A family portrait: from
left, Mary Chestaro, Anthony Michael Hall,
Mercedes Hall and Thomas
Chestaro.
Family Business
By
July 12, 2008
Showbiz families are nothing new
and chances are you aren't as familiar with the Hall and Chestaro family, which
has a home in
The most famous family member is Anthony Michael
Hall, called Michael by his family. You probably remember his spot-on comedic
performances as a teen in a spate of films in the 1980s: "National
Lampoon's Vacation," "The Breakfast Club," "Sixteen
Candles" and "Weird Science."
Unlike many actors who find success and fame as teens and drift into
drugs or obscurity, Hall did neither and has continued working in front of and
behind the camera. He starred in the USA Network series "The Dead
Zone" for six seasons, wrapping that series last year, and he can be seen
in the latest installment of the "Batman" franchise, "The Dark Knight."
Before Mercedes Hall met Tom Chestaro, she was a
single mom and had been a performer herself since she was a teen, appearing in
clubs in and around her native
For many years she put her career on the back
burner to manage her son's, but is now back in full swing, performing often in
Mercedes Hall says watching the family in
various aspects of the business has helped prepare her daughter, Mary, for her
turn in the spotlight.
Both Michael and Mary credit their parents for
the success they've had in the business and in life.
"My parents have been so there for me my
whole life," Michael says. "We've always worked together; it matters
to me to produce things with my dad, we're very close-knit and help each
other."
Mary agrees. "My dad is the rock, there's a
calmness that he brings to all of us artists. It all balances out very
well."