Celebrities & Entertainment – SPEAKING.com Keynote Speakers Bureau https://speaking.com Remarkable Keynote Speakers for Memorable Events. Tue, 07 Feb 2023 23:11:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.5.12 https://speaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cropped-speaking-icon-32x32.png Celebrities & Entertainment – SPEAKING.com Keynote Speakers Bureau https://speaking.com 32 32 Angela Bassett https://speaking.com/speakers/angela-bassett/ https://speaking.com/speakers/angela-bassett/#respond Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://speaking.com/Speakers/angela-bassett/ Alluring audiences with emotionally tinged performances has been the signature of Angela Bassett, who personifies a sense of dignity and pride whenever she appears on screen. Her talent and abilities Read More

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Alluring audiences with emotionally tinged performances has been the signature of Angela Bassett, who personifies a sense of dignity and pride whenever she appears on screen. Her talent and abilities as an actress and executive producer in both television and film have time and time again earned the respect and acclaim from her peers and fans, proving her to be one of the industry’s premier leading ladies.

Bassett is currently starring in the hit series American Horror Story. Some of her previous work includes, the 20th Century Fox film This Means War with Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Waiting to Exhale, and Malcolm X. Ms. Bassett also starred with Samuel L. Jackson in the Broadway premiere of Katori Hall’s Olivier Award-winning play “Mountaintop,” a gripping reimagining of events the night before the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

She is perhaps best known for her intense portrayal of Tina Turner in the biopic What’s Love Got to Do with It, for which she earned a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama, an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture, and an Academy Award nomination for her powerful performance.

Along with her husband, actor Courtney B. Vance, Angela Bassett co-wrote the book, Friends: A Love Story. The inspirational book is the real-life love story of Bassett and Vance, who were friends for many years before marrying. They have also formed Bassett/Vance Productions and their first venture, United States, marks Bassett’s directorial debut; it is based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett.

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LeVar Burton https://speaking.com/speakers/levar-burton/ https://speaking.com/speakers/levar-burton/#respond Wed, 29 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://speaking.com/Speakers/levar-burton/ Speaker LeVar Burton has been capturing the attention of admiring audiences and industry peers for three decades, and continues to enjoy a career longevity truly rare within the industry. Whether Read More

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Speaker LeVar Burton has been capturing the attention of admiring audiences and industry peers for three decades, and continues to enjoy a career longevity truly rare within the industry. Whether acting, directing, producing or writing, Burton has demonstrated that he can do it all.

As if following some implausible Hollywood scenario, Burton’s first professional audition, while pursuing his undergraduate studies at USC, led to his being cast as “Kunta Kinte” in the acclaimed miniseries Roots. The phenomenal success of Roots launched his career as an actor, and more importantly, earned his performance as “Kunta Kinte” a lasting status as a worldwide icon representing the indomitability of the human spirit. What followed were starring roles in a string of television movies, including One in a Million: The Ron Leflore Story, Dummy, Grambling’s White Tiger, The Guyana Tragedy and A Roots Christmas: Kunta Kinte’s Gift. Among his early feature film credits are Looking for Mr. Goodbar with acclaimed writer/director Richard Brooks, and Steve McQueen’s final motion picture, The Hunter.

An avowed science fiction buff as well as a devoted fan of the unique vision of Gene Rodenberry, Burton has directed numerous episodes of all four Star Trek series: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise, and considers his longtime association with the Star Trek franchise nothing short of a dream come true. Growing up in the ‘60s and ‘70s, Burton remembers it as a time “rare to encounter portrayals of people who looked like [him] represented in the popular culture.” Having both appeared in and directed a plethora of Trek incarnations over the years, he adamantly adheres to his optimistic point of view of the future, saying, “I’m betting on our ultimate success at rising to our highest level of human expression.”

After 25 seasons as the host and executive producer of the highly acclaimed PBS children’s television series Reading Rainbow, Burton ended his longtime commitment to the show in favor of exploring other avenues of creative expression. While taking great pride in the series’ role in garnering him a total of 13 Emmy Awards, five NAACP Awards and numerous nominations, he is most proud of Reading Rainbow’s ability to “use the medium of television to help create generations of Americans who are passionate readers.”

