Ask American Profile 8/24/2008

Q Tyra Banks seems like such a natural hosting her talk show and America’s Top Model. Has she ever done any acting?
—Saalinge Johnson, Val Verde, Calif.

The former model paid her dues as an actress on TV shows including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Felicity and MadTV. Her most recent acting job was in 2004 on American Dreams. She retired from modeling in 2005, after one final stroll down the catwalk for Victoria’s Secret, to concentrate on building her own television empire. Now, in addition to America’s Next Top Model, for which she serves as lead judge, executive producer and host, and the Emmy-nominated Tyra Banks Show, Banks, 35, also is developing a new reality show for The CW network based on fashion magazines, and another for ABC with Ashton Kutcher about beauty pageants.

Q Years ago on L.A. Law, there was an actor who played a mentally challenged man who worked for the law firm. I saw him later in a scary movie where he played the same type of mentally challenged person and befriended a small girl. What was the name of that movie?
—Donna Alt, West Liberty, Iowa

Actor Larry Drake, who played Benny on TV’s L.A. Law, starred in Dark Night of the Scarecrow, a made-for-TV horror-mystery from 1981. Drake, now 58, continues to work in films and television, and had a guest role earlier this year on Boston Legal.

Q What ever happened to the actor who played Scut Farkus in A Christmas Story?
—Paul Hodges, Amarillo, Texas

Zack Ward, who launched his acting career when he was 13 as the nefarious neighborhood bully in the now-classic Christmas movie, continues to act. Last year, Toronto-born Ward, 37, was on the big screen in Transformers and Trade. Most recently, he starred in the film Postal, a comedy based on the video game of the same name. TV viewers may remember him from his role on the series Titus, and he also guest-starred on an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. About A Christmas Story, Ward says: “For millions of people, it’s not Christmas without that movie. I try to watch it as little as possible. But whenever I do watch it, I’m surprised by how much I still laugh.”

Q Tell me about Maurice Benard on General Hospital. He is such a good actor.
—Roberta Johnson, Madison, Wis.

“I try to keep myself challenged as much as I can,” says Benard, who is in his 15th year as mobster Sonny Corinthos on daytime’s durable General Hospital. When he’s off the set, he enjoys boxing. “I’m actually thinking about managing an incredible 17-year-old boxer. That would be another challenge.” Benard also is a spokesman for bipolar disorder, a condition he was diagnosed with in his early 20s. He lives in California with his wife and five kids.

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