Shavar Ross Movies
Born in the Bronx, Shavar Ross moved to Georgia with his mother at age six when his parents separated. Ross' father headed to Los Angeles to launch a career in show business, and it was on a visit to see his dad in Tinseltown that the youngster -- then just eight years old -- was discovered by a talent scout. He would eventually win the role of Dudley on the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, launching a career that would come to include countless TV appearances on shows like Family Matters and Friday the 13th. Ross also got involved in voice acting, lending his vocal talents to various Hanna-Barbera cartoons, and completed four years of ministry school, after which he founded the Alive Church, a nondenominational Christian church in Los Angeles. He also launched his own production company, Tri-Seven Entertainment. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
When a woman who's never been lucky in love attempts to help a recently widowed Baptist minister reconnect with his flock, the community gossip mill begins to work on overdrive in director Shavar Ross' good natured religious comedy. Bill Toliver and Amentha Dymally headline a divine comedy featuring appearances by Al Jarreau, Omar Gooding, and Tico Wells. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1993
- R
- Add What's Love Got to Do with It? to QueueAdd What's Love Got to Do with It? to top of Queue
What's Love Got to Do With It? is the filmed biography of R&B/pop singer Tina Turner (Angela Bassett), documenting her efforts to break away from her abusive husband Ike (Laurence Fishburne). After a few scenes detailing Tina's life as a young singer in Nutbush, TN, she's discovered by Ike Turner, an already established songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Ike takes Tina under his wing and makes her a star, but her fame makes him jealous and abusive, and she has to struggle to break free of his domination. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, (more)
- 1992
This episode takes place just after the devastating LA riots of 1992. Philip (James Avery) and Vivian (Janet Hubert-Whitten) return to their old neighborhood to spearhead a clean-up effort, prompting a flashback to the couple's early years and their aspirations for the future (offering a glimpse of Philip in a 'fro'!) Meanwhile, Will (Will Smith) runs up against an embittered ghetto dweller (Shavar Ross) who attacks him for forgetting his homeboy roots. The story ends with a surprise announcement that will profoundly affect the family's future. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
As he prepares to cram for a college entrance exam, Ben (Jeremy Miller) hopes for some intellectual input (or at least moral support) from his dad Jason (Alan Thicke). Instead, Ben overhears Jason making the flippant comment that his son is "no Einstein"--and the results are potentially devastating. Meanwhile, an unexpected problem arises when Dwight (Christopher Burgard) tries to reconnect with Carol (Tracey Gold). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Consumer reporter Maggie (Joanna Kerns) publicly rips a major appliance manufacturer when a superpowerful vacuum cleaner turns out to be defective and "dangerous". Little does Maggie realize that there is nothing wrong with the cleaner--or at least there WAS nothing wrong until Ben (Jeremy Miller) broke the machine belonging to the Seavers! Meanwhile, Luke gets tangled in the proverbial web of deceit when he tries to impress a pretty girl (played by prolific cartoon voiceover actress Danielle Harris). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Jason (Alan Thicke) enters the rarefied world of journalism when newspaper editor Doug Stanton (Peter Jurasik) invites him to write a column for the Long Island "Sentinel". Believing that Stanton is stiffing Jason financially, Maggie (Joanna Kerns) shows up at the paper to complain--and is invited to write her own column as well. This good fortune turns sour when Jason and Maggie end up competing for the same job. Meanwhile, a surly Ben (Jeremy Miller) has trouble adjusting to his new glasses. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Set during the Watts riots of the mid-'60s, the made-for-cable Heat Wave follows the story of Los Angeles Times reporter Robert Richardson (Blair Underwood), who was the only journalist on staff able to cover the story, since White reporters were unable to gain access to the area and the rioters. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Blair Underwood, Cicely Tyson, (more)
- 1988
Magnum (Tom Selleck) is anxious to get all his friends involved in his latest venture, a tourist business called The Great Hawaiian Adventure Co. Unfortunately, the detective's pals all have other things on their mind. T.C. (Larry Manetti), for example, is pursuing a romance with Magnum's perennial nemesis, "reformed" call girl Cleo (Phyllis Davis). And on a more serious note, T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) is worried about his son Bryant (Shavar Ross), whose ties with a teenage gang have gotten him into trouble with the authorities. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
When Robin Masters' latest manuscript is stolen, Magnum teams with "old school" private eye Luther Gillis (Eugene Roche) to retrieve the document. The two detectives also try to find out who has attempted to murder Higgins (John Hillerman)--and worse, has done harm to Higgins' beloved Dobermans Zeus and Apollo. Curiously, the case's progression of events closely adheres to the plotline of Robin's unpublished novel, suggesting that someone has a very compelling reason to prevent the book from hitting the shelves. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
