Trivia: When British actor Joe Anderson debuted onscreen in the mid-2000s, he immediately evinced a predilection for seeking out supporting roles in the most conceptually interesting and dynamic material available to him. Anderson's chosen projects -- which spanned a wide variety of genres -- never felt less than arresting. These included the Agnieszka Holland Beethoven biopic Copying Beethoven (2006), Julie Taymor's much-anticipated Beatles drama Across the Universe (2007) and the critically praised biopic of post-punk singer Ian Curtis, Control (2007).

Trivia: Born October 1, 1969, in North Carolina, Zach Galifianakis emerged as one of the more distinct comedic performers to grace the stage during the mid- to late 2000s. A short, slightly stocky presence with a thick outgrowth of beard that quickly became a personal trademark, Galifianakis used his behind-the-mike stints to riff on everything from veganism to multiple personality disorder, while constantly displaying a lightning-flash wit and marked inventiveness. He debuted with feature roles during the early 2000s, in films including Heartbreakers (2001) and Bubble Boy (2001). He also briefly emceed his own short-lived talk show, Late World with Zach (2002), on the VH1 network.By 2003, Galifianakis secured a regular role (as a morgue worker, Davis) on the Fox supernatural drama series Tru Calling (2003-2005). Thereafter, the performer spent many years placing his strongest emphasis on standup and on filmed standup specials, such as the 2005 Zach Galifianakis: Live at the Purple Onion and the 2007 Comedians of Comedy: Live at the Troubador, but continued to tackle occasional feature work from time to time. Among other screen accomplishments, Galifianakis ushered in a rare dramatic turn in Sean Penn's biographical drama Into the Wild (2007) and then played a socially maladroit friend of Ashton Kutcher in the sex farce What Happens in Vegas (2008).It wasn't until his role as a well-meaning but socially lacking participant in a bachelor party horribly gone wrong, however, that the actor would find true mainstream recognition. Alongside Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms, Galifianakis starred in The Hangover, 2009's wildly successful buddy film (the actor reprised the role for 2011's The Hangover Part 2). He would go on to co-star with Robert Downey Jr. in Due Date (2010), which followed the mismatched couple on a wacky road trip to L.A., and take on supporting roles in Dinner for Schmucks, Youth in Revolt, and Up in the Air. He lent his voice to the 2011 animated film Puss in Boots, and co-stars with Will Ferrell in the political comedy Campaign (2012).

Trivia: Born in 1981 in Australia, Emilie de Ravin trained as a ballerina before shifting her focus to acting. Her first onscreen role was as one of the leads on the syndicated TV version of The Beastmaster in 1999. But the stint proved shortlived when de Ravin accepted a starring spot on a network series, the cult-hit sci-fi show Roswell. After that series bowed in 2002, de Ravin could be seen in a few TV guest roles and in a made-for-TV remake of Carrie. But in 2004, she landed the part that would elevate her to the next level of stardom when she was cast as the young single mother Claire Littleton on ABC's hit mindbender Lost. While appearing on Lost, de Ravin also began to pursue a career on the big screen with roles in such prominent films as the horror remake The Hills Have Eyes and the acclaimed indie noir homage Brick. The actress remained a popular character on Lost and worked on the show until its conclusion in 2010. The same year she co-starred in Operation: Endgame, a comedy thriller following two groups of elite assassins as they fight amongst themselves. In 2012, she guest-starred on the first season of Once Upon a Time as Belle, and was upped to a series regular the following season.

