Hi Everyone!
This was a funny observation that I thought to share with you. So about 2 months ago I watched MOnster's ball for the first time and...I could not believe it!!!! UM actors have small parts in that movie! A UM field day! The guy who played Huey Long is one of the prison guards who works with Heath Ledger and Billy Bob Thornton. THe woman who played Marie Hilley plays Halle Berry's co-worker at a diner.
I was laughign when I saw them. It is hard to see them as anything else BUT Huey Long and Marie Hilley. And, ironically, "Marie Hilley" is serving food to other customers! :lol: But definitely if you ever see Monster's Ball, keep a lookout for them!

Hi Everyone!
This was a funny observation that I thought to share with you. So about 2 months ago I watched MOnster's ball for the first time and...I could not believe it!!!! UM actors have small parts in that movie! A UM field day! The guy who played Huey Long is one of the prison guards who works with Heath Ledger and Billy Bob Thornton. THe woman who played Marie Hilley plays Halle Berry's co-worker at a diner.
I was laughign when I saw them. It is hard to see them as anything else BUT Huey Long and Marie Hilley. And, ironically, "Marie Hilley" is serving food to other customers! :lol: But definitely if you ever see Monster's Ball, keep a lookout for them!

Lol, very interesting. I must say you must be a hardcore UM fan like the rest of us if you can pick out UM actors from a movie...:lol:

It seems like UM and soap operas were the training ground for actors in the 80s and 90s!!

Lol!

The actor who played Huey Long is John "Spud" McConnell, an actor and radio show host in New Orleans. His list of movie credits is pretty extensive (I've long wondered if there's a rule somewhere that says that any film produced in Louisiana must cast him in a role). His imdb page is here:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566279/

Since Monster's Ball was filmed in LaPlace and near Angola--both of which are within a two hours' drive of New Orleans--it's not entirely surprising that he'd have a role.

The actress in question appears to be Taylor Simpson. Though UM is not listed on her imdb page, a picture (somewhat dated, it would appear) linked to the Hurt Agency looks exactly like Marie Hilley:

http://www.thehurtagency.com/images/Taylor_Simpson.jpg

Again, if she's a regionally based actress somewhere in the Deep South (the Hilley incident was likely filmed in and around Anniston, Alabama, where the Hilleys were from), she might have been called to fill a role in a Louisiana production.

The actress that played the part of Linda Jekovich (not sure about the spelling, she ran off witha biker Yeager)...I recently saw her on a Pupp-a-Roni commercial.

Thanks so much for the info, deuce5000. You are right, it would make sense that if the film was shot in Louisiana, that local actors would have parts in them. (Isn't LaPlace where Audrey Moate disappeared from?) I have seen John McConnell before in other things. I think he even had a guest spot on Roseanne. I am not sure who the actress was who played Marie Hilley. But thanks for the info!
UM Fan, what was the Linda Jekovich story about? I don't remember if I've seen that one. I'll have to keep a lookout for the Pupp a roni commercial too!

Is the missing Ms. Jelovcic actually Margie Jelovcic and not Linda?

If that's the right name, her case is on www.unsolved.com

She's still missing and her gang leader boyfriend is wanted by the police.

Is the missing Ms. Jelovcic actually Margie Jelovcic and not Linda?

Oh yes, that's right! I knew that it was an usual name but couldn't remember it. Thanks TracyLynnS.

In my opinion, Marie Hilley and Huey Long were portrayed by two of the best actors I've seen on UM.

In my opinion, Marie Hilley and Huey Long were portrayed by two of the best actors I've seen on UM.

Marie Hilley...the BEST episode of the entire show. The actress was bonkers. When her husband was in the hospital bed and she utters those infamous words "You gotta eat Frank!" I die a little each time. She said it with such love and concern and all the while she was most likely feeding him arsenic to speed up his death! The irony! Love that episode!

Thanks so much for the info, deuce5000. You are right, it would make sense that if the film was shot in Louisiana, that local actors would have parts in them. (Isn't LaPlace where Audrey Moate disappeared from?) I have seen John McConnell before in other things. I think he even had a guest spot on Roseanne. I am not sure who the actress was who played Marie Hilley. But thanks for the info!
UM Fan, what was the Linda Jekovich story about? I don't remember if I've seen that one. I'll have to keep a lookout for the Pupp a roni commercial too!

LaPlace is where Audrey Moate and Thomas Hotard were from. UM connections everywhere!