Howard Zinn (1922-2010) was a historian, playwright, and activist. He wrote the classic A People's History of the United States. In 2009, the History Channel aired The People Speak, an acclaimed documentary codirected by Zinn, based on A People's History and Voices of a People's History of the United States.
David Strathairn won a Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival and earned Best Actor nominations from the Academy, Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA, and Independent Spirit Awards for his compelling portrait of CBS news broadcaster Edward R. Murrow in George Clooney's Oscar-nominated drama Good Night, and Good Luck.