Trivia: As the correspondent of the popular Comedy Central tongue-in-cheek reportage series The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, acid-mouthed comic Rob Corddry developed a schtick that involved interviewing newsmakers and gleefully poking fun of them on live camera -- recalling the early days of series host Craig Kilborn (in Daily's pre-1999 incarnation). Corddry also took over Stephen Colbert's "This Week in God" segment and would frequently slip into character as a "take no prisoners" interviewer called Dino Ironbody when interrogating his subjects.Corddry hails from the Boston area. He was born in Weymouth, MA, in 1971 and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst. After graduation, he joined the comic ensemble Third Rail Comedy for a few years, then formed (with three others) the four-man comedic ensemble Naked Babies. In time, Corddry's antics secured a spot for him on Comedy Central -- initially on The Upright Citizens Brigade. As a comedic actor in feature films, Corddry debuted with a portrayal of Warren in the Will Ferrell-Luke Wilson frat-boy comedy Old School (2003), and his performance as a cracked gun salesman was one of the only saving graces of the awful Matthew McConaughey movie Failure to Launch (2006). The comic-turned-actor re-teamed with Ferrell and Wilson for the 2007 skating farce Blades of Glory, then signed for roles in such films as the Farrelly Brothers remake of The Heartbreak Kid (2007) and the 2008 sequel Harold and Kumar 2.Corrdry went on to play a supporting role in Operation: Endgame, a 2010 action comedy following the rivalry between two groups of government assassins, and won laughs, if not critical success, for his turn in Hot Tub Time Machine (2010). Corrdry reunited with fellow Daily Show alumni Ed Helms to play a small supporting role in Cedar Rapids (2011). The comedian solidified his cult following with Children's Hospital, a satirical medical comedy that relishes in the clichés of more traditional medical dramas. In addition to a starring role, Corrdry also came up with the show's concept. In 2012, Corrdry joined Steve Carrell (yet another former Daily Show co-star) for a supporting role in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, a comedy drama following a couple on their final road trip before an asteroid destroys mankind.

Trivia: Is of Cuban and Colombian descent. Was raised in a bilingual home. Began career at age 5 in the film Kindergarten Cop (1990). In 2007, joined the cast of the ABC series October Road. Breakthrough film role came in the 2008 action flick Cloverfield. Provided the voice for the character Amata Almodovar in the 2008 video game Fallout 3. Appeared in the music video for Weezer's "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To."

Trivia: Born Maggie Quigley in Honolulu, exotic actress Maggie Q first made a name for herself in Hong Kong cinema, starring in such actioners as Gen-X Cops 2 and Naked Weapon. Her first appearance in a state-side film came with a bit part in 2001's Rush Hour 2, but her first large U.S. role wouldn't come until 2006's Mission: Impossible III. With a genuine American blockbuster under her belt, Q soon landed a number of Hollywood films. In 2007 alone, she could be seen in the sports comedy Balls of Fury, the action sequel Live Free or Die Hard, and the suspense thriller The Tourist. Q would also go on to star in the successful 2010 TV reboot Nikita. Nikita ran for four season; when the series ended, she wasted no time picking up a recurring role in the Divergent movie series, playing Tori Wu, and landing another TV series, Stalker.

