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Dan Irvin Rather Jr. was born in Wharton, Texas, to Byrl Veda (Page) and Dan Irvin Rather Sr., a ditch digger. He graduated from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, where he wanted to play football. He worked at local radio station KSAM in Huntsville during his college years. Following graduation he worked for radio station KTRK in Houston and went to work for KHOU-TV, the CBS affiliate in Houston. In 1961, he covered Hurricane Carla for KHOU-TV in Houston, Texas, and it caught the eye of CBS News executives, who hired him in 1962. He was in Dallas on November 22, 1963 and was CBS' lead anchor from Dallas during the coverage of the Kennedy assassination. In 1975, he became co-anchor of 60 Minutes (1968) and in 1981 was selected to replace Walter Cronkite as anchor of CBS Evening News (1963), where he remained as anchor until 2005. The Communications Building on the campus of Sam Houston State University is named for Rather.

Horton Foote, the Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatist and Oscar-winning screenwriter, was born on March 14, 1916, in Wharton, Texas. He says at the age of ten, he had a "calling" to become an actor, and when he was 16 he convinced his parents to allow him to go to acting school. With their blessing he went to Pasadena, California, where he studied acting for two years at the Pasadena Playhouse. Subsequently, he moved to New York City and studied at Tamara Daykarhanova's Theatre School where he was inculcated with Michael Chekhov's version of the Second Studio technique developed at the Moscow Art Theatre. In time, Foote the dramatist would be hailed as the "American Chekhov," and his education does link him to the Russian master.

Foote was one of the founders of the American Actors Company. He racked up some minor roles on stage, and decided that becoming a dramatist was his best insurance policy for ensuring he received decent roles. In 1944 he made his Broadway debut with "Only the Heart." His fate was sealed when he received better reviews for his writing than for his acting.

Throughout the 1940s Foote continued to write for the theater, including experimental works. He started to write for television to support himself, soon becoming one of the mainstays of the Golden Age of television drama. He wrote teleplays for Playhouse 90 (1956), The Philco Television Playhouse (1948) and The United States Steel Hour (1953). Foote won an Oscar for Best Adapted screenplay for Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), which was the movie debut of Robert Duvall. Foote also continued to prosper on Broadway, with his plays "The Chase," "The Trip to Bountiful" with Lillian Gish and "The Traveling Lady" with Kim Stanley.

After the film of "Mockingbird," Foote adapted "The Traveling Lady" as the movie Baby the Rain Must Fall (1965), but he began to grow disillusioned with Hollywood due to its treatment of his work. Despite being produced by multiple Oscar-winner Sam Spiegel, adapted by Lillian Hellman, and directed by Arthur Penn, as well as featuring one of Marlon Brando's finest performances, the film version of The Chase (1966) was a debacle. It was excoriated by the critics and a flop at the box office.

Now out of favor both in Hollywood and on Broadway, Foote went into an exile of sorts in New Hampshire. Ten years after "To Kill a Mockingbird," Duvall gave a brilliant performance in Tomorrow (1972), the movie made from Foote's adaptation of William Faulkner's eponymous story. The film is a small masterpiece, and was well-reviewed by critics. Foote, whom Duvall calls "the rural Chekhov," wrote an original screenplay for the actor ten years after their collaboration on "Tomorrow." Tender Mercies (1983) brought both of them Oscars, for Best Original Screenplay for Foote and Best Actor for Duvall. A couple of years later, Geraldine Page would win the Best Actress Oscar for Foote's The Trip to Bountiful (1985), which brought him his third Academy Award nomination.

In the 1970s he presented his nine-play cycle "Orphans' Home," based on his family. He remained active as as dramatist and screenwriter throughout the 1980s and '90s, and in 1995, his play "The Young Man From Atlanta," was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Nominated for an Emmy in 1959 for adapting Faulkner's short story "The Old Man" for "Playhouse 90," he would win the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Special 42 years later for his second adaptation of the story (Old Man (1997)). He remains active in the 21st century, well into his 90s.

Among Foote's prose works are "Farewell: A Memoir of a Texas Childhood" (1999), an account of life in Wharton, Texas. Hoote created the fictional town of Harrison, Texas, which he used as the locale for many of his plays. The first two installments of his autobiography, "Farewell," and "Beginnings," were published in 1999 and 2001, respectively.

In addition to his Pulitzer Prize and two Oscars, Foote was honored with the William Inge Award for Lifetime Achievement in the American Theatre in 1989, a Gold Medal for Drama from the Academy of Arts and Letters in 1998, the Writer's Guild of America's Lifetime Achievement award in 1999, and the PEN American Center's Master American Dramatist Award in 2000.

Horton Foote's success can be attributed to his honest examination of the human condition, and why some people survive tragedies while others are destroyed. His central themes of the sense of belonging and longing for home have resonate with audiences for 60 years.

Sam Restivo was born on 5 July 1980 in Wharton, Texas, USA. He is an editor, known for Gladiator II (2024), Napoleon (2023) and The Last Duel (2021). He has been married to Jenny Deiker Restivo since 2013.

