‘THE WISH LIST’
CAST BIOS
JENNIFER ESPOSITO (Sarah Fischer) – With talent spanning the comedic to the dramatic, and an impressive body of work encompassing film, television and theater, Jennifer Esposito is one of the most sought after actresses in Hollywood. Esposito most recently starred opposite Christina Applegate on the ABC hit comedy “Samantha Who?” as best friend Andrea, a hilarious, self-obsessed, bad-girl lush. The show won a 2008 People’s Choice Award for Best New Comedy.
Esposito’s most recent acclaimed film role was in “Crash,” a drama following a talented ensemble including Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon and Terrence Howard through the streets of Los Angeles as they careen in and out of each other’s lives. “Crash” won an Oscar® for Best Picture of the Year, and the cast received a Critics Choice Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe for Outstanding Performance by a Cast.
Esposito’s film career took off after her notable breakthrough performance in Spike Lee’s “Summer of Sam.” Esposito went on to appear in “Don’t Say A Word” with Michael Douglas and Brittany Murphy and “Made” with Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn. She later joined another impressive cast including Luis Guzman, William H. Macy, Sam Rockwell, Patricia Clarkson and George Clooney in “Welcome to Collinwood,” directed by the Russo brothers.
Esposito’s comedic talents secured her roles opposite Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon in 20th Century Fox’s comedy “Taxi” and Screen Gem’s romantic comedy “Breaking All the Rules” with Jamie Foxx. Other film credits include “Kiss Me Guido,” “No Looking Back,” “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer,” “Side Streets,” “The Bachelor” and Wes Craven’s “Dracula 2000.”
The Brooklyn native launched her TV career in 1996, after garnering favorable notice as Stacey Paterno, the spunky Italian-American mayoral secretary in “Spin City.” Most recently she guest starred on FX’s “Rescue Me” opposite Dennis Leary, and had a starring role on the WB’s “Related” and multiple guest-appearances on NBC’s “Law & Order.”
Esposito studied for three years at Lee Strasberg Institute in New York. After studying she ventured to Off-Broadway. Esposito’s last stage performance was in Eric Overmyer’s Dark Rapture with Marissa Tomei and Scott Glenn.
### DAVID SUTCLIFFE (Fred Jones) – Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, David Sutcliffe attended the University of Toronto. There, he was bit by the acting bug, which he pursued professionally after graduation.
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Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, Sutcliffe landed series regular roles on two television series: “Cold Feet” and “Grapevine.” Audiences may best recognize Sutcliffe from his role as Christopher on the Emmy® Award-winning series “Gilmore Girls,” in which he played father to Alexis Bledel’s character and ex-husband to Lauren Graham’s.
Sutcliffe was recently seen on “Private Practice,” playing Kate Walsh’s love interest. He also starred as an average-Joe schoolteacher who falls in love with a movie star in his own comedy series, “I’m With Her,” opposite Teri Polo, and has had recent guest appearances in the CBS comedy, “Accidentally on Purpose,” starring Jenna Elfman.
On the film front, Sutcliffe played opposite America Ferrara in the independent drama “Towards Darkness.” His film, “Happy Endings,” was the Opening Night Film at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005. The film was directed by Don Roos, and Sutcliffe was part of an esteemed cast that included Lisa Kudrow, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Tom Arnold and Steve Coogan.
Additional credits include Disney's “Under the Tuscan Sun,” starring Diane Lane, the independent drama “Testosterone” and romantic comedy “Cake,” opposite Heather Graham.
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MARK DEKLIN (Erik) – Mark Deklin grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, where he divided most of his free time between theater, sports and music. As an undergraduate at Penn State, he remained actively involved with all three. He traveled extensively after graduation, working at a variety of odd jobs before heading to Indiana to teach and earn his M.A. in English Literature from Indiana University, while still taking acting classes and doing local theater just for fun.
Finally, he dropped out of graduate school and moved to Seattle to join its then-burgeoning theater community, where he earned his M.F.A. from the University of Washington’s highly esteemed Professional Actor Training Program, as well as his union cards and a certification with the Society of American Fight Directors. After graduating, Deklin worked primarily in Seattle and San Francisco as an actor, fight director and sound designer, and then moved to New York, where he continued to establish himself for nearly a decade.
Currently, Deklin can be seen as Sam in the SyFy miniseries “Riverworld” and as the libidinous gothic magician Mordor the Unforgiving on ABC’s “Better Off Ted.” His other television credits include recurring roles on “Desperate Housewives,” “The Ex List,” “Shark” and “Justice,” as well as guest starring roles on “Life On Mars,” “Big Love,” “Nip/Tuck,” “Sex & the City,” “CSI: NY,” “Frasier,” “Las Vegas,” “CSI: Miami,” “Nathan’s Choice,” “Hot Properties,” “Charmed,” “Four Kings,” “Nash Bridges” and “Ed,” as well as PBS’ “Great Performances.” Among his many commercial appearances, he is perhaps most recognizable as the sagacious, environmentally friendly “Subaru Guy.”
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Some of Deklin’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits have included Cyrano de Bergerac, Sweet Smell of Success, The Lion King, Macbeth and As You Like It. He has worked at regional theaters across the country, performing a wide range of roles in such plays as Othello, Hay Fever, Romeo & Juliet, The Big Slam, Troilus & Cressida and The Taming of the Shrew.
On the big screen, Deklin has had roles in “Mini’s First Time,” “Herbie Fully Loaded,” “Forced Alliance,” “Out of Body,” “Phantom Below,” “Caller ID,” “Wetting the Ashes,” “Twin Set,” “Only Slightly,” “A Little Cloud” and “Never Say Macbeth.”
He currently divides his time living in Los Angeles and New York with his wife, Jamie, their dogs, Oscar and Zoe, their baby daughter, Kylie.
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SYDNEY PENNY (Chloe) – Growing up in Los Angeles, Sydney Penny studied acting, ballet, jazz, tap, gymnastics and acrobatics. Her career began in earnest at the age of six when she appeared in a commercial for a ballerina doll, “Dancerella.” Penny went on to do scores of commercials pitching products such as Barbie, McDonald’s and Pop Tarts. Penny’s first role was in “Through the Magic Pyramid,” directed by Ron Howard.
At age 10, Penny was chosen to portray Young Meggie in the ABC miniseries, “The Thornbirds.” She held her own opposite heavyweights Richard Chamberlain, Barbara Stanwyck and Jean Simmons, earning her critical acclaim and a Youth in Film Award. In 1985, Clint Eastwood cast Penny in her first feature as Megan Wheeler, the young girl who falls in love with the enigmatic preacher in “Pale Rider.” For her work, Penny was awarded a second Youth in Film Award.
In 1992, Penny appeared daily as BJ Walker in NBC’s daytime series, “Santa Barbara,” earning a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Younger Leading Actress. The next year, Penny moved to New York to appear as Julia Santos on the ABC daytime drama, “All My Children.” Penny and co-star Keith Hamilton Cobb were dubbed Soap Opera Digest’s hottest couple and Penny earned a second Emmy nomination. Several years later, Penny returned to television in the WB series, “Hyperion Bay,” and secured a recurring role on “Beverly Hills 90210.”
In 2003, Penny returned to Los Angeles to portray Samantha Kelly on CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Other recent projects also include the McBride mystery “The Doctor is Out, Really Out,” as well as the television movie “Hidden Places,” co-starring Shirley Jones and Jason Gedrick, both airing on Hallmark Channel.
Penny and her husband have a son, Chasen, born in 2007, and two Siamese cats. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, riding horses and hiking, and sings and speaks French fluently.
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