Katie Clarke (Leah Pipes, "Clubhouse") may never forgive her veterinarian father, Danny (D.W. Moffett, "For Your Love") for dragging their entire blended family out of New York City to spend a year living in a broken-down lodge called The Blue Antelope on a game reserve deep inside South Africa.  In fact, the one area of agreement among Katie, her 11-year-old brother Chase (K'sun Ray, "Smith"), their rebellious teenage step-brother Jesse (Andrew St. John, "General Hospital") and 7-year-old step-sister Mia (Mary Matilyn Mouser, "Eloise"), is that Danny has lost his mind.  

            For Danny and his second wife, Jo (Stephanie Niznik, "Everwood"), however, the reasons for the move are very clear.  Once they married and brought their children together under one roof, it soon became obvious that the kids had little in common and the family was drifting apart.  In New York, Katie was a good student with close friends and a serious boyfriend.  Mature beyond her years, Katie took on even more adult responsibilities when her mother died, helping her younger brother Chase deal with the loss.  Jo's children had to deal with their parents' divorce after their father went to prison for a white-collar crime.  Jesse reacted by cutting school, rebelling against every rule and resenting his mother's remarriage, while little Mia comforted herself with her obsession with the New York Mets.

            While they worried about the family, Danny and Jo had their own demanding careers to deal with.  Jo was a sought-after divorce attorney who worked long hours, while Danny's skills as a vet made him a favorite with wealthy New Yorkers and their pampered, overweight pets.  When Danny learned of the urgent need for vets in South Africa, he saw the opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to change all their lives for the better.

            Once the family arrives in South Africa, Danny realizes his motivations go beyond his desire to keep his troubled family together while making a difference in the lives of the people and animals of this amazing place.  His deceased first wife Claire grew up at The Blue Antelope, and the lodge is still home to her reclusive father Art (David Butler).  The Blue Antelope was once a thriving safari business, but after the loss of his daughter, Art let the lodge slip into disrepair.  Now that Danny has arrived with Art's grandchildren and a new family, Art may finally find a reason to get his life back on track. 

            The adjustment to this strange land is difficult for Jo and the children, but not for Danny.  He's instantly at home working with the locals to vaccinate their cattle, and using his skills to heal wounded wild animals as well ?? in their first few days in South Africa, the family encounters an injured lioness, a lost cub and a gentle giraffe. 

            Katie and Jesse spend the first days in Africa resenting the upheaval of their lives and feeling completely out of place.  Things begin to change when they meet a few of the locals, including a handsome and somewhat reckless young Brit, Oliver Banks (newcomer Calvin Goldspink), and Tumelo (newcomer Atandwa Kani), who dreams of becoming a veterinarian, against the wishes of his doctor father.  Katie is intrigued by both boys ?? one British and one South African ?? and by their knowledge of local customs and culture.  Meanwhile, Jesse can't help but notice Oliver's sultry twin sister Emily (newcomer Tiffany Mulheron), as well a beautiful, mysterious young woman named Mbali (casting TBD), a singer/bar tender at a local hangout called Ant's Hill. 

            While they are definitely strangers in a strange land with a lot to learn about their new home, Katie, Jesse and the rest of the family are nevertheless beginning to love the breathtaking vistas of the bush country, the wild animals and the vibrant culture enveloping them.  A year in this strange but beautiful place might not be so bad after all. 

            "Life is Wild" is a production of CBS Paramount Network Television Inc., Warner Bros. Television and Company Pictures, an All 3 Media Company, with executive producers Michael Rauch ("Love Monkey," "Beautiful People"), Charlie Pattinson ("Wild at Heart," "Shameless") and George Faber ("Wild at Heart," "Skins"), and co-executive producers Sue Tenney ("7^th Heaven"), Dana Baratta ("Providence") and Jim Sadwith ("Elvis," "Crackers").

July 2007

CREDITS FOR "LIFE IS WILD" ON THE CW

Day and time:                                       Sundays, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET

Network debut:                                    October 7, 2007

Format:                                                This one-hour family drama chronicles the lives of a blended family who moves from New York City to spend a year living in a broken-down lodge called The Blue Antelope on a game reserve deep inside South Africa. 