Cynthia Sinatra was born on 16 December 1952 in Wharton, Texas, USA. She was an actress, known for Everything or Nothing (2007). She was married to Frank Sinatra Jr., John Patrick Brink and Robert Millard McMurrey. She died on 20 April 2017 in Sugar Land, Texas, USA.

Tina Johnson was born on 27 October 1951 in Wharton, Texas, USA. She is an actress, known for Texas (1980), Tabitha's Aquarium (2008) and Saving Face (2004).

Joseph Brandon was born on 27 July 1979 in Wharton, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for When Noah Calls (2011), Exit 13 (2014) and Sending Out the Clowns (2011). He died on 7 March 2019 in Austin, Texas, USA.

Ken Hudgins was born on 23 August 1928 in Wharton County, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for The Sugarland Express (1974), Battle Creek Brawl (1980) and Gunsmoke (1955). He was married to Nancy Ann Hunt. He died on 19 January 1982.

Billy Waddy was born on 19 February 1954 in Wharton, Texas, USA. He died on 21 January 2022 in New Brighton, Minnesota, USA.

Born on July 20, 1987 in the small town of Wharton, Texas, but grew up in the city of Victoria, Texas. The Texas Country radio station 98.3 KORA in College Station was Kasey's first call to the entertainment industry, where he was a top on-air personality working alongside Chris Austin and Adam Drake. He attended the University of Houston majoring in Media Production, which propelled him to land notable roles on screen and behind the camera as he has directed some of the top talent the world has to offer. Kasey has also booked roles in the Hollywood blockbuster films, "Django Unchained" directed by Quentin Tarantino and Simon West's "Wildcard", which stars Jason Statham. Along with his acting and producing credits, Kasey debuted his film, "My Bully", which was the first screen play he had ever written, to a sold out theater in Houston, Texas. With his success, James has since founded his own media production company, The PlayList, which focuses on photography and video production for the arts and entertainment industry. In Kasey's decade long career, he has acted, directed and produced numerous commercials, music videos, digital short and full length feature films. You can catch Kasey at any live concert with his wife, Kelsey or at a sporting event with his two sons, Hayden Jaxon and Leonardo Rose.

With these accomplishments, Kasey also stars alongside Daniel Baldwin in the Sci-Fi Triller "Sound of Trains" which is directed by Jordan Bradley & Travis Champagne. The film was picked up by a cable and satellite channel, Shorts HD Network, that is offered through Direct TV. The film was broadcast through the United States & European markets and had great success throughout the film festival circuit.

Joe Llanes was born on 10 August 1966 in Wharton, Texas, USA. Joe is known for Alita: Battle Angel (2019), Get the Gringo (2012) and Planet Terror (2007). Joe was married to Ashley Mitchell. Joe died on 29 August 2024 in Fayetteville, Texas, USA.

Mike lives with his wonderful wife, daughter, and dog.

Mike graduated long ago from the University of Texas with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology.

Mike is a fair-weather sports fan. Now that the San Antonio Spurs have a chance again, he's back to watching basketball sometimes. (updated Sept, 2024)

Mike is a Democratic Socialist.

Mike thinks his profile image is funny. He's been warned that it gives off a weird vibe, which is okay with him. He was once told that his sarcastic Biography was actually helpful in getting him a job. He hopes this will happen again.

Wade Speckels was born on 14 November 1977 in Wharton, Texas, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Thor (2011), The Portal (2010) and Honor (2006).

Heath Sherman was born on 27 March 1967 in Wharton, Texas, USA.

J.T. Walton was born on 6 April 1870 in Wharton, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for The Wife Hunters (1922). He was married to Birdie Frances Williams. He died on 11 October 1950 in San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Lamar Lathon was born on 23 December 1967 in Wharton, Texas, USA.

Joshua M. Kutach was born on 24 May 1981 in Wharton, Texas, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Grim (2010), Four Horses (2010) and The Platinum Peacemaker (2010).

Jim Kearney was born on 21 January 1943 in Wharton, Texas, USA. He died on 6 August 2024 in the USA.

Kaye Evelyn McKlaine was born in the small town of Wharton, Texas. She grew up spending time outdoors on her grandparents pasture which has led her to become extremely environmentally active in her adult life.

She headed to Alabama for college, where she graduated from Auburn University. Here, she learned the true meaning of school spirit, college football and tailgating. Saturdays in the fall still remain her favorite time of year.

Although she has always had great love for movies, Kaye did not fall in love with acting until her last quarter at Auburn; when, in order to graduate, she needed a fine arts credit. Forced to choose between History of Art at 8am and Acting at 2pm (neither of which she was overly excited about), she did what any right-minded college kid would do....she slept in. Never in her wildest dreams did she image that this would drastically change the course of her life.

After graduating with a degree in business, Kaye went on to work in the corporate world. Finally, deciding that she could no longer ignore her dreams, she quit her job, took all her suits to goodwill and headed out to LA with $400 in her pocket. Understanding the importance of learning and growing in her craft, she immediately found a home with Sean Barnes at Playhouse West.

Kaye works closely with Tim Cogshell and Asif Ahmed in developing a wide variety of projects. She has plans to open her own production company in 2011.