Trivia: Australian actor Paul Hogan was mellow-voiced and rugged enough to succeed as an action hero, but he loved making people laugh, something he'd been doing on a professional basis since his debut as a blindfolded, tap dancing knife thrower on the Aussie TV amateur contest New Faces. With his late-1970s weekly half hour TV show The Paul Hogan Show, he became the most popular comedian in Australia. His material was limited to a handful of subjects -- breasts, bums, beer, and soccer -- but the series' selling card was Hogan's ability to play a wide variety of distinct characterizations, sometimes making the transition from one character to another so quickly that he literally seemed to be two different people. Hogan was able to expand his popularity to England with a series of commercials for Australian Lager Beer; but though The Paul Hogan Show had been shown on a smattering of American independent and PBS stations, he was largely unknown in the U.S. While visiting New York in 1985, Hogan was struck by the wide cultural gaps between the Big Apple and the Outback. With his manager John Cornell as director, Hogan took a big chunk of his TV earnings and produced an amiable culture-clash comedy, Crocodile Dundee (Hogan and Cornell owned 65 percent of the picture, the rest going to the circle of friends who'd invested in the project). To make sure that American audiences would be primed for this film, Hogan agreed to film a series of "visit Australia" ads for no salary. The strategy worked: Crocodile Dundee opened big in the U.S. in the fall of 1986, ultimately posting a worldwide gross of $375,000,000. While filming Dundee, the long-married Hogan fell in love with leading lady Linda Kozlowski; after divesting himself of wife number one (he claimed that the marriage was on the rocks anyway), Hogan made Kozlowski his bride -- and his most frequent costar in subsequent productions. Those later Paul Hogan vehicles failed to match the popularity of Crocodile Dundee, but included Crocodile Dundee II, Lightning Jack, and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles. Hogan and Kozlowski divorced in 2014.

Trivia: Juilliard graduate Linda Kozlowski made her off-Broadway debut in 1981's How It All Began. In 1984, the blonde, coolly sensual Kozlowski was cast as "good-time girl" Miss Forsythe in the revival of Death of a Salesman, a role she repeated in the 1985 movie version. She became a full-fledged film star in the internationally popular Crocodile Dundee (1986), in which she appeared with her future husband Paul Hogan; she went on to co-star with Hogan in Crocodile Dundee II (1989) and Almost an Angel (1990). In 1988, Kozlowski stirred up controversy with her (implied) nude bondage scene in the TV miniseries Favorite Son. She was seen in the 1995 remake of Village of the Damned, and then took a lengthy break from acting to spend time with her family. Kozlowski returned to the Dundee franchise in 2001 with Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles and then returned to her retirement.

Trivia: Veteran Australian character actor John Meillon is best remembered for playing Paul Hogan's partner in Crocodile Dundee (1988) and its sequel, but his film career began in 1959 when he played a sailor in Stanley Kubrick's On the Beach. Meillon made his acting debut at age 11 on the radio and the year after first performed on-stage. He spent the early '60s in Britain where he appeared in such films as The Longest Day (1962), but returned to Australia mid-decade. He gained national fame when he starred in the popular television series My Name's McGooley, What's Yours? Meillon spent the rest of his career working in television and feature films.

Trivia: Born January 30, 195, Charles Dutton attended the Yale School of Drama, and in 1983 he first appeared off-Broadway in Richard III. Before long he was delivering Tony-calibre performances in such Broadway productions as Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and The Piano Lesson. In films since 1986's No Mercy, the forceful, thunder-voiced Dutton has been seen in movies ranging from the mirth-provoking Crocodile Dundee 2 to the spine-chilling Alien 3. In 1991, Charles Dutton began a long TV run as the star of the Fox Network sitcom Roc.Dutton became an actor while serving a seven and a half-year prison sentence for stabbing a man during a street fight. While in prison, Dutton was stabbed in the neck with an ice pick during a fight with another inmate. The incident proved to be the turning point in Dutton's life when he refused to retaliate. Shortly thereafter, he became interested in drama and while serving his sentence completed a two-year college degree course. Upon his release from prison, Dutton was admitted into the Yale School of Drama. There he studied under playwright August Wilson and director Lloyd Richards.In 2000, Dutton directed The Corner, an acclaimed miniseries from HBO adapted from David Simon and Ed Burns' novel "The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood". The Corner won several awards, including an Emmy for Best Miniseries, and Dutton himself was honored for his direction. This would not be the last Emmy he received; the actor won Emmy Awards in 2002 and 2003 for supporting roles in televisiond dramas The Practice and Without a Trace. In 2003, Dutton starred in the made-for-TV drama D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear, and continued to make appearances on popular television shows including The L Word, The Sopranos, and House, M.D. Dutton joined the cast of Threshold in 2005. While the CBS science fiction series gained a loyal following, the show was short-lived. The actor went on to appear in filmmaker John Sayles' 2007 drama Honeydripper, which follows the owner of a blues club that was revitalized by a young electric guitarist.

