Trivia: Australian actor Jesse Spencer launched his career with a long stint (from the mid- to late '90s) on the popular Aussie soap opera Neighbours, playing Billy Kennedy. He followed that up with a number of key supporting roles in acclaimed features, such as that of Marwood de Whichehalse in Mike Barker's R.D. Blackmore adaptation Lorna Doone (2001) before signing on for the lead in Russell Mulcahy's inspirational drama Swimming Upstream (2002). That picture -- about a young man destined to become a champion swimmer despite the setbacks thrown into his path by an abusive father (Geoffrey Rush) became a small-scale hit and earned favorable reviews. After a turn in the Brittany Murphy vehicle Uptown Girls (2003), Spencer landed one of his greatest achievements when he signed on to play Dr. Robert Chase on the Fox medical drama House, and the series quickly became a hit. Offscreen, Spencer made headlines for his romantic involvement with House co-star Jennifer Morrison (Dr. Allison Cameron). The two -- who reportedly met on the set of House -- became engaged during the 2006 holidays.

Trivia: Was a star volleyball player in high school and was named Section Two Volleyball Player of the Year in Pennsylvania. Studied business management in college. Big break came when he was cast as a regular on Fashion House in 2006. Appeared in Lady Gaga's 2011 music video "You and I." Played the recurring role of werewolf Mason Lockwood on The Vampire Diaries. Participated in the Chicago Polar Bear Plunge, which raises money for the Special Olympics, in 2015.

Trivia: Actress Monica Raymund learned as much as she could about her craft before getting a serious start on her professional career, graduating from the Juilliard School in New York and participating in Ann Reinking's Broadway Theatre Project for three years. When she decided to pursue an on-screen career, Raymund had little trouble getting started, snagging the role of tough-talking Ria Torres on the crime drama Lie to Me. When Lie to Me ended its three-season run in 2011, Raymund made the seamless transition to the CBS drama The Good Wife, in which she played the character of Dana Lodge.

Trivia: Raven-haired Lauren German made her film debut with a small appearance in the 2000 comedy Down to You. She paid her dues over the following years with minor roles in A Walk to Remember, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Hostel: Part II. A much more prominent part came in 2011, when German was cast in the role of Lori Weston on the TV remake of Hawaii Five-0.

Trivia: Born in London to Grenadian parentage, distinguished actor Eamonn Walker acquired a deep-seated interest in drama at the age of 9, when he witnessed Sidney Poitier acting; the experience helped the young man perceive drama as a powerful tool to change individual lives. Walker began his professional life in repertory theater by touring across United Kingdom and tackling roles in smaller regional productions, then formally honed his craft in South London's Albany Empire. Thereafter, Walker unveiled an ability to seamlessly segue between portrayals of African Americans, West Indians, and Africans. He first bowed in front of the camera in the early '90s, but came into his own around the tail end of that decade as the deeply conflicted Muslim/black nationalist Kareem Said on all six seasons of HBO's harrowing prison drama Oz (1997-2003). That marked a watershed assignment that opened up the floodgates to many others, including a small contribution to M. Night Shyamalan's sci-fi thriller Unbreakable (2000), a turn as Baptiste Senior in director Andrew Niccol's political thriller Lord of War (2005), and an uncanny portrayal of blues legend Howlin' Wolf in the period ensembler Cadillac Records (2008). In 2006, Walker drew from his theatrical roots -- and made more than a few headlines -- with a Broadway performance opposite Denzel Washington in Julius Caesar.

