Maron pictures

There is no simple way to describe Madsen. You can try “piercing green eyes…the trademark raspy voice…a real man’s man.” But that’s where the simplicity begins and ends. Just as his credits run the gamut from the hippest of cult films to the biggest studio blockbusters, his characters transcend both ends of the spectrum. He is the ear-slicing “Mr. Blonde” in Quentin Tarantino’s RESERVOIR DOGS, dancing and humming to the tune “Stuck in the Middle with You;” the deviant killer in THE GETAWAY with Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger; the psycho killer in John Dahl’s KILL ME AGAIN; the Mafia family captain Sonny Black in DONNIE BRASCO with Al Pacino and Johnny Depp; the tough-guy cop in MULHOLLAND FALLS; and the hard-core government operative in SPECIES. Yet, Madsen is also the lovable and caring father in FREE WILLY; Susan Sarandon’s supportive, understanding boyfriend in THELMA & LOUISE; the gentle Virgil Earp opposite Kevin Costner in WYATT EARP and Halle Berry’s CIA boss in the James Bond film DIE ANOTHER DAY.

Madsen reunited with Quentin Tarantino for the first time in over ten years as “Budd” (aka Sidewinder) in Tarantino’s KILL BILL: VOLUME 1 with Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Daryl Hannah, and Lucy Liu. Madsen also appeared in SIN CITY, Robert Rodriguez’s adaptation of Frank Miller’s stories, alongside Bruce Willis, Josh Hartnett, Brittany Murphy, and many others. He co-starred in the USA TV movie “Frankenstein” from Executive Producer Martin Scorsese, author Dean Koontz and director Marcus Nispel. Madsen plans to finish shooting the film RED LIGHT RUNNERS in which he stars and co-produces. Madsen plays “Killian” who works for the government in their Special Ops department in this spy thriller with Harvey Keitel, Peter O’Toole and Crispin Glover. From there, the busy actor will join Tarantino and Larry Bishop as the star of the biker film HELL RIDE.

Madsen’s compilation of short stories and poems entitled Burning in Paradise further proves his capabilities as an artist. Burning in Paradise, winner of the Independent Book Publisher’s “Firecracker Poetry Book of the Year” Award, explores the intense and gritty experiences of a man living on the edge. Dennis Hopper, who composed the book’s foreword, says Madsen is “Better than Kerouac.” And in 2002, Michael’s book of poetry, Blessing of the Hounds, was released by 12 Gage Press. Both books are available at www.michaelmadsen.com, along with Madsen’s recently released third book of prose entitled 46 Down.

Born in Chicago, Madsen and his two siblings, including actress Virginia Madsen, were reared in a close-knit family environment. Michael entered the world of acting after seeing the production Of Mice and Men at the Steppenwolf Theatre. It wasn’t long before Madsen wound up performing at the theatre himself. When director Sergio Leone saw Madsen in a theatrical production of Carnal Knowledge, he was so taken with Madsen’s performance that he insisted on meeting the young performer, only to encourage Madsen to pursue an acting career.

After painting houses, repairing cars, working as an orderly in a hospital and pumping gas in his late teens and early twenties, Madsen took Leone’s advice and moved to Los Angeles. It wasn’t long before he landed guest-starring roles on “Miami Vice,” “Cagney and Lacey,” and “St. Elsewhere,” to name a few, only to make his film debut in the hit feature WAR GAMES. After roles in RACING WITH THE MOON, THE NATURAL, KILL ME AGAIN and the mini-series “War and Remembrance,” Ridley Scott cast him in THELMA & LOUISE opposite Susan Sarandon, and Madsen became an “overnight success.”

With a long list of features including THE DOORS, MONEY FOR NOTHING, LAST DAYS OF FRANKIE THE FLY, and THE FLORENTINE, Michael also starred in his own series “Vengeance Unlimited,” a one-hour drama on ABC where he played Mr. Chapel, vigilante extraordinaire.