Cast:                                                    D.W. Moffett as Danny Clarke

                                                            Stephanie Niznick as Jo Clarke

                                                            Leah Pipes as Katie Clarke

                                                            Andrew St. John as Jesse Weller

                                                            Calvin Goldspink as Colin Banks

                                                            Atandwa Kani as Tumelo

                                                           Executive Producers:                            Michael Rauch, Charlie Pattinson and George Faber

Co-Executive Producers:                      Sue Tenney, Dana Baratta and Jim Sadwith

Origination:                                           Johannesburg, South Africa

Produced by:                                        CBS Paramount Network Television Inc. and Warner Bros. Television and Company Pictures, an All 3 Media Company

Media contact:                                      Jeff Tobler, (818) 977-3719

                                                            [email protected]

July 2007

D.W. MOFFETT

Danny Clarke in "Life Is Wild"

             D.W. Moffett has amassed an impressive list of stage and screen credits.  He returns to television in The CW's new family drama "Life Is Wild" as Danny Clarke, a New York City veterinarian who decides to uproot his family to South Africa.

             A native of the Chicago suburb of Wilmette, Illinois, Moffett never gave a thought to acting until after he graduated from Stanford University with a degree in International Relations.  While he went to work at Chicago's Continental Bank, he also enrolled in an acting class to broaden his artistic horizon and, more importantly, to meet girls.  He found a social life ?? and his life's work. 

             Moving along his new career path, Moffett became a founding member of Chicago's Remains Theatre Ensemble, where he starred in, directed and/or produced over 40 productions.  He first came to national attention starring in Larry Kramer's landmark AIDS drama "The Normal Heart" at New York's Public Theatre.  Subsequently, he appeared on Broadway in "The Boys of Winter" and "The Real Thing," as well as a Los Angeles production of Jon Robin Baitz's "The End of the Day." Most recently, he appeared with Kevin Spacey in the critically acclaimed production of "The Philadelphia Story" at The Old Vic Theatre in London.

              Since making the move to Hollywood, he has appeared in the feature films "Thirteen," starring Evan Rachel Wood; "Twisted," starring Ashley Judd and Samuel L. Jackson, and Steven Soderbergh's "Traffic."  He also starred as a reprehensible entertainment lawyer in Bernardo Bertolucci's "Stealing Beauty," and as a post-World War II industrialist in "Rough Magic," with Bridget Fonda.  His additional credits include "Falling Down," starring Michael Douglas; "Black Widow," starring Debra Winger; "Molly," starring Elisabeth Shue and Aaron Eckhart, and the independent film "Take My Life."

            Moffett's television credits include series regular roles on "Hidden Palms," "For Your Love," "Chicago Sons" and "The Oldest Rookie," and recurring appearances on such series as "Close to Home," "Book of Daniel" and "Crossing Jordan."  He also guest starred on the series "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "CSI: Miami," "Commander In Chief" and many others.  Additionally, he starred in the television movies "An Early Frost," "Riding the Bus with My Sister," "This Much I Know," "The Secret She Carried" and "A Song from the Heart."

           Currently residing in South Africa, Moffett enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis and traveling.

July 2007

STEPHANIE NIZNIK

Jo Clarke in "Life Is Wild"

            With many well-received roles in television, film and theatre under her belt, Stephanie Niznik returns to series television in The CW's new family drama "Life Is Wild," as a high powered New York divorce attorney who, along with her husband (D.W. Moffett), move their family to South Africa.

            Born and raised in Bangor, Maine, Niznik began her acting career in the theatre in such productions as "Crimes of the Heart" and "Dial M for Murder."  She made the transition to television with guest-starring appearances on such hit shows as "Grey's Anatomy," "Traveler," "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," "Profiler," "JAG," "Frasier," "Diagnosis Murder" and eventually became a series regular on "Everwood," "Guardian Angel" and "Vanishing Son."

            Niznik's previous film credits include "The Twenty," "Kismet," "Memorial Day," "Star Trek: Insurrection" and Garry Marshall's "Dear God."

            She received her Masters of Fine Arts from Duke University in North Carolina.  Niznick currently resides in South Africa for the filming of "Life Is Wild."