Trivia: Best known as Steve, the boyishly charming nice-guy bartender (and the perfect complement to his onscreen romantic partner, snappish Miranda Hobbes) in HBO's blockbuster original series Sex and the City, the slightly diminutive, raven-haired American character actor David Eigenberg was born in Manhasset, NY, on May 17, 1964. As the only boy in a family of six children, Eigenberg moved with his parents and sisters at age four to Naperville, IL, a farming community just outside of the Windy City -- where he remained through the end of adolescence. Eigenberg reportedly struggled as a student, barely scraping by; a handful of run-ins with the law and minor recreational drug abuse allegedly ensued. Eigenberg did graduate from Naperville High School in 1982, however, and was promptly accepted to the University of Iowa, where he planned to study social work. For better or worse, this was not to be, for the Chicagoan ripped his dormitory apart during the first semester and was promptly booted out of the university after five weeks.A stint in the Marines and various construction jobs followed, instilling in Eigenberg healthy amounts of much-needed self-discipline and a sharply honed work ethic. These skills paved the way for Eigenberg's true calling: acting. A love of the dramatic arts had already taken root for the thespian when -- at age 12 -- he had signed on to play a key role in a local production of Kurt Vonnegut's Happy Birthday, Wanda June, and received an outstanding review from a local critic. These fond memories doubtless came flooding back when an adult Eigenberg auditioned -- and was selected for -- a large part in the Dennis Rosa-directed Chicago stage musical One Shining Moment, opposite Megan Mullally and Alan Ruck. Dissatisfied with a mere taste of the theatrical arts and eager to extend acting into a full-time passion, Eigenberg subsequently moved to New York and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, working odd jobs on the side (construction et al.) to put himself through school.Scattered roles followed, including a guest appearance on The Cosby Show and a bit part in the awful 1989 generation-gap comedy Rude Awakening (co-starring Cheech Marin and Eric Roberts), but Sex and the City (which Eigenberg auditioned for out of innumerable hopefuls) represented the actor's first huge break. He reportedly auditioned for a small part, and though the show's producers did not deem him right for the characterization, they felt so impressed by Eigenberg's presence that they created the character of Steve Brady especially for him, as an extension of his own personality; the plan, again, was to create a sincere, committed, down-to-earth male paramour to offset Miranda's (Cynthia Nixon) cynicism.Though initially intended as a temporary part, the popularity of the character among viewers (and Eigenberg's onscreen chemistry with Nixon) led to Eigenberg's permanent inclusion on the show, as well as subsuquent movies.Circa 2002, Eigenberg expanded into film roles by playing the business partner of Richard Gere in Mark Pellington's underrated supernatural thriller The Mothman Prophecies. When Eigenberg's Sex and the City run ended with the wrap-up of that series (at the end of the 2003-2004 season), he continued his cinematic work, first voicing Nermal the Cat in the FX-extravaganza Garfield: The Movie, then playing Reggie, the lover of Alicia Goranson's Myra, in Adrienne Weiss' quirky indie romantic comedy Love, Ludlow. Eigenberg returned to the same genre amid a cast of unknowns with the 2007 film The Trouble with Romance, directed by Gene Rhee. He reprised his role in the Sex and the City movie in 2008 and the sequel in 2010. In 2012, he joined the cast of NBC's Chicago Fire, playing a firefighter in the Windy City.

Trivia: Was named the associate artistic director for Teatro Vista in Chicago in 2009. Appeared in the Goodman Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol in the 2011-12 season. Had a memorable recurring role on the Starz series Boss where his character's ears were cut off. Shared an apartment with his Chicago Fire castmates Yuri Sardarov and Charlie Barnett when the show was first picked up.

Trivia: Is half-Georgian, half-Armenian; moved to the United States at age 2. Appeared in The History Boys at the Timeline Theatre in Chicago in 2009, while he was still attending college. Prepped for his role in Chicago Fire by doing ride-alongs with the Chicago Fire Department. Shared an apartment with Chicago Fire castmates Charlie Barnett and Joe Minoso during the show's first season.

Trivia: A slightly tough and weathered character actor who specialized in playing gruff, domineering types (including guards, Mafiosos, and authoritarian fathers), Christian Stolte debuted onscreen in the early '90s and went on to distinguish himself with bit parts in films including Novocaine (2001), Road to Perdition (2002), and Stranger Than Fiction (2006). On the small screen, Stolte took on the recurring role of C.O. Keith Stolte during the first two seasons (2005-2007) of the cult series Prison Break. Back on the big screen, he received unusually prominent billing with his wry comic turn as a Mafia hitman assigned to rub out his cousin, in the character comedy Osso Bucco (2007).

Trivia: Was captain of her high-school drill team. Starred in Baylor University's stage production of Eurydice in 2008. Was a participant in Hulu's 24-hour live stream reality web series If I Can Dream, which followed five aspiring performers. In 2010, performed at an event for the Pepsi Refresh Project to support the creation of a community garden in Los Angeles.

Trivia: Is the youngest of seven siblings. Was accepted to the University of North Texas, but postponed her admittance due to being cast in Friday Night Lights. Is the singer for her band You, Me and the Mountain.

Trivia: Born on the Japanese island of Okinawa, Brian Tee moved with his parents to the U.S. at the age of two. After growing up in the sunny suburbs of L.A., he graduated high school and enrolled at Cal State Fullerton with a major in pre-law. In an effort to remain connected to the arts, he took an acting for non-majors class and discovered a deep love of performance. Causing something of a family upset, he dropped out of Cal State and enrolled in the Dramatic Arts Acting program at the University of California, Berkeley. After graduating, he began auditioning, landing appearances on shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Pretender. In 2006 he scored a role as the Drift King in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift before signing on for Nanking, Bill Guttentag's documentary about the 1937 massacre of the Chinese city.

Trivia: Born in Cleveland's Little Italy and later moved with his family to the suburb of Chesterland, OH. Played junior varsity soccer in high school. Studied "red nose clowning" as part of his undergraduate acting studies. Played Lysander in the 2012 Classic Stage Company's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, opposite Bebe Neuwirth and Christina Ricci. Appeared onstage in Neil LaBute's Reasons To Be Pretty at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, with Shawn Hatosy, Alicia Witt and Amber Tamblyn in 2014.

