Celebrities Archives - Page 19 of 27

MoCo Native Martin Amini Announces Tour With Matt Rife

Published June 20, 2023 at 8:55PM

MoCo native Martin Amini, who is selling out comedy venues across the country, has just announced a 2023/2024 tour with comedian Matt Rife– arguably the hottest comedian in the country at the moment. Amini was just hitting his stride in Los Angeles when the pandemic hit in March of 2020 and forced him to leave his dreams behind in Los Angeles and move back in with his family in Montgomery County where he grew up (Silver Spring). Prior to the pandemic, the comedian made Thrillist’s “Best Undiscovered Stand Up Comedian list” and while Covid slowed things down for stand-up comedy, Amini came out of it better than ever. In the last year, he has been headlining and selling out shows across the country and even once joked “8 months ago I couldn’t sell over 80 tickets in Houston. This weekend I sold over 600. Grateful for all the support and tiktok algorithm for blessing me.”

Amini’s stand-up material touches on what it’s like growing up mixed in America (primarily here in Montgomery County) and coming from an Iranian and Bolivian background. His interactions with the crowd has earned him millions of likes and shares on social media. His upcoming tour mate, Matt Rife, is a standup comedian whose star has risen to the top due to his stage persona and quick wit. While both Rife and Amini are considered “roast comedians” by some, their clever replies and ability to go along with any situation the crowd hands to them has helped elevate both. The dates of the tour will be announced soon, but Amini is currently in the middle of his Bolivian Famous tour that’s taking him across the country and even across the pond to London for a show.

Maryland Resident Pat Sajak Announces He Will Retire Following Upcoming Season of Wheel of Fortune

By MCS Staff

Published June 12, 2023 at 8:17PM

Maryland resident Pat Sajak, host of Wheel of Fortune since 1981, has announced that the upcoming 41st season of the show will be his last. Sajak and his wife Lesly Brown-Sajak are longtime residents of Severna Park, MD.

Sajak has received 19 nominations for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host, winning three times. As a longtime Maryland resident, he has become an avid fan of the Washington Capitals and has been a season-ticket holder, making an on-ice appearances, for years– including prior to Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals in 2018.

Quince Orchard Alumnus Charles Lee Hired As Top Assistant Coach by Boston Celtics

By MCS Staff

Published June 12, 2023 at 10:14AM

Boston Celtics Head Coach, Joe Mazzulla, has hired MoCo native Charles Lee as their lead assistant coach under Mazzulla, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. Lee has been an assistant in the NBA since 2014, helping the Milwaukee Bucks win an NBA championship in 2021. Lee, a 2002 graduate of Quince Orchard High School, grew up in Gaithersburg and was a student-athlete at Quince Orchard before moving on to Bucknell, where he attended school and played until 2006.

He went on to play professionally, primarily in Europe and Israel. After his professional career came to an end, he returned to Bucknell as an assistant coach and later served as an assistant with the Atlanta Hawks from 2014-18. He joined the Bucks as an assistant, becoming the top assistant after Darvin Ham left to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. His name appeared as a potential candidate for the Washington Wizards coaching job, prior to the Wizards naming Wes Unseld Jr. their head coach. Now, Lee joins a Celtics team that was a game away from the NBA Finals and is coming off of a 57-win season.

Over $150K Raised at Brian Mitchell’s “Intentional Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament” in Rockville on Monday

By MCS Staff

Published June 6, 2023 at 10:04AM | Updated June 6, 2023 at 10:30AM

The Brian Mitchell “Intentional Celebrity Golf Tournament” took place at Lakewood Country Club ( 13901 Glen Mill Rd) in Rockville on Monday, June 5th and the event, along with the “rare night” gala following the tournament, raised $153,00 to hire the organization’s first nurse navigator to support families with children who have rare diseases. The event featured an appearance by Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera, as well as current and former Commanders players.

The Miracle of Hudson announced BMitch’s “Intentional Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament”, which took place on Monday, June 5th, at the prestigious Lakewood Country Club in Rockville, MD. The event featured special guest Ron Rivera, Head Coach of the Washington Commanders, as well as current and legendary players. In addition, the tournament hosted a star-studded lineup of celebrities, and esteemed guests such as Dr. Kurt Newman, M.D., President of Children’s National, and Dr. Debra Regier, M.D., Interim Division Chief of Genetics and Metabolism and Program Director of the Medical Genetics Residency Program at Children’s National. The tournament was able to raise $153,00” to hire the organization’s first nurse navigator to support families with children who have rare diseases.Attendees had a fun-filled day of golf, exciting activities, and exceptional prizes. The Miracle of Hudson is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing nurse navigation support, resources, and hope to families affected by rare diseases. The nurse navigator’s role will be to guide families through the complex healthcare system, providing essential support and care coordination to ensure children receive the best possible treatment and outcome.For more information about BMitch’s “Intentional Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament,” sponsorship opportunities for the future, or to donate, please visit https://theintentional.org or theintentional.org/rarenight contact the Event Organizer/Director, Marquis Evans, at 301-357-5608 or via email at [email protected].