When Michael isn’t working, he relaxes in Malibu at home with his wife, De Anna, and his five children. A dedicated husband and father, Michael loves to ride his Harleys as well as restore and race old American classic cars. There’s simply only one way to describe Michael Madsen. He personifies the word “cool.”

An English born ex-footballer and former captain of the Wales national football team, Jones retired from football in 1999 and, despite a lack of formal training in acting, has since found success in front of the cameras. He has particularly profited from both his 'hard man' image (appearing in crime and action films) and his football experience, appearing in films such as Guy Ritchie’s LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS and SNATCH, as well as GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS, MEAN MACHINE, SWORDFISH, EUROTRIP, A NIGHT AT THE GOLDEN EAGLE, SLIPSTREAM, and SHE’S THE MAN. He also had a part in an episode of the BBC show “Extras” and appeared recently opposite “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in the WWE Films production THE CONDEMNED.

In 2006, Jones portrayed “Juggernaut” in X-MEN: THE LAST STAND. In an interview he stated that he is signed for move movies: “I’ve signed for X-MEN 3, 4 and 5…that’s my contract…yes.” There is also a possibility that he may revive his “Juggernaut” role in the X-Men spin-off film WOLVERINE to star Hugh Jackman.

His first "sensitive" - hard-man role was in JOHNNY WAS, which premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2006. In the drama he acted alongside another sportsman-actor, former undisputed Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World, Lennox Lewis, as well as Eriq La Salle (ER), Roger Daltrey of The Who, and Patrick Bergin.

Last year, Jones made his musical theatre debut performing in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods at the Royal Albert Hall, alongside Anita Dobson.

The busy actor’s upcoming films include THE RIDDLE with Derek Jacobi and Vanessa Redgrave, MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN, based on a short story by Clive Barker, starring Bradley Cooper and Brooke Shields, and TOOTH & NAIL and HELL RIDE, both re-teaming him with STRENGTH AND HONOUR co-star Michael Madsen.

A veteran of film, theatre and television, Chamberlain has created a unique position with the world of mini-series, having starred in some of the most dramatic and powerful productions in the history of television. Over the last three decades the actor has starred in six of the most acclaimed mini-series: “Shogun,” “The Thorn Birds,” “Wallenberg,” “Centennial,” “Dream West,” and “The Bourne Identity.”

“Shogun,” based on the James Clavell best-seller, earned Chamberlain a Golden Globe Award as Best Actor, as well as an Emmy nomination. The actor received another Golden Globe Award, Emmy nomination, and a People’s Choice Award for his work as ‘Father Ralph’ in the Australian-set forbidden love story “The Thorn Birds.”

Born in Los Angeles, Chamberlain first wanted to become an artist but switched gears when he scored successfully in theatrical productions at Pomona College. After this, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he gained his sergeant’s stripes in Korea.

Returning to Los Angeles, Chamberlain furthered his acting ambitions. He was featured in a dozen American television programs in minor roles until he landed the lead in the TV series “Dr. Kildare,” which made him a household name, virtually overnight. He played the popular physician for five years, and at the height of his fame was receiving over 12,000 fan letters a week, far more than even Clark Gable ever received.

After “Dr. Kildare” ended, Chamberlain decided to try his luck in England with British repertory theatres and made a name for himself as a classical stage actor. He became the first American actor to play Hamlet on stage in England since the great John Barrymore in 1929. Chamberlain repeated his original stage triumph in a subsequent TV production of “Hamlet” for Hallmark Hall of Fame, co-starring Sir John Gielgud and Michael Redgrave. His other stage credits include Richard II, Cyrano de Bergerac and Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit.

While in England, director James Cellan Jones thought the California-born actor right for the role of “Ralph Touchett” in the six-part BBC TV serial adaptation of Henry James’ “Portrait of a Lady.” Chamberlain’s numerous mini-series and movies for television also include portraying King Edward VIII, with Faye Dunaway as Wallis Simpson, in “The Woman I Love;” “F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Last of the Belles,” playing opposite Blythe Danner and Susan Sarandon; the remake of the Dumas’ classic “The Count of Monte Cristo,” for which he received an Emmy nomination; “The Man in the Iron Mask;” the epic mini-series “Centennial;” and “Dream West.”