Trivia: Was a member for the Remains Theatre Ensemble for 15 years and made her directorial debut there. Has been a member of Steppenwolf Theatre since 1997. Made her Broadway debut as Nurse Ratched (opposite Gary Sinise as Randall P. McMurphy) in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in 2001. Played Barbara in the original production of August: Osage County in Chicago in 2007, and transferred with the show to Broadway later that year. Her first leading role was in the 2013 indie film Bluebird.

Trivia: There's a good reason why actor Steven R. McQueen shares a name with the legendary action star of Bullet and The Great Escape, Steve McQueen. He happens to be the King of Cool's grandson, and his own forays into movies have been unique. He first caught audience's attention with a recurring role on the series Everwood, playing young Kyle Hunter. He later made appearances on shows like Numb3rs and Without a Trace and was eventually cast in the series The Vampire Diaries in 2009. The next year has was cast in Piranah.

Trivia: Broke into feature films with 2001's The Princess Diaries. Was cast in 2005's The World's Fastest Indian while starring in The 4400. Plays guitar, writes music and was the lead singer of a band called Sleeper 7. Was screen tested for the role of Steve Rogers/Captain America in 2010, which was eventually given to Chris Evans.

Trivia: First professional role was in The Nutcracker in 1993. Won the Agnes Moorhead Award for her off-Broadway performance in Just in Time: The Judy Holliday Story. Made her Broadway debut in To Be or Not to Be. Appeared in the theater production of Manipulation in 2014.

Trivia: Began acting in his high school's stage production of Barnum where he juggled and sang in the choir. Started formally singing in high school and took his first voice lesson at 17. Received the Outstanding Senior Project Award in 2005 from Indiana University for his work in their Individualized Major Program. Was nominated for three Astaire awards for his performance in the 2011 Broadway revival of Anything Goes. Appears in Norah Jones' music video for "Happy Pills" (2012).

Trivia: Is of African-American and Brazilian descent and speaks Portuguese, French, Spanish and English. Was the runner-up in Season 3 of America's Next Top Model in 2004. Worked as a model for companies including Garnier Fructis, Oil of Olay, RadioShack and Dr. Scholls. Was in the music video for Jay-Z's "Roc Boys" in 2007. Appeared off-Broadway in The First Breeze of Summer, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson.

Trivia: Began performing with the Sarasota Youth Opera and in various theater productions at age 7. Raised on a sailboat for most of his childhood. Was named on VH1's 2012 list of TV's Most Promising Eye Candy. Spent two weeks preparing for his role in Chicago Fire by going on ride-alongs with real firefighters and learning the ropes at a Chicago fire station.

Trivia: A boyishly handsome boxer-turned-actor who turned in his gloves for real after making his screen debut as a pugilist in the 1992 drama Gladiator, New York-born film and television star Jon Seda rose through the ranks in the '90s to make a name for himself as a bit player in such high-profile films as Carlito's Way and Twelve Monkeys -- though it wasn't until his 1997 debut on television's Homicide: Life on the Streets that audiences truly sat up and took notice. Those who had been following Seda's career since his early days had little doubt that the rising young star had what it took to make it as an actor, and following an Independent Spirit Award-winning role as a flawed but well-meaning husband and father in the 1994 drama I Like It Like That, major offers quickly began pouring in. An impressive run in the mid-'90s found Seda turning up in everything from such high-profile Hollywood fare as Primal Fear to such little-seen efforts as New York Cop and Michael Cimino's The Sunchaser -- the latter of which offered Seda in a particularly memorable role as a terminally-ill juvenile delinquent who kidnaps his doctor in hopes of finding a mythical healing lake. Following an impressive turn in the hit HBO prison series Oz, Seda hit his stride on the small screen with a turn as Detective Paul Falsone on Homicide: Life on the Street. By this time Seda was becoming a familiar face to audiences, and in 2000, he once again laced up his boxing gloves for a role opposite Jimmy Smits in the well-received feature Price of Glory. Despite his prominence and success in film and television, it still seemed as if Seda was awaiting the breakout role that would truly make him a household name. In 2002 he proved that he could carry a film when he took the lead in the street-gang drama King Rikki, with a role on the 2004 UPN series Kevin Hill, marking what fans hoped would be a successful return to the small screen.

Trivia: Wanted to be an actress after seeing The Philadelphia Story (1940) as a young girl. Holds a first-degree blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Starred in Hulu's first original scripted show, Battleground, as KJ Jameson. Member of the Chalk Repertory Theatre in Los Angeles.

Trivia: Gordon Clapp is a supporting actor who began his film career in the late '80s.