] On June 12, 2007, Carlisle announced that he would also resign from his position as Executive Vice-president of the Pacers. After leaving Indiana, Carlisle worked as a studio analyst for ESPN before signing with the Dallas Mavericks as its new head coach.

Dallas Mavericks

On May 9, 2008 Carlisle signed a four-year deal with Mark Cuban's Dallas Mavericks, replacing Avery Johnson. He led them to a 50-32 record including a first round win against the San Antonio Spurs. They would lose to the Denver Nuggets 4-1 in the Western Conference Semifinals.[4][6] The next year he coached the Mavs to a 55-27 record, first in Southwest Division and second in the West, but lost in the first round to San Antonio. In 2010, Dallas won sixteen of its first twenty games in a competitive Western Conference.
On May 8, 2011, he coached the Mavericks to a sweep of the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.
On May 25, 2011, he coached the Mavericks to a 4-1 series win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, the first conference finals victory of his coaching career.

 







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Thursday, June 2, 2011

Who is Christopher Peter Meloni ?

Who is Christopher Peter Meloni?  The entertainment and acting world knows him as Christopher Meloni. Meloni is an American actor. He is best known for his television roles as NYPD Detective Elliot Stabler on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and as inmate Chris Keller on the HBO prison drama Oz.

Early life

Meloni was born April 2, 1961  the youngest of three children in Washington, D.C., the son of Carol, a homemaker, and Robert Meloni, an endocrinologist.[1] His maternal ancestry is French Canadian and his paternal ancestry is Sardinian. Meloni is a typical and widely diffused Sardinian surname.[2] He attended St. Stephen's School (now St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School) and the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he first studied acting, graduating with a degree in history in 1983. After graduation, Meloni went to New York where he continued his studies with Sanford Meisner at the famed Neighborhood Playhouse.

Acting career

Meloni worked as a construction worker prior to getting his acting break. He has also worked as a bouncer, bartender, and personal trainer. Meloni worked his way up the acting ladder with commercials,[3] short-lived TV series, and bit parts in a number of films. His first noticeable role was as the hotheaded son of a Mafia Don in the 1996 thriller Bound. He also appeared as Robbie Sinclair's friend Spike in Dinosaurs and Julia Roberts' fiance in Runaway Bride.

From 1998-2003, Meloni portrayed the bisexual criminal Chris Keller on the HBO series Oz; the role with its numerous full frontal nude scenes won him a great deal of media attention, particularly within the gay community in which he became considered a sex symbol. Meloni has publicly stated when asked that he "embraces being a gay icon" and that he finds it "flattering." In 1999, he even jokingly kissed his onscreen partner Lee Tergesen (who played Tobias Beecher, Meloni's on-screen boyfriend on Oz) at an awards dinner for GLAAD.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order producer Dick Wolf, impressed by Meloni's acting abilities, signed him up for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 1999, where he has remained ever since. From 1999 to 2003, he appeared on both shows simultaneously.
Meloni wears a fake tattoo of the United States Marine Corps emblem (the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor) on his arm for the role (as seen in Season 8, Episode 8, "Underbelly").
On July 6, 2006, Meloni was nominated for his first Emmy Award, in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, for his role as Elliot Stabler.
Christopher has announced that the 12th season of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit will be his last and he would be departing the cast.[4]
Other work
He returned to his comedic roots when he portrayed the character "Gene" in Wet Hot American Summer in 2001, and the character of "Freakshow" (albeit in heavy make-up) in the 2004 comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. He would make another cameo in its sequel, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, as "The Grand Wizard".
In July 2009, Meloni portrayed renowned DC Comics character Hal Jordan/Green Lantern in the DC Universe Animated Original Movie Green Lantern: First Flight. He briefly appeared in the first episode of the Comedy Central series Michael & Michael Have Issues portraying himself for a fake movie starring Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter.
Public appearances
Meloni competed in the eighth series of Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown, finishing in second place, behind Robin Tunney, and ahead of Macy Gray, Joy Behar, and Andy Dick. He played for Feed the Children. He also appeared on Celebrity Jeopardy! on November 10, 2006, defeating fellow Law & Order stars Sam Waterston and Kathryn Erbe. Meloni split his $50,000 charity prize between the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Program and the Montefiore Advocacy Center.
Meloni was included in the 2006 edition of People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive.

