(For a full listing of our city's movers, shakers, and other news-makers, see Who’s Who. For a list of eleven Memphians named to every "Who's Who" since 1984, see our Who’s Who Hall of Fame.)
Kathy Bates
Began her acting career at White Station High School. Age 59. Made her film debut in 1971's Taking Off . Had a successful career on Broadway and in the 1990s, began her career as a Hollywood director. Winner of 1991 Best Actress Oscar for her role as deranged fan in Stephen King's Misery. Played "Unsinkable" Molly Brown in Titanic. Received Oscar nomination for supporting role in Primary Colors; nominated for both Oscar and Golden Globe for supporting role in About Schmidt. Emmy nomination for the role of Bettina in the HBO series Six Feet Under (2003). Her most recent work includes animated movies such as Charlotte's Web and Jerry Seinfeld's Bee Movie.
Dr. Peter Doherty
Former chair of the immunology department at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 1988-2002. Still serves on St. Jude faculty. In 1996, awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for discovery of how the immune system recognizes virus-infected cells. His work with collaborator Dr. Rolf Zinkernagel of the University of Zurich has had a major impact on the understanding of organ transplants and vaccine production. In 1998, was elected to the highly prestigious National Academy of Sciences as a foreign associate. Holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Queensland, Australia, and doctorate from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. An Australian stamp with his face and name was issued in January 2002 as part of the Australian Legends series. Maintains his St. Jude laboratory and home in Memphis and also spends time in Australia. Published first book in 2006, The Beginner's Guide to Winning the Nobel Prize.
Harold Ford Jr.
Newly named head of Demo-cratic Leadership Council, a right-centrist party organization headquartered in Washington, the former 9th District congressman is also, as of 2007, an associate of the Merrill Lynch brokerage firm and an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt, positions he acquired following his narrow defeat in a 2006 U.S. Senate race. At 37, remains a potential candidate for statewide office and national prominence. Successor to his father, former congressman Harold Ford Sr. after the 1996 election, the younger Ford rose quickly in the Washington pantheon, thanks to his speaking skills, good looks, unexpected money-raising ability, and unprecedented, virtually nonstop attention from national media. His conspicuous break with liberal policies and friendly relations with Republican colleagues, unusual for a black Democrat, antagonized some party mates but contributed to his acceptance in conservative political and media circles.
Ginnifer Goodwin
Memphis-born actress, age 29. Currently starring in the second season of Big Love, a Golden-Globe and Emmy-nominated HBO drama about polygamists in Utah, playing the third wife of Bill Paxton, along with Jeanne Tripplehorn and Chloe Sevigny. Played Johnny Cash's first wife, Vivian, in Walk the Line, a biopic filmed in Memphis that earned Academy Award honors for lead Reese Witherspoon. In 2004, had supporting roles in the movies Mona Lisa Smile, starring Julia Roberts, and Win a Date with Tad Hamilton. Attended St. Mary's Episcopal School and Lausanne Collegiate School. With a bachelor's degree from Boston University, she studied in London at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the Shakespeare Institute, and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Received the Excellence in Acting Professional Promise Award in New York from the Bette Davis Foundation. Currently lives in Beverly Hills.
B.B. King
Universally known as the King of the Blues, with more than 100 albums. Came to Memphis in 1947 from Itta Bena, Mississippi, where he landed a job with WDIA radio station on Beale Street. Age 81. Currently lives in Las Vegas, but often is touring. Awarded 14 Grammys, the most recent for Best Traditional Blues Album for B.B. King & Friends — 80. In 2006, inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for his Live at the Regal album. Between 1951 and 1985, wrote 74 songs that made the Billboard R&B charts. Owns B.B. King's Blues Clubs in Memphis, Nashville, New York, and Los Angeles. Member of the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame. Winner of the Kennedy Center lifetime achievement award, and named entertainer of the year seven years consecutively.
Sarah Morris
Stars on the hit ABC drama Brothers & Sisters in the role of Julia Walker. Previous television credits include recurring roles on Wind-fall, Felicity, and Boston Public, as well as guest appearances on Cold Case, Ed, Dark Angel, and Judd Apatow's Undeclared. Film credits include roles in Coyote Ugly and Underclassmen. Member of the Echo Theater Company, a group of actors, writers, directors, and producers dedicated to developing and presenting the work of playwrights on all levels. Resides in Los Angeles.
Cybill Shepherd
Actress best known for TV series Moonlighting and Cybill, which was awarded four Golden Globes and four People's Choice awards. Signed on to join the cast of The L Word, a Showtime drama entering its fifth season. Portrayed Martha Stewart in two made-for-television movies: Martha, Inc.: The Story of Martha Stewart and Martha: Behind Bars. Got her start in acting while attending East High School. Was named Miss Teenage Memphis in 1966. A cabaret singer with five albums to her credit, the most recent titled At Home with Cybill, released in 2004. Age 57. Lives in California but often returns to her home in Downtown's South Bluffs.
Hampton Sides
Perhaps best known as author of Ghost Soldiers (Doubleday) a nonfiction book about the rescue of the last survivors of the Bataan Death March from a Japanese prison camp during World War II. Published in 2001, the book remained on The New York Times best-seller list for 42 weeks. Sides, 44, graduated from Memphis University School and Yale. Had his first job in journalism at Memphis magazine, where he began as an intern. Has been editor-at-large for Outside magazine, a correspondent for NPR, and has seen his work published in The New Yorker, Esquire, Men's Journal, and elsewhere. Other best-selling books include Stomping Grounds: A Pilgrim's Progress Through Eight American Subcultures (1992), Americana: Dispatches from the New Frontier (2004), and Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West (2006). Currently working on a book about the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Justin Timberlake
Acclaimed singer and songwriter, topping music charts first as member of N'SYNC, currently as solo artist. Age 26. Born in Millington, performed at Grand Ole Opry at age 10. Moved to Orlando and in early 1990s joined cast of the Mickey Mouse Club. Founded the Justin Timberlake Foundation to support math and music education for children. In 2002, released Justified, a multiplatinum-selling solo debut that scored hit singles such as "Rock Your Body" and "Cry Me a River." Following music success, has branched into film, with roles this year in the crime drama Alpha Dog, Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly's Southland Tales, and Memphis filmmaker Craig Brewer's Black Snake Moan. Followed up Justified in 2006 with the multiplatinum smash Future Sex/Love Sounds, which included hit singles such as "SexyBack" and "My Love." After flirting with getting involved in the relaunch of Stax Records, will instead be launching his own imprint, Tennman.
