Ask American Profile

Erik Palladino, Reba McEntire, Vincent Edwards

Who is Erik Palladino on the show ER? Is his character a nurse or an intern? He looks familiar. What can you tell me about him?
—Chuck B., Nebraska

Erik Palladino played Dr. Dave Malucci on ER. The Yonkers, N.Y., native decided he wanted to be an actor after watching Raging Bull. He began performing with the Children’s Repertory Co. from New Rochelle, N.Y., when he was 14. Palladino, 34, credits acting with getting him on track in college. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Marymount Manhattan College, which is an all-women’s campus except for the theater program. Palladino played in the alternative rock band No Happy Faces for four years, even becoming a veejay on MTV while still with the band. He was a regular on Comedy Central’s Short-Attention Span Theatre. Other credits include the series Love and Marriage and DiResta.

Reba McEntire has been my favorite singer since she released the song Somebody Should Leave in 1984. I heard she was named the biggest selling female country music star of the century by the Guinness Book of World Records. How many records has she sold worldwide?
—Dustin E., Texas

Reba McEntire entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 2000 as the Most Successful Female Country Artist. To date, she’s sold more than 50 million records. She’s won several music awards in the industry, including being named the Country Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year for four years and Entertainer of the Year once. Born on a large ranch in Chockie, Okla., McEntire is one of four children from a family that regularly participated in rodeos. She sang with her siblings as the Singing McEntires. In 1974, McEntire was asked to sing the national anthem at the National Rodeo Finals in Oklahoma City. Country singer Red Steagall heard her and convinced her to go to Nashville, Tenn., to cut a demo. She signed with Mercury Records in 1975. McEntire has been piling up hit songs ever since and has moved into other branches of entertainment. Last year she got rave reviews for her performance in the title role of Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway. She now stars in her own successful sitcom, appropriately titled Reba, on The WB network. Reba, 48, is married to Narvel Blackstock. They have one son, Shelby, 12.

Could you please tell me the current status of Vincent Edwards, who played Dr. Ben Casey in the 1960s? Is he still living? If so, what has he been doing the last several years and what is he doing now?
—Tommie S., Tennessee

Edwards succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 1996 at the age of 67. Famous for his role as a neurosurgeon in television’s Ben Casey, he was a championship swimmer in high school and college but an appendectomy dashed his Olympic hopes and turned him to acting as an alternative career. He studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and became a contract player at Paramount Pictures in the early ’50s. Early films included Mr. Universe and Hiawatha. Edwards was one of the first actors to direct his own show. He also recorded a few albums and played Las Vegas clubs. In the 1970s, he played another doctor—a hip psychiatrist—on the series Matt Lincoln. Edwards reprised his most famous role in the 1988 television movie The Return of Ben Casey.

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