Mel Gorham
Encyclopedia
Mel Gorham is an American actress who is best known for her role as Violet in Wayne Wang
's films Smoke
and Blue in the Face
. Gorham is from Coral Gables, Florida
and is of Cuban
and Russian Jewish descent.
Gorham's improvised monologue in Blue in the Face garnered her much critical acclaim and press. Major film roles in Curdled
and Cop Land
followed. In 1997, Gorham was then cast as the star of an NBC
sitcom titled Union Square. But after the pilot was filmed, the producers replaced her with Constance Marie
.
Gorham returned to the world of New York City
theater where she began. After a long absence, she returned to film with a role in Wayne Wang's 2001 film The Center of the World
. She continues work in film and theater.
Wayne Wang
Wayne Wang is a Chinese American film director.-Biography:Wang was born and raised in Hong Kong, and named after his father's favorite movie star, John Wayne...
's films Smoke
Smoke (film)
Smoke is an American independent film released in 1995. It was produced by Hisami Kuroiwa, Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein and directed by Wayne Wang and Paul Auster...
and Blue in the Face
Blue in the Face
Blue in the Face is a 1995 comedy directed by Wayne Wang and Paul Auster. It stars Harvey Keitel, Victor Argo, Giancarlo Esposito, Roseanne Barr, Michael J. Fox, Lily Tomlin, Mira Sorvino, Lou Reed, Mel Gorham, Jim Jarmusch,and Malik Yoba....
. Gorham is from Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Downtown Miami, in the United States. The city is home to the University of Miami....
and is of Cuban
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
and Russian Jewish descent.
Gorham's improvised monologue in Blue in the Face garnered her much critical acclaim and press. Major film roles in Curdled
Curdled (film)
Curdled is 1996 black comedy written and directed by Reb Braddock. The film stars Angela Jones as a Colombian immigrant who takes a crime scene cleanup job, and discovers evidence about a local serial killer dubbed the "Blue Blood Killer" for his targeting of socialites...
and Cop Land
Cop Land
Cop Land is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by James Mangold. It features an ensemble cast including Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel and Ray Liotta.-Plot:...
followed. In 1997, Gorham was then cast as the star of an NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
sitcom titled Union Square. But after the pilot was filmed, the producers replaced her with Constance Marie
Constance Marie
Constance Marie Lopez is an American actress. Known professionally as Constance Marie, she is known for her role as Angie Lopez on George Lopez and for her role as Marcella Quintanilla in the 1997 film Selena...
.
Gorham returned to the world of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
theater where she began. After a long absence, she returned to film with a role in Wayne Wang's 2001 film The Center of the World
The Center of the World
The Center of the World is an American film directed by Wayne Wang, which was digitally shot and released in 2001. It stars Peter Sarsgaard as a Dot-com millionaire who hires a drummer/stripper to stay with him in Las Vegas for three days for US$10,000...
. She continues work in film and theater.
Filmography
- 1990 - AwakeningsAwakeningsAwakenings is a 1990 American drama film based on Oliver Sacks's 1973 memoir Awakenings. It tells the true story of British neurologist Oliver Sacks, fictionalized as American Malcolm Sayer and portrayed by Robin Williams who, in 1969, discovers beneficial effects of the then-new drug L-Dopa...
as Nurse Sara - 1993 - Carlito's WayCarlito's WayCarlito's Way is a 1993 crime film directed by Brian De Palma, based on the novels Carlito's Way and After Hours by Judge Edwin Torres. The film adaptation was scripted by David Koepp. It stars Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, Luis Guzman, John Leguizamo, Jorge Porcel, Joseph Siravo, and...
as Pachanga's date - 1995 - SmokeSmoke (film)Smoke is an American independent film released in 1995. It was produced by Hisami Kuroiwa, Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein and directed by Wayne Wang and Paul Auster...
as Violet - 1995 - Blue in the FaceBlue in the FaceBlue in the Face is a 1995 comedy directed by Wayne Wang and Paul Auster. It stars Harvey Keitel, Victor Argo, Giancarlo Esposito, Roseanne Barr, Michael J. Fox, Lily Tomlin, Mira Sorvino, Lou Reed, Mel Gorham, Jim Jarmusch,and Malik Yoba....
as Violet - 1995 - The Perez FamilyThe Perez FamilyThe Perez Family is a comedy film released in 1995, about a group of Cuban refugees in America, who pretend to be a family. It starred Marisa Tomei, Alfred Molina, Anjelica Huston, Chazz Palminteri, and other well known actors. It was based on the 1991 novel The Perez Family by Christine Bell...
as Vilma & Raquel - 1996 - CurdledCurdled (film)Curdled is 1996 black comedy written and directed by Reb Braddock. The film stars Angela Jones as a Colombian immigrant who takes a crime scene cleanup job, and discovers evidence about a local serial killer dubbed the "Blue Blood Killer" for his targeting of socialites...
as Elena - 1997 - Cop LandCop LandCop Land is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by James Mangold. It features an ensemble cast including Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel and Ray Liotta.-Plot:...
as Monica Lopez - 1997 - Wishful ThinkingWishful Thinking (1997 film)Wishful Thinking is a 1997 romantic comedy starring Jennifer Beals, Drew Barrymore, Jon Stewart, and James LeGros . It is the only film written and directed by Adam Park . Despite having a big name star like Drew Barrymore, the film received luke warm reviews and garnered little to no attention ....
as Lourdes - 2001 - The Center of the WorldThe Center of the WorldThe Center of the World is an American film directed by Wayne Wang, which was digitally shot and released in 2001. It stars Peter Sarsgaard as a Dot-com millionaire who hires a drummer/stripper to stay with him in Las Vegas for three days for US$10,000...
as Roxanne - 2005 - SuenoSueñoSueño is a 2005 comedy-drama film directed by Renée Chabria that stars John Leguizamo, Ana Claudia Talancón, and Elizabeth Peña.-Cast:* John Leguizamo - Antonio* Ana Claudia Talancón - Nina* Elizabeth Peña - Mirabela* Nestor Serrano - El Zorro...
as Gloria - 2006 - DeliriousDelirious (film)Delirious is a romantic comedy film starring John Candy, Mariel Hemingway, Emma Samms and Raymond Burr . It was released in 1991, but it did not achieve commercial success at the box offices.-Plot:...
as Tish - 2007 - Mother's Day Massacre as Dolores
- 2009 - American CowslipAmerican cowslipAmerican Cowslip is the title of an independent feature film by director Mark David. It revolves around heroin addict, Ethan Inglebrink, whose life is centered around his garden and his group of eccentric friends. American Cowslip will be David's third film, following his debut, Sweet Thing , and...
as Kimberly - 2011 - A Talent for Trouble as Francine Hawk
- 2011 - The Trouble with CaliThe Trouble with CaliThe Trouble with Cali is an American drama film. The film was directed by Paul Sorvino and written by his daughter Amanda Sorvino. It stars Laurence Leboeuf, Glynnis O'Connor, Chris Meyer, Raviv Ullman and RZA.-Cast:* Laurence Leboeuf ... Cali Bluejones...
as Xiomara