en Stearnkjekjikja
From Glee to the Simpson's, from Roswell's aliens and Star Trek to Lady Gaga and Will & Grace -- a growing number of ethnic Mennonite actors is confidently, if perhaps a bit controversially, impacting how ethnic Mennonites and Amish are perceived... In celebration of the Oscars™, I thought it would be fun to indicate some of the acting powerbrokers of known Mennonite ethnicity. This has been a somewhat difficult task in that actors are not known for revealing their religious upbringing or might not identify as ethnic Mennonites or Amish. But, they are there – the following is just a taste as to who to look out for.
While movies ( en Ssinema ) have long been controversial amongst Mennonite households and congregations, the number of Mennonites and ethnic Amish involved in film and television has grown tremendously and they are definitely making a name for themselves -- often bringing their ethnic roots along with them. (I am not making a judgment about the spiritual ramifications -- merely noting and celebrating their shared ethnic roots.)
From a list of some 45-odd ethnic Mennonites, Russländer Mennoniten and ethnic Amish, and giving Matt Groening a rest (we just congratulated him on the 500th Episode of his long-time classic animated series The Simpsons), four actors (catch up, women - this is so far a Men's Night at the MENnonite Oscars, ... ) stand out at present:
 |
| (c) Matt Groening |
Of course, Matt Groening (b. 1954 ) is the Dean of ethnic Mennonite and Amish television and film personalities. Groening’s grandfather, Abram, was a Krimmer Mennonite intellectual who taught at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kans., though according to Wikipedia, Groening himself is a self-described agnostic. Groening is best known as the creator of the popular television animated series The Simpsons and Futurama. The Simpsons recently aired its 500th episode – only two scripted television shows have aired more episodes.
Groening was born in Portland, Ore. to Homer Groening and Margaret Wiggum. His father is of Canadian Russian Mennonite background and his mother is Norwegian-American.
Groening has two children, Homer (Will) and Abe by a previous marriage and is now married to Agustina Picasso. Groening is step-father to her daughter Camille.
 |
| (c) Jonathon Groff |
Second billing would, at least for the moment, probably go to Jonathan Groff (b.1985) who plays the popular Jesse St James on the hit music comedy Glee.
Raised in Lancaster, Penn., Groff’s Mennonite roots are from his father’s, Jim Groff, side of the family. According to Wikipedia, Groff’s mother, Julie, is a Methodist teacher and he was raised in the Methodist church.
In 2007, Groff was nominated for a Tony Award™ as Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance in the Broadway production of Spring Awakening. Groff received an Obie Award™ in 2009 for Prayer for the Enemy and Singing Forest. He has performed both on Broadway and in London’s famed West End theatre Districts.
Groff came out publically in 2009 and is understood to be dating Hollywood actor and fellow Pennsylvanian Zachary Quinto. Quinto, who came out in 2011, is best known for his roles in the television series Heroes and for the 2009 remake of Star Trek in which he played the younger Spock. Quinto will play Spock in the next Start Trek film to be released in 2013.
 |
| (c) Brendan Fehr |
Brendan Fehr (b. 1977), born to a Mennonite Brethren (MB) family in New Westminster, BC, is probably the first practicing Mennonite television star.
Fehr made a name for himself playing the alien Michael Guerin in the television hit Roswell and now is known for his work with the CSI franchise, most notably playing lab assistant Dan Cooper on CSI: Miami, and as Jared Booth in Bones. His film work has been relatively minor with a small appearance as a US soldier in X-Men: First Class.
In 1990, Fehr moved to Winnipeg, Man., where he attended Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute, graduating in 1995. Fehr’s career began in modeling and in minor television roles.
Fehr now lives in LA, Calif., with his wife Jennifer Rowley. Fehr and Rowley have two daughters.
 |
| (c) Taylor Kinney |
Taylor Kinney has the benefit and disadvantage of being better known for his dating life. Since 2011, Kinney has been dating Stefani Germanotta, better known to her fans as Lady Gaga.
Kinney was raised by his mother and three brothers in Neffsville, Penn., studying business management at West Virginia University before becoming interested in acting.
Kinney is best known for his long-standing role as Luke Gianni on Fashion House, his lead-role in Trauma and playing Mason Lockwood in The Vampire Diaries. He has recently been cast for a lead role in NBC’s new drama Chicago Fire.
Kinney, who claims Lancaster, Penn., as his hometown, met Lady Gaga while appearing in her music video for You and I (2011) (from Gaga’s album Born this Way). In the video, Kinney’s character is shown in an intimate relationship with Gaga who is dressed as a mermaid (that would be her, not him), possibly a stand-in for Gaga’s ex-lover Lüc Carl, on whose relationship the song is based.
 |
| (c) Benjamin Sprunger |
Benjamin Sprunger (b. 1974) is a Mennonite from Bluffton, Ohio.
Much of Sprunger’s work has been on stage. Sprunger holds a BFA from Otterbein College and has worked extensively in Chicago in nationally recognized theatres such as Steppenwolf, TimeLine, About Face, The Bailiwick and The Goodman, with stints in Los Angeles, Calif.
Sprunger’s screen work includes appearances as Matt on Will & Grace. His filmography includes The Thief, Straight Jacket, The Choir Invisible and Basement.
Sprunger has been nominated twice(?) for Chicago’s Non-Equity Jeff Awards.
Sprunger’s most recent work has been in The Homosexuals at Chicago’s About Face Theatre and the currently running Enron at Chicago’s TimeLine Theatre.
Sprunger, who came out at the age of 18, is partnered with Erik Burns.
The above are merely the seemingly most active five ethnic Mennonites on screen. While they are making quite a splash, there are at least 40 others who could join their ranks. Notably absent are active Mennonite women in television and screen – though it is much more difficult to track down potential female actors who have possibly changed their maiden names. Also, in Canada, one often notices potential ethnic Mennonite names in the credits but with no follow-up evidence. I will try to track down more information for later posts. Fehr’s co-star Jason Behr is often mentioned as having Mennonite ethnicity as is Smallville’s Allison Mack (Chloe), but the rumours lack confirmation at this time.
No comments:
Post a Comment