1917-2003 Tap dancer Howard "Sandman" Sims was a tap dancer, a practitioner of a style of dance in which a beat is loudly, clearly tapped out by a dancer sporting specially-made hard-soled shoes with metal plates, or taps, on their heels or toes. He developed his own distinctive dance style, in which he tapped on sand, and he was among the legendary black American entertainers whose …
Nationality: American. Born: 1948. Education: Board of Indian Affairs schools, Laguna, New Mexico, and a Catholic school in Albuquerque; University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, B.A. (summa cum laude) in English 1969; studied law briefly. Career: Taught for 2 years at Navajo Community College, Tsaile, Arizona; lived in Ketchikan, Alaska, for 2 years; taught at University of New Mexico. Since 1978 pr…
Pseudonyms: Walker Chapman; Ivar Jorgenson; Calvin M. Knox; David Osborne; Robert Randall; Lee Sebastian. Nationality: American. Born: New York City, 1935. Education: Columbia University, New York, A.B. 1956. Career: Full-time writer: associate editor, Amazing, January 1969 issue, and associate editor, Fantastic, February-April 1969 issues. President, Science Fiction Writers of America, 1967-68. A…
Nationality: American. Born: Green Bay, Wisconsin, 1957. Education: University of California, Berkeley, B.A. 1979; Columbia University, M.F.A. 1983. Awards: Guggenheim award, 1988; Whiting prize, 1989; Lila Wallace Readers Digest award, 1996-99; Hadder prize, Princeton University. Agent: Amanda Urban, International Creative Management, 40 West 57th St., New York, New York 10019, U.S.A. In Anywhere…
Nationality: British. Born: Oxford, 1935. Education: The Dragon School, Oxford; Eton College, Berkshire (King's scholar), 1948-53; Trinity College, Cambridge, 1955-58, B.A. (double 1st) in history, 1958; Churchill College, Cambridge, Ph.D. in American history 1962. Military Service: Served in the Coldstream Guards, 1953-55: Ensign. Career: Harkness fellow, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mas…
Shakira: 1977—: Singer, songwriter. By the time Shakira released her first English language album, 2001's Laundry Service, she had long been an international star in the Spanish speaking world. With four records—the first recorded when she was just thirteen—the petite Colombian singer-songwriter was already established as an authentic rockera with a unique sound tha…
Martin Sheen: 1940—: Actor, activist. A powerful, versatile actor, Martin Sheen is equally convincing in roles as diverse as the rebel killer in Badlands, a homophobic father in Consenting Adults, and President Kennedy in the television miniseries JFK. In his film roles Sheen has often played the loner or outsider, whereas many of his television portrayals are of historical or political…
Thalía: 1972—: Singer, actress. Known as the Latin music queen and TV's eternal Cinderella of the soaps, Thalía has become a one-word global entertainment phenomenon. Like child star Shirley Temple, she navigated a career starting at age four, in singing groups, two stage musicals, video and movie roles, and TV variety-show hosting. Her appearances in Mexico'…
1975— Model, fashion business executive, entrepreneur Simmons, Kimora Lee, photograph. Vince Bucci/Getty Images. A towering 6-foot, 4-inches in heels, Kimora Lee Simmons began a successful career as a model when she was 14 years old, working under exclusive contract with Chanel. Then, in 1998, she married hip-hop media mogul Russell Simmons and entered the fashion design business. Ex…
(Maurice Bernard Sendak) Born 1928, in Brooklyn, NY; Education: Attended Art Students' League, New York, NY, 1949–51. Agent—c/o Author Mail, HarperCollins, 10 E. 53rd St., 7th Fl., New York, NY 10022. Writer and illustrator of children's books, 1951–. All American Comics, part-time artist, c. mid-1940s; Timely Service (window display house), New York, NY, window …
Given name pronounced "oo-ree"; born 1935, in Warsaw, Poland; came to United States, 1959; naturalized U.S. citizen c. 1960s; Education: Teacher's College, Israel, teacher's degree, 1956; studied painting privately with Ezekiel Streichman, 1950–52; attended Tel-Aviv Art Institute, evenings, 1953–55, and Brooklyn Museum Art School, 1959–61; studied p…
Born 1955, in Brooklyn, NY; Education: Attended State University of New York, Albany; University of California, Los Angeles, B.A. (magna cum laude), 1982. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Jewish. Hobbies and other interests: Psychology, politics, wildlife, ecology, social history, women's basketball. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Macmillan Publishing Co., 866 3rd Ave., New York, NY 10022. Free…
