“Doctors Reveal You Can Enjoy Up to 5 Cups of Coffee Per Day - If You Drink the Right Kind…”

It all began in 1971 on one of Los Angeles' busy freeways. It was on such a freeway that the late actor Richard Basehart and his wife, Diana, watched in horror as someone in a car ahead of them nonchalantly tossed a dog out of the car window to a grisly death.  Both Richard and Diana were animal lovers and very aware of the daily cruelties that so many animals endured. Their shock and outrage that day motivated them to gather fellow actors and members of the community together to work to stop such inhumane treatment.

When we opened our doors in 1971, our objectives were to provide proper care for and prevent the inhumane treatment and destruction of animals.  The common belief of the day was to simply rescue and adopt.  Right from the beginning, our founding members recognized that there were too many animals being destroyed in animal shelters because no one was paying attention to how many were being born.  They recognized that pet overpopulation was rooted in a lack of education and availability of services.  That was the key, and it was straightforward.  Stop the flow of animals being bred and you stop the unregulated killing.

The founding members knew that these goals were not going to be easily attainable. They would require stamina, resourcefulness and a long-standing commitment. The story of Actors and Others for Animals is also the story of compassionate people - donors, celebrities, supporters, volunteers, staff and board members - who helped take a fledgling organization and through hard work, dedication and loving kindness made it a leader in the elimination of pet overpopulation through spay and neuter, long before those words were part of the American jargon.

And while our history is rich with many accomplishments on behalf of animals, we are especially proud to have been the prevailing force behind the elimination of the decompression chamber in California. Working closely with the County of Los Angeles in the 1970's, it was agreed that if the County did not use the decompression chamber at the new Agoura shelter but instead used a euthanasia injection, Actors and Others would fund such a pilot project. It was so successful that it soon was adopted by all the other county shelters - then by the City - then in 1979 by all of California.

Dear Friends:

It was my friend, Jackie Joseph, one of the founding members of Actors and Others, who first introduced me to this wonderful organization. That first meeting was held, as I remember, in someone’s home where many of us sat on the floor, neophytes to the cause. I was immediately hooked. Improving the lives of animals, what better gig was there!

I’ve worked in many different capacities since that first meeting. As an entertainer, a volunteer, PSA spot maker, errand runner and all around worker bee. I joined the Board of Directors in 1982 served as Vice President for approximately eight years. I am very proud, honored and humbled to now serve as president.

Whenever I do a show, either in or out of town, I always ask people about their pets and if they are spayed or neutered. I am lucky to have had a great teacher in Earl Holliman, who taught me that getting the message out sometimes means doing so every day, one day at a time, one person at a time and one animal at a time.

We have all been privileged to have the “Earl Example” to learn from, and it is because of his great leadership that Actors and Others has grown to be the well-respected organization that it is today. It shall be my job to make sure that we continue on that same path.

My little rescue dog, Harmony, is a constant reminder to me of how important it is to take care of our animal companions and friends. My goal in life is "to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am."

JoAnne Worley’s instinctive comedic timing and irrepressible laugh makes her a favorite of audiences everywhere. Her work runs the gamut from television, movie and stage productions to game shows, talk shows, commercials, cartoons and opera. Most currently, JoAnne starred with a celebrated cast in the New York City Center’s Encores! Production of Steven Sondheim legendary "Follies," had a successful Broadway run in “The Drowsy Chaperone” and the Los Angeles production of "Wicked". She also has guest starred on "Bones," "Curb Your Euthusiasm," "Jessie" and “The Middle".

Jo Anne Worley (born September 6, 1937) is an American actress, comedian, and singer. Her work covers television, films, theatre, game shows, talk shows, commercials, and cartoons. Worley is widely known for her work on the comedy-variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

Early life and education

Worley was born on September 6, 1937, in Lowell, Indiana,^[1] the third child of Rose Irene (née Gardner) and Joseph Lauraine Worley. In 1962, her parents divorced and her father remarried, having four children with his second wife, Nancy.^[1]

Always known for her loud voice, Worley once said that when she attended church as a little girl, she never sang the hymns but would only lip sync them for fear that she would drown out everyone else. Before graduating from high school, she was named school comedienne.^[1]

After graduating from high school in 1955, Worley moved to Blauvelt, New York, where she began her professional career as a member of the Pickwick Players.^[2] This led to a drama scholarship to Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas.^[3]

