Dan Lauria Movies
Best known as Jack Arnold, the husband and father with one of the world's softest hearts, on the period comedy drama The Wonder Years (1988-1993), burly actor Dan Lauria's accomplishments as an actor far outstripped that single characterization. Lauria sustained an impressive and versatile career that encompassed soap operas, situation comedies, long-form features and miniseries, and theatrical work, to name only a few arenas. As a young man, the Brooklyn-born Lauria attended Southern Connecticut State University, where he played collegiate football, then enlisted in the Marines. He received formal dramatic training under coaches Constance Welch (at Yale) and Davey Marlin-Jones (at the Washington Theatre Club) -- both of whom tutored him with an approach resolutely opposed to that of the classic "Method." Lauria then debuted onscreen in the early '80s largely with telemovies, such as the 1983 Without a Trace and the 1985 Brass, and with occasional appearances on sitcoms such as Growing Pains. The Wonder Years, of course, represented one of Lauria's most significant breaks, and he later reflected that it would remain his chief legacy as an actor. After Years wrapped in 1993, Lauria continued his small-screen work. He appeared on such programs as ER, Law & Order, Smallville, and Boy Meets World; played legendary network head Fred Silverman in Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Charlie's Angels; and played Crawford in the Martin Lawrence comedy vehicle Big Momma's House 2 (2006). He also maintained a busy theatrical schedule, with a particularly strong presence at L.A.'s Coronet Theater. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Anthony (Vincent Pagano) is a white fledging actor who is in a happy relationship with Alissa (Victoria Rowell), who is beautiful, gainfully employed, and black. In spite of being sharply reminded that it has been 30 years since Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Anthony is reluctant to introduce her to his large traditional-minded family. Yet when Alissa does accompany Anthony home when his grandfather dies, he learns that race is only one of many issues this eccentric family contends with; two of Anthony's cousins are under the mistaken belief that they are wanted by the mob, his uncle talks endlessly about his testicles, and his aunt takes Alissa aside and tells her that the only way to survive in this wacky family is to drink. A Wake in Providence was screened at the 1999 Boston Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vincent Pagano, Victoria Rowell, (more)
Will & Grace star Eric McCormack headlines X-Files veteran R.W. Goodwin's feature directorial debut, a playful send-up of 1950s-era sci-fi films tracing the bizarre events that unfold after a mysterious space object crashes into a California mountaintop. Based on a story by James Swift and Steven Fisher (who also penned the screenplay), the Technicolor-flavored genre-bender follows a benevolent alien (McCormack) as he attempts to fend off a seriously strange invader. Robert Patrick, Jenni Baird, and Jody Thompson co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric McCormack, Jenni Baird, (more)
- 1987
In Angel in Green, an unlikely alliance between a Jesuit missionary and a trained-for-combat Green Beret trooper is formed to help protect the island natives from insurgent-spawned violence. ~ All Movie Guide
In Stakeout, cop Richard Dreyfuss fell in love with Madeline Stowe, the woman he and his partner Emilio Estevez were watching during a police stakeout. Stowe's back in Another Stakeout, but her part is fleeting and unbilled. On the other hand, we get plenty of Dreyfuss and Estevez, still both as cantankerous and obnoxious as ever. This time, our two heroes are in search of a Mafia witness who has disappeared after an attempt on her life. While holed up in a judge's mansion, staking out the apartment where the woman may or may not return, the pair are subject to the comic aggravation of DA's assistant Rosie O'Donnell, who's brought her "darling" little rotweiler along for company. Another Stakeout works a little harder for its laughs than its predecessor; the best scenes go to Ms. O'Donnell and to nonplussed supporting players Dennis Farina and Marcia Strassman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Dreyfuss, Emilio Estevez, (more)
- 2004
- Add Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Charlie's Angels to QueueAdd Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Charlie's Angels to top of Queue
The true story behind one of the most popular television shows of the 1970s is dramatized in this made-for-TV comedy drama. In 1975, television producer Aaron Spelling (Dan Castellaneta) was looking for a new hit, and he thought he might have one in a script about three beautiful female police officers who become private detectives working for a mysterious man named Charlie. While the show began life as The Alley Cats, in time Spelling and his crew changed it to Charlie's Angels, and once they cast Farrah Fawcett-Majors (Tricia Helfer), Kate Jackson (Lauren Stamile), and Jaclyn Smith (Christina Chambers), they soon had a show that would give birth to a new genre -- "jiggle television" -- and become a worldwide phenomenon. Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Charlie's Angels also features Ben Browder as Lee Majors, Dan Lauria as ABC head Fred Silverman, and Chelsea Watson as Cheryl Ladd. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tricia Helfer, Lauren Stamile, (more)
