Steve Carell
(Actor)
.. Evan Baxter
Born:
August 16, 1963
Birthplace: Concord, Massachusetts, United States
Trivia:
Possessing a sort of surreal, outlandish, and childish comic persona that is only enhanced by his deceptively straight-laced appearance, comic performer Steve Carell first gained a faithful following thanks to an enduring run as a correspondent on the popular Comedy Central news satire series The Daily Show. Though Carell had been performing on the small screen in such shows as The Dana Carvey Show and Over the Top since the early '90s, it was his grating but hilariously obnoxious reports on The Daily Show that truly made him a talent to watch.A native of Concord, MA, and an alumni of Chicago's famed Second City comedy troupe, Carell gained early experience with stints at the Windy City's Goodman and Wisdom Bridge Theaters. Following his feature debut in the 1991 comedy Curly Sue, Carell made a name for himself in television as a writer/performer on The Dana Carvey Show. In the years that followed, he would frequently alternate between film and television, and he continued to do so after joining the cast of The Daily Show in 1999. Sharp-eared television viewers would recognize Carell as the voice of crime-fighter Gary (a role that he played opposite Daily Show co-star Stephen Colbert) on Saturday Night Live's popular TV Funhouse segment "The Ambiguously Gay Duo." Following roles in such little-seen features as Tomorrow Night and Suits, Carell would return to the small screen for a key supporting role in ex-Seinfeld star Julia Louis-Dreyfus' short-lived sitcom Watching Ellie.In 2003, Carell nearly stole the show from comic megastar Jim Carrey with his role as an obnoxious television newscaster in the heavenly comedy Bruce Almighty, before once again stepping into a faux television studio to portray cerebrally challenged weather forecaster Brick Tamland in the 2004 Will Ferrell vehicle Anchorman. Carell then stepped out of the newsroom and into cubicle-land for the lead in NBC's American remake of the popular British sitcom The Office, for which he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy Series in 2005. Carell also made a brief but indelible cameo opposite Anchorman co-star Ferrell in the big-screen adaptation of Bewitched.Carell's Anchorman colleagues also aided him in realizing his breakout role, later that same summer: the hapless innocent title character of The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Written by Carell and co-scripted and directed by Anchorman producer Judd Apatow, the raunchy-yet-sweet comedy had an inauspicious August release, yet its bawdy, adult-oriented laughs resonated with much of the same audience that made The Wedding Crashers an R-rated success story just a few weeks prior. Like Ferrell before him, Carell suddenly found himself in the enviable position of being able to pick and choose from a number of high-priced, high-profile comedic starring roles, among them the Bruce Almighty sequel Evan Almighty, as well as Get Smart, Horton Hears a Who!, and Dinner For Schmucks. Carrel would continue to pepper his resume with low-key roles as well, however, appearing in dramedies like Dan in Real Life and Crazy, Stupid, Love.He continued to work steadily in smaller films like The Way Way Back and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, as well as sequels like Despicable Me 2 and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. In 2014 Carell picked up the first Oscar nomination of his career for playing against type as the billionaire John DuPont in Bennett Miller's true-crime psychological drama Foxcatcher.
Morgan Freeman
(Actor)
.. God
Born:
June 01, 1937
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Trivia:
Morgan Freeman has enjoyed an impressive and varied career on stage, television, and screen. It is a career that began in the mid-'60s, when Freeman appeared in an off-Broadway production of The Niggerlovers and with Pearl Bailey in an all-African-American Broadway production of Hello, Dolly! in 1968. He went on to have a successful career both on and off-Broadway, showcasing his talents in everything from musicals to contemporary drama to Shakespeare. Before studying acting, the Memphis-born Freeman attended Los Angeles Community College and served a five-year stint with the Air Force from 1955 to 1959. After getting his start on the stage, he worked in television, playing Easy Reader on the PBS children's educational series The Electric Company from 1971 through 1976. During that period, Freeman also made his movie debut in the lighthearted children's movie Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow? (1971). Save for his work on the PBS show, Freeman's television and feature film appearances through the '70s were sporadic, but in 1980, he earned critical acclaim for his work in the prison drama Brubaker. He gained additional recognition for his work on the small screen with a regular role on the daytime drama Days of Our Lives from 1982 to 1984. Following Brubaker, Freeman's subsequent '80s film work was generally undistinguished until he played the dangerously emotional pimp in Street Smart (1987) and earned his first Oscar nomination. With the success of Street Smart, Freeman's film career duly took off and he appeared in a string of excellent films that began with the powerful Clean and Sober (1988) and continued with Driving Miss Daisy (1989), in which Freeman reprised his Obie-winning role of a dignified, patient Southern chauffeur and earned his second Oscar nomination for his efforts. In 1989, he also played a tough and cynical gravedigger who joins a newly formed regiment of black Union soldiers helmed by Matthew Broderick in Glory. The acclaim he won for that role was replicated with his portrayal of a high school principal in that same year's Lean on Me.Freeman constitutes one of the few African-American actors to play roles not specifically written for African-Americans, as evidenced by his work in such films as Kevin Costner's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), in which he played Robin's sidekick, and Clint Eastwood's revisionist Western Unforgiven (1992). In 