ABOUT THE CAST

KEVIN COSTNER (Mr. Brooks/Producer) began his career starring in independent films, gradually earning small parts in more established movies. His first major motion picture role was in the coming of age comedy, “Fandango.” Throughout his career, Costner has varied his choices with comedy, action and dramatic roles. He has appeared in such popular box-office hits as “No Way Out,” “Bull Durham,” “Field of Dreams,” “The Bodyguard” and “Wyatt Earp.”

Costner’s exceptional filmmaking abilities were showcased in “Dances with Wolves,” which he produced, directed and starred in, and which won seven Academy Awards® including Best Picture and Director.

In addition to appearing in memorable roles in “JFK,” “The Untouchables” and “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” he re-teamed with his “Bull Durham” director Ron Shelton for the hit feature “Tin Cup.” Costner also starred in “Thirteen Days,” successfully collaborating again with his “No Way Out” director Roger Donaldson. His other film credits include: “For Love of the Game,” “The War,” “3,000 Miles to Graceland,” “Dragonfly” and “The Postman,” his second directing effort.

Kevin Costner last directed the box office hit and critically acclaimed film “Open Range,” which he also co-starred in alongside Robert Duvall and Annette Bening. He was most recently seen co-starring with Joan Allen in the dramatic film “Upside of Anger,” opposite Jennifer Aniston in “Rumor Has It” directed by Rob Reiner for Warner Brothers, and “The Guardian,” an action drama for Touchstone Pictures in which he portrayed a Coast Guard rescue swimmer.

DEMI MOORE (Detective Atwood) continues to be one of the most sought after actresses in Hollywood. Moore’s recent screen credits include “Bobby,” the story of the assassination of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, which centers around 22 people who were at the Ambassador Hotel where he was killed; as well as “Charlie’s Angels 2: Full Throttle” in which she starred opposite Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu. She recently completed production on “Flawless” co-starring Michael Caine, set to be released later this year.

Moore’s film credits include “Passion of Mind”; “The Juror” with Alec Baldwin; Roland Joffe’s, “The Scarlet Letter” opposite Gary Oldman and Robert Duvall; “Disclosure” with Michael Douglas; “Indecent Proposal” opposite Robert Redford and Woody Harrelson; “A Few Good Men” with Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, directed by Rob Reiner; “The Butcher’s Wife” with Jeff Daniels; and “Nothing But Trouble” with Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase and John Candy. She also starred opposite Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg in “Ghost,” a performance that earned Moore a Golden Globe Award nomination. Moore also recently starred in “Half Light.”

In addition to achieving great success as an actress, Moore has had a very successful career as a film producer with her production company, Moving Pictures. Her credits as actor/producer include “GI Jane,” in which she starred opposite Viggo Mortensen; the Emmy- nominated film for HBO, “If These Walls Could Talk” with Sissy Spacek and Cher; “Now and Then” with Melanie Griffith, Rosie O’Donnell and Rita Wilson; and “Mortal Thoughts” with Bruce Willis. She is also a part of the team behind the successful “Austin Powers” franchise, having produced all three films with Jennifer and Suzanne Todd.

Moore made her film debut in 1984 as Michael Caine’s daughter in “Blame It On Rio.” Other early film work includes roles in “No Small Affair,” opposite Jon Cryer; Joel Schumacher’s ensemble film, “St. Elmo’s Fire”; “One Crazy Summer” with John Cusack; “About Last Night …” opposite Rob Lowe; “Wisdom,” written, directed and co-starring Emilio Estevez; “The Seventh Sign” opposite Michael Biehn; and “We’re No Angels” opposite Sean Penn and Robert De Niro.

She currently resides in Los Angeles and Idaho with her three daughters Rumer, Scout and Talullah.

