Guest Stars News (Page 8)

Nine gay characters are depicted in network TV series scheduled for the 2006-07 season, a decrease from last year's 10, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) said in a press release Monday.

That's roughly 1.3 percent of 679 lead or supporting characters on the six major broadcast networks in the new season, according to the group's annual study. The figure last year was 1.4 percent.

The nine gay or lesbian characters appear on eight series, one of which, not surprisingly, is Grey's Anatomy -- a show renowned for its diversity.

Fans are probably aware that Joe, the affable proprietor and bartender at the Emerald City Bar, where the doctors often go for a drink, is a gay man. The actor who portrays him, Steven W. Bailey (above), is large and often unassuming, in contrast to how gay men are often portrayed on television.

Joe plays a small but quality role on the Seattle-based show. In one episode, the surgeons removed a tumor from his brain. On another, he attended Thanksgiving at Meredith's house with his boyfriend, Walter. We're glad to hear that he will still be around when Season Three gets underway... in less than a month!

Other series with recurring gay, lesbian or bisexual characters include Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, Big Day (all ABC), The Office (NBC), The Simpsons and The War at Home (both Fox).

Last week, we reported on the addition of child star Abigail Breslin to the list of upcoming Grey's Anatomy guest stars, as well as other spoilers.

This morning, we learned that veteran character actor Fred Ward has signed on for a guest starring role on the medical drama as well. He will appear on one of the first five episodes of the season, in what will be his first foray into prime time TV.

Ward, 63, has appeared in more than 70 movies, among them Escape From Alcatraz, Southern Comfort, The Right Stuff, Tremors and Sweet Home Alabama.

Grey's Anatomy is up for 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Best Drama series, which are being handed out Sunday. Will it win? Our readers seem to think so... but they may be a bit biased.

We just finished recapping the Grey's Anatomy spoilers we know going into next season thus far when we learned of another great guest star coming to Seattle Grace this fall.

Abigal Breslin, the 10-year-old star of the critically-acclaimed comedy Little Miss Sunshine, will guest star in an episode of Grey's Anatomy entitled "Sometimes a Fantasy" this season. The episode has not yet been given an air date, but it should be interesting to see who this young, rising Hollywood star portrays.

Prior to Little Miss Sunshine, Breslin's other film credits include Signs, Raising Helen, and The Princess Diaries 2 (which was written by the one and only Shonda Rhimes). Breslin joins Diahann Carroll, Chris O'Donnell and Eric Dane as notable guest stars on Grey's Anatomy's highly-anticipated Season 3, which stars Thursday, September 21 at 9 pm (just in case you forgot)!

She made history in 1968, becoming the first African-American woman to star in a TV series. Thirty-eight years after the premiere of Julia, which launched her career, Diahann Carroll will be guest starring on the third season of Grey's Anatomy, a drama renowned for its cast's diversity.

"Each time, I'm surprised [to still be asked to appear on a television show]," she told Entertainment Tonight. "I feel as though they've counted me out. I might as well sit on the beach. Then the phone rings."

Carroll felt particularly wonderful when she received a call from the series' creator, Shonda Rhimes.

"She said the most lovely thing. She said, 'I knew when I was a girl that if I had any success in television or film that I wanted to work with you.' I said, 'When I hear things like that, you make me feel so wonderful that I'll work for nothing,'" she said.

Of course, Diahann wasn't serious about working for nothing, but she was flattered just the same. That said, she joined the conspiracy of those who work on Grey's Anatomy, and have sworn not to reveal any of the upcoming storylines. The much-anticipated Season 3 begins Thursday, September 21.

"They explain that you just say nothing, and I think it's a wonderful idea. So I'm on the show, that's as far as we can go," Carroll said.

Diahann definitely was a hit with her co-stars. According to Patrick Dempsey, a.k.a. "Dr. McDreamy," Carroll brings "an elegance and a level of intensity... people were really excited she was there."

TV isn't the only area in which Diahann is a survivor. She has also beaten breast cancer, having been lucky enough to be diagnosed early. She wants to get the message out to all women regarding the importance of annual checkups and mammograms.

"So many women in the African-American, Asian and Latin communities feel that their primary concern is not themselves, but their families," she said. "The family is very important, but the family would be in a terrible condition if [these women] were not there to take care [of them]."

For a greater understanding of breast cancer, Diahann urges women to visit Strength In Knowing, a website established to give women the understanding they need of cancer and its risk.

We're eagerly awaiting Diahann's performances on Grey's Anatomy. Save for Shonda, no one knows who she'll be playing yet, although rumors suggest a contemporary of Richard's, or perhaps the mother of Dr. Burke.

ABC announced and TV Guide reports that veteran actress Diahann Carroll will be guest starring on Grey's Anatomy during Season Three. But series creator Shonda Rhimes (in typical, secretive fashion) stopped short of saying who Carroll, 71, will be portraying.

Some guesses include the mother of Dr. Burke, or perhaps a new senior-level administrator at SGH. A counterpart and/or a rival of Dr. Webber, perhaps? We will have to wait and see. Carroll (below, left) has appeared in 49 feature films and is also a Tony Award-winning stage actress.

In other Grey's cast news, the scene-stealing Sara Ramirez (below, right), one of the show's notable guest stars, has been promoted to full-time cast member. The Insider would like to send our congratulations. We're already getting psyched for more awkward moments in the bathroom at Meredith's house whenever Ramirez's character, Dr. Callie Torres, spends the night!

