Ask American Profile

Dog Chapman, Ghost Whisperer, Anderson Cooper, Larry Linville, Johnny Cash

What can you tell me about the star of Dog, the Bounty Hunter on the A&E network? One time on the show, he said he was the father of 12. Wow, is that true?
—Lois Calloway, Manito, Ill.

Yes, Duane "Dog" Chapman, 53, is indeed the father of 12 children, and the grandfather of nine. Chapman overcame his own troubled past—he once served 18 months in a Texas prison for first-degree murder, for which he claims he was wrongly charged—to become a flamboyant, born-again Christian bail-bondsman. As a "bounty hunter" tracking down accused criminals who skip bail, he’s helped capture some 6,000 fugitives. Chapman says his canine nickname stems from his efforts to turn around the life of a troubled friend. "I started praying for him," he says. "I became known as Dog—‘God’ backwards."

Can you tell me where the TV show Ghost Whisperer is filmed? Is it a real town or a Hollywood set? I love your profiles of small towns, as I am looking for one to retire to.
—Carol M., New Mexico

Sorry, but you won’t be able to retire to the setting of Ghost Whisperer, which stars Jennifer Love Hewitt. The show is filmed entirely on the Universal Studios back lot in Hollywood. In fact, the town square is the same one used in the Back to the Future movies, but modified to represent the fictional town of Grandview.

Anderson Cooper does an excellent job on CNN. Is it true that his mother is Gloria Vanderbilt?
—Robert Putnam, Columbus, Ohio

Yes, Anderson Cooper’s mom is indeed Gloria Vanderbilt, the famous international socialite, artist and fashion designer whose last name adorns a line of blue jeans and perfume. Cooper, a graduate of Yale University, has received several honors for his reporting, including a National Headliners Award for his tsunami coverage and an Emmy for his contribution to ABC’s coverage of Princess Diana’s funeral.

All of the actors on TV’s M*A*S*H are great, but I really like Larry Linville, who plays Maj. Frank Burns. His facial expressions are amazing. Is he still alive and acting?
—Nadine Stellman, Pahrump, Nev.

Linville worked steadily in movies and television until his death in 2000 from pneumonia due to complications following a cancer operation. His last acting appearance was in the movie West From North Goes South, which was not released until 2004.

The "Legend" of Johnny Cash

Today, 51 years after his recording debut, Johnny Cash has certainly taken his place among the immortals of American music. The Legend of Johnny Cash is the first collection to span his entire career, from 1955 until his death in 2003. Featuring 21 of Cash’s recordings from the Sun, Columbia, Island and American Recordings labels, the package also includes a deluxe 16-page CD booklet. Signature anthems such as "I Walk The Line" and "Ring of Fire" are included, along with "Cry, Cry, Cry," his very first hit; "Jackson," his classic duet with wife June Carter Cash; and the autobiographical "Man In Black." Cash’s boundless appeal is represented by "The Wanderer," a duet with rock band U2, as well as with his version of Soundgarden’s "Rusty Cage."

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