From legendary guests to unforgettable fandom moments, Comic-Con: The Cruise is a place where favorite worlds come to life at sea. Discover talent from Volume 1 and Volume 2, along with fandom celebrations that set this voyage apart.
Volume 2
Starring
Felicia Day
Guest Host
Guest Host
Felicia Day has acted in numerous television shows and films. She starred in Eureka, Supernatural, and The Magicians. She is currently appearing in her third season in the cult classic Mystery Science Theatre: 3000. Felicia also does extensive Voiceover work in animation and video games. Her IMDB, with over 100 credits, can be found here.
However, Felicia is best known for her work in the web video world, behind and in front of the camera. She co-starred with Neil Patrick Harris in the Emmy award winning musical Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. She also created and starred in the seminal web series The Guild (PGA nominated for “Best Web Series”) which ran for six seasons. The Guild won numerous awards for digital video excellence. Recently, costume and props from the show were admitted to the Smithsonian American History collection. She also founded a digital brand and production company called “Geek and Sundry” which subsequently sold to Legendary Entertainment.
Felicia currently works as an actor, writer, streamer and host. She hosts the official companion podcast for Amazon’s Rings of Power show, and conducts interviews with the casts of Netflix series such as Stranger Things and The Witcherfor the Unlocked series.
Felicia has written two New York Times bestselling books, “You’re Never Weird On the Internet,” and “Embrace Your Weird.” She also recently wrote the hit Audible Original “Third Eye”. She has over 6 million followers across social platforms.
Dominic Monaghan
Dom exploded onto the international scene by starring as Merry in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy and Charlie in Lost. After garnering almost universal acclaim for his portrayals, he found himself one of the busiest and hardest-working men in the industry. Dom has continued to star in major studio tentpoles like X-Men Origins: Wolverine, while also finding major success in the independent space with films like I Sell the Dead (which he also helped executive produce alongside Guillermo Del Toro).
Dom starred in his own Emmy and Critics’ Choice nominated wildlife documentary series Wild Things with Dominic Monoghan. His newest unscripted series, Billy and Dom Eat the World, follows Dom exploring foods around the world with his Lord of the Rings costar.
Billy Boyd
Billy Boyd was born in Glasgow Scotland where he began his acting and music career. Billy graduated from The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Throughout his artistic life Billy has focused on both acting and music (composing and singing) with significant success. His initial acting began on the Scottish stage when St. Andrews Repertory hired Billy for their production of The Slab Boys and followed to play the title role in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole. He has performed in several Shakespearean plays including playing Banquo in Macbeth at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London followed by the film. In the fall of 1998 Billy was cast in the role of Pippin in Peter Jackson’s trilogy of Lord Of The Rings. The New Line Cinema’s trilogy shot over 18 months in New Zealand The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and finally The Return of the King. Billy’s character sublimely combined drama and comedy that clearly enriched the film and his career. He also wrote and performed the stirring song “Edge of Night” in Return of the King in a Wonderful sequence with John Noble. When Peter Jackson shot The Hobbit Trilogy he brought Billy back to write and perform the closing song for the Trilogy. “The Last Goodbye” was played over the final credits of The Hobbit: The Battle Of Five Armies. To follow with his music, Billy created the Bee Cake Band that has had worldwide success. Billy has gone on to work with serious actors in interesting films and significant television. Some of his television appearances have been Moby Dick, The Simpsons, Grey’s Anatomy, Outlander, which he recurred, in Hollywood (Playing Noel Coward,) and just completed Doom Patrol. Billy did a guest role in Motive where here was nominated for a Canadian Academy award. To name a few of the Motion Pictures he starred in are Peter Weir’s Master and Commander, The Far Side of the World with Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany, and Stone of Destiny with Robert Carlyle and Kate Mara. Forger with Alfred Molina, Hayden Panettiere and Lauren Bacall. Most recently Billy starred with Edward James Olmos, George Lopez, and Kathleen Quinlan in Walking With Herb.
Jason Isaacs
Jason Isaacs starred as the unctuous Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, the brutal Colonel Tavington in The Patriot, Captain Hook and Mr Darling in Peter Pan, Ranger Commander Captain Steele in Black Hawk Down, D.J. – the ship’s doctor – in the cult classic Event Horizon, Major Briggs in Green Zone and the smartest man on the planet, Professor Quincy, in Armageddon amongst many others. On American TV he starred as lifelong criminal Michael Caffee in Showtime’s Brotherhood, FBI agent Peter Connelly in USA’s Dig, Jackson Brodie in the award-winning PBS show Case Studies, and Detective Michael Britten in NBC’s, dual reality drama Awake. As a voice actor he played The Grand Inquisitor in Star Wars Rebels, Admiral Zhao in Avatar – The Last Airbender, and hundreds of characters in dozens of well-known video games, none of which he can remember, (twice as Satan!). Most recently, you can see him as Gabriel Lorca in Star Trek: Discovery, and as “Hap” in Netflix’s The O.A.
