It is with deep sadness that I mourn the death of my dear friend, actor Treat Williams. Treat and I first met on the film Deep End Of the Ocean, with Michelle Pfieffer and a little while later, we ended up playing husband and wife on the beloved CW Greg Berlanti show Everwood. Treat cared deeply about the work, his wife and kids, his planes and his friends. He had a huge heart and appetite for life, and lived life on his terms. Generous to a fault, one year, he even flew his plane to the town of Helena, Montana to help me perform ‘Love Letters’ as a fundraiser for the Montana Shakespeare Company to support a fledgling theatre company run by college friends of mine and talk to the students about being a professional actor, the approach to the work, quality writing, the reality of sometimes having to take jobs you wouldn’t otherwise, to protect your family. He loved working and the freedom it provided, to live an adventurous life, but above all he loved his wife Pam and his kids, Gil and Ellie. Even when he was away on set you were all with him, and his heart was never far from home. Wherever his next adventure takes him, I am so grateful our paths crossed in this life. It was in his name. He was a Treat. 🤍
It is with deep sadness that I mourn the death of my dear friend, actor Treat Williams. Treat and I first met on the film Deep End Of the Ocean, with Michelle Pfieffer and a little while later, we ended up playing husband and wife on the beloved WB Greg Berlanti show -Everwood. Treat cared deeply about the work, his wife and kids, his planes and his friends. He had a huge heart and appetite for life, and lived life on his terms. Generous to a fault, one year, he even flew his plane to the town of Helena, Montana to help me perform ‘Love Letters’ as a fundraiser for the Montana Shakespeare Company to support a fledgling theatre company, run by college friends of mine and talk to the students about being a professional actor, the approach to the work, quality writing, the reality of sometimes having to take jobs you wouldn’t do otherwise, to protect your family. He loved working and the freedom it provided, to live an adventurous life, but above all he loved his wife Pam and his kids, Gil and Ellie. Even when he was away on set you were all with him, and his heart was never far from home. Wherever his next adventure takes him, I am so grateful our paths crossed in this life. It was always in his name. He was a Treat. 🤍
A Love Letter “We found each other,”… is a refrain that our household is more than familiar with. -A phrase my husband John would say when he would marvel that Skye, our sweet dog from Texas, was finally ours after searching over 2000 dogs on pet finder. “Find your people,” is something my dear friend @andreaquinncoaching says. Yes. After the last weekend spent with the poetic human ❤️ of a hurricane that is @jenpastiloff and her incredibly soulful fiancé, (my sweet husband on TV) and my friend in life @therealhenryczerny-This is a Love Letter to them & their courageous love— AND as a reminder to us all, that no matter your age, or history, when you find “your people” it is a MIRACLE and to run toward them and hold on for dear life. One Day, while they were visiting us, we sat in Big Sur, where John and I danced and sang the night before our wedding 8 years ago, after being served a drink called the “Love Letter”, & Jen started the prompt. The invitation, because that’s what she is, a human invitation- (get her book On Being Human) was to speak a Love Letter to each other. Needless to say, what followed was pure love: hearts cracked open, tears flowed, and the gift of feeling seen by each other was shared. Then came the hard part. My husband, John, who has led multiple Big Sur Theatre Labs, turned the tables. “Now, speak a Love Letter to yourself,” he suggested. Ugh. How often have we chastised ourselves silently or aloud-for our failings, our bodies, our fears, our desires, our dreams, and our needs? I dare say that you, like me, do it a lot more than speak love to yourself. But, what followed was nothing short of transformative. We did it. Wow. So this is your invitation now. Speak a Love Letter to yourself today. Shine some light on yourself. Appreciate how you show up in your life and speak it out loud. And maybe, if it feels good, (or even uncomfortable), try it every day. See what happens. I dare say, It might even make it easier for “your people” to find you. ❤️ Big Love from Big Sur