1993, Freeman demonstrated his skills on the other side of the camera, making his directorial debut with Bopha!, the story of a South African cop alienated from his son by apartheid. The following year, the actor received a third Oscar nomination as an aged lifer in the prison drama The Shawshank Redemption. He went on to do steady work throughout the rest of the decade, turning in memorable performances in films like Seven (1995), in which he played a world-weary detective; Amistad (1997), which featured him as a former slave; Kiss the Girls (1997), a thriller in which he played a police detective; and Deep Impact, a 1998 blockbuster that cast Freeman as the President of the United States. Following an appearance opposite Renee Zellweger in director Neil LaBute's Nurse Betty, Freeman would return to the role of detective Alex Cross in the Kiss the Girls sequel Along Came a Spider (2001). Freeman continued to keep a high profile moving into the new millennium with roles in such thrillers as The Sum of All Fears (2002) and Stephen King's Dreamcatcher, and the popular actor would average at least two films per year through 2004. 2003's Jim Carrey vehicle Bruce Almighty cast Freeman as God (a tall role indeed, and one he inherited from both George Burns and Gene Hackman). The story finds the Supreme Being appearing on Earth and giving Carrey temporary control over the universe - to outrageous comic effect. By the time Freeman appeared opposite Hilary Swank and Clint Eastwood in Eastwood's acclaimed 2004 boxing drama Million Dollar Baby, his reputation as one of Hollywood's hardest-working, most-respected actors was cemented in place. When Freeman took home the Best Supporting Actor Oscar at the 77th Annual Academy Awards for his performance as the former boxer turned trainer who convinces his old friend to take a scrappy female fighter (Hilary Swank) under his wing, the award was considered overdue given Freeman's impressive body of work.The Oscar reception lifted Freeman to further heights. In summer 2005, Freeman was involved in three of the biggest blockbusters of the year, including War of the Worlds, Batman Begins and March of the Penguins. He joined the cast of the first picture as the foreboding narrator who tells of the destruction wrought by aliens upon the Earth. The Batman Begins role represented the first in a renewed franchise (the second being 2008's The Dark Knight), with the actor playing Lucius Fox, a technology expert who equips Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) with his vast assemblage of gadgetry. Freeman also provided narration for the most unpredictable smash of the year, the nature documentary March of the Penguins.That fall, Miramax's drama An Unfinished Life cast Freeman in a difficult role as Mitch, a bear attack victim reduced to near-paraplegia, living on a derelict western ranch. The picture was shelved for two years; it arrived in cinemas practically stillborn, and many critics turned their noses up at it. After a brutal turn as a sociopathic mob boss in Paul McGuigan's Lucky Number Slevin (2006), Freeman reprised his turn as God in the 2007 Bruce Almighty sequel Evan Almighty; the high-budgeted picture flopped, but Freeman emerged unscathed. Versatile as ever, he then opted for a much different genre and tone with a key role in the same year's detective thriller Gone, Baby, Gone. As written and directed by Ben Affleck (and adapted from the novel by Dennis Lehane) the film wove the tale of two detectives searching for a missing four-year-old in Boston's underbelly. He returned to the Batman franchise in The Dark Knight, a film that broke box-office records, in 2008, and he would stick with the franchise for its final installment, The Dark Knight Rises, in 2012. Freeman would remain a top tier actor in years to come, appearing in such films as Red, Invictus (which saw him playing Nelson Mandela), Conan the Barbarian, and The Magic of Belle Isle.
Lauren Graham
(Actor)
.. Joan Baxter
Born:
March 16, 1967
Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Trivia:
Born in Hawaii, actress Lauren Graham spent her childhood traveling with her single father. After earning her Bachelor's degree in English from Barnard College in New York City, she got her Master's in Acting from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She then moved to California, where she began her professional acting career with appearances on Caroline in the City, Law & Order, and NewsRadio.Graham's big break came in 2000 with the lead role on the WB family drama Gilmore Girls. As Lorelai Gilmore, the 32-year-old single mother of a teenager (Alexis Bledel), Graham earned several awards and nominations on the massively popular series. While the show itself earned critical acclaim, Graham gained much media exposure for her strong and independent yet conventionally attractive portrayal of a single mom. She would stick with the show for its entire seven year run, becomming a fully fledged star in the process. Graham would also appear in movies like Evan Almighty, Bad Santa, and The Answer Man, in addition to other succsful TV projects, like the starring role of Sarah Braverman on the series Parenthood.
Jimmy Bennett
(Actor)
.. Ryan Baxter
Born:
February 09, 1996
Birthplace: Seal Beach, California, United States
Trivia:
A child star well before he reached his teens, Jimmy Bennett began his career with appearances in commercials, then moved into feature work with a litany of roles in A-list Hollywood releases. Projects included a plum role in the Eddie Murphy-headlined family comedy Daddy Day Care (2003, as the highest-profiled of Murphy's young charges -- a little boy named Tony who insists on being called "The Flash" and shows up at day care each day dressed in a superhero outfit); one of the voices in Robert Zemeckis' CG-animated Christmas movie The Polar Express (2004); a little boy trapped with his mother (Jacinda Barrett) on a capsized ocean liner in Poseidon (2006); and the child version of Admiral James T. Kirk in the J.J. Abrams remake Star Trek (2009). In the coming years, Bennett woudl remain an active presence on screen, appearing on shows like No Ordinary Family.