Born 1952, in Barnet, Hertfordshire, England; Education: Educated in England. Hobbies and other interests: Music—listening, playing, and singing—folklore, gardening, beachcombing. Agent—Robin Wade, Robin Wade Literary Agency, 33 Cormorant Lodge, Thomas More St., London E1W 1AU, England. Writer, 1977—. Formerly worked as a secretary and a paperback blurb writer. Notable…
1971(?)– Singer, songwriter, producer In an age when commercial success has continually trumped talent and originality, singer Siji (pronounced shee-gee) has joined a growing list of artists who are bucking the system. His breakthrough CD, God-Given (sometimes listed as God-given), combines elements of jazz, soul, and Afrobeat music to create a new sound that has mesmerized listeners global…
1925-2003 Business executive Thomas B. Shropshire was one of the first African Americans to break the color barrier in corporate America when he became a top executive at the Miller Brewing Company in the 1970s. His position was of note because he was not promoted merely to meet diversity quotas at the corporation. The Business Journal of Milwaukee wrote that Shropshire did not have "the ti…
1922— Golfer Sifford, Charlie, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission. Charlie Sifford has been called the "Jackie Robinson of golf." The first black man to break the color barrier in one of the nation's most elitist sports, Sifford endured humiliation, threats to his life and limb, and even mistreatment from some of his fellow pros. Nothing s…
Daniel S. Mead Literary Agency, New York, NY, editor, 1967; Where (magazine), New York, NY, assistant editor, 1969; New York City Public High Schools, New York, NY, teacher of English and speech, 1969-74; writer, 1974—. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Authors Guild, American Library Association, Dog Writers Association of America, PEN American Center, Nature Cons…
Ayrton Senna: 1960-1994: Race car driver. Brazilian race car driver Ayrton Senna was a famous professional race car driver and sportsman at the time of his death in a racing crash in 1994. After an outstanding career on the kart racing circuit, Senna was a three-time champion of the elite Formula One (F1) series. In his brief but spectacular career, Senna proved he was arguably "the mo…
Lupe Serrano: 1930—: Ballerina. In a career that has spanned more than half a century, ballerina Lupe Serrano has enjoyed a life studded with moments worthy of red rose-showered standing ovations. By the sheer power of her will, she rose from a second-rate dance school in Chile to become the first Hispanic principal dancer at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. She has toured with …
Charlie Sheen: 1965—: Actor. Charlie Sheen has been a prolific entertainer ever since he began acting as a child alongside his famous father, Martin Sheen. Although at first he thought he might be a baseball player—he was the star pitcher on his high school team—he eventually ended up following in the footsteps of his family. His first big break came when he got a part in …
Born 1951, in Los Angeles, CA; Hobbies and other interests: Reading, cooking, watching movies, "playing with my grandneedlework, "gardening with my strolling the beach. Agent—Scott Treimel, 434 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10003. Writer. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. A young boy enthusiastically gathers all his buoyant playthings and other fav…
Born 1940, in Worcestershire, England; Education: Shrewsbury College of Art, degree in printmaking and design, 1962. Hobbies and other interests: Travel in Europe, watercolors, sailing, hillwalking. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Hutchinson Books, Random House UK, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Rd., London SW1V 2SA, England. Author and illustrator. Stylist for still photographer in London, England, 1963–…
Born 1951. Office—c/o Author Mail, Heinemann-Raintree 100 North LaSalle, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60602. Nonfiction writer. Lebanon, Marshall Cavendish (New York, NY), 1997. Guatemala, Marshall Cavendish (New York, NY), 1998. Hong Kong: Hong Kong City Map, Fodor's (New York, NY), 1999. Beijing: Beijing City Map, Fodor's (New York, NY), 1999. Angola, Marshall Cavendish (New York…
See index for SATA sketch: Born September 1, 1913, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; died May 21, 2004, in London, England. Critic and author. Shulman was best known as a longtime theater, film, and television critic for the London Evening Standard. Completing a B.A. at the University of Toronto in 1934 and studying law at Osgoode Hall from 1934 to 1937, Shulman first pursued a law career as a barriste…
