Weeds: Season 7 – Bios

MARY-LOUISE PARKERNancy Botwin

MARY-LOUISE PARKER is a multi-award winning actress with a diverse career in film, television and theater. Her work in WEEDS has garnered five Golden Globe® nominations, including one Golden Globe® win, four SAG® nominations, three Emmy® nominations, as well as one Satellite Award win and three nominations. In addition to her awards for WEEDS, Parker is also the winner of another Golden Globe®, a Tony®, an Emmy®, two Obies, as well as numerous other nominations for her other works seen throughout her revered career.

Parker appeared in Brian Koppelman and David Levien’s film Solitary Man, starring opposite Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito and Jenna Fischer. The film centers on an ex-auto dealership owner (Douglas) whose career and marriage has collapsed because of his less-than-ethical behavior. Parker plays ‘Jordan’, Ben’s (Douglas’) girlfriend, a beautiful Upper East Side businesswoman whose teenage daughter also happens to catch Ben’s eye.

On the small screen, Parker’s portrayal in Mike Nichols’ highly acclaimed Angels In America garnered her Emmy® and Golden Globe® wins and a SAG® nomination. She received Emmy® nominations for her performance on The West Wing and for her starring role in Robber Bride, for which she won the Gemini Award. Parker also starred in Sugartime, A Place For Annie, Saint Maybe, Cupid & Cate, The Simple Truth Of Noah Dearborn, Miracle Run and Vinegar Hill.

Parker’s impressive film oeuvre includes the dark Christian comedy Saved!, opposite Mandy Moore, and Romance & Cigarettes, written and directed by John Turturro and produced by the Coen Brothers. Parker is known widely for her starring roles in Fried Green Tomatoes, Grand Canyon, Reckless, Boys On The Side, The Client, Naked In New York, Bullets Over Broadway, The Best Thief In The World, Longtime Companion, Pipe Dream, Red Dragon, The Spiderwick Chronicles and The Five Senses, for which she was nominated for a Genie Award for ‘Best Actress’. Parker most recently starred in Red, opposite Bruce Willis and also starring Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich.

Parker also boasts a highly acclaimed and extensive stage career. She made her Broadway debut to rave reviews in Prelude To A Kiss, garnering a Tony® nomination, a Theatre World Award, The Clarence Derwent Award and a Drama Desk nomination. She originated the role of ‘Li’l Bit’ in the critically lauded How I Learned To Drive, which earned her an Obie Award, a Lucille Lortel Award and an Outer Critics Circle nomination. She also starred in Reckless, for which she received Tony® and Drama League nominations. Her performance in Proof earned her the 2001 Tony® Award, as well as the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, Lucille Lortel, Obie and New York Magazine Awards. She also earned the 2001 T. Schreiber Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Theatre’. In 2008, Parker starred in the Playwrights Horizons production of Sarah Ruhl’s Dead Man’s Cell Phone, for which she received a Drama League nomination. She was most recently seen in the Broadway revival of Hedda Gabler, directed by Ian Rickson.

Additional theatre credits include Communicating Doors, Bus Stop, Four Dogs And A Bone, The Art Of Success,Throwing Your Voice, Babylon Gardens, The Importance Of Being Earnest, Up In Saratoga, The Miser and Hayfever. She co-founded the Edge Theater, where she performed in The Age Of Pie and The Girl In Pink, among other productions.

Parker is currently a contributing writer for Esquire magazine. She won the Robert Brustein Award for ‘Excellence in Theater’ and the Philadelphia Film Festival Award for ‘Career Achievement’. Her personal and professional belongings, along with career memorabilia, are archived at the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University, where she was the youngest person ever inducted.

HUNTER PARRISHSilas Botwin

One of Hollywood’s most sought-after and vibrant young talents, HUNTER PARRISH continues to evolve with each new project.

Parrish starred in Paper Man, opposite Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Daniels and Lisa Kudrow. The film premiered at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival. Parrish also starred in Nancy Meyers’ 2009 hit It's Complicated, opposite Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Parrish also starred in Burr Steers’ 17 Again, opposite Zac Efron, Matthew Perry and Leslie Mann. He is currently shooting Gone for director Heitor Dhalia and Lakeshore Entertainment.

