Cast Bios
from Mating Dance
Get to know who brought Mating Dance to life!
Lauren German as "Abby"
Pretty, auburn-haired performer Lauren German started her career with a series of memorably sinister roles, from her portrayal of a manipulative and self-absorbed college student on MTV's "Undressed" (2000) to her turn as a mean-spirited high school peer of Mandy Moore's good-girl minister's daughter in the 2002 romance "A Walk to Remember." The Connecticut native attended the Orange County High School of the Performing Arts in Southern California but considered her acting training a hobby.
She was first approached with the idea of an acting career at USC and quickly landed a cameo role in the 2001 college-set romance "Down to You," as well as a regular run on the third season the MTV college-set series "Undressed." The often campy sex-fueled teen drama offered the actress some prime screen time and an abundance of jaw-dropping dialogue as a 2001 guest role in the much more buttoned-up "7th Heaven." The WB had the actress playing Marie, a lookalike for the Camden's own Mary (Jessica Biel.)
German made her feature debut in "A Walk to Remember," playing the spiteful girlfriend of a former party boy (Shane West) who grows closer to Mandy Moore's sweetly unsophisticated Jamie, the girl he is paired with as penance for his foolish pranks. While her characters to date have most often inspired audience revulsion, German has succeeded in creating this appropriate reaction thanks to her skilled performances. Teamed up with off-beat actor/director Crispin Glover in his yet-unreleased independent "Everything is Fine", the actress was given the opportunity to portray a vastly different character, playing a paraplegic struggling for a more "normal" life.
Lauren German was born on Novemeber 29, 1978 in Huntington Beach, California. German attended the prominent Actor's Studio and attended USC. Lauren also trained as a dancer at the Orange County High School of the Arts (a.k.a. OCHSA.)
Shawn Christian as "Ken"
A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Christian has enjoyed a successful and varied career as an actor. After graduating from Michigan's Ferris State University with a degree in marketing, he relocated to Chicago. It was there that he honed his acting skills on stage with the improvisational company "Improv Olympic."
After spending three seasons in "As the World Turns," Christian moved to Los Angeles and landed recurring roles in "Crossing Jordan," "10-8," "Beverly Hills, 90210," "Pacific Palisades," and "Becker," as well as The WB dramas "Charmed" and "Birds of Prey." He returned to his comic roots with his appearance on "Friends" playing Rachel's gynecologist. Christian has also guest-starred in such series as "CSI," "The Drew Carey Show," "Spin City," and "Coupling." Additional television work includes "Malcolm & Eddie," "Ellen," "Men Behaving Badly" and "Step By Step." Christian also starred in the television movie "Undercover Christmas," opposite Jamie Gertz and Tyne Daly.
On the big screen, Christian was featured in "Shopgirl" with Steve Martin, "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover," "Almost You," "Beautiful," (directed by Sally Field,) and in "Tremors III" where he starred opposite Michael Gross.
Christian currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and son. A sports enthusiast, he enjoys playing basketball, football, baseball and racquetball in his spare time.
Lisa Rotondi as "Pam"
Rotondi was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has appeared on such television shows as Friends, CSI:Miami, Crossing Jordan, The O.C., and NYPD Blue.
She played alongside Carmen Electra as the Female's slutty friend in Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human.
Lisa was discovered by John Singleton (BoyZ in the Hood) in Miami while casting for the sequel to The Fast and The Furious in 2002.
Roberto Sanchez as "Raul"
Roberto's parents decided to flee Cuba in 1969. His father, who was a member of the Cuban National Judo team, made provisions for his family to leave the country. The Cuban government allowed the family to leave the country except for Roberto's father who was forced to stay behind. They were flown to Madrid, Spain.....and after 1 year, they were given visas to the United States (Miami, Florida).
Roberto grew up in "Little Havana", a rough, predominantly Cuban sector of Miami. Although his first love was the Martial Arts, he quickly excelled in Basketball. After entering the U.S. Navy in 1985, His passion for Basketball continued, playing in semi-pro leagues in Europe while on "Med-Cruises" in the area, and making the All-Navy Basketball Squad in 1989. He is a Desert Storm Veteran and was in the Gulf during the war. After the war, he was assigned shore duty in Virginia Beach, Virginia as a Military Police Officer.
It was during this time that he showed interest in Modeling. He completed his obligation to the Military in 1995. In 1996, after months of rejections from major agencies, he decided to enter the Millie Lewis Modeling convention and won "Model of the Year"! He then signed with an agency in Atlanta, Georgia, where for the next 5 years he did over 100 fashion shows, commercial print jobs and several regional and national commercials.
He arrived in Miami in 2001 and began working in Spanish commercials, informercials and more print jobs. Several months later, he auditioned for 2 Fast 2 Furious and became the only principal actor in the film to be cast out of Miami. Roberto relocated to Los Angeles in 2003 to focus more on film and Television. Shortly after arriving in Los Angeles he guest-starred on She-Spies and the District.
In an attempt to break away from the "bad guy" roles, he sought and landed the role of Lorainne LaLola, the flamboyant transvestite in "Hollywood and Levine" performed at the Actors Forum theatre in March 2005. He received rave reviews for his "Over the Top" portrayal of Lorainne.
In May 2005, Roberto was cast as Anthony Crivello's understudy in the World-Premiere Production of "Mating Dance of the Werewolf" opening at the Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura, California. He stepped in to performed for the "Tony Award Winning" actor for 4 shows midway through its run. He recently worked in the romantic comedy "American Fusion", where he plays Pablo, Esai Morales's younger brother.
Susan Blakely as "Abby's Mother"
Winner of the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her role in the mini-series "RICH MAN, POOR MAN,” for which she was also nominated twice for an Emmy and again for "WILL THERE REALLY BE A MORNING," the film version of the autobiography of Frances Farmer, Susan Blakely has been working in films, television and on the stage after a highly successful career as one of the high fashion world's top models. She graced the covers of many of the world's top fashion magazines including Vogue, Bizarre, Brides, Town and Country, and many others including TV Guide for being the most sought after actress in television commercials.
Blakely currently stars in the Cineville feature film, “MATING DANCE.” Her last two films included "HATE CRIME," for which she won the Best Actress Award at the California Independent Film Festival. She can also be seen in the Lifetime Television movie "PERFECT NEIGHBOR."
Blakely recently starred in the world premiere of “DIVA” at the La Jolla Playhouse, for playwright Howard M. Gould. Blakely’s work in “DIVA” won high praise in the San Diego Union Tribune which said, “Blakely’s performance never lets up. Her ‘Deanna’ is a force of nature…amoral, unstoppable...Blakely seduces us with her charm... Blakely’s elegant, arrogant ‘Deanna’ is the engine that drives the show.”
Blakely is married to communications executive, Steve Jaffe, and they reside in Beverly Hills.
Eric Lange as "Allen"
Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Eric can be seen on the small screen guest starring on shows such as Entourage, ER, The West Wing, CSI, Cold Case, Without a Trace, CSI: NY, Judging Amy, and Navy NCIS.
This year, Eric will also be seen on the big screen starring in Bondage opposite Illeana Douglas.
Eric’s Los Angeles stage work includes Driving Miss Daisy at the Rubicon Theatre, which earned him an Ovation Award nomination, A Streetcar Named Desire, also at the Rubicon, Ugly’s First World at the Actors’ Gang, and Asylum at the Court Theatre.
When not acting, Eric composes music and checks his e-mail.