"Conversations" with
David Morse & Andre Braugher
Thursday, June 26th, 2003
Philadelphia PA
This evening's "Conversations" featured stars DAVID MORSE and ANDRE BRAUGHER from Philadelphia's locally produced hit network television drama "HACK".
Name: Bob Nuchow - SAG Foundation Projects Coordinator
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Comments: David Morse,
Dramatic Magnificence -
Tonight’s “Conversations” features multi-talented and award winning stage, television and film actor David Morse.
Morse stars on the CBS hit series HACK. He plays Mike Olshansky, an ex-cop turned taxi driver who seeks redemption by fighting for and righting the wrongs of others. HACK has been picked up for a full season and has been consistently winning its time-slot on Friday nights at 9:00 PM.
Morse also starred as Dr. Jack "Boomer" Morrison in the Emmy- winning ensemble drama, "St. Elsewhere." His other TV series roles include ABC's "Our Family Business" and the sitcom, "Big Wave Dave's." Morse also starred in the telefilms "Diary of a City Priest," "Murder Live," "Prototype," Stephen King's "The Langoliers," "When Dreams Come True," "Six Against the Rock," "Down-Payment on Murder," "A Place at the Table," "Winnie," "Brotherhood of the Rose," "Cry in the Wild," "Cross of Fire" and TNT's "Tecumesh: The Last Warrior."
Morse will next star on the big screen in Sony's "Double Vision" from the producers of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in 2003. The film premiered at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and recently opened to critical acclaim in Taiwan, breaking all opening weekend records. In addition, "Double Vision" opened at number one in Hong Kong opening weekend and is currently the #2 local language production of all time in Hong Kong behind "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" which is #1. Morse's performance in "Double Vision" garnered him a Golden Horse Award nomination, the Chinese equivalent of an Academy Award. Morse will also
star in Alex and Andrew Smith's independent film, "The Slaughter Rule" opposite Ryan Gosling and Clea DuVall in 2003. "Slaughter Rule" debuted at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival.
Morse recently starred in Scott Hicks' "Hearts In Atlantis" opposite Anthony Hopkins and Hope Davis; Frank Darabont's highly acclaimed prison drama, "The Green Mile" with Tom Hanks; Lars Von Trier's musical drama "Dancer in the Dark" opposite Bjork and Catherine DeNeuve ("Dancer in the Dark" won the Palm d'Or at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival and opened the 38th New York Film Festival); and Taylor Hackford's thriller "Proof of Life" opposite Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe.
Morse's other feature film credits include: Antonio Banderas' "Crazy in Alabama," F. Gary Gray's "The Negotiator," Terry Gilliam's "12 Monkeys," Robert Zemeckis' "Contact," and Renny Harlin's "The Long Kiss Goodnight, " "Bait," "The Rock," "Extreme Measures," "The Good Son," "Desperate Hours," "The Getaway," and "Personal Foul." David made his motion picture debut in Richard
Donner's acclaimed drama, "Inside
Moves" and then went on to star in two
Sean Penn directed dramas,"The Indian Runner" and "The Crossing Guard."
On Stage, David starred in the Seattle Rep world premiere presentation of "Redwood Curtain" and worked in over thirty productions between 1971-77 with the Boston Repertory Company. He made his Broadway debut in the role of father Barry in the theatre adaption of "On the Waterfront," and triumphantly returned to the Off-Broadway stage recently in Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, "How I Learned to Drive." For his starring role, Morse won the Drama League Award, the Lucille Lortel Award, the Drama Desk Award and the Obie Award. Additionally, Morse won a Drama League Award for his performance in the Los Angeles production of "Of Mice and Men." Other stage appearances include the Off-Broadway productions of "The Trading Post," "Threads" and "A Death in the Family."
Name: Bob Nuchow - SAG Foundation Projects Coordinator
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Comments: Andre Braugher’s
Acting Brilliance
One of Hollywood’s most respected actors Emmy Award-winner Andre Braugher finds he is able to cross over from television to film to theatre with ease.
Perhaps best known for his riveting Emmy Award-winning portrayal of Detective Frank Pembleton on the NBC series Homicide: Life on the Street (1992-98), Braugher returned to network television last fall in the critically acclaimed CBS series Hack starring opposite David Morse. Recently audiences saw Braugher star in original Showtime film A Soldier’s Girl and he has just completed production on the TNT original four-hour mini-series Salem’s Lot based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King.
In 2001 Braugher starred in the Showtime Original Film 10,000 Black Men Named George with Charles Dutton and Mario Van Peebles for director Robert Townsend for which he received an NAACP Award nomination. Prior to that, he starred in the critically acclaimed ABC drama Gideon’s Crossing created by Paul Attanasio, creator of Homicide for which he received his fourth Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
In addition to Braugher’s success on the small screen, audiences have seen him star in a variety of feature film roles. Most recently he starred in Duets (2000) opposite Gwyneth Paltrow for director Bruce Paltrow; in the independent feature A Better Way to Die (2000); and along side Dennis Quaid in the critically praised film Frequency (2000). Before that he starred with Alec Baldwin in the independent film Thick As Thieves (1999), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and later aired on HBO; he was a part of an ensemble cast, which included Jeff Daniels, Gary Sinise, Joan Allen and Anna Paquin, in director Jim Stern’s All The Rage (1999); and starred in City of Angels (1998) with Nicolas Cage, Meg Ryan, and Dennis Franz.
Braugher’s other notable feature film credits also includes Primal Fear (1996) with Richard Gere, which marked his first collaboration with Frequency director Gregory Hoblit; Spike Lee’s Get on the Bus (1996); and Glory (1989), the Oscar-winning story of America’s first unit of black soldiers during the Civil War.