Burton has directed various episodes of Charmed and Las Vegas. His first dramatic television movie, The Tiger Woods Story, which he directed for Showtime, received great critical acclaim as well as three Emmy nominations. He also directed the enormously popular Disney Channel original film, Smart House.

In 2006, Burton received a Grammy for his narration of the book, The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. He has also recorded on tape The Watsons Go to Birmingham, The Miles Davis Story, The Jackie Robinson Story, and The Tenth Insight and The Celestine Vision by James Redfield, author of The Celestine Prophecy.

Today, while primarily focusing his energy behind the camera as a successful film and television director, Burton sees himself as a trained storyteller, who is “in love with the visual medium.” His first feature film, Blizzard, was shot in Toronto and Quebec City, stars Whoopi Goldberg, Christopher Plummer, Brenda Blethyn, and Kevin Pollak, and was produced by Robert Schwartz and Ralph Winter. His most recent feature film project, Reach for Me, starring Alfre Woodard and Seymour Cassel, is currently playing to enthusiastic audiences on the independent festival circuit.

In 2014, LeVar Burton launched a Kickstarter program to reboot Reading Rainbow, and raised over five times their goal of $1,000,000, eventually reaching almost five-and-a-half million dollars.

Burton was born in Landsthul, West Germany where his father was stationed during military service. He was two years old when his family returned to the United States.

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Tyra Banks https://speaking.com/speakers/tyra-banks/ https://speaking.com/speakers/tyra-banks/#respond Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0000 https://speaking.com/Speakers/tyra-banks/ Expanding the definition of beauty is something Tyra Banks has always believed in, as a supermodel and as a super-businesswoman. Six modeling agencies rejected her before she was signed at Read More

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Expanding the definition of beauty is something Tyra Banks has always believed in, as a supermodel and as a super-businesswoman. Six modeling agencies rejected her before she was signed at the age of 15 years old. Now, hundreds of magazine covers and thousands of runways later, Tyra grooms the next generation of models to make their dreams come true. For the last decade, she has been the Creator and Executive Producer of America’s Next Top Model (ANTM), the first and longest running fashion competition-based reality television series. ANTM which aired in 186 counties and has 26 international versions that span from Asia’s Next Top Model to Africa’s Next Top Model.

An original Victoria’s Secret Angel, Tyra was also the first model to grace the cover of GQ and the first African-American model to be featured on the covers of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, which featured her for two consecutive years, and the Victoria’s Secret catalogue. She was named one of Hollywood Reporter’s “100 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment” and Entertainment Weekly’s “25 Smartest in Television”. She was honored as one of Glamour Magazine’s coveted “Women of the Year”, alongside Former U.S. Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Rodham Clinton. She won two Emmy Awards for The Tyra Show, the first show ever to receive the award in the new “Informative” category. Her infamous line, “KISS MY FAT ASS!”, made TV Guide Magazine’s 60 Greatest Talk Show Moments. She was listed twice on Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World”, and she took the #1 spot on Forbes’ list of top earning women in primetime for two years in a row. She is the author of a New York Times bestselling book, Modelland, and was named one of Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People”.

Tyra is CEO of The Tyra Banks Company – a place where beauty meets entertainment. In 2012, she graduated from the Owner/President Management program at Harvard Business School and is a proud alum. She recently developed Fierce Capital, the investment arm of The Tyra Banks Company, which invests in early-stage companies, including firms that are female-led or female-focused. Her passion is the TZONE Foundation, a non-profit organization that invests in young women to help them realize their ambitions and approach life’s challenges with fierce determination. The TZONE has transformed over the years and now takes residence at the Lower Eastside Girls Club Center for Community in New York City. The Tyra Banks TZONE at the Lower Eastside Girls Club is a rapidly growing program for girls, ages 11-14. The future roll-out of the complete TZONE curriculum will consist of a three-month program that focuses on five core pillars: entrepreneurship, financial literacy, elocution and self presentation, health and wellness, and self-esteem, beauty and body image.

