Celebrity Readers

Part of what makes Speakaboos' offerings so special is our partnership with some of today's hottest celebrities and talents. We are fortunate and honored to have worked with all of these great stars to record some amazing children's stories for Speakaboos.com.

Cheri Oteri

Born in Upper Darby, PA, Cheri Oteri moved to Los Angeles at age 25, where she worked at A&M Records and eventually joined the famed comedy troupe The Groundlings. It was there that she was noticed by "Saturday Night Live" and was hired in 1995 as part of a nearly all-new cast. On SNL, she was known for playing myriad characters, including "Arianna," one half of "The Spartan Cheerleaders" alongside Will Ferrell. Oteri's dead-on impressions of Barbara Walters, Mariah Carey, Robin Byrd and Judge Judy also bolstered her fame. Since Oteri left SNL, she has appeared in several movies, including Scary Movie, Inspector Gadget, Liar Liar, Shrek the Third, and Surveillance, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008. Her other television credits include guest spots on "Strangers with Candy," "Just Shoot Me," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "Boston Legal." She is currently starring in "Liza The Lifecoach" for AMC.

Kelly Ripa

After starring in "All My Children" for 12 years, Ripa became a household name when she was selected as the co-host of "Live with Regis and Kelly."Her accomplishments since include winning a Daytime Emmy Award for her work co-hosting the "2005 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade," and breaking the Guinness World Record for custard pie throwing when she threw 24 pies in one minute on her show.

Phil Brock

Phil Brock is a true Renaissance Man. This charismatic actor has the ability to command attention the minute he enters a room. A longtime member of SAG, AFTRA, AEA and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Phil starred in "Arrest and Trial," "MADtv," "Angels" and "The Young and the Restless." He was a Series Regular in "Big Wave Dave's" and "The New Route 66." His film resume includes many features, including the amusing comedy Girl Crazy. He is a member of two groups of Hollywood executives dedicated to enacting positive change in the world: The Creative Coalition and Hollywood Hill. Phil is in demand throughout the US as a speaker at universities and dramatic academies. His seminars guide the actor through the maze of the entertainment industry towards building the elements of a successful career. Phil heads the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica Council. He is on the board of several other charities, including Alternatives in Motion, which offers a window into the performing arts for at-risk youth. He is a Commissioner of Parks & Recreation for the City of Santa Monica and was recently appointed a member of the Board of the Recreation & Parks Commission for the State of California.

James Eckhouse

James Cower Eckhouse is best known for playing Jim Walsh on "Beverly Hills 90210" in the early 1990s. He also directed three episodes of the show. Before his part on 90210, Eckhouse did cameos in such films as Trading Places and Cocktail starring Tom Cruise. He has also acted in many television series, including "Medium," "Nip/Tuck," and "Judging Amy." James studied at MIT before beginning his acting career. He has a wife and two sons and is currently living and working in Los Angeles.

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Marc Brown

Brown is the creator, writer and illustrator of "Arthur," an internationally popular series of colorful children's stories which deal with issues of childhood and growing up. Brown has been releasing Arthur books since 1976, and helping to produce an animated "Arthur" TV series on PBS since 1994.