M EL GIBSON (Jerry Fletcher) previously collaborated with Joel Silver and Richard Donner on the worldwide blockbuster trilogy of "Lethal Weapon" films. In 1995, Gibson produced, directed and starred in the Academy Award-winning Best Picture, "Braveheart," which also earned him 1996's Best Director Oscar. Earlier, he starred for producer/director Richard Donner in the Western comedy "Maverick," which was jointly produced with Gibson's and Bruce Davey's own Icon Productions. Most recently, Gibson starred in the boxoffice hit thriller "Ransom," directed by Ron Howard. Gibson's career began with George Miller's "Mad Max," which catapulted him to international stardom. His next two films, "Tim" and Peter Weir's "Gallipoli," each earned him Best Actor Awards from the Australian Film Institute. Gibson made his American film debut with "The River," followed by "Mrs. Soffel." His other film credits include "Tequila Sunrise," "Bird on a Wire," "Air America," Franco Zeffirelli's "Hamlet" (which marked the first project from Icon Productions), "Forever Young," "The Bounty," "The Year of Living Dangerously," "The Road Warrior" and "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome." Gibson made his directing debut with "The Man Without a Face," in which he also starred.

J ULIA ROBERTS (Alice Sutton) currently stars in the critical and box-office hit "My Best Friend's Wedding" and was seen last year in "Michael Collins" for director Neil Jordan. Roberts first came to audiences' attention with her critically acclaimed role in "Mystic Pizza." She followed it with a starring role in "Steel Magnolias," which led to her first Oscar nomination. Her next film, "Pretty Woman," was the top-grossing movie of 1990 and brought Roberts her second nomination. It was followed by a series of successful films including "Flatliners," "Sleeping With the Enemy," "Dying Young," "Hook," "The Pelican Brief," "Something to Talk About" and Woody Allen's "Everyone Says I Love You.."

P ATRICK STEWART (Dr. Jonas) recently finished filming "Dad Savage" in England, in which he plays the title role, and the soon-to-be-released "Masterminds." Before that, he starred in the upcoming psychological thriller "Safe House." He is currently on location in Australia playing the starring role of Captain Ahab in USA Network's minseries adaptation of "Moby Dick." This November, Stewart will star at Washington, D.C.'s Shakespeare Theatre in the title role of "Othello" with an otherwise all African-American cast.

Stewart headed the cast of last year's hit feature film, "Star Trek: First Contact," which also earlier, starred in the romantic comedy "Jeffrey." Last year he also co-produced and starred in the

A native of Great Britain, Stewart began acting onstage in his teens. He attended the famed Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol and later joined the Old Vic Theatre Company, touring Australia, New Zealand and South American with Vivien Leigh and other company members.

In 1966 Stewart made his London stage debut with years performing with that acclaimed theatrical company. In 1971 Stewart made his Broadway debut in Peter Brook's landmark production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and in 1975 he made his film debut in "Hennessey" with Rod Steiger.

The following year Stewart played a starring role in the acclaimed BBC production of "I, Claudius," after which he returned to film with a role in "Excalibur." In 1979 Stewart received England's Olivier Award for his work in "Antony and Cleopatra," and in 1987 he began playing what was to become his most-recognized role: that of Captain Jean-Luc Picard on television's hit series "Star Trek" The Next Generation."

In December, 1989, Stewart performed his one-man version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" in Los Angeles for the first time, beginning a holiday tradition that continued through the following year, as it played to sold-out theaters. In 1991, he brought the performance to Broadway, where it again played to capacity audiences and earned him a Drama Desk Award, and, later, to London, where Stewart was honored with an Olivier Award for his achievement.

In 1992, Stewart made his debut as a director with the theatrical musical "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour," and in 1995 he performed the role of Prospero in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of "The Tempest," which played a brief engagement on Broadway.

Stewart also recorded the narration for the Grammy-winning version of "Peter and the Wolf" in 1996.

C YLK COZART (Agent Lowry) has been featured in such films as "Eraser," "Blue Chips," "White Men Can't Jump" And "Ricochet.'

After completing college, Cozart joined rookie camp for the NBA's Denver Nuggets. He was just about to claim his place on the team at the start of the season when a foot injury permanently sidelined him and set him on the road to acting, another of his lifelong dreams.

Arriving in New York in the early `80s, he was accepted both into the Actors' Studio and into the world of high fashion, as a model for Vogue, GQ and Essence. Cozart made his feature-film debut opposite Andy Garcia in "Blue Skies Again." In 1985, Cozart starred in Oliver Stone's Sundance Institute project, "Staggerlee."

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