Personal life

Meloni is married to production designer Doris Meloni (née Williams) and they have two children, daughter Sophia Eva Meloni (b. March 23, 2000), and son Dante Meloni (b. January 2, 2004).[citation needed]
He has a real tattoo of a cubist representation of the crucifixion of Christ tattooed on his upper left arm. He also has two other tattoos, a butterfly on his left upper thigh and a Chinese astrological chart of his family on his right lower leg.[5] The edge of it can be seen in the L&O: SVU episode "Wildlife" when Elliot is sleeping on the couch.

Filmography

Film
Year↓ Title↓ Role↓ Notes
1994 Clean Slate Bodyguard
1994 Junior Mr. Lanzarotta
1995 12 Monkeys Lt. Halperin
1996 Bound Johnnie Marzzone
1997 The Small Hours FL
1998 Apt Pupil Unnamed Homeless Man Uncredited Role
1998 Brown's Requiem Sgt. Cavanah Uncredited Role
1998 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Sven, Clerk at Flamingo Hotel
1998 The Souler Opposite Barry Singer
1999 Carlo's Wake Bennetto Torello
1999 Runaway Bride Bob Kelly
2001 Wet Hot American Summer Gene
2002 That Brief Moment Ken Short film
2004 Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle Freakshow
2008 Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay Grand Wizard credited as "Reverend Clyde Stanky"
2008 Nights in Rodanthe Jack Willis
2009 Brief Interviews with Hideous Men R / Subject #3
2009 Carriers Frank
2010 Green Lantern: First Flight Hal Jordan/Green Lantern Voice
2011 National Lampoon's Dirty Movie Producer Charlie LaRue Direct to video
2012 The Lords of Salem Whitey
Television
Year↓ Title↓ Role↓ Notes
1989
-1990
1st & Ten Vito Del Greco/Johnny Gunn 11 episodes
1990 When Will I Be Loved? Ron Weston TV film on NBC
1990
-1991
The Fanelli Boys Frankie Fanelli 17 episodes
1991 In a Child's Name Jerry Cimarelli TV film on CBS
1991
-1994
Dinosaurs Spike 11 episodes
1992 Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz Story David ABC television film
1993 Without a Kiss Goodbye Ray Samuels also known as Falsely Accused
CBS television film
1993 The Boys Doug Kirkfield
1993 Golden Gate Douglas 'BW' Carlino Unsold pilot
1995 A Dangerous Affair Tommy Moretti ABC television film
1995 Hope and Gloria Billy Episode: "Love with an Improper Stranger"
1995 Misery Loves Company Mitch 8 episodes
1996
-1997
NYPD Blue Jimmy Liery 5 episodes
1997 The Last Don Boz Skannet Miniseries
1997 Leaving L.A. Reed Sims 6 episodes
1997 Every 9 Seconds Richard Sutherland NBC television film
1997 Brooklyn South Joe Episode: "Wild Irish Woes"
Episode: "McMurder One"
Episode: "Dublin or Nothin'
1998 Target Earth Det. Samuel 'Sam' Adams ABC television film
1998 Homicide: Life on the Street Bounty Hunter Dennis Knoll Episode: "Wanted Dead or Alive 1"
Episode: "Wanted Dead or Alive 2"
1998
-2003
Oz Chris Keller 38 episodes
1999 Shift Louis Television film
1999
-2011
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Det. Elliot Stabler Lead character
2000 Law & Order Det. Elliot Stabler Episode: "Entitled"
Episode: "Fools For Love"
2002 Murder in Greenwich Mark Fuhrman Television film
2003 Scrubs Dr. Dave Norris Episode: "My White Whale"
2005 Wonder Showzen Cooties Spokesman Episode: "Health"
2005 Law & Order: Trial by Jury Det. Elliot Stabler Episode: "Day"
2008 Gym Teacher: The Movie Dave Stewie Nickelodeon television film
2009 Michael & Michael Have Issues
Episode: "Greg the Intern"

Awards and nominations

Emmy Awards
  • 2006: Nominated, "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
PRISM Awards
  • 2004: Nominated, "Performance in a TV Drama Series Episode" - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
  • 2008: Nominated, "Performance in a TV Drama Series Episode" - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

 












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Who is Luigi "Geno" Auriemma?

W ho is  Luigi   " Geno "   Auriemma? The college basketball world recognizes him as the most successfull division 1  college bas...