I know this is a strange subject...but does anyone have any favorite actor/actress in any of the re-enactments. My favorite actress is the actress that played Marie Hilley. I have no ide what her name is...but I've always loved her portrayal of Marie Hilley! Anyone else have a favorite or two?

I think the lady who played Su Taraskiwicz did a good job. Also, the lady who played Angela Hammond.

I really liked the guy who played Gordon Page, Jr. He seemed to capture some of the confusion that the real Mr. Page must have suffered.

The young lady who played Kristi Krebs looks a bit like Caroline Rhea to me. I think she also did a good job with her part in the reenactment.

On the flip side of that, I really did not like the actress portrayal of Tammy Lepert. I think it was that wig. I just couldn't take the story seriously because that cheap blonde wig was too distracting.

For Homicide Life On the Streets fans, the actor who plays the cop in the Tommy Burkett segment is the same actor who played Cpt Roger Gaffney in NBC's Homicide: LOTS that aired during the 1990s.

The funny thing is he has the same demeanor in that segment that he did throughout the whole series. :D

It seems like some actors keep getting cast in the same role, over and over.

Remember the cop in Die Hard, Reginald Vel Johnson? He was cast as a cop in that movie, a jail guard in Ghost Busters, he was a cop in a Kojak eppie, a cop again in Turner and Hooch, a cop in a tv movie One of Her Own, a cop yet again in the tv show Family Matters, a cop in a few projects that I can't recall, and I swear, I've seen him play a cop in a tv commercial.

I wonder if that typecasting trend is just for guys who play policemen?

Glenn Morshower (Aaron Pierce from 24) is another example of a guy who always plays military/government figures or police officers.

Favorites:

Kari Lynn Nixon's sister (who portrayed her in the re-enactment).

The actress who played Bonnie Wilder.

The actor who portrayed Richard Bocklage.

The actress and actor re-enacting the attack on Jane Boroski in the NH serial killer segment.

Everyone in the Audrey Moate segment.

(Also, whomever played Micki Jo West in that first little bit of the segment looked so much like her it was eerie.)

Worst of the worst:

Everyone in the Sally Garrity segment.

The actress in the Gilbert Ortiz segment (I won't elaborate as I don't want to get that obnoxious line stuck in my head, but most of you all know what I'm talking about).

He did a fine job, but like Tracy and the infamous Tammy Leppert wig, I am always distracted by the wig worn by the actor in the Keith Reinhard segment.


Overall, the acting was always good rather than horrendous, considering the budget and selection UM may have had (is that a "Lisa Penz" explanation? lol). Much better than what AMW ended up with in the later years, despite their technical production being "better" than UM's ever was.

I always liked the lady who played Jeanne Tovrea/Sarah Digennaro.

I was watching the Colleen Reed segment recently and they do show the actress who played her only briefly but she reminded me of the actress who played the Hansen twins. Not sure on that though.

I love the actors who played Ernest and Caroline in the Audrey Moate story. I think the Colleen Ritter/Rick Church segment was another good one - the attack scene is downright chilling.

I concur with Meg (as always) on the bad segments - Tammy Lynn Leppert is one of my least favs in terms of the acting.

I thought the actors who portrayed the Boston Shopping Mall Rapist and Jim Burnside respectively were good. They came off as real sleazebags.

I thought the actors who portrayed the Boston Shopping Mall Rapist and Jim Burnside respectively were good. They came off as real sleazebags.

Jim Burnside WAS a good one. Especially when he looked like he was about to enjoy a large steak. :lol:

I forgot my other worst...the Maria Armstrong episode. That fake giggle...eeeeeeeeehhh.

The guy that played Edward Bell in Texas Most Wanted was a decent actor. I liked the way he got his butt kicked by the woman in the bathroom and she went ballistic on him. Her acting was very dramatic for UM.
Perhaps this is a personal opinion but I loved the late 80's and early 90's segments of UM...when it hit the mid-90's the "acting" seemed a bit tragic. Some of the final episodes are so horrible I pass over them. Just horrible.

Best delivery: "That man has Jonathan!!" :lol:

I'm amost positive that I've seen the actress who plays Brooke Burke in a couple of teen shows.

