Spotlight on SAG-AFTRA Leadership

Linda Powell was elected Executive Vice President of SAG-AFTRA in October of 2023 and, as a vice chair of the TV/Theatrical negotiating committee, played an integral role in the union’s recent strike and subsequent contract negotiation. A New York based actress, she has appeared on Broadway and off and can be seen in shows such as Dopesick, Modern Love, House of Cards and Chicago Fire. Most recently she enjoyed a long run starring as Neil Diamond’s therapist in the Broadway bio-musical “A Beautiful Noise”.

Jodi Long made history in 2021 becoming the first Asian American actor to win an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in Netflix’s DASH & LILY. At 7 she made her Broadway debut in NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP directed by Sidney Lumet. One of five Broadway shows that include Sondheim’s GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER and the revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s FLOWER DRUM SONG. Films: Blumhouse’s Night Swim, Netflix’s The Monkey King, Marvel’s SHANG CHI, The Tale (HBO), Beginners, Patty Hearst, and The Hot Chick. Series: TBS’s Sullivan and Son, Sex in The City, Margaret Cho’s mother in All American Girl.

Starting as a Production asst at PBS, then turning to Actor, Producer, Writer, DP/Camera operator, etc…Shari is as comfortable behind the camera as she is in front of it. A member of SAG-AFTRA since 1980, starting out in commercials, shows such as HOTEL and BEYOND REALITY, feature films like IF YOU COULD SEE WHAT I HEAR, right up to currently recurring in APPLETV’s THE MORNING SHOW and TYLER PERRY’S SISTAS, while developing numerous scripted and non-scripted entities. She has literally been a union baby and in the entertainment industry since before birth.

Peter White is now Executive Editor of Television. Having joined Deadline in 2017, White heads the U.S. TV staff while leading our coverage of the networks, studios and streamers. His specialties are late-night, unscripted TV, executive turnover and the podcasting business. He is based in Los Angeles, having moved from London in 2020.