A photo of Tom Christensen in wig and glasses as the Star Wars Kid, looking frighteningly like his father from 1985.

Me
I was born Richard Alan on January 31st, 1981 (1/31/81) at St. Ansgar hospital in Moorhead, MN.

Birthmother
My birth mother was born in 1961.  At the time of my birth, she was 5′ 5 1/2″ and 130 lbs.  A living Botticelli, her brown eyes were framed by flowing red locks.  She was Catholic, though apparently not practicing… She was a college freshman at MSUM (Moorhead State).  This tough cookie studied criminal justice, but devoted equal time to exploring her feminine side as a sorority member.

She is white.  Very white. Irish/German/English white.

My maternal grandfather is a hell of a man on paper.  Born in 1932, this bear of a man stood at an impressive 6′2″ and weighed in at an imposing 200 lbs.  He worked as a travel agent, probably selling safari and south pole packages.  Like a good Irish/English boy, he enjoyed fishing and sports.

My maternal grandmother was a younger lady, born in 1939.  Her diminutive stature (5′3″, 120 lbs,) never interfered with her secretarial duties.  She was of pure British lineage (GSTQ) and Catholic.

My birth mother had has two younger brothers, which means I have two birth uncles?

Birthfather
Pops was born in 1959.  Between then and 1981, he achieved the towering height of 5′8″ and packed on 145 lbs of pure muscle.  His 100% Irish temper was cooled by his strict Presbyterian faith.  Birthmom’s celibacy was no match for this young Adonis’s visage; his blue eyes were inviting, his brown hair daring, and his dimples: intoxicating.  A bright young chap, he was a college sophomore with ambitions of becoming an engineer.  He enjoyed (sigh) coin collecting…skiing, and sports.

My paternal grandfather was born in 1935.  Standing 5′10″, weighing in at 180 lbs, he was infuriated that the Nazis were defeated before he could join the Air National Guard.  To calm his itchy trigger finger, he explored placid hobbies such as (sigh) coins…and cars.

The Little Mrs. (my paternal grandmother) was born in 1937, tiptoeing in at 5′3″, 105 lbs.  In addition to siring the fertile specimen that was my birth father, she also gave us an Aunt (veterinarian, perhaps?) and an Uncle (Marine Sergeant).

Workshops I Personally Recommend:
http://www.akworkshops.com/
http://www.oneononeproductions.com/

Workshops Others Swear By:
http://www.actnownetwork.com/
http://www.gogoacting.com/
http://www.itaproductions.com/
http://www.reelpros.com/

These Places Exist:
http://www.actorsco-opgroup.com/
http://www.actorskey.com/
http://www.actorsite.com/
http://www.actorswest.com/
http://www.aiastudios.com/
http://hollywoodworkshop.com/
http://www.synergy-la.com/
http://theshortlist-la.com/
http://www.tvistudios.com/
http://www.wcistudios.com/

The following is a list of Casting Directors who have called in actors from casting workshops. This is a list I compiled from the “brag boards” of several companies who provide the workshops, so the information is only as valid as they are honest.

If you have taken a workshop and the CD called you in for an audition, leave a comment and I’ll update the list.

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