The actress that played Linda Sherman, I've seen before

Same with, the actor that played Jim Burnside. I've seen him in a couple of things.

I always thought the girl that played Laura Lee Burbank was great too.

Favorites:

The actress who played Bonnie Wilder.




Oh Meg...I think that everytime I return to this forum I fall in love with you over and over again!
There is something about that Bonnie Wilder/Lisa Penz case that I would love to sit down and discuss with other UM fans at length with. It is SO hilarious. That case is one of my favorites. Insane...hilarious...classic...perfection.
I think I may rewatch it in a few. And laugh and laugh.

The guy who played Justin Burgweikel (sp??)


A little embarassed but I had such a crush on him!

The actors who portrayed George Owens and Jim Burnside.

The actresses who played Wendy Camp, her nasty ex mother in law, Anne Sigmin, and 'satanic panic' granny Pat Farmer.

The person paying the funeral director in the Chad mauer segment sounde dlike he was reading from cue cards "Yes, would you like to see it?". He ranks up there with the music lessons lady from the Joe Owens segment.

The guy that plays Tony Alamo. "God is telling me to give Jimmy 10 licks"

Jim Burnside WAS a good one. Especially when he looked like he was about to enjoy a large steak. :lol:

I forgot my other worst...the Maria Armstrong episode. That fake giggle...eeeeeeeeehhh.
The man that played James Burnside was Arthur(Skip)Neal. He also played James Burnside on the original telecast of the Burnside case on America's Most Wanted on July 3,1988.

Matthew McConaughey in the Edward Bell segment :D

No, in all seriousness, though...the guy who played Wadada was really good at being an extraordinarily creepy guy, so I liked him.

[QUOTE=bell83]Matthew McConaughey in the Edward Bell segment :D

Speaking of the Bell segment...the mother and the sister were really really good. When she's talking on the phone you can really hear the fear and pain in her voice and then when the sister goes crazy on him when he's in the cop car and she's trying to hit him...you can just feel so strongly what they went through.

"I'm amost positive that I've seen the actress who plays Brooke Burke in a couple of teen shows."

Did you mean Brooke Baker? I know there's a Brooke Burke that's a pin-up girl/TV host.

The guy that plays Tony Alamo. "God is telling me to give Jimmy 10 licks"

Yes! Best actor by far!

My favorite however is the guy who played David Berkowitz :eek:

The guy playing Bob Bean made him look so silly that I nominate him!

But on a more serious note, the actresses playing the mother and sister were really good, Mysteryphile- very well-done.

Best reenactment potrayals:

- George Owens
- Larry Dickens' mom
- Phillip Frazier's killer
- "Debbie"'s killer
- Colleen Ritter
- Cheryl Holland and Eddie Wooten
- Paul Freshour
- Ed Baker
- Clarence Roberts

I'm sure I'll think of more later. UM definitely had its share of sub-par actors, but I think it should be more frequently lauded for the good ones!

Everyone in the Larry Dickens segment was great, including the part where the mom kicks the crap out of Bell for walking in her house.

But the best performance ever on UM: "You gotta EAAAAAAAT Frank...."

Marie Hilley props:

the guy that played Brad Bishop when he left work the day of his murders. He was also in the Curt Borton case.

The guy who played Greg Webb

The actor that portrayed Nelson DeCloud. Made him just as slimy and evil as you imagine.

Kudos on Nelson DeCloud. The person who portrayed him make him look like the slimeball that he is.

Some of my favorite reenactment actors:

-The guy who played "Tony" in the Adam Hecht case. The performance where he tries to kiss Mrs. Hecht and she is disgusted is excellent. No wonder he went on to a bigger show (the name of which escapes me).
-Kristi Krebs. The crying and tearing up documents, plus her almost manic happiness in other segments, was on the money.
-Jeanne Tovrei. The actress who played this had just a flair of arrogance, which with all due respect to the late Jeanne Tovrei, I think was needed.
-Both Joe Owens and his late wife (I forget her first name). She just seemed so pleasant in the reenactment and he seemed selfish. Again, on the money.

The actor that played Don Decker.

The actor that played Don Decker.

Personally, I didn't like the actor who played Don Decker, mainly because he looked absolutely nothing like the real Don Decker (or at least how he looked while interviewed for the segment). The actor looked more like Conan O'Brien than Don Decker. He didn't really sound like him either.

