THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

I was personally invited up the stairs to the dressing area where firemen happily posed for my camera and prepared themselves for the excited attendees below who with their calendar purchase raised money for Ignite The Spirit Fund, a great beneficial organization that helps firefighters in need after being wounded on their dangerous job, and the families of those killed. Each of the thirteen hot firemen made their way down the steep stairs to hit the stage and individually dance down a runway as hundreds of women shrieked in delight. Soon, Sunjata took to the stage and spoke of his present starring role as a fireman on his television show, Rescue Me, and Crobar presented a special check donation of $10,000. Sunjata and all the firemen were extremely friendly and charming, and having a lot of fun for very good reasons.

Daniel Sunjata Condon was born Dec. 30, 1971, in Evanston, Ill., and raised on Chicago's South Side. Sunjata earned a theater degree from the University of Southwest Indiana, and spent two years at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He has acted on several television shows that include Law & Order, Sex & The City and Bad Company. In 2002 Sunjata was nominated for a Tony Award for his role as a gay major league baseball player in Take Me Out—appearing naked on stage in one scene—and in 2004 he played a gay man in the award-winning film Brother to Brother. Other film appearances include Noel ( 2004 ) , Melinda and Melinda ( 2005 ) , The Bronx is Burning ( 2007 ) and The Devil Wears Prada ( 2006 ) . Sunjata returned to Broadway in 2007 to play the second lead, Christian de Neuvelette, in Cyrano De Bergerac,

In 2003, People Magazine named the captivating, 6'1', dark-haired actor of African-American, Iris, and German heritage as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.

For more pictures of Daniel and the bevy of firemen at the event, see www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com/photos/SunjataCrobarJan11-08

Steve Starr's column, STARRLIGHT, appears regularly in various publications including IMAGE Chicago Magazine, Entertainment Magazine Online-EMOL.org/reporters/Starr, the Windy City Times, and the Chicago Art Deco Society Magazine, and has been printed in Skyline, the Modern, Extra!, Factio, Vibralatino, and Splendor Visit www.SteveStarrStudios.com where you can enter The Starrlight Room and view a portion of his frame collection, read Starrlight stories, and enjoy photos, letters, and autographs that he has received from his favorite luminaries. STARRGAZERS-Radiant Photography by Steve Starr is available for events and portraits. Phone 773-252-5171. E-mail ssschicago@ameritech.net .