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: A woman who unquestionably owes her dark, sensual allure to her Croatian ancestry, Canadian actress Stana Katic achieved fame with multi-episode appearances on the prime-time cop drama The Shield, the hit counterterrorism thriller 24, and the popular serial drama Heroes (as Hana Gitelman, a character who can wirelessly connect to and interact with the Internet using only her mind). Katic scored her first big-screen coup in 2007 when she was cast as Jenny in legendary writer/director Robert Benton's gentle ensemble drama Feast of Love. She landed a part in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace in 2008, but it was 2009 when she landed a leading role on Castle, a series that built a loyal following. She parlayed the show's success into parts in the feature films For Lovers Only, Truth About Kerry, and The Double.

Trivia: Susan Sullivan is an Emmy-nominated actress who has proved equally adept at drama or comedy. She is best known for her eight years portraying Maggie Gioberti on the television series Falcon Crest, a prime-time network soap opera in a vein similar to that of Dallas and Dynasty, but she has also shown her comedic skills on sitcoms such as It's a Living and The George Carlin Show. Born Susan Michaela Sullivan in New York City in 1942 (some sources say 1944), she put herself through college by working as a Playboy bunny in the early '60s. Indeed, Sullivan was among the first Playboy bunnies employed by the newly opened Playboy Club in New York; as she has recalled in interviews, this was a most intellectually impressive and ambitious array of women, somewhat different from what the Playboy bunnies subsequently became, many of them aspiring to careers in law and other professions, and financing their educations by working at the club. Her television career began when she joined the cast of the daytime drama Another World in the role of Lenore Curtin, who she portrayed for four seasons. Sullivan based her career in New York, and was appearing in an off-Broadway play when she was spotted by an agent who offered to represent her if she moved to Hollywood. She accepted and thus began her career in prime-time television. Sullivan (who was sometimes billed as Susan J. Sullivan early in her career to distinguish her from another late-'60s actress named Susan Sullivan) appeared on television series such as Medical Center, McMillan & Wife, Kojak, and Petrocelli during the early '70s before landing the role that would establish her acting credentials, as Peter Strauss' lover in Rich Man, Poor Man--Book II (1976), which earned her an Emmy nomination. That same year, she moved into feature films, playing opposite Charlton Heston in Jack Smight's feature film Midway; she only had ten minutes of screen time in the movie, but hers were some of the best and most dramatically involving scenes in a movie that was otherwise largely devoid of character development or depth. Her sequences were used exclusively for the two-part television version of the movie, which means that theatrical audiences never saw her; Sullivan's scenes were missing from every home video version of the film until the October 2001 DVD reissue of Midway, which contained her footage. She spent most of the rest of the '70s in good guest-starring roles on series such as Taxi (where, in the episode "What Price Bobby," she proved herself capable of getting laughs and being sexually provocative at the same time, portraying an amorously predatory theatrical agent), and she turned in an exceptional dramatic performance in the pilot film for The Incredible Hulk, portraying a research scientist and friend of stricken hero David Banner (Bill Bixby). Her star continued to rise when she was cast in the lead role, as a gynecologist, in the made-for-television feature Having Babies and a sequel, which led to Sullivan playing the lead role in the subsequent ABC network series of the same name. From there, she was cast in the sitcom It's a Living, playing the most mature and sensible member of a group of waitresses at an upscale restaurant. It was after leaving It's a Living in 1981 that Sullivan earned the lead role of Maggie Gioberti on the drama Falcon Crest, which she played for eight seasons. Since leaving that series in 1989, a year before the end of its run, Sullivan has continued to act in both comedy and drama, and appeared on television on behalf of various charitable causes, as well as serving as the commercial spokesperson for Tylenol. She was a co-star on the George Carlin Show and has appeared on sitcoms such as Dharma & Greg. In the 2st century she found a regular gig voicing Hippolyta on the animated Justice League series, and enjoyed recurring roles on both The Drew Carey Show and Castle.

Trivia: Started dancing and gymnastics lessons at age 3. Starred in a series of local commercials and print ads in her youth. At age 6, she performed in a local ballet production of The Nutcracker. Took acting classes from retired director/producer Martin Beck. Was discovered by director Linda Seto at a summer film camp in Dallas, TX, and was encouraged to move to Los Angeles. Made film debut in a bit part in the 2007 comedy Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.

Trivia: A theater star from a diverse background, Ruben Santiago-Hudson was born in Lackawanna, NY, in 1956. Growing up with a combination of Puerto Rican and African American descent yielded many life-shaping experiences for Santiago-Hudson, and after studying at Binghamton University, he went on to write, direct, and star in the acclaimed play Lackawanna Blues, in which he portrayed over 20 characters from his past. The thespian would continue to work on-stage, appearing in plays like Jelly's Last Jam and Seven Guitars -- for which he won a Tony -- and additionally transitioned to the screen, appearing in a large number of films like The Devil's Advocate and Honeydripper. In 2005, Santiago-Hudson adapted Lackawanna Blues into a miniseries produced by HBO, which met with critical acclaim and garnered several major awards for star S. Epatha Merkerson. In the following years, Santiago-Hudson would find success on the popular series Castle.