Wanda Sykes
(Actor)
.. Rita
Born:
March 07, 1964
Birthplace: Portsmouth, Virginia, United States
Trivia:
A quick-witted comedien who has transcended the comedy scene to become one of the funniest comics to hit the stage in some time, Wanda Sykes' unique blend of stinging humor and outspoken honesty has found her moving beyond a career in standup thanks to notable success in film and television. With an Emmy under her belt indicating a bright and enduring career in the years ahead, Sykes has shown a versatility that has gained her increasing attention on such acclaimed HBO series' as The Chris Rock Show and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Born in Portsmouth, VA, and raised in Maryland, Sykes rounded out her education by receiving her B.S. in marketing at Hampton University. It was around this time that an impromptu performance at Washington D.C.'s Super Talent Showcase sparked an interest in standup comedy, and in the years that followed, the rising starlet would continue to hone her skills on-stage. In 1997, Sykes kicked off her small-screen career as a writer for both The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show and The Chris Rock Show, with the latter offering additional exposure by giving the comedien a place in front of the camera as well as behind. A supporting role in Louis C.K.'s 1998 feature Tomorrow Night was quick to follow, and a 1998 part in the HBO special Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm found Sykes in a scene-stealing performance as David's wife's best friend. By this time, Sykes' feature career was beginning to gain momentum, and after commendable supporting performances in The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps and Down to Earth, she delivered a winning performance in the little-seen C.K. comedy Pootie Tang. Though her next foray into television on the short-lived The Downer Channel proved almost as abysmal as Pootie Tang's box-office returns, Sykes endured to lend her voice to the hit Comedy Central series Crank Yankers and host the pay-cable channel's popular standup comic series Premium Blend. The following year seemed to find Sykes at her peak as she landed her own sitcom, Wanda at Large, and her first standup special, Wanda Sykes: Tongue Untied, and served as a field correspondent for HBO's Inside the NFL. Though Wanda at Large premiered to impressive ratings early in the year, the show was moved from Wednesday to Friday nights for its second season and died a quick death in the difficult time slot. Hardly deterred by the end of that sitcom, Sykes appeared in the hit comedy Monster-In-Law offering up zingers at Jane Fonda in her comeback film, and appearing in the Ivan Reitman comedy My Super Ex-Girlfriend. Considering that withering sarcasm comes easily to Sykes, it is little surprise that she has worked on a variety of animated films including Over the Hedge and Barnyard.She had a bit part in Clerk II, and in 2008 she was cast in the hit sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine. She had her own cable series, The Wanda Sykes Show, for a brief period, and continued to work steadily in animated projects like Rio and Ice Age: Continental Drift.
Johnny Simmons
(Actor)
.. Dylan Baxter
Born:
November 28, 1986
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama, United States
Trivia:
Debuted on film after inquiring about a misprinted casting notice for a female lead in a short film called My Ambition (2006). After auditioning, Simmons was cast on the spot and the directors never re-ran the notice with a correction. Won the role of Chip Dove in Jennifer's Body despite stiff competition from actor Bo Barrett. Was offered the role as Young Neil in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World over Facebook. Played Andrew in the short film version of Whiplash, which preceded the feature-length version. Has stated an interest in founding a charity which provides for the homeless.
John Michael Higgins
(Actor)
.. Marty
Born:
February 12, 1963
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Trivia:
Born February 12, 1963, John Michael Higgins is a character player who evinced a flair for comedic portrayals of middle-aged types, actor John Michael Higgins jump-started his career with a dead-on evocation of David Letterman in the made-for-cable comedy The Late Shift -- a picture about the cutthroat war between Letterman and Jay Leno to be crowned "King of Late Night Talk." Higgins followed this auspicious and covetable assignment with small roles in Barry Levinson's scathing political satire Wag the Dog (1997) and a guest appearance as one of Elaine's issue-ridden boyfriends on Seinfeld, but made his most substantial impression as an occasional character on Ally McBeal -- that of Steven Milter, an attorney who doubled as a psychoanalyst of Ally's. Beginning with Best in Show (2000), Higgins enjoyed a multi-film run on the big screen with Christopher Guest and his regular mockumentary collaborators that also included the farces A Mighty Wind (2003) and For Your Consideration (2006). He also had a recurring role as an attorney Wayne Jarvis on the critically acclaimed sitcom Arrested Development and supplied the voice of Mentok the Mindtaker for the animated comedy series Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. Back on the big screen, Higgins essayed two A-list supporting roles in 2007, in the Steve Carell-headlined farce Evan Almighty and the holiday-themedFred Claus starring Vince Vaughn. Higgins joined Vaughn again in Couples Retreat (2009), a romantic comedy following a group of couples who arrive on a tropical island only to find out they are required to participate in couples therapy in order to stay. He appeared on the FX television series Wilford in 2011, and joined the cast of the sitcom Happily Divorced, in which he co-stars with Fran Drescher (his real life ex-wife) as a man who amicably ended his marriage after coming to terms with his homosexuality. After working with Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz in the moderately successful comedy Bad Teacher in 2011, the actor played a small role in the 2012 adventure drama Big Miracle, which follows the plight of a journalist and volunteer who go to extreme lengths to save a beached whale.
Graham Phillips
(Actor)
.. Jordan Baxter
Born:
April 14, 1993
Birthplace: Laguna Beach, California, United States
Trivia:
Made his stage debut in a production of Annie, when he was still in kindergarten. Has sung with the New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. Appeared on Broadway in the musicals 13 and A Christmas Carol. First major big-screen appearance was in the 2007 comedy Evan Almighty. Landed his first series-regular role in 2009, playing the son of Julianna Margulies' character on CBS drama The Good Wife.
Jonah Hill
(Actor)
.. Eugene Tannenbaum
Born:
December 20, 1983
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Trivia:
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jonah Hill first started to find success in show business as a cast member of the brilliant but canceled Judd Apatow series Undeclared. Like many of the actors who were fortunate to work for the successful writer/director/producer, Hill became a part of Apatow's extended stock company, going on to appear in a number of films including The 40-Year-Old Virgin, as a young man who really wants to buy some boots, and Knocked Up, as the buddy who suggested his friend's pregnant girlfriend get "something that rhymes with smushmortion." He also starred alongside his onetime roommate Justin Long in a variety of projects, including the college comedy Accepted. Hill re-teamed with Apatow and company for their second major effort of summer 2007, the Greg Mottola-directed, Seth Rogen-scripted comedy Superbad, but on that occasion, Hill scored his first lead. He starred as Seth, a slightly geeky high school senior desperate for sex and suffering from some fairly serious adolescent angst. The film rang in as a blockbuster and won critical raves across the board. At about the same time, Hill signed on for a much different screen assignment (and target audience), agreeing to provide one of the voices in the animated outing Horton Hears a Who (2008). He followed that up with a small but funny role in the heartbreak comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall as a starstruck hotel worker who really, really wants a visiting rock star to listen to his demo.He scored laughs in the Judd Apatow-directed Funny People, and worked again with Russell Brand in Get Him to the Greek. Hill shored up his indie cred by starring in the Duplass Brothers comedy Cyrus as a young man who is way too attached to his mother.2011 found Hill earning the best notices of his career in Moneyball, as the numbers-crunching Ivy Leaguer who helps Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) build the Oakland A's into a first-rate baseball team with seemingly second-rate players. His work in the movie brought him Best Supporting Actor nods from the Academy, BAFTA, the Golden Globes, and the Screen Actors Guild. Soon however, the actor was ready to get back to his comedic roots, pairing with Chaning Tatum for a satirical big-screen take on the 80's TV show 21 Jump Street, and following that up starring alongside Ben Stiller in The Watch.
