Trivia: While she is associated with one particular role -- that of Winnie Cooper, Kevin Arnold's (Fred Savage) childhood sweetheart, on the seminal late-'80s seriocomedy The Wonder Years -- American actress Danica McKellar sported an impressive resumé that ultimately encompassed a variety of more challenging parts and extended far beyond the confines of acting in film and television.Born in La Jolla, McKellar was reportedly coaxed by neighbors and family friends to do commercials at an early age, but resisted until age 11, when she finally caved and secured representation. After two appearances on the '80s version of The Twilight Zone, the 12-year-old ingenue -- then a complete unknown -- auditioned for Wonder Years creators Neal Marlens and Carol Black (in 1988). She not only landed the role of Winnie, but so convinced series producers of her suitability as Cooper that they decided to change her part from that of a passing love interest to Kevin's main squeeze. McKellar would later recall that she and Savage flirted around off-camera, but that their relationship ultimately waxed far more fraternal than romantic.After that program wrapped in 1993, McKellar trekked off to UCLA and did revolutionary work in advanced math and physics; she and a research partner had a theorem named after them -- a principle referenced in a key book on statistical mechanics -- and her senior paper graced a highly respected physics journal. The actress graduated summa cum laude in 1998, then headed back to Hollywood, diploma under her arm, and resumed film work. She appeared as Elsie Snuffin in a few 2002 episodes of the blockbuster series The West Wing, voiced Sapphire Stagg on the animated program Justice League Unlimited, and -- on a higher-profile note -- headlined a fun series of telemovies and webisodes for the Lifetime network in the mid-2000s entitled Inspector Mom. As the title suggests, those features cast McKellar as a crime-solving soccer mom.Ever the Renaissance woman, McKellar then extended her cinematic activities into directing, by helming a number of experimental short subjects. In 2006 she made her screenwriting debut with the mystery Inspector Mom. She was also active in the theater, having appeared in such productions as The Vagina Monologues, Grease, and Proof, and authored the 2007 children's book Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle-School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail.McKellar continued acting, appearing in guest spots on TV and in TV movies, and competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2014.

Trivia: A small, delicate-looking, perky actress, Thompson studied dance as a child, and was dancing professionally by age 14; she won scholarships to the Pennsylvania Ballet, American Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet. However, she felt she was too short to become a prima ballerina and gave up dance in favor of acting. After moving to New York she appeared in some 20 Burger King TV commercials, then debuted onscreen in Jaws 3-D (1983). Shortly thereafter she got her first important role, opposite Tom Cruise in the hit All the Right Moves (1983). She is best known for her multiple roles in the three Back to the Future movies; aside from those highly successful movies, she has not gone on to appear in any hit productions. She also appeared in the TV movies Nightbreaker (1989), Montana (1990), and the PBS playhouse co-production The Wizard of Loneliness (1988).

Trivia: A reliable supporting player specializing in slightly gritty and rough-cut characterizations, Scott Patterson spent several years biding his time in forgettable cinematic ventures such as Intent to Kill (1992) and Little Big League (1994), before achieving fame in a recurring role as Luke Danes, the diner owner and eventual suitor of Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) on the popular comedy drama series Gilmore Girls. After that series eventually went off the air, he subsequently transitioning to feature roles, such as that of an agent in the gore-filled slasher outing Saw IV (2007). In 2007, Patterson also landed a regular role on the prime-time sitcom Aliens in America -- about a Midwestern family that unwittingly hosts a Pakistani Muslim exchange student in an attempt to find a friend for their unpopular son.

Trivia: Studied and performed improv comedy during the start of the original Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City. Was a member of the Naked Babies sketch-comedy troupe with comedians Rob Corddry, Seth Morris and John Ross Bowie at the UCB. Was one of the panelists on the popular VH1 show Best Week Ever with Paul F. Tompkins. Starred in a series of commercials for Sonic Drive-In. Won the Webby award for Best Individual Performance in 2015 for College Humor's If Google Was a Guy.

Trivia: A native of Yellow Knife, Northwest Territories, clean-cut Canadian actor Dustin Milligan gamely established himself as a Hollywood presence during the mid- to late 2000s. As one interested in drama from a tender age, Milligan initially moved to Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada's premier film community), where he signed with the agency Lucas Talent; by 2004, however, he transitioned to Hollywood and began signing for bit parts in projects including the feature Perfect Romance and the docudrama telemovie Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution (based on the infamous Scott Peterson homicide case). Milligan maintained a much higher profile as Henry Rader, the son of framed and threatened Washington, D.C., district attorney Paul Rader (Donnie Wahlberg) on the CW network's short-lived thriller series Runaway (2006); following a small supporting role in director Jon Kasdan's feature In the Land of Women (2007), Milligan signed on to play Southern California high school student Ethan Ward in the Beverly Hills 90210 spinoff series 90210 (2008). In the years to come, Milligan would find ongoing success in movies like Extract, Repeaters, and The Campaign.

Trivia: Her father, Cezary Skubiszewski, is a successful film composer. Grew up in the countryside of Victoria in Australia, but her family later moved to the city of Melbourne for her father's career. Played the role of Olivia in a production of the Shakespeare play Twelfth Night at the Siren Theatre in Sydney. Counts the Australian actors Heath Ledger, Abbie Cornish and Cate Blanchett among her inspirations.

Trivia: Leggy, athletic leading lady Alexandra Paul spent her first years in films and TV in roles calling for acute physical fitness. Paul's earliest movie role of note was sensuous hitchhiker Becky in American Flyers (1986).Ms. Paul was cast against type in the Dan Aykroyd-Tom Hanks spoof Dragnet (1987) as the ever-imperiled Virgin Connie Swail (just plain "Connie Swail" by fade-out time). On TV, Paul had a recurring role as erstwhile detective Amy Hastings in the Perry Mason 2-hour specials of the late 1980s. In 1992, Alexandra Paul was cast as lifeguard Stephanie Holden on the internationally popular Baywatch, remaining with the series until bowing out in 1996. She remained a mainstay on women's programs and made-for-TV thrillers, all the while leading a vigorous off-screen life as a vocal activist for the environment, animal welfare and gay rights.