He's busy these days, balancing the roles of a family man and a charming McVet. But Chris O'Donnell will be taking on a new job with the company.

Playing agent Jack McCauliffe in TNT's upcoming mini-series The Company -- the insiders' nickname for the CIA -- O'Donnell will star in a story about the agency during the Cold War era.

Based on the 2002 novel by Robert Lettell, the series will focus on the double lives agents were forced to lead in that period. O'Donnell will play a loyal spy whose trust will be put to ultimate test in the intriguing world of international espionage.

To date, O'Donnell is the only one signed to act in the project.

The Scott brothers (director-producers Ridley and Tony) are the executive producers behind the series, and have experience bringing pictures like this to both the big and small screens. They pair signed Ken Nolan, the man responsible for adapting Black Hawk Down, to write the teleplay, along with renowned cinematographer Mikael Salomon.

The Company is slated for broadcast in 2007. Prior to joining the cast of Grey's Anatomy as Meredith's veterinarian and love interest, Finn Dandridge, O'Donnell's previous foray into TV was the short-lived Fox series Head Cases.

He was once Boy Wonder, a can't-miss Hollywood superstar. Nowadays, 35-year old Chris O'Donnell prefers a simpler, different name: Dad.

The most recent edition of Life Magazine contains an interview with the scruffy O'Donnell, who became a star in the '90s with roles in Scent of a Woman, The Three Musketeers, The Bachelor and numerous other films.

After laying relatively low for a few years, he has returned to prominence as Finn Dandridge (a.k.a. McVet) Meredith's veterinarian and love interest on Grey's Anatomy.

Chris and wife Caroline are proud parents of Lily, 7, Chip, 5, Charlie, 2, and three-month old Finley -- fittingly nicknamed "Finn" for short. The star talks about how he was shaped by a large-family upbringing in Winnetka, Ill., where he was the youngest of seven children, and the challenges and sweet rewards of having a growing family of his own. Below are some excerpts.

On going from one kid to... a lot more:
"The jump from one to two was okay, but the jump from two to three was absolutely insane. Three to four? You just gotta go into zone defense. So much of the day is spent managing things -- meals, tears, expectations, rides to school."

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Not long ago, he struggled for work. Nowadays, it seems as if Jeffrey Dean Morgan can't get enough.

We've already talked about the actor's addition to the cast of the new and as-yet-untitled Shonda Rhimes pilot involving female journalists. Now the actor has another new project in the pipeline -- a role opposite Lisa Kudrow (of Friends fame) and Teri Garr (Tootsie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind) in the independent film Kabluey, directed by Scott Prendergast.

"It's a small part." Morgan said of the off-beat comedy, which reports say will be set in an office environment. "But can you imagine, Lisa Kudrow? And Teri Garr? That's just amazing."

Morgan, 40, still has recurring roles on two TV series, Supernatural and Weeds. His beloved Grey's Anatomy character, Denny Duquette, may not have survived the second season of the hospital drama, but the actor's career has certainly survived, and then some. Great to see. We will continue to follow J.D.'s pursuits and keep you updated whenever we hear something.

He did not go gently, and death was definitely not proud.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan hoped, prayed, schemed and finally begged for the life of his Grey's Anatomy character, Denny Duquette, according to the L.A. Times. At one point, he marched into the office of creator / executive producer Shonda Rhimes, turned on the charm and pleaded.

"Please, please, just let me live," Morgan asked.

Rhimes was sympathetic, but unwavering. On the season finale, as fans have lamented for weeks now, Denny survived a difficult heart transplant, asked Izzie to marry him, then succumbed to a stroke. Denny quietly breathed his last with no one in the room (save 20 million viewers at home).

"It was a grim day, let me tell you. A dark, grim day. I'm still not over it. It broke my heart to leave that show," said Morgan of his death scene.

In becoming one of TV's top hits, Grey's Anatomy has built and maintained a devoted following, many of whom held out hope that the ailing patient would somehow pull through. Fans have voiced sorrow and outrage since his death. Some are even in denial to the point where they believe Denny may somehow come back to life.

"I don't think so," Morgan said, grinning. "I mean, I was blue."

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We're not sure whether this is good or bad news for Grey's Anatomy fans, but regardless, you'll be able to see more Jeffrey Dean Morgan on ABC.

Morgan, who was lauded by critics and fans for his portrayal of charismatic and ill-fated heart patient Denny Duquette, has signed on as a regular cast member on new ABC series from Shonda Rhimes, the creator and executive producer of Grey's Anatomy.

The Untitled Shonda Rhimes Project, as it is now known, revolves around a group of female journalists. According to Reuters, ABC has ordered a pilot episode.

While it comes as little surprise that Morgan's newfound fame landed him another ABC role, this news officially extinguishes flickering hopes of Grey's fans that Denny might return to Seattle Grace in some capacity. The handsome actor endeared himself to Dr. Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) for much of the series' second season.

In addition to his guest role on Grey's Anatomy, Morgan appeared on the WB Network series Supernatural as the ghost-busting father of stars Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki. He was also recurring character on Weeds, the Showtime comedy starring Mary Louise Parker. Morgan played Parker's dead husband, who often appears in flashbacks and fantasy sequences.