Alex Kingston
Known for roles in some of the most popular television series in both the US and the UK, Alex Kingston began her career with a recurring role on the BBC teen drama Grange Hill. After appearing in such films as The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover and A Pin for the Butterfly, Kingston began appearing on the long-running medical drama ER in September of 1997.
2008 saw Alex in one of her most beloved recurring roles to genre fans when she guest-starred in the fourth series of Doctor Who. Her character River Song was such a hit with fans she has since appeared in fifteen episodes of the series and counting.
Since appearing on Doctor Who Alex has continued to show up on screens in such roles as Mrs. Bennet in the acclaimed four-part British television production Lost in Austen, based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice; Patricia Alwick, a psychiatrist and grief counselor in the perennially popular CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; returning character Miranda Pond, a defense attorney in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; and more notably as Professor Dinah Lance in the long running CW series Arrow.
Most recently, Alex can be seen in the role of Judith Gray in the UK thriller series The Widow, and as Sarah Bishop in the TV series A Discovery of Witches.
Arthur Darvill
Multi-faceted English born artist Arthur Darvill is best known to Whovians and genre fans alike for the role of Rory Williams, one of the Eleventh Doctor’s companions in the television series Doctor Who.
Darvill’s acting career began on the stage with membership at the Stage2 Youth Theatre Company, advancing to roles in large scale, professional productions such as Terre Haute, Stacy, and Swimming with Sharks alongside future Doctor Whoco-star, Matt Smith before making his BBC television debut on the crime drama He Kills Coppers. Following a role in the BBC serial Little Dorrit, Arthur could next be seen alongside Andy Serkis in the film Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, a biopic about British punk rock pioneer Ian Dury.
Darvill began playing Rory Williams, companion to the Eleventh Doctor, in the fifth series of Doctor Who. He became a regular character in the sixth series. His character, along with Karen Gillan’s Amy Pond, was written out of the show midway through Series 7.
Since his stint on Doctor Who, Arthur was also seen on the BBC miniseries The White Queen as the Duke of Buckingham. Always looking to challenge both himself and his audience, 2015 saw Arthur work opposite Doctor Whoalum David Tennant in the highly lauded BBC crime drama, Broadchurch.
Most recently, Arthur can be seen in the role of superhero, starring as Rip Hunter in the CW series DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, as well as in the popular Netflix series Sandman.
Ashley Eckstein
Ashley Eckstein has been widely recognized and honored as an actress, entrepreneur, author, and fangirl trendsetter. Most known as the voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars, Ashley also founded Her Universe in 2010—the groundbreaking fangirl fashion and lifestyle brand.
A leading authority on female fandom, Ashley has been featured on CNN, Forbes, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, among many others. She has been chosen by Good Housekeeping magazine as one of their “25 Awesome Women,” has been a speaker at Fortune Magazine’s Next Gen Most Powerful Women Summit, and was chosen by CNET as one of their “Women Who Inspire.”
Ashley is an accomplished actress and host, and can soon be heard again as the voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Disney+. Her book, It’s Your Universe: You Have the Power to Make It Happen, is an inspirational guide on how to make your dreams come true. She shares her own life lessons, as well as lessons from iconic Disney characters, as a road map for how to dream it and do it!
Ashley is married to former Major League Baseball player and World Series MVP David Eckstein. They both enjoy traveling the world, teaching kids how to achieve their dreams, and take their love of pizza very seriously.
Doug Jones
Doug Jones is a master of transformative performances, earning comparisons to legends like Boris Karloff. With a career spanning decades, Jones starred as Captain Saru in Star Trek: Discovery, hailed as one of the best Star Trek series to date. He also captivated audiences in Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning The Shape of Water and is set to appear as Count Orlok in the remake of Nosferatu.
Fans adore Jones as The Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and Abe Sapien in Hellboy and Hellboy II: The Golden Army, where he also portrayed The Chamberlain and The Angel of Death. In Pan’s Labyrinth, he brought to life the haunting Pale Man and Pan, delivering his performance entirely in Spanish.
Jones’ memorable roles include Billy Butcherson in Hocus Pocus, Cochise in Falling Skies, and The Gentleman in Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s acclaimed “Hush” episode.
Myq Kaplan
Myq “Mike” Kaplan has appeared on The Tonight Show, Conan, Letterman, James Corden, Seth Meyers, Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, and America’s Got Talent. His newest special “Rini” is out on YouTube starting November 19, 2025, at 8 PM Eastern Time. He also has a half-hour special on Comedy Central, a one-hour standup special on Amazon called Small, Dork, and Handsome, and a Dry Bar special called Live From The Universe, as well as two podcasts, The Faucet and Broccoli and Ice Cream, and a book of his jokes illustrated by Ramin Nazer called Heart Brain Art Train. His debut album, Vegan Mind Meld, was one of iTunes’ top 10 comedy albums of the year, and his last album, A.K.A., debuted at #1 and was called “invigoratingly funny” by the NY Times!
