Guests from Entertainment World to Join Artists, Creators and Writers at Annual Convention

Norwalk, CT, February 2, 2011: The Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) has today announced that Jonathan Bernthal, Laurie Holden, Mark Sheppard and Tahmoh Penikett will be among the many high profile guests who will be participating in the annual pop culture convention which takes place March 18 � 20, 2011 at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. These accomplished actors join previously announced writers, artists, and creators including Brian Michael Bendis, China Miéville, Paul Cornell, and Scott Snyder, among others, in representing the depth and breadth of the pop culture universe.

Programming officials at C2E2 note that a major objective at this year's show has been to diversify the range of talent participating in the convention. Mr. Bernthal, who is best known for his role on the AMC series The Walking Dead, studied at The School of Moscow Art Theatre where he was later discovered by the director of Harvard University's Institute for Advanced Theatre Training; a human rights advocate, Ms. Holden has numerous theater and screen credits and is also currently playing a role in AMC's The Walking Dead; Mr. Sheppard is an accomplished musician as well as successful actor; and Tahmoh Penikett has starred in numerous TV and film productions, including Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. Despite their varied backgrounds, interests and accomplishments, all the guests at C2E2 have contributed significantly to the growth and evolution of pop culture in recent years.

"The talent that we are lining up for C2E2 is representative of the huge influence of pop culture in our world today," notes Lance Fensterman, Group Vice President for ReedPOP and Show Manager for C2E2. "Our show is a dynamic meeting ground for talent and fans from all walks of life who all share a common sensibility. Jon Bernthal, Laurie Holden, Mark Sheppard and Tahmoh Penikett are at the very top of their game and they are well known in the pop culture universe as well as beyond. We are extremely grateful to them for their participation in our show and I know that there are many fans who will also be very grateful to have this chance to meet them in person!"

Jonathan E. "Jon" Bernthal: Jon Bernthal is an American actor, best known for his role on the AMC television series The Walking Dead. He has performed in over 30 plays regionally and off-Broadway, including many with his own award-winning theatre company Fovea Floods. He has also appeared in several TV shows such as Law & Order: Criminal Intent in 2002, The Class from 2006 - 2007 and The Pacific in early 2010. Bernthal was born and raised in Washington, D.C. where he graduated from the Sidwell Friends School. After high school, he studied at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York and later attended The School of Moscow Art Theatre, in Moscow, Russia. During his time there, he also played professional baseball in the European Professional Baseball Federation. He was discovered by the director of Harvard University's Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at the American Repertory Theatre in Moscow and was invited to study for his master's degree there. He graduated in 2002 from the American Repertory Theatre with a Master of Fine Arts.

Laurie Holden: Heather Laurie Holden is an American-Canadian actress and human rights activist. She is perhaps best known for her roles as Marita Covarrubias on The X-Files, Adele Stanton on The Majestic, Cybil Bennett on Silent Hill, Amanda Dumfries on The Mist, Olivia Murray on The Shield, and now as Andrea on The Walking Dead. The stepdaughter of veteran film director Michael Anderson, Holden traveled the world with her family growing up on various locations and got her first break as Rock Hudson's daughter in Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles (1980). Holden was raised in Canada, spent her freshman year at McGill University, then transferred to UCLA to do a BA in Theatre Arts. She is a member of the National Honor Society and was the recipient of the prestigious Natalie Wood Acting Award. She is currently enrolled at Columbia University where she is acquiring her Master of Human Rights degree. Holden has starred in numerous television and film projects and has received worldwide critical acclaim and honorable recognition for her diverse and eclectic choice of roles. Early in her career, Holden made a name for herself by costarring opposite Vanessa Redgrave in the TNT miniseries Young Catherine. Later, she also found some success on the small screen, playing a memorable recurring role on the seminal sci-fi series The X-Files, that of Marita Covarrubias, a mysterious government worker who becomes an informant to Special Agent Fox Mulder starting in the fourth season of that show through the final one (1996-2002). She also had a supporting role, as Mary Travis, opposite Michael Biehn and Ron Perlman in the remake of the MGM classic The Magnificent Seven (1998-2000) for CBS. Holden's most notable roles include starring opposite Jim Carrey in Frank Darabont's film The Majestic. Her memorable roles are in such hits as Fantastic Four (where she played Michael Chiklis' love interest), playing cult hero Cybil Bennett in Christophe Gans' artistic-horror video game adaptation of Silent Hill, and co-starring as Amanda Dumfries opposite Marcia Gay Harden and Thomas Jane in Stephen King's The Mist. Holden recently starred as Olivia Murray in FX's critically acclaimed series The Shield and is also been seen in AMC's The Walking Dead, based on the graphic novel.