An FBI agent finds himself crossing the gender line again in the name of national security in this sequel to the comedy hit Big Momma's House. Tom Fuller (Mark Moses) is a computer whiz who is under investigation by the FBI, who suspect he may be the man behind a dangerous piece of underground software that would allow terrorists and criminals to access secured intelligence files online. The Bureau is looking for a way to get inside Fuller's home to find out what he's doing when a golden opportunity presents itself -- Fuller and his wife, Leah (Emily Procter), are in the market for a nanny to help look after their three children. The FBI sends in Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence), who will once again impersonate feisty septuagenarian Hattie Mae Pierce, better known as "Big Momma." "Big Momma" gets the job, but while trying to dig up the truth about Fuller's possible criminal connections, Malcolm also finds himself developing a close relationship with the suspect's wife and kids. Malcolm also finds himself offering unlikely romantic advice to his new partner, Kevin (Zachary Levi), and developing a new appreciation of the day-to-day travails of his wife, Sherrie (Nia Long). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Lawrence, Nia Long, (more)
- 1997
Now that he has his driver's license, Cory (Ben Savage) wants to spend his 16th birthday in Atlantic City with Shawn (Rider Strong) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel). This does not sit well with dad Alan (William Russ), who'd hoped that Cory could celebrate the occasion with his family. The situation degenerates into an argument, and as a result Cory is not only reluctant to call his dad when he is pulled over for speeding, but he stubbornly refuses to do so! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Carroll O'Connor stars as NYPD chief of detectives Frank Nolan in Brass. The script, pseudonymously cowritten by O'Connor and Alvin Boretz, dramatizes two real-life incidents: a sniper attack on Penn Station and a murder in the CBS network parking lot. Though consigned to a desk job, Nolan insists upon hitting the streets to solve the crimes at hand. Vincent Gardenia, who'd previously costarred with Carroll O'Connor on All in the Family as Archie Bunker's next-door neighbor, appears as Chief Mike Maldonato. The director was former actor Corey Allen, best remembered as James Dean's "chicken run" opponent in Rebel Without a Cause. Intended as the pilot for a weekly series, Brass debuted September 11, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
- R
In this undistinguished softcore film, Albert (Chris Lemmon -- Jack Lemmon's son) is an adman for a clothing company charged with recruiting five well-endowed, beautiful women to model the company's line of bras. One of the women is at work in a horror-parody film, another is a disco singer, another a wrestler, and the remaining two are a Countess, and the daughter of the president of the company. Albert carries out his assignment with good comic timing, in spite of his nemesis Lydia (Jennifer Richards). ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chris Lemmon, Olivia Pascal, (more)
- 2000
Harvey Fierstein, Terrence McNally, and Paula Vogel each wrote episodes for this three-part made-for-cable drama which examines changing attitudes and issues facing the gay and lesbian community in the small town of Homer, Connecticut. Opening in the 1950s and leading up to the present day, Common Ground features Eric Stolz, Mimi Rogers, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Margot Kidder, Edward Asner, Beau Bridges, Jason Priestley, and Steven Weber, as well as co-writer Fierstein. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ed Asner, Beau Bridges, (more)
- 1998
This TV sitcom, set in a bar in the blue-collar Irish-Catholic neighborhood of South Boston, is "inspired by the real life" of comic Sue Costello who hails from South Boston. It also stars Costello in the lead role of a loud-mouthed female barmaid, but just to make sure you're paying attention, this character is named Sue Murphy, not Sue Costello. Go figure. In the opening episode, Sue ends her relationship with her boyfriend P.J. (Matthew Michael Mahaney), and this decision draws a negative reaction from her family -- her carpenter father (Dan Lauria), her waitress mother (Jenny O'Hara), her younger brother Jimmy (Chuck Walczak), and her best friend Trish (Kerry O'Malley). In subsequent episodes, Sue makes moves to establish her independence but finds it's not that easy. As the show's ad phrased it, "Nothing stands between Sue and making her dreams come true...Except reality." Filmed in Burbank, this series premiered September 8, 1998 on Fox. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sue Costello, Dan Lauria, (more)