Born 1949, in Brooklyn, NY; Education: University of California at Berkeley, 1967-69; Brooklyn College (now Brooklyn College of the City University of New York), B.A., 1971; Manhattan-ville College, M.A., 1997. Politics: Liberal. Religion: Jewish. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, gardening, observing nature, art, music, travel. Agent—c/o Author Correspondence, Dutton Children's …
Born 1963, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; divorced); Education: University of Toronto, B.A. and M.A., 1987; Ryerson University, B.A.A., 1989. Office—The Hamilton Spectator, 44 Frid St., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N 3G3. Hamilton Spectator, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, newspaper reporter, feature writer, food columnist, 1996—; writer. Has also worked as a radio producer. Society of Chi…
1924-2005 Singer Short, Bobby, photograph. Frank Micelotta/Getty Images. After he took up residence in the lounge of New York's elegant Hotel Carlyle in the late 1960s, vocalist and pianist Bobby Short became an icon of New York and American cultural life. Short called himself a saloon singer, but actually he roosted at the top of the hierarchy of entertainers who perform in cocktail…
1975(?)— Singer Among the most versatile new performers in the world of opera in the late 1990s and early 2000s has been N'kenge Simpson-Hoffman, whose talents encompass musical theater, jazz, and popular song as well as traditional operatic repertory. She has performed at the White House and the United Nations, has taken lead roles in operas by composers ranging from Mozart to Pucci…
Born 1959, in Washington, DC; Education: Art Center College of Design, B.F.A., 1983. Hobbies and other interests: Fishing, playing guitar, playing baseball. Agent—c/o Scholastic, 557 Broadway, New York, NY, 10012. David Shannon Author and illustrator of children's books. New York Times Best Illustrated Book, 1994, for How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball, and 1998, for No, Davi…
Born 1939, in Toledo, OH; Education: University of Pennsylvania, B.A. (magna cum laude), 1961; University of Virginia, M.A., 1969. Office—Department of English, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030. Agent—Timothy Seldes, Russell & Volkening, Inc., 50 West 29th St., New York, NY 10001. Teacher of English in private schools in Cheshire, England, 1962-63, Rosemont, PA, 196…
Born 1946, in Pittsburgh, PA; Education: University of Michigan, A.B., 1968; Harvard University, M.A.T., 1970. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Houghton Mifflin Co., 222 Berkeley, Boston, MA 02116. Writer and homemaker. Author of radio scripts for "Senior Sounds," University of Michigan Institute of Gerontology, Ann Arbor, 1978–81. Authors …
Born 1945, in Washington, DC; name legally changed, 1985; Education: American University, B.A., 1968; California State University—San Jose (now San Jose State University), M.A., 1973; University of California—Los Angeles, Ph.D. Puppeteer and storyteller, 1976—. Part-time librarian at Los Angeles Public Library, 1986—; teacher of children's literature and storytel…
Born 1953, in Glasgow, Scotland; Education: Edinburgh College of Art, graduated, 1976; attended Royal College of Art, 1980. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Piggy Toes Press, 2715 Ocean Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405. Freelance illustrator and author of children's books. Colors, Piggy Toes Press (Los Angeles, CA), 2002. Counting, Piggy Toes Press (Los Angels, CA), 2002. Shapes, Piggy Toes Pres…
Offıce—Department of Drama, University of Houston, University Park, 4800 Calhoun Rd., Houston, TX 77004. Actors Equity, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Dramatists Guild, PEN American Center, Academy of American Poets, Poets and Writers Inc., Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press, New York Feminist Arts Guild, Writers' Guild. Whitewash (picture boo…
Gloria Estefan: Singer, songwriter. Gloria Estefan has been entertaining fans since she joined The Miami Latin Boys in the 1970s. She has inspired many people, and helped to bring the Latin sound to the pop genre. She has weathered many storms, but still managed to continue to release platinum-selling record after record. Estefan was born "Glorita" Fajardo, in Cuba, on September …
Born in New York, NY; Education: Hunter College of the City University of New York, B.A., M.A. Office—Sherman Editorial Services, 500 E. 85th St., Suite 11F, New York, NY 10028. Writer, editor, and folklorist. Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Authors Guild, American Folklore Society, Sierra Club. Compton Crook Award…
1922— Minister, civil rights leader The Rev. Martin Luther King and his associates, who waged the battle for civil rights on a national scale, are remembered today as the movement's leaders. Less well known, even though a statue of him stands in front of the Birmingham, Alabama, Civil Rights Institute, is the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth. But it was the Rev. Shuttlesworth who battled Birm…