Markella Kavenagh
Currently stars as Nori in Amazon’s series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Markella can also be seen in the mini-series, Bad Behaviour. Previously, she played lead role in The Gloaming for Starz, as well as in the BBC miniseries The Cry, where she starred opposite Ewen Leslie and Asher Keddie. She can also be seen in the Australian miniseries Romper Stomper based on the critically acclaimed film. Additionally, Markella appeared in Amazon’s Picnic at Hanging Rock opposite Natalie Dormer.
In film, Markella can be seen in My First Summer and upcoming feature films 100 Nights of Hero and Watch Dogs.
Megan Richards
Megan can currently be seen playing a major series regular role, Harfoot ‘Poppy Proudfellow’, in Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Amazon Prime. The second series was released on Amazon last year and held the number one spot.
Megan is of Singaporean & British heritage. Previous screen credits include the mini-series, Wanderlust, written by Nick Payne and directed by Luke Snellin for Netflix and BBC One.
Megan just recorded a leading voice over role in an animated short film for Warner Brothers.
Tawny Platis
Tawny is a voice actor and content creator who has worked with clients like Disney+, HULU, Warner Brothers, Genshin Impact, Angry Birds, Raycon, Harvest Snaps, videos games and animated works like Symphony Of War 2, House on The Outlands, Garbage People, and has narrated novels alongside Aaron Shedlock for USA Today Bestselling authors Angela Sanders and Anna Applegate, and award winning author Natalie Symons. Tawny creates content across platforms like Tiktok, Instagram, and YouTube for over 1.4 million followers.
Bret Iwan
Bret Iwan has loved the legacy and story of Walt Disney for as long as he can remember, but never dreamt he would one day voice Walt’s most iconic character, Mickey Mouse. Iwan decided to pursue his love of art at Ringling College of Art and Design. Shortly after, he moved to Kansas City, to begin a career at Hallmark Greeting Cards. After learning of auditions being held to understudy with the third voice of Mickey Mouse, Wayne Allwine, Iwan wasted no time submitting his high pitched performance. Since 2009, Iwan has been the official voice of Mickey Mouse, providing the famous falsetto for Disney theme parks around the world, video games, toys, promotional material, game shows, live shows, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2009-2016), Mickey and the Roadster Racers (2017-2019), Mickey’s Mixed Up Adventures (2019), and Mickey Mouse Funhouse (2021) television series. When Iwan is not performing behind the microphone, he continues his passion for design, as well as wood working, restoration, and steam locomotive engineering. Since 2017, Iwan has worked as a steam mechanic, and engineer on several railroads, and is currently building his own steam locomotive, much like Walt Disney did.
The opportunities presented by the role continue to surprise him, and he looks forward to “fillin’ in for the boss” far into the future. Iwan resides in Los Angeles, California.
co-starring
nick diffatte comedy magician · robb pearlman author/industry insider · cutiepiesensei cosplay guest · yaya han cosplay guest · cowbut crunchies cosplay guests · designated debaters
partners
comic-con international · king features syndicates · doctor who · theonering.net · the joe kubert school · west coast adventures guild · magic the gathering: at sea
Artists’ alley
dan parent · amanda conner ·jimmy palmiotti · joe wos · billy tucci · megan hutchison · kevin nowlan · sanford greene · francine delgado · sarah myer
featuring
guardians of the groove party band · dj miss ninja
exhibitors
toddland · bat city comic professionals · russel walks illustration · chessex · con rangers ·toynk · tentacle kitty · doctor who · yesterdays enamel pins
Volume 1
Starring
Felicia Day
Felicia Day has acted in numerous television shows and films. She starred in Eureka, Supernatural, and The Magicians. She is currently appearing in her third season in the cult classic Mystery Science Theatre: 3000. Felicia also does extensive Voiceover work in animation and video games. Her IMDB, with over 100 credits, can be found here.
However, Felicia is best known for her work in the web video world, behind and in front of the camera. She co-starred with Neil Patrick Harris in the Emmy award winning musical Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. She also created and starred in the seminal web series The Guild (PGA nominated for “Best Web Series”) which ran for six seasons. The Guild won numerous awards for digital video excellence. Recently, costume and props from the show were admitted to the Smithsonian American History collection. She also founded a digital brand and production company called “Geek and Sundry” which subsequently sold to Legendary Entertainment.
Felicia currently works as an actor, writer, streamer and host. She hosts the official companion podcast for Amazon’s Rings of Power show, and conducts interviews with the casts of Netflix series such as Stranger Things and The Witcherfor the Unlocked series.
Felicia has written two New York Times bestselling books, “You’re Never Weird On the Internet,” and “Embrace Your Weird.” She also recently wrote the hit Audible Original “Third Eye”. She has over 6 million followers across social platforms.