MoCo Native and Good Counsel Alumna, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, Stars in Upcoming ‘The Color Purple’ Remake

By MCS Staff

Published May 24, 2023 at 7:47AM

Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, a Montgomery County native and 2011 graduate of Good Counsel in Olney, will star as young Celine in the upcoming remake of The Color Purple. The movie portrays the story of the life-long struggles of an African American woman living in the south during the early 1900s and is a remake of the 1985 classic film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Oprah Winfrey that was directed by Steven Spielberg.

Mpasi will play lead character Celie Harris Johnson in her younger years, with Fantasia Barrino playing the lead character as an older adult. Per a bio on Coverfly, Mpasi “is the joyful daughter of Congolese immigrants. An alumna of Elon University, this actress, writer, comedian, and singer was seen in Broadway’s The Lion King and desires to tell stories showcasing the excellence of underrepresented people through a comedic lens.”

Beyond MoCo: City of Hyattsville Celebrates Jim Henson With New Informational Signage in Courtyard

By MCS Staff

Published May 21, 2023 at 8:00PM

The City of Hyattsville and The Jim Henson Legacy celebrated Jim Henson’s connection to Hyattsville with a special community event this past Friday and Saturday at the Jim Henson Courtyard in Hyattsville’s Driskell Park. The event featured a sing-a-long to The Muppet Movie (1979), puppet- making crafts, and the unveiling of new informational signage in the courtyard.

Per the City of Hyattsville: Jim Henson (1936-1990), the visionary artist and inventor of The Muppets, moved to the Hyattsville area as a child and was a student at Hyattsville’s Northwestern High School and nearby University of Maryland, College Park. He began developing prototypes for the Muppets while in high school and in 1955 debuted a nightly five-minute show on local cable station WRC-TV-4 called Sam and Friends. The show set the stage for Henson’s career and the eventual development of The Muppet Show.

Did You Know One of The Original Mighty Ducks Is From MoCo?

By MCS Staff

Published May 15, 2023 at 6:36PM | Updated May 16, 2023 at 7:04AM

While many remember Elden Henson’s roles as one of the “Bash Brothers” Fulton Reed in the Mighty Ducks movies and Foggy Nelson in Netflix Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) series Daredevil, you may not know that he was born right here in MoCo. Then known as Elden Ryan Ratliff, he was born August 30, 1977 in Rockville. His mom, Sayde Henson, was a teacher, and his dad, George Ratliff, was a former New York theater actor. He didn’t stay too long, as his family moved to California by 1980.

Henson started acting as a print model when he was just a toddler, and began acting in commercials when he was six. He had many guest roles on television and acted in films like 1988’s Elvis & Me (written by Priscilla Presley) and 1989’s Turner & Hooch starring Tom Hanks. As a teenager, he starred as Fulton Reed in the Mighty Ducks trilogy (1992-1996). Since then, he has had supporting roles in films like The Mighty, She’s All That, Idle Hands, O, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, The Butterfly Effect, and a lot more.

“Intentional Celebrity Golf Tournament” to Take Place in Rockville

By Patrick Herron

Published May 15, 2023 at 11:54AM | Updated May 15, 2023 at 12:19PM

The Brian Mitchell “Intentional Celebrity Golf Tournament” will take place at Lakewood Country Club ( 13901 Glen Mill Rd) in Rockville on Monday, June 5th . The event will feature an appearance by Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera, as well as current and former Commanders players. There will also be a “Rare Night” gala following the tournament that will feature fine dining, live entertainment, and an auction. The tournament/gala’s goal is to raise $300,000 to hire the organization’s first nurse navigator to support families with children who have rare diseases. Additional information below:

