Piper
Look up [[piper]] or [[Piper]] in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. '''Piper''' may refer to: For other uses, see below.People
Entertainers and public figures
Billie Piper (born September 22, 1982) is a British actress and former singer who rose to fame as a teen pop artist before transitioning to acting. She debuted with the single "Because We Want To" in 1998, becoming the youngest female solo artist to reach number one on the UK charts at age 15.[1] Her debut album, Honey to the B (1998), achieved double-platinum status, and she earned two BRIT Award nominations in 1999 along with four Smash Hits Awards for her music contributions.[1] Piper shifted to acting in the early 2000s, gaining widespread recognition for portraying Rose Tyler, the companion to the Ninth and Tenth Doctors, in the BBC series Doctor Who from 2005 to 2006, with returns in specials in 2008 and 2010. She returned to the series in 2025.[2] She later starred as Hannah Baxter in the ITV series Secret Diary of a Call Girl (2007–2011), a role that drew significant viewership as one of the channel's top-rated programs.[1] For her stage work in Yerma (2016), Piper won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress, along with honors from the Evening Standard, Critics' Circle, Glamour, What's On Stage, and Broadway UK awards, marking a rare sweep of major UK theater accolades.[1] She also received National Television Awards for Most Popular Actress in 2005 and 2006 for Doctor Who.[3] Piper Perabo (born October 31, 1976) is an American actress known for her roles in film and television, often portraying strong, independent characters. Raised in New Jersey after her birth in Dallas, Texas, she graduated summa cum laude from Ohio University's Honors Tutorial College with a theater degree in 1998.[4] Her breakthrough came with the lead role of Violet Sanford in the film Coyote Ugly (2000), a musical drama that highlighted her singing and dancing abilities and earned her an MTV Movie Award for Best Music Moment in 2001.[5] Perabo gained further prominence starring as CIA operative Annie Walker in the USA Network series Covert Affairs (2010–2014), for which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama in 2011 and a Gracie Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Breakthrough Role.[5] Her film work includes supporting roles in The Prestige (2006) and Looper (2012), contributing to her reputation as a versatile performer across genres.[4] Piper Laurie (born Rosetta Jacobs, January 22, 1932 – October 14, 2023) was an American actress renowned for her dramatic performances in film and television over seven decades. Signed to a studio contract at age 14 by Universal-International, she appeared in B-movies during the 1950s before taking a 15-year hiatus from Hollywood to focus on family and theater.[6] Laurie earned her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress as Sarah Packard in The Hustler (1961), opposite Paul Newman.[6] She received further Oscar nods for Best Supporting Actress as Margaret White in Carrie (1976) and Best Actress as Sarah Norman in Children of a Lesser God (1986).[6] On television, she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for Promise (1986) and garnered eight additional Emmy nominations, including for her portrayal of Catherine Martell in Twin Peaks (1990–1991).[6] Laurie died in Los Angeles at age 91 from natural causes related to old age.[6] Adrian Piper (born 1948) is an American conceptual and performance artist whose work explores themes of race, gender, and identity through provocative installations and public interventions. A first-generation conceptual artist, she began exhibiting in the late 1960s after studying at the School of Visual Arts and earning a B.A. in philosophy from City College of New York in 1974.[7] One of her seminal series, The Mythic Being (1973–1975), featured Piper performing as an androgynous alter ego in public spaces, using photography, drawing, and street actions to challenge societal perceptions of otherness.[7] She integrated political and philosophical elements into her art, as seen in works like Parallel Grid Proposal for Dugway Proving Grounds (1968), which critiqued militarism through minimalist sculpture.[7] In 2002, Piper founded the Adrian Piper Research Archive Foundation (APRA Foundation Berlin) to preserve and promote her oeuvre, following her relocation to Berlin in 2005.[8] Her contributions earned her the Golden Lion for Best Artist at the 56th Venice Biennale in 2015 for The Probable Trust Registry (2013–2015), a mixed-media installation questioning social trust.[7] Piper's retrospectives, including at the Museum of Modern Art in 2018, underscore her influence on feminist and conceptual art.[7]Academics and professionals