Mark Sheppard: Mark Sheppard was born in London, England and began his film career in Jim Sheridan's In The Name Of The Father playing Guildford Four member Paddy Armstrong alongside Daniel Day-Lewis. An accomplished musician, he has recorded and played drums for The T.V. Personalities, Nikki Sudden, Robyn Hitchcock, The Barracudas, Light A Big Fire, School Of Fish and They Eat Their Own, among others. On stage, he has won several theatre awards, including The 1992 Drama Critic's Circle Outstanding Achievement Award for his performance in A Cock & Bull Story. He may be best known for his television work, as Romo Lampkin in Battlestar Galactica, Badger in Joss Whedon's Firefly, Ivan Erwich in Day 5 of 24, plus roles on The X-Files, CSI, Star Trek: Voyager and a host of other characters in films and television. Sheppard currently plays Jim Sterling opposite Timothy Hutton on TNT's Leverage, the Director of The Ring Organization in NBC's Chuck, the Demon Crowley in Supernatural for the CW, and mysterious operative Mr. Valda in SyFy's Warehouse 13. He has lent his voice to various video games and commercials as well, from The Conduit to Dragon Age: Origins and Bear Grylls' Man vs. Wild. He will portray Canton Everett Delaware III in the upcoming season of Doctor Who.

Tahmoh Penikett: Tahmoh Penikett has starred as Lieutenant Karl "Helo" Agathon on the Emmy Nominated Sci Fi series Battlestar Galactica for which he received the prestigious Peabody Award. Prior to Battlestar Galactica, Tahmoh joined the cast of the critically acclaimed Canadian series The Cold Squad for their final season. His performance on that series earned him a LEO award nomination. Tahmoh Penikett's next major public production was Joss Whedon's sci-fi series Dollhouse. He has also been seen in a Guest Starring capacity in a variety of other series including a recurring Guest Star on Whistler (The N), Smallville (FOX) and The L Word (Showtime). Penikett starred in the short film, Trapped Ashes, directed by renowned director Monte Hellman, which debuted at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and he had two films which came out in 2007, Trick 'r Treat (Warner Bros) and The Green Chain (Movie Central) which debuted at the Vancouver Film Festival. Most recently Tahmoh Penikett played the lead role of Matt Ellman on Syfy's four-hour TV adaptation of Riverworld. Tahmoh was born in the city of Whitehorse in the Yukon, Canada and his background, which includes strong ties to the Upper Tanana tribe and their traditions, led him to his love of storytelling. He has a very strong connection and devotion to his family with whom he spends time whenever possible.

Customers interested in signing up for Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo should contact Larry Settembrini at [email protected]. Tickets for C2E2 may be purchased at www.c2e2.com. Other information about the show, as well as news about ReedPOP, which also organizes New York Comic Con (NYCC) is available at Lance Fensterman's blog, www.mediumatlarge.net.

ABOUT REEDPOP: ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions which is exclusively devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium brands in the pop culture arena. ReedPOP is dedicated to producing celebrations of popular culture throughout the world that transcend ordinary events by providing unique access and dynamic personal experiences for consumers and fans. The ReedPOP portfolio includes: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) East & West, Star Wars Celebration V, New York Anime Festival (NYAF), and UFC Fan Expo. The staff at ReedPOP is a fan based group of professionals producing shows for other fans, thus making them uniquely qualified to service those with whom they share a common passion. ReedPOP is focused on bringing its expertise and knowledge to world communities in North America, South America, Asia and Europe.