Ask American Profile

Jan-Michael Vincent, The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio, Charles Krauthammer, Shirley Jones

Whatever happened to Jan-Michael Vincent?
—Fred Wagner, Teaneck, N.J.

The handsome star of the movies Baby Blue Marine (1976) and Hard Country (1981) had a difficult time adjusting to fame. Problems with drugs and alcohol, bouts of domestic violence and jail time, and a near-fatal car crash in 1996 (after which paramedics permanently damaged his vocal cords inserting a breathing tube) derailed his once-promising career. He starred with Ernest Borgnine in the 1984 TV series Airwolf, and his last film was 2002's White Boy, in which he played a racist sheriff. Now 61, the twice-divorced actor spent time in rehab for alcoholism in 2002 and makes few appearances in public.

There was a new movie starring Julianne Moore and Woody Harrelson that was supposed to come out last fall called The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio. It was about a 1950s housewife who raised 10 children by winning contests. I checked everywhere but it seems it was never released. What happened?
—Tom Munoz, Ridgecrest, Calif.

The movie is based on the true story of Evelyn Ryan and how she resourcefully managed to furnish her home and keep her household running with products won by writing prize-winning advertising jingles. Released in September 2005, it wasn't a big box-office draw and disappeared from theaters very quickly. It's now available on DVD.

What can you tell me about Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer?
—Carol Price, Pinehurst, N.C.

Born in New York in 1950, Krauthammer uses a wheelchair after a serious diving accident left him paralyzed from the waist down in 1972. Completing Harvard Medical School in 1972, he worked as a psychiatrist but quit in 1978 to undertake psychiatric research for the Jimmy Carter administration. He also served as a speechwriter for Vice President Walter Mondale. Today, aside from his work with Fox, he is a columnist for The Washington Post and writes essays for Time and The Weekly Standard. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1987 for distinguished commentary and currently lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Robyn, and their son, Daniel.

I always loved watching Shirley Jones. Was her role as "mother hen" in The Partridge Family based on her own family, by any chance?
—M. Owen, Medford, Ore.

Somewhat inspired by the real-life 1960s family pop act The Cowsills, The Partridge Family aired from 1970 to 1974 and had little connection to the real life of Shirley Jones. Born in Pennsylvania, she went into acting after winning a Miss Pittsburgh beauty pageant and found movie stardom in Oklahoma!, Carousel and The Music Man. She won an Oscar for her role—cast against her wholesome reputation—as the vengeful, blackmailing Lulu Baines in the 1960 film Elmer Gantry. Most recently, Jones has appeared in numerous summer-stock musicals and continues to make movies, including Grandma's Boy, a new theatrical comedy, and Hidden Places, a made-for-television drama.

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