Piper Kerman is an American author and advocate for criminal justice reform, best known for her memoir Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison (Spiegel & Grau, 2010), which details her experiences in federal prison and inspired the Netflix series of the same name.[9] She graduated from Smith College with a bachelor's degree in 1992.[10] Kerman pleaded guilty in 1998 to charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit drug trafficking stemming from actions in 1993, receiving a 15-month sentence in 2004; she served 13 months at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, from February 2004 to June 2005.[9] Professionally, she works as a communications consultant for non-profit organizations and serves on the board of directors of the Women's Prison Association; she has also taught writing workshops to incarcerated individuals in state prisons.[11][12] John Piper is an American Reformed Baptist theologian, pastor, and author who has significantly influenced evangelical thought through his writings on Christian hedonism and biblical exposition. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College in 1968, a Master of Divinity equivalent from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1971, and a Doctor of Theology in New Testament studies from the University of Munich in 1974 under Leonhard Goppelt.[13] Piper served as senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from 1980 to 2013, a congregation affiliated with the Baptist General Conference (now Converge Worldwide).[14] In 1994, he founded Desiring God, a non-profit ministry dedicated to spreading a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through resources like books, articles, and sermons.[13] Piper has authored more than 50 books, including the seminal Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (Multnomah, 1986), which articulates his theology that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.[15] Keith Piper is a British artist, curator, researcher, and academic whose work critically examines themes of race, technology, colonialism, and the Black diaspora through multimedia installations and digital media. Born in 1960 in Malta to a family of Jamaican descent, he studied fine art at Trent Polytechnic (now Nottingham Trent University) from 1979 to 1983.[16] Piper's practice often integrates historical analysis with speculative futurism, as seen in projects like Jet Black Futures (2018–ongoing), which explores racial metaphors in science fiction, surveillance technologies, and post-humanism.[17] Academically, he has held positions including joint UAL Chair in Black Art and Design Studies at the University of the Arts London (Chelsea College of Arts) from 2014 to 2017, and since 2006, Associate Professor/Reader (now Professor) in Fine Art and Digital Media at Middlesex University, where he focuses on digital technologies in artistic and cultural contexts.[18][19] His contributions include curatorial roles, such as co-founding the BLK Art Group in 1981, and publications like essays on Black British art history.[20]Historical figures
John Piper (1774–1851) was a Scottish-born military officer and colonial administrator in early Australia. Born on 8 August 1774 in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland, he arrived in Sydney in February 1792 as an ensign in the New South Wales Corps aboard the transport ship Pitt.[21] Promoted to lieutenant in 1795 and captain in 1800, Piper served as acting commandant of Norfolk Island in 1804 and later as naval officer and collector of customs in Sydney from 1813 to 1827.[21] He received significant land grants, including 110 acres at Parramatta in 1793 and 1,900 acres at Point Piper in 1816, which contributed to his status as a major landowner in the colony; additional holdings encompassed estates at Vaucluse, Woollahra, Bathurst, and elsewhere totaling over 5,000 acres.[21] Piper's administrative role involved overseeing port duties and early colonial trade, though he faced suspension in 1827 amid allegations of financial mismanagement, leading to personal distress including an attempted suicide.[21] He died on 8 June 1851 at his Westbourne estate near Bathurst, New South Wales, with his papers preserved in the State Library of New South Wales, providing insights into colonial land administration and social life.[21] William Piper (1774–1852) was an American military officer and politician from Pennsylvania during the early republic era. Born on 1 January 1774 in Bloody Run (present-day Everett), Bedford County, Pennsylvania, he commanded a regiment in the Pennsylvania militia during the War of 1812, contributing to regional defense efforts against British incursions.[22] Following the war, Piper served as adjutant general of Pennsylvania, managing state military logistics and organization in the postwar period.[23] Elected as a Democratic-Republican, he represented Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1811 to 1813 and the 8th district from 1813 to 1817, where he participated in debates on national infrastructure and economic policy amid the postwar recovery.[22] After leaving Congress, Piper continued in state politics as a member of the Pennsylvania Senate from 1817 to 1821 and again from 1829 to 1833, influencing local governance during the contentious national debates over territorial expansion and slavery.[23] He died in 1852 in Hopewell Township, Bedford County, with records of his service documented in Pennsylvania state archives and congressional proceedings.[22]Arts and entertainment