Warwick Davis
As one of the fortunate little people who was hired to portray an Ewok in George Lucas’ Return of the Jedi, Warwick began his remarkable career at the young age of 11. It was truly a lucky break for Warwick, having responded to a radio advertisement soliciting undersized actors to audition for the film. Warwick was chosen partly due to his diminutive stature, and he quickly caught the attention of director Richard Marquand with his childish innocence and abundant fascination. The intense interest he displayed towards everything on the set was especially focused on the R2-D2 robot. Warwick was amazed with the workings of the droid and was always found investigating and examining it closely. Marquand transformed Warwick’s childhood curiosity into one of Jedi’s most memorable scenes: the little Ewok Wicket, on tiptoe, cautiously peering into the eye of R2D2 amid the trees of the Endor forest.
Warwick’s role as Wicket was reprised with two more Ewok movies, The Caravan of Courage an Ewok Adventure and The Battle for Endor. Warwick continued his rapport with Lucasfilm when he was invited by producer George Lucas and director Ron Howard to take the title role in the fantasy theme film Willow. As the character Willow, Warwick proved that even the tiniest of people could be the biggest of heroes when he fulfills his destiny protecting the baby princess and delivering her to safety.
Warwick’s acting career took a very different turn, however, when he donned the horrifying make-up and green suit, replete with striped tights and buckled shoes, that comprise his frightening costume in the movie, Leprechaun. The horror film became so popular with younger audiences and teens that it spawned five, all having Warwick in the starring role.
His relationship with Lucasfilm was sparked again as he returned to the set of the box office smash film, Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. Warwick managed four roles in Lucas’ long-awaited prequel, including Wald, the alien friend of Anakin Skywalker’s, and Weasel, the unsavory scoundrel friend of Anakin’s master Watto that cheers for the villainous Sebulba during the heart pounding podracing sequence.
Warwick has thrilled fans of science fiction and fantasy films for the past 20 years, and his career continued with his role in Warner Bros. motion pictures Harry Potter. He co-starred as Professor Flitwick, the warlock of levitation, in the film adaptation of the best-selling series of novels by author J.K. Rowling. And for all you Leprechaun fans check out Back to tha Hood (a.k.a Leprechaun 6). You can also see Warwick in a very serious role in the Academy Award winning film Ray.
George Takei
George Takei is known around the world for his role in the acclaimed original TV series Star Trek, in which he played Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the starship Enterprise. But Takei’s story, which includes an acting career that spans six decades, goes where few have gone before. From a childhood spent with his family wrongfully imprisoned in Japanese American incarceration camps during World War II to becoming one of the country’s leading figures in the fight for social justice, LGBTQ+ rights and marriage equality, Takei remains a powerful voice on issues ranging from politics to pop culture.
Takei’s acting credits include co-starring in six Star Trek movies and appearances on such TV series as Fresh Off the Boat, Supah Ninjas, Hawaii Five-0, The New Normal, The Big Bang Theory, Heroes, Psych, Will & Grace, Miami Vice, MacGyver, The Six Million Dollar Man, Mission: Impossible and The Twilight Zone, among numerous others.
In 2015, Takei made his Broadway debut in the musical Allegiance, which was inspired by his family’s true-life experiences during World War II. Takei made his London stage debut in “George Takei’s Allegiance” at the Charing Cross Theatre in 2023. In 2017, he starred in a revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures directed by John Doyle at Classic Stage Company in New York City.
Takei hosts the AARP-produced YouTube series Takei’s Take, exploring the world of technology, trends, current events, and pop culture, and is the subject of the documentary To Be Takei. On his own YouTube channel, Takei and his husband Brad Takei bring viewers into their personal lives in the “heightened reality” web series It Takeis Two. He was a series regular in the second season of Ridley Scott’s anthology drama The Terror: Infamy, which premiered on AMC in August 2019.
His rich baritone has provided narration for the Ken Burns / PBS series The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, the Peabody Award-winning radio documentary Crossing East, and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, for which Takei shared with Leonard Nimoy a Grammy Award nomination for Best Spoken Word Album. He has also done voiceover work for hundreds of video games, commercials, films and TV series such as Marvel’s Hit-Monkey, Sega’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Fox’s The Simpsons and Futurama; Disney’s Kim Possible, Mulan and Mulan 2; Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, Disney+ Star Wars: Visions, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Takei is the author of five books, including his autobiography, To the Stars. Takei’s Eisner Award winning and New York Times bestselling graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy was released in July 2019. Takei’s children’s picture book, My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story, illustrated by Michelle Lee, will go on-sale on April 16, 2024.
