Actor Who Portrayed WWII Hero Basilone to Appear in Fort Lee Saturday

The Fort Lee Film Commission and the Fort Lee V.F.W. announced last week that actor Jon Seda, who stars in the HBO miniseries “The Pacific,” will appear at the final screening of the miniseries concluding the 2011 Cliffhanger Film Festival on Saturday at the .

The miniseries, which was produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, details New Jersey native Sgt. John Basilone's heroics in the Pacific Theatre of World War II in such locations as Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, where Basilone died, according to the Film Commission.

Seda is a native of New Jersey, and his portrayal of Medal of Honor winner and World War II hero, Basilone, made the miniseries memorable, said Fort Lee Film Commission executive director Tom Meyers.  

“A resident of Fort Lee I knew from Holy Trinity Parochial School in the Coytesville section of Fort Lee, Nelson Cruz, contacted me via email and he said he is related to Jon and that he told Jon about our Cliffhanger film fest salute to John Basilone,” Meyers explained of the actor’s chance, last-minute appearance in Fort Lee Saturday. “And he was interested in attending.”

Meyers said he was “very honored” to learn of Seda’s interest.

“This will take place on June 4, which is the eve before the New Jersey Hall of Fame inducts Sergeant Basilone at the NJPAC in Newark,” Meyers said. “This whole film festival, before and after Memorial Day, we hope, reminds Fort Lee residents of the contributions of all veterans and most especially New Jersey native Sgt. John Basilone.”

On June 5, Basilone will be inducted into the New Jersey hall of Fame due in large part to the efforts of Fort Lee V.F.W. Commander James Viola, according to Meyers.  

“We salute our Fort Lee veterans, and we welcome actor Jon Seda to this special event to honor the memory of Sgt. Basilone,” Meyers said.

Seda can currently be seen in the award-winning HBO series “Treme.”

The final screening of HBO’s “The Pacific” is Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Fort Lee Community Center.  

For more information call the Fort Lee Film Commission at 201-693-2763 or visit www.fortleefilm.org.