Molly Shannon
(Actor)
.. Eve Adams
Born:
September 16, 1964
Birthplace: Shaker Heights, Ohio, United States
Trivia:
Another Saturday Night Live cast member who has taken her act to the big screen, Molly Shannon is probably best known to TV and film audiences as Mary Katherine Gallagher, the hapless, armpit-sniffing Catholic school girl she originated on SNL and then brought to multiplexes everywhere as the heroine of Superstar.Born in Shaker Heights, a posh suburb of Cleveland, on September 16, 1964, Shannon developed a proclivity for performing at an early age and dreamt of being famous. After receiving a Catholic school education, she earned a B.F.A. in drama from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Circle in the Square Studio. Armed with her diploma, she headed West to L.A., where she proceeded to struggle in relative poverty and almost complete obscurity for the next nine years. Although she occasionally found bit parts in film and on such TV series as Seinfeld, Shannon mainly supported herself with odd jobs and waitressing. Finally, in 1994, she got her big break when she won a spot on Saturday Night Live. After making her debut during the 1995 season, Shannon became exceedingly popular with audiences, thanks to her impersonations of the likes of Monica Lewinsky, and Courtney Love.In 1998, Shannon joined fellow SNL cast members Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan to appear in the disastrous A Night at the Roxbury; the following year, she brought her own alter ego to the screen in Superstar. The film earned drastically mixed reviews, although it did fare somewhat better than any number of other SNL film adaptations. Also in 1999, Shannon played Drew Barrymore's newsroom colleague in Never Been Kissed and had a supporting role alongside Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, and Lisa Kudrow in Analyze This. She subsequently starred alongside Jim Carrey in Ron Howard's 2000 screen adaptation of The Grinch.She continued to work primarily in comedies including Wet Hot American Summer, Good Boy, American Splendor, Scary Movie 4, Little Man, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. After a small part in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, she starred in the Mike White film Year of the Dog, and appeared in the big-budget sequel Evan Almighty. She had a short-lived sitcom, Kath & Kim, before appearing in a number of animated films including Igor, Snow Buddies, and Hotel Transylvania. In 2012 she could be seen opposite her old SNL castmate Will Ferrell in the Spanish-language comedy Casa de mi Padre.
John Goodman
(Actor)
.. Congressman Long
Born:
June 20, 1952
Birthplace: Affton, Missouri
Trivia:
With a talent as large as his girth, John Goodman proved himself both a distinguished character actor and engaging leading man. A native of St. Louis, MO, Goodman went to Southwest Missouri State University on a football scholarship, but an injury compelled him to seek out a less strenuous major. He chose the university Drama Department, attending classes with such stars-to-be as Tess Harper and Kathleen Turner. Moving to New York in 1975, he supported himself by performing in children's and dinner theater, appearing in television commercials, and working as a bouncer. Goodman made his off-Broadway debut in a 1978 staging of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and, a year later, graduated to Broadway in Loose Ends. His best Broadway showing was as the drunken, brutish Pap in Big River, Roger Miller's 1985 musical adaptation of Huckleberry Finn. Goodman has occasionally played out and out villains or louts (The Big Easy, Barton Fink), but his essential likeability endeared him to audiences even when his onscreen behavior was at its least sympathetic. He contributed topnotch supporting appearances to such films as Everybody's All-American (1988), Sea of Love (1989), Stella (1989), and Arachnophobia (1990), and starred in such films as King Ralph (1991), The Babe (1992, as Babe Ruth), Born Yesterday (1993), and The Flintstones (1994, as Fred Flintstone). Goodman did some of his best work in Matinee (1992), in which he starred as William Castle-esque horror flick entrepreneur Lawrence Woolsey, and topped himself in The Big Lebowski (1998), playing a quirky security-store owner. He was seen the following year with Nicolas Cage and Ving Rhames in Martin Scorsese's Bringing out the Dead as an ambulance driver.Between 1988 and 1996, Goodman appeared as blue-collar patriarch Dan Conner on the hit TV sitcom Roseanne, a role that earned him four Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe award; his additional TV credits included two 1995 made-for-cable movies: the title role in Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long and Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire, for which he earned another Emmy nomination. Announcing that the 1996-1997 season of Roseanne would be his last, Goodman limited himself to infrequent appearances on the series, his absences explained away as a by-product of a heart attack suffered by his character at the end of the previous season.After making his 10th appearance on Saturday Night Live (2000), Goodman could be seen playing a red-faced bible salesman in director Joel Coen's award winning O Brother, Where Art Thou (2000), and participated in Garry Shandling's film debut What Planet Are You From? (2000). He could be spotted playing an Oklahoma cop in The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000), while Coyote Ugly (2000) and Storytelling (2001) found Goodman stepping back into the role of over-protective father. Interestingly enough, he donned hippie-gear to play a goth-chick's Leelee Sobieski dad in 2001's My First Mister. Though Goodman's status as an amiable big guy was well established by the early 2000's, he didn't actually appear on-screen for two of his most beloved roles. In The Emperor's New Groove (2000), Goodman lent his vocal talents for the part of Pacha, a poor farmer who taught a spoiled prince (David Spade) some valuable lessons about life, love, and the meaning of societal standing. Any film-going youngster will recognize Goodman's voice as Monsters, Inc.'s kind-hearted Sully, the furry blue monster who risked life and limb to return a little girl to her home; and who other than Goodman would have been appropriate to voice the part of Baloo, The Jungle Book 2's (2003) freewheeling