Q. How old is Christina Applegate of "Married . . . with Children"? My boyfriend and his pal will buy me dinner if she's over 18. - T.C., Philadelphia.
A. Eat hearty. Applegate was 20 last Nov. 25.Q. My friend and I are big fans of "Seinfeld." We particularly enjoy Michael Richards, who plays Kramer. What else has he done? He seems familar. - D.K.T., Glencoe, Ill.
A. Richards' TV series credits include "Fridays" and "Marblehead Manor" and guest roles on many shows both comedy and drama, "Cheers" to "Miami Vice." He's done some features, too, including 1990's "Problem Child" with John Ritter. Richards is a Los Angeles native who got into acting while serving in Germany as part of the Army's program to deal with race relations and drug abuse through theatrical productions. Back in civilian life, he studied acting in college, went into repertory theater and then tried stand-up comedy at Los Angeles' Comedy Store. That led to ABC's "Fridays" comedy show.
Q. Give us some information on talented Matthew Modine. - L.A.P., Austin, Texas.
A. Modine is 31, born in Loma Linda, Calif. He studied acting with Stella Adler, had his first acting break on ABC'S "After School Special," "Amy and the Angel" with Helen Slater. He made his movie debut in "Baby, It's You." He's married.
Q. Who is Harlan on "General Hospital"? His face is so familiar - maybe as a child in some weekly sitcom? - C.M., Detroit.
A. See below.
Q. On "General Hospital," Harlan is played by Michael Cole. Was he on "Mod Squad" years ago or was it another series? - B.K., Tucson, Ariz.
A. Cole was Pete Cochran on "Mod Squad," 1968-73.
Q. What can you tell me about that evil but handsome Faison on "General Hospital"? - K.B., San Antonio, Texas.
A. Anders Hove, who created the role of Faison in March 1990, left, then returned in July 1991. He is from Denmark (and was voted "the sexiest man in Denmark" in a Danish magazine poll), grew up in Greenland, studied acting at the Danish Royal Academy and made his stage debut in a Danish production of "Antigone." He's a major movie star in Denmark but decided to try the United States in 1990 and made his TV debut as Faison. He's single.
Q. Tell me about Chris McKenna, who plays Joey on "One Life to Live." - D.X., Royal Oak, Mich.
A. Chris is 14, a native of Queens, N.Y., but now lives in Connecticut. He's been acting since he was seven when he played Dopey in a Youth Theater Ensemble production of "Snow White." "OLTL" is his network TV debut although he's been seen on HBO and on public TV in Connecticut. He's studied acting, singing and dancing with several teachers and attends high school when not commuting to New York for his soap role.
Q. Who plays Molly on "Days of Our Lives" and where can I write her? - Candace Rempet, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
A. Shannon Sturgis plays Molly. Write her: NBC-TV, 3000A, Alameda Ave., Burbank, CA 91523.
Q. I've become a Mel Gibson fan and would appreciate some information on him: his age, birthdate, where he was born, his real name, married, children, his early movies. - Susan Clark, St. Joseph, Mo.
A. Gibson uses his real name. He was born in Peekskill, N.Y., Jan. 3, 1956, grew up in Australia where his family moved when he was 12. He started acting in Australian theater and movies at 18. His early movies all were made in Australia and included "Tim," The Mad Max movies, and 1981's "Gallipoli," which made him a major star. Later features: "The Bounty," "The Year of Living Dangerously," "Lethal Weapon" and "Lethal Weapon 2," "Bird on a Wire," "Hamlet." He's married to former nurse Robyn Moore and they have 6 children.
Q. Who was the main actor of the miniseries "The Life and Times of Gen. George Patton"? Is there a tape available? - C.J.Y., Westminster, Calif.
A. George C. Scott repeated as Patton in "The Last Days of Patton," the 1986 TV movie (not a miniseries). His earlier stint as the controversial World War II general was in the 1970 Oscar winner "Patton." Scott got an Oscar, too, but turned it down. It's still on a shelf in the Movie Academy offices. Both Patton movies are available on videotape.
Q. I enjoy "Roc," especially Ella Joyce (Eleanor). What other shows has she done? Where can I write? - M.W., Belleville, Mich.
A. Joyce was born in Chicago, grew up in Detroit, studied at Cass Tech High School and Eastern Michigan University. After working as a model and secretary in Detroit, she moved to Los Angeles. She did one movie, "Dance of the Dwarfs," then moved to New York to get a start in theater. She's married to actor Dan Martin. Write Fox Broadcasting, Box 900, Beverly Hills, CA 90213.
Q. Is Lorne Greene of "Bonanza" still living? How old is he? - M.A., Helena, Ga.
A. Greene was 73 when he died in 1988. With the death last year of Michael Landon, only Pernell Roberts of the original stars of "Bonanza" is alive. Don Blocker died in 1972.
Q. My daughters and I are big fans of "The Cosby Show." The little girls' favorite is Olivia. Tell us about her and where we can write? - J., S. & R.M., Tipton, Okla.
A. Raven-Symone, who plays Olivia, was 6 last Dec. 10. She was born in Atlanta and started as a model there. The family moved to New York where she continued modeling. She auditioned for a part in a 1989 Bill Cosby feature "Ghost Dad." She didn't get that role but Cosby hired her for the TV show. She's just starting school. Write: NBC-TV, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112.