Fictional characters
Piper Halliwell is a central character in the television series Charmed (1998–2006), portrayed by Holly Marie Combs as the middle sister among the three Halliwell witches.[24] Initially possessing the power of molecular immobilization, which allows her to freeze time or objects by slowing molecules, Piper's abilities evolve to include molecular combustion, enabling her to cause explosions by speeding up molecules, a skill she uses to vanquish demons.[24] As part of the "Power of Three," she combines magic with her sisters for amplified feats, and following the death of her eldest sister Prue in season 3, Piper assumes the role of leader among the Charmed Ones, balancing family dynamics, her restaurant ownership, and battles against supernatural threats.[24] Piper Chapman serves as the protagonist in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019), played by Taylor Schilling, based loosely on the real-life memoir by Piper Kerman.[25] Sentenced to 15 months in Litchfield Penitentiary for her decade-old involvement in a drug trafficking ring—specifically money laundering and conspiracy with ex-girlfriend Alex Vause—Chapman enters prison as a privileged, naive New Yorker engaged to Larry Bloom and co-running an artisanal soap business.[25] Her arc involves adapting to prison hierarchies, rekindling her romance with Vause, and confronting personal flaws like entitlement, culminating in an early release at the end of season 6, after which she relocates to Ohio to support Vause following a prison transfer.[25]Films and television
Piper (2016 short film)Piper is a 6-minute computer-animated short film produced by Pixar Animation Studios, centered on a young sandpiper bird that learns to forage for food despite its fear of ocean waves.[26] Directed by Alan Barillaro in his directorial debut and produced by Marc Sondheimer, the film premiered on June 17, 2016, alongside Pixar's Finding Dory.[27] It features no dialogue, relying on expressive animation to convey the bird's curiosity and growth, with musical score by Adrian Belew.[28] The production emphasized technical advancements in simulating wet feathers and bird behaviors, stemming from Pixar's research and development efforts to create realistic plumage dynamics.[29] Piper received widespread acclaim and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 89th Academy Awards in 2017, along with the Annie Award for Best Short Subject that year.[30] It also earned a nomination for the Empire Award for Best Short Film.[30] The Pied Piper (1972 film)
The Pied Piper is a musical fantasy film loosely adapted from the Brothers Grimm folktale "The Pied Piper of Hamelin," set in 14th-century Germany amid the Black Death.[31] Directed by Jacques Demy and starring musician Donovan in the title role as a wandering minstrel who uses his flute to rid the town of Hamelin of rats, only to lead away its children when unpaid, the film blends live-action with animated sequences to depict the plague's devastation and themes of greed and retribution.[32] Produced by Robert Solo and released on August 15, 1972, in the United Kingdom, it features original songs composed and performed by Donovan, including "The Piper of Hamelin" and "Tall Oaks from Little Acorns."[33] The narrative critiques societal corruption through the piper's moral dilemma, culminating in a poignant resolution during the era's historical turmoil.[34] Though it received mixed reviews for its dark tone, the film has been noted for its atmospheric cinematography and Donovan's charismatic performance.[35] Piper's Picks TV (2007–2013)
Piper's Picks TV is a pioneering web-based entertainment news series targeted at teens and tweens, featuring interviews with celebrities from film, music, and television.[36] Launched in 2007 by then-7-year-old host Piper Reese—making her the youngest video podcaster at the time—the show was created and produced by her father, Adam Feinsilver, and initially distributed via YouTube and podcast platforms from Wellington, Florida.[37] Running through 2013 with over 270 episodes, it covered topics like movie premieres, theme park visits, and teen trends, with Reese conducting on-location chats with stars such as those from High School Musical and Twilight.[38] The series gained recognition for bringing accessible Hollywood content to young audiences, amassing millions of views and earning Reese credentials as an accredited child journalist.[39] By its conclusion, Piper's Picks TV had established a model for youth-led digital media, influencing later kid-hosted shows.[40]