TORONTO COMICON took over the City this weekend in one of the most popular annual events to grace The 6ix annually.  Offering Fans a rare chance to connect with their favourite Artists, Stars and Cosplayers, it runs three days from March 18-20, 2016.  It is an opportunity to full-on “geek-out” unapologetically in a safe, welcoming environment with others who have the same passions.
Among the marquee names to appear at TORONTO COMICON this year include Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter), Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Robbie Amell (The Flash), Tovah Feldshuh (The Walking Dead), Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters), Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers), Karen Allen (Indiana Jones) and several more.
We had the chance to chat with Frakes, Feldshuh, Van Dien and Allen, who were gracious enough to arrive early to greet Press before a packed day ahead meeting and greeting their admirers.
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KAREN ALLEN has had a successful five-decade-spanning career as an Actress. Her big break came with a starring role in 1981’s RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, opposite Harrison Ford. Malcolm X, The Perfect Storm and Scrooged are just some of the highly-recognizable titles in her body of work.
Will she be involved in the just-announced fifth installment of Indiana Jones?
Allen: “It’s a mystery who will join the cast. I’m waiting. hopeful and would love to do it. I hope they find a way to create a story.”.
Many don’t realize she also is an accomplished clothing maker. We ask if the worlds of acting and fashion ever collide for her?
Allen: “They haven’t so much. Except for a lot of people I know from Film world – I actually closed my studio because I’ve gotten too busy. But the store remains and I have all my favourite textile designers still at the store. I think a lot of people from other worlds I know go through there. Steven Spielberg has a couple of my sweaters and his wife Kate buys little things that I do too.”.
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TOVAH FELDSHUH before her huge break on AMC‘s THE WALKING DEAD as Deanna Monroe, was an acclaimed actress of the stage.  Just recently she landed a role on lauded CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND. In addition to being here for TORONTO COMICON, she announced she will be back to the City again June 5-19 at Greenwin Theatre for the biggest hit of my Broadway career, Golda’s Balcony.
Feldshuh: “I’m playing the Prime Minster of Israel. She’s size 16 and I’m size 4-6, 168 lbs.  She’s 80 years old and I’m 39. You’re not gonna have the opportunity to see it at a theatre that size. I usually plays 1,000 seats.  It’s on for two weeks. I own the rights to the Play and I take it out once a year only.”.
I ask her about he experience connecting with Fans at COMICON, where the spirit of “geeking-out” is embraced.
Feldshuh: “I’ve done COMICON, WALKER STALKER (a convention for The Walking Dead lovers) and WIZARD WORLD and this is my first time crossing the border. I love being here. You have the most polite, well-bred Fans. It must be horrifying for them when they cross south of the border. In certain cities, everyone asks for a hug. I’m a very warmhearted person, but get away from me! Now it doesn’t mean I don’t love you. I love people! They did a study of the most unpopular children in kindergartens. And it’s always the kids who break space!”.
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CASPER VAN DIENÂ has had a lasting career which saw a breakthrough in 1997 with cult hit STARSHIP TROOPERS. Since then he has gone on to star on several high-profile projects like SLEEPY HOLLOW, TITANS, MONK and TARZAN AND THE LOST CITY.
We ask energetic Van Dien what he “geeks-out” to the most in celebration of the spirit of TORONTO COMICON.
Van Dien: “Star Trek. Jonathan Frakes is here! He has no idea I’ve seen every single episode, all the Films over and over again. We’re always on cool, cool, cool but really I’m a complete spaz! When I did BEASTMASTER III, I did it because Gabrielle Beaumont directed several episodes. I’m such a nerd I know Frakes shadowed her when he wanted to become a director. Guess what? I never got-on to STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION! Other obligations came into play…. like my family! I’d be on any set. It’s so much fun. I get to do something I love. If I wasn’t an actor, I’d still be doing something on a Film.”.
JONATHAN FRAKES is an Actor/Director known best for his role as Riker on STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. He most recently had a role in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY.
Now because of the Internet, you can’t avoid Memes referencing THE NEXT GENERATION, including “THE RIKER SITS DOWN”. How many chairs has Jonathan Frakes ‘rikered’ and was it something he created?
Frakes: “I didn’t know I ‘rikered’ that many! I won’t take all the credit!  It happened when Ten Forward (a recreational facility on the Series) was built, backs of chairs were barely there and easy to ‘riker’. If you weren’t 6’4, it was easy to get out of those chairs. And also the suits were so tight!”.
See some of our Snaps from the Festivities:
#StarTrek’s #JonathanFrakes at #TorontoComiCon. #Riker
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong ⛄ (@mrwillwong) on
#TovahFeldshuh of #TheWalkingDead at #TorontoComiCon.
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong ⛄ (@mrwillwong) on
No big deal. #Deadpool just chillin’ at #TorontoComiCon…
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong ⛄ (@mrwillwong) on
A photo posted by Touchwood PR (@touchwood_pr) on
There’s still one more day to enjoy the fun! Â Learn more about TORONTO COMICON here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Touchwood PR)
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