Takei has served as the spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign’s Coming Out Project and was Cultural Affairs Chairman of the Japanese American Citizens League. He is also Chair Emeritus and a trustee of the Japanese American National Museum. He was appointed to the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission by former President Clinton and the government of Japan awarded Takei the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, for his contribution to U.S.-Japanese relations. Takei received both bachelor and master of arts degrees from UCLA (’60, ’64). In June 2019, Takei received the Distinguished Alumni Award in Theater from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (UCLA TFT). In June 2016, California State University, Los Angeles, presented Takei with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. In September 2022, Takei received an honorary doctorate from the University of South Australia in recognition of his distinguished service to the community. In June 2023, the Graduate Center of The City University of New York conferred upon Takei the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.
In 2016, Los Angeles-born Takei was inducted into the California Museum’s California Hall of Fame. The California Museum says George and 96 other individuals inducted into the California Hall of Fame are “legendary people who embody California’s innovative spirit and have made their mark on history.”
Ernie Hudson
With over 100 film and television credits on his resume, Ernie Hudson has always been a unique screen presence, capable of inhabiting any role. Hudson is strongly identified with his starring role as Warden Leo Glynn on the critically acclaimed HBO series Oz. For his portrayal of the fair-minded warden, Hudson won the International Press Academy Golden Satellite Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series. Hudson just wrapped the highly prestigious original TNT film The Ron Clark Story starring opposite Matthew Perry. During this same year, Hudson starred in a wide variety of films including the award-winning HBO film Lackawanna Blues, Miss Hotchiss’ Charm School, and Miss Congeniality 2 reprising his role as FBI Asst. Director Harry McDonald. Hudson also starred in the ABC series 10-8 as Senior Deputy John Henry Barnes. Hudson is especially proud of his portrayal of simple-minded handyman Solomon in the box-office smash The Hand that Rocks the Cradle. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Hudson remains a beloved icon as Winston Zeddemore, one of the original Ghostbusters. Born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, a career as a performer seemed like an unlikely path for young Ernie Hudson, who was already married with a young son when he enrolled at Wayne State University as a Speech and English major. Hudson’s early ambition was to be a writer, and for a time served as the resident playwright at Detroit’s Concept East, the oldest black theater company in the country. Later, he founded Actors Ensemble Theater, where he and other black performers staged and appeared in their own original works. After attending Wayne State, Hudson accepted a full writing/acting scholarship to the prestigious Master of Fine Arts Program at Yale University. This led to a number of regional theater roles and critical acclaim, and his feature film debut in Leadbelly.
Hudson earned roles in feature films like The Main Event with Barbra Streisand, The Jazz Singer with Neil Diamond, and television projects like Abby Mann’s acclaimed mini-series King and the highly-rated Roots II. In 1983, Hudson was anointed as original Ghostbuster, Winston Zeddemore and his star was born. Hudson subsequently starred in films such as Weeds with Nick Nolte, Leviathan, Sugar Hill, The Cowboy Way, Speechless, The Basketball Diaries opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, Congo, and The Crow opposite the late Brandon Lee.
When he’s not working, Hudson likes to spend time relaxing at home with his wife and family and remains committed to developing all facets of his creativity, including his writing.
Mary McDonnell
Mary McDonnell is a two-time Oscar-nominated actress known for bringing powerful and complex female characters to the film and television landscape.
McDonnell most recently starred as Madeline Usher in the hit Netflix Miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher, written and directed by Mike Flanagan. She has been nominated for a Critics Choice Award for her portrayal of the powerful matriarch of the Usher family.
McDonnell recently starred as “Commander Sharon Raydor” on TNT’s hit series, Major Crimes, where she earned an Emmy Nomination for her portrayal of a woman at the pinnacle of her career navigating leadership in the traditionally male-dominated field of law enforcement. The series was honored by multiple community organizations including the LAPD, LAPD Reserve Foundation, GLSEN, Imagen Foundation and Covenant House.
McDonnell starred in Syfy’s AFI and Peabody award-winning Battlestar Galactica in her critically-praised performance as ‘President Laura Roslin’ (2008 Saturn Award – Best Actress on Television). An allegory of 9/11 and the War in Iraq, the series was widely acclaimed for its examination of the issues of war and human rights, and in 2009 McDonnell appeared on a panel at the United Nations to discuss the parallels between the show and real-world issues of terrorism, race relations and gender equality. McDonnell’s Broadway credits include Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke, the title role in Wendy Wasserstein’s Pulitzer Prize-winning The Heidi Chronicles and Emily Mann’s Execution of Justice.
Extensive film credits include Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for her portrayals of “Stands with Fist” in the Academy Award-winning film Dances with Wolves and as a paraplegic soap opera star in John Sayles’ Passion Fish. Other films include Lawrence Kasdan’s Grand Canyon and Mumford , Sneakers opposite Robert Redford and Sidney Poitier and Independence Day.
In 2015 McDonnell received the Gina Award from Women in Film, and the Leadership Excellence Advocacy (LEA) Award in 2017 from Women in Cable Telecommunications. In 2018 McDonnell was honored with the Pell Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts, presented by Trinity Repertory Company. Currently McDonnell is producing projects for TV and film.
