Kristen Bauer Van Straten rose to rank in the ZSC alongside fellow First Lieutenants and True Blood co-stars Sam Trammell and Jim Parrack. Collectively, the True Blood trio are a force to be reckoned with during those times when vampires make noise. But being the girl in what so far seems very much an all-boys’ club, Kristin faces no disadvantages. She is fierce, powerful, compassionate, and has a sense of determination matched only by her tenacious work aimed at improving the treatment of our beloved four-legged friends.
Kristin hails from Racine, Wisconsin. She learned to ride horseback and became adept at handling firearms before moving on to study fine arts in Saint Louis, Boston and New York City. Soon after she shifted gears again and decided to focus on acting. In 1995 she landed her first recurring role in the television series The Crew. From there, the number of television appearances grew so numerous they cannot all be listed here. LA Law, Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, Dark Angel, Two and a Half Men, Star Trek: Enterprise, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Desperate Housewives, Crossing Jordan and Justified have all featured Kristin in guest roles. In 2009, she became a series regular on HBO’s True Blood, playing the sultry and deadly vampire Pamela Swynford De Beaufort.
In direct contrast to her True Blood character, the beautiful Ms. Bauer van Straten is a vegetarian and dedicated animal lover. She dislikes “meanness, the circus, littering, testing on animals, starving, pesticides, fur, most zoos, slavery, intolerance, and genetically modified food.” She strives to live as nature intended and takes inspiration from life on all forms. In 2011, devoted fans and fellow animal lovers launched a Birthday Charity Project in her name. She is an avid supporter of The Amanda Foundation and stands before us as inspiring reminder to all that our world does not belong to humans alone.
In addition to her role as Pam in HBO’s continuing saga of True Blood, Kristin has also appeared in the popular television series The Secret Life of the American Teenager and ABC’s Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.
No spotlight is needed for this week’s Commander Monday focus. First Lieutenant Kristin Bauer van Straten is a beam of shining light herself, and also the only female First Lieutenant in the Zombie Survival Crew. She recently rose to rank in the ZSC alongside fellow First Lieutenants and True Blood co-stars Sam Trammell and Jim Parrack. Collectively, the True Blood trio are a force to be reckoned with during those times when vampires make noise. But being the girl in what so far seems very much an all-boys’ club, Kristin faces no disadvantages. She is fierce, powerful, compassionate, and has a sense of determination matched only by her tenacious work aimed at improving the treatment of our beloved four-legged friends.
Kristin hails from Racine, Wisconsin. She learned to ride horseback and became adept at handling firearms before moving on to study fine arts in Saint Louis, Boston and New York City. Soon after she shifted gears again and decided to focus on acting. In 1995 she landed her first recurring role in the television series The Crew. From there, the number of television appearances grew so numerous they cannot all be listed here. LA Law, Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, Dark Angel, Two and a Half Men, Star Trek: Enterprise, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Desperate Housewives, Crossing Jordan,Justified, and Once Upon a Time have all featured Kristin in guest roles. In 2009, she became a series regular on HBO’s True Blood, playing the sultry and deadly vampire Pamela Swynford De Beaufort. Watch for Kristin in the upcoming filmThe Story of Luke, scheduled for release later in 2012, and of course her ongoing role as Pam in the continuing saga of True Blood.
I have a theory that’s the game here on Earth: “CHECK IT OUT AND PICK A TEAM.” Then at the end of our lives, we know we lived our own life and not a life by default because we didn’t stop and look.
In direct contrast to her True Blood character, the beautiful Ms. Bauer van Straten is a vegetarian and dedicated animal lover. She dislikes “meanness, the circus, littering, testing on animals, starving, pesticides, fur, most zoos, slavery, intolerance, and genetically modified food.” She strives to live as nature intended and takes inspiration from life on all forms. In 2011, devoted fans and fellow animal lovers launched a Birthday Charity Project in her name. She is an avid supporter of The Amanda Foundation and stands before us as inspiring reminder to all that our world does not belong to humans alone.
Kristin has also recently joined ranks with the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), adding her considerable passions to help free Tony, the Siberian-Bengal tiger at the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete, Louisiana.
______________________________________________________________ Be sure to check out the other ZSC commanders!
Thank you for your patience during this brief delay. The developing story out of Miami over the weekend resulted in a scramble for possible action and all Commanders have been duly notified. While the situation appears to be under control at the moment, we remain watchful and remind you all to keep your go-bags handy. Our members’ constant vigilance and reporting of any possible undead sightings shows their quality time and time again, and for this we thank you. We now return to our regularly scheduled Commander Monday feature.
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This week’s Commander Monday feature brings us to another True Blood alumni, joining us fresh from the front lines of the battle against a small but not inconsiderable vampire presence among us. First Lieutenant Sam Trammell brings to the Zombie Survival Crew considerable experience with the undead as well a very unique and extremely rare talent – shapeshifting! Okay, so he doesn’t really transform into an adorable floppy-eared mutt at will, but his scruffy good looks, sweet disposition, intelligence, loyalty and undeniably sharp senses as well as considerable creative talents can only be a benefit to all in the dark days to come.
