– Recently, there was a “Tru Calling” marathon on cable. I was wondering what ever happened to Eliza Dushku, who played the main character. — Ronald Riggers, Garden Grove, Calif.
She’s been staying pretty active. Besides having a guest role last year on ABC’s “Ugly Betty,” the former Faith of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” has made several movies including “The Last Supper,” “Sex and Breakfast” and “The Alphabet Killer.” Apparently, she’s heading back to series work, too: Prior to the writers strike, the Fox network gave a multiple-episode commitment to “Dollhouse,” a fantasy-drama series that will reunite Dushku with “Buffy” mentor Joss Whedon.
– Is Shannen Doherty retired from acting? — Kevin Smith, Chicago
No. Still seen as Brenda Walsh in “Beverly Hills, 90210” repeats on SoapNet, Doherty recently played a thief in the ABC Family movie “Christmas Caper.” She has finished two more movies scheduled to appear later this year, “Defunct” and “Kiss Me Deadly” (the latter being no relation to the classic Mike Hammer detective story).
– Judd Hirsch, who plays the father on “NUMB3RS,” has become a favorite. What can you tell me about his background and career? — Sandra Weichert, Lawrence, Kan.
After a series of 1970s guest roles, perhaps the most notable of which was on “Rhoda,” stage-acting veteran Hirsch first scored television stardom as nonchalantly sensible cabbie Alex on the acclaimed sitcom “Taxi.” He was nominated for an Emmy Award each year of the show’s six-season run, and he twice won the honor.
Hirsch attempted series comedy several more times, the most successful example being “Dear John”; “George & Leo” and “Regular Joe” had much shorter lives. Hirsch also appeared in the pilot episode of last season’s “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” but his character wasn’t destined to last beyond that first hour.
The movies Hirsch has made include “Ordinary People” (for which he earned an Oscar nomination, but the award went to co-star Timothy Hutton), “Without a Trace,” “Teachers,” “Independence Day” and “A Beautiful Mind.” Among his stage credits are “Talley’s Folly,” “I’m Not Rappaport,” “Conversations With My Father,” “Death of a Salesman” and “Art.”
———-
Send questions to: tvpipeline@tribune.com. Only those selected will be answered.
