Question: Tim Matheson, the vice president on "The West Wing," was the original voice of the animated "Jonny Quest." He was in "National Lampoon's Animal House" and is now directing. Do you have any personal information on him? Just how old is he? He looks so young to have been around for so long! -- B.F., Lake Kiowa, TexasAnswer: Tim Matheson has been around TV and movies since the early 1960s. He was cast as a regular in the 1961 CBS series "The Window on Main Street" and appeared on numerous TV shows, including "Leave It to Beaver," "The Twilight Zone," "Bonanza" and "My Three Sons." He was 30 years old when he was cast as frat boy Eric "Otter" Stratton in Animal House. Now, several movie and TV shows later, Matheson has become an experienced director with credits that range from episodes of "St. Elsewhere" to the recent Showtime movie "In the Company of Spies."

Question: My co-worker and I are having an argument over what city "Alice" took place in. I say Phoenix, he says Tucson. Who is right? -- D.G., Phoenix

Answer: The 1980s sitcom and the movie it was based on, "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," were set in Phoenix.

Question: I 'd like to know about Dondre Whitfield. I came to like him on "The Cosby Show," "All My Children" and "Between Brothers." Wasn't he supposed to have a new show on UPN this fall? -- A.W., Dallas

Answer: Whitfield was supposed to co-star in the ultra-cool spy series "Secret Agent Man" on UPN this fall with Costas Mandylor ("Picket Fences"), but the show's been put on hold until further notice.

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Question: I really enjoy the new show on the WB, "Safe Harbor." I know that I have seen Jeremy Lelliott but don't remember where. What other shows has he done? -- H.G., Phoenix

Answer: Jeremy Lelliott, 17, has been seen in numerous TV roles, including "Melrose Place" (David Patterson), "The Practice" and "Walker, Texas Ranger."

Question: I am trying to remember the name of the child born to "Murphy Brown." I remember liking the name. Please help me out. I need to pass on boy names to a friend. -- D.B.

Answer: Murphy Brown (played by Candice Bergen) named her son Avery, after her late mother (played by Colleen Dewhurst). It was the birth of Avery, and Murphy's decision to raise the child without his father, that prompted a family-values battle of words between the show and then-Vice President Dan Quayle. In "Murphy Brown's" last season (1997-98), Avery was played by Haley Joel Osment, star of this summer's blockbuster "The Sixth Sense.

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