Please meet Anne and Tony from Baltimore. They were life savers this morning when I was walking Hapi at the beach. At the end of our walk we got to our car and it wouldn’t open. Which means, somewhere on the expanse of beach I had lost my car keys. 😫 As I began to retrace my steps, I saw a nice couple, laying out on towels near the entrance and mentioned if anyone should ask about lost car keys, they were mine and to keep their eye out. Instead of just staying put on their towels, they began to look for the keys themselves, without my knowledge as I began to retrace my steps. Anne found them! It turns out Tony had lost his keys in the dark awhile back and some teenagers helped him to find his!!! This is called paying it forward, folks! They were here in celebration of their daughter’s college graduation. They are on their way to Napa next. @feastitforward Katie- please pour them a glass of wine for me in celebration of their good deed today! So so grateful for these fine folks!!! Deep gratitude for good people and kind acts!!! 🥰♥️@anelou123
Please meet Anne and Tony from Baltimore. They were life savers this morning when I was walking Hapi at the beach. At the end of our walk we got to our car and it wouldn’t open. Which means, somewhere on the expanse of beach I had lost my car keys. 😫 As I began to retrace my steps, I saw a nice couple, laying out on towels near the entrance and mentioned if anyone should ask about lost car keys, they were mine and to keep their eye out. Instead of just staying put on their towels, they began to look for the keys themselves, without my knowledge as I began to retrace my steps. Anne found them! It turns out Tony had lost his keys in the dark awhile back and some teenagers helped him to find his!!! This is called paying it forward, folks! They were here in celebration of their daughter’s college graduation. They are on their way to Napa next. @feastitforward Katie- please pour them a glass of wine for me in celebration of their good deed today! So so grateful for these fine folks!!! Deep gratitude for good people and kind acts!!! 🥰♥️@anelou123
Please meet Anne and Tony from Baltimore. They were life savers this morning when I was walking Hapi at the beach. At the end of our walk we got to our car and it wouldn’t open. Which means, somewhere on the expanse of beach I had lost my car keys. 😫 As I began to retrace my steps, I saw a nice couple, laying out on towels near the entrance and mentioned if anyone should ask about lost car keys, they were mine and to keep their eye out. Instead of just staying put on their towels, they began to look for the keys themselves, without my knowledge as I began to retrace my steps. Anne found them! It turns out Tony had lost his keys in the dark awhile back and some teenagers helped him to find his!!! This is called paying it forward, folks! They were here in celebration of their daughter’s college graduation. They are on their way to Napa next. @feastitforward Katie- please pour them a glass of wine for me in celebration of their good deed today! So so grateful for these fine folks!!! Deep gratitude for good people and kind acts!!! 🥰♥️@anelou123
Please meet Anne and Tony from Baltimore. They were life savers this morning when I was walking Hapi at the beach. At the end of our walk we got to our car and it wouldn’t open. Which means, somewhere on the expanse of beach I had lost my car keys. 😫 As I began to retrace my steps, I saw a nice couple, laying out on towels near the entrance and mentioned if anyone should ask about lost car keys, they were mine and to keep their eye out. Instead of just staying put on their towels, they began to look for the keys themselves, without my knowledge as I began to retrace my steps. Anne found them! It turns out Tony had lost his keys in the dark awhile back and some teenagers helped him to find his!!! This is called paying it forward, folks! They were here in celebration of their daughter’s college graduation. They are on their way to Napa next. @feastitforward Katie- please pour them a glass of wine for me in celebration of their good deed today! So so grateful for these fine folks!!! Deep gratitude for good people and kind acts!!! 🥰♥️@anelou123
Please meet Anne and Tony from Baltimore. They were life savers this morning when I was walking Hapi at the beach. At the end of our walk we got to our car and it wouldn’t open. Which means, somewhere on the expanse of beach I had lost my car keys. 😫 As I began to retrace my steps, I saw a nice couple, laying out on towels near the entrance and mentioned if anyone should ask about lost car keys, they were mine and to keep their eye out. Instead of just staying put on their towels, they began to look for the keys themselves, without my knowledge as I began to retrace my steps. Anne found them! It turns out Tony had lost his keys in the dark awhile back and some teenagers helped him to find his!!! This is called paying it forward, folks! They were here in celebration of their daughter’s college graduation. They are on their way to Napa next. @feastitforward Katie- please pour them a glass of wine for me in celebration of their good deed today! So so grateful for these fine folks!!! Deep gratitude for good people and kind acts!!! 🥰♥️@anelou123
Happy Birthday @alexandrashipppp. You are a wonder!!! Sending you so much ♥️ and a peace filled year ahead.
