Trivia: Born in Alberta, Canada, in 1971, Nathan Fillion took his acting ambitions to the United States when he moved to New York in 1994 to portray Joey Buchanan on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. Having previously appeared in a single TV movie, Ordeal in the Arctic, Fillion's acting career had taken a backseat to his plans to be an English teacher. His three-year stint on the long-standing daytime TV staple, however, changed his focus in a big way. When his time on One Life to Live was up, the 27-year-old actor relocated to Los Angeles to assume a regular role on the sitcom Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place. Shortly afterward, he made a memorable appearance as the "wrong Ryan" in Steven Spielberg's WWII epic Saving Private Ryan. He also made appearances on The Outer Limits, King of the Hill, Pasadena, and other projects. It was in 2002, however, that he assumed the role that would make his career. Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon selected Fillion to portray rugged captain Mal Reynolds for his new sci-fi/Western series Firefly. The show found a rabidly loyal cult fan base, as well as incomparable critical praise, but tragically, failed to find the wide audience that Fox had been hoping for. The show was canceled after only 11 episodes, but Fillion had reached a level of familiarity with the public that most actors never hope to achieve. He reprised the role of Mal in 2005 for the feature-film adaptation of Firefly, Serenity, to the delight of fans. In 2006, Fillion stayed on the cream of the fringe with the much anticipated horror film Slither. Starring alongside Elizabeth Banks, the actor stole the show with his humorous, low-key performance. For his next project, he signed on to act alongside Keri Russell in the romantic comedy Waitress. When the writer's strike hit, Fillion teamed with his old collaborator Joss Whedon to star in the direct-to-the-web musical miniseries Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. In 2009 he landed the title role on the ABC series Castle, and took a small role in the dark superhero comedy Super in 2010.

Trivia: Became interested in acting as a small child but did not begin performing until college. Earned her MFA at University of Alabama through the school's master's program with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Moved to New York City to pursue her acting career in 2008 following the completion of her master's degree. Cast as the understudy for three female leads in Joe Turner's Come and Gone on Broadway in 2009. In 2010, replaced Kerry Washington in the starring role of Susan in David Mamet's Race on Broadway after working as her understudy for 7 months. Played the role of Jo in an off-Broadway production of The Legend of Georgia McBride at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in 2015.

Trivia: The physically striking actor Eric Winter originally started out as a model before he cut his acting chops in the early 2000s, with periodic contributions (in guest-acting roles) to such programs as Charmed and CSI. In 2002, he found regular work on the soap opera Days of Our Lives, playing the mysterious Rex Brady for several years. When Winter left that show, there was no shortage of work for the handsome thespian, who was soon appearing on such programs as Wildfire, Viva Laughlin, and Brothers & Sisters. On the latter series (the most popular of the bunch), he portrayed gay minister Jason McCallister, the brother of Republican presidential candidate Senator Robert McCallister (Rob Lowe) and a love interest for lawyer Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys). Winter followed that up with a recurring part as ADA Benjamin Talbot on the short-lived vampire detective series Moonlight. Also in 2007, he appeared in the stoner comedy Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (the sequel to the massive sleeper hit Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) as Colton Graham, the outwardly perfect but secretly manipulative and smug Republican fiancé of Kumar's ex-girlfriend (whom Kumar is still in love with).

Trivia: Won the third season of Canadian Idol in 2005. Released her self-titled debut album in 2005. Performed as Eponine in a 2013 Toronto production of Les Miserables; she later joined the 2014 Broadway revival cast of the show, acting in the ensemble and as an understudy for Eponine and Fantine. Won a 2014 Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in Theatre/Opera for her performance in Les Miserables.

Trivia: African-American supporting player Richard T. Jones boasts a resumé exhibiting the genre versatility of the most gifted character actors. Jones made his first significant onscreen appearance in 1993, with a bit part as Ike Turner Jr. in the harrowing drama What's Love Got to Do With It? He then branched out into supporting roles in such pictures as the military comedy Renaissance Man, the goofy Pauly Shore yuck-fest Jury Duty, the sci-fi horror film Event Horizon, and the psychological thrillers Kiss the Girls (1997) and Twisted (2004). In addition, Jones played Officer Clement Johnson on the short-lived cop drama Brooklyn South in the late '90s. The actor was particularly memorable in his regular role opposite Amy Brenneman on the legal drama series Judging Amy (1999-2005), as Court Services officer Bruce Van Exel. After taking appearing in multiple episodes of the sitcom Girlfriends as Aaron and in supporting roles in films such as Why Did I Get Married? and Vantage Point, Jones scored a regular part on the hit sci-fi series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, playing FBI agent James Ellison, who is constantly on the hunt for the fugitive Sarah Connor. He also appeared in J. J. Abrams 2011 Spielberg homage Super 8.