Trivia: Actress Tamala Jones launched her career as a model, appearing in magazine ads and television commercials, before landing her first acting job on an episode of the preteen sitcom California Dreams, but her interest in the craft goes back to early childhood, when Jones and her cousin would stage backyard shows. Los Angeles-born and raised, Jones first studied drama in the sixth grade. As a young woman, she guest starred on series ranging from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to E.R. to The Wayans Brothers. She had her first regular television role playing a student in the ABC network's short-lived drama Dangerous Minds. Jones entered feature films with a small role in How to Make an American Quilt (1995) and had her first starring film role in Booty Call (1997). In 1998, Jones starred in the short-lived NBC summer replacement sitcom For Your Love. After appearing in Blue Streak and The Wood the following year, Jones began to gain even more momentum in 2000 with roles in Ice Cube's Next Friday and the Tim Meadows SNL vehicle The Ladies Man. Jones would later share the limelight with a talented cast in Kingdom Come in 2001. She continued to work steadily in a variety of projects including Head of State, Daddy Day Camp, Who's Your Caddy?, and What Love Is before being cast on the television show Castle as Lanie Paris. In 2010 she starred in and co-produced the romantic comedy 35 & Ticking.

Trivia: Started acting when he was 10 years old. First became known for his role as Antonio on the television series Moesha. Spent eight years in the military and participated in Operations Just Cause and Desert Storm. Finished a college degree in theater while in the Air Force. Nominated for a 2000 ALMA Award for his role on ABC's Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Has worked closely with several charities that help veterans, including the Wounded Warrior Fund and Puppies Behind Bars.

Trivia: Is the son of a drama teacher. Has been in more than 50 plays, and is well known for his stage work in the Los Angeles area. Did voice-over work in the 2002 Activision video game Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix. Has had many guest roles on numerous television shows, including CSI: Miami, Close to Home, Crossing Jordan, Charmed, JAG and Cold Case. After his General Hospital character, Dr. Ian Devlin, was killed off, he went on to play another doctor, Dr. Chris Ferlinghetti, on Army Wives.

Trivia: Tall African-American actor D.B. Woodside is best known for two recurring series roles: that of Principal Robin Wood on Buffy the Vampire Slayer during the program's seventh and final season, and that of Wayne Palmer on the blockbuster Fox action thriller 24. Born in New York City, David Bryan Woodside stepped into drama during his teens, almost completely by accident. As a varsity football hero, he suffered from an unexpected injury on the field and happened to be looking for an alternative pursuit. While walking down a school corridor, Woodside overheard a rehearsal for the musical Brigadoon and decided, spontaneously, to check it out. The pieces fell into place, and after graduation, Woodside devoted more of his attention to dramatics -- this time, on a curricular level, first as an undergraduate at the State University of New York at Albany (where he received his B.A.) and later via his studies at the Yale University School of Drama, where he earned his Master of Fine Arts. Woodside signed with a manager and subsequently landed the role of Melvin Franklin, bassist singer for the Temptations, in the 1998 telemovie biopic of that Motown supergroup; that of Forrest in the low-budget 1998 cop thriller Scarred City; and that of Anthony Hilliard in the BET original telemovie After All. He also portrayed Colin in Andrzej Bartkowiak's big-screen martial arts update of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Romeo Must Die. The Buffy role purportedly came to Woodside some time before he agreed to accept it; he later recalled his manager phoning him on several occasions and insisting that he audition for the part. In the first two instances, Woodside declined, but with the third offer, he begrudgingly accepted and soon "fell in love with the part." Unfortunately, the series ended with that season (in 2003), but Woodside made a memorable impression. When reflecting on the series' closure in a BBC interview, he later observed, "It was sad to see these guys who had been together for seven years of their lives, who had grown up together. They were a family, and like many families they work hard and love hard. They were fantastic and welcomed me into that family for the final season. So there were quite a few tears, quite a few hugs, but they felt the need to move on." Woodside continued on to other roles, including playing "stoner" Martin, the best friend of Marguerite Moreau's Jamie Harris, in the quirky, low-budget romantic comedy Easy (2003). However, Woodside's most notable and high-profile role was that of Wayne Palmer -- the brother and Chief of Staff of President David Palmer -- on the aforementioned 24, starting with the hit show's third season (2003-2004). He then returned in season five (2005) for a handful of appearances before his character ascended to the presidency for the show's turbulent sixth season the next year.

Trivia: Her father was Pensacola surfing legend Yancy Spencer. Began competing in beauty pageants at age 4. Appeared in the musical Annie at age 12. Was a member of the Pensacola Children's Chorus. Portrayed Rebecca Tyree on All My Children from 1999 to 2001 and snagged a Soap Opera Digest Award as Outstanding Female Newcomer for her work. Stayed with family friend Kathie Lee Gifford when she relocated to New York to film AMC. Had a recurring role on season 3 of Mad Men as Suzanne Farrell, Sally Draper's teacher and Don Draper's love interest.

Trivia: Born in New York City, but raised in New Hampshire. Guest starred in an X-Files episode alongside then-boyfriend David Duchovny. Charitable pursuits include the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Is a vegetarian. Is an avid practitioner of yoga and meditation.