So happy to see @bridgetregan one of my “daughters” on the picket line yesterday with @jfbnyla and I. #unionstrong💪 Together we stand. @sagaftra
Thank you @markobrienforeal for this important perspective. #solidarity
What an unforgettable and historic day spent with @jacquelineobradors and our families to celebrate our dear friend @mingna_wen get her #welldeserved 🌟 on the @hwdwalkoffame! This business doesn’t guarantee fame; but when you find people who you love and respect get this kind of honor, it makes everything worth it. Thank you @jfbnyla for being our humor guide, photographer and location scout! @ericmichaelzee You won the biggest prize of all -Ming Na herself. Thank you both for hosting us all including @zaknotwack 💫 We have all known each other since Robert Altman’s “Killer App” the pilot didn’t go- but we kept each other. Thank you Bob for bringing us together in the first place. Hope you are smiling down from heaven. You would have enjoyed the background on this one. ☺️
What an unforgettable and historic day spent with @jacquelineobradors and our families to celebrate our dear friend @mingna_wen get her #welldeserved 🌟 on the @hwdwalkoffame! This business doesn’t guarantee fame; but when you find people who you love and respect get this kind of honor, it makes everything worth it. Thank you @jfbnyla for being our humor guide, photographer and location scout! @ericmichaelzee You won the biggest prize of all -Ming Na herself. Thank you both for hosting us all including @zaknotwack 💫 We have all known each other since Robert Altman’s “Killer App” the pilot didn’t go- but we kept each other. Thank you Bob for bringing us together in the first place. Hope you are smiling down from heaven. You would have enjoyed the background on this one. ☺️
What an unforgettable and historic day spent with @jacquelineobradors and our families to celebrate our dear friend @mingna_wen get her #welldeserved 🌟 on the @hwdwalkoffame! This business doesn’t guarantee fame; but when you find people who you love and respect get this kind of honor, it makes everything worth it. Thank you @jfbnyla for being our humor guide, photographer and location scout! @ericmichaelzee You won the biggest prize of all -Ming Na herself. Thank you both for hosting us all including @zaknotwack 💫 We have all known each other since Robert Altman’s “Killer App” the pilot didn’t go- but we kept each other. Thank you Bob for bringing us together in the first place. Hope you are smiling down from heaven. You would have enjoyed the background on this one. ☺️
What an unforgettable and historic day spent with @jacquelineobradors and our families to celebrate our dear friend @mingna_wen get her #welldeserved 🌟 on the @hwdwalkoffame! This business doesn’t guarantee fame; but when you find people who you love and respect get this kind of honor, it makes everything worth it. Thank you @jfbnyla for being our humor guide, photographer and location scout! @ericmichaelzee You won the biggest prize of all -Ming Na herself. Thank you both for hosting us all including @zaknotwack 💫 We have all known each other since Robert Altman’s “Killer App” the pilot didn’t go- but we kept each other. Thank you Bob for bringing us together in the first place. Hope you are smiling down from heaven. You would have enjoyed the background on this one. ☺️
What an unforgettable and historic day spent with @jacquelineobradors and our families to celebrate our dear friend @mingna_wen get her #welldeserved 🌟 on the @hwdwalkoffame! This business doesn’t guarantee fame; but when you find people who you love and respect get this kind of honor, it makes everything worth it. Thank you @jfbnyla for being our humor guide, photographer and location scout! @ericmichaelzee You won the biggest prize of all -Ming Na herself. Thank you both for hosting us all including @zaknotwack 💫 We have all known each other since Robert Altman’s “Killer App” the pilot didn’t go- but we kept each other. Thank you Bob for bringing us together in the first place. Hope you are smiling down from heaven. You would have enjoyed the background on this one. ☺️
Some of the #dreamteam behind @unprisonedhulu. Missing two of our fearless leaders ⭐️⭐️#fycdisney @theyvetteleebowser and @tracymcmillan We wouldn’t be considered for ANYTHING if it weren’t for our amazing WRITERS!! How lucky am I that I get to work with @theauthenticdelroylindo and @kerrywashington #truthseekers #familyinallitsforms
Some of the #dreamteam behind @unprisonedhulu. Missing two of our fearless leaders ⭐️⭐️#fycdisney @theyvetteleebowser and @tracymcmillan We wouldn’t be considered for ANYTHING if it weren’t for our amazing WRITERS!! How lucky am I that I get to work with @theauthenticdelroylindo and @kerrywashington #truthseekers #familyinallitsforms
Some of the #dreamteam behind @unprisonedhulu. Missing two of our fearless leaders ⭐️⭐️#fycdisney @theyvetteleebowser and @tracymcmillan We wouldn’t be considered for ANYTHING if it weren’t for our amazing WRITERS!! How lucky am I that I get to work with @theauthenticdelroylindo and @kerrywashington #truthseekers #familyinallitsforms