Born 1947, in Hammond, IN; children: Jennifer, Katherine. Education: Indiana University, B.S., 1972, M.S., 1976. Hobbies and other interests: Travel, art. Agent—Transatlantic Literary Agency, 72 Glengowan Rd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 1G4. Learning Unlimited, North Central High School, Indianapolis, IN, community programs coordinator, 1975-78; Indiana University, Bloomington, associat…
Born 1956, in Riverhead, NY; Ethnicity: "Caucasian" Education: Harvard College, A.B. Elizabeth Shreeve (geology; cum laude), 1978; Harvard Graduate School of Design, M.A. (landscape architecture), 1983. Politics: Democrat. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening, hiking, piano, art. Office—SWA Group, 2200 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965. Agent—Barbara Kouts, P.O. Bo…
1948— Corporate executive Westina Matthews Shatteen's rise to the upper echelons of corporate leadership was unusual. "It has been a surprising journey because I started out as a classroom teacher," she told The Network Journal. Yet, that is not to say she has not fulfilled her early career aspirations. From a deeply spiritual background, Matthews was drawn to teaching …
See index for CA sketch: Born February 14, 1942, in Chicago, IL; died of ovarian cancer January 16, 2005, in Los Angeles, CA. Author. Singer was the author of numerous children's books for early readers. A graduate of the University of Texas, where she earned a B.A. in 1964, she was a Peace Corps volunteer for two years, teaching at a penal colony in the Philippines. Returning home, she bec…
Given name pronounced "Trace"; born 1966, in Glasgow, KY; Education: Southern Methodist University, B.A. (English and journalism), 1989; University of Kentucky, M.S.L.S., 1991; attended University of Tennessee, beginning 1993. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, watching science-fiction television shows, fencing, hiking, travel, playing music (dulcimer, banjo, fife, bodhran, Celtic…
(Scott Eller, a joint pseudonym, James R. Shepard) Born 1956, in Bridgeport, CT; Education: Trinity College (Hartford, CT), B.A., 1978; Brown University, A.M., 1980. Office—Department of English, Williams College, Williamstown, MA 01267. Educator and novelist. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, lecturer in creative writing, 1980–83; Williams College, Williamstown, MA, assistant prof…
Born 1957, in Wichita, KS; Education: Northwestern University, B.S., 1979. Agent—Ethan Ellenberg, 548 Broadway, No. 5-E, New York, NY 11012. Author and editor. Professional Photographer (magazine), Chicago, IL, assistant editor, 1979–83; Decor (magazine), St. Louis, MO, managing editor, 1983–2001; Biz Ed (magazine), co-editor, 2001–. William Crawford Award for best firs…
Born 1955, in Broken Hill, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia); Education: Lancaster University, B.A. (honors), 1976; teacher training, Madeley College of Education. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening herbs and vegetables, cooking, spinning and weaving wool. Teacher at various schools in England, 1977-83; freelance editor and layout person, 1987—; writer, 1989—; educational advisor fo…
[A pseudonym] (Darren O'Shaughnessy) Born 1972, in London, England; Education: Roehampton Institute of Higher Education, B.Sc. Agent—Christopher Little, 10 Eel Brook Studios, 125 Moore Park Rd., London SW6 4PS, England. Writer. Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare (also see below), Collins (London, England), 2000, Little, Brown (New York, NY), 2001. The Vampire's Assistant (al…
Born 1962, in London, England; Education: Saint Martin's School of Art (London, England), B.A. (with honors), 1984. Agent—c/o Candlewick Press, 2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140. Children's book illustrator and author. Under Fives Book Prize (3-5 nonfiction category), SHE/W.H. Smith, 1995, for Ketchup on Your Cornflakes?; Sheffield Children's Book Award, 1997…
Born 1959, in Canada. Education: University of Montreal, bachelor's degree (political science). Hobbies and other interests: Riding his motorcycle. Agent—Mela Bolinao, HK Portfolio, 10 E. 29th St., 40G, New York, NY 10016. Cartoonist, commercial artist, writer, and illustrator, 1980–. Kami-Case (publishing house), Montreal, Quebec, Canada, founder, 1986. ACIBD. Governor Gener…
Nationality: Indian. Born: Calcutta, India, 1952. Education: Doon School, India; Corups Christi College, Oxford, B.A. 1975; Stanford University, M.A. in economics 1979; Nanjing University, 1982. Career: Senior editor, Stanford University Press, 1985-86. Awards: Thomas Cook travel book award, 1983, for From Heaven Lake; Ingram Merrill fellowship, 1985-86; Commonwealth poetry prize, 1986; Guggenheim…
