Trivia: Actor Kel Mitchell swept up a widespread and loyal fan base in the mid-'90s as a teen comic. Mitchell initially joined the cast of the mid-'90s Nickelodeon sketch comedy show All That (1995) -- an unofficial variant of Saturday Night Live, retooled for the preteen set -- and soon became professionally attached to another up-and-comer on the program, Kenan Thompson. The two paired off as the comedy duo "Kenan and Kel," and the meteoric increase in their popularity among viewers prompted Nickelodeon to offer Thompson and Mitchell their own 1996 sitcom, aptly titled Kenan & Kel, which in turn spawned its own 1997 movie, also starring the boys and based on one of their recurring All That sketches. As directed by All That progenitor Brian Robbins (C.H.U.D. 2), the 1997 Good Burger follows the nutty adventures of a couple of short-order cooks, as a corporate fast-food giant sweeps in and threatens to close down their establishment. For several years thereafter, Mitchell chalked up a resumé of contributions to family-friendly productions, including Mystery Men (1999), The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000), and Two Heads Are Better Than None (2000), but he also achieved prominence in the music realm for his goofy music-video parodies of popular songs. Mitchell unveiled even greater ambition by scripting, executive producing, and essaying the lead role in the showbiz comedy Ganked (2005); he stars as Ricky, a young man who wins a songwriting contest but falls prey to the exploitation of a record company. (Astute viewers will also note Mitchell's presence, amid heavy makeup, as Ricky's uncle.) Mitchell tackled one of his most earnest roles two years later, with a supporting contribution to John Sayles' period musical drama Honeydripper (2007).

Trivia: Best known for his 2005 live-action rendering of the Bill Cosby character Fat Albert on the big screen -- a character he brought to life with the aid of a trusty fat suit and the trademark, "Hey, Hey, Hey!" -- wunderkind comic Kenan Thompson honed his skills as a small fry by entertaining classmates with uproarious comedy routines on the playground in his childhood home of Atlanta. Thompson landed his big break by auditioning at age 15 for All That, a Nickelodeon sketch comedy series that (like The Mickey Mouse Club of years prior) functioned as a kind of unofficial petri dish for burgeoning young talent. Series producer and director Brian Robbins reportedly viewed Thompson's audition, tagged his ability to mimic and his comic timing as "dead-on," and hired the young man on the spot. The young comic wowed Nickelodeon, and network heads not only offered him his own sitcom within a year, co-starring another young schtickmeister, Kel Mitchell, but a network-produced movie, the 1997 Good Burger (also starring Mitchell). Numerous additional film roles ensued, and though Mitchell began with goofy, schtick-heavy comedies (Master of Disguise [2002], My Boss' Daughter [2003]), he periodically revealed an interest in stretching his ability into other genres, such as avant-garde/experimental video (Public Lighting [2004]) and action-saturated horror (Snakes on a Plane [2006]). In 2008, however, Thompson hearkened back to comedy by voicing one of the titular primates in the goofy live-action fantasy Space Chimps. Meanwhile, alongside his film work, Thompson achieved even greater success on the small screen. His debut series, All That, had been conveniently described by more than one critic as "SNL for the small set," and paved the way for Thompson's involvement in the real Saturday Night Live; he joined the SNL cast in 2003.

Trivia: A hardworking funnyman whose clean, family friendly persona and animated antics have endeared him into the hearts of dedicated fans worldwide, Sinbad has worked tirelessly to rise to the top of the standup circuit, finding success in both television and film in addition to his popular stage act.Born David Adkins on November 18, 1956, in Benton Harbor, MI, the energetic youngster spent much of his youth entertaining his three brothers and two sisters and refining his unique sense of humor. A passion for basketball and the Harlem Globetrotters won the red-haired youth (affectionately christened "Red" Chamberlain by his teammates) a basketball scholarship to the University of Denver, but a knee injury later sidelined his professional sports aspirations. Turning back to his humorous instincts, Sinbad hit the road for his "Poverty Tour," working the comedy circuits while taking the Greyhound from city to city and living hand-to-mouth. Adapting the moniker of a legend that embodied the spirit of strength, adventure, and optimism symbolized all that the hardworking comedian aspired to be. Putting his faith in God and his ability to make others laugh paid off, and following seven appearances on Star Search the now-established Sinbad was given his television break by comedy legend Redd Foxx. Playing Foxx's son on The New Redd Foxx show in the mid-'80s found the aspiring actor expanding his talents, and though the show didn't last long, it did bring said talents to the attention of yet another comedy legend, Bill Cosby. Following a few other television appearances, Sinbad joined the cast of Cosby Show spin-off A Different World in 1987. Concurrently serving as host for It's Showtime at the Apollo continued his career momentum on the right track, and before long he had developed his own television show, Sinbad and Friends All the Way Live...Almost. On the world of the silver screen, Sinbad made an appropriate debut as a standup comedian in 1989 with That's Adequate. Following with notably funny bone-tickling minor roles in Necessary Roughness (1991) and Coneheads (1993), he took the lead for 1995's Houseguest and has since turned up memorably alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in Jingle All the Way and with James Coburn and Burt Reynolds in the made-for-television film The Cherokee Kid (both 1996), all the while making frequent appearances in standup cable specials and continuing to tour tirelessly. The 2000's would find him appearing on shows like Resurrection Blvd. and Slacker Cats, as well as in films like Stompin' and Leila. In 2010 he competed on the celebrity reality show The Apprentice, and created another stand up special, titled Where U Been?, that same year.In addition to his constant efforts to bring laughter to the masses, Sinbad has dedicated his free time and personal efforts to such causes as the Children's Defense Fund and the Omega Boys Club. Sinbad also made his bid to increase AIDS awareness with his involvement in the Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS and You video in 1992. His intense dedication to family is evident in his hiring of his brothers and sisters to assist him in his numerous endeavors.