Tricia Helfer
Tricia Helfer is a Canadian covergirl model-turned-actress with a storied career and natural screen presence. Tricia currently just wrapped independent features PRIMITIVE WAR, playing a Russian scientist during the Vietnam War, and HELLO BEAUTIFUL, playing the lead role – a true story of a woman fighting breast cancer, based off the best selling book “Walk Beside Me.”
Recently Tricia starred in the Starz series STEP UP as the District Attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, alongside Neyo and Enrique Murciano. She also had the final season of the Syfy/Netflix series VAN HELSING air, playing none other than the iconic vampire of legend, Dracula.
She can be seen in the Lionsgate feature BOMBSHELL with Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie. Prior to VAN HELSING, Tricia starred in Netflix’s LUCIFER, switching gears from the role as Lucifer’s mother Charlotte to an attorney by the same name in the third season. Perhaps best known for her Leo award-winning role as the humanoid Cylon ‘Number Six’ in the critically acclaimed Syfy show BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, Tricia has also had leading roles in Syfy’s ASCENSION, ABC’s KILLER WOMEN, Jerry Bruckheimer’s DARK BLUE, and a variety of terrific roles in hit series such as BURN NOTICE, TWO AND A HALF MEN, CHUCK, LIE TO ME, SUITS, KEY AND PEELE, COMMUNITY, FRANKLIN & BASH, and countless others.
Adding to her impressive resume, Tricia can be seen on the big screen in films such as NBC’s BEHIND THE CAMERA: THE UNAUTHORIZED STORY OF CHARLIE’S ANGELS, playing Farrah Fawcett; in MEMORY opposite Dennis Hopper and Billy Zane; A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO ENDINGS with Harvey Keitel, Scott Caan, and JK Simmons; and AUTHORS ANONYMOUS with Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting. Tricia has also done prolific voiceover work in mega-hit video game franchises, playing Commander Veronica Dare in Halo: ODST, EDI in Mass Effect 2 and 3, and Sarah Kerrigan in Blizzard Entertainment’s StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, winning the 2010 VGA for Best Performance by a Human Female.
Tricia, a dual citizen of the US and Canada, currently resides between Los Angeles, CA and Chattahoochee Hills, GA.
Grace Park
Prior to HAWAII FIVE-0, Grace Park was beloved by audiences for her starring role on the critically acclaimed series “Battlestar Galactica,” in which she played not one, but two leading roles. Her performance in the season one cliffhanger garnered her a place in TV Guide’s “100 Most Memorable Moments in TV History.” The series received a Peabody Award in 2006 and has been named one of television’s best shows by Rolling Stone , TV Guide , The New York Times Magazine , Entertainment Weekly and Newsday . Park earned a nomination for Outstanding Newcomer Award in 2006 by the “Asian Excellence Awards” for her work in the series.
For her role on HAWAII FIVE-0, Park brought to life the iconic role of Kono Kalakaua (not as a man as originally written, but as a woman!) was nominated in both 2011 and 2012 for a “Teen Choice Award” for Choice TV Actress: Action. In 2010, she received the “Achievement Award in Entertainment” by the KoreAm Awards. In 2014, Park was honored with the “Asian Hall of Fame Award” and “APEX Inspiration Award.”
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Canada, Park received a degree in psychology from the University of British Columbia before turning her attention to film and television. Early on, she was cast in the Canadian teen drama “Edgemont” as she pursued her dramatic studies. Years later Park would return to the Canadian airwaves starring in the television series “The Border” for which she was nominated for a “Gemini Award” for Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role. In addition, her credits include the acclaimed cable series “The Cleaner,” starring opposite Benjamin Bratt. Also, Park appeared in the stage production of “The Boys Next Door”, and most recently “A Million Little Things” on ABC/Hulu.
Rekha Sharma
Rekha Sharma is a Canadian actress of Indo-Fijian descent. Lauded for her recent role as the mysterious badass Jessica Roberts on the Emmy-Award-winning Showtime hit series Yellowjackets, Rekha is known for her ability to bring passion, strength, humour, and vulnerability to her work.
Widely known for her portrayal of the elegant yet fierce ‘politician- turned-Cylon’ Tory Foster in Syfy’s AFI and Peabody Award-winning Battlestar Galactica, Rekha’s performance in Season 3 garnered her a place in TV Guide’s “100 Most Memorable Moments in TV History.” Battlestar Galactica has been named one of television’s best shows by Rolling Stone, TV Guide, The New York Times Magazine, Entertainment Weekly and Newsday.
Having carved out a place for herself in the genre world, she was thrilled to return to Sci-Fi years later to join the legacy that is CBS’s iconic Star Trek. She played three different versions of the militant Security officer Commander Landry across multiple universes, and was considered by many to be one of the “least Starfleet” (and most fascinating) Star Trek characters ever.