bear? 2001's ill received One Night at McCool's features Goodman as one of three men lusting after Liv Tyler's character, while 2002's Dirty Deeds took John to Australia, where he played an American mafia-goon thoroughly ill suited to the intricacies of culture down under. Though 2003's Masked and Anonymous was skewered by fans and critics alike, it did give Goodman the chance to work with industry bigwigs Jessica Lange, Jeff Bridges, Penélope Cruz, and legendary singer/songwriter Bob Dylan. In 2004, Goodman got even more involved in the realm of family friendly movies and TV, lending his voice to the character of Larry on the animated show Father of the Pride. The next few years in his career would include many more such titles, like Cars, Evan Almighty, and Bee Movie, and in 2008, he played Pops Racer in the candy-colored big screen adaptation of the popular cartoon Speed Racer. By this time, Goodman had become a go-to guy for PG fare, and signed on next to provide the voice of Big Daddy for the jazz-age animated film The Princess and the Frog. He earned good reviews for his work in the made-for-HBO biopic of Jack Kervorkian You Don't Know Jack in 2010. The next year he appeared in The Artist, the Best Picture Oscar winner, as the head of a Hollywood studio, and in another of the Best Picture nominees playing the doorman in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
Harve Presnell
(Actor)
.. Congressman Burrows
Born:
September 14, 1933
Died:
June 30, 2009
Birthplace: Modesto, California, United States
Trivia:
First earning an international reputation in opera and musical comedy, Harve Presnell made his feature-film debut in the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical The Unsinkable Molly Brown playing opposite Debbie Reynolds. Though he has spent the bulk of his career on the stage, Presnell periodically appeared in other films through the '70s. After taking no film roles in the '80s, Presnell re-emerged in the Coen brothers' Fargo (1996) and continued to play character roles in films such as Julian Po (1997) and Saving Private Ryan (1998).
P. J. Byrne
(Actor)
.. Evan's Staffer
Born:
February 08, 1974
Birthplace: Maplewood, New Jersey, United States
Trivia:
Played three varsity sports in high school. Coached basketball camp at Duke University while he attended graduate school. Planned on becoming an investment banker after college but a drama teacher persuaded him to pursue acting instead. Found steady work in movies and TV before landing a recurring role as a sports agent on The Game in 2006. Is the voice of Bolin on The Legend of Korra.
Arden Myrin
(Actor)
.. Evan's Staffer
Born:
December 10, 1973
Birthplace: Little Compton, Rhode Island
Brian Howe
(Actor)
.. Builder
Trivia:
Typically cast as an American everyman -- in many ways, the most challenging of roles to play -- the slightly stocky Hollywood character actor Brian Howe began his career during the mid-'90s, as an occasional guest player on episodes of such series as Law & Order (as a variety of different characters) and the short-lived sitcom The Bonnie Hunt Show (as Sammy Sinatra). Howe re-teamed with the venerable Hunt for a small role in his first feature, which the actress directed: the romantic comedy Return to Me, starring Minnie Driver and David Duchovny. Supporting turns in an uneven series of films ensued, ranging from Iain Softley's ill-advised sci-fier K-PAX (2001) to Steven Spielberg's buoyant comedy drama Catch Me If You Can (2002). Howe received fourth billing on series creator Barry Kemp's short-lived sitcom A Minute With Stan Hooper (2003), then landed a trio of supporting roles in A-listers during 2006: one in the Robin Williams farce RV, another in the Will Smith sudser The Pursuit of Happyness, and a third in Tony Scott's sci-fi actioner Déjà Vu. Clint Eastwood cast him in the 2008 drama Gran Torino. He appeared in the 2011 action film I Am Number Four, and in 2012 Howe appeared as Randy Scheunemann in the made-for-HBO docudrama Game Change.
Ralph P. Martin
(Actor)
.. Delivery Guy
Maile Flanagan
(Actor)
.. Mailwoman
Ralph Louis Harris
(Actor)
.. Evan's Staffer
Angela Martinez
(Actor)
.. CNN Reporter
Ed Helms
(Actor)
.. Ed Carson - Ark Reporter
Born:
January 24, 1974
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Trivia:
A former standup comedian whose four-year stint as a Daily Show correspondent laid the groundwork for a successful onscreen career, Atlanta, GA, native Ed Helms has since gone on to keep fans in stitches as abrasive cubicle drone Andy Bernard on the hit television series The Office and as an undead flesh-eater who only wants a girlfriend and equal rights in the popular comedy short Zombie-American (2005). It was after a stint at Oberlin College in Ohio that Helms first began working the standup circuit, with regular appearances at some of the top comedy clubs in New York City quickly gaining him a loyal fan base. Helms' poker-faced sense of humor was an ideal fit for The Daily Show, and with only a handful of credits to his name, the rising star quickly became a regular fixture on the show. In 2006, shortly after wrapping a four-year stint on the Emmy Award-winning Comedy Central faux-newscast, Helms turned up as a member of the Stamford branch on The Office -- a series that also helped launch former Daily Show correspondent Steve Carell to stardom. When the Stamford branch eventually merged with the Scranton branch in the series, Helms' angry ass-kisser became a regular fixture on the show -- his decidedly short-fused character quickly becoming a foil for office prankster Jim Halpert (played by John Krasinski). Having previously studied improvisational comedy with the Upright Citizens Brigade, Helms became a semi-regular fixture at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City while simultaneously preparing for appearances in the Carell comedy Evan Almighty and the stoner-friendly sequel Harold and Kumar 2. He continued to get good reviews for his work on The Office, but he had a smash hit as one of the three bachelors trying to piece together their night in The Hangover. He would star in the very funny Cedar Rapids two years later, but that film would not do nearly as well at the box office as The Hangover Part II that same year. In 2012 he had a major part in The Duplass Brothers' Jeff, Who Lives At Home, and voiced one of the main characters in the smash animated film Dr. Seuss' The Lorax.