July 2007

LEAH PIPES

Katie Clarke in "Life Is Wild"

          In her first starring role on a television series, 19-year-old Leah Pipes stars as Katie Clarke in The CW's new family drama, "Life Is Wild." 

           Pipes began acting in January 2001 as a featured actress on the popular TV series "Angel."  After a few commercials for Nabisco and Disneyland, Pipes soon landed roles on such series as "The Brothers Garcia" and "Lost at Home," with Gregory Hines.  She appeared in the film "Pixel Perfect," for the Disney Channel. Additional film roles include the horror film "Fingerprints," alongside Kristin Cavallari, which won Best Film a the NYC Horror Film Festival.   Recent guest appearances include "Bones," "Crossing Jordan" and "Shark," with James Woods.

         Pipes has four siblings and balances her life extremely well, maintaining a tight on-the-go schedule which keeps her and her close-knit family very busy.  When not on set, Pipes, who resides in South Africa during filming, finds time to relax by snuggling up with an interesting book, and an occasional Oreo cookie.

July 2007

ANDREW ST. JOHN

Jesse Weller in "Life Is Wild"

            Andrew St. John makes his series regular debut starring in The CW's new family drama "Life Is Wild," as Jesse, a teenager whose increasingly rebellious actions trigger the family's move to South Africa for a fresh start.

            He will also make his film debut in "The Caretaker," in which he has a lead role opposite Jennifer Tilly.  St. John is not entirely new to television as he has made guest-star appearances on such series as "What I Like About You," "Vanished," "Criminal Minds" and both "CSI: Miami" and "CSI: NY."

         Born in Millinocket, Maine, St. John moved to New Haven, Connecticut soon after with his mother.  He remained until college, attending Southern Connecticut State. A month before finishing his second year of college, he met a talent manager at a scouting event and headed west two months later. Less than a year after he arrived in Los Angeles, he made his television debut on the Emmy winning daytime drama "General Hospital."

           When he's not on the set, St. John, who resides in South Africa for the filming of the show, enjoys tennis, hiking, weight training, boxing and video games.

July 2007

CALVIN GOLDSPINK

Colin Banks in "Life Is Wild"

           Making his U.S. television debut, 18-year-old Calvin Goldspink stars at Colin Banks in The CW's new family drama "Life Is Wild."

           At the age of 11, Goldspink was chosen to perform with the hugely successful British band S Club 7, and upon the positive public response, S Club Juniors was formed and had instant chart success with their first single, "One Step Closer" reaching number 2 on the U.K. charts.  Under the management of "American Idol's" Simon Fuller, S Club Juniors, had four top 10 singles and a platinum top 5 album with UK sales of over 1 million and toured with their blend of pop music and slick dance routines to sold out arenas across the UK and Ireland.

            UK television credits include "Smile," "Ministry of Mayhem" and "I Dream."

            When not filming in South Africa, Goldspink divides his time between London and Los Angeles.

July 2007

ATANDWA KANI

Tumelo in "Life Is Wild"

            South African native Antandwa Kani makes his U.S. television debut in The CW's new family drama "Life Is Wild." 

           Born in the small town of Port Elizabeth in South Africa, Kani is no stranger to acting.  His father, John Kani is a well-known actor in South Africa.  Upon spending time with his father while reading scripts and attending theatre performances, Kani knew he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps.  Currently studying theatrical performance at the University of Witwatersrand, Kani has starred in numerous school productions and appeared in the "The Bet," a film associated with The Nelson Mandela Foundation.

             When not on working or studying, Kani enjoys reading, playing soccer, watching movies, going to clubs and spending time chatting online.  Kani currently resides in Johannesburg, South Africa.

July 2007 

MICHAEL RAUCH

Executive Producer of "Life Is Wild"

                Michael Rauch has written and directed numerous projects in both film and television, including "Love Monkey," "Beautiful People" and the independent feature "In the Weeds," starring Ellen Pompeo, Bridget Moynahan and Eric Bogosian.  Rauch also directed Bogosian in the film version of the performer's off-Broadway show, "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee," in 2001.

             He is a graduate of the Columbia University Film School and currently lives in New York City.

July 2007