In early 2009 Parrish made his Broadway debut to critical acclaim as ‘Melchior’, the smart and sexy young hero in the Tony® Award winning hit musical Spring Awakening. His other film credits include Richard LaGravenese’s Freedom Writers, opposite Hilary Swank and Patrick Dempsey; Barry Sonnenfeld’s RV, opposite Robin Williams, Jeff Daniels and Kristen Chenoweth; David Jacobson’s independent feature Down In The Valley, opposite Edward Norton and Evan Rachel Wood; Joe Nussbaum’s Sleepover and Melissa Painter’s Steal Me, which garnered him a 2005 Los Angeles Method Fest Award for ‘Best Actor’.

On the small screen, Parrish guest starred on NBC’s successful crime drama Law And Order: SVU, CBS’ hit drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CBS’ drama Close To Home.

ALEXANDER GOULDShane Botwin

As the deranged son of Mary-Louise Parker on SHOWTIME’s hit series WEEDS, Alexander Gould encapsulates a twisted, dark and disturbed teen at his best.

Gould began his career at a young age and shot to fame as the voice of ‘Nemo’ in Finding Nemo. While many child actors find the transition to teen/adult roles challenging, Gould did it with ease. As WEEDS’ ‘Shane Botwin’, Gould demonstrates his range and believability in this fascinating role, which is a far departure from Nemo.

In addition to these two monster hits, Gould has performed guest appearances on television shows such as 7th Heaven, Malcolm in the Middle, Disney’s Even Stevens, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Pushing Daisies and Supernatural. At 15, the actor has already won three Young Artist Awards including ‘Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role – Young Actor’ for Finding Nemo (2004), ‘Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film’ for How to Eat Fried Worms (2007), and ‘Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama)’ – Supporting Young Actor’ for WEEDS (2007).

JUSTIN KIRKAndy Botwin

A striking and compelling presence on screen, JUSTIN KIRK earned high praise for his roles on television, in film and on stage.

WithWEEDS, Kirk earned a Golden Globe® nomination for ‘Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television’.He also earned high praise for his role as ‘Prior Walter’ in Mike Nichols’ award-winning miniseries Angels In America, starring alongside Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and his WEEDS co-star Mary-Louise Parker.Kirk was nominated for both an Emmy® and SAG® Award for his performance in the miniseries.

Justin recently wrapped production on 3 independent films: Goats, in which he stars opposite David Duchovny and Vera Farmiga; Vamps, opposite Alicia Silverstone, Sigourney Weaver, Krysten Ritter and Wallace Shawn for director Amy Heckerling; L!fe Happens, opposite Kate Bosworth, Rachel Bilson, Krysten Ritter and Jason Biggs. He will also co-star opposite John Krasinski, Olivia Thrilby and Rosemarie Dewitt in Nobody Walks, which will begin production in May.

He has appeared in notable guest spots on Modern Family, Without A Trace, Everwood, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Law And Order: Special Victims Unit and Jack And Bobby; Kirk was also a series regular on the WB series Jack And Jill.

Other film credits include Peter Callahan’s Against the Current, Wyatt McDill’s Four Boxes, Maria Maggenti’s Puccini for Beginners, Jeff Lipsky’s Flannel Pajamas, Robert Towne’s Ask The Dust, Henry Jaglom’s Hollywood Dreams, Chapter Zero, and the independent thrillers The Eden Myth and Outpatient.He also worked on Harry Shearer’s Teddy Bears’ Picnic.

Also a highly accomplished stage actor, Kirk won the Obie Award for ‘Distinguished Performance in the Ensemble’ for his portrayal of the blind character ‘Bobby’ in Love! Valour! Compassion! and went on to star in the feature film adaptation.In 2001, he co-starred with Julianna Margulies and Donald Sutherland in Jon Robin Baitz’s Ten Unknowns at Lincoln Center. The role won him a Lucille Lortel Award, as well as Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations. Kirk was last seen in The Roundabout Theater Company’s The Understudy, opposite Mark Paul Gosselaar and Tony® Award winner Julie White.