Chamberlain’s more than 20 feature films include Richard Lester’s PETULIA as Julie Christie’s brutal husband, THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT opposite Katharine Hepburn, JULIUS CAESAR as the cunning Octavius, and Ken Russell’s THE MUSIC LOVERS playing the tormented Russian composer Tchaikovsky. In 1973, he starred in the swashbuckling extravaganza based on Dumas’ classic THE THREE MUSKETEERS. Chamberlain reprised his role as the womanizing, priestly musketeer Aramis in the films’ two sequels, THE FOUR MUSKETEERS and THE RETURN OF THE MUSKETEERS, which reunited him with Michael York and Oliver Reed. In the box office blockbuster THE TOWERING INFERNO, he was part of an all-star cast headed by Paul Newman and Steve McQueen, playing William Holden’s villainous son-in-law. It was followed by raves for his performance in Peter Weir’s fascinating Australian feature THE LAST WAVE. He later spent a year in Zimbabwe filming KING SOLOMON’S MINES and the sequel ALLAN QUATERMAIN AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD, both with Sharon Stone.

In the mid-nineties, “the King of the Mini-Series” filmed the sequel to the acclaimed “Thorn Birds” called “The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years.” In another multi-parter entitled “Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke,” with Lauren Bacall, he plays the infamous butler who was purported to have hastened the billionairess’ death. And last year, Chamberlain co-starred in The Hallmark Channel’s “Blackbeard,” featuring his “Thorn Birds” co-star Rachel Ward. He most recently appeared in the feature film comedy I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James.

Aside from acting, Chamberlain has long been known for his interest in environmental affairs. He lobbied long and hard in Sacramento, California, as well as Washington D.C., to save the Tuolomne River flowing from Yosemite National Park in California. He also narrated a widely acclaimed Audubon TV special about the poaching of animals in National forests, as well as a special about Hawaii’s precious ecology and the film “The Grand Canyon, Its History, and Fragile Ecology.”

His most recent adventures away from acting have been his first public art show in Lahaina, Maui and the publication of his autobiography Shattered Love in 2003.

PATRICK BERGIN (Papa Boss)

The son of a theatre owner and younger brother of an actor, Bergin was born and raised in Dublin. He worked in the theatre throughout his school years and at age seventeen, moved to London and created an experimental theatre group, Mum’s Underground, serving as director, producer and actor. Patrick also worked in the National Central Library and educated himself by night. At age 21, Bergin was accepted to the North London Polytechnic, graduating with a degree in Education. He soon discovered that he disliked traditional teaching and turned to alternative education in his desire to help habitual truants. He pioneered a program that is still used today for children who refuse to attend school.

In 1980, he decided to pursue his love for the arts full-time. Soon after, he began appearing in repertory theatre and in the English television film “Those Glory, Glory Days.” He made his film debut in THE COURIER, starring Gabriel Byrne about drug-running in Dublin. He then landed a featured role in the Irish drama TAFFIN starring Pierce Brosnan.

His first major screen role came as the charismatic English explorer Sir Richard Burton in Bob Rafelson’s MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON. Bergin soon co-starred with Julia Roberts, playing her obsessive husband in the thriller SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY, followed by the title role opposite Uma Thurman in John Irvin’s ROBIN HOOD, Phillip Noyce’s PATRIOT GAMES with Harrison Ford, MAP OF THE HUMAN HEART, LOVE CRIMES, HIGHWAY TO HELL, LAWNMOWER MAN 2, and TREASURE ISLAND with Jack Palance.

