Production notes

From 1996 to 2006, RAY ROMANO (Manny) starred in Everybody Loves Raymond, one of the most respected sitcoms in television history, and won an Emmy® for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2002. As one of the show’s executive producers, he also received two additional Emmys in 2003 and 2005 for Outstanding Comedy Series, and shared a 2003 Screen Actors Guild Award® with the show’s cast.

Romano began his career in 1984 as a stand-up comedian in New York, which led to performances at comedy clubs across the country and appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and later, Jay Leno. After appearing on Late Night with David Letterman, Romano was offered a development deal with Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants, which led to the creation of Everybody Loves Raymond for CBS.

Romano made his film debut in 2003 as the voice of Manny the wooly mammoth in 20th Century Fox’s animated hit, Ice Age, and reprised the role in four sequels. Other films include Welcome to Mooseport (with Gene Hackman), and Rob the Mob (with Andy Garcia). He was also the subject of 95 Miles to Go, a 2006 documentary about his life on tour.

In 1998, Romano wrote the New York Times best-selling book, Everything and a Kite, and with his brothers, Richard and Robert, wrote the children’s book Raymie, Dickie, and The Bean: Why I Love and Hate My Brothers, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Album in 2006. His comedy album, Live at Carnegie Hall, was also nominated for a Grammy in 2002.

In 2009, Romano teamed with Mike Royce to create and star in Men of a Certain Age opposite Scott Bakula and Andre Braugher. The TNT comedy-drama series ran for two seasons and won the Peabody Award in 2011. Romano played photographer Hank Rizzoli for three seasons on NBC’s Parenthood.

Currently, he stars with Bobby Cannavale and Olivia Wilde in the 2016 HBO drama series Vinyl, created by Terence Winter (Boardwalk Empire) with executive producers Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger.

Romano resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Anna, and their four children.

Leguizamo was most recently seen in his one-man show, Latin History for Morons at the La Jolla Playhouse, where he delivered his take on 500 years of Latin History spanning the Aztec and Incan Empires to World War II. Latin History for Morons will come to New York for the 2016-17 season at The Public Theater. He will also be seen in the second season of Bloodline releasing on Netflix on May 27^th, Infiltrator, opposite Bryan Cranston and Diane Kruger set to release on August 31, 2016, and A Conspiracy on Jekyll Island with AnnaSophia Robb, Dianna Agron and Ed Westwick.

In 2015, Leguizamo released his novel, Ghetto Klown, the graphic novel adaptation of his award-winning one-man Broadway show. He was also seen in Get Squirrely with Victoria Justice, and Taxi 22.

In 2014, Leguizamo completed production on Universal Pictures’ Sisters, which released on December 18, 2015, opposite Tina Fey and Amy Poehler; the Lionsgate action comedy, American Ultra, with Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart which released on August 21, 2015; Atlas Independent’s The Man on Carrion Road, opposite Patrick Wilson and Jim Belushi; 11:55 Holyoke opposite Victor Almanzar; and in Meadowland alongside Olivia Wilde, which was released on April 17, 2015 at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Leguizamo starred in Fugly, opposite Rosie Perez and Rhada Mitchell, which he also wrote and produced.  The film follows Leguizamo’s character, a New York comedian, whose near death experience forces him to make difficult life choices.  Leguizamo also appeared alongside writer/director Jon Favreau in the Open Road feature, Chef, in Universal Pictures’ breakout comedy hit Ride Along, opposite Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, and in the Lionsgate feature, John Wick, with Keanu Reeves.

In March of 2015, Leguizamo debuted his fifth HBO solo special, Ghetto Klown, an adaptation of his Drama Desk Award-winning one-man stage show of the same name.  Leguizamo performed Ghetto Klown for New York’s Central Park’s Summerstage 2014 in July.  Tales from a Ghetto Klown, which featured a behind-the-scenes look at the production, also aired on PBS as a part of its Summer Arts Festival.