Trivia: A burly, bald black actor of stage, screen, and television, Ving Rhames specializes in playing villains and, indeed, having grown up on Harlem's meanest streets, is no stranger to violence. His onscreen persona, however, is no match for his real-life reputation as a deeply compassionate man, seriously dedicated to his profession. The actor ably demonstrated his capacity for abundant generosity during the 1998 Golden Globes ceremony when he handed over the award he had just won for portraying the title character of the cable film Don King: Only in America to fellow nominee Jack Lemmon, simply because he felt Lemmon's contributions to film exceeded his own.Though his upbringing in Harlem was rife with many temptations to engage in easy money criminal ventures, the deeply religious Rhames separated himself from street riffraff at a young age and focused his energies on school. It was his ninth grade English teacher who steered the sensitive young man toward acting, in large part because Rhames was unusually well spoken, frequently earning praise for his clear elocution. Inspired by a poetry reading he had attended with schoolmates, Rhames successfully auditioned for entrance into New York's prestigious High School for the Performing Arts. Once enrolled, he immersed himself in his studies and fell in love with acting. Following graduation in 1978, he attended the Juilliard School of Drama on a scholarship and focused his studies there on classical theater. After graduating from Juilliard in 1983, he went on to perform in Shakespeare in the Park productions. In 1984, Rhames made his television debut in Go Tell It on the Mountain and, the following year, landed his first Broadway role starring opposite Matt Dillon in The Winter Boys. Thus began a steady, fruitful theater career augmented by recurring roles on such daily soap operas as Another World and Guiding Light, and guest-starring parts on such primetime series as Miami Vice. He entered films in Native Son (1986), following that up with appearances in a series of modest films and television movies. Rather than getting a single big break into stardom, he made a gradual ascent that began with his appearance in Brian De Palma's grim Vietnam War saga Casualties of War (1989). Rhames again worked with Matt Dillon in 1993 on The Saint of Fort Washington. While filming on location in New York, Dillon introduced him to a man who had approached him, asking about the actor's involvement with Rhames on Broadway. It turned out that the stranger was Rhames' long-estranged older brother, Junior, who had lost contact with the family while serving in Vietnam. Troubled and unable to reintegrate into mainstream society, he had been living in a nearby homeless shelter. The compassionate Rhames was thrilled to see his big brother and promptly moved him into his apartment, helped him get a job, and later bought a home for his brother and parents to share. In 1994, Rhames gained considerable acclaim for his disturbingly convincing portrayal of the sadistic Marsellus Wallace in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. His performance paved the way for supporting roles opposite some of Hollywood's most popular stars in such big budget features as Mission Impossible (1996) (as well as John Woo's 2000 sequel to the film), Con Air (1997), Out of Sight (1998), and Entrapment (1999). In addition to his film credits, Rhames has also continued to appear frequently on such television shows as E.R. Rhames' performance as a former gangster turned honest, hardworking man proved a highlight of Boyz N the Hood director John Singleton's 2001 drama Baby Boy, and after lending his distinctive voice to the computer animated box-office disaster Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within the actor returned to the small screen for a pair of made-for-television features. If subsequent efforts such as Undisputed failed to make a sizable dent at the box office, Rhames continued to impress with contributions to such features as Lilo and Stitch (again providing vocals for the animated film) and as a conscientious cop in the 2002 police drama Dark Blue. A role opposite Gary Oldman in the 2003 crime drama Sin flew under the radar of most mainstream film audiences, and in early 2004 Rhames took up arms against the hungry legions of the undead in the eagerly anticipated remake Dawn of the Dead. Subsequently reprising his role as Luther Stickell in Mission Impossible III, the imposing Rhames flexed his comedy muscles with a role in 2007's I Now Pronounce you Chuck and Larry before hitting what could be considered a career low-point in Steve Miner's embarassing Day of the Dead remake. An outrageous performance in 2009's The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard garnered some big laughs, and the following year Rhames did over-the-top horror the right way in Alexandre Aja's outrageous remake Piranha. In the next few years, however, Rhames' film output seemed to grow increasingly erratic, with roles in such Z-grade fare as Death Race 2 and Zombie Apocalypse earning the Emmy-winning veteran steady paychecks but precious little artistic integrity.

Trivia: Ellen Barkin is one of the most respected, versatile actresses on the screen; she is equally at home playing supporting roles, character roles, and leads -- even as true stardom eluded her. Prior to becoming an actress, Barkin attended the renowned High School for the Performing Arts in New York, studied history and Drama at Hunter College, and attended workshops at The Actors Studio. Barkin debuted on-stage in 1980's Irish Coffee and continued her theater work while appearing the following year in the soap opera Search for Tomorrow. She had roles in various TV movies before making her critically acclaimed film debut as the neglected wife of an obsessive record collector in Barry Levinson's Diner (1982), and subsequently went on to play supporting roles ranging from unhappy wives to white-hot sexpots to a small but vital part as Robert Duvall's troubled daughter in Tender Mercies (1983). Following her appearance in the romantic thriller The Big Easy in 1987, Barkin gained a small but devoted following. While filming the experimental supernatural thriller Siesta (1987), she met her husband, Irish actor Gabriel Byrne, with whom she had two children. (The couple divorced in 1993.) Remaining involved with The Actors Studio when not working, Barkin worked steadily during the late '80s and throughout the '90s -- most notably in Sea of Love (1989) -- and appeared (with Oprah Winfrey) in 1997's Before Women Had Wings, her first TV movie in 13 years. She appeared in Terry Gilliam's adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, as well as the 1999 black comedy Drop Dead Gorgeous. She made a move into indie fare at the beginning of the next decade with parts in Todd Solondz's Palindromes, and Spike Lee's micro-budget drama She Hate Me. She had her most high-profile role in quite some time in 2007 when she was cast in Ocean's Thirteen. Two years later she was in the cop drama Brooklyn's Finest, and two years after that she was the lead in the ensemble dysfunctional family drama Another Happy Day.

