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 STEPHEN
ROOT
Character: Suds
Born: November 17, 1951
Hometown: Sarasota, Florida
College: B.A. Acting and Broadcasting from the University
of Florida.
Acting studies: After graduation passed an audition to join
the touring company of the National Shakespeare Company for 3 years.
Broadway: Off-Broadway debut in a revival of “Journey's
End”. First Broadway role, in “So Long on Lonely Street”,
was a box office bust. But the 1987 revival of “All My Sons”
was a hit and generated critical acclaim for Root.
Best known: Work as radio station bigwig Jimmy James on the
television series News Radio.
Did you know? Stephen donated $100,000 to the University
of Florida in 2003 to fund an acting studio. Florida honored Stephen
by name Stephen Root Acting Studio.
About Suds Suds is a 65-year-old sports reporter for the
Duluth Democrat who likes his liquor and is devoted to his football
team, the Duluth Eskimos -- so much so that he lets Dodge dictate
to him the copy for his articles. A real character who's never without
his flask, Suds is somewhat cynical about the standardization of
pro football, and tells Dodge right before their first game with
Carter Rutherford, "Welcome to show business." The irreverent
Suds joins Lexie and other newsmen as they watch the critical game
between the Eskimos and the Chicago Bears, and he's clearly depressed
that the Eskimos can't possibly win by playing clean -- and worse
than that, it's boring.
NEXT
WEEK:
Meet the coach
 GEORGE
CLOONEY
Character: Jimmy “Dodge” Connolly, team owner,
football player.
Born: May 6, 1961
City/state: Lexington, Kentucky
Oscar: Best supporting actor for his role in oil drama Syriana
(2006).
First Triple Crown: He wrote, directed and acted in “Good
Night and Good Luck”.
Did you know? George Clooney made a bit of Oscar history
in 2006. For the first time ever, a nominee for best director has
also been nominated in one of the acting categories for a different
film. Clooney was nominated for best supporting actor for “Syriana”
and had two nominations for directing and co-writing the screenplay
for “Good Night, and Good Luck.”
About George
George Clooney is aptly described as Hollywood’s renaissance
man. His acting skills are stunning and he’s proved to be a
director of intuition and skill, gained through his many years in
the film business.
He’s not only Hollywood’s leading man but among the most
elite of box office’s biggest draws. He is charming, exudes
sex appeal through his confident and physical stature and his presence
on and off the set commands respect from top Hollywood studios.
Universal, for 10 years did not act on “Leatherheads”.
It emerged as a drama, and then evolved into a romantic comedy,
and when that fell through Clooney took the project on with his
studio. He rewrote the script and opted to direct and star.
Clooney is the son of broadcast journalist Nick Clooney and the
nephew of Rosemary Clooney.
 RENEE ZELLWEGER
Character: Lexi Littlejohn, reporter.
Born: April 29, 1969.
Hometown: Katy, Texas
Heritage: Father is Swiss-born and mother is Norwegian-born.
Brother: Drew, 40.
Oscar: Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Cold Mountain
(2004).
College: University of Texas, B.A. in Radio, Film & Television.
Dean’s list.
Acting start: While in college Zellweger took an acting class
and discovered a knack for performing.
Did you know? Renee’s family moved to Katy, Texas when
she was nine. It was so small it didn’t have cable television
or a movie theater.
About Renee
Zellweger plays the film's romantic interest, Lexi -- an ace reporter
determined to dig up dirt on the coach, but who winds up as the
third side of a romantic triangle including both himself and Carter
Rutherford (John Krasinski).
Zellweger projects a wholesome, All-American girl quality.
Her family moved to Katy, Texas when Renee was nine. She acted in
commercials while attending college and worked as a bartender’s
assistant and cocktail waitress.
Zellweger moved to Los Angeles in December 1993.
She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in May 2005.
 JOHN KRASINSKI
Character: Carter Rutherford, war hero, football player.
Born: October 20, 1979.
Hometown: Newton, Massachusetts.
College: Brown University, an honors playwright.
Acting studies: The National Theater Institute.
Did you know? People Magazine featured John Krasinski in
its “Sexiest Men” issue (2006).
About John
In “Leatherheads” Krasinski plays a straight-laced college
football star (Carter Rutherford) being recruited to play professionally.
The sport becomes full of scandals and Dodge Connolly falls for
Carter’s fiancée Lexi.
Krasinski’s breakthrough year was in 2004 when he earned parts
as Ben in “Kinsey”, Bob Flynn in “Duane Hopwood”,
Messenger #3 in Taxi, and the British CG-animated fantasy Doogal
(aka The Magic Roundabout), released in 2006.
Krasinski is best known as sales representative Jim Halpert, the
eternally patient, undeclared admirer of Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer)
on Greg Daniels' hit NBC sitcom “The Office”.
His career took off in 2006 with parts in three key features during
the holiday season. He was in “The Holiday (starring Jack Black,
Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, and Jude Law); Bill Condon's musical
"Dream Girls" alongside Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Jamie
Foxx, and Beyoncé Knowles; and Christopher Guest's showbiz
comedy, “For Your Consideration”, as the "Paper Badge"
Officer.
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