Trivia: A master of several Japanese martial arts, Steven Seagal is a popular action movie hero whose films combine spiritual concepts and social/environmental consciousness with high-voltage violence. Born in Lansing, MI, on April 10, 1951, Seagal traveled to Japan at the age of 17. There, he taught English, studied Zen, and perfected his martial arts, earning black belts in Aikido, karate, judo, and kendo. Afterwards, he became the first Westerner to open a martial arts school in Japan. During this time, Seagal occasionally choreographed fight scenes in movies and coached such stars as Sean Connery and Toshiro Mifune. He also became interested in Eastern religion: in a November 1997 interview for the Shambala Sun, he stated that his relationship with Tibetan Buddhism resulted from his study of acupuncture. According to Seagal, several ailing Tibetan lamas, suffering from malnutrition, exhaustion, and the effects of Chinese torture, were sent to him for treatment, which led him to become a director of secret security operations and setting up special safe houses. Regarding other incidents from his past, Seagal has remained secretive, though he was allegedly a bounty hunter and occasionally has hinted about involvement with the CIA. Further speculation has surrounded the work he did on behalf of Tibetan freedom fighters, and it was not until 1997 that he mentioned the large amounts of money he claimed to have donated to various religious organizations. Seagal spent about 15 years in Asia before returning to the States, where he opened a new martial arts academy and also worked as a celebrity bodyguard. His clients included his future (now ex-) wife Kelly LeBrock and Hollywood agent Michael Ovitz. With help from Ovitz, Seagal contracted to make martial arts films for Warner Bros. For his first film, he and cinematographer-turned-director Andrew Davis carefully refashioned an average police drama into Above the Law (1988), which stressed characterization and plot as well as high-energy action scenes. It was well received and Seagal found himself an instant star among action aficionados. His next film, Hard to Kill (1989), overflowed with chop-socky violence, casting him as a cop who wakens from a coma and sets out for revenge against those who sent him to the hospital. Seagal attracted mainstream appeal in 1992 when he starred in the Davis-directed hit Under Siege, his most popular movie. In 1994, he made his directorial debut with the environmentally conscious but critically panned On Deadly Ground, in which he single-handedly attempts to save Alaska and the Eskimos from an avaricious oil tycoon. Subsequent action attempts included 1996's Executive Decision and 1998's The Patriot. In 1999, Seagal turned to producing with Prince of Central Park, an uncharacteristically gentle film about a young boy living in the titular park. Following a rollicking time in the corrupt cop thriller Exit Wounds (2001), Segal shook things up behind bars in Half Past Dead (2002). The coming years would find Segal continuing to star in low proifle action fare like Urban Justice and Flight of Fury. He'd also find success starring on the TV series True Justice.In 1997, Seagal publicly announced that one of his prime Buddhist teachers, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, had proclaimed him a tulku, the reincarnation of a Buddhist lama. Seagal's announcement met with some cynicism, but Penor Rinpoche backed him up with a formal statement at Colorado's Naropa Institute. In subsequent interviews, Seagal has presented himself as a serious student of Buddhism who spends many hours meditating, studying, and practicing the tenets to help him become a teacher and healer.

Trivia: Born in New York City, model/actress Kelly LeBrock was raised in London, as evident in her British-accented '80s mantra: "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful." Working happily as a supermodel for hair products and other fashionable companies, she accidentally broke into films as the titular fantasy object of affection in Gene Wilder's The Woman in Red. Her image, draped in a breezy red dress, served as an icon for the film. LeBrock re-created the fantasy object role for the teenage crowd in John Hughes' Weird Science. This time, she was literally created by high school dorks Garry (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith). During the '90s, married her bodyguard, martial artist Steven Seagal. They had three children and appeared in one film together (Hard to Kill) before their divorce in 1996. LeBrock worked intermittently in thrillers (Tracks of a Killer, Betrayal of the Dove) and softcore porn (Hard Bounty). Eventually, she went down the same path as other marginally talented former beauties -- as a romantic interest of Leslie Nielsen in satirical comedy features. Her fate finally came about in the Fugitive-parody Wrongfully Accused in 1998. There was an eight-year gap before she returned to screens in Gamers and Zerophilia in 2006, then landed a major part in 2007's The Mirror.

