Ask American Profile 7/13/2008

Where is singer B.J. Thomas, and what’s he doing these days?
—Evelin Emery, Ukiah, Calif.

Houston-born Thomas, 65, performs about 85 shows a year, thrilling audiences with “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” “Hooked on a Feeling” and other hits from his four-decade singing career. He has a new CD, Love to Burn, and a part in the new movie Jake’s Corner, which stars Richard Tyson and Diane Lane. Living in Arlington, Texas, Thomas and wife Gloria have been married for nearly 40 years and have three grown daughters and three granddaughters.

Jordana Spiro was so funny in Must Love Dogs. What else is she doing?
—Aletta Alexandria, Pontiac, Ill.

The New York City-born actress, 31, is using her talent for comedy in the TBS summer series My Boys, in which she plays a newspaper sportswriter whose beat is baseball and whose best friends are guys. She also appears in the upcoming movie The Goods: The Don Ready Story, in which she’s content to let the comedy spotlight shine on Jeremy Piven (Entourage), Ed Helms (The Office) and Rob Riggle (The Daily Show). “I wouldn’t even want to try to compete with their improv skills,” she says modestly of her co-stars. “They’re amazing.”

After seeing Priscilla Presley on Dancing With The Stars, one of my friends says she was on the TV series Dallas. Is she right?
—Carol Ward, Columbus, Ohio

Yes, Presley—Elvis’ wife for seven years—starred on TV’s Dallas in the 1980s as Jenna Wade, the first true love of Bobby Ewing, played by Patrick Duffy. In addition to numerous other roles, Presley had an uncredited cameo in the movie Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery in 1997, declined an offer to become one of the original “angels” for TV’s Charlie’s Angels in the 1970s and made her acting debut with a part in The Fall Guy in 1983.

Joaquin Phoenix was superb in Walk the Line. What is he doing now?
—MariLynne Distefano, Burke, Texas

Phoenix, 33, is an actor who’s not averse to taking parts in smaller, independent movies, which often don’t make the same splash as Walk the Line. Watch for him in the upcoming Two Lovers with Gwyneth Paltrow. Based in New York, he doesn’t participate in the Hollywood scene and avoids headlines with his private life. His most public romance, with actress Liv Tyler, ended in 1998. He is a vegan and refuses to wear clothing or movie costumes made with animal skin.

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