David Barrera
(Actor)
.. Ark Reporter
Jeremiah Birkett
(Actor)
.. Ark Reporter
Jesse Burch
(Actor)
.. Ark Reporter
Rachael Harris
(Actor)
.. Ark Reporter
Born:
January 12, 1968
Birthplace: Worthington, Ohio, United States
Trivia:
Comedic blonde actress Rachael Harris has found plenty of ways to make audiences laugh, whether it meant commenting on pop culture for VH1's I Love the '80s or appearing in quirky commercials for Quaker rice cakes. A veteran of the Los Angeles improve troupe the Groundlings, Harris transitioned to the screen as a correspondent for the popular news-parody The Daily Show. With her horn-rimmed glasses and tightly wound persona, Harris immediately found her niche in on-screen comedy, garnering fans with her own brand of straight-faced delivery. Harris would occasionally take on completely different characters for TV and film roles like her part in 2009's The Soloist, but the comedian more often played off of her own signature style, especially for comedies like Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, The Hangover, and Evan Almighty. In 2010, she played the lead character's mother in Diary of Wimpy Kid, reprising the role in two sequels. Harris would also find continued success on the small screen,on shows like Reno 911!, In the Motherhood, and Notes from the Underbelly and as a prolific guest star on a number of series. In 2016, Harris landed a series regular role on Lucifer, playing Lucifer's theraprist.
Casey Strand
(Actor)
.. Ark Reporter
Wayne Wilderson
(Actor)
.. Ark Reporter
Born:
January 30, 1966
Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dean Norris
(Actor)
.. Officer Collins
Born:
April 08, 1963
Birthplace: South Bend, Indiana, United States
Trivia:
Began acting in plays as a child and did theatre at university. Visited New York City while at university to interview for jobs on Wall Street, but also used the time to go on auditions. Attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Often portrays some type of authority figure. Was cast as a cop in Lethal Weapon 2, a commanding officer in Starship Troopers, and a state trooper in Little Miss Sunshine, amongst others. Has created several videos parodying his cop persona, including a fictional show called Cop Talk and one that pokes fun at his character in the series Breaking Bad.
Scott Rollins
(Actor)
.. Capitol Policeman
Madison Mason
(Actor)
.. Congressman Dodd
Bruce Gray
(Actor)
.. Congressman Hughes
Born:
September 07, 1936
Birthplace: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Trivia:
Born in Puerto Rico, his parents were Canadian and moved the family back to Toronto when he was 13. Was a member of the high school swim team and student council. Enjoys collecting primitive art. Is a resident director at Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills. Established an acting scholarship at his high school. Is active in many charities, including Project Angel Food, the AIDS Project Los Angeles and the United Way.
Derick Alexander
(Actor)
.. Capitol Policeman
Lisa Arch
(Actor)
.. Staffer
Judith Benezra
(Actor)
.. Staffer
Krista Carpenter
(Actor)
.. Staffer
Paul Collins
(Actor)
.. Congressman Stamp
Gerald Downey
(Actor)
.. Staffer
Simon Helberg
(Actor)
.. Staffer
Born:
December 09, 1980
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Trivia:
Though initially typecast in comedic roles -- including a small turn in Old School (2003), a contribution to Tracey Ullman in The Trailer Tales (2003), and work on MADtv -- American character actor Simon Helberg quickly branched out into diverse genres. He appeared as a CBS page in George Clooney's revered Edward R. Murrow biopic Good Night, and Good Luck., as a junior agent in Christopher Guest's For Your Consideration (2006), and in a recurring role on the Aaron Sorkin comedy drama Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. In 2007, Helberg was cast in the regular role of Howard Wolowitz on the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, about a couple of nerdy physicists (Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons) who struggle with women, and everything else outside the lab. In 2007, Helberg also made appearances in the comedies Mama's Boy and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. He played a young rabbi in the Coen brothers film A Serious Man (2009), and continued to make guest appearances on TV shows such as Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil and Drunk History, while maintaining his regular status on The Big Bang Theory.
Jay Lay
(Actor)
.. Staffer
Suzy Nakamura
(Actor)
.. Staffer
Born:
December 02, 1973
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Trivia:
A native of Chicago, IL, Japanese-American actress Suzy Nakamura originally harbored desires and plans to be a professional dancer, but positive acting experiences in a number of Windy City theatrical productions, including Mame and H.M.S. Pinafore, prompted her to shift focus. During her third year of college, she impulsively decided to audition for the famed Second City comedy troupe in Chicago and was selected, which inspired her to drop out of school and tour around the country with that ensemble on a full-time basis. Nakamura took her next step by moving to Los Angeles and securing representation; numerous guest spots and recurring roles on series including The West Wing and Curb Your Enthusiasm followed, though the tyro actress also placed a heavy emphasis on big-screen roles, with deft supporting turns in projects including Mike Figgis' experimental drama Timecode (2000), director Gary David Goldberg's romantic comedy Must Love Dogs (2005), and Christopher Guest's mockumentary For Your Consideration (2006). Also in 2006, the producers of the offbeat sitcom Help Me Help You (starring Ted Danson and Jere Burns) tapped Nakamura to play Inger, a young woman grappling with major social dysfunction on the bumpy road to romance. Unfortunately, that program was canceled not long after it premiered; Nakamura followed it up with one of the lead roles in the comedic horror mockumentary American Zombie.