She’s addicted to social media and cosmetics and can even do your makeup like a pro! She loves barbeque, photo apps, and freckles, but she hates all things chocolate. She’s an inventor of words: “SMIZE” (smile with your eyes), “Ty-over” (a Tyra-style makeover), and “H2T” (head to toe).

Tyra believes that perfect is boring, and human is beautiful!

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Jane Fonda https://speaking.com/speakers/jane-fonda/ https://speaking.com/speakers/jane-fonda/#respond Sun, 13 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://speaking.com/Speakers/jane-fonda/ Jane Fonda is an actor, author, producer and activist supporting environmental issues, peace and female empowerment. She founded the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, and established the Jane Fonda Read More

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Jane Fonda is an actor, author, producer and activist supporting environmental issues, peace and female empowerment. She founded the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, and established the Jane Fonda Center for Adolescent Reproductive Health at Emory. She cofounded the Women’s Media Center, and sits on the board of V-Day, a global effort to stop violence against women and girls.

Fonda’s remarkable screen and stage career includes two Best Actress Oscars, an Emmy, a Tony Award nomination and an Honorary Palme d’Or from the Cannes Film Festival.

Offstage, she revolutionized the fitness industry in the 1980s with Jane Fonda’s Workout — the all-time top-grossing home video. She has written a best-selling memoir, My Life So Far, and Prime Time, a comprehensive guide to living life to the fullest.

Jane Fonda was the daughter of actor Henry Fonda. She left Vassar College after two years and lived in New York City, where she worked as a model and in 1958 studied acting under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio. Her acting career began with appearances in the Broadway play There Was a Little Girl (1960) and the motion picture Tall Story (1960), and she went on to appear in numerous comic films in the 1960s, including Cat Ballou (1965) and Barefoot in the Park (1967).

Fonda’s subsequent, more-substantial roles were in such socially conscious films as They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969), Klute (1971), Coming Home (1978), and The China Syndrome (1979). She received Academy Awards for best actress for her performances as a call girl in Klute and as the wife of a Vietnam War soldier in Coming Home. Fonda then joined Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin in Nine to Five (1980), a comedy in which three women join forces to get even with their cruel misogynistic boss.

In 1981 she costarred with her father and Katharine Hepburn in the film On Golden Pond. Fonda’s other movies in the 1980s include Agnes of God (1985) and The Morning After (1986). Following her turn as a struggling widow in Stanley & Iris (1990), Fonda took a break from acting and did not reappear onscreen until 2005, when she starred opposite Jennifer Lopez in the romantic comedy Monster-in-Law. Her later films include Georgia Rule (2007), Peace, Love & Misunderstanding (2011), Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013), and This Is Where I Leave You (2014).

In 2009 Fonda returned to Broadway, after a 46-year absence, to portray a dying musicologist in “33 Variations.” She also had a recurring role on the television drama The Newsroom (2012–14). She then starred opposite Lily Tomlin in the Netflix television comedy Grace and Frankie (2015), about two women whose husbands leave them for each other.

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Dr. Drew Pinsky https://speaking.com/speakers/dr-drew-pinksy/ https://speaking.com/speakers/dr-drew-pinksy/#respond Sat, 25 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://speaking.com/Speakers/dr-drew-pinksy/ Dr. Drew Pinsky is a practicing physician, Board Certified in Internal Medicine, and Board Certified in Addiction Medicine. Pinsky is also Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Keck USC Read More

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Dr. Drew Pinsky is a practicing physician, Board Certified in Internal Medicine, and Board Certified in Addiction Medicine. Pinsky is also Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Keck USC School of Medicine.

Pinsky starred in the hit reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew which chronicled the struggle for sobriety and the cycle of addictive disorders of a group of celebrities. The sixth installment of the series Rehab with Dr. Drew followed the real-life experiences of everyday people who are struggling with addiction as they undergo detoxification and treatment.