Trivia: Frequently relocated throughout his childhood because of his father's military service.Took voice lessons when he was middle school.Started acting during his senior year of high school, at age 17, securing a lead role in his first musical, 1940 Radio Hour.Worked as a New York Knicks Acroback Tumbler, performing during half-times at the Knicks Madison Square Garden home games, early in his entertainment career.Was also a part of Liberty Dancers, the co-ed hip hop WNBA dance team.

Trivia: Is of Colombian and Mexican-American descent. As a kid she dreamed of becoming a dancer. Was introduced to acting in elementary school when a teacher asked her if she would rather take a cooking class or one in theater. Her first role was Huckleberry Finn. Big break came when she landed the role of Celia Ortega on the soap opera As the World Turns in 2005. Best known for her role as Jasmine on The Nine Lives of Chloe King and as Gloria on Army Wives. Is trained in martial arts and is a huge fan of Bruce Lee.

Trivia: Moved to the U.S. from Sweden at age 12. Made her first film appearance in an uncredited role in the 2006 romantic comedy The Breakup. Was a series regular on two short-lived shows, The Finder and 666 Park Avenue, back-to-back in 2012.

Trivia: A television personality most familiar to viewers for his stint as the host of the E! network's satirical pop-culture commentary The Soup (updated and reworked from the channel's original Talk Soup), Joel McHale grew up in the Seattle area and attended the University of Washington as a theater major, where he earned his master's in drama. After relocating to Los Angeles, McHale signed for guest roles and bit parts on series including Will & Grace and Oliver Beene, then landed a small role as Mr. Jacks in the Sam Raimi feature Spider-Man 2, followed by parts in Catherine Hardwicke's Lords of Dogtown and the sketch comedy outing The Onion Movie. On the side, McHale also emceed a series of Burger King commercials. He culled his broadest fan base on The Soup, however, distinguishing himself with sharp sarcasm and a quick wit. He had a breakthrough when he was cast as the lead in the cult hit sitcom Community on NBC, and he continued to act in projects such as The Informant!, Spy Kids: All the Time In the World, and 2012's Ted.

Trivia: Her father worked for the United Nations. Spent most of her childhood living in Fiji and the Solomon Islands. Met a producer while working at a restaurant in Los Angeles, which led to her first professional acting job in the movie Cellular in 2004.

Trivia: Though she qualifies as a direct descendant of Middle Eastern royalty -- the great-great-grandaughter, in fact, of a 19th century Persian shah -- Iranian-American Sarah Shahi lived out several offscreen roles exotic enough to rival anything in her lineage. During her adolescence, she enjoyed stints as a USO performer and Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, and graduated from that experience to a successful Hollywood acting career at the behest of Robert Altman, who advised her in 2000 to make a beeline for the West Coast and audition for television pilots. Heeding this advice, Shahi gained national attention a short time later, as Jenny during the first season of the spy series Alias (opposite Jennifer Garner), and -- following guest appearances on Dawson's Creek -- debuted cinematically with a small but memorable role as a (very) willing classroom participant, in the Will Ferrell/Vince Vaughn frat boy comedy Old School (2003). Alongside fleeting appearances in such movies as Legally Blonde 2 (2003) and For Your Consideration (2006), Shahi also played the regular role of Carmen de la Pica Morales on Showtime's lesbian-themed drama The L Word during that program's second and third seasons. After her run on that series, she appeared in the short-lived sitcom Teachers (2006), and then found another regular role the next year on the cop drama Life, playing Dani Reese, partner of main character Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis). Shahi would continue to appear in several other projects, including films like I Don't Know How She Does It and the TV series Fairly Legal. In 2013, she had a guest stint on Person of Interest, which turned into a series regular role.

Trivia: Born in San Mateo, CA, barrel-chested American supporting actor Michael Trucco opted for the most unlikely and circuitous route into show business: he began his studies as a criminal justice major at the University of Santa Clara -- with plans to model his own career after that of his law officer father -- and discovered theater by accident, first via a drama course for non-majors, then by switching his major to dramatic arts at the behest of a drama teacher and his own parents. Numerous minor roles in theatrical productions followed; Trucco's turn in a Los Angeles-area production of the Aaron Sorkin play A Few Good Men solicited the attentions of an agent, who signed the aspiring actor and secured bit parts for him in many films and television programs. These included single-episode contributions to CSI, Arli$$, and Charmed; a supporting role in the sex comedy What Boys Like; and recurring roles on One Tree Hill, as Cooper Lee, and on the popular sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica, as Sam Anders. Trucco could then be seen in the Nicolas Cage vehicle Next in summer 2007.

Trivia: Is a childhood friend of Levison Wood, a well-known British explorer, writer and photographer. Awarded a Dance and Drama Awards scholarship at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, where he studied for three years. Auditioned for his role in Batman Begins (2005) on the day of his ALRA graduation. Attended the Bramon Garcia Braun Studio and worked with the Groundlings Writing Lab. Appeared in commercials for Metro PCS, Carfax and Vicks.