Every Tuesday I am celebrating actors I love! Today I am spotlighting Brenda Strong, an actress whose work I have loved for many years. From DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES to DALLAS to 13 REASONS WHY, Brenda is the type of actress you can always count on to deliver. Yet she keeps surprising me. Her role as “Nadine” in the Hulu series UNPRISONED this year showed a side of her that felt new and exciting. And I am thrilled to see her move into directing as well (hopefully there will be more of that to come)! Now Brenda shares some tips with you: 1 – EVERYTHING is FOR you. Even the difficulty. ESPECIALLY the difficulty. It’s all a gift. Bring ALL of yourself with you. Mike Nichols used to say “bring in your day” meaning- what ever is real and present will only make your work more interesting, your character more complex, and your catharsis relatable, because it’s real. My father used to say you don’t get “good steel out of a cold fire.” Let every experience teach you something about this thing called being human. I believe if it’s in your life, it’s there for a reason; receive it, trust it, use it, then release it. Everything serves. If the job is yours, it will be yours. There is no other YOU. You may do excellent work and still NOT get the role. Do your work no matter what. Have faith in the face of no evidence. You never know the timing of your life. Talent is only one component to success. Your mental attitude can make or break you. 2 – LEAD AN INTERESTING LIFE – Don’t wait. ACT. Acting is only as interesting as your life. Be curious. The more interesting experiences you can have in life, the more you invest in understanding yourself, the more you can bring to your work. Be interested in people, new places, experiences. An acting career is not a sprint, but a marathon. It’s not about getting a job, but creating a body of work. Keep the good people you find along the way. Find something besides acting that keeps you engaged in self awareness and growth, being creative, the more you know yourself, the more you will understand your characters. Brenda has more great insights to share. KEEP READING IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW!
There are so many traditions that have been altered through out history, their roots forgotten, misappropriated for different sentiments. I am happy to have learned this one today. #honortheirmemories Thank you @rdmcq for bringing this to my attention 🙏🏻
Some of you may know that I started teaching yoga the year I was pregnant with my son. But what you may not know, is how long it took me to get pregnant, and that I suffered from secondary infertility for years after. The old adage “make your mess your message” set me on a trajectory of discovering for myself (and others with Fertility struggles,) how to use yoga, acupressure, nutrition and mindfulness to help regulate my body. The gals @living_lela are continuing that mission, and have teamed up with my friends @hrcfertility. They are doing a workshop with other highly respected specialists in JULY to share some of those tools to empower couples on their path to parenthood. If you know ANYONE who is trying to get pregnant, PLEASE send them to @living_lela and download the link in their bio. These two teachers are exceptional women who have personally helped so many on their fertility journey and I can’t recommend them more highly! #fertiltyawareness #fertiltyballmethod
Some of you may know that I started teaching yoga the year I was pregnant with my son. But what you may not know, is how long it took me to get pregnant, and that I suffered from secondary infertility for years after. The old adage “make your mess your message” set me on a trajectory of discovering for myself (and others with Fertility struggles,) how to use yoga, acupressure, nutrition and mindfulness to help regulate my body. The gals @living_lela are continuing that mission, and have teamed up with my friends @hrcfertility. They are doing a workshop with other highly respected specialists in JULY to share some of those tools to empower couples on their path to parenthood. If you know ANYONE who is trying to get pregnant, PLEASE send them to @living_lela and download the link in their bio. These two teachers are exceptional women who have personally helped so many on their fertility journey and I can’t recommend them more highly! #fertiltyawareness #fertiltyballmethod
Some of you may know that I started teaching yoga the year I was pregnant with my son. But what you may not know, is how long it took me to get pregnant, and that I suffered from secondary infertility for years after. The old adage “make your mess your message” set me on a trajectory of discovering for myself (and others with Fertility struggles,) how to use yoga, acupressure, nutrition and mindfulness to help regulate my body. The gals @living_lela are continuing that mission, and have teamed up with my friends @hrcfertility. They are doing a workshop with other highly respected specialists in JULY to share some of those tools to empower couples on their path to parenthood. If you know ANYONE who is trying to get pregnant, PLEASE send them to @living_lela and download the link in their bio. These two teachers are exceptional women who have personally helped so many on their fertility journey and I can’t recommend them more highly! #fertiltyawareness #fertiltyballmethod