- 1988
In this above-average made-for-television drama, Bernadette Peters stars as a mother facing the greatest challenge of her life. Based a true story, Matthew Lawrence stars as David Rothenberg, a six year-old who was viciously set on fire by his jealous father. Severely burned and disfigured, David courageously clung to life despite the odds against him. Determined to see her son through the ordeal, the film shows how his mother Marie (Peters) tirelessly worked to help nurse him back to life. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
A hapless groundskeeper aspiring to become a professional copywriter discovers that the key to overcoming her bad case of foot-in-mouth syndrome is maintaining a blog in which she purges all of her innermost anxieties in this romantic workplace comedy from director Michael Feifer (Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield and Chicago Massacre: Richard Speck). Samantha Billows knows she has what it takes to be a great copywriter, yet she always seems to say exactly the wrong thing at the worst possible moment. It's a problem that not even her therapist can solve, and one that might just cost Samantha her dream job at The Hunt Advertising Agency. Introduced to the wonderful world of blogging by a close friend, however, Samantha begins writing a blog entitled "Dear Me" that allows her to express her innermost fears so she can be confident under pressure. As a result, Samantha lands a Junior Copywriter position at the Hunt Agency on a temporary basis. Just when it seems that her career has gotten off the ground and things are going great, however, Samantha falls head over heels in love with Desmond, the head of Public Relations for their French client. Later, when a scheming co-worker discovers Samantha's blog, "Dear Me" becomes an office sensation. Now, as everyone attempts to get Samantha's attention in hopes of being featured on her blog, she quickly discovers that "Dear Me" has become popular for all the wrong reasons, and that it could destroy her job and her relationship with Desmond if she doesn't act fast. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sarah Thompson, David O'Donnell, (more)
- 1996
- R
In this crime drama, a tough San Francisco policeman is shocked to discover that his recently murdered partner was actively involved in departmental corruption. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sam Elliott, Esai Morales, (more)
- 2000
With Weaver on suspension, the prickly Romano (Paul McCrane) is in charge of the ER. Carter (Noah Wyle) goes ballistic when he suspects that his patient is faking an injury. Abby (Maura Tierney) treats a woman with five children, who doesn't want the sixth baby on the way. Finch (Michael Michele) and Corday (Alex Kingston) exchange heated words over the treatment of a 16-year-old accident victim (Matt Doherty). And while Greene (Anthony Edwards) struggles to cope with his father's terminal illness, a remembrance of the late Lucy Knight unexpectedly materializes at the ER. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A hit man discovers the pros and cons of getting to know his victim in this dark comedy. Margaret (Cher) is supposed to be celebrating her 20th wedding anniversary, but she hardly feels like having a party; her marriage is in sad shape, her husband Jack (Ryan O'Neal) has just called to say he's going to be working late (she realizes this means that he's actually with his mistress), and she's sunk into a deep depression that borders on the suicidal. After a long bath, Margaret discovers that she's not alone in the house; Tony (Chazz Palminteri), a hit man, has been hired by Jack to knock her off (Margaret's death would mean a $5 million insurance claim for Jack), and he ties her to a chair, waiting for a call from Jack that signals he's out of town and that it's all right to proceed with the execution. With nothing to do while they wait, Tony and Margaret begin to talk; Margaret starts to feel like death isn't such a good idea after all, while Tony isn't so sure he wants to kill her anymore. Faithful was based on a stage play by co-star Palminteri; Robert DeNiro, who made his directorial debut with A Bronx Tale, written by Palminteri, served as co-producer for this film. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cher, Chazz Palminteri, (more)
Kerry (Suzanne Davis) emerges from a dense forest in a daze, her clothes shredded and her memories of what happened only vague flashes of her high school friends, blood, and a vicious animal with yellow eyes and fangs. As her thoughts clear, she recalls the adventure all too accurately: Her teacher, Mr. Hill (Stacey Keach), took a van-load of her friends from the unfortunately named Sasquatch High School into the mountains, only to have them disappear one by one, their bodies later found ripped apart as if by some hungry animal. Even Sheriff Hammond (Billy Dee Williams) fell victim to the animal. But why was she spared? And how did she get away? Or is she out of the woods yet? And could her therapist (Dan Lauria) be right -- that the horror is all in her mind? ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