DANE COOK (Mr. Smith) is an engaging actor and electric performer who has developed a worldwide following. This year, he is poised to firmly establish himself as a leading man with notable roles not only in MR. BROOKS but in several other highly anticipated, upcoming films. These include the romantic comedy "Good Luck Chuck," opposite Jessica Alba for director Mark Helfrich and Touchstone’s dramatic comedy "Dan in Real Life" with Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche. Cook also has several film projects in the works through his production company, SUperFInger Entertainment, including: a father-and-son road comedy set up with Disney and producer David Hoberman ("Bringing Down the House"); "The Ex-Family,” set up at the Weinstein Company; and a ground-breaking concert film, based on his April 2006 Boston comedy shows, to be released theatrically this year.

Most recently, Cook was seen on the big screen in "Employee of the Month," directed by Greg Coolidge, starring alongside Jessica Simpson. Among his past feature film credits are "Waiting," written and directed by Rob McKittrick and co-starring Ryan Reynolds and Anna Farris; Hunter Richards' "London,” starring Jessica Biel and Chris Evans; "Torque," which was directed by Joseph Kahn and starred Ice Cube, Christina Milian, and Jay Hernandez; Peter Pau's "The Touch" with Michelle Yeoh and Ben Chaplin; and Kinka Usher's "Mystery Men" with Ben Stiller.

In 2006, Cook partnered with HBO to produce a 90-minute stand-up event, "Vicious Circle," which premiered on the network on September 4th. Over 18 cameras taped his back-to-back performances to sold-out audiences in his hometown of Boston. Additionally, "Tourgasm," Cook's behind-the-scenes look at comedians on tour aired on HBO in a nine-episode arc throughout the summer.

Cook recently enjoyed the successful release of his sophomore CDx2/DVD, Retaliation, which is certified Platinum and debuted at Number Four on the Billboard 200, making him the highest charting comedian in twenty-five years. This followed the success of Cook's debut release, Harmful If Swallowed, which has sold more than 450,000 copies in less than two years, been certified Gold and garnered appearances on over ten different Billboard charts since its release.
As a stand-up comedian, Cook has built a following through his commitment to touring and via his website www.danecook.com. Throughout his 16-year career, he has consistently sold out at venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Theatre at Madison Square Garden, Continental Airlines Arena and the 50,000 seat football stadium at the University of Florida's Gator Growl.

Cook has also proven himself as a writer, director, and producer with his work on the comedy short film "8 Guys" and the dramatic short "Spiral," for which he won the internet-based Pixie Award for Best Actor.

WILLIAM HURT (Marshall) trained at Tufts University and New York's Juilliard School of Music and Drama. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards®, including the most recent nomination for his supporting role in David Cronenberg’s “The History of Violence.” The film screened at the both the Cannes International Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. Hurt received Best Supporting Actor accolades for the role from the Los Angeles Film Critics Circle and the New York Film Critics Circle.

Hurt recently signed on to star in a remake of Yoji Yamada’s 1977 film “Yellow Hankerchief” opposite Maria Bello. The film will feature Hurt as an ex-convict recently released from prison for the accidental murder of another man. Udayan Prasad (“My Son the Fanatic”) is directing the project and production will begin next month in Louisiana.

Hurt will next be seen in “Vantage Point” opposite Dennis Quaid, Sigourney Weaver and Forrest Whitaker and has also wrapped “Into the Wild,” directed by Sean Penn and starring Marcia Gay Harden, Catherine Keener and Vince Vaughn.

Hurt was last seen in “The Good Shepherd” written by Eric Roth and directed by Robert DeNiro. In 2006, Hurt starred in James Marsh’s film “The King” with Gael Garcia Bernal. Also in 2006, Hurt appeared in “Beautiful Ohio” directed by Chad Lowe and “Noise,” an independent comedy opposite Tim Robbins and Bridget Moynahan.

In 2005, Hurt was seen in “Syriana,” directed by Stephen Gaghan and starring George Clooney, Matt Damon and Amanda Peet. The same year he also completed production on the ensemble independent film “Neverwas” opposite Sir Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming and Aaron Eckhardt.

In 2004, Hurt was seen in M. Night Shayamalan’s thriller, “The Village,” opposite Joaquin Phoenix and Sigourney Weaver as well the independent film “Blue Butterfly.”