Trivia: If you're a fan of movies, you've no doubt seen William Sadler's face countless times. With a versatile career that has spanned from long-haired, small-town rock star to banjo-plucking entertainer to Shakespearean actor to his role as Death in Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey (1991), William Sadler attacks all roles with equal gusto with his characters never ceasing to leave an impression on viewers, even if they can't recall the name of "that guy in that movie."Born in April of 1950 in Buffalo, NY, Sadler's imagination was fueled from a young age on his family's sprawling farm where he would pass the time with friends reenacting scenes from their favorite television and radio programs. Around the age of eight, Sadler's father's interest in music sparked a passion in the young boy as well with his father's gift of a ukulele. The two frequently performed at family functions together: Sadler Sr. on the guitar and Jr. on the uke. Later taking interest in a number of stringed instruments, after following in his father's footsteps and taking up the guitar, Sadler quickly learned that the mystique of the musician's life was difficult to resist. Forming a cover band with his Orchard Park High schoolmates, he began to gain popularity and a surprising amount of attention from the opposite sex. Armed with a banjo and a fistful of jokes, Sadler soon took on the persona of "Banjo Bill Sadler" for the school's annual variety show, and the result was an instant success. The students and teachers loved the performance, and English teacher Dan Larkin soon persuaded Sadler to audition for a role in Harvey, the senior play. Winning the lead and igniting a fire within the young performer, Sadler would soon follow his dreams and enroll in the drama program at State University College in Geneseo, NY. After spending two intense years in Cornell University's Fine Arts following his tenure at State University College, Sadler was finally prepared to be humbled in the grueling trials of the aspiring actor.Sadler took his first post-school role in Florida and soon relocated to Boston, moving in with his sister while scrubbing the floors of a lobster boat by day and cutting his acting chops at night. Slowly working up the nerve to take a shot at the big time in New York, a chance meeting with an old schoolmate on a trip into the city resulted in Sadler's casting in an off-off-Broadway production of Chekhov's Ivanov. After a brief turn at the Trinity Square Repertory Company in Providence, RI, Sadler moved back to New York and rented an apartment in the East Village, beginning a grueling 12 years in which he appeared in over 75 productions. It was here that Sadler would meet Marni Bakst, the woman who would soon become his wife, and a young actor named Matthew Broderick, in a Broadway production of Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues, who would kick-start Sadler's film career with a role in Project X (1987).After memorable turns in such films as Die Hard 2 (1990), Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, and The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Sadler found himself becoming one of the most sought-after character actors working in Hollywood. His friendly demeanor and warm sense of humor standing in stark contrast to his usually villainous onscreen antics, Sadler has gained a reputation among actors as a helpful and good-natured craftsman, always willing to offer advise and assistance without being pushy or overbearing. Increasingly busy in both television and films in the latter '90s, Sadler gained widespread recognition with his film roles in Disturbing Behavior (1998) and The Green Mile (1999) and on television with his role as Sheriff Jim Valenti on Roswell.

Trivia: Actor Stanley Brock was active on television and films from the 1970s to the 1990s (his last film was Mel Brooks' Life Stinks [1991]). From January through March 1986, Brock was a regular on the TV sitcom He's the Mayor. The actor played Ivan Bronski, the neighbor of a fictional 25-year-old black mayor (Kevin Hooks). Before that, Stanley Brock was mired in several failed TV pilots, including The Bureau (1976), Every Stray Dog and Kid (1981), Palms Precinct (1982) and 13 13th Avenue (1983). The credits of the long-running documentary series Wild Kingdom also list a "Stan Brock" as one of the program's many hosts, though chances are we're talking about two different people here.

Trivia: Mother misspelled his last name on his birth certificate; he legally restored it to Rivera when he was an adult. Began his career uncovering the poor living conditions at the Willowbrook State School for the mentally ill in 1972 while working for WABC; later authored his first book, Willowbrook, based on the scandal. Was the first anchor to air the "Zapruder Film" of JFK's assassination on network television in 1975. Released his autobiography, Exposing Myself, in 1991. Is an avid sailor and donated his sailboat Voyager to the Maine Maritime Academy. Donated his Celebrity Apprentice prize winnings to the charity Life's WORC, an organization helping autistic children.

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.

Trivia: Stuntman, stunt coordinator, second unit director, and actor.

Trivia: A handsome, silver-crowned news anchor whose soothing baritone voice and warm familiarity helped him to endure as one of L.A.'s most beloved and trustworthy newscasters, Jerry Dunphy's remarkable 40 years as a broadcaster brought him both instant local recognition and numerous film roles in which he usually played a character fairly close to home. Born in Milwaukee in 1921, Dunphy served as a captain in the Army Air Corps during WWII before returning to his home state to finish college and begin his career as a broadcaster in Peoria, IL. Subsequently working for CBS Radio and ABC, Dunphy later moved to Los Angeles, which positioned him well for numerous roles as a broadcaster in film and television. Appearing in such television series as Batman and Roseanne and such features as Oh, God! (1977) and Independence Day (1996), Dunphy's persona was the definition of the distinguished and sincere newscaster. After suffering heart attacks in both 1978 and 1991, Dunphy died in May of 2002 after stricken by a third heart attack in front of his L.A. condo. He was 80.

Trivia: Supporting actor Carlos Gomez has found success on television and in feature films. As his career has progressed, he has become increasingly active as a writer and producer. A first-generation American of Cuban heritage, Gomez made his feature film debut in 1989, appearing in two movies, Dance to Win and Hard to Kill. He would go on to become well known for his roles on ER and The Glades.