Q. Was "Little Ricky," of the "I Love Lucy" show, the real son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz? - J., Detroit.
A. Desi Arnaz Jr. was never on "I Love Lucy" or its successor "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" as Little Ricky, but he did join his mother in her later TV series. Richard Keith played Little Ricky. After the shows ended in 1960, he did a few other TV roles, then returned to his native Louisiana. He has worked as a drummer in rock bands under his real name, Richard Thibodeaux.
Q. What happened to Lori Martin, who played Velvet in the TV show "National Velvet" in the 1960s? How old is she? When and where was she born? Is she married? When did "National Velvet" run? - R.E.B., Franklin, Va.
A. Martin, born Dawn Menzer on April 18, 1947, in Glendale, Calif., got started in commercials at 7 and, at 8, made her dramatic TV bow in "Medic" and has many TV and movie credits. She was the teen-ager in the original 1962 "Cape Fear" with Robert Mitchum. Her last movie was "The Angry Breed" in 1968. She quit her career to attend college, later married. "Velvet" was seen 1960-62.
Q. Where can I write Ted Danson, of "Cheers"? - E.K., Sterling Heights, Mich.
A. Paramount Television, 5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038-3197.
Q. Tell me about Peter Barton, Scott Grainger on "The Young and the Restless." Married? Give an address. - S.M., West Seneca, N.Y.
A. Barton, 33, is from Valley Stream, Long Island, N.Y., and started out as a model. His first TV series was "Shirley" in 1979. His second, "The Powers of Matthew Star" in 1982, ended abruptly when a set accident burned him seriously. He did TV guest roles until he joined "Y & R" in 1988. He's single. Write: CBS-TV, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90038.
Q. I want to buy the video of "The Old Man and the Sea" with Spencer Tracy. I have looked and looked for it. Please, please tell me where to buy it. - O.B., Costa Mesa, Calif.
A. There is no video of the 1958 version of Hemingway's novella. The 1990 TV version that starred Anthony Quinn isn't available either. Keep checking - more films are released every year as legal niceties about rights, etc., are resolved.
Q. I think Gregory Hines is very attractive and he's a fantastic dancer. Is he married and does he have a family? - I.G., Tampa, Fla.
A. Hines, 45, who got his start as part of a song-and-dance team with his father and older brother, Hines, Hines and Dad, gave up dancing for acting for a time, now combines the too in movies like "Cotton Club." He and second wife Pamela have a son and he has a daughter from his first marriage.
Q. Please tell me about the handsome actor who plays Dimitri on "All My Children." - M.F.A., Portland, Ore.
A. He's Michael Nader, 46, best known for the six seasons (1983-89) he played Dex Dexter in "Dynasty." (Nader wasn't in the recent "Dynasty" reunion miniseries. The producers told him only core characters were to be in the mini. Says Nader, "If I wasn't a core character, then who was that man in bed with Joan Collins (Alexis) all those years?") Nader's a native of St. Louis, Mo., raised in Santa Monica, Calif., and made his movie debut in the beach movies of the 1960s. On TV, he's been a semi-regular in "Gidget," played Kevin Thompson in the soap "As the world Turns," 1976-78, and Alexi in "Bare Esssence." He'll soon be seen in the feature "Final Analysis" with Richard Gere and Kim Bassinger.
Q. Can you give me the address of the "Days of Our Lives" writing staff? - M.T.B., Gibsonton, Fla.
A. Gene Palumbo in "DOOL" head writer. Address: NBC-TV, 3000 W. Alameda Ave., Burbank, CA 91523.
Q. I know there was a remake of "My Favorite Wife" starring Doris Day and James Garner. Why can't I find it on video? - R.R., Detroit.
A. The 1963 Day-Garner movie was "Move Over, Darling" and it was a remake of "My Favorite Wife," the 1940 Cary Grant-Irene Dunne comedy. The original is available on tape in both the original black and white and a colorized version. But "Darling" isn't on tape.
Q. Give me some information on Marlee Matlin, star of the movie "Children of a Lesser God." Where can I write to her? - K.T., Tulsa, Okla.
A. Matlin, 26, was born in Morton Grove, Ill.Ill., and started acting at 7 in the children's theater at The Center for Deafness in Chicago. She did "Children of a Lesser God" on Broadway, then was the youngest winner of the movies' best actress Oscar for the 1986 movie version. She made her TV debut in the TV movie "Bridge to Silence" in 1989. Currently, she co-stars with Mark Harmon in the NBC series "Reasonable Doubts." Write: Warner Bros. Television, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522.
Q. Tell me about Meg Ryan. How old is she and where was she born? - B.F., Philadelphia.
A. Ryan is 29, born in Connecticut, studied briefly at New York University and had her first acting break as Betsy Stewart in the soap opera "As the World Turns." Her movie break was in "Top Gun" after a series of minor roles. "When Harry Met Sally" in 1989 made her a major star. She's married to Dennis Quaid (her co-star in 1987's "Innerspace").
Q. A few years ago, I remember seeing a movie entitled titled "You Came Along" or something like that. It starred Bob Cummings and Lizabeth Scott. It was a good movie and I shed a few tears over it. Why can't I find the video? - F.R.S., Maryville, Mo.
A. It was more than a few years ago. "You Came Along" was a 1945 tear-jerker about three Army Buddies on a World War II War Bond tour. It was Scott's first movie. So far it isn't available on tape.
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