Irene Roseen
(Actor)
.. Staffer
Dylan Jones
(Actor)
.. Staffer
Audrey Wasilewski
(Actor)
.. Staffer
Matt Price
(Actor)
.. Staffer
Jon Wellner
(Actor)
.. Staffer
Born:
July 11, 1975
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Trivia:
Studied with Second City and Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. Hired to work on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as a researcher. Founded, with CSI co-star David Berman, Entertainment Research Consultants, a company that does research for forensic television shows. First appeared on-screen on CSI in season 5 as a recurring character; was promoted to a series regular in season 13. Suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative retinal disease; works with the Foundation Fighting Blindness to promote the disease.
Channing Chase
(Actor)
.. Neighbor
Larry Sullivan
(Actor)
.. Staffer
Jim Doughan
(Actor)
.. Neighbor
Shelley Dowdy
(Actor)
.. Neighbor
Meagen Fay
(Actor)
.. Neighbor
Born:
January 01, 1957
Birthplace: Joliet, Illinois, United States
Pete Gardner
(Actor)
.. Neighbor
Birthplace: Scarsdale, New York, United States
Trivia:
Moved from New York to Chicago in 1986 to pursue a career in improv comedy Founded the improv group Jazz Freddy in Chicago in 1992 and performed alongside future Saturday Night Live alum Rachel Dratch and future Conan O'Brien writer Brian Stack. Joined Chicago's legendary improv troupe Second City in 1996. Performs the long-running two-man improv show Pete and Paul Explain It All with Paul Vaillancourt at Improv Olympic West in Los Angeles.
Gregg Goulet
(Actor)
.. Neighbor
Jan Hoag
(Actor)
.. Neighbor
Harry S. Murphy
(Actor)
.. Neighbor
Ruth Williamson
(Actor)
.. Neighbor
Don Dowe
(Actor)
.. Newsroom Camera Operator
Shashawnee Hall
(Actor)
.. Newsroom Camera Operator
Lucia Scarano
(Actor)
.. Court Stenographer
Deborah Carson
(Actor)
.. Congressional Reporter
Lamont Thompson
(Actor)
.. Officer M. Gilbert
Born:
July 30, 1978
Birthplace: Richmond, California, USA
Larry Dorf
(Actor)
.. Officer B. McKenzie
Tom Beyer
(Actor)
.. Newsroom Stage Manager
Topper Shutt
(Actor)
.. Local Weatherman
Bridget White
(Actor)
.. Network Reporter
Roxana Ortega
(Actor)
.. Reporter in Evan's Office
Brendan Patrick Connor
(Actor)
.. Fish 'n' Chips Patron
Juan Fernández
(Actor)
.. Network Reporter
Charlie Hartsock
(Actor)
.. Fish 'n' Chips Patron
William Dennis Hunt
(Actor)
.. Committee Member
Lillian Lehman
(Actor)
.. Committee Member
Catherine Mcgoohan
(Actor)
.. Committee Member
Phil Reeves
(Actor)
.. Committee Member
Edmund L. Shaff
(Actor)
.. Committee Member
Franklin Dennis Jones
(Actor)
.. Committee Member
Tucker Smallwood
(Actor)
.. Committee Member
David St. James
(Actor)
.. Committee Member
Donzella Berry
(Actor)
.. Congresswoman
Brian Carpenter
(Actor)
.. Congressman
Thomas Crawford
(Actor)
.. Congressman
Gregg Daniel
(Actor)
.. Congressman
Bill Debrason
(Actor)
.. Congressman
Terry Menefee Gau
(Actor)
.. Congresswoman
Mario Griego
(Actor)
.. Congressman
Bonnie Johnson
(Actor)
.. Congresswoman
Michael Stanton Kennedy
(Actor)
.. Congressman
Frances Mitchell
(Actor)
.. Congresswoman
James Newman
(Actor)
.. Congressman
Patrick Pankhurst
(Actor)
.. Congressman
Ted Johnson
(Actor)
.. Congressman
Alan Sader
(Actor)
.. Congressman
James Shanklin
(Actor)
.. Congressman
Rick Warner
(Actor)
.. Congressman
Born:
May 24, 1911
Trivia:
British character actor Richard Warner appeared onscreen from the '60s, he often played small-town cops.
Rachel Winfree
(Actor)
.. Congresswoman
Michael Ahl
(Actor)
.. Congressman (uncredited)
Robert Shepherd
(Actor)
.. Congressman
Bruno Amato
(Actor)
.. Wrecking Ball Operator (uncredited)
Steve Oedekerk
(Actor)
Born:
November 27, 1961
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Trivia:
Funnyman Steve Oedekerk never quite broke through as a standup comic, but his years on the standup circuit did lead to a thriving career as a writer and director for some of Hollywood's biggest comedy stars, as well as periodic acting jobs. Steve Oedekerk was born in Los Angeles, CA, in 1961; while still a teenager, he began producing humorous radio commercials, and began making the rounds of California's comedy clubs. Despite occasional headlining gigs and a handful of television appearances, Oedekerk's career as a standup brought him only limited success, but his frequent appearances at L.A.'s Comedy Store did lead to a friendship with another struggling comic, Jim Carrey. Oedekerk also made enough of a name for himself to land occasional acting jobs, playing a supporting role in Casual Sex? and a handful of guest shots on episodic television. Eventually, Oedekerk branched out into writing, and after a spell with the influential Second City troupe, he began writing for the television sketch comedy series In Living Color in 1990, which included his old friend, Carey, in the cast. In 1991, Oedekerk also wrote a script for a motion picture, High Strung, in which he played the lead; the film didn't do well at the box office, but it later gained a cult following, and was reissued after bit player Jim Carey rose to fame. While working on In Living Color, Carey and Oedekerk began knocking together ideas for a character named Ace Ventura, and Oedekerk was credited as a "project consultant" on Ace Ventura, Pet Detective, a low-budget comedy that became a surprise hit and Carey's ticket to the big leagues. Oedekerk was tapped to write and direct the film's sequel, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, and another writing and directing assignment followed in 1997, Nothing to Lose. Oedekerk began working steadily as a screenwriter, contributing to such box-office hits as Patch Adams, The Nutty Professor, and The Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps. In addition, Oedekerk developed an interest in computer animation, producing the short subject Santa vs. the Snowman and writing the Oscar-nominated feature Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius. As a sideline, Oedekerk also began creating a series of comic short subjects in which he parodied popular movies using dressed-up thumbs as his actors, including Thumb Wars: The Phantom Cuticle and Thumbtanic. In 2002, Oedekerk found himself in the leading role of a feature film again when he cast himself in a pet project, a parody of low-budget martial arts films entitled Kung Pow!: Enter the Fist.Though he would step back behind the scenes in the following few years to focus on producing and directing rather than cracking audiences up on camera, Oedekerk still managed to keep audiences both young and old in stitches by creating the hit Nickelodeon series Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, the animated 3D IMAX short Santa Vs. the Snowman, and serving as both screenwriter and executive producer for the 2003 Carrey comedy Bruce Almighty. By the time Bruce Almighty hit screens, audiences could tell that Oedekerk's manic sense of silly was still as strong as ever, and just three short years later that point was driven home when the increasingly prolific writer/director returned to the screens with the kid-friendly, computer animated comedy Barnyard. The tale of a laid-back heifer who finds himself placed in charge of the animals while the famer is away, Barnyard would hit theaters just about the time Oedekerk assumed the role of executive producer for the Steve Carell sequel Evan Almighty.