Rekha’s early years were spent mostly in the forests of North Vancouver, BC playing make-believe with her friends, drawing, painting, and obsessing over dogs. She knew from a young age she wanted to live her life as an artist, but she couldn’t have dreamt up what was ahead of her. Now based in Hollywood, CA, Rekha loves cooking, eating, spending time in nature, being with her loved ones, and attempting to meditate.
Rekha’s numerous credits include Susan Redman in The Cleaning Lady, Neeta Devi in Transplant, Shivani in Roswell, New Mexico, Dominique Crain in The Imperfects, Aunt Fern in The Binge 2, Ursula Monroe in Another Life, Dr. Lorelei Tsing in The 100, Claire Abbot in Arrow, Nisha Patel in Nikita, Sarita Malik in V, Kali in Supernatural, Nurse Helen in Alien vs Predator: Requiem, Dr. Harden on Smallville, Danni in The Core. She is currently filming a dark thriller TV series to be released on AppleTV+ sometime next year.
Amy Jo Johnson
Amy Jo Johnson is a versatile force in the entertainment industry, known for her memorable roles in Power Rangers, Felicity, and Flashpoint. She has expanded her talents to filmmaking with her acclaimed debut feature film, Tammy’s Always Dying, which starred Oscar-nominated Felicity Huffman and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. As a musician, Amy Jo has released three albums and is preparing to launch her forthcoming EP, Still Here, with an announcement on its release date expected soon.
In addition, Amy Jo has entered the world of comic book writing with the successful launch of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return. This four-issue series revisits the iconic role that kickstarted her career, offering a nostalgic journey for long-time fans!
Amy Jo will be also be joining bandmates Scott Grimes and Greg Grunberg as part of The Action Figures Band onboard Comic-Con: The Cruise!
Greg Grunberg
Greg Grunberg is best known from Star Wars, Star Trek, A Star is Born and alongside Al Pacino in the film Paterno. As well as on series Heroes, Lost, Alias and Felicity.
Currently Grunberg is starring in new series Duster for HBOMax.
A strong advocate in the Epilepsy community, Grunberg created TalkAboutIt.org & TalkAboutItOnVideo.com as well as his podcast Talk About It.
Most recently, Greg is shooting The Caregiver Series in partnership with Jazz Pharmaceuticals on YouTube (TheCareGiverSeries.com).
Greg’s graphic novel series Dream Jumper is out now from Scholastic.
And Grunberg started the celebrity party band for hire: The Action Figures (TheActionFiguresBand.com).
Virginia Gardner
Virginia Gardner is establishing herself as one of the industry’s most exciting young actresses on the big and small screen. Gardner is known for her role as ‘Karolina Dean’ in Hulu’s original Marvel series “Runaways” for three seasons, created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. Based off the Marvel comic book series, the show centered on a group of teenagers who band together to run away from their homes to atone for their parents’ super villain actions, and to discover the secrets of their origins.
In 2015, Gardner made her feature film debut as ‘Christina Raskin’ in Paramount Pictures’ “Project Almanac,” which was produced by Michael Bay. Additional film credits include “GOAT,” which premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival opposite Nick Jonas and Ben Schnetzer, as well as the independent film “Starfish.”
More recently, Gardner was seen recurring on HBO’s “Righteous Gemstones” opposite Danny McBride and John Goodman, in David Gordon Green’s “Halloween” feature for Universal with Jamie Lee Curtis, and in Netflix film “All the Bright Places” with Elle Fanning and Luke Wilson.
Gardner appeared on Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Stories” on FX, in the feature film “Fall” with Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and on Starz’s “Gaslit” opposite Julia Roberts and Sean Penn.
This year, she co-led Voltage’s “Beautiful Wedding,” reprising her role opposite Dylan Sprouse from “Beautiful Disaster,” based on the Jamie McGuire’s novels of the same name. Virginia will also star opposite Lucy Hale in Lionsgate-Buzzfeed’s comedy-thriller, F*** Marry Kill, slated to release later this year.
She currently resides in Los Angeles.
Grace Caroline Currey
Grace Caroline Currey has been in back-to-back films across every genre. Most recently, she toplined The Breed, an unconventional reimagination of the Wes Craven classic. Grace was also the lead of the Lionsgate adventure thriller, Fall, directed by Scott Mann, which was released theatrically, as well as portrayed Superhero Mary Marvel and Mary Bromfield in the Warner Bros and DC Entertainment franchise sequel, Shazam: Fury of the Gods. Prior to that she starred in New Line’s popular Conjuring franchise, Annabelle: Creation. Grace brings her boyfriend home to meet the parents in the rom-com, Most Guys are Losers, based on the best-selling book. She has studied at the renowned Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and was nominated for Best Actress at the Milan International Film Festival for her role in Badland, an indie feature with Vinessa Shaw. She is also a trained ballerina to boot!