(Blanche L. Sims) Born in Cleveland, OH; Hobbies and other interests: Music (especially classical), New York Times crossword puzzles. Famous Artists School, Westport, CT, began as art researcher, became instructor in young people's art; Xerox Corp., Middletown, CT, illustrator in art department; book illustrator. Also worked variously as a waitress, phone operator, sales clerk, and life gua…
Nationality: American. Born: Charleston, West Virginia, 1918. Education: Sweet Briar College, 1936-38. Military Service: Women's Auxiliary, R.A.F., 1942-43. Career: Editor, Harper's Bazaar, 1945; English correspondant, Flair, 1950-51; associate professor, Bard College, New York, 1956-76. Visiting lecturer, University of Virginia, 1978. Awards: Guggenheim fellow, 1958, 1960; Merrill F…
Nationality: American. Born: New Brunswick, New Jersey (son of well-known author Michael Shaara), 1952. Education: Florida State University, degree in criminology, 1974. Family: Wife's name is Lynne. Career: Founder of rare coin business at age sixteen, eventually incorporated as Florida Coin Exchange, a retail business, sold company in 1988; became full-time writer. Divides his time betwe…
1970– Comedian, actress Shepherd, Sherri, photograph. © Glenn Weiner/Glenn Weiner/Zuma/Corbis. When comedian Sherri Shepherd graduated from high school, her thoughts were on becoming a mortician or a secretary. Secretary won, and she spent years toiling in secretarial jobs before coming to rely on her natural talent for humor as a stand-up comedian and actress. She began appearing on…
1970– Actor Simmons, Henry, photograph. Reuters/Ethan Miller/Landov. The first thing many notice about Henry Simmons is his gorgeous face. The next thing is probably his enviable physique. Simmons, however, would like his most prominent feature to be his acting skills. Since his debut in 1997 on the soap opera Another World, he has been mesmerizing many with both his physical features and h…
Nationality: New Zealander. Born: Auckland, 1932. Education: Te Kuiti High School; Avondale College; University of Auckland. Career: Journalist for various New Zealand publications, 1952-54; documentary scriptwriter and director for the New Zealand National Film Unit, 1954-57; full-time writer from 1957; lived in London and Spain, 1957-60, then returned to New Zealand. Awards: New Zealand Scholars…
Nationality: British. Born: Thomas Ridley Sharpe in London, 1928. Education: Lancing College, Sussex, 1942-46; Pembroke College, Cambridge, 1948-51, M.A.; teacher's training, Cambridge University, 1962-63, P.C.G.E. 1963. Military Service: Served in the Royal Marines, 1946-48. Career: Social worker, 1951-52, and teacher, 1952-56, Natal, South Africa; photographer, Pietermaritzburg, South Afr…
Nationality: American. Born: London, England, 1930; emigrated to the United States in 1940. Education: Downside Academy, Bath; Lincoln College, Oxford, B.A. 1954, M.A. 1957. Career: Film critic, 1957-61, and associate editor, 1959-66, Jubilee magazine, New York; drama critic and book editor, Commonweal magazine, New York, 1964-67; film critic, Esquire magazine, New York, 1967-69; Visiting Lecturer…
Nationality: Canadian and American. Born: Carol Warner, Oak Park, Illinois, 1935. Education: Hanover College, Indiana, 1953-57, A.B.; University of Ottawa, 1969-75, M.A. Career: Editorial assistant, Canadian Slavonic Papers, 1972-74; faculty member, University of Ottawa, 1976-77, and University of British Columbia, 1978-79. Since 1980, faculty member, University of Manitoba; since 1996, chancellor…
Nationality: American. Born: Dedham, Massachusetts, 1946. Education: Tufts University. Career: Journalist assigned to Nairobi, Kenya, late 1970s; writer for US magazine, New York Times, and New York magazine, New York; freelance writer, 1986—; has taught at Amherst College, Massachusetts. Lives in western Massachusetts. Awards: PEN/L. L. Winship Award; New England Book Award for Fiction. An…
Nationality: American (Pakistani exile, emigrated to United States, 1984). Born: Bapsi Bhandara, Karachi, Pakistan, 1938. Education: Kinnaird College for Women, B.A. 1956. Career: Conducted novel writing workshops, Rice University, 1984-86; assistant professor of creative writing, University of Houston, 1985. President, International Women's Club of Lahore, 1975-77. Pakistan's delega…
Nationality: American. Born: Chicago, Illinois, 1926. Education: The University of California, Los Angeles, B.A. in English 1950. Staff Sergeant in the United States Army Infantry, 1944-46. Career: Assistant to the Wage Coordinator, United Auto Workers, Detroit, 1946-47; story analyst, Columbia Pictures, Hollywood, 1952-54; agent, Jaffe Agency, Los Angeles, 1954-56. Member, Citizens Committee to D…
