L.A. Theatre Works, Top Secret: The Battle for The Pentagon Papers
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Cast Bios

John Heard (Ben Bradlee) A graduate of Clark University in Worcester, MA, John Heard began his career on the stage, winning multiple awards in both Chicago and New York, including a 1976-77 Theatre World Award and Obie Award for his Off-Broadway performances in OTHELLO and SPLIT. His early screen successes include performances in Cutter’s Way, Chilly Scenes of Winter and Heart Beat. From there, he built his career with starring roles in films such as Big, The Pelican Brief, Beaches, Home Alone, Awakenings, In the Line of Fire and Pollock. John has turned in many memorable performances on the small screen as well, including guest appearances in such television shows as “The Outer Limits”, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, “Hack”, and all three"Law and Order” series. He was nominated for a1987 Cable ACE Award for Best Actor inthe TV Movie “Tender is the Night” and his turn in the 1999 season of “The Sopranos” earned him an Emmy nomination for Guest Actor in a series. Heardcontinues to be seen on both the big and small screen. On TV, hehas been in “Prison Break”, “CSI: Miami”, and “Entourage”. On the big screen, he recentlyappeared in the feature films The Great Debaters, The Chumbscrubber, Edison, American Gothic, Sweetland, Steel City and The Guardian.

John Vickery (Ben Bagdikian/Robert Mardian) credits include: Broadway: ‘Scar’ in The Lion King, The Sisters Rosensweig, the Real Thing, Eminant Domain, Ned and Jack and McBeth.  Off Broadway: The Vampires, The Death of Von Richtoffen, Henry IV, Part I, American Days and Looking Glass.  Regional credits include The Lion King (Los Angeles), Arcadia (Mark Taper Forum), The Black Rider(Ahmanson), The Royal Family (McCarter Theatre), I Hate Hamlet (Royal George), The Cherru Orchard and The Misanthrope (South Coast Rep). Film: Dr. Giggles, Rapid Fire, Big Business, Patriot Games, Murder by Numbers and Out of Bounds. Television: “NCIS”, “Without a Trace”, “Frasier”, “NYPD Blue” and “Judging Amy” among many others. John has appeared with L.A. Theatre Works numerous times including Bunbury, Becket, Nora, Broken Glass, This Town, The Third Man, The Sisters Rosensweig and the National Tour of The Cane Mutiny Court-Martial as Cpt. Queeg.

Shannon Cochran is an LA/Chicago based actress. She received Obie and Theatre World Awards for her performance in Bug, by Tracy Letts. She recently created roles in two plays at the Sundance Theatre Festival, This Beautiful City, for the Civilians in New York City, and Ghostwritten, a Goodman Theatre commission. Other recent theatre credits include the world premiere of Bruce Norris’ The Unmentionables at Steppenwolf Theatre, Private Lives at the Long Wharf Theatre, and System Wonderland at  South Coast Repertory Theatre. Throughout her 20 year association with Steppenwolf, she has acted, directed and taught, and she is on the staff at the School at Steppenwolf. Her recent film credits include “The Ring”, “Star Trek: Nemesis”, and “The Babe”, and she will begin filming Oliver Stone’s “Pinkville” this spring. She currently has a recurring role on the upcoming Fox series, “The Oaks”, and her recent guest-starring appearances include “Grey’s Anatomy”,“The Unit”, “The Office”, “Without a Trace”, “Close to Home”, and “Law & Order: SVU”.

Gregory Harrison career spans television, film and theater.  Starring in over 40 movies-of-the-week, including Breaking the Silence, For Ladies Only, Robin Cook’s Mortal Fear, Murder at 75 Birch, and the mini-series Centennial, Fresno, and Nothing Lasts Forever.  The latest two movies-of-the-week were record breakers; First Daughter for TBS was viewed by the largest movie audience of all time for basic cable and Au Pair was the most watched program in the 22-year history of the Family Channel.  Television series include the new Safe Harbor, New York News, Family Man,, Falcon Crest, Logan’s Run and Trapper John M.D.  He has also most recently had recurring roles on Ed, Judging Amy, and Strong Medicine.  Films include It’s My Party, North Shore, Razorback, Running Wild, and the recent Air Bud II:  Golden Receiver for Disney.

Gregory  has developed and produced more than two dozen movies-of-the-week under the aegis of Catalina Productions, the company he co-founded and named after his childhood island home.  Catalina Productions also funded and operated the Coast Playhouse in Los Angeles from 1982-1993, during which time its sixty productions garnered more than one hundred LA theater awards.  In 1993, Gregory was honored with the Ovations Award for “Outstanding Contribution to LA Theater”.  He recently directed an episode of the hit series Touched By An Angel.

Gregory debuted on Broadway in 1997 in Kander and Ebb’s Steel Pier.  He most recently completed the Broadway revival of the critically acclaimed Follies, co-starring Blythe Danner and Treat Williams.  His regional musical credits include Of Thee I Sing, Paper Moon:  The Musical, Festival, and The Music Man.  Dramatic theater roles include:  the Hasty Heart, and Picnic – both taped for Showtime on Broadway, as well as, Child’s Play, and Carnal Knowledge.

Gregory prefers to spend his off time at his Oregon coast home with his wife Randi and their children, Emma, Lily, Kate and Quinn.  He enjoys golf, but after thirty years of chasing waves around the world, surfing remains his number one passion.