In 2002, Hurt appeared in Disney's "Tuck Everlasting," directed by Jay Russell, and had a cameo appearance in Paramount's "Changing Lanes," starring Samuel L. Jackson. In 2001, Hurt starred in the independent film "Rare Birds" which screened at the Toronto Film Festival. He was also seen in a supporting role in Steven Spielberg's "A.I." In 2000, Hurt delivered a memorable performance in “Sunshine,” opposite Ralph Fiennes. Directed by Istvan Szabo, “Sunshine” received three Genie Awards, including one for Best Motion Picture.
In 1980, Hurt appeared in his first film, "Altered States." He received a Best Actor Oscar® nomination for "Broadcast News" and "Children of a Lesser God." For "Kiss of the Spider Woman" he was honored with an Academy Award® as well as Best Actor Award from the British Academy and the Cannes Festival. Among his other film credits are "Body Heat," "The Big Chill," "Eyewitness," "Gorky Park," "Alice," "I Love You to Death," "The Accidental Tourist," "The Doctor," "The Plague," “The Simian Line,” "Trial by Jury," "Second Best," "Smoke," "Confidences a un Inconnu" "Jane Eyre," "Michael," "Dark City,” “The Proposition” “The Big Brass Ring” and “One True Thing.”

In 2006, Hurt returned to television in the TNT special event series “Nightmares and Dreamscapes,” based on the stories of Stephen King. The series featured all-star casts including William H. Macy, Samantha Mathis, Claire Forlani and Ron Livingston. Hurt’s episode entitled “Battleground” premiered the series. Hurt’s television credits include The Hallmark Channel’s miniseries “Frankenstein” opposite Donald Sutherland, CBS’s “The Flamingo Rising," the title role in the CBS mini-series "Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story,” The Sci-Fi Channel’s “Dune” and “Varian’s War” for Showtime.

Hurt spent the early years of his career on the stage between drama school, summer stock, regional repertory and Off Broadway, appearing in more than fifty productions including “Henry V,” “5th of July,” “Hamlet,” “Richard II,” “Hurlyburly” (for which he was nominated for a Tony Award), “My Life” (winning an Obie Award for Best Actor), “A Midsummer's Night's Dream” and “Good.”

For radio, Hurt read Paul Theroux's “The Great Railway Bazaar,” for the BBC Radio Four and “Shipping News” by E. Annie Proulx. He has recorded “The Polar Express,” “The Boy Who Drew Cats” and narrated the documentaries, "Searching for America: The Odyssey of John Dos Passos," "Einstein - How I See the World" and the English narration of Elie Wiesel's "To Speak the Unspeakable," a documentary directed and produced by Pierre Marmiesse.

In 1988, Hurt was awarded the first Spencer Tracy Award from UCLA.

MARG HELGENBERGER (Emma Brooks), an Emmy Award-winner and Golden Globe nominee, is currently starring in the seventh season of the CBS drama, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” for which she has earned two Emmy nominations. The critically acclaimed show airs Thursday nights at 9:00PM on CBS and is executive produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Her character, Catherine Willows, is a single mother working as a crime scene analyst on the graveyard shift in Las Vegas.

She costarred with Julia Roberts in the hit drama, “Erin Brockovich,” as a woman dying of cancer due to a contaminated water source. Helgenberger also starred as Patsy Ramsey in the highly rated CBS miniseries, “Perfect Murder, Perfect Town,” based on the best selling book about the unsolved murder of JonBenet Ramsey. Helgenberger also appeared in two original telepictures for Showtime. In the controversial “Thanks Of A Grateful Nation,” she played the sister of a man (Steven Weber) who suffers a terminal brain tumor after returning from the Gulf War. She then co-starred with Ann-Margret in “The Happy Face Murders” as a detective investigating a very unsettling and confusing case of murder.
Her breakout role as K.C. on “China Beach” won her an Emmy Award in 1990. In 1997, she guest starred on a four-episode arc on “ER,” playing George Clooney’s love interest. Her other television credits include “Murder Live” with David Morse and Teri Garr; Stephen King’s highly-rated miniseries “The Tommyknockers,” a Tom Hanks directed episode of Showtime’s “Fallen Angels” and the Oscar® nominated short film, “Partners,” directed by Peter Weller as well as “The Gold Coast,” starring opposite David Caruso.