Ethan Embry
Ethan Embry has been working in film and television for over 35 years, debuting in the John Hughes cult classic, Dutch and more recently in the longest running series on Netflix, Grace and Frankie. Filling out the middle of his career with iconic roles in Empire Records, Vegas Vacation, Can’t Hardly Wait, Sweet Home Alabama, and the Tom Hanks directorial debut, That Thing You Do. It was just announced that he is joining the cast of Scream 7. Ethan currently lives in Atlanta Georgia and it’s OK that his hairline is receding so far back, because he is in fact a grandfather. Yes, you are that old Ethan Embry is a grandfather.
Jonah Ray
Jonah Ray is a Hawaiian born stand-up comedian, actor, director and podcast host. Ray currently stars as Jonah Heston in the Netflix series Mystery Science Theater: 3000 The Return. Recently, he has co-hosted a Comedy Central show “The Meltdown w/ Jonah Ray & Kumail Nanjiani,” Wrote and starred in the travel parody show “Hidden America with Jonah Ray,” appeared in the latest installment in the Hatchet franchise, “Victor Crowley” and shows up on Talking Dead every once in a while. Jonah also co-hosts the Nerdist (now ID10T) podcast, which he started with Chris Hardwick while working as a writer and producer at the G4 Network shows Attack of the Show and Web Soup.
Sam Jones
Sam has over 75 films and numerous television shows to his credit. He is best known as Flash Gordon, The Spirit, The Highwayman, SG-1’s The Bounty Hunter and for his memorable comedic performances in TED and TED 2.
As an Actor-Producer for 45 years and a Marine for 50 years (once a Marine always a Marine), Sam brings a rare and unique quality to the film industry, as well as to the public speaking circuit, or as Sam would say “To the human condition circuit.”
With hundreds of public speaking appearances (in the past 20 years), Sam’s common-sense, practical thinking, life-changing message reaches every age, ethnicity, culture and economic demographic. “We as human beings are designed for community and for helping others.” So, in this world – filled with self-centeredness, confusion and uncertainty – We need to step-up and be doers in serving others before self, with an unwavering mind-set of “If not me, then who? And if not you, then who?
Sam is the recipient of numerous Entertainment, Civic and Humanitarian awards including:
- Former National Chairman of Kid City, John Rossi Youth Foundation, Santa Monica, California.
- Saturn Award, presented by The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror
Films. - ICFA Nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.
- The Outstanding Achievement Award in the Entertainment Industry, presented by the Southern California Motion Picture Council.
- Courageous Citizen of the Year, presented by District Attorney of Los Angeles County, The California State Senate, The City of Los Angeles, and The North Hollywood Division of the Los Angeles Police Department.
- USMC Air Station Miramar’s Military Police Unit’s Certificate of Appreciation for providing high-risk environment personal security training for Iraq Deployment.
Melody Anderson
From Flash Gordon’s Lady Love Dale Arden, to becoming a respected expert on treating families facing addiction, loss and trauma, Melody Anderson offers her compassion, humor and intelligence.
Melody Anderson is the Poster-Child for Life Change. Her varied careers include modeling, performing as an on-air journalist for radio and television, having a successful acting career, writing screenplays made into films, selling her paintings and lecturing to the international medical community about addiction. Whether discussing how to adapt to challenges in life, or discussing Hollywood, Ms. Anderson is the guest speaker who can discuss any topic.
After a successful 17-year career on stage, film and television, Ms. Anderson completed her Masters in Social Work from New York University in 1997. She created and was the coordinator of the Family and Out-Patient programs for Hazelden in New York. Ms. Anderson is trained in several techniques to treat trauma. She has brought this training to several addiction treatment centers in Los Angeles and New York. She developed a call-in radio-therapy program, “A New Day,” for WWRL in New York City. Currently, she has private practices in Los Angeles & New York, is The Clinical Director for Friendly House, a women’s addiction treatment center and is writing a book for parents with children who abuse drugs.
Media savvy, she was interviewed about addiction and the family on the ShowTime Documentary by the academy-award winning director, Robert Zemeckis and has appeared on CBS radio, CBS’s Morning Show and several talk shows.
Ted Lange
Ted Lange is a graduate of London’s Royal Academy with a career as a prolific director, writer, and actor since the 1980s. This classical background as well as his years before the camera have enabled him to become known as an actor’s director inspiring not only emotional but also comedic scenes.
His four-camera directing expertise includes sixty episodes for Entertainment Studios’, The First Family and Mr. Box Office, and twelve episodes of Are We There Yet?, for Executive Producer, Ali Leroi.
His one-camera directing experience is showcased in the independent films, Othello and For Love of Amy as well as the one-camera television comedies, The New Gidget and The Brothers Garcia for Universal.
The Fall Guy and Mike Hammer exemplify his directorial work in action shows.