Bergin’s other film credits include ONE MAN’S HERO with Tom Berenger, which tells the story of the Saint Patrick’s Battalion’s struggle during the Mexican-American War, THE LOST WORLD, based on the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, EYE OF THE BEHOLDER with Ewan McGregor and Ashley Judd, MERLIN: THE RETURN, the title role in “St. Patrick” for the Fox Channel, WHEN THE SKY FALLS opposite Joan Allen, INVISIBLE CIRCUS with Cameron Diaz, “Jewel,” a CBS TV Movie with Farrah Fawcett, and ELLA ENCHANTED. In recent years Patrick has played the guest lead in the TV series “Smallville,” and the Hallmark mini-series “Icon” opposite Patrick Swayze and Michael York. His upcoming films include GALLOWWALKER, opposite Wesley Snipes, shot in Namibia.

When he is not working, Bergin divides his time between Dublin, Ireland, Brighton, England and Los Angeles, California. He has produced SOME OTHER PLACE – a trilogy of films adapted from three poems by W.B. Yeats – The Cat & the Moon, Calvary and The Countess Cathleen – all directed by his wife Paula Fraser-Bergin.

A veteran of more than 30 stage productions, Fitzpatrick has worked in all the main theatres from The Abbey and The Gate in Dublin to The Opera House in Cork, Ireland. She was nominated for an Irish Times Theatre award in 2000. As well as numerous short films, she has appeared in “Father Ted,” “The Clinic,” “Pure Mule” and many other TV productions. Of the six feature films she has been in, Bruce Beresford’s EVELYN starring Pierce Brosnan, and HOW HARRY BECAME A TREE with Colm Meaney and Cillian Murphy, were amongst them. Gail was nominated for an Irish Film and Television Academy Award for her role, as Mammy in STRENGTH AND HONOUR.

Rawley is a native of Cork, Ireland. At the age of 16, he played the role of “Foxy” in his film debut DISCO PIGS, getting the opportunity to work alongside Cillian Murphy and Elaine Cassidy. Michael later joined the drama group Boomerang, expanding his interest in acting. It spurred him on to numerous plays such as Deeply Regretted and a couple of short films including DIRT and JANE BY THE SEA by Anspach Solveig. He was featured in the RTE TV series "Pure Mule" and "Stardust" and also worked on the ongoing soap "Fair City."

A native of Dublin, Furey had a love of music from an early age. In the 60’s, Finbar and his brother Eddie toured the folk clubs and universities throughout the U.K. and Europe. ‘The Fureys’ became folk legends across the continent and introduced a whole new generation to Irish folk music, playing to thousands of people across Europe, particularly in Germany. In 1993, Finbar decided to go solo and has since gone on to explore new pastures with phenomenal success as a singer, producer, writer and actor. He previously appeared in Martin Scorsese’s GANGS OF NEW YORK.

A native of Cork City, Ireland, Mahon started out at a young age as a singer/songwriter and wrote over forty songs, several of which were recorded. At the age of eighteen, he trained to be an actor. During this time, he successfully completed his L.A.M.D.A (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) acting examinations with distinction.

At the age of 22, Mark was severely injured in an accident and had to spend several months in hospital recovering. Confined to a wheelchair for three years, he turned his love of acting and his passion for the industry to writing feature films to stay involved in his chosen career. Left with a permanent disability, he has completed five scripts and one novel.

In 2005, he won the 'Best Screenplay Unproduced' Award at the International Action on Film Ceremony in Los Angeles for FREEDOM WITHIN THE HEART, which was launched in conjunction with Atlantis Studios in late 2007, as a four edition, full colour comic book series. Later the same year, he set up his production company ‘Maron Pictures,’ which now has offices in Ireland and Los Angeles.

Always wanting to direct and not being able to find a director who shared his vision, Mark decided that he would helm his first project himself. So in early 2006, he went to London and received his Director's Diploma from the Raindance Organization. Then, Mark directed his first feature STRENGTH AND HONOUR.

In 2007, he made the cover of the April edition of ‘Hollywood Scriptwriter’ and was recently honoured by the Action on Film Awards by having ‘The Mark Mahon Award of Excellence in Writing’ named after him. Now 35, his first feature has taken over nineteen wins, twenty nominations and official selections, including an Irish Film and Television Academy Award nomination. A member of the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland and the Irish Film and Television Academy, Mark is now planning on shooting his next project, FREEDOM WITHIN THE HEART in 2009.

