Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of a series in which a Pucks and Rec writer will select the top contemporary entertainment citizen of every city in a select minor-league hockey division. The seven markets comprising the ECHL Central Division are this week’s focus. All filmography and award information is courtesy of the Internet Movie Database.
Cincinnati: Regina King
Upon receiving her first Emmy in 2015, King sent the trophy to Cincy to be in the care of her mother and grandmother. The American Crime mainstay repeated her victory in 2015, then contended for a third in 2017, all for different roles. As Terrie LaCroix in the second season, King was also nominated for a 2016 Golden Globe.
King’s critically hailed performances turned out to be a sparse, albeit consistent, streak of brightness on American Crime. Her triumphs alone could not convince ABC to renew the limited series for a fourth go-round.
But that does not signal the end of her tests in the genre. King is presently involved in an upcoming film adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel If Beale Street Could Talk.
Fort Wayne: Jenna Fischer
Four years removed from The Office finale, Fischer has yet to define her post-Pam Beesley era. But with one Emmy nomination and four Gold Derby candidacies from that program, she has the freshest hardware of any Fort Wayne native in the industry.
One of her fellow elder townspersons has paved a career road worth aiming for. Having preceded Fischer as an Emmy-caliber NBC sitcom actress, Shelley Long warrants an honorable mention. The former Cheers supporting player occasionally reemerges as Jay Pritchett’s passive-aggressive ex-wife on Modern Family.
Indy (Indianapolis): Vivica A. Fox
Born in South Bend, Fox eventually moved to her state capital, and has often returned since. In 2015, she spoke at a fundraiser near her old haunts to help embolden youth music and performing arts programs.
Since then, the Independence Day and Kill Bill veteran has kept drawing the spotlight via a recurring role as Cookie’s (Taraji P. Henson) sister on Empire. Any near-future spots on the hit drama will speak to her otherworldly energy. Fox has 12 other acting credits pending in 2017, 2018 or a date to be determined.
Katie Holmes spent her full upbringing in her native Ohio town, and has been a showbiz mainstay since her late teens. (Photo By Getty Images)
Kalamazoo: Bret Green
The year he turned 28, Green garnered his first regular role as Preston Wainwright on The Inspectors, now in its third season. No stranger to daytime network programs, he started paying his dues as a guest on General Hospital in 2013.
Green has since logged one-off credits on How to Get Away with Murder, Bones, The Goldbergs and Jane the Virgin. Time will tell how quickly any of that amounts to more prominent primetime casting calls.
Kansas City (Independence, Mo.): Arliss Howard
The Truman High School alum has seen sporadic action of late. With that said, Howard had landed roles in prominent projects for every odd-numbered year in this decade.
Howard portrayed Boston Red Sox owner John Henry, appearing opposite Brad Pitt’s Billy Beane, in 2011’s Moneyball. Four years later, he returned to sports films as Dr. Joseph Maroon in Concussion.
In between, Howard appeared in six episodes of True Blood in 2013. He has kept considerably busier more recently, as he is slated to stamp four new credits in 2017.
Quad City (Moline, Ill.): Bonnie Bartlett
At age 88, Bartlett has officially been in showbiz for three quarters of her life. She started with one TV credit in 1951 and has amassed two in 2017.
Within the last five years, Parks and Recreation, Key & Peele and Better Call Saul have all enlisted Bartlett for one or two helpings of her seasoning. The former Emmy winner from St. Elsewhere has also brought a one-off veteran presence to NCIS, Boston Legal and Grey’s Anatomy.
Toledo: Katie Holmes
Unfortunate timing put Holmes in Natalie Portman’s Oscar-nominated shadow. Portman’s title performance in Jackie was still in its afterglow when The Kennedys returned to Reelz.
Come what may, Holmes’ own portrayal of Jackie Kennedy has been singled out as a bright spot on The Kennedys: Decline and Fall.
As one can expect, the Dawson’s Creek alum has had an up-and-down career over the last two decades. But regardless of reception, she has garnered consistent and prominent work. On the heels of this year’s Kennedys sequel, Holmes has seen two other projects released. Another pair are slated two premiere before this year is up, then at least two more in 2018.
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