Always enjoyed the performance of the guy who played Huey Long. According to the DVD commentary track on the segment, he pretty much improvised all of his colourful dialogue ("Will you leave me alone, you little pissant?!") on his own.

The actor, John McConnell, actually has a very extensive list of credits, so he's definitely a true professional.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566279/

Always enjoyed the performance of the guy who played Huey Long. According to the DVD commentary track on the segment, he pretty much improvised all of his colourful dialogue ("Will you leave me alone, you little pissant?!") on his own.

The actor, John McConnell, actually has a very extensive list of credits, so he's definitely a true professional.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566279/

This was exactly who I was going to pick. He's a good character actor I've seen in a few things. I see he stars in Blood Feast II; I might finally have to watch it!

Honorable mention goes to Mark Joy as Danny Casolaro. Both of these actors actually had some dialogue to work with, where as a lot of the actors on the series were left with a couple of lines at most. Also, the guy who played the coin thief/fake doctor was very good, conveying conniving sleaze with his body language and posture.

Gary Bristow (the guy who played Dereld Tacey). Really great at portraying the sincere, nice guy that Dereld supposedly is.

The lady (I don't remember her name) who played Ethel Nation. So good at being the evil scum that she was that it makes want to grab her and beat her up whenever I watch that segment.

Tara Chocol (played Resurrection Mary). Just something weirdly attractive about her ghostliness.

I know this is a strange subject...but does anyone have any favorite actor/actress in any of the re-enactments. My favorite actress is the actress that played Marie Hilley. I have no ide what her name is...but I've always loved her portrayal of Marie Hilley! Anyone else have a favorite or two?

The actress who played Marie Hilley is named Taylor Simpson.

I always liked the woman who played the fake countess in Cleveland.

Also the DePue kids - that scene where they are walking out to the van, the two girls have a great exchange:

Julie "I get front"
Jennifer (in an exasperated tone) "I'm sitting in the front"

It's totally something siblings would say when fighting over the front seat.

I just recently watched the George Owens segment for the first time. i really liked the actor who portrayed George. he seemed like a sweet old man. and also the nice store Clerk who was the last person to see him. thought it was real nice she attempted to help him. it was uncanny how much she looked and sounded like the real Clerk.

I really felt bad for her though. you could tell she felt so guilty that she hadn't done more for Geroge. I wish someone could tell her it wasn't her fault. :(

My opinion is that the poor guy became disoriented. gathered some Kindling wood to burn later. and eventually wandered off and died of exposure or perhaps hit his head. I don't really think there was any foul play.

I just recently watched the George Owens segment for the first time. i really liked the actor who portrayed George. he seemed like a sweet old man. and also the nice store Clerk who was the last person to see him. thought it was real nice she attempted to help him. it was uncanny how much she looked and sounded like the real Clerk.


I think it was the real clerk in the reenactment. In the first 4 years of the show the actual people were in a ton of the segments.

Oh! I never knew that. :-) huh. that's interesting. I wonder if any of the people refused to be in segments from being traumatized from the said cases?

Oh! I never knew that. :-) huh. that's interesting. I wonder if any of the people refused to be in segments from being traumatized from the said cases?

I was always amazed when they would get actual family members of victims to play themselves some pretty painful scenes. For example, in the Dave Davis case, they had Shannon Davis' parents re-enact what was probably the worst moment of their lives, after their daughter is prounounced dead and Dave is insisting that her body be cremated.

I would certainly feel weird being a director for a scene like that. If their acting isn't very good, what are you going to say? "Okay, Lucille, remember your daughter just died! More emotion please!".

- "Debbie"'s killer

Debbie wasn't killed.

Debbie wasn't killed.

You're right. Wasn't thinking.

The actor that portrayed Dub Waukerhagen. Thought I was watching the real Dub based on descriptions.

The actor that portrayed James Donald King came across as creepy.

As mentioned the lady that played Bonnie Wilder was gold.

elizabeth ortiz haha! the woman who played her was such a bad actress...I hope that was on purpose cuz that woman was no mastermind criminal haha

I agree about the actor portraying Jim Burnside. I like how he scurried away like a rat when the groundskeeper discovered him at his wife's gravesite.