On the feature film side, Helgenberger starred in “Species” opposite Ben Kingsley, Michael Madsen and Forest Whitaker and in “Species II.” Other film credits include “In Good Company” starring alongside Dennis Quaid and Scarlett Johansson; “Fire Down Below” with Steven Seagal; “The Last Time I Committed Suicide” with Keanu Reeves; “My Fellow Americans” with Jack Lemmon and James Garner; “Cowboy Way” with Woody Harrelson; “Bad Boys” with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence,; “Always” with Holly Hunter and Richard Dreyfuss and “Crooked Hearts” with Peter Berg and Noah Wyle.

Growing up in North Bend, Nebraska, Helgenberger acted in school plays, but it was not until she attended Northwestern University that she thought of acting as a career. While there she appeared on stage as Kate in “Taming of the Shrew” and as Blanche in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” to name a few. After graduating college she was cast on the ABC-TV daytime drama “Ryan’s Hope.” While in New York she also did work with the Children’s Theatre Company, TADA.

Helgenberger lives in Los Angeles, with her husband, actor Alan Rosenberg and their son Hughie.

Tony and Obie Award winner RUBEN SANTIAGO-HUDSON (Hawkins) won the 2005 Humanitas Prize for his screenplay for “Lackawanna Blues” on HBO. The screenplay was written from his award winning play of the same name. Ruben made a cameo performance alongside S. Epatha Merkerson, Lou Gossett Jr., Rosie Perez, Liev Schreiber, Mos Def and others in this powerful cast and served as Executive Producer alongside Halle Berry and Vincent Cirrincione. He starred opposite Halle Berry in ABC’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God” for producers Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones. Ruben recently starred with Judd Hirsh in “Brother’s Shadow” for Mint Pictures and is starring in an upcoming NOVA special on the life of famed African-American chemist Dr. Percy Julian called “Forgotten Genius” premiering on PBS February 7, 2007.

Lackawanna Blues premiered at the New York Public Theater and is Santiago-Hudson’s writing debut, which he wrote as an homage to the woman who raised him. “Lackawanna Blues” is an unashamed work of thanks, and it is so humble and warm that the honesty of its spirit is never in question… Mr. Santiago-Hudson does a virtuoso turn as a performer… he passes from one identity to the next so fluidly that you barely notice the flip of the switch” raves Bruce Webber of the New York Times.

Santiago-Hudson co-starred with John Travolta in Paramount Pictures “Domestic Disturbance” and starred opposite Gregory Hines in Showtime Entertainment’s “The Red Sneakers.” He played Christopher Darden in the CBS miniseries “American Tragedy,” which also starred Ron Silver as Robert Shapiro. Ruben received rave reviews for his starring role in the off-Broadway production of “Deep Down” and as Walter Lee Younger in the Williamstown Theater Festival Playhouse production of “A Raisin in the Sun” with Viola Davis and Gloria Foster. He also starred as Roma in the McCarter Theatre production of “Glengarry Glen Ross” with Charles Durning and Daniel Benzali.

Ruben starred in NBC’s “Hunt For The Unicorn Killer” with Tom Skerritt, and with Christopher Reeves in the ABC production of “Rear Window.” He co-starred with David Caruso as the explosive, wise, but irreverent Chief Investigator Eddie Diaz on “Michael Hayes” from CBS. Ruben appeared opposite Al Pacino in “Devil’s Advocate” as the attorney who recruits Keanu Reeves, and co-starred in “Shaft” with Samuel L. Jackson. He can also be “heard” as the voice of the villain Jess Chapel in the HBO animated cartoon series “Spawn.”