In December 2010 Dr. Drew Pinsky joined HLN as the host of his own nightly show Dr. Drew On Call where he continues to attract audiences and explores what makes people do what they do. Dr. Drew is also the host of the nationally syndicated radio show Loveline where he has been taking calls from listeners about love, sex and relationships for over 25 years.

Additionally, Pinsky hosts the Dr. Drew Podcast, which is currently the #1 health podcast on iTunes. Dr. Drew also co-hosts the Adam and Dr. Drew Podcast with his former Loveline co-host Adam Carolla. Most recently, Dr. Drew began hosting KABC’s Dr. Drew Live Midday with Mike Catherwood which officially launched January 2015.

Pinsky is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Mirror Effect: How Celebrity Narcissism is Seducing America (Harper-Collins) and Cracked: Putting Broken Lives Together Again (Harper-Collins). Dr. Drew co-authored the first academic study on celebrities and narcissism. The study was published in the Journal of Research in Personality (Elsevier) and received worldwide press coverage. His latest book is Recovering Intimacy (Atria).

Dr. Pinsky received his undergraduate degree from Amherst College and his M.D. from the University of Southern California, School of Medicine, where he remained for his residency. Pinsky then became chief resident at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Addiction Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine. He has been appointed to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and is a Fellow with the American College of Physicians (FACP). Dr. Drew is also a member of the board for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Pinsky lives in Pasadena, California with his wife Susan and has triplets attending various universities.

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Darren Kavinoky https://speaking.com/speakers/darren-kavinoky/ https://speaking.com/speakers/darren-kavinoky/#respond Sun, 29 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://speaking.com/Speakers/darren-kavinoky/ Darren Kavinoky is no stranger to the television cameras, courtroom, or the speaker’s podium – he is an accomplished trial lawyer, a well-known television host and legal analyst, and a Read More

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Darren Kavinoky is no stranger to the television cameras, courtroom, or the speaker’s podium – he is an accomplished trial lawyer, a well-known television host and legal analyst, and a compelling keynote speaker.

Darren Kavinoky is the co-creator and host of the hit TV show Deadly Sins on Investigation Discovery. He is also a certified interventionist, attorney and legal analyst, and “misbehavior” expert who appears constantly on the Today show, The View, Entertainment Tonight, The Insider, Dr. Phil, Dr. Drew, CNN, HLN, Fox News, and countless other TV and radio shows.

He is the founder of 1.800.NoCuffs–The Kavinoky Law Firm and is known as an award-winning criminal defense attorney. The American Trial Lawyers Association has named him one of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers in California” each year since 2007. Los Angeles magazine has identified Darren as a “SuperLawyer” every year since 2010. Darren received an “AV Preeminent Rating” by Martindale-Hubbell (a peer review ranking that signals the highest level of professional excellence and ethics); a perfect 10.0 Rating by Avvo.com (an independent attorney ranking site), and many other accolades. Darren has also authored three legal textbooks for major legal publishers in the field of criminal law.

More important than his professional accomplishments is the compelling inspirational tale he has to share.

Once an overweight kid from a dysfunctional family, he went on to suffer from his own addictions which plagued him for many years. To call his downward spiral a “bottom” is a gross understatement; Darren lost everything. But in May of 2000, after two decades of battling his demons, Darren experienced a pivotal moment. Since then, the kid who wore “husky” sized Toughskins has completed seven Ironman triathlons. The bankrupt attorney who swept floors in a furniture store created several multi-million dollar businesses. As an interventionist and as a keynote speaker, Darren is now obsessed with helping people and organizations produce their own pivotal moments that are just as powerful.

Darren is a true “misbehavior” expert – his own and other peoples! This has given Darren a unique and refreshing perspective. He has the innate ability to authentically connect with people from all walks of life, from white collar to blue collar to no collar, a talent that has resulted in rave reviews from jurors, TV producers, and live audiences alike.

