Newswise — Film actor and director Forest Whitaker, who played Burnham in PANIC ROOM and directed WAITING TO EXHALE, and actress Rosemary Harris, who plays Aunt May in the upcoming SPIDER-MAN 2, will speak at the North Carolina School of the Arts' commencement ceremonies for college and high school graduates, respectively, on May 29. Whitaker, who first attracted attention as an actor in such films as THE COLOR OF MONEY and GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM, will speak to the college graduates at the 1 p.m. ceremony. Harris, who has been nominated for the Tony Award seven times and won for "The Lion in Winter," will speak to the high school graduates at the 9 a.m. ceremony.
Both ceremonies will be held at NCSA's Stevens Center in downtown Winston-Salem. Approximately 165 college and 125 high school students will graduate with degrees, diplomas and certificates in dance, design and production, drama, filmmaking, music, and visual arts.
"What a double bill we have for our graduating students and their families," said NCSA Chancellor Wade Hobgood. "Forest Whitaker is a dynamic young actor who has had remarkable success directing and producing. Rosemary Harris is the epitome of all that is a 'star' of stage and screen. We are delighted to have them with us on our special day."
A native of Texas, Forest Whitaker grew up in California and studied music and drama the University of Southern California and Berkeley before appearing in his first film, FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH in 1982. He played Cuffey in the TV mini-series, NORTH AND SOUTH I and II, and attracted attention as the hulking pool player, Amos, in THE COLOR OF MONEY; Big Harold in PLATOON; and Pfc. Garlick in GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM. Clint Eastwood selected him for the role of jazz great Charlie Parker in BIRD in 1988. Other of his roles have included Jody in THE CRYING GAME, Maddog in JASON'S LYRIC, Cy in PRET-A-PORTER, the Empath in SPECIES, Nate in PHENOMENON, Ker in BATTLEFIELD EARTH: A SAGA OF THE YEAR 3000, Burnham in PANIC ROOM, and Captain Ramey in PHONE BOOTH.
Whitaker made his feature directorial debut in 1995 with WAITING TO EXHALE, followed three years later by HOPE FLOATS. He has also produced films such as GREEN DRAGON and CHASING PAPI, and is currently in post-production with FIRST DAUGHTER, for which he is director and executive producer.
He starred in and co-produced 1991's A RAGE IN HARLEM, which was associate produced by NCSA School of Filmmaking faculty member Ron Stacker Thompson.
Whitaker has been nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award, the NAACP Image Award and Golden Globe, and has won the Emmy (for co-executive producing DOOR TO DOOR), the Best Actor Award at Cannes (for BIRD) and the Blockbuster Entertainment Award (for Favorite Supporting Actor for PHENOMENON).
Born in England, Rosemary Harris has had a distinguished career on Broadway, in London, and in film and television. She has appeared with actors such as Rex Harrison, Jason Robards, Richard Burton, Charlton Heston, Sir Laurence Olivier, and Sir John Gielgud.
On the stage, she won the Theatre World Award in 1953 for "The Climate of Eden" and the Tony Award in 1966 for "The Lion in Winter" (Best Actress). She has received seven Tony Award nominations, for "Old Times," "The Royal Family," "Heartbreak House," "Pack of Lies," "Hay Fever," "A Delicate Balance," and 2000's "Waiting in the Wings" (losing to her daughter, NCSA alumna Jennifer Ehle).
On television, she has appeared in "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "Kraft Television Theatre," as well as TV movies such as "Twelfth Night," "Blithe Spirit," "The Chisholms," "The Camomile Lawn," and "Death of a Salesman." She was nominated for an Emmy and won a Golden Globe for 1978's "Holocaust," and won an Emmy and was nominated for a Golden Globe for 1976's "Notorious Woman."
Miss Harris' feature film roles include Aunt May in SPIDER-MAN, Valerie in SUNSHINE, Gamma in MY LIFE SO FAR, Player Queen in HAMLET, Pauline in CROSSING DELANCEY, Ann in THE PLOUGHMAN'S LUNCH, Mrs. Doring in THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL, Ilyena in UNCLE VANYA, and Mrs. Fitzherbert in BEAU BRUMMELL. She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role as Rose in TOM & VIV. She is currently in post-production on SPIDER-MAN 2.
A member of the NCSA Board of Visitors and past guest artist at the School, Rosemary Harris is married to author John Ehle, a founder of the North Carolina School of the Arts.
An arts conservatory of international renown, the North Carolina School of the Arts was the first state-supported, residential school of its kind in the nation. Established by the N.C. General Assembly in 1963, NCSA became part of the University of North Carolina in 1972. For more information, visit the School's website at www.ncarts.edu.
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