Santiago-Hudson is a gifted and accomplished actor who is also a force of nature. He moves easily among the worlds of theatre, film, and television and has amassed important credits in all of these fields. Ruben welcomes the challenge of playing “strong, sensitive, intelligent men... men who have great adversities and simple frailties.” He longs to play Richard III.

Ruben received the 1996 Tony Award for Best Featured Performer in August Wilson’s acclaimed “Seven Guitars.” He made his Broadway debut as Buddy Bolden opposite Gregory Hines in “Jelly’s Last Jam.” His feature credits include “Bleeding Hearts” directed by Gregory Hines, “Blown Away” with Jeff Bridges, Paramount’s “Coming to America,” TNT’s “Which Way Home” with Cybil Shepard, and Showtime’s unique production, “Solomon and Sheba,” with Halle Berry and Jimmy Smits. This project marked the first time a biblical movie was filmed using people of color in principle roles.

Santiago-Hudson is well remembered for his series regular roles as Captain Billy Cooper on the daytime drama “Another World” and as Curtis on “Dear John,” both on NBC. His other television credits include; “Law and Order,” “NYPD Blue,” “New York Undercover,” “Whoopie,” “Murphy Brown,” “Life Goes On,” and “Amen.”

Ruben was born in Lackawanna, New York. His father was Puerto Rican and his mother black, but the landlady, whom he refers to as “Nanny,” raised Ruben with the assistance of his godparents. He received a B.A. in Theatre from S.U.N.Y. Binghamton, and an MFA from Wayne State University. He has lectured on theatre at colleges and universities and served as a private acting coach, but it was Ruben’s experience of managing his own theatre company in Detroit that brought him to New York. Theatre performances have led him to stages across the United States and Europe. Off-Broadway he has often appeared in The Negro Ensemble Company Productions including Ceremonies in Dark Old Men and A Soldiers Play.

Santiago-Hudson lives in New York with his wife Jeannie, and their twins, Lily and Trey. He also has two older sons. Ruben has a great appreciation of music and can play a mean harmonica. In his spare time, Ruben devotes himself to the causes of underprivileged children.

An award-winning actress herself, DANIELLE PANABAKER (Jane Brooks) has worked with more than a dozen Oscar® and Emmy winners in just four years of professional work.  A full-time student as well as an accomplished actress, Danielle is currently seen each week on the CBS drama "Shark" playing James Woods' daughter, who he refers to as "the white teen Oprah.”  

On the big screen, Danielle was seen most recently in Disney's feature film "Sky High," where she played Layla, the socially conscious best friend of main character Will Stronghold, and in "Yours, Mine & Ours" as the oldest daughter in a blended family with 18 kids. In addition to her role in “MR. BROOKS,” she will also star in the feature film "Home of the Giants" which stars Haley Joel Osment and Ryan Merriman. 

Prior to her leading role on "Shark", Danielle's most recent television performance was in the HBO miniseries "Empire Falls" opposite Paul Newman, Ed Harris and Helen Hunt. USA Today called her an "angelic adolescent" who gives "a terrific performance" in the film, which was based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name, and won the Golden Globe for best mini-series in 2005. Panabaker herself is the recipient of the 2005 Young Artist Award for Best Performance by a Leading Young Actress in a TV movie, miniseries or special for her role in ABC Family's "Searching for David's Heart". She is a repeat winner, as the prior year she took home the 2004 Young Artist Award for Best Performance by a Guest Starring Young Actress in a Television Series, for her portrayal of a blind victim on "The Guardian.”

Panabaker also starred in the telefilms "Mom at Sixteen" for Lifetime and the Disney Channel Original Films "Stuck in the Suburbs" and "Read It and Weep". Other television credits include "Law & Order: SVU," "CSI," "Malcolm in the Middle," and a recurring role on "Summerland" opposite her real-life sister, Kay. Extraordinarily focused, Danielle completed her high school education early, graduating as valedictorian at age 14. She enrolled in college classes the same year and has completed her Associate's Degree, managing to juggle work while earning grades that secured her a spot on the National Dean's List. She is now in her senior year at UCLA.