I also liked the blonde actress who played Kathy Page - she was HOT

The guy that played "psychic/medium" John Catchings in the re-enactment for the Sherry Eyerly case was unintentionally funny to me. I just thought he always had this look on his face like he was hungry.

The woman who played Judy Himes.

I like the actor who played the attorney in "Frederick and Cedric". He was played by Joe Howard (George Frankly from Square One TV's Mathnet).

I like the woman who played "Shirley" in the Dana Satterfield segment, if that's not already the real "Shirley". The black man in the I-70 killer segment was cool too ("hey man, I can't come in the back room").

The actor that played the nurse who was a suspect in the second Mary Morris murder he had a strange walk and looked very sly and sneaky, I don't think he had any lines but he still came across as a weirdo.

I agree about the actor portraying Jim Burnside. I like how he scurried away like a rat when the groundskeeper discovered him at his wife's gravesite.

The actress playing Annette was equally great. During the death scene where she's screaming, crying and running away from Jim in the parking lot, she's impressive (much like the girl playing Colleen Ritter.)

That's how a woman would sound if she were being chased by a psycho with a knife. I've seen horror movies where actresses can't even sell that kind of terror.

The actor who played Jim Harrison was great. "Suuuusan...you're being bad again!" What a stupid delivery of a stupid line. Loved it though.

I thought the actress who played Tracy Wofford was good, especially when she confronted her boyfriend over her car. The actor playing the boyfriend on the other hand...:lol:

I thought the actress who played Tracy Wofford was good, especially when she confronted her boyfriend over her car. The actor playing the boyfriend on the other hand...:lol:
What, you didn't like his music or shift stick blame? :lol:

I liked the actors in the James Donald King segment too. The fight scene between King and his first wife was really believeable.

The guy who played Dennis Depue (not in the update though, that was a different guy, I think)
The guy who played Anton Kline

The actor that played the nurse who was a suspect in the second Mary Morris murder he had a strange walk and looked very sly and sneaky, I don't think he had any lines but he still came across as a weirdo.


He was supposed to look that way by design. He played me. I don't look like him or sneak around like that portrayal. I'm pretty much an up front person. Duane Young

What, you didn't like his music or shift stick blame? :lol:
I bought the shift stick breaking more than I did the music! :D

The Boston Strip Mall Rapist was played by the perfect guy. He looks average and unassuming then turns into a real sadistic guy in the blink of an eye.

The Boston Strip Mall Rapist was played by the perfect guy. He looks average and unassuming then turns into a real sadistic guy in the blink of an eye.

You know, the actor who played the rapist was on an episode of America's Most Wanted years later?

As an actor or because he was wanted?

Anyone know about the guy who played Wil Hendrick? He was kind of cute.

The guy that played "Tom Johnson", the guy who murdered a man's (sorry, I forget his name) girlfriend (or fiancee or wife) and then stole his computer, seemed pretty convincing to me.

I wonder if the real criminal was that cold and calculated (assuming the significant other guy didn't make up the whole story).

The actor and actress that played Hugh and Diane Harlan.

I also liked the silly guy in the New York coin scam segment: "No, I'm afraid on the phone!"

The guy that played "Tom Johnson", the guy who murdered a man's (sorry, I forget his name) girlfriend (or fiancee or wife) and then stole his computer, seemed pretty convincing to me.

I wonder if the real criminal was that cold and calculated (assuming the significant other guy didn't make up the whole story).

That was Stephen "The Fight Professor" Quadros playing Tom Johnson.

You know, the actor who played the rapist was on an episode of America's Most Wanted years later?
As an actor, I hope! ;)

Thought of some more. I also liked the portrayals of:

-Georgia Tann

-Tony Alamo (I think WishfulDreamer will agree :lol: )

-Gertrude Prewitt

-Tony Alamo (I think WishfulDreamer will agree :lol: )

-
Hey, I didn't see this until now! You know me pretty well :lol: Hands down one of my favorite performances! "I didn't say Moses, you liar!!"
I would have to be escorted outside of the church due to the fit of hysterical laughter that would ensue if the preacher yelled, "YOU SORRY WEASEL!"