Sam Trammell is a native of West Virginia who attended Brown University before making his move onto the stage with his off-Broadway debut in Dealer’s Choice. Continuing onstage, he went on to appear in My Night With Reg and earned a Tony nomination for his part in the Broadway revival of Eugene O’Neill’s comedy Ah, Wilderness! Before landing the well-known role of beloved shape-shifter Sam Merlotte on HBO’s True Blood, Sam appeared in numerous television series, including Trinity, Going to California,Judging Amy, Dexter, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, and A Drop of True Blood. Sam has also appeared in the critically acclaimed film Beat alongside fellow ZSC Commander Norman Reedus. Sam has also been seen in AVPR: Aliens vs Predator – Requiem, The Details, Fear of Fiction and Guns, Girls & Gambling.
Coming soon:
Later this year, watch for Sam in the upcoming film Long Time Gone, and of course the anticipated return of True Blood on HBO.
_______________________________________________________________ Need information about the other ZSC commanders ?
Vampires, werewolves and aliens… oh my! From a very young age, First Lieutenant Jim Parrack’s admiration for screen legends Robert Duvall and James Dean was a sure sign of what was to come, but it may in fact have been his self-admitted fascination with vampires that started him on a path that was destined to lead him to ZSC leadership. Experience dealing with the undead is always a plus, but add to that solid weapons training (perhaps meant to battle aliens over Los Angeles), and you have exactly what ZSC recruiters look for when scoping out new members.
The handsome young man from Allen, Texas decided to put down the golf clubs (even though they work just fine for taking down a zombie) and pursue acting as a teenager. Jim first stepped onto the stage at Keith and Margo’s Murder Mystery Dinner Theater in Dallas, and not long after had moved to Los Angeles where he studied at The Stella Adler Academy and Playhouse West.
“I was obnoxiously into vampires. There are still a few folks who are certain I am one.”
Before landing a starring role as Hoyt Fortenberry in HBO’s hit series True Blood, Jim appeared in Battle: Los Angeles with Red Brigade 1st Lieutenant Neil Brown, Jr. He has also appeared in numerous television series, including Alcatraz, Supernatural, Criminal Minds, NCIS and Grey’s Anatomy to name just a few. Jim also wrote and directed the film Post, produced by his own film production company 120 Productions.
Jim is currently filming Black Dog, Red Dog alongside close friend James Franco and co-stars Whoopi Goldberg, Olivia Wilde and Chloe Sevigny. Be sure to also look for him in the upcoming films Child of God, and The Audition.
Recently, Jim took the “It Gets Better,” pledge in conjunction with The Trevor Project, a nationwide crisis intervention and suicide prevention network.
________________________________________________________________ So what have the other ZSC commanders been up to?
From the desk of ZSC Commander-in-Chief Juliette Terzieff Status: High Priority
Photo: Art Streiber
Kristin Bauer van Straten is perhaps best known for her work as Pam de Beaufort on HBO’s monster hit True Blood. Pam is a beautiful, vicious survivor who has no qualms about sucking the life out of anyone who gets in her way. She does not play well with others. So I’m going to argue no one can blame your commander-in-chief for feeling just slightly apprehensive about approaching her to join forces with Zombie Survival Crew Command.
But in real life Kristin is a beautiful, dedicated campaigner for animals and the environment who generously devotes her time to helping others. She is not only prepared to personally survive a cataclysmic event, she’s a crack-strategist with a plan to help the ZSC – and the general public – survive in style.,/p>
Zombie Survival Crew, please raise your weapons and welcome our newest Commander KRISTIN BAUER VAN STRATEN!!!!!!
The first time your Commander-in-Chief encountered Sam Trammell in person, I really wasn’t sure how much a man known for battling with vampires, witches and werewolves would know about battling the shambling hordes. I found myself immediately and deeply impressed not only by Sam’s kind nature but his razor-sharp strategy instincts.
During subsequent meetings, Sam turned the tables on my attempts to assess his command credentials and instead, I found myself searching for answers to some pretty tough questions about disaster preparedness, response plans and the kind of survival tactics we in ZSC Command advocate.
Sam’s experience with supernatural forces and the vampires of the True Blood universe is already being put to use within ZSC Command to enhance our collective preparations for the onset of the zombieapocalpyse or any other global cataclysmic event.
Zombie Survival Crew – please raise your weapons and welcome our newest commander SAM TRAMMELL!!!!
Priority Status: HIGH Dispatcher: Juliette Terzieff
It’s not every day your Zombie Survival Crew Commander-in-Chief meets someone as prepared for the Zombieapocalypse as she is… but Jim Parrack, known to True Blood fans as the charming Hoyt Fortenberry, is armed, trained and ready.
We encountered Jim on a recent reconnaissance mission and had just barely begun discussing disaster scenarios and survival when he produced a dizzying array of information from his cell phone. I guess it’s not all that surprising for a guy who faces vampires, werewolves and aliens on a regular basis. Sure it’s all for the benefit of our television and movie screens, but convincing action like that doesn’t come without preparation.
The Texas native left ZSC Command with no doubt he’s ready to help lead the charge into battle, and do what it takes to make sure we survive.
Kristin hails from Racine, Wisconsin. She learned to ride horseback and became adept at handling firearms before moving on to study fine arts in Saint Louis, Boston and New York City. Soon after she shifted gears again and decided to focus on acting. In 1995 she landed her first recurring role in the television series The Crew. From there, the number of television appearances grew so numerous they cannot all be listed here. LA Law, Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, Dark Angel, Two and a Half Men, Star Trek: Enterprise, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Desperate Housewives, Crossing Jordan and Justified have all featured Kristin in guest roles. In 2009, she became a series regular on HBO’s True Blood, playing the sultry and deadly vampire Pamela Swynford De Beaufort.