In the concluding half of Magnum, P.I.'s final episode, Magnum (Tom Selleck) wrestles with the prospect of returning to active Naval service even as he lays a trap for the man who assaulted his former girlfriend Linda (Patrice Martinez). He also receives word that his daughter Lily, presumed murdered in an earlier episode, is still alive. Elsewhere, the impending marriage of Rick (Larry Manetti) and Cleo (Phyllis Davis) hits a few prenuptual snags, while T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) is unexpectedly reunited with his ex-wife Tina (Fay Hauser). And last but not least, the mystery of Robin Masters' true identity is finally solved...maybe. One of the highest-rated "finales" in network TV history, this episode leaves enough dangling plot strands to suggest that the producers had an elaborate "reunion" movie in mind. We're still waiting. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Magnum, P.I. wraps up its eight-year run with a two-part final episode (originally telecast in a single two-hour timeslot). In Part One, Magnum returns to his home town for a family reunion, where his paternal grandfather (Howard Duff) offers to reinstate him as a Naval officer. But before Magnum can say "yes" or "no", he is summoned back to Hawaii by former girlfriend Linda Lee Ellison (Patrice Martinez), who insists that someone is stalking her. Upon his return, Magnum receives some startling information about his daughter Lily, whom he had presumed to be dead. Meanwhile, Rick (Larry Manetti) nervously prepares to marry the estimable Cleo Mitchell (Phyllis Davis). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
The spotlight in this episode is on T.C. (Roger E. Mosley, who coincidentally also wrote the script!), whose daughter Melody (Martina Stringer) is kidnapped for a $300,000 ransom. Forced to sell his helicopter to raise the money, T.C. must also endure the additional trauma of a "reunion" with his ex-wife Tina (Fay Hauser). Meanwhile, Magnum (Tom Selleck) is determined to find out if Tina's current boyfriend was responsible for the kidnapping. Former Diff'rent Strokes regular Shavar Ross (aka "Dudley Ramsey") appears as T.C.'S son Bryant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
- R
- Add Friday the 13th, Part V: A New Beginning to QueueAdd Friday the 13th, Part V: A New Beginning to top of Queue
The murderous spirit of Jason Vorhees lives on in this horror sequel, although the plot hinges on the mystery of whether the killer's body actually survives. Opening with a nightmare prologue in which Corey Feldman reprises his role as Tommy Jarvis, the boy who killed Jason in the previous installment, the film jumps forward several years to when a teenaged Tommy (John Shepherd), haunted by visions of Jason returning to life, moves into a group home for mentally disturbed kids. Almost as soon as he arrives, Tommy witnesses the death of Joey (Dominick Brascia), an overweight, annoying boy who is hacked to death by psychopathic patient Vic (Mark Venturini). Although Vic ends up safely behind bars, other bodies begin to turn up -- more than 20 by the end of the film. Tommy's own violent streak, displayed when he lashes out at a fellow resident, makes him a suspect; he even doubts his own sanity. But as the bloodshed continues, Tommy finds himself allied with Reggie (Shavar Ross), the grandson of one of the home's employees, in a desperate bid to survive the carnage and find out who the killer behind the hockey mask really is. The producers of the Friday the 13th series actually planned to end it with Friday the 13th -- The Final Chapter, but the box-office success of that film paved the way for the series to continue. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Shepard, Melanie Kinnaman, (more)
The House of Dies Drear is a spooky old mansion where several strange events have occurred of late. An out-of-town family moves into the home, only to be confronted by an odd recluse (Joe Seneca) and by a neighbor warning them to get out "while you got the chance." The youngest members of the family (Howard Rollins Jr. and Shavar Ross) suspect that a human agent is causing the so-called "supernatural" events, and set out to investigate. House of Dies Drear originated as a two-part episode of the PBS series Wonderworks. It was first shown November 5 and 12, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Howard E. Rollins, Jr., Moses Gunn, (more)
- 1981
Hoping for a romantic rendezvous with her new boyfriend Mitch (Philip R. Allen), Alice (Linda Lavin) is instead saddled with the responsibility of escorting Mitch's four kids as they go trick-or-treating on Halloween. The situation turns out to be more trick than treat when one of the youngsters disappears. Featured amongst the supporting cast is child actor Billy Jacoby, who under the name of Billy Jayne later appeared as Mikey Randall on Parker Lewis Can't Lose. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Paying his respects at the funeral of an old acquaintance, Mel (Vic Tayback) is taken aback by the realization that he is virtually the only mourner in attendance. Worried that the same thing will happen when he himself cashes in his chips, Mel figures it's about time to change his ways. Thus, the "new, improved" Mel goes out of his way to be nice to everyone--and drives them all crazy in the process. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