The Miracle of Hudson charity is excited to announce the upcoming BMitch’s “Intentional Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament” on Monday, June 5th, at the prestigious Lakewood Country Club in Rockville, MD. The event will feature special guest Ron Rivera, Head Coach of the Washington Commanders, as well as current and legendary players. In addition, the tournament will host a star-studded lineup of celebrities, and esteemed guests such as Dr. Kurt Newman, M.D., President of Children’s National, and Dr. Debra Regier, M.D., Interim Division Chief of Genetics and Metabolism and Program Director of the Medical Genetics Residency Program at Children’s National. The tournament’s goal is to raise $300,000 to hire the organization’s first nurse navigator to support families with children who have rare diseases.We are thrilled to announce that all foursomes for the golf tournament are sold out. However, you can still join us for the “Rare Gala” in your Country Club Casual attire. The gala will offer an evening of fine dining, live entertainment, and an auction featuring exclusive and rare items. Tables are available for purchase, and guests can look forward to bidding on rare and unique auction items.Attendees can expect a fun-filled day of golf, exciting activities, and exceptional prizes. The tournament will offer various sponsorship packages, ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, providing excellent opportunities for businesses and organizations to gain exposure and recognition while supporting a worthy cause.The Miracle of Hudson is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing nurse navigation support, resources, and hope to families affected by rare diseases. The nurse navigator’s role will be to guide families through the complex healthcare system, providing essential support and care coordination to ensure children receive the best possible treatment and outcome.For more information about BMitch’s “Intentional Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament,” sponsorship opportunities, or to purchase tickets or tables for the Rare Gala, please visit https://theintentional.org or theintentional.org/rarenight contact the Event Organizer/Director, Marquis Evans, at 301-357-5608 or via email at [email protected].About the Miracle of HudsonThe Miracle of Hudson is a non-profit organization committed to providing nurse navigation support, resources, and hope to families affected by rare diseases. The foundation strives to improve the quality of life for children and their families by raising funds for essential programs and services, such as hiring nurse navigators and creating a network of support.

Blair Alumnus Chick Hernandez Named to The Commanders Pre-Season Broadcast Team

By MCS Staff

Published May 11, 2023 at 6:56PM

The Washington Commanders have announced that Chick Hernandez, who grew up in Montgomery County and graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in 1981, will be joining former Washington players Brian Mitchell and Logan Paulsen as part of the new Preseason 2023 TV Crew.

Hernandez was born at Providence Hospital, but grew up in Silver Spring and graduated from Montgomery Blair High in 1981. While at Blair, Hernandez was a three-sport athlete, excelling in football. He even went on to play for one year at Montgomery College- Rockville. Following his time at MC, he enrolled at the University of Maryland. While Hernandez was still in school, fellow MoCo native Larry Michael (Northwood alumnus) offered him a job as a weekend producer with Mutual Radio in 1987. Hernandez went on to become the sports director at Georgia’s WRDW TV before coming back home to join FOX 5 as a sports anchor for seven years. He later worked for Comcast SportsNet/NBC Sports Washington for 17 years.

Olney Native Oguchi Onyewu Named U.S. Soccer Federation’s Vice President of Sporting

By MCS Staff

Published May 10, 2023 at 12:59PM

The U.S. Soccer Federation has named Oguchi Onyewu as the Vice President of Sporting. Onyewu, 40, brings a wealth of experience as a player and sporting executive with over 25 years in the game. The Olney native attended and played for Sherwood High School. During high school, he enrolled in the U.S. residency program for soccer in Bradenton, Florida before returning to Sherwood to graduate.

Per US Soccer: In this newly created role, the two-time World Cup veteran will work closely with U.S. Soccer’s Sporting Director Matt Crocker in supporting all sporting initiatives within the Federation. Reporting to Crocker, Onyewu will also play a prominent role in managing relationships with clubs and leagues in the United States and across the world, along with strengthening other stakeholder relationships.

Wyclef Jean, Gyptian, and More Set to Perform at Scotland Freedom Day Concert at MoCo Fairgrounds in June

By MCS Staff

Published May 10, 2023 at 7:36AM

The Scotland Juneteenth Festival, and its presenting sponsor Minds in Motion Child Care, are bringing recording artists Wyclef Jean, Gyptian, Jamaican reggae legend Tarrus Riley with opening act Dean Fraser & The Blak Soil Band, and more for the Freedom Day Concert at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on Monday, June 19th. Tickets can be purchased here. Additional information below:

Celebrating the past and present of the first places African-Americans owned land in Montgomery County, the Scotland community of Potomac, has announced significant expansion of the annual Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival for 2023. Featuring a children’s carnival and musical performance highlighted above, as well as art exhibitions, food, sports, and presentations on Black history in this region, the events for the federal holiday on Monday, June 19, will be spread across the Cabin John Regional Park, Cabin John Village, the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, and the Scotland community on Seven Locks Road.