Originally aired on HBO and directed by Apollo 13 star and space enthusiast Tom Hanks, among others, From the Earth to the Moon explores the ups and downs of space travel, beginning with President Kennedy's famous speech before Congress on May 25, 1961, and chronicling the journey to putting the first man on the moon. This highly acclaimed, Emmy-nominated, 12-episode series is available in a six-tape VHS set and a four-disc DVD set. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Andrews, Bryan Cranston, (more)
- 1998
President John F. Kennedy issued the challenge to America in a speech to Congress in 1961: Land a man on the moon within the decade. This HBO mini-series, produced by Tom Hanks, chronicles the story of NASA's efforts to carry out the vision. Episode one of the 12-part series looks at the early response to President Kennedy's request, just after the U.S.S.R. put the first astronaut into orbit. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1992
This made-for-TV cop drama is deliberately reminiscent of Joseph Wambaugh's previous video success Police Story. LA Law star John Spencer plays a big-city cop with deep and serious emotional problems. His inner turmoil is exacerbated when he plunges into a troublesome murder case. Among the many personal demons with which the cop is wrestling is the memory of how a brief act of impulsiveness in his past led to tragedy. From the Files of Joseph Wambaugh: Jury of One debuted November 29, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Spencer, Eddie Velez, (more)
Hard-drinking newspaper reporter John McWhirter (Fred Ward) finds himself in the middle of a messy political assassination plot when he is compelled to keep in his house an on-the-lam Palestinian operative, Armiti Khalq (Rachel Ticotin). McWhirter, who is being heavily pressured by his editor (Virginia Madsen) to come up with a scoop, has no choice but to keep the woman safe as a payback to two old friends he apparently betrayed when they were university radicals during the turbulent 1960s. The overreaching FBI bureau chief, Robert Lecker (Christopher Plummer), is anxious to find the woman and send McWhirter and his companions away -- unless they happen to die first. Meanwhile, a manic hit woman, Michelle (Penelope Ann Miller), discovers Armiti's hiding place and closes in for the kill, just as McWhirter returns home. ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Virginia Madsen, Penelope Ann Miller, (more)
- 1987
Hoping to motivate his underachieving son Mike (Kirk Cameron), Jason (Alan Thicke) takes the boy along on a plane trip to Jason's alma mater in Boston. En route, a pregnant passenger (Mimi Lieber) goes into labor, forcing Jason to deliver the baby miles above the earth--with Jason as his nervous assistant. During the ordeal, Mike experiences an epiphany via a long conversation with the woman's husband (Dan Lauria). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
An angry Jason (Alan Thicke) confronts Ben's hockey coach (Dan Lauria), whose win-at-all-costs philosophy extends to teaching the kids how to play dirty. As a result, Jason ends up with a black eye--putting him in good company with the similarly "decorated" Ben. Meanwhile, Maggie (Joanna Kerns) tries to help Mike (Kirk Cameron) learn ballroom dancing so that he can impress his latest amour Jennifer Miller (Stacey Young). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A veteran mobster discovers the grass is greener on the other side in this broad independent comedy. Frank (Frank Adonis) is a 60-year-old Mafia lieutenant who has been entrusted with a suitcase full of high-quality marijuana that has arrived in Manhattan from the Deep South and is ready for sale. Frank, however, happens to make the acquaintance of Jade (Theo Kogan), an attractive young woman who sings with a punk-rock band. Jade turns Frank's head, and she, in turn, samples the wares from Frank's suitcase. Jade persuades Frank to try some of the weed, and before long he has a decidedly more forgiving attitude about life and those around him. Frank's new laid-back personality, however, doesn't go over well with his bosses, especially after the stash he was given goes missing and ends up being stolen and re-stolen by a dizzying variety of underground personalities. High Times' Potluck -- which, as the title infers, was produced and financed in part by the well-known marijuana advocacy magazine -- also stars Jason Mews, Frank Gorshin, Sylvia Miles, and Jason Isaacs; noted cannabis enthusiasts Tommy Chong and David Peel also make cameo appearances. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1989
The controversial case of a black man killed in Howard Beach, a working-class all white neighborhood of Queens, NY provides the basis of this docudrama. Much of the story centers around the attempts of Joe Hynes, the state prosecutor to bring the case to trial. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
