Actress — Past Speakers — The Common Good

Jenny McCarthy

Actress, radio & television host, activist

Jenny McCarthy is a model, TV host, actress, screenwriter, and author. When her son Evan was diagnosed with autism, Jenny took on another role, as an advocate in the fight against autism.

McCarthy served as a spokesperson for Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) from June 2007 until October 2008. She participated in fundraisers, online chats, and other activities for the non-profit organization to help families affected by autism spectrum disorders. Her first fundraiser for TACA, Ante Up for Autism, was held on October 20, 2007, in Irvine, California. She is a prominent spokesperson and activist for the Generation Rescue foundation, and serves on its Board of Directors.

McCarthy was hosted by The Common Good in 2010 for a Meet & Greet.

Twitter: @JennyMcCarthy

Lynn Whitfield is an American actress who began her acting career in television and theatre, before progressing to supporting roles in film. She won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special and an NAACP Image Award for her performance as Josephine Baker in the HBO movie The Josephine Baker Story (1991). She also won NAACP Image awards for her work in Touched by an Angel (1998), The Planet of Junior Brown (2000) and Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story (2004).

Her film work includes performances in A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996), Eve’s Bayou (1997), The Cheetah Girls (2003), Madea’s Family Reunion (2006), andThe Cheetah Girls 2 (2006).

Whitfield had a series of television appearances before her film career began, including playing Jill Thomas in the award-winning series Hill Street Blues.

Whitfield achieved international recognition in the title role of The Josephine Baker Story (1991), the HBO biopic requiring her to age from 18 to 68. She portrayed the American Folies Bergère star who became a Resistance fighter during WWII and civil rights activist. In a highly publicized casting call, Whitfield was chosen over more than 500 women. She won an Emmy Award for her role and said this gave her, “the greatest sense of accomplishment and realization of my vision. It absolutely called upon everything I thought I could do at that point.”

Twitter: @MsLynnWhitfield