Biography
Douglas Swander is an American actor, singer, songwriter and performer known for the motion pictures, "October Sky" (Jake Gyllenhaal), "The Chamber" (Gene Hackman), "Razortooth" (Josh Gad), the syndicated talent show "Star Search" (Ed McMahon) and the featured vocalist on NBC's "The Miss America Pageant" with co-hosts Gary Collins and Kathy Lee Gifford. Swander was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. By the age of nineteen he was playing the role of Herb in a regional touring company of "Godspell." At the age of twenty he was the regular singer fronting a nine piece band on the NBC affiliate in Cincinnati for the regional daily live variety television show, "The Bob Braun Show." In the early 1980s, Doug moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he lived and worked as a singer and songwriter for the next ten years. He was a regular on the infamous Grand Ole Opry's WSM 650 Radio Show, "The Waking Crew" for five years while appearing at the same time as a regular on the NBC affiliate's daily live variety television show, "Channel Four Magazine." While in Nashville he studied under the acclaimed vocal coach, Renee Grant-Williams and became a facilitator for her Master Class. As a singer, his voice was recorded for The Epic Label of Sony, over one hundred demos, and thirty jingles. As a songwriter, he was a staff member with Warner/Chappell Music Publishing for five years from which his song catalog has garnered twelve album cuts and four released singles. In early 2001 Swander moved to Los Angeles to continue his career in music, film and TV. He's performed in New York, Atlantic City, Las Vegas and Los Angeles appearing alongside many of the greats including Henry Mancini, Ray Price, Michael McDonald, David Foster, Tammy Wynette, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Medley and many more. He's worked with renowned songwriters and record producers, John Bettis (The Carpenters), Josh Leo (Martina McBride, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), Billy Strange (Elvis, Frank & Nancy Sinatra), Skip Scarborough (Anita Baker), Joe Thomas (Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys) and more. As an actor, Swander has been in over a dozen national commercials spanning Taco Bell, Kelloggs, Pillsbury, Toyota and Sunchips including commercial directors John Dykstra (Star Wars, Spider Man) and Steve Steigman (the famed Maxell Blown Away campaign). In motion pictures he has been directed by Joe Johnston, James Foley, Jon Favreau, Sam Raimi, Mike Elliott and more. While in LA, he's had the privilege of working with acting coaches, Allan Rich (Serpico) and Julie Ariola (Sons Of Anarchy, Deadwood). Currently, Swander resides in Los Angeles where his latest projects have included SAG-AFTRA Radio Plays as the role of Cass Country Boy in a reenactment of the Gene Autry Melody Ranch Radio Show from the 1940s-50s CBS Radio, with director Bob Telford. Doug has been the lead singer for the 16 piece swing bands, The Angel City Big Band and The Horace Heidt Jr. Big Band, performing in venues across the city. He is currently writing, narrating and composing the music, with arrangements by Milton Nelson, for an original series of short cowboy stories inspired by his long time friend, mentor and co-star of Rawhide - Sheb Wooley.