  In 2013, Leguizamo completed production on Stealing Cars, starring William H. Macy and starred in Cymbeline, a modern-day take on William Shakespeare’s play.  The film premiered at this year’s Venice Film Festival. 

In 2011, Leguizamo returned to Broadway with his new solo play, Ghetto Klown, the next chapter in his hugely popular personal and professional story. Directed by Academy Award winner Fisher Stevens, Ghetto Klown follows in the unabashed, uncensored, and uninhibited tradition of Leguizamo’s Mambo Mouth, Spic-O-Rama, Freak, and Sexaholix… a Love Story. 

  Other film credits include Walking with Dinosaurs, The Counselor, Kick Ass 2, Love in the Vanishing on 7^th Street, The Lincoln Lawyer, the Ice Age franchise, Love in Time of Cholera, The Happening, Righteous Kill, The Babysitters, The Take and Where God Left His Shoes.  In addition, Leguizamo has led his talents to a slew of other films, including Miracle at St. Anna, Land of the Dead, Assault on Precinct 13, Sueno, Spun, Summer of Sam, King of the Jungle, Spawn, William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet, Dr. Doolittle, Carlito's Way, and Casualties of War.

For his performance as a sensitive drag queen in Too Wong Foo: Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar, Leguizamo garnered a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.  Leguizamo also picked up ALMA Award nominations for his roles in Moulin Rouge (Best Supporting Actor) and King of the Jungle (Best Lead Actor).  He was the recipient of the 2002 ALMA Award for Entertainer of the Year.

  In the summer of 2007, Leguizamo returned to television in Spike TV's limited series The Kill Point, in which he played the leader of a gang of bank robbers who had recently returned from serving in Iraq. 

Additionally, Leguizamo appeared as a guest star in twelve episodes of NBC's cornerstone drama ER during the 2005/2006 season, and in 2006 did a guest star arc on the NBC hit My Name is Earl.

  In 1991, Leguizamo created an off-Broadway sensation as the writer and performer of his one-man show Mambo Mouth, in which he portrayed seven different characters. He received Obie, Outer Critics Circle and Vanguardia awards for his performance. 

  Leguizamo's second one-man show, Spic-O-Rama, had an extended sold-out run in Chicago at the Goodman and Briar Street theaters before opening in New York.  The play received numerous accolades including the Dramatists' Guild Hull-Warriner Award for Best American Play and the Lucille Lortel Outstanding Achievement Award for Best Broadway Performance.  Leguizamo received the Theatre World Award for Outstanding New Talent, as well as a Drama Desk Award for Best Solo Performance.  Spic-O-Rama aired on HBO, receiving four CableACE Awards.

  Freak, Leguizamo's third one-man show, ended a successful run on Broadway in 1998. Billed as a “Semi-Demi-Quasi-Pseudo Autobiography," Freak was described as “scathingly funny" (The New York Times).  Along with the Tony Award nominations for Best Play and Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, Leguizamo won the Drama Desk and the Outer Critic's Circle Awards for Outstanding Solo Performance.  A special presentation of Freak, directed by Spike Lee, aired on HBO and earned Leguizamo the Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program as well as a nomination for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special.

  In fall of 2001, Leguizamo returned to Broadway with Sexaholix...a Love Story.  Directed by Peter Askin, the play is based on the sold-out national tour, John Leguizamo Live!  Leguizamo was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Solo Performance and the show received a Tony nomination for Best Special Theatrical Performance.  Sexaholix aired as an HBO Special in Spring 2002 and also toured the country.  Additional stage credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream and La Puta Vida at the New York Shakespeare Festival and Parting Gestures at INTAR.
 

Leguizamo is also an accomplished author.  His autobiography Pimps, Hos, Playa Hatas, and All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends, was released by Harper Collins in October 2006.  The New York Times called the book "brutally funny," while USA Today coined Leguizamo as "one of the most exciting talents to come along in some time."

