Ask American Profile

Adrian Paul, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Kevin Eubanks, Marion Ross

I was a big fan of Adrian Paul in the Highlander movies. What is he doing these days?
—Betty Moxley, Jonesville, Mich.

The London-born actor has reprised his role as Duncan MacLeod, a Scotsman "Immortal" keeping Earth safe from evil, for a new science-fiction-fantasy Highlander movie due out later this year. "It's the same idea of the story, but we've gotten a little more technological on it," says Paul, named sexiest action star by People magazine in 2000. When he's not in front of the cameras, he's working on behalf of his charitable P.E.A.C.E. (Protect, Educate, Aid Children Everywhere) foundation.

I enjoy the music of Tennessee Ernie Ford. What's the significance of the name Tennessee?
—Gene Barnum Smith, Osceola, Wis.

Best known for the 1955 hit single "Sixteen Tons," Ford, a Tennessean by birth, moved to California and took a disc jockey job after serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II. "During his stint at KXLA in Pasadena in the late 1940s, he did air time as two personalities," says Ford's son, Jeffrey. "'Ernest Ford' did the news every hour, but from 11 until 3, he was 'Tennessee Ernie,' a crazed hillbilly from east Tennessee, playing all the hits and singing along with many of them." The silly "Tennessee Ernie" nickname stuck when Ford went on to launch his own music career. He had numerous country hits, hosted two network TV series and won a Grammy for one of his gospel albums. He died Oct. 17, 1991, exactly—to the day—36 years after "Sixteen Tons" was released.

What can you tell us about Kevin Eubanks, Jay Leno's bandleader?
—Nancy Hanna, Little Falls, N.Y.

Often the butt of host Leno's good-natured jokes, Eubanks, 48, took over as leader of the The Tonight Show band in 1995. Growing up in Philadelphia, he studied violin at age 7, later becoming proficient on piano and trumpet. He fell in love with the guitar at a James Brown concert when he was 12, taught himself how to play and went on to study at Boston's Berklee School of Music, tour extensively and teach music at several esteemed universities in the United States and abroad. In addition to his work on Tonight, he has released 12 albums and written music for several TV movies and independent films, including the PBS documentary series Black Westerners.

Does Marion Ross from Happy Days still do any acting?
—Margaret Roy, Wilson, N.C.

Since playing Mrs. Cunningham on Happy Days (1974-1984), the 77-year-old actress has had recurring TV roles on The Gilmore Girls, The Drew Carey Show, Touched by an Angel, Brooklyn Bridge and That '70's Show. She's also done voiceover work for the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants, King of the Hill and The Wild Thornberrys, and starred in Where There's a Will, a recent TV movie about late-in-life romance. "It's im-portant for people to realize that romance can happen at any time in your life," she says.

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