Q. Please give some information on Woody Harrelson of "Cheers." Where was he born? How old is he? Where does he live? - M.H., Stevensville, Mich.
A. Woodward Tracy Harrelson was born July 23, 1962, in Midland, Texas. He attended Indiana's Hanover College, where he started in theater. After two years as a waiter in New York, he landed a job as understudy in Broadway's "Biloxi Blues," then a small part in the movie "Wildcats." He was hired as the "Cheers" bartender in 1985. "White Men Can't Jump," released last spring, was his major feature film break.Q. My boyfriend tells me Fred Dryer was a football player in California. I am a fervent fan of Fred Dryer and I do not have a record of this. What is he doing now? - T.W., Phildelphia.
A. Fervent, maybe; informed, no. Dryer was a hot college player at San Diego State and then spent 14 seasons in the NFL, as defensive end with the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Rams. He was All-Pro twice. While he was still playing, he studied acting and made his movie and TV debuts in small roles. He turned actor full time in 1981. After NBC canceled "Hunter" in 1991 (allegedly because Dryer asked for a $50,000-a-week raise), the network signed him to do TV movies. So far, nothing has materialized.
Q. Can you give some information on Alan Reed, the voice of Fred Flintstone? Has he ever appeared on TV? - P.A.P., Buffalo, N.Y.
A. Character actor Reed was a busy man in TV in many supporting roles and in five series, two of them TV versions of radio series he also did, "Life with Luigi" and "Duffy's Tavern." The other TV series: "Mr. Adams and Eve," "Peter Loves Mary" and "Mickey." In radio he was best known as Falstaff Openshaw of "The Fred Allen Show" but it was only one of many roles. He also did many movies. In addition to Fred Flinstone, he was the voice of Mad Dog Maloney in the cartoon series "Where's Huddles."
Q. How old is Robert Stack, of "Unsolved Mysteries." Is he married? Has he done any other series than "The Untouchables"? - S. and J., Fraser, Mich.
A. Stack will be 74 on Jan. 13. He's been married to Rosemarie Bowie since 1956. His other TV series: "The Name of the Game," 1968-71; "Most Wanted," 1976-77, and "Strike Force," 1981-82.
Q. My wife thinks that cigarette advertising on TV just stopped about a year ago. I think it was in the early 80s. Can you settle this dispute? - R.W., Columbus, Ga.
A. It's actually been almost 22 years since you've seen or heard cigarette advertising on TV and radio. After a furious fight in Congress and a promise to phase out cigarette advertising by 1973 was deemed unacceptable, the tobacco industry lost when Congress passed the bill that prohibited cigarette advertising on TV and radio after Dec. 31, 1970.
Q. Now that Michael Caine has written his autobiography, is he hooked on writing over acting?
A. He has this game plan that he calls one of his "impossible dreams." Having proved that he can write, Caine wants to pen a novel that becomes a best-seller. That would be turned into a movie that he would write and direct - and act in, but not as the leading man. "So now I won't get bored anymore," says Caine, 59, whose career hasn't been so hot lately. Not that he needs the money. "I stopped once, about five years ago, and it didn't work . . . I kept turning down scripts, turning down scripts, and then finally a script came along . . . and I just started off again. . . . I really cannot vegetate. I haven't learnt (how) . . . " His autobiography, "What's It All About?" (Turtle Bay Books), is highly engaging and a little bit revealing. "There are things that I have done in my life that I should regret," he declares. "I don't."
Q. Tell me what you know about Fred Dryer, of "Hunter." Why did McCall recently quit the show? - F.W., Griffin, Ga.
A. Dryer, now 45, was born in Hawthorne, Calif. He's divorced, father of a young daughter. See above for more details. You've been watching "Hunter" reruns. Stepfanie Kramer left the show in 1990, supposedly to pursue a musical career (which is still in low gear) but also because Dryer had cut her part down to nothing while increasing his own.
Q. How can I write to Martin Lawrence of "Martin"? - A.M.D., Detroit.
A. Write: Fox Broadcasting Co., Box 900, Beverly Hills, Calif. 90213.
Q. Who was Tom Hanks' co-star on "Bosom Buddies"? I have a bet going that it was the same actor who was in "The Bob Newhart Show" as the TV director. - K.M., Austin, Texas.
A. You could lose on a technicality. Peter Scolari was in "Buddies" but it was in "Newhart" (seen 1982-90) that he co-starred, not "The Bob Newhart Show" (1972-78).
Q. There was an actress named Peggie Castle a few years ago. She starred on a TV show with Dale Robertson. Was that her real name? I knew a girl by that name in a town in Montana. - R.G., Sunland, Calif.
A. She was born Peggie Blair but changed her name to avoid confusion with Janet Blair. Castle was born in Virginia and grew up in Southern California. She worked with John Russell and Peter Brown in the TV western "Lawman," not with Robertson. Castle died at 46 in 1973.
Q. We've been discussing who played Rock Hudson's wife in "McMillan and Wife." I say Kate Jackson. Am I wrong? - D.M.F., Jonesville, Mich.
A. Yes. Susan Saint James played Sally McMillan for five seasons, 1971-76. When Saint James departed in a contract dispute with the studio, Universal, McMillan became a widower and the name of the show became "McMillan" for the final season.
Q. Years ago, I saw "It's a Wonderful Life" with Marlo Thomas. Is this movie on video? I could only find the one with Jimmy Stewart at Christmas time. - B.B., Julesburg, Colo.