Additional stage work includes The World Over at Playwrights Horizons, Old Wicked Songs at New York’s Promenade Theatre and Los Angeles’ Geffen Playhouse in which he starred as a piano prodigy, winning a Backstage Garland Award for ‘Outstanding Performance’. He also appeared in Any Given Day at the Longacre Theatre and June Moon with the Drama Department, a theatre company of which he is a founding member.

KEVIN NEALONDoug Wilson

KEVIN NEALON has set himself apart from other comedic performers with his unique sense of humor, dry wit, and likeable demeanor. Nealon is best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live (1986–1995). At SNL, Nealon created some of the show’s most memorable characters – ‘The Subliminal Man’ and ‘Hans and Franz,’ as well as serving as host of the ‘Weekend Update’. Nealon was also nominated for an Emmy® Award as part of the SNL writing team. Nealon was last seen on the big screen in Just Go With It, opposite Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler and starring opposite Tim Meadows and Ashley Tisdale in Aliens In The Attic.

Nealon has also written a book entitled Yes, You’re Pregnant But What About Me?, a comical look at the male perspective of pregnancy. Nealon can also be seen in the independent feature Remarkable Power with Tom Arnold.

Nealon’sother feature film credits include You Don’t Mess With The Zohan, Get Smart, Remarkable Power, Anger Management, Joe Dirt, Eight Crazy Nights, The Wedding Singer, Happy Gilmore, Daddy Day Care, Good Boy, Roxanne and the cult hit Grandma’s Boy. His television guest appearances include Monk, SHOWTIME’s Fat Actress, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Still Standing. He was also the host of TBS’s Funniest Commercials Of The Year.

JENJI KOHANCreator/Executive Producer

JENJI KOHAN began her career on The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air after graduating from Columbia University. Her series writing credits include First Time Out, Mad About You, Tracey Takes On, Sex And The City, Boston Common, Gilmore Girls, Will & Grace and MyAdventures In Television.She was the creator of the ABC pilot My Wonderful Life, creator and executive producer of the CBS television series The Stones, and has written numerous other studio pilots. In 1999, she was honored with an Emmy® Award for ‘Outstanding Comedy Series’ for her work on Tracey Takes On.In addition, Kohan won the Writers Guild Award for ‘Best Episodic Comedy’ for the pilot of WEEDS, entitled ‘You Can’t Miss The Bear’. Kohan is the daughter of 13-time Emmy® Awardwinning television writer Buz Kohan and Rhea Kohan, an accomplished novelist. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, journalist/author Christopher Noxon and three children Charlie, Eliza and Oscar.

ROBERTO BENABIBExecutive Producer

A graduate ofNew York University’s prestigiousfilm school, ROBERTO BENABIB began his career as assistant to acclaimed directorJonathan Demme. Benabib hasgone on to produce and write numerous television series, including Ally McBeal and HouseRules. He also wrote and directed the Miramax film Little City and adapted the libretto for Baz Luhrmann’s Broadway production of La Bohème.

MATTHEW SALSBERGExecutive Producer

MATTHEW SALSBERG joined WEEDS as a co-producer in its first season and has risen to become an executive producer. In 2007, he created and executive produced the pilot Me & Lee? for FOX, a single-camera comedy now in development at Syfy. Previously, he was a co-producer on HBO’s Entourage, as well as a contributing writer for the network’s hit comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm. Salsberg and Kohan are now co-writing a new poker-themed comedy,Whales, that’s currently in development at SHOWTIME.

MARK A. BURLEYExecutive Producer

MARK A. BURLEY has worked as a producer on WEEDS since the pilot, which was shot in 2004, and has been involved in every episode of the series. For his work on WEEDS, he was nominated for an Emmy® and a Producers Guild Award. Burley has produced hundreds of hours of television series, including projects for all four major networks. His series credits include multiple seasons on Murder, She Wrote and Simon & Simon. He has also produced TV movies and numerous pilots. Burley is a long-standing member of the DGA and the WGA.

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