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Rob Lowe https://speaking.com/speakers/rob-lowe/ https://speaking.com/speakers/rob-lowe/#respond Wed, 08 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://speaking.com/Speakers/rob-lowe/ Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, and raised in Dayton, Ohio, Rob Lowe began his acting career at the age of eight in local television and theater. After his family relocated to Read More

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Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, and raised in Dayton, Ohio, Rob Lowe began his acting career at the age of eight in local television and theater. After his family relocated to Los Angeles, Lowe began his national acting career starring in the ABC television series A New Kind of Family. Today, Lowe’s charismatic talent and palpable success has radiated far beyond the realm of television.

In May 2010, Rob Lowe joined the cast of NBC’s Parks and Recreation where he plays the role of Chris Traeger, an auditor who seeks to dig Paunee, Indiana’s department of Parks and Recreation out of its financial abyss. His recent television work also includes a three-episode appearance on Showtime’s Californication, in which Lowe plays unpredictable, megawatt movie star Eddie Nero.

Preceding his move to Parks and Recreation, Lowe stared in the ABC-TV hit series Brothers & Sisters. He signed on as conservative Senator Robert McCallister, with whom Kitty Walker has an unorthodox professional and romantic relationship.

Additionally, for four seasons, Lowe starred as Sam Seaborn on hit NBC drama The West Wing. During that course of time, the show won a record four consecutive Emmys for Outstanding Drama. His performance in the show garnered Lowe an Emmy nomination, as well as two Golden Globe nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He was nominated three times for the Screen Actors Guild award, winning twice.

Lowe propelled his momentum forward, only this time he would take it to the big screen. Lowe made his West End debut starring in Aaron Sorkin’s A Few Good Men, receiving rave reviews at the Royal Haymarket Theatre in London. Additional theatre credits include the Broadway production of Little Hotel on the Side and Three Sisters with Lowe playing Tuzenbach.

Lowe also starred in the hit satire Thank You for Smoking. His hilarious portrayal of a kimono-wearing, Zen-like Hollywood agent garnered him rave reviews. That same year, he completed shooting the psychological drama Stir of Echoes: The Dead Speak for Lionsgate Films, and the TNT movie A Perfect Day. Lowe also starred opposite Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, and Tina Fey in Warner Bros’ The Invention of Lying, a comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer (Gervais) seizes the opportunity for personal gain.

Lowe made his feature film debut in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders. He went on to star in other popular dramas such as St. Elmo’s Fire, About Last Night and Bad Influence, as well as the blockbuster comedies Wayne’s World and Tommy Boy.

Lowe has also been successful with highly rated television miniseries such as Beach Girls for Lifetime, Salem’s Lot for TNT, The Christmas Shoes for CBS, and The Stand for ABC.

Moreover, Lowe’s pervasive passion and talent that exists in front of the camera transcends with his accredited role as producer, writer and director. In 1994, he produced and starred in the film Frank and Jesse for Trimark Pictures. For television, Lowe produced the NBC series The Lyon’s Den and the CBS series Dr. Vegas. He also wrote and directed the short film Desert’s Edge, which debuted at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and the Los Angeles International Film Festival. The film subsequently aired on Showtime in 1997.

In spring of 2011, Rob Lowe added author to his credits with the release of his very first memoir Stories I Only Tell my Friend: An Autobiography. Complete with adolescent anecdotes, Rob Lowe shares astoundingly personable exceperts as he recalls his encounters, experiences, and the audition that changed his life forever.

Rob Lowe, his wife and their two sons currently reside in California.

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Tavis Smiley https://speaking.com/speakers/tavis-smiley/ https://speaking.com/speakers/tavis-smiley/#respond Tue, 29 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://speaking.com/Speakers/tavis-smiley/ From his celebrated conversations with world figures to his work to inspire the next generation of leaders, Tavis Smiley—broadcaster, author, publisher, advocate, and philanthropist—has emerged as an outstanding voice for Read More

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From his celebrated conversations with world figures to his work to inspire the next generation of leaders, Tavis Smiley—broadcaster, author, publisher, advocate, and philanthropist—has emerged as an outstanding voice for change. Smiley is currently the host of the late-night television talk show Tavis Smiley on PBS, as well as The Tavis Smiley Show from Public Radio International (PRI), and the daily online radio program, Tavis Talks, on the Tavis Smiley Network (TSN) on BlogTalk Radio.