Trivia: Born July 8th, 1944, character actor Jeffrey Tambor has built his career in comedies playing the role of the uptight boss, or more generally, the stuffy guy. After graduate school, teaching, and a prolific stage career, Tambor started making television guest-starring appearances in the early '70s. He showed up on Three's Company enough that he eventually got a spot on the spin-off series The Ropers as the disapproving next-door neighbor Jeffrey. After the show's two-season run, he did a few TV movies before landing a reoccurring roles on the television version of 9 to 5, naturally playing the Dabney Coleman boss character. Throughout the '80s and early '90s, he continued to play the role of the stuffy guy on television (The Golden Girls, L.A. Law, Max Headroom) and movies (Mr. Mom, City Slickers, Life Stinks). His big break came in 1992, when he was cast as Garry Shandling's smiling sidekick, Hank Kingsley, on HBO's The Larry Sanders Show, his most recognizable role. For the rest of the '90s, he frequently returned to playing snide characters for movies (Teaching Mrs. Tingle, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Muppets From Space), although he would be more well-known for his work on television. In 1999, he appeared on the AMC series The Lot for its two-season run and provided voice talent for the MTV cartoon show 3 South. He played another boss type in the heist film Scorched in 2002.In 2003, Tambor joined the cast of Arrested Development for the role of George Bluth, an imprisoned millionaire and patriarch to a seriously dysfunctional family. The role would earn two Emmy nominations. Tambor tried his luck at television success once again in Welcome to the Captain, a short-lived sitcom in 2006, and returned to the big screen for the buddy comedy Twenty Good Years. He played a supporting role in 2009's critically acclaimed comedy the Invention of Lying, and played father of the bride in the megahit The Hangover. In 2011, Tambor took another supporting role for the comedy drama Win Win, and reprised his role in The Hangover for The Hangover Part 2.

Trivia: A native of Detroit, MI, and the son of Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, Brandon T. Jackson developed an affinity and a knack for comedic antics early in life -- which reportedly helped him survive the monotony and boredom of school and ultimately convinced him to pursue a career as a standup comic-cum-actor. He parlayed his ambition into a series of behind-the-mike routines at local community and church events (including the Motor City Youth Festival), then accepted a role in the teen-oriented urban drama Nikita Blues (which, not coincidentally, was executive produced by his father), and in the early 2000s moved to Los Angeles, essaying a series of bit parts in A-list features including Ali (2001), 8 Mile (2002), and Roll Bounce (2005). Jackson subsequently rose to supporting billing with his turn in the filmmaking-themed farce Tropic Thunder (2008), starring Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, and Ben Stiller, and directed by Stiller.

Trivia: Clean-cut and perpetually dressed in tailored suits, comedian Bob Odenkirk was born in Illinois. He worked as a standup comic in Chicago before moving to New York and writing some of the best television comedy of his generation. From 1987-1991, he worked as a writer on Saturday Night Live and earned his first Emmy nomination. Odenkirk then wrote for The Ben Stiller Show and won his first Emmy award. He also wrote for Get a Life, The Larry Sanders Show, Late Night With Conan O'Brien, and Tenacious D. In addition, he played Stevie Grant on several episodes of The Larry Sanders Show. During this period, he met up with comedian David Cross and they became the team behind Mr. Show, an exceptional sketch comedy program that aired 1995-1998 on HBO. Along with Cross, Odenkirk was a host, writer, producer, and cast member. Although nominated for numerous awards, Mr. Show never won any. As an actor, Odenkirk appeared in small roles in such comedy features as The Cable Guy, Waiting for Guffman, and Can't Stop Dancing. On television, he provided voices to a few cartoons and tried his hand at directing with the HBO series The Near Future. After starring as Terry Twillstein in the unfortunate Run Ronnie Run!, he directed and starred in Melvin Goes to Dinner in 2003. The talky comedy feature was based on a play by Michael Blieden and the poster features lovely drawings by Adrian Tomine; it won several awards at festivals. As a writer/director, Odenkirk went on to make some videos and TV shows. As an actor, he later starred in The Big Wide World of Carl Laemke and My Big Fat Independent Movie. Though he remained one of the leading players of the alternative comedy scene, he was cast on the dramatic series Breaking Bad and earned rave reviews for his work on that program. He had a prominent part in 2012's The Giant Mechanical Man.