In 1999 Braugher made his directorial debut with one vignette of the Showtime trilogy Love Songs, in which he also starred, and starred in the TNT telefilm Passing Glory (1999), for director Steve James (Hoop Dreams) garnering critical acclaim for his performance.
Braugher’s work on television continues to be recognized by his critics, audiences and his peers. In 2001, he received an Emmy Award nomination for his role as Dr. Ben Gideon in Gideon’s Crossing. In 1998 he received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama series for portrayal of Detective Frank Pembleton on Homicide: Life on the Street. In 1996 he received an Emmy nomination for Homicide as well as a nomination in 1995 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries for his work in the Peabody Award-winning HBO production The Tuskeegee Airmen.
His many other television credits include him reprising his Emmy Award-winning role of Detective Frank Pembleton in the two-hour NBC Special Homicide: The Movie (2000); the title role in The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson (1990), HBO’s Somebody Has to Shoot the Picture (1990) and NBC’s Murder in Mississippi (1990). He began his television career as the late Telly Savalas’ sidekick in television movies based on the original Kojak series.
A most versatile performer, Braugher has appeared on stage with the New York Shakespeare Festival in Measure for Measure and Twelfth Night and most recently, in the title role of Henry V, which earned him an Obie Award. At Joseph Papp’s Public Theater, Braugher preformed in The Way of the World, and Shakespeare’s Richard II and Coriolanus. He played Iago in the Folger Shakespeare Festival production of Othello and performed the title role in Macbeth for the Philadelphia Drama Guild.
Name: Adam Schoon
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Comments: I do not consider myself to be much of an actor. I work mostly as a writer and director, but to get that perspective from the other side of the camera is profoundly invaluable. Tonight has been one of the most inspiring evenings of my span of time in this craft, and I deeply thank both of you for that. Tohave people like you to think about when writing a script or directing someone is amazing. Thank you.
Name: Brian A. Wilson
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Comments: David, You're a prince! I look forward to working with you a 3rd time. I've thouroughly enjoyed watching the growth of Olshansky over this season and can't wait for season two. Best wishes for a great sophomore season.
Mr. Braugher, I'm a great fan of your work and had a chance to meet you at Freedom Theatre years ago at a Shakespeare conference - and used several of your suggestions when I played "Othello" this past year. I was very sorry you weren't in the episode of "HACK" - 'Bad Choices' where I was 'Raymond the pimp,' but I look forward to working with you in the near future. Peace & Blessings.
Name: Mike Salvato
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Comments: David & Andre - Hello, I am so motivated listening to the two of you. This is my reintroductionto the business. I've been teaching Art History & Humanities for years and decided to come back into the business. I love your work and look forward to getting involved again.
Name: LeShade T. Johnson
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Comments: Very helpful information. I LOVED IT! Thank you David, Andre, Temple University and SAG Foundation!
Name: James L. Grant
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Comments: I certainly enjoyed Conversations. However, I really enjoyed working with Andre and David on the set in the Diner at 12th street and Callow Hill Street on a hot summer day and night. I always wound up on the set with you two. I was just honored listening to you both with your conversations. THANKS!
Name: Langdon Bensing
Location: Chadsford, PA
Comments: Conversations with David and Andre gave us some excellent personal insights about doubt and faith, responsibility as human beings. Thank you both David and Andre!
Name: Julia Yorks
Location: New Hope, PA
Comments: Terrific!!! - Incredible evening to have been a part of Conversations with Andre Braugher and David Morse! Hi Mr. Morse, I was the singing girl in your taxicab in the pilot of "HACK!" I think you are awesome, and you were so kind to me when I worked with you. Thanks a lot for that! It's me again. My fondest memory of working on "HACK" was when we were in the taxi cab, being pulled around City Hall, and I kept rehearsing my song "I am 16 going on 17." I thought it might have been getting on your nerves (Hee hee), but you just smiled and said, 'it sounds like angels singing!' You made my day with those few words. Thanks again! By the way, if you ever decide to have a long, lost daughter on the show - please call me! It would be a dream come true!
Name: Dona Marie Pizzo - 13 years old
Location: West Deptford, PA
Comments: David - Thank you for the chance to be an extra on your show - I was Mary in the basketball scene on "Sinners and Saints." I think you are the best thing that happened to Philadelphia since soft pretzels!
Name: Leslie Hughes
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Comments: David - Thank you for keeping the Philadelphia Actors employed! I have enjoyed working on "HACK." I love all of your work!
Name: Elisabeth Suiben
Location: Harrisburg, PA
Comments: Hi Mr. Braugher - I worked on "Homicide" a few times. I'm sure Pat Moran says hello! Hope to work on "HACK" again. Take care and THANKS!
Name: Donna Dundon
Location: Narbeth, PA
Comments: After working all season on "HACK" as background (waitress in diner), I feel I know both David and Andre better. THANKS!
Name: Marcia I Hinton
Location: Yeadon, PA
Comments: David and Andre - Thank you again for your commitment to Philly and our acting community. I've said this to both of you before while filming numerous scenes (extra, background) Your dedication and professionalism as actors serves as an icon and inspiration to me. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
Name: Marguerite Mastromatto
Location: Jeffersonville, PA
Comments: David and Andre
Thank you for bringing "HACK" to Philly. Most actors living and working inPhilly have to work 'day jobs' and have recently been laid off. That even affects industrial film production. So, working on "HACK" - even as background - pays the mortgage. Plus, an actor needs to be in that environment. We appreciate your work and both of you so much!
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For more information, or to become involved in "Conversations," please contact Bob Nuchow, SAG Foundation Project Coordinator at (323) 549-6668 or conversations@sag.org.
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