Leguizamo currently resides in New York City with his wife and two children. 

Leary has previously lost four times for Best Actor in a Drama and once for Best Writing in a Drama, these Emmy nominations emanating from his work on FX’s critically acclaimed Rescue Me. He was also nominated for a Best Actor Golden Globe® by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the drama, which follows New York City firefighters.

Once again, he lost.

Leary hopes to one day get nominated for—and more than likely not win—an Oscar, Grammy and Tony Award®.

In his long and storied entertainment career, Leary has also never won the Stanley Cup, the Nobel Peace Prize or an argument with his wife.
QUEEN LATIFAH (Ellie) is a musician, television and film actress, a label president, an author and entrepreneur. Blessed with style and substance, Latifah has blossomed into a one-woman entertainment conglomerate. Heralded by the press and the industry as a force to be reckoned with, Latifah has quite simply done it all and shows no sign of slowing down.

Latifah has had amazing success in Hollywood in recent years, and on January 4, 2006, she became the first hip hop artist to be crowned with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Latifah received rave reviews, an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe nomination and a SAG Award™ nomination for her portrayal as Mama Morton in Miramax’s Chicago.  Following Chicago, Latifah starred in Disney’s box office hit Bringing Down the House, on which she also served as executive producer.

In the TV movie and true-life drama Life Support, Latifah was both the star and executive producer. She plays a mother who overcomes an addiction to crack and becomes a positive role model and an AIDS activist in the black community. Latifah received rave reviews as well as an Emmy nomination, a Golden Globe win and a SAG Award win.

She starred in Neil Meron and Craig Zadan’s Hairspray, playing Motormouth Maybelle and was also seen in the film Mad Money playing opposite Diane Keaton and Katie Holmes.

In Fox Searchlight Pictures’ The Secret Life of Bees, Latifah starred alongside Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Dakota Fannning. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Secret Life of Bees won the Hollywood Film Award at the Hollywood Film Festival and a People's Choice Award for Favorite Independent Movie in 2009. 

Latifah starred in the romantic comedy Just Wright, which she produced as well.  She starred alongside Vince Vaughn and Kevin James in The Dilemma directed by Ron Howard. In 2012, Latifah starred in and produced Warner Bros.’ Joyful Noise alongside Dolly Parton.  Later that same year, Latifah starred in Lifetime’s adaptation of Steel Magnolias, on which she was also an executive producer. 

Latifah was seen in Wayne Wang’s The Last Holiday, and starred in MGM’s Beauty Shop (a spin-off of the hit Barbershop), which she also produced.  She also appeared in Marc Forster’s Stranger Than Fiction, playing opposite Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman and was the voice of the wooly mammoth, Ellie, in Ice Age: The Meltdown.  In July 2012, she reprised her role as the voice of Ellie in Ice Age: Continental Drift.

To most people, releasing multiple movies would be enough, but Latifah wasn’t satisfied.  On September 25^th, 2007 Latifah released her album titled Trav’lin Light, for which she was nominated for a Grammy. Co-produced by three time Grammy winner Tommy LiPuma, the album was the long awaited follow up to Latifah’s highly received and Grammy nominated The Dana Owens Album. The platinum-selling album was a collection of timeless classics chosen and covered by the Queen herself. 

As Latifah demonstrated both in Living Out Loud (1998) and her Oscar-nominated performance in Chicago (2002), her vocal talent is as impressive as her acting. In August 2009 her album Persona was released. Executive produced by Cool and Dre, Persona brings together the two worlds of Hip Hop and Pop, creating a new sound for the Queen.

Latifah is also one of music’s most well respected rappers. From her groundbreaking 1989 debut All Hail the Queen, which set the visual and contextual standard for female rappers, to her bold foray into R&B, Latifah continues to define what a woman in the music industry should be.  She has earned six Grammy nominations as well as a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rap Performance in 1994. In 2004, she was nominated for Best Female Rap Solo Performance for Go Head.  In 2005, Latifah was nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album for The Dana Owens Album and in 2008 she was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Trav’lin Light.