Trivia: Slouch-shouldered, basset-faced character actor Abe Vigoda was the son of a Lower East Side tailor. Making his first stage appearance at 17, Vigoda used his GI Bill allotment to study at the American Theatre Wing. He then toiled away in obscurity for nearly 20 years before he was "discovered" by the public in the role of John the Gaunt in Joseph Papp's 1961 staging of Richard II. Another decade would pass before Vigoda attained worldwide fame as the treacherous Tessio in The Godfather. In 1974, he was tested for the minor role of Grimaldi in the upcoming TV sitcom Barney Miller; instead, he landed the role of dour, droopy-eyed Inspector Fish (and a good thing, too; the Grimaldi character was written out after only a few weeks). Vigoda remained with Barney Miller from 1975 to 1977, then was spun off into his own Fish series, which lasted until 1978. Bedeviled with legal problems during the early 1980s, Vigoda nonetheless was able to keep busy as a supporting actor in films (Joe vs. the Volcano, Look Who's Talking) and television; he also periodically returned to the stage, frequently in the Boris Karloff role in Arsenic and Old Lace. Abe Vigoda's 1990s projects have included such roles as Gus Molino in Harlem (1993) and Alaskan Grandpa in North (1994), a voice over stint in the 1994 animated feature Batman: Mask of the Phantom, and a recurring role in the 1991 weekly-TV revival of Dark Shadows. He continued to work steadily appearing in a variety of projects including Jury Duty, Good Burger, and Just the Ticket. He worked intermittently in the 21st century, but Vigoda did star in a well-liked ad for a candy bar that aired during the 2010 Super Bowl and he became a regular face at celebrity roasts where he was often the butt of old age jokes. Vigoda died in 2016, at age 94.

Trivia: Though many know the name Shar Jackson primarily because of her involvement with Kevin Federline, the actress has, in fact, had quite a successful run in her own right. She played the role of Niecy Jackson on the popular sitcom Moesha for several seasons, and also appeared in the Nickelodeon movie Good Burger as Monique. While her relationship with Federline as the father of two of her children did put her personal life in the public eye when he married (and subsequently divorced) Britney Spears in the early 2000s, Jackson played this notoriety to her advantage, winning the reality series Celebrity Rap Superstar, and joining Marla Maples and Angie Everhart as a co-host of the show The Ex-Wives Club.

Trivia: Has three older sisters.Was Senior class president at his high school.After dropping out of Harvard, returned to Memphis and worked at a computer store.Moved to Los Angeles after being discover by a movie producer while attending Memphis State University.Got a job as a pizza delivery boy soon after his move to Los Angeles.Supporter of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.Owner of the production company Schneider's Bakery.

Trivia: Though sharp-eyed Game Show Channel fanatics may recall her from her fireplace-winning stint on The Price Is Right or her appearance on Family Feud, pretty actress Linda Cardellini may be most affectionately known among her fans for her memorable early role as conflicted high school student Lindsay Weir on the short-lived television series Freaks and Geeks. Born in June of 1975 in Redwood, CA, Cardellini became fascinated with acting when asked to sing in a school play at the age of ten. Soon dedicating all of her spare time to stage productions and acting classes during her tenure at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, CA, the young actress received her first television role when she was cast as a student at the ominously named Edgar Allen Poe High School in the creepy kids show Bone Chillers (1996). Feature roles followed shortly thereafter, with Cardellini appearing in such films as Good Burger the following year, and alongside future Freaks and Geeks cast mate (and future love interest) Jason Segel in Dead Man on Campus (1998). Later turning up as a teen tormented by a sadistic Dee Snyder in Strangeland, Cardellini appeared in small roles in a few other small-screen productions before finding herself in the studious but free-thinking shoes of her Freaks and Geeks alter-ego. Examining the flip side of the Beverly Hills 90210 beautiful and privileged teen set, the smart show had a solid cast, insightful writing, and a dedicated following. Unfortunately, it was canceled after less than 20 episodes. Following with supporting roles in The Prince and the Surfer (1999), Legally Blonde, and The Unsaid (both 2001), Cardellini's rising popularity contributed to her largest feature, that of the brainy super sleuth Velma in the live-action adaptation of the beloved animated mainstay Scooby-Doo. She joined the cast of the long-running NBC medical drama E/R in2003, and had one of her most-high-profile successes in 2005 when she appeared in the Oscar-winning Brokeback Mountain. She lent her voice to the short-lived animated series The Goode Family in 2009, and the next year she acted in James Gunn's Super. In 2011 she appeared in Kill the Irishman, and was part of the voice cast of All-Star Superman.