Kelleher is a Law Graduate from University College Cork and qualified as a solicitor in 1977. He is the founding partner of the firm, Comyn, Kelleher, Tobin, one of the most prestigious law firms in Cork City. He specializes in litigation, sports and entertainment law.

He has represented many famous sportsmen over the years, the most notable of whom is probably Roy Keane, former Manchester United Captain and now manager of Sunderland F.C.  He acts as solicitor to Cork City Football Club and Munster Rugby. An accomplished sportsman himself he has represented Munster in both Rugby and Cricket.  He is also the Rugby Analyst for Cork Radio. 

Central to raising necessary finance for the making of STRENGTH AND HONOUR, Kelleher is also a partner, lawyer and negotiator for Maron Pictures.

After growing up in both India and Africa, Almond is now based in London. As a young boy he wanted to be an actor. He studied photography at the Nottingham College of Art, acquiring skills that later became the foundations on which he has built a successful career as a D.P. Alan has been involved in many feature films including BROTHERS IN TROUBLE and MY SON THE FANATIC, both directed by Udayan Prasad. He has worked extensively in television drama. Among his many credits are “The Taming of the Shrew,” “Jericho,” “Miss Marple,” and “Foyle’s War.” He recently completed “A Room with a View,” a film for ITV, starring Timothy Spall and Sinead Cusack. Alan is a member of the British Society of Cinematographers.

Educated in Manchester, Wood began her career as a furniture designer for leading furniture chain Habitat. After winning a designing award for her work, Ele then toured India. Following this, she joined a visual theatre group called Horse and Bamboo, which toured the West and North of Ireland. During this time, Eleanor fell in love with Ireland. She then started designing for television and feature films, which has given her a fifteen year career. In 2005, Eleanor picked up an Irish Film and Television Academy award for her production design work on the feature film SHORT ORDER. More recently, she was Production Designer of BOTCHED, which was a cult hit at the German Fantasy Film Festival.

Coggins grew up in Oxford and attended Cambridge University where she read English Literature, ran the Film Society and directed several plays. On finishing her degree, she first gained an internship at the Royal Court Theatre, and then moved on to working in a casting studio, filming screen tests for films such as ALIEN VS. PREDATOR, STAGE BEAUTY and Roman Polanski's OLIVER TWIST. While there she also began cutting show reels and promos, which sparked her love of editing. Her previous work includes I COULD NEVER BE YOUR WOMAN, a romantic comedy starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Paul Rudd, directed by Amy Heckerling. Her credits, as an assistant are the British TV movies "Friends and Crocodiles" and "Gideon's Daughter" which won two Golden Globes for Bill Nighy and Emily Blunt, directed by Stephen Poliakoff, and LAND OF THE BLIND by Bob Edwards starring Ralph Fiennes and Donald Sutherland.

The British composer lives and works in London. He recently composed the score for STARDUST, Matthew Vaughn’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel, starring Claire Danes, Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer. His relationship with Vaughn began when he composed the score for the box office hit LAYER CAKE, starring Daniel Craig. For this score, he was nominated in the category of “Discovery of the Year” at the World Soundtrack Awards.

Other recent feature film scores include HANNIBAL RISING, the Hannibal Lecter prequel, STRAIGHTHEADS starring Gillian Anderson, and VIRGIN TERRITORY, a romantic comedy starring Hayden Christensen, Mischa Barton and Tim Roth.

Ilan has also worked with various songwriters and is currently working on string arrangements with Annie Lennox for her broadcast special and forthcoming tour. He has also written string arrangements for Badly Drawn Boy’s songs in Nancy Meyers' SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE and co-wrote a song with Take That for STARDUST. Ilan has been on tour supporting David Gilmour and more recently programmed and arranged strings on Gilmour’s hit solo album “On An Island.”