The Man to Watch: Gary Sturgis to Co-Star in Back to Back Lion’s Gate Films

Los Angeles, CA, 30 October, 2006 —While Hollywood has apparently been asleep at the wheel; Gary Sturgis has maneuvered to the fast lane. Sturgis is co-starring in two upcoming Lion’s Gate films; Pride (opposite Terrence Howard) and “Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls" — both due out in winter 2007. Since he began making films with his initial smash, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, all media eyes have been on Tyler Perry; and Tyler is known for picking box office winners. Tyler has once again chosen Sturgis to do his dirty work; a smart choice indeed. Gary Sturgis is fast becoming Lion’s Gate resident bad boy and is definitely the man to watch. Audiences will remember the gravelly-voiced actor from the box office smash, Tyler Perry’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman as the pivotal drug dealer, Jamison. This time, we get to see more of what makes us love to hate him.

This winter, get a double dose of Hollywood’s hottest villain as he co-stars in back to back Lion’s Gate releases. First up is Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls, which will be released on February 14, 2007. A single father, Monty (Elba) is a garage mechanic who lives in a poor neighborhood and struggles to make ends meet as he raises his three young daughters on his own. But when the courts award custody of his daughters to his corrupt ex-wife, Jennifer (Smith), who lives with her new drug-dealing man Joseph (Sturgis), Monty desperately tries to win them back, enlisting the help of Julia (Union), a beautiful – and hard-nosed – attorney he meets during his short stint as a chauffeur. Since Tyler Perry is known for picking winners, it is no surprise he has once again chosen Gary Sturgis to bring his villain to life. “Tyler and I have been friends forever, like 20 years, and he called me up and said he didn’t want this character to be anything like the last guy, Jamison. I promised him and I promise everyone, he isn’t. You’ll see a completely different guy here; still a drug dealer, but a whole different kind of guy,” says Sturgis when asked about his take on being a drug dealer for a Perry film more than once.

Just when you feel it’s safe to go back to the theatre, catch Gary co-starring in PRIDE, hitting theatres on March 23, 2007. Based on true events, Lionsgate’s PRIDE tells the inspiring story of Jim Ellis, a charismatic schoolteacher in the 1970s who changed lives forever when he founded an African-American swim team in one of Philadelphia’s roughest neighborhoods. Directed by Sunu Gonera, this life-affirming drama stars Academy Award ® nominee Terrence Howard (Hustle & Flow, Crash, Ray), Bernie Mac (Guess Who, Oceans 12, Bad Santa) Kimberly Elise (Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Manchurian Candidate, John Q) and Gary Sturgis (Diary of A Mad Black Woman, Daddy’s Little Girls). Sturgis plays neighborhood thug, Franklin Pierce, who serves as the film’s antagonist. Seeing Sturgis and Howard on the screen is intense and memorable, and more is sure to come for this Man to Watch. “I’ve always admired Terrence’s work and to actually get a chance to work with him is nothing short of amazing. He and I had a mutual respect for each other that you don’t always find in actors of his caliber. I loved working with Sunu as well since he gave my character room to breathe its own life; room to grow. I had a blast working on this film,” says Sturgis with a reminiscent smile.

Gary’s career is flying at break neck speed, as not only will we see more of him, we’ll also hear more. That amazing voice has landed him a new role, the voice of TNT’s NBA Basketball season. Watch AND listen. There is definitely more to come.

Gary is available for magazine and television interviews.