Another one I thought of and came searching for this thread to post:

The women in the David Merrifield segment who find his body in the elevator. Especially the older lady when she finds out who it is and starts saying, "Oh no, it couldn't be!" Just a really hard-hitting performance for a sad case. I think the male co-worker portrayed himself, IIRC, which must have been hard.

Honorable Mention: The guys who played John Mooney and Elmo the hit man perfectly captured their foolishness, too!

Honorable Mention: The guys who played John Mooney and Elmo the hit man perfectly captured their foolishness, too!

I LOVE those guys! "Imma hitman!" Just the way he says that makes me :lol: every time.

Re-watched the Jeffrey Digman segment last night while playing one of my compilations and noticed for the first time that the actor that portrayed him was the same guy who played Michael Swango.

While I didn't relish being reminded of creeptastic Dr. Swango, Jeffrey Digman is totally my big UM crush so that kind of made up for it.

That woman in the pick-up truck in the Todd Mcafee segment did an excellent job.

I LOVE those guys! "Imma hitman!" Just the way he says that makes me :lol: every time.
I love the bartender's reaction. "You're a what?!"

It doesn't help that when I hear "Elmo," I think of something quite contrary to a hit man. :crazy:

Another favorite part of mine is when John is putting the "Somebody's Pizza" fliers on the tables. He just looks like a buffoon, especially when he gets confronted.

I think the woman who played Curt Borton's sister in the reenactment not only looked exactly like her, but also talked just like her.

That woman in the pick-up truck in the Todd Mcafee segment did an excellent job.

YES. That reenactment was so close to something you might actually encounter it was eerie. She had a small part, but I dare say that was one of the top three most convincing performances I've ever seen on UM.

YES. That reenactment was so close to something you might actually encounter it was eerie. She had a small part, but I dare say that was one of the top three most convincing performances I've ever seen on UM.

I'm glad I saved that segment before...

I actually had to familiarize myself with how to do that, I had never saved something off there before.

I was able to watch that segment for the first time right before all the episodes were pulled from forbidden site. Still remember that performance and scene being really jarring...

I'm glad I saved that segment before...

I actually had to familiarize myself with how to do that, I had never saved something off there before.

Yeah, I know that feel. ;)

The oscar worthy performance by the kid in the baseball dugout who stands up to the 3 guys with machine guns was my favorite: "Leave us...alone!"

The oscar worthy performance by the kid in the baseball dugout who stands up to the 3 guys with machine guns was my favorite: "Leave us...alone!"
I would also like to add the robber who nodded slowly and walked away in response. :crazy:

The actress who played Sharon Kinne obviously. She had the perfect blend of cheesy and downright sadistic.

Best reenactment potrayals:

- George Owens
- Larry Dickens' mom
- Phillip Frazier's killer
- "Debbie"'s killer
- Colleen Ritter
- Cheryl Holland and Eddie Wooten
- Paul Freshour
- Ed Baker
- Clarence Roberts

I'm sure I'll think of more later. UM definitely had its share of sub-par actors, but I think it should be more frequently lauded for the good ones!

Oh man I saw the Cheryl holland and Eddie Wooten segment today. To me the highlight of the acting in The segment is when Eddie is giving his one sided story to the police. When he is in the car and says to Cheryl we don't have to kill them. So softly spoken and his fight not to kill pretty much ended there. And then the look on his face when he shoots. Kind of weird and creepy at the same time. Tony Alamo for sure. He could pass for a real televangelist. Tim
McClure as himself dialing a phone number on a rotary phone while smoking. :cool:

I also liked the actors in the Audrey moate segment.

Oh man I saw the Cheryl holland and Eddie Wooten segment today. To me the highlight of the acting in The segment is when Eddie is giving his one sided story to the police. When he is in the car and says to Cheryl we don't have to kill them. So softly spoken and his fight not to kill pretty much ended there. And then the look on his face when he shoots. Kind of weird and creepy at the same time. Tony Alamo for sure. He could pass for a real televangelist. Tim
McClure as himself dialing a phone number on a rotary phone while smoking. :cool:

I also liked the actors in the Audrey moate segment.

I agree with Tony Alamo's portrayer he was perfect.

Kristi Krebs hands down. The actress managed to take her story and literally pull at your heartstrings with it.