Career

After studying at Midwestern for two years, Worley moved to Los Angeles to study at Los Angeles City College and the Pasadena Playhouse.^[4][5][6][7] She was soon given her first musical role in a production of Wonderful Town. In 1961, Worley received her first major break when she appeared in the musical revue Billy Barnes People in Los Angeles; this production moved to Broadway, where it ran for only six performances. However, the New York Times reviewer wrote: "Jo Anne Worley has an earthy style that suggests she could be a rowdy comedienne."^[4][5][6][8] In 1964, she was selected to appear as a stand-in on the original Broadway production of Hello, Dolly! One year later, Worley created her own nightclub act in Greenwich Village, where she was discovered by Merv Griffin in 1966.^[4][5][6]

Impressed by Worley's talents, Griffin engaged her to be one of his primary guest stars on his show, where she made approximately 40 appearances on The Merv Griffin Show.^[4][5][6] In 1966, she appeared Off-Broadway in The Mad Show, a musical revue based on Mad Magazine.^[9] In 1967, Worley's stint on Griffin's show led to her discovery by George Schlatter, who soon cast her in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.^[4][5][6]

In 1970, Worley left Laugh-In to pursue other projects and has made guest appearances on several television series, including Love, American Style, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Andy Williams Show, Adam-12, Emergency!, Murder, She Wrote, The Middle, and different game shows such as Super Password, Hollywood Squares, and the many versions of Pyramid. She continued working in various movies, television series, and theatrical performances (original productions and revivals alike) over the years. Worley also became known for her work as a voice provider for several cartoons, animated movies, and video games. Her voice work includes Nutcracker Fantasy (1979), the Disney movies Beauty and the Beast (1991), A Goofy Movie (1995), Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World (1998), and the voice of the Wardrobe in the video game Kingdom Hearts II (2005). She remains involved with Disney, making cameos in several Disney Channel sitcoms such as Kim Possible playing the role of Bonnie Rockwaller's mother, Wizards of Waverly Place, and Jessie.

Worley performed in regional theater, such as the Melody Top Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she appeared in Gypsy: A Musical Fable as Rose (1984), Annie Get Your Gun (1982), Hello Dolly! (1980), Anything Goes (1978) and Once Upon a Mattress (1974),^[10] She also appeared at the Welk Dinner Theater in San Diego, California in Same Time, Next Year in 1985,^[11] Call Me Madam at the California Music Theatre, Pasadena, California, in 1987,^[12] and Nunsense at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, La Mirada, California, in 1991.^[13]

In 1989, Worley returned to Broadway to appear in Prince of Central Park, but the show was canceled after four performances.^[14] She was cast as the Wicked Witch of the West in a 1999 musical production of The Wizard of Oz, directed and adapted by Robert Johanson, with Mickey Rooney playing the eponymous role. The production had a limited run at the Pantages Theater, Hollywood, California and at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, and she also joined the limited US tour.^[15][16] Worley played Mrs. Tottendale in the Broadway musical, The Drowsy Chaperone at the Marquis Theatre from July through December 2007. She then reprised the role of Mrs. Tottendale at The Cape Playhouse from June to July 2015.

From January 8 until August 24, 2008, Worley played the role of Madame Morrible in the Los Angeles production of Wicked.^[17]

Personal life

Worley married actor Roger Perry on May 11, 1975. They divorced in 2000.^[18]

Worley is an animal lover. For more than 40 years she has been involved with the organisation Actors and Others for Animals, founded in 1971, which funds spay-and-neuter programmes, and provides veterinary financial assistance to pet guardians in Southern California.^[19][20][21] She served on a voluntary basis on the board of directors for several years before becoming vice president, and since 2007, has served as president of the organisation.^[20][22]

Filmography

Film

Television

Talkin' Pets News

January 15, 2022

Host - Jon Patch

Co-Host - Jillyn Sidlo - Celestial Custom Dog Services, Tampa, Florida

Producer - Matt Matera

Co-Producer - Philip Staub

Network Producer - Ben Boquist

Social Media - Bob Page

Special Guest -  5pm ET - JoAnne Worley - Actors & Others for Animals - Discussion on the non-profit and Betty White's support for the organization - The Betty White Challenge

Movie Review written by Jon Patch with 3 out of 4 paws

Scream

Paramount Pictures, Lantern Entertainment, Outerbanks Entertainment, Project X Entertainment, Radio Silence Productions and Spyglass Media Group present an R rated, 114-minute, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett with screenplay by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick with characters created by Kevin Williamson with a theater release of January 14, 2022.

Movie Review written by Jon Patch with 3.5 out of 4 paws

The 355

Universal Pictures, CAA Media Finance, FilmNation Entertainment, Freckle Films, Genre Films, Huayi Brothers Media and Perfect World Pictures present a PG-13, 124-minute, Action, Thriller, directed by Simon Kinberg, screenplay by Kinberg and Theresa Rebeck with a theater release of January 7, 2022.