"Creepy Healers, a 40 minute documentary for National Geographic Ultimate Explorer, required several period recreations to chronicle the historical medical applications of leeches and maggots. Russ Richards and the crew from Historical Extras were extremely professional, good-natured, highly skilled, and collaborative. Given National Geographic`s highest standards of accuracy, it`s nice to know that I didn`t have to worry about authenticity with such knowledgeable crew on hand. It was a great pleasure working with Historical Extras and I look forward to our next reenactment."

-- Jeff Morales
Producer, National Geographic Television and Film

Historical Entertainment's reputation has been built on our extensive track record of providing skilled living historians and history-specialist actors as background artists for a variety of film and television projects. Since the expansion of the company, that's the role of our main operating division, Historical Extras.

Membership on H.E.'s roster of extras is by invitation or application only and all extras must meet our authenticity standards and share our committment to professionalism. Our people know how to behave on a film set and how to get the job done right.

Our people arrive not only with the right skills but also (depending on the period covered and amount of notice) usually with the RIGHT gear and RIGHT clothing -- or, we can equip them.

Our membership includes military reenactors - infantry, cavalry, artillery -- specialist impressions such as medical corps and field musicians, and a wide range of civilian impressions, male and female including individuals with a wide range of period occupational and crafts skills.

We also have a number of members with special impressions of famous historical personages. Need a George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, General Lee or General Grant who actually LOOKS the part and knows what he's doing? We've got them!

Russell E. Richards, CEO and Managing Partner of Historical Entertainment, LLC, and Senior Project Manager for Historical Extras, founded H.E. to respond to the growing demand for more professionalism in providing reenactors as background artists for film and television. Under his leadership, the company has grown to include not only living history reenactors, but also professional services for historical wardrobes, props, special effects, stunts, and production.

Russell E. Richards, CEO

Historical Extras acted as associate producers of the History Channel’s documentary “April 1865—the Month that Saved a Nation,” with Russ as a project leader working under Triage Entertainment, the producers.  Russ served as production manager and casting director, providing casting and most of the crew, including makeup, props, location scouts, horse wranglers, stuntmen and production assistants. Other selected productions for which Russ has handled casting and/or provided background artists include the following: Gettysburg—Monumental Stories of Courage (National Park Service and Comcast Cable in the Classroom) High Tech History—Pickett’s Charge (Discovery Channel, Termite Art Productions) Time Elevator (City Light Productions) Moments in Time (Revolutionary War documentary for Discover Channel, Terra Nova Productions) Legends (WHAG-TV) Creepy Healers (National Geographic Film & Television) Beyond the Movie:  The Lord of the Rings—Return of the King (National Geographic Film & Television) A number of films for the National Park Service’s national, state, and local battlefield parks produced by Media Magic/Historical Films, Inc. (Antietam, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg).  A new film on the impact of the Battle of Fredericksburg on the civilian population’s black and white citizens is currently in production. Contact Russ at historicalextras@comcast.net

Stewart Barroll, General Counsel and Partner, is an attorney in private practice in Chestertown, Maryland, as a member of the firm of Cookerly & Barroll, LLC. He has also been town attorney for Chestertown since 1997 and a member of the Peer Review Committee for the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commssion.

Stewart is admitted to the Maryland Bar and the Federal Bar, practicing before the US District Court, District of Maryland, the US Court of Appeals (4th Circuit) and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Memberships include the American Bar Association (Section on Litigation and Section on Sports & Entertainment Law), The Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Maryland State Bar Association (member, Judicial Appointments Committee). He is a Fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation and a Trustee of the Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, Inc.

Stewart received his Juris Doctor at Wake Forest University in 1979 and his BA at Washington & Lee University, where he graduated cum laude in history.

Stewart's roots on the Eastern Shore are deep. Since 1780, there has been a Barroll practicing law in Chestertown. As might be expected, history has been a lifelong interest for him. He has served as a reenactor and local historian for many years and has appeared as an extra in many historical films, including Civil War films for various National Park Service visitors centers at National Battlefield Parks.

As well as his involvement as a co-owner and general counsel of Historical Entertainment, LLC, he serves as a Board Member and Secretary for Historical Films, Inc., a nonprofit film company for whom H.E. has worked many times in the past. He also represents an attorney in the 7th U.S. Colored Troops reenactment group in Maryland and is co-organizer of the Annual Kent County Civil War Commemoration Event.

As a reenactor, historian and experienced film extra, as well as a highly regarded attorney, Stewart is uniquely placed to understand H.E.’s business and is just as likely to be shouldering a musket as he is to be writing a contract with a film producer on our behalf.