In addition to his radio and television work, Smiley has written 16 books. His memoir, What I Know for Sure: My Story of Growing Up in America, became a New York Times best seller, and the book he edited, Covenant with Black America, became the first nonfiction book by a Black-owned publisher to reach #1 on The New York Times best-sellers list.

In his latest New York Times best seller, The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto, Smiley and his co-author Dr. Cornel West challenge all Americans to re-examine their assumptions about poverty in America—what it really is and how to eradicate it.

His next book is Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Final Year. In the book, Smiley recounts the little known story of the denunciations by the press, rejection from the president, dismissal by the country’s Black elite and militant youth, assaults on his character, ideology and political tactics—all of which MLK had to rise above in the final year of his life in order to lead and address the racism, poverty and militarism that threatens, even still, to destroy our democracy.

Smiley was the presenter and creative force behind AMERICA I AM: The African American Imprint. This unprecedented traveling museum exhibition, which debuted in 2009, toured the country for four years, celebrating the extraordinary impact of African American contributions to our nation and the world, as told through rare artifacts, memorabilia and multimedia. Many of the artifacts Smiley discovered and displayed during the AMERICA I AM tour are now on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institution.

Smiley’s most gratifying accomplishments are rooted in his passion to inspire the next generation of leaders. The nonprofit Tavis Smiley Foundation has provided leadership training and development for America’s youth. Since its inception, more than 6,500 young people have participated in the foundation’s Youth to Leaders training workshops and conferences. The Foundation recently announced a $3 million four-year campaign called ENDING POVERTY: America’s Silent Spaces to alleviate endemic poverty in America.

His communications company, The Smiley Group, Inc., is dedicated to supporting human rights and related empowerment issues and serves as the holding company for various enterprises encompassing broadcast and print media, lectures, symposiums, book publishing, and the Internet.

Smiley’s achievements have earned him numerous awards and honorary doctorate degrees, including one from his alma mater, Indiana University which named the atrium of its School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) building “The Tavis Smiley Atrium.” Smiley is also the recipient of the prestigious Du Bois Medal from Harvard University and the Interdependence Day Prize from Demos in Istanbul, Turkey. TIME magazine has honored Smiley as one of “The World’s 100 Most Influential People”, and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored Mr. Smiley with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Ellen Degeneres https://speaking.com/speakers/ellen-degeneres/ https://speaking.com/speakers/ellen-degeneres/#respond Thu, 24 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://speaking.com/Speakers/ellen-degeneres/ Think “television funnywoman” and it’s likely one woman will come to mind: the inimitable Ellen DeGeneres. A beloved TV icon and entertainment pioneer, DeGeneres’s distinctive comedic voice has resonated with Read More

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Think “television funnywoman” and it’s likely one woman will come to mind: the inimitable Ellen DeGeneres. A beloved TV icon and entertainment pioneer, DeGeneres’s distinctive comedic voice has resonated with audiences from her first stand-up comedy appearances to her current work as the host of the Emmy-winning Ellen DeGeneres Show.

It was DeGeneres’s work in the hit show Ellen that cemented her place as a pioneer in the world of television. The sitcom’s critically acclaimed “The Puppy Episode” marked DeGeneres’s character’s coming out as a lesbian to a record 46 million viewers, effectively changing television history. Since then, DeGeneres has appeared in numerous films (including as the voice of “Dory” in the Pixar hit Finding Nemo); become a New York Times best-selling author with her books The Funny Thing Is… and Seriously… I’m Kidding; enjoyed a judging stint on American Idol; and hosted the Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys. Most recently, she can be seen as a spokesperson for Cover Girl Cosmetics. She also starred in the national “My Life. My Card.” campaign for American Express and, prior to that, crossed the country on a 35-city stand-up comedy tour, entitled the “Here and Now” tour. The series of shows included a performance taped at the famed Beacon Theater in New York, and became HBO’s highest rated comedy special in years.