Trivia: Is an Indigenous Australian, originating from the Yamatji people of the Murchison region of Western Australia. Was a state representative in basketball before becoming an actor. Began his acting career in 1978 as part of the Middar Aboriginal Dance Theatre. First TV appearance was a minor role in the 1985 miniseries The Cowra Breakout. Profile was raised when he played Charlie in the 1988 blockbuster Crocodile Dundee II. Was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1990 for his services to the performing arts. Was nominated as a National Living Treasure in 1997. Narrated the Indigenous segment of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games opening ceremony. In 2012, discovered his adopted daughter Wilara is a distant blood relative when his family appeared in an episode of Family Confidential.

Trivia: Character actor Dennis Boutsikaris is a frequent television guest star and leading man in made-for-TV movies. After a few fairly small roles in the feature films Crocodile Dundee II and The Dream Team, Boutsikaris was launched into star status on many sentimental Lifetime original movies, including And Then There Was One and Chasing the Dragon. Although he has had regular roles on Stat, The Jackie Thomas Show, and Misery Loves Company, he may be more recognizable for his recurring guest appearances on Law & Order and ER. He's also appeared in straight-to-video releases (The Three Lives of Karen) and TV miniseries (The Last Don). In addition, he seems to have made a lucrative living on the side as a voice actor recording books on tape. Boutsikaris has been known to specialize in ripped-from-the-headlines style of TV docudramas such as Victim of Love: The Shannon Mohr Story, Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story (in the role of Woody Allen, no less), and Perfect Murder, Perfect Town, a dramatization about the JonBenet Ramsey murder investigation.

Trivia: Though best known for his work as radio station bigwig Jimmy James on the television series NewsRadio, Stephen Root is one of the busier character actors at work today, and a familiar face to television and movie audiences. Born in Sarasota, FL, on November 17, 1951, Root received a degree in acting and broadcasting from the University of Florida, and after graduating passed an audition to join the touring company of the National Shakespeare Company. After three years with the NSC, Root settled in New York City, where he began working in off-Broadway theater, making his debut in a revival of Journey's End. His first Broadway role, in So Long on Lonely Street, was a bust at the box office, but the 1987 revival of All My Sons was a big hit which generated plenty of enthusiastic press for Root. 1988 saw Root making his motion-picture debut in the George Romero horror opus Monkey Shines, and over the next several years Root worked steadily in feature films, episodic television, and made-for-TV movies, scoring recurring roles on L.A. Law, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Blossom; guest spots on Northern Exposure, Murphy Brown, and Quantum Leap; supporting parts in Ghost, Dave, and Robocop 3; and an acclaimed turn in A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story, as well as its sequel, Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, The Last Chapter. In 1993, Root was cast as R.O. on the television series Harts of the West; the show only lasted a season, but his next role on a series would last a bit longer; cast as Jimmy on the sitcom NewsRadio in 1995, Root would last with the show for five seasons, until the show was canceled after a disappointing final season following the death of co-star Phil Hartman. During hiatus from NewsRadio and after the series ended, Root continued his busy schedule, making memorable appearances in feature films (including Office Space and O Brother, Where Art Thou?) and guesting on other shows. Root also began doing voice work, speaking for Buck Strickland and Bill Dauterive on the animated series King of the Hill and the Sheriff on Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.Root's small-screen voice-work would soon lead to his involvement in two popular big-screen animated features. In 2002's Ice Age, audiences could hear him along with Cedric the Entertainer as a pair of Rhinos. And the next year, Root lent his pipes to the blockbuster underwater adventure Finding Nemo. While his voice became more familiar to moviegoers, Root continued to become more of a presence in live-action films as well. Turning in no less than four supporting performances in high-profile films, Root spent 2004 reteaming with the Coen brothers for The Ladykillers, showing up in a prominent role in Kevin Smith's Jersey Girl, and costarring in the broad comedies Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Mad Money, and Leatherheads.He remained one of the most respected and in-demand character actors of his generation appearing in a variety of projects including Mad Money, The Soloist, Everything Must Go, Red State, Cedar Rapids, and J. Edgar. He also provided numerous voices for the Oscar-winning animated feature Rango.

Trivia: A well-respected character actor who specializes in playing tough guys with a heart, Luis Guzman has appeared in a dizzying array of film and television productions since he began his professional acting career in the early 1980s.Born August 28, 1956, Guzman graduated from City College and worked for some years as a youth counselor at the Henry Street Settlement House. During his time as a social worker, he began performing in street theatre and independent films. Guzman got his first big break in the early '80s with a role on the popular TV series Miami Vice. He went on to work sporadically in film and television throughout the rest of the decade, appearing in such films as Sidney Lumet's Family Business and Ridley Scott's Black Rain (both 1989).Guzman's work schedule grew increasingly crowded as the 1990s progressed; kicking off the decade with an appearance in another Lumet piece, Q & A (1990), the actor began popping up in films ranging from romantic comedy (Anthony Minghella's Mr. Wonderful, 1993) to crime drama (Brian De Palma's Carlito's Way, 1993) to gay and lesbian historical docudrama (Nigel Finch's Stonewall, 1995). Thanks to directors Steven Soderbergh and Paul Thomas Anderson, Guzman became more readily recognizable in the late 1990s. For Soderbergh, he had substantial roles in Out of Sight (1998), which cast him as a prisoner whose planned escape is ruined by George Clooney; and The Limey (1999), in which he played Terence Stamp's gruff but good-hearted partner in revenge. For Anderson, Guzman appeared in both Boogie Nights (1997) and Magnolia (1999), playing a wannabe porn star in the former and a game show contestant in the latter. 2002 proved Guzman's busiest year to date as the increasingly visible actor appeared in no less than five films, including a prominant role in the caper comedy Welcome to Collinwood and a re-teaming with director Anderson with Punch-Drunk Love. On television, Guzman became a regular presence thanks to a recurring role on the HBO prison drama Oz, as well as appearances on such shows as Law and Order, NYPD Blue, and Walker, Texas Ranger.