Trivia: A successful character actress most adept at playing matronly types, Beth Grant took her onscreen bow in the late '80s and began tackling innumerable roles in Hollywood features, usually bit parts as housewives, female doctors, or down-home small-town women. Grant received her first feature assignment as a harried mother at a farmhouse in Barry Levinson's Rain Man (1988). She subsequently divided her time between film and television roles, guest-acting on dozens of series and occasionally taking on more extensive small-screen roles, such as on Coach and Jericho. Grant's many big-screen credits include the films Don't Tell Her It's Me (1990), Speed (1994), Donnie Darko (2001), and Little Miss Sunshine (2006). She was particularly memorable in the latter, as one of the snotty and obnoxious pageant judges. Darko represented Grant's first experience working with helmer Richard Kelly; she re-teamed with Kelly for his follow-up, the dystopian black comedy Southland Tales (2005).

Trivia: As both a frequent onscreen presence in Hollywood comedies and the occasional writer of a daft and pickled Hollywood laugh-fest, Ohio-born Michael Hitchcock began his career in the early '90s as a screenwriter. Though Hitchcock actually debuted as co-scenarist with Marc Rocco's 1992 urban drama Where the Day Takes You, he failed to break through to the American public prior to his critically maligned but lucrative authorship of such comic vehicles as Problem Child 3 (1995) and House Arrest (1996). Aside from periodic contributions to the long-running sketch comedy series MADtv, Hitchcock then abandoned scriptwriting for many years to focus exclusively on acting.Hitchcock established himself as a character player, demonstrating solid comedic timing, a genial humorous presence, and an actor's raw instinct. His appearances include supporting roles in such comedies as the well-received Happy, Texas (1999) and the Christopher Guest mockumentaries Best in Show (2000) and For Your Consideration (2006). Though Hitchcock occasionally attempted to expand his range, with such projects as a supporting turn on an episode of NYPD Blue and a small role in the space adventure Serenity (2005), he generally clung to his comedic roots and found greatest success in that arena.

Trivia: Left his home in the Midwest to perform with The Young Americans when he was 17. His post-college jobs included performing as a Kid of the Kingdom at Disneyland; a page at Paramount Studios; butler at the Playboy Mansion; and assistant for Cathy Rigby. His one-man show, Happy Hour, a comedy about his family life, won the Jury Award at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in 1999. Was a writer and performer with The Groundlings comedy group. Volunteers with Stars for Stripes, an organization that entertains U.S. troops in the Middle East.

Trivia: A native of Santa Cruz, CA, who was born in 1973, actor Adam Scott first encountered acting in elementary school, on a decidedly negative note (thanks to a not-so-pleasant experience in a science play), but by mid-adolescence changed his views about the craft and aggressively pursued a career in drama. He applied, and was accepted to, the American Academy of Dramatic Art in Pasadena, then made the short move west to Hollywood with several buddies. The actor took his bow with a guest bit on the series Dead at 21, and thereafter largely divided his time between television and the theatrical stage. In the television venue, guest roles followed on series including ER and NYPD Blue, as well as a recurring parts on Murder One, Party of Five, and on the Friday-night ABC sitcom Boy Meets World as high school senior Griff Hawkins. Scott moved into features in the late '90s and scored supporting roles in A-list Hollywood features; thereafter, the roles arrived quickly and furiously. Projects included Payback (1997), The Aviator (2004), Art School Confidential (2006), Knocked Up (2007), and Step Brothers (2008). Small-screen enthusiasts