Ask American Profile 2/15/2009

Q In the cartoon Arthur, what kind of animal is he? What about Francine, Muffy, Binky, Mr. Ratburn, Prunella and Brain? Oh, and what does D.W. stand for? She’s Arthur’s little sister.
—C. Duda, W. Burke, Vt.

On the PBS series, Arthur is an aardvark, Francine and Muffy are monkeys, Binky is a bulldog, Mr. Ratburn and Prunella are rats and Brain is a bear. As for Arthur’s precocious little sis, D.W. is shorthand for her full name, Dora Winifred.

Q Whatever happened to actor Robert Walker from the movie Strangers on a Train? I heard he died at a young age.
—G.E. Spurgeon, Canby, Ore.

Walker, so chilling as the psychopath in the 1951 Alfred Hitchcock thriller, died that same year at the age of 32 after an adverse reaction to a prescription sedative. Hailed as a promising young actor, Walker had a turbulent personal life. He was arrested for drunken driving and hit-and-run, and was committed to a sanatorium after losing himself in the bottle when his wife, actress Jennifer Jones, left him for a Hollywood producer. His impulsive remarriage, to director John Ford’s daughter, Barbara, was annulled after several weeks. His final movie, My Son John, was in production when he died, and several of his scenes had to be completed using a double.

Q What can you tell me about the actor who plays the police lieutenant on Crash? He’s hot!
—Alice Dotter, Fillmore, Calif.

Lebanon-born Nick Tarabay originally was hired for two episodes of the Starz series Crash, but was made a series regular when producers liked how he performed his part. He enjoys playing edgy characters and has done so on The Sopranos, The Unit and CSI: Miami. Before launching his acting career, he worked for fashion houses Gucci and Hugo Boss, and admits to having a love for designer clothes. “I don’t know if it is fortunate or unfortunate to have expensive taste,” he says. “When you get the itch, you just have to get it.”

Q Gossip Girl is my Monday night guilty pleasure. I really enjoy the actress who plays Serena. Does she by any chance come from a showbiz family?
—Lindsay Otto, Mount Carmel, Ill.

Blake Lively, 21, is the daughter of actor Ernie Lively, and her mother, Elaine, is a talent manager. Her two sisters, Lori and Robyn, and two brothers, Jason and Eric, all have acting credits on their resumes. In fact, it was one of her brothers who asked his agent to send her to a few auditions one summer, which resulted in the role of Bridget in the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, a part she also played in the recent sequel.

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