Ask Mr. Know It All

November 20, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

By Gary Clothier

Q. What happened to my all-time favorite ice skater, Michelle Kwan?

J.B., Peoria, Ill.

A. Before I answer your question, let me give you some background on this incredible athlete. Michelle Kwan was born in July 1980 in Torrance, Calif.

She is the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history, having won an unprecedented 42 championships, including five World Championships, eight consecutive overall U.S. Championship titles and two Olympic medals (a silver in 1998 and a bronze in 2002).

In her career, she has received 57 perfect 6.0 marks in major competitions, the most of any U.S. skater.

She attended the University of California-Los Angeles for one year but in 2006 transferred to the University of Denver, where she graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in international studies and a minor in political science.

At what Kwan has described as a crossroads in her life, she pondered trying out for her fifth Winter Olympics or going to graduate school.

When she received the letter of acceptance from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, she said, continuing her education was not really a hard decision to make. She graduated this year with a master’s degree in law and diplomacy.

So far this year, the U.S. Department of State has sent Kwan on two diplomatic missions, one to Singapore and the other to China.

I am not aware of whether she has decided to find permanent employment or pursue a doctorate degree.

Q. In TV parlance, there is a name for when a character disappears from the cast with no explanation. Do you know what it is?

C.F.V., Andover, Minn.

A. It’s called the Chuck Cunningham syndrome. Usually writers will find an excuse to write a cast member off the show, but as you mentioned, sometimes they just disappear.

In the first season of “Happy Days,” the Cunningham family included two sons, Richie (Ron Howard) and older brother Chuck (Gavan O’Herlihy).

The role of Fonzie (Henry Winkler) quickly became popular, and the Fonz became Richie’s mentor. Chuck disappeared.

Super Trivia: O’Herlihy is actually two months younger than Howard.

Q. My favorite TV series this year is “Person of Interest.” I’m particularly fascinated by the actor who plays the role of John Reese.

What can you tell me about him? Has he appeared in any other series?

V.G., Concord, Calif.

A. James Caviezel (born in 1968) has appeared in nearly three dozen movies, including the role of Jesus Christ in the 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ.”

In his youth, an acting career was far from his mind. When he entered community college in Washington state, he dreamed of an NBA career, but it never happened.

In his second year, he injured his foot seriously enough to dash any hopes of turning professional.

Caviezel then focused on acting. In 1990 he landed his first film part, albeit a small one.

He later moved to Hollywood, where he continued to find work, although he went relatively unnoticed. In 1998 he received critical recognition for his role as idealist Pvt. Witt in “The Thin Red Line.”

After this he got better roles that established him as a versatile actor and leading man.

In 2002, Caviezel made his strong religious beliefs known.

While filming “High Crimes” (2002), he refused to do any love scenes with on-screen wife Ashley Judd because it conflicted with his strong Catholic faith.

It was about this time that Mel Gibson offered him the role of Jesus Christ.

Off screen, Caviezel lives with his wife, Kerri, a schoolteacher whom he met on a blind date in 1993 and married in 1997.

The couple has an adopted Chinese son, Bo.

Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at AskMrKIA@gmail.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.