Jeremy Ambler
(Actor)
.. Neighbor (uncredited)
Jon Stewart
(Actor)
.. Jon Stewart
Born:
November 28, 1962
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Trivia:
The career of comedian/talk show host Jon Stewart (born on November 28th, 1963 as Jon Stewart Leibowitz) has been filled with critical praise but is absent of the kind of widespread success that his talents suggest. A graduate of College of William and Mary, Stewart held several mundane jobs until a stint as a puppeteer performing for children convinced him to go into standup comedy. Moving to New York, the comedian spent several years on the comedy circuit before landing a job as the host of Comedy Central's Short Attention Span Theatre. After leaving the cable network, Stewart spent a brief stint hosting MTV's ill-fated You Wrote It, You Watch It series before landing a job as the network's first talk show host. Premiering in 1993, The Jon Stewart Show became a hit with the college crowd, due mainly to Stewart's self-effacing humor, quick wit, and ridiculous antics, such as sitting on William Shatner's lap and playing ping-pong with Gabriella Sabatini. The show became syndicated in 1994, and although it garnered critical praise in publications such as the Village Voice and New York Magazine, Stewart's off-beat brand of humor and penchant for the obscure didn't catch on with middle-American viewers, and the show was eventually canceled. The comedian has since found success and added critical acclaim as host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show. His combination of biting critical humor and giggly self effacement made him an icon, and he was well received as host of the Academy Awards in 2006 and 2007. In 2009 he was named "Entertainer of the Decade" by the magazine Entertainment Weekly.
Mark Bedell
(Actor)
.. SWAT Officer (uncredited)
Catherine Bell
(Actor)
.. Susan Ortega (uncredited)
Born:
August 14, 1968
Birthplace: London, England
Trivia:
Tall and athletic actress Catherine Bell was born in London, England, but moved to Los Angeles with her mother when she was still a kid. Intending to study pre-Med in college, she dropped out to pursue a modeling career in Japan. After doing some commercials, she returned to L.A. to made guest star appearances on TV shows and do minor film work. She was Isabella Rosellini's nude body double for Death Becomes Her in 1992, leading her to meet her future husband (Adam Deason) on the film's set. After making a short guest appearance on the NBC show JAG, she wrote a letter to the show's producers expressing her interest in it. In 1996, JAG moved to CBS and she joined the cast as Major Sarah "Mac" Mackenzie, sidekick to Lt. Commander Harmon "Harm" Rabb (David James Elliott). As a real-life kickboxer and snowboarder, her athletic skills lead the way for physically demanding parts in the action movies Men of War, Crash Dive, and Black Thunder. In 2000 she starred in the sci-fi thriller Thrill Seekers with Casper Van Dien, and in 2003 she briefly moved to comedies for Bruce Almighty. In 2007 she was cast in the TV series Army Wives and in 2011 she starred in the thriller Last Man Standing.
Lucas N. Hall
(Actor)
.. Neighbor (uncredited)
David Cohen
(Actor)
.. Congressman (uncredited)
Brandon Cordon
(Actor)
.. Neighbor (uncredited)
Rob Darren
(Actor)
.. Press Photographer (uncredited)
Dot Gregory
(Actor)
.. Congresswoman (uncredited)
Aaron Michael Lacey
(Actor)
.. Capitol Police Officer (uncredited)
Mark Mannette
(Actor)
.. Nosy Neighbor (uncredited)
Matthew Herington
(Actor)
.. Capitol Hill Photographer (uncredited)
Jared Morrison
(Actor)
.. Congressman Long's Aide (uncredited)
Katherine Hoskins Mackey
(Actor)
.. Businesswoman (uncredited)
Raymond Johnson
(Actor)
.. Congressman (uncredited)
Ian Novotny
(Actor)
.. Panicked Neighbor (uncredited)
Vito Pietanza
(Actor)
.. Capitol Police Officer (uncredited)
David Powledge
(Actor)
.. Neighbor (uncredited)
Jacob Rhodes
(Actor)
.. Boy in Crowd (uncredited)
Nick Ventura
(Actor)
.. Metro Cop (uncredited)
Stephen Zaleski
(Actor)
.. Capitol Police Officer (uncredited)
Mckenzie Shea
(Actor)
.. Tourist (uncredited)
Terry Ward Tucker
(Actor)
.. Ark Reporter (uncredited)
Chris Winters
(Actor)
.. Construction Worker (uncredited)