Matthew McConaughey (Fenton Meiks)
Matthew McConaughey portrays the role of Fenton Meiks, the narrator of Frailty (2001) and the film’s most complex and surprising character. McConaughey made his motion picture debut in Richard Linklater's acclaimed 1970s coming-of-age drama, Dazed And Confused (1993). Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, McConaughey became a sensation with his riveting performance in Time To Kill, A (1996), which earned the young actor rave reviews and overnight stardom. He starred opposite Oscar winner Jodie Foster in Robert Zemeckis' Contact (1997), followed by Steven Spielberg’s historical drama, Amistad (1997). starring opposite notable actors Anthony Hopkins and Morgan Freeman. McConaughey also starred in EDTV with Jenna Elfman, Woody Harrelson and Ellen DeGeneres. McConaughey’s other credits include: Herbert Ross' Boys On The Side (1995), Disney’s Angels In The Outfield, and John Sayles Lone Star (1996). Most recently, McConaughey starred opposite Jennifer Lopez in the blockbuster romantic comedy, Wedding Planner, The (2001), and in U-571 (2000), which also starred Bill Paxton.
McConaughey's production company, “j.k. livin,” is developing several projects for Warner Bros., Universal, Paramount and Imagine Entertainment. The company executive produced the critically acclaimed feature documentary Hands On A Hardbody, directed by fellow Texan Robb Bindler. The company also produced Making Sandwiches with Sandra Bullock's Fortis Films, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival.
BILL PAXTON (Dad)
Bill Paxton is an acclaimed actor who has been associated with some of the most successful films in history, including Titanic (1997),Twister (1996), Apollo 13 (1995), Aliens (1986), and Terminator, The (1984). He has won critical acclaim with his performances in such independent films as One False Move (1991), Traveller (1997) and Simple Plan, A (1998). Most recently, Paxton starred in Vertical Limit (2000) was seen as the Captain in the WWII submarine hit, U-571 (2000). Paxton was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in HBO’s A Bright Shining Lie. In addition, Roger Ebert voted Paxton best actor of the year for his work in Simple Plan, A (1998).
Moving to Hollywood from his hometown in Texas, Paxton got his start working as a set dresser on Roger Corman’s Big Bad Mama. After working in the art department on several features, he decided to move to New York to study acting. Returning to Los Angeles in 1980, he met James Cameron while moonlighting as one of Cameron’s set dressers on the low budget Sci-fi Galaxie Of Terror. He then began accumulating acting credits, first in B-horror movies such as Mortuary, then in studio films such as Thr Lords Of Discipline, Streets Of Fire and the classic John Hughes comedy, Weird Science, in which Paxton caught the audience’s attention as Chet, the bullying older brother. Other film credits include Near Dark, Pass Thr Ammo, Trespass, Tombstone (1993) and Indian Summer (1993).
Powers Boothe (Agent Wesley Doyle)
Powers Boothe has an extensive list of feature film credits, including Oliver Stone’s films U Turn (1997) with Sean Penn and Nick Nolte, and Nixon (1995) with Anthony Hopkins and Ed Harris; Blue Sky (1994) with Jessica Lange and Tommy Lee Jones, and Tombstone (1993) opposite Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer and Charlton Heston. Other film credits include Sudden Death (1995), Rapid Fire, Extreme Prejudice, Emerald Forest, The (1985), Red Dawn (1984), A Breed Apart, and Southern Comfort. Most recently, Boothe starred in Men of Honor (2000) opposite Cuba Gooding, Jnr. and Robert De Niro.
Boothe won an Emmy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Reverend Jim Jones in the television movie Guyana Tragedy: The Story Of Jim Jones. He has starred in numerous television productions, including the USA Network original mini-series, Atilla The Hun; the mini-series Joan Of Arc, opposite Leelee Sobieski and Jacqueline Bisset; The Spree with Jennifer Beals, and the mini-series True Women. Boothe played the lead in the television movie By Dawn’s Early Light with Rebecca DeMornay and James Earl Jones. He starred as Philip Marlowe in the HBO series Philip Marlowe, Private Eye. Additional television credits include Marked For Murder, Family Of Spies, Into The Homeland A Cry For Love, A Crime Of Passion and The Plutonium Incident.
Matthew O’ Leary (Young Fenton)
Thirteen year-old Matthew O’Leary makes his feature film debut in the role of young Fenton. O’Leary also stars opposite John Travolta and Vince Vaughn in Paramount’s Domestic Disturbance (2001). He began his career in television starring opposite Caroline Rhea in the Disney television film “Mom’s Got a Date with a Vampire.”
Jeremy Sumpter (Young Adam)
At age six, Jeremy Sumpter was the youngest child in Kentucky to be accepted into the state’s Gifted Arts program. Some of his artwork was exhibited in a local art gallery. Jeremy and his twin sister, Jessica, and younger sister, Jennifer, entered the International Model and Talent Association preliminary competition in Lexington, Kentucky. Jeremy was selected to compete at the International Modeling and Talent Association’s Los Angeles International Convention where he went on to win “Pre-Teen Male Model of the Year,” along with awards in Fashion/Runway, Commercial/Print and nine other categories.
Derk Cheetwood (Agent Griffin Hull)
Most recently, Derk Cheetwood co-starred in U-571 (2000), where he first met and worked with his current Frailty (2001) co-star Matthew McConaughey and director/co-star Bill Paxton. Cheetwood stars in the independent film, Rain. He has guest starred on numerous television series, including, “Ally McBeal,” “JAG,” and “High Incident.” Cheetwood also starred in the television movie Finding Kelly and co-starred in Cold Equation.