Other television credits include executive producing and starring with Sharon Stone in the Emmy-nominated If These Walls Could Talk II for HBO, and a guest appearance on The Larry Sanders Show, for which she received an Emmy nomination.

In 2005, DeGeneres hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards for the third time. Under her stewardship, the telecast enjoyed a five million viewer increase over the previous year. Her previous performance hosting the 2001 awards show garnered her rave reviews for providing a perfect balance of wit with heartfelt emotion to the post-9/11 telecast audience. Her inaugural efforts hosting the award show in 1994 won her an American Comedy Award.

In addition to her stints hosting the Primetime Emmys, DeGeneres has also hosted industry events including the 38th and 39th Annual Grammy Awards, for which she earned an Emmy nomination, the VH1 Honors that garnered a Cable Ace Award, VH-1 Divas Las Vegas, and The Saturday Night Live Christmas Special

In May 26, 2010, DeGeneres announced she was starting her own record label entitled “eleveneleven.” The acts thus far signed to the label are Greyson Chance, Tom Andrews, and Jessica Simpson.

Beginning with her 1982 nationally recognized breakout as a comedian in New Orleans, DeGeneres and her many contributions to the entertainment industry have earned her numerous accolades including a Golden Apple Award as Female Discovery of the Year from the Hollywood Women’s Press Club, a Lucy Award honoring women in Television and Film, and an Amnesty International Award.

In her enlightening, hilarious presentations, Ellen DeGeneres shares the personal stories and insights she has gleaned from her years as an actress, television personality, and comedian. Audiences will walk away delighted and inspired by her pioneering rise to success.

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Reggie Brown https://speaking.com/speakers/reggie-brown/ https://speaking.com/speakers/reggie-brown/#respond Thu, 26 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://speaking.com/Speakers/reggie-brown/ While he always felt a greater calling, no one could have ever predicted that Reggie Brown would one day become the President of the United States… Well… Sort of. When Read More

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While he always felt a greater calling, no one could have ever predicted that Reggie Brown would one day become the President of the United States… Well… Sort of.

When it’s up to you to book the entertainment and deliver that jaw-dropping “wow” factor, political humorist and world-class impersonator Reggie Brown is sure to drive home a hysterical performance. With his ability to capture the voice, movements, and persona of President Obama, Reggie not only captivates your audience but engages them in his interactive multimedia show that draws laughs from both sides of the aisle. He is an event planner’s dream with his professional, easy-going manner off stage and his over the top uncanny performance on stage.

No stranger to the stage, Chicago native and actor/comedian Reggie Brown began his acting career at age six playing Dopey in a production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. He began to develop a passion for impressionism at an early age, mimicking voices and gestures to entertain his friends and family.

In his early professional years, Reggie dabbled in radio and voice over work. As his skills developed he became the host of AKIRA TV for the fashion forward Chicago retailer then went on to win an Emmy with the NBC 5 Street Team for Outstanding Achievement for Alternate Media/ New Media Activity in 2008 before developing his Presidential persona.

After years of garnering attention for his uncanny physical resemblance to Barack Obama, he worked long and hard to develop his impression of the 44th Commander in Chief and has since deservedly earned the moniker the “Comedian in Chief”.

Reggie has traveled all over the world performing both comedic and dramatic portrayals of his Presidential character and has been featured on every major media and news outlet.

While most of his time is now spent performing for private events and appearing for the world’s top corporations, Reggie is best known for his repeat appearances on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, FOX NEWS’ Huckabee, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Comedy Central’s Workaholics.

One of his crowning achievements was actually meeting President Obama. When Reggie met his doppleganger face to face in February, 2012 he said, “The look on his face was priceless!”

Reggie Meets the President
Reggie has since received a private tour of the White House and is honored to have performed for our service men and women in Guam, Colorado and Andrews Air Force Base and is a proud supporter of the USO.

Reggie’s comedy show has made him the preferred choice when considering entertainment for corporate and private audiences.

Reggie’s comedy transcends politics while entertaining both sides of the aisle and everywhere in between.

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