A. Thomas starred in the 1977 TV-movie remake of "Life," titled "It Happened One Christmas." It's not on tape.
Q. I'd like to know about Mary Jo Keenen, Julie on "Nurses." Is she married? Where can I write? - J.C., Tampa, Fla.
A. Keenen is a native of Westfield, N.J., studied theater at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City and made her professional acting debut in the soap "Search for Tomorrow." She's done guest roles in series TV and was a regular in "City" in 1990. Write: Touchstone Television, 500 S. Buena Vista Blvd., Burbank, Calif. 91521.
Q. What's happened to Herb Shriner? We haven't seen him in a long time. - W.H., Seaside Park, N.J.
A. Hoosier comic Shriner was killed in an auto accident in 1970. His twin sons carry on the family name in show business: Wil is a humorist and Kin is a soap opera actor.
Q. I heard a rumor that "Santa Barbara" is going off the air sometime in January. - D.W., Macon, Ga.
A. No rumor. "Santa Barbara" departed Jan. 15. It's been replaced by a pair of game shows: "Scrabble," hosted by Chuck Woolery, and "Scattergories," hosted by Dick Clark.
Q. Tell me about the talented, attractive B.J. in "Santa Barbara": born, age. - E.H., Sun City, Ariz.
A. Sydney Penny, 21, was born in Nashville, daughter of comedian/musician Hank Penny and singer Shari Penny, but no relation to actor Joe Penny. She's best known for her work as young Maggie Cleary in the 1983 miniseries "The Thorn Birds," although she has one series credit, "The New Gidget," and many TV movies and features, including Clint Eastwood's "Pale Rider."
Q. Where can I write to Ryan Phillips, Billy on "One Life to Live"? - M.D., Tampa, Fla.
A. ABC-TV, 77 W. 66th St., New York, N.Y. 10023.
born, age. - E.H., Sun City, Ariz.
A. Sydney Penny, 21, was born in Nashville, daughter of comedian/musician Hank Penny and singer Shari Penny, but no relation to actor Joe Penny. She's best known for her work as young Maggie Cleary in the 1983 miniseries "The Thorn Birds," although she has one series credit, "The New Gidget," and many TV movies and features, including Clint Eastwood's "Pale Rider."
Q. Where can I write to Ryan Phillips, Billy on "One Life to Live"? - M.D., Tampa, Fla.
A. ABC-TV, 77 W. 66th St., New York, N.Y. 10023.
Q. Does "Married . . . with Children" have live audiences when they're taping? Where is it done? - T.H.G., Windsor, Ontario.
A. The adventures of the Bundys are taped before an audience at the Sunset/Gower Studios in Hollywood. For information write: Columbia Pictures Televsion, 3300 Riverside Drive, Burbank, Calif. 91505.
Q. My boyfriend and I wonder where the Brady house is. I say it's in the San Fernando Valley. He says someplace else. - B.H., Woodland Hills, Calif.
A. Could be the Valley. The show wasn't specific. The Bradys lived in suburban Los Angeles. If you mean the actual house, it existed only in pieces on a studio sound stage.
Q. There's a steak dinner riding on this: In crossword puzzles, we often see this definition "entertainer --- Sumac." It turns out to be Yma Sumac. I say this person is a stand-up comedian; my wife says it is an actress. - A.W., Tucson, Ariz.
A. She's Peruvian singer Yma Sumac. Her real name is Emperatriz Chavarri. She had an extremely wide vocal range and was called "The Nightingale of the Andes" during her brief U.S. career in the 1950s which also included a pair of movies, "Secret of the Andes" and "Omar Khayyam."
Q. I'm perplexed. My husband absolutely insists that "The William Tell Overture" was the theme music for "The Lone Ranger" while I remember it as the music for "The Cisco Kid." Is it possible it was the music for both shows? - B.J.M., Stone Mountain, Ga.
A. He's right. At the height of the Ranger's radio fame in the late 1930s, some youngster was sure to shout "Hi Yo Silver, Awaaaay" when ever the familiar middle section of the overture was played. "The Lone Ranger" had been on radio nationally nine years by the time Cisco made his debut in 1942.
Q. My girlfriend claims Janet Gaynor was married to Oleg Cassini. But I say it was costume designer Adrian. Also, can you tell me about a movie, "Devotion" starring Janet Gaynor and Shirley Temple? - F.S.A., N. Tonawanda, N.Y.
A. Gaynor was married to Gilbert Adrian, famous for designing for MGM's great ladies, from 1939 to his death in 1959. (Cassini was married to the late Gene Tierney.) There's no record of a Gaynor-Temple movie titled "Devotion." The 1943 film of that name was a biography of the Bronte sisters, starring Olivia DeHavilland and Ida Lupino.
Q. Tell me the address of Martin Lawrence, of "Martin." - S.R., Highland Park, Mich.
A. Fox Broadcasting Co., Box 900, Beverly Hills, Calif., 90213.
Q. The Kids in the Hall are the most brilliant comedy troupe I've ever seen. Where and how did they get started? What can you tell me about them? - S.D., Tere Haute, Ind.
A. "The Kids," Canadians Scott Thompson, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, Dave Foley and Bruce McCulloch, all between 27 and 36, first performed together in a Toronto club in 1984. They made their Canadian TV debut in 1989 and cable's HBO the same year, landed on CBS and cable's Comedy Channel in 1992. The show is taped in Toronto.
Q. Give me the address of HBO. - J.L., Sacramento, Calif.
A. Home Box Office, 1100 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y., 10036.
Q. Where was Richard Dean Anderson born and when? Does he have any plans for another series since "MacGyver" is over? - Deborah A. Duncan, Charlotte, N.C.
A. Anderson was born Jan. 23, 1950, in Minneapolis, Minn. He's happily working in TV movies and stretching his acting wings - he played a villian in his first post-MacGyver role. "MacGyver became so automatic I had almost forgetten what it was like to create a character - which is what acting is all about," he told USA Today. In the works is a "MacGyver" movie.