Ask American Profile

What can you tell me about the life and times of Maureen O’Hara?
—Karen M., Kansas

The beautiful red-haired actress, who turns 84 this month, was born Maureen FitzSimons near Dublin, Ireland. By 14, she was winning drama contests, and she made her U.S. acting debut in 1939’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Though her last film was the 2000 TV offering The Last Dance, in 2004 she published her autobiography, ’Tis Herself. O’Hara was a favorite of director John Ford and actor John Wayne, with whom she made five pictures. “The Duke” gave her a cherished compliment: “He said I was the greatest guy he ever knew,” she says. O’Hara lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., with her grandson.

I know this is after the fact, but I was curious if Richard Crenna died suddenly as he did on the show Judging Amy?
—Marian S., Florida

Yes. Although Crenna suffered from pancreatic cancer, he died of heart failure on Jan. 16, 2003, at 76. “We just didn’t expect it,” says his daughter, Seana Crenna. The actor played the recurring role of Jared Duff and was the love interest of actress Tyne Daly on the show. Daly won an Emmy shortly afterward. “After (Richard) died, we had to play out the death of his character,” she says. “It was not a very happy assignment for any of us, but the writers and my colleagues tried to step up and do something that would honor the man.”

I’ve been a big fan of ventriloquist Jeff Dunham for a long time now. Can you tell us about him?
—Sam K., New York

A Dallas native, Dunham figured out the art of ventriloquism on his own, playing with a Mortimer Snerd dummy. As he got older, he found a mentor in Soap star/ventriloquist Jay Johnson and soon carved out his own career. “The appeal in the beginning was simply the dummies,” he says. “They fascinated me. Now I enjoy the comedy aspect of what I do more than anything.” Married with three daughters, the 30-something comedian travels with his “co-stars” Walter, Peanut and Woozle to about 250 shows a year. His website, www.onastick.com, lists his tour schedule.

I am interested in learning more about the young lady in Sony’s laptop ad on TV and the Kia commercial.
—Cecil G., New Mexico

Stacey Scowley, from Danville, Calif. (pop. 41,715), can be seen in the Kia and Sony commercials and numerous guest appearances on television shows such as Monk and Come to Papa. Always interested in acting, she moved to Los Angeles to study the craft after graduating from California State University at Chico. She worked a day job as a junior publicist for Fox TV while launching her acting career. Her Kia ad definitely made an impression, and she’s happy for the work. “I did 10 commercials last year,” she says. “They pay the bills while I pursue other things as an actress.” She’s dating Kelly Donovan, twin brother of Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast member Nicholas Brendon. Fans can keep up with her on her website, www.scowley.com.

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