Hollywood actor to introduce Judson University inspirational speaker
Hollywood character actor Doug Jones will be at Judson University's Elgin campus in October to introduce World Leaders Forum Inspirational Series inaugural speaker Nick Vujicic.
Jones, best known for his portrayal of the Silver Surfer in Marvel's 2007 Superhero flick, "Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer," and Abe Sapien in the "Hellboy" movies, served as a guest speaker during Judson's Imago Film Festival last year.
Vujicic was born without arms and legs due to the rare congenital disorder known as tetra-Amelia syndrome. He will share how he overcame his physical challenges through faith at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at Lindner Fitness Center, 1151 N. State St.
Jones and Vujicic were featured in the award-winning 2009 short film, "The Butterfly Circus," and will see each other again for the first time since on Oct. 12.
"Doug hit it off with Nick Vujicic on the set of 'The Butterfly Circus,' and I'm happy that we'll see them back together at this event," said Imago Film Festival director Terry Wandtke, a film and media professor at Judson.
Jones also will be at the screening of "The Butterfly Circus" during the 10 a.m. service in Herrick Chapel that same day. The service is free and open to the public.
Jones' latest project includes the upcoming horror film, "Crimson Peak," directed by Guillermo del Toro, releasing in theaters Oct. 16.
"As an actor/character artist who works on huge Hollywood productions, he is very humble and faithful and maintains a winning sense of humor about his success as a performer," Wandtke said.
The Inspirational Series builds on the success of Judson's World Leaders Forum that in five years has brought former President George W. Bush, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and former Mexican President Felipe Calderón to Elgin.
Tickets for the Inspirational Series are $50 per person and can be purchased at judsonu.edu.