Ask American Profile

We laughed until we cried at the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Can you tell us a bit about Nia Vardalos, who wrote the script and starred in the film? We heard that Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, discovered her.
—Tony G., Maryland

Nia Vardalos, the woman behind the sleeper hit movie of the year, grew up in Winnipeg, Canada. Yes, she is Greek, from a very traditional family. She got her start working in the box office of the Toronto company of Chicago’s famous Second City group. When one of the cast members had to be rushed to the hospital 10 minutes before curtain time, she told the producers she knew the show inside out, and they put her on. Impressed with her performance, the producers asked her to join the group. She eventually moved on to the Chicago Second City troupe, where she met and married fellow performer Ian Gomez. For years, the actress and writer entertained her friends with hilarious stories about her family, until one of them said she should turn it into a show. That’s exactly what she did, and the one-woman show became a hit. Rita Wilson, also of Greek descent, brought her mother to see the show and loved it. She visited Vardalos backstage, then later sent husband Tom Hanks to see the show with the idea that it should be turned into a movie. Two months later, Hanks’ production company offered to make the movie, with Vardalos keeping the lead role. Vardalos’ other credits include The Drew Carey Show and Boy Meets World and the features Men Seeking Women and Meet Prince Charming.

Please tell me about Mario Lanza, my favorite tenor. Where was he born? How did he die?
—Alice C., Indiana

Lanza was born Alfred Arnold Cocozza in Philadelphia in 1921 to Italian immigrant parents. He started singing along to Enrico Caruso’s opera records when he was still a child. At 16, he declared his intention to become a professional singer. His mother, born Maria Lanza, had once dreamed of a singing career and encouraged her talented son to pursue his dream. After years of singing lessons and a scholarship to Berkshire Music School, he made his operatic debut in a production of The Merry Wives of Windsor in 1942, changing his name to Mario Lanza in honor of his mother. His career was put on hold when he entered the service during World War II. During his time in the Army, he sang in shows to entertain the troops and got married soon after leaving the service. He picked up his opera career and was discovered by Hollywood. Appearances in films throughout the 1950s, and the popularity of the song Be My Love from one of those films, gave him worldwide fame. He suffered a massive, fatal heart attack in 1959. He and his wife had four children.

Can you tell me about Steve Harris, who co-stars in the ABC series The Practice? Which role does he play?
—Wauneta T., Kansas

Steve Harris plays attorney Eugene Young on the ABC series and has earned two Viewers for Quality Television Awards and two Emmy nominations for best supporting actor for his work. The Chicago native has a bachelor’s degree in theater arts from Northern Illinois University and a graduate degree in theater from the University of Delaware. He performed in an off-Broadway production of Heliotrope Bouquet, garnering critical acclaim. Other theater credits include Macbeth and Julius Caesar. Besides The Practice, his other television credits include Law & Order, Murder One, and Chicago Hope. His movie credits include The Rock and Minority Report. He is single and lives in Los Angeles.

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