PLAYER’S GUIDE SAM NEILL Lt. Cmdr. Charles “Swede” Momsen From his first film, the New Zealand-raised Sam Neill has been recognized as an actor of extraordinary depth and range, most recently for his work in “Jurassic Park” and in the miniseries “Merlin.” As a graduate of Canterbury University, Neill began his film career in 1978, starring in Roger Donaldson’s “Sleeping Dogs.” The following year, he played opposite Judy Davis in the acclaimed Australian feature “My Brilliant Career.” Since then, he has starred in dozens of films, including “Plenty” (1985), “A Cry in the Dark” (1988, opposite Meryl Streep, for which he won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor), “Dead Calm” (1989, opposite Nicole Kidman), “The Hunt for Red October” (1990) and “Sirens” (1994, with Hugh Grant). Fans most often recognize Neill from his starring roles in a pair of 1993 films -- Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” and the critically acclaimed “The Piano” (opposite Holly Hunter and Harvey Keitel). His other recent films include “Country Life” (1995), “Restoration” (1995), “Event Horizon” (1997), “The Horse Whisperer” (1998), “The Revengers” (1998), “Bicentennial Man” (1999), “My Mother Frank” (2000), and the upcoming “Jurassic Park 3.” Neill’s television work includes “Reilly, Ace of Spies” (earning a Golden Globe nomination), the television movies “The Blood of Others,” “Fever, One Against the Wind” (Golden Globe nomination) and “Snow White: A Tale of Terror” (with Sigourney Weaver), and the miniseries “Kane and Abel,” “Amerika,” “Family Pictures,” Hallmark Entertainment’s “In Cold Blood,” and NBC’s critically hailed miniseries “Merlin.” Neill currently resides in New Zealand with his wife and three children. In 1991, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions to acting. SHEA WHIGHAM Captain Oliver Naquin Shea Whigham made his feature-film debut last October in the acclaimed “Tigerland,” winning the role of Wilson on the spot in front of producer Arnon Milchan and director Joel Schumacher after auditioning with another actor already cast in the film. In “Tigerland,” Whigham played the patriotic Southern recruit willing to go to any length to fight for his country. The character-driven drama centered on a group of army recruits as they endured Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, also known as “Tigerland” - - the last stop before Vietnam for tens of thousands of young men in 1971. Whigham decided to pursue acting while attending college in Texas on a tennis scholarship. He auditioned for the prestigious State University of New York at Purchase Conservatory and was awarded one of the 31 coveted spots in the program. At Purchase, Whigham met and roomed with Kirk Acevedo, who eventually went to star on the cable series, “Oz.” After graduation, the two co-founded the Rorschach Group, a New York-based theater company. Whigham served as artistic director for the group for three years while performing in Downtown Manhattan. Whigham currently resides in New York. JAMES B. SIKKING Admiral Cyrus Cole James B. Sikking has continually been in television viewers’ eyes from his performances in many diverse roles on more than 200 primetime television shows. Viewers know him best for his starring as ‘Lt. Howard Hunter’ on “Hill Street Blues,” the title character’s father on “Doogie Howser, M.D.” and as Captain Stan Jonas on “Brooklyn South.” A native of Los Angeles, Sikking was raised by parents -- both Unity ministers -- who named him after author James (“Peter Pan”) Barrie. He attended El Segundo High School and earned a bachelor of arts degree in theater arts from UCLA. While at UCLA, he met his future wife, Florine. Sikking’s television credits also include starring for three years on “General Hospital,” and in the TV movies “Tyson,” “The Jessie Owens Story,” “Mutiny,” “Ollie Hopnoodle’s Haven of Bliss,” “Nowhere to Land.” and “In Pursuit of Honor.” In addition he starred in the miniseries “Brotherhood of the Rose” and “Around the World in 80 Days.” Among Sikking’s film roles are his appearances as a CIA agent in “Scorpio,” a professional assassin in “Point Blank” and the head of a vice squad in “The New Centurions.” On stage, Sikking has appeared in “The Big Knife” in London and in the Los Angeles Public Theater’s production of “Put Them All Together,” with Mariette Hartley. In his spare time, Sikking is an avid snow skier and participates in golf and racquetball charity sporting events. He loves to cook -- even though his wife Florine is the expert -- and the two collect wines. EMILY PROCTER Frances Naquin The first time Emily Procter auditioned for the role of Republican lawyer Ainsley Hayes on NBC’s “The West Wing,” she was so impressed with her reading partner that she told him, “You’re really good!” Of course she didn’t know, at the time, it was series creator Aaron Sorkin. “Thank God, I didn’t know or I wouldn’t have been able to do it.” Even on an Emmy Award-winning series with a cast, well-pedigreed, Procter’s appearances as Hayes have drawn attention. The 30-year-old Procter was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. She attended East Carolina University and “tried to get in the theater department, but it was full so I just gave up.” Instead she graduated a bachelor of fine arts degree in journalism and dance, and while still in school, landed a job as a weather anchor at WITN-TV in nearby Greenville, North Carolina. However, not long after graduation, Procter packed up her belongings and moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. Procter has worked steadily since, often in small roles in such feature films as “Leaving Las Vegas” and “Jerry Maguire.” In 1998, she landed her first starring role in the critically hailed cable movie “Breast Men” opposite David Schwimmer and Chris Cooper. The next year she had a lead role in the feature film “Body Shots.” Though Procter has lived in Los Angeles for several years, she still calls the Tar Heel State home, traveling back as often as six times a year. She spends her off time in Los Angeles contributing to the community by supporting charities that fight homelessness, including volunteering with the Homeless Assistance at All Saints Episcopal Church in Los Angeles.