After Dinner Speakers: Julia Louis Dreyfus, Dire Straits, Phil Hammond

Actress. Born January 13, 1961 in New York City. The great-great granddaughter of businessman Leopold Louis-Dreyfus, who founded the international Louis Dreyfus Group. After studying drama at Northwestern University, Louis-Dreyfus began her acting career in nearby Chicago at the Practical Theatre Company and with the prestigious Second City comedy troupe. After moving to New York, she was cast as a regular on Saturday Night Live in 1982, where she showcased her comedic talents for the next two seasons. In 1986, she launched her film career, appearing in Woody Allen's Hannah and Her Sisters and Soul Man. But it was her portrayal of the fabulously flawed and cynical Elaine Benes on NBC's hit sitcom Seinfeld that launched Louis-Dreyfus to stardom. The New Yorkcentric comedy, also costarring Jason Alexander and Michael Richards, was created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David and ran for nine seasons (1989-1998). Though the role of Elaine was not part of the show's original concept, NBC producers insisted that Seinfeld needed a feminine perspective. She earned a Golden Globe in 1993 and an Emmy in 1996 for her performance. During breaks from Seinfeld, Louis-Dreyfus continued to make films, with uneven results. These included Jack the Bear (1993), Rob Reiner's North (1994), Father's Day with Billy Crystal and Robin Williams, and Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry (1997). And in 1998, she lent her voice for the role of Princess Atta in the computer-animated feature A Bug's Life. In 2002, Louis-Dreyfus starred in her own NBC sitcom called Watching Ellie. Despite a promising debut, the real-time comedy featuring Louis-Dreyfus as a Los Angeles lounge singer took a dive in the ratings and was canceled midway through its first season. Louis-Dreyfus is married to actor and producer Brad Hall. The couple met at Northwestern University and married in 1987. Their son, Henry, was born in 1992.