March/April 2008
Crimson Tide
From Conan O'Brien to Natalie Portman to Homer Simpson, Harvardians have painted Tinseltown red. On the pages that follow, meet the actors, writers, directors, and dealmakers who have brought 02138 to 90210.
The Stars
illustration by David CowlesJohn Lithgow
Elisabeth Shue | A.B. '86
Best known for Leaving Las Vegas and Cocktail, she took time off to complete her Harvard degree and raise a family with husband Davis Guggenheim (director of An Inconvenient Truth). Will appear in several films this year, including Waking Madison and Hamlet 2.
Natalie Portman | A.B. '03
She burst onto the scene in The Professional, ripened in Closer and V for Vendetta, and will live forever in fanboy history as Queen Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. This year, she stars in My Blueberry Nights and The Other Boleyn Girl.
See Not That Innocent.
Conan O'Brien | A.B. '85
Host of Late Night with Conan O’Brien on NBC since 1993 and heir apparent to The Tonight Show as of 2009. So masterful at recent Emmy Awards shows that he made a case for being chosen as permanent host.
Tommy Lee Jones | A.B. ’69
A legend long before winning an Academy Award for The Fugitive in 1993. Has starred in everything from the Lonesome Dove miniseries to Men in Black and recently anchored two acclaimed films, No Country For Old Men and In the Valley of Elah. In 2005, he produced, directed, and starred in critical favorite The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.
See Lone Star.
John Lithgow | A.B. ’67
Has excelled in every area of performance, from children’s comedy records to Broadway to his multi-Emmy-winning turn as the outlandish alien Dr. Dick Solomon on 3rd Rock from the Sun. Also voiced Lord Farquaad in Shrek and was Oscar–nominated for The World According to Garp and Terms of Endearment.
Mira Sorvino | A.B. ’89
Won Oscar for Mighty Aphrodite, then took time off to raise children, but is back with the recent Reservation Road and the forthcoming drama The Trouble with Cali.
Stockard Channing | A.B. ’65
Grande dame of stage and screen, she won Emmys for The West Wing and The Matthew Shepard Story. Brightened films such as Grease and Six Degrees of Separation and will next be seen in Multiple Sarcasms.
Matt Damon | Class of ’92 (No degree)
Star of Good Will Hunting, for which he also shared the best original screenplay Oscar with Boston bud Ben Affleck. The rare actor who can move effortlessly from action roles (the Bourne series) to broad comedy (Stuck on You) to serious character work (The Talented Mr. Ripley). And then there’s that whole “sexiest man alive” thing.
Donal Logue | A.B. ’88
Ubiquitous comedy star of TV’s Grounded for Life, The Knights of Prosperity, and Fox’s upcoming Hackett. Film appearances include The Tao of Steve, Ghost Rider, and the upcoming The Lodger.
Amy Brenneman | A.B. ’86
The thinking man’s sex symbol steamed up films such as Heat and Your Friends & Neighbors but has made her biggest mark in television with stints on NYPD Blue and Judging Amy (which she also co-created and produced). Currently stars in the ABC drama Private Practice.
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