Trivia: Shaquille O'Neal is best known as the hulking 7'1", 300-pound center of basketball's Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers, but his is the rare sports personality able to cross over, with debatable success, into other areas of entertainment, such as movies and rap music. He has also been a spokesman for such popular brands as Pepsi and Reebok.The NBA's future dominant big man and top attraction was born on March 6, 1972, in Newark, NJ, and grew up an army brat, raised on overseas military bases. An All-American and player of the year at Louisiana State University, O'Neal was selected as the top pick in the 1992 NBA draft by the Magic, immediately becoming their meal ticket and earning Rookie of the Year honors. As his persona grew toward household name status, Shaq turned his attention toward film work, first appearing as himself in the rap parody CB4 (1993) and then garnering decent reviews as -- surprise, surprise -- a basketball player in William Friedkin's courtside corruption story Blue Chips (1994).By this time, O'Neal had morphed into one of the most popular professional athletes and a Jordan-sized phenomenon, and his rap career was born. Starting to wear ornate jewelry, he recorded a song with Fu Schnickens and soon released his own album, Shaq Diesel (1993), which sold more than a million copies. Although no one has ever suggested he quit his day job to focus on rhyming, O'Neal has continued to release almost an album a year and befriended such legit collaborators as Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, and Common.It was when Shaq first tried to carry a movie and stretch his limited range that he earned his reputation as a laughable novice, unable to attract crowds in the droves that came to watch him dunk and block shots. He received top billing as a larger-than-life genie in the dopey PG-dud Kazaam (1996), which earned more critical hazings than dollars at the box office (a shade under 19 million dollars). When his follow-up, the harder-edged DC comics Superman spin-off Steel (1997) also went belly up, managing a stomach-churning 1.7 million dollars, Shaq basically hung up his high tops as an actor. Although he purportedly signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1996 off-season to be closer to Hollywood, O'Neal preferred to concentrate on his rapping and winning his first and second NBA championships in 2000 and 2001.

Trivia: Although he has a laid back Huck Finn demeanor, actor/writer/director Robert Wuhl is one of the hardest-working denizens of Tinseltown. He began as a comedy writer, functioning as story editor on the cult TV series Police Squad and winning Emmys for his work (in collaboration with Billy Crystal) on the annual Academy Awards telecast. A film actor since 1980's Hollywood Knights, Wuhl is best remembered for his portrayal of the feckless reporter Alexander Knox in Batman: The Movie (1988), and for his starring stint in Mistress (1992). One of the more noteworthy aspects of Robert Wuhl's career is his ongoing association with baseball -- he played the bullpen-chattering minor league coach in Bull Durham (1988), and the beleaguered biographer of contentious ballplayer Ty Cobb in Cobb (1993); and, taking a brief breather from film work, Wuhl wrote the chapter on Roger Maris in author/editor Danny Peary's 1989 compendium Cult Baseball Players.

Trivia: A recording sensation with young R&B fans, Los Angeles native Marques Houston attained superstardom in late childhood by joining the pop-rap ensemble Immature, alongside Jerome Jones and Kelton Kessee. (Houston was only 11 in 1992, when the group put out its first release). Houston got his first taste of Hollywood stardom by voicing one of the characters in the urban-themed animated feature Bebe's Kids (1992) and by making an on-camera appearance alongside his bandmates in the 1994 urban comedy House Party 3 (starring Kid 'N Play). The band then renamed itself IMx in the mid-'90s. As its members continued releasing albums, Houston moved onto film roles while recording on the side. Projects included episodes of the ABC sitcom Sister, Sister, a turn as Elgin in the teen-oriented dance film You Got Served (2004), and a role as Dumb Donald in the family-friendly comedy Fat Albert (2004). In 2007, Houston switched genres and essayed one of his first lead roles in a feature as one of several teens who fall prey to the homicidal inclinations of an unseen menace in the slasher outing Somebody Help Me (2007).

Trivia: Both parents are from Panama. Changed his name at 14 because people had trouble pronouncing it. Studied in an acting workshop led by Eriq La Salle and Michael Beach. Made his acting debut in the 1988 "Out of Brooklyn" episode of The Cosby Show, in which he played Vanessa's boyfriend Roy. Was the subject of a 2000 Los Angeles Times article about a year in the life of a minority actor. Wrote and directed the 2013 web series The Hypnotist.