Alumni News

Henry Winkler was recently named an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE). He was awarded the honor from the Queen (via British Ambassador Nigel Sheinwald) in recognition of his services to children with dyslexia and special educational needs. According to the British Embassy in Washington, he’s spent much of the last two years touring the U.K. to educate about dyslexia and other learning difficulties. Winkler, who was diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult, is also the author of 17 children’s books centered on Hank Zipzer, a boy with dyslexia who overcomes his struggles at school and with bullies.

Stephan Bosch recently co-starred a film in Mexico titled "Juventud." The film will be shown at "Cineteca Nacional," the most important Mexican cinema center, during the month of September 2011. The film is directed by Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, a well-known Mexican director.

Charlene Amoia was recently cast as Guest Star (Top of Show) in the Bones spinoff The Finder.

Rene Heger stars in the thriller The Humdrummer, which recently screened at The Supperclub in Hollywood. Visit www.thehumdrummer.com to view the trailer or for more information.

Carly Craig is currently in Atlanta shooting The Farrelly Brother's The Three Stooges. She also just wrapped an indie film called Live at the Foxes Den, Carly can also be seen in Hall Pass. Last year she did a short that went on to win some festivals called Starsucker. Carly is also featured in the April 2011 issue of Vanity Fair as an Actress to Watch in its "Vanities" opener. She did a four page spread in the March 2011 issue of Maxim titled "There's Something About Carly" and made this year's Maxim Hot 100 list. Also, she did an article and pictorial in Zinc magazine and San Diego Magazine.

Angela Oakenfold just booked a supporting role in a psycho drama called Men In A Box playing opposite Kurtwood Smith. She is currently shooting a sci fi thriller called Paradigm Shift. During 2011, she also shot her first lead role in a romantic comedy called The Extra, opposite Tyrone Power Jr., played Emily Dickinson in Tim McNeil’s film Emily (which will be submitted to Sundance amongst other film festivals).

Charlene Amoia was just cast in Universal Studios American Reunion. She will play Kevin's (Thomas Ian Nicholas) wife "Ellie" in the movie. She also worked on a Christmas movie for Hallmark with Melissa Gilbert and guest stars on Glee, Shameless, NCIS LA, iCarly, Mad Love, House MD and Castle.

Student Alonda Benitez recently co-starred in a webseries titled "El Porvenir." She can be seen in the second episode. This is the first horror web series in Mexico.

Brannon Bates just finished starring/directing in a feature film Payback Jack. It has been submitted to several festivals including Sundance.

Eddy Salazar founded Welcome Home Productions and has produced two full-length feature films in less than one year: The Extra starring Tyrone Power Jr., John Saxon and Stella Adler student Angela Oakenfold, and Mansion of Blood starring Gary Busey, Robert Picardo, Stella Adler students Terry Moore, Patrick Koffel, and Salazar himself. Both films are slated to come out in 2011. Eddy begins pre-production on the psychological thriller The Insomniac later this year.

Gary Ross is currently directing, The Hunger. He also wrote the screenplay for this highly anticipated film.

Alumna Constance Zimmer can be seen on a variety of tv shows. She is a series regular on the hit HBO show, Entourage, and will be starring in a new series airing Summer 2011 called Love Bites.

Kataki, the two-man play made possible by Stella Adler-Los Angeles Alumni and Faculty has won three awards at the 32nd Annual LA WEEKLY Theatre Awards. Congratulations to Louis Roth from Stella Adler LA for winning 'Best Fight Choreography.' Congratulations to Potch Boyd, Stella Adler-Los Angeles Alumnus, for winning 'Best Set Design.' Congratulations to our late director Peter Haskell, we could not have made this possible without him, for winning 'Best Director.' And congratulations to the Prince Livingston Players - made up of Yas Takahashi and Fernando Aldaz for starring in and producing Kataki.

Alumnus and faculty member, Bruce Katzman, was recently featured as "Mr. Big Bad Airlines" in a series of Southwest Airlines commericals. In addition, he can be seen in current episodes of Justified and Castle.

Mark Ruffalo received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nomination for his performance in The Kids Are All Right. The awards ceremony will take place on February 27, 2011.

Alumna Bonnie McNeil has been nominated for Lead Performance by the LA Drama Critics Circle for her performance as Mabel Davies in SuperNova. The award ceremony will take place on March 14, 2011.

Sky Moran has just finished filming a feature film in England called Zero. It is produced by Nicolas Roeg and directed by David Barrouk. The film is due to be released later in 2011.

Action on Film International Film Festival 2010. Tim McNeil, alumnus and Stella Adler-Los Angeles instructor received the Best Actor Award for the film Small Days; the film also received the Best Produced Screenplay award. Written by Tim McNeil and directed by alumnus Stan Harrington. Produced by Stan Harrington, Tim McNeil, Junie Hilderbrandt, Richard Moon and Brian Graham. The film was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor and Best Director.

Teacher/alumna Laura Leyva recently appeared on ABC's Modern Family. She can also be seen soon in a SAG feature, The Sound of My Voice, and three commercials: McDonalds, Home Depot (Spanish), and DeVry University (currently running).

Student Michael Spady has a lead role in the feature, Hamill which was accepted into the AFI Film Festival. It will premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

The film, Fort McCoy, featuring alumnus Rene Heger was screened at the 2010 Hollywood Film Festival and won Best Picture. It was also an official selection at the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis and the FLIFF 2010 - 2010 Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.

Alumnus and Board Member Ken Martin is currently Co-Producer and Executive Story Editor on the television series, The Closer, featuring Kyra Sedgwick.

Charlene Amoia recently appeared in an episode of House. She also booked a national Eureka vacuum commercial.

Val Jobara can currently be seen in the Lionsgate feature film Kick-Ass.

Student Michael Spady on the set of Sympathy for Delicious. Michael also recently finished shooting the feature film, Hamill.

Brenda Vivian was recently featured on an episode of Cougar Town. She has also appeared on The Bold & the Beautiful and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.

Matt Sauter recently appeared in Our Family Wedding produced by Fox Searchlight.

Student Carly Craig with Seann William Scott on the set of Role Models, a Universal Pictures comedy.

Rene Heger and Eric Stoltz, on-set of the movie Fort McCoy, currently in post-production.

Student Charlene Amoia's credits include How I Met Your Mother, Nip/Tuck, Dexter, and 90210. She currently has a recurring role on Days of Our Lives.