Producer Eli Roth: Actor Louis Herthum is 'rare talent'

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Louis Herthum works the crowd at LA Film Festival

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HOLLYWOOD, CA -- On ABC's latest summer feast, "The Gates," actor Louis Herthum portrays the patriarch of a family of carnivores.

In "The Last Exorcism," the muscular, blue-eyed hunk plays the caring father of an innocent adolescent whose soul is ripped to shreds by a battalion of dark forces. The horror film, distributed by Lionsgate, premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival on July 24. 

Over the past 30 years, Herthum's stirring list of credits has spread like kudzu within the stage, television and major motion picture industry. The southern-bred actor became a household name after starring in "Murder, She Wrote," a CBS long-running series.

Today, Herthum has become one of the more sought-after bi-coastal actors in show business. Just ask any of the more prolific producers in the entertainment industry.

"We were lucky to have him in the project," said Eli Roth, one of the producers of "The Last Exorcism. "He really gives the film gravitas, warmth, and humanity. His performance is so spot on and heartfelt you never for a moment feel like he's acting."

In 2009, Roth won a Screen Actors Guild award in the category of "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture" for his portrayal of "Sgt. Donny Donowitz" in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourius Basterds." It was a top-drawer decoration Roth shared with movie star Brad Pitt and other principal members of the ensemble cast.

Roth, a celebrated producer, writer and director, officially expressed his laudation for Herthum after showing "The Last Exorcism" to international distributors and festival programmers. 

"[Louis] is one of those rare talents whose work is so continually superb that only in retrospect looking over his expansive career can you fully appreciate the scope of and consistency of his
talent," said Roth.  "I'd be lucky to have him on any project I'm involved in."

Roth is not the only one praising the irresistable actor from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Exceptional People Magazine, a global publication, is honoring Herthum in its July/August issue for his work on camera and for his successful humanitarian efforts. 

"The Last Exorcism" opens in theatres nationwide on August 27.

About the author: Sharon Raiford Bush writes feature articles and cover stories about celebrities who are making a difference in the world around them. She is the West Coast Bureau Chief for Exceptional People Magazine. To contact her, send an email to epmagwest@aol.com.