And then there’s Flavor Unit Entertainment, a production company owned and operated by Queen Latifah and her partner Shakim Compere.   The company, which started in New Jersey and is now based in Miami, is quickly establishing itself as one of the most important production companies in the film industry.

They began by executive producing Disney’s box office # 1 hit Bringing Down the House and then continued with Beauty Shop for MGM and The Perfect Holiday for Paramount. Flavor Unit has also produced The Cookout with Lionsgate, as well as the film Just Wright with Fox Searchlight Pictures. On the small screen, it executive produced HBO’s critically acclaimed film Life Support, which garnered a number of awards, including an Emmy nomination and Golden Globe win for Latifah.

Flavor Unit Entertainment made a multi-year deal with BET to create new original programming, including the original movie The Cookout 2 and its first-ever scripted romantic comedy titled Let’s Stay Together, which premiered with 4.4 million viewers. In 2011, its original film Single Ladies was expanded into VH1’s first hour-long scripted series, with approximately three million viewers throughout its two season run. 

Flavor Unit produced Latifah’s film Joyful Noise and Lifetime’s original movie Steel Magnolias, starring Latifah, Phylicia Rashad, Jill Scott and Alfre Woodard. The movie premiered in October 2012 as the third most-watched telecast ever on the network, averaging 6.5 million total viewers.  Flavor Unit recently struck a multi-year licensing deal with Netflix.  Their first release includes the thriller House of Bodies, which stars Terrence Howard and Peter Fonda.  

Latifah’s first television series, Living Single, was a huge success and is currently in syndication.

Since her screen debut in Spike Lee’s 1991 film Jungle Fever, Latifah’s film career has taken off. She starred in Set it Off, which earned her a nomination for a Spirit Award in the Best Actress category. Latifah starred with Holly Hunter and Danny DeVito in the critically acclaimed Living Out Loud. In 1999, she was seen in Universal’s The Bone Collector, directed by Philip Noyce, starring Denzel Washington.

In May 2015, Latifah earned an Emmy Award nomination, Golden Globe Award nomination, and a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for her role in Bessie, an HBO biopic recounting the life of singer Bessie Smith, who was also known as "The Empress of the Blues."

In addition to music, film and television, Latifah has also written a book on self-esteem entitled Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman. Her second book, Put on Your Crown: Life Lessons from the Queen, was released in May 2010.

In September 2013, Latifah became the host of her own talk show, which she produced with partner Shakim Compere and Overbrook Entertainment’s Will Smith, Jada Smith and James Lassiter. In September 2014, The Queen Latifah Show premiered for its second and final season.

Most recently, Latifah starred in Sony’s faith-based drama Miracles from Heaven opposite Jennifer Garner, and she is currently filming Lee Daniels’ untitled music pilot in Atlanta.

Latifah also recently took to the stage and small screen performing as the title character in NBC’s The Wiz Live! alongside Uzo Adubo, Mary J. Blige, Ne-Yo, Common and David Alan Grier.

Flavor Unit recently produced The Real MVP: The Wanda Pratt Story, a Lifetime original movie that premiered in May; The Best Place to Be, which will follow A-List celebrities as they take viewers on an all-access trip to their favorite cities around the world; and Curvy Style with Timothy Snell, a docuseries that follows one of Hollywood’s hottest celebrity stylists, Timothy Snell, as he works with celebrity clients and everyday women. Flavor Unit also recently produced The Perfect Match starring Terrence Jenkins and Paula Patton.

Latifah is diligent in her pursuit of excellence, as is evident by the awards she has received for her work in film and music. Her sincere concern for others is revealed by the generous amount of time and money she donates to worthwhile charitable organizations. Latifah serves as co-chairman for the Lancelot H. Owens Scholarship Foundation, Inc. Established by her mother, Rita Owens, to perpetuate the memory of a loving son and brother, the foundations provides scholarships to students who excel scholastically, but are limited in financial resources.

In January 2016 Shades of Blue, starring Lopez, premiered on NBC to rave reviews and strong ratings, with a season two already planned for 2017.   That same month, Lopez premiered her one of a kind Las Vegas show entitled, “All I Have,” at the AXIS Theater in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.  Lopez also served as a judge alongside Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. on the fifteenth and final season of Fox’s American Idol, which made its final bow in April 2016.

Lopez made her feature film debut in the highly acclaimed Mi Familia, which garnered her an Independent Spirit Award nomination.   She followed that performance with her portrayal of the Latin music sensation Selena, which earned Lopez widespread acclaim, including a Golden Globe nomination and an ALMA Award.  

Lopez has had five films open at #1, including Maid in Manhattan, Monster in Law, Anaconda, The Cell and Antz.  Her recent film The Boy Next Door, which Lopez starred in and produced, was her highest January grossing film and second highest box office opening of her career.  Lopez starred alongside Rihanna and Jim Parsons in 20^th Century Fox and DreamWorks Animation’s Home, which opened at number one at the box office and featured Lopez’s song “Feel the Light” on its soundtrack.

Since Lopez’s first album On the 6 debuted in 1999, she has been transforming the global music scene and has sold over 75 million records worldwide.  Lopez has had 16 top 10 hit songs and three #1 albums.  Her music achievements include winning three AMAs, three ASCAP Pop Music Awards, eight Billboard Latin Music Awards, two VMAs, and being the first woman to receive the lifetime achievement Icon Award at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards for outstanding contribution to pop music.  Lopez is also a two-time Grammy nominee. 

In 2001 Lopez made history by being the first female artist to have a #1 movie and #1 album simultaneously.  The Wedding Planner was the nation’s top grossing film, while her second album J.Lo was #1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart.  

In 2013, Lopez received the honor of having a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, won Favorite Actress and the World Icon Award at the Premios Juventud Awards, was honored at the amfAR Inspiration Gala, and received the March of Dimes’ Grace Kelly Award for her charitable work.  In 2014 Lopez received GLAAD’s Vanguard Award and was honored at Variety’s Power of Women event for her philanthropic efforts. 

Nuyorican Productions is Lopez’s motion picture and television production company, which has produced The Boy Next Door, HBO’s Dance Again, and TNT’s recent special, Neighborhood Sessions with Jennifer Lopez, in addition to Shades of Blue. 

Devine was seen in Nancy Meyers’ The Intern opposite Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro, where he played the head of the interns in the Warner Bros’ comedy about a 70-year-old widower (De Niro) who enters an intern program. Devine starred in Sony’s Final Girls opposite Nina Dobrev and Thomas Middleditch. Additionally, Devine stars opposite Zac Efron in 20^th Century Fox’s Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, a comedy based on the true story of brothers who attempted to find a wedding date by placing an ad on Craiglist.

Devine starred in the Universal comedy Pitch Perfect, which follows the competitive world of collegiate a cappella and also stars Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, and Rebel Wilson. He can also be seen in his scene-stealing recurring guest star role as a nanny in ABC’s Modern Family.

Devine’s sketch comedy group, Mail Order Comedy, has headlined sold-out comedy shows all over the nation. Devine acts, writes and produces all of Mail Order Comedy’s material, including Workaholics.

Devine performed in the “New Faces” show at the Montreal Comedy Festival, shortly after which he was cast opposite Jon Heder and Diane Keaton in the Warner Bros’ movie Mamma’s Boy. He appeared on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham and on TBS’ Frank TV and ABC’s Better Off Ted. Devine was a recurring guest star on ABC’s Samantha Who?