Trivia: Became accustomed to performing on stage by serving as an altar boy at church. Hired as a teenager by his insurance adjuster/private investigator father to deliver subpoenas during one summer vacation, but lost the job after his father discovered he was using it as a Method Acting opportunity to interact with strangers in character. Cast in his first union acting job as Frankenstein's Monster in the cult musical Have I Got A Girl For You. Honored with a caricature on the wall of Sardi's in 2005. After meeting and impressing Tom Selleck on the set of In & Out (1997), Selleck recommended him for a role on Blue Bloods.

Trivia: Devotees of HBO will have little trouble pinpointing actress Susie Essman; she made one of her most indelible impressions as the brassy, bossy, acid-mouthed Susie Greene, wife of Larry David's manager Jeff Greene (Jeff Garlin), on the quirky sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm. Essman grew up in Mount Vernon, NY, as the daughter of two prosperous Jewish parents: an internist father and a college professor mother who taught Russian at nearby Sarah Lawrence College. She began her career as a stand-up comedian and entered films courtesy of the Tom Hanks/Sally Field seriocomedy Punchline (1988) (as -- fittingly -- a comedian), but hit her stride with Curb, which debuted in 2002. Essman subsequently participated in director Penn Jillette's monologue-heavy raunchfest The Aristocrats (2005) and hosted the Bravo network's competition-themed reality series Better Half (2007), before voicing a cat in the family-oriented animated comedy Bolt (2008). In 2010 she appeared in Kevin Smith's action comedy Cop Out.

Trivia: Appeared on the television talent showcase Star Search at the age of 7. With the help of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star Will Smith, released her debut album Kiss the Sky in 1998. Toured worldwide with *NSYNC and The Backstreet Boys. Was a spokesperson for the Millennium Momentum Foundation, an organization dedicated to funding youth education. Won back-to-back NAACP Image Awards in 2011 and 2012 for her work on The Young and the Restless. Hosted the United Negro College Fund's nationwide Empower Me tour in 2010.

Trivia: From the early days of MTV's Remote Control to his later success with the topical Comedy Central series Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn, gravelly voiced Brooklynite Colin Quinn has become a staple of the comedy scene thanks to his fearless, tell-it-like-it-is style and everyman attitude. Quinn proved to be a ubiquitous presence in the realm of popular comedians thanks to his stint at Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update desk, numerous film roles, and his marked tenacity (even after having no less that three television series canceled, Quinn still returned to host Tough Crowd). His topical brand of comedy doesn't appeal exclusively to New Yorkers, but to anyone who prefers their politics and current events news spiked with a healthy dose of irreverence. A native of Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY, who got his start as a standup comic in the mid-'80s, Quinn made a name for himself with performances at such popular Manhattan comedy clubs as Caroline's and The Comic Strip. He gained a healthy amount of exposure soon thereafter when he joined the cast of MTV's pop-culture game show Remote Control in 1987. Following the cancellation of that show, he took the reigns for the sports comedy series Colin Quinn's Manly World. Though Quinn would appear in such features as Who's the Man? and A Night at the Roxbury during the 1990s, his main focus would remain on television, where he hosted the popular A&E series Caroline's Comedy Hour before stepping in to replace Norm MacDonald as anchor for SNL's popular Weekend Update segment. When his short-lived 2002 series The Colin Quinn Show failed to find an audience, Quinn went back to the drawing board, eventually returning with a winner in the form of Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn. Eschewing the sketch comedy format of the former for a looser, more unpredictable topical approach that found comedians discussing various news stories, the show offered Quinn at his comic best. In the years to come, Quinn would remain an active force in comedy, appearing as a regular guest on the Howard Stern Show, and performing in several successful one-man comedy shows on Broadway, like Long Story Short and Unconstitutional.

Trivia: The son of an actress and a director, Jace Alexander was seemingly destined for a career in show business. He began his professional life as a stage manager on Broadway, soon transitioning into performance. He starred in Broadway productions of plays like Assassins and I'm Not Rappaport, before embarking on a simultaneous career onscreen. He appeared in Eight Men Out and Clueless before returning to school to study direction at the American Film Institute. He went on to direct episodes of many TV series such as Law & Order, Rescue Me, Xena: Warrior Princess, Canterbury's Law, and Warehouse 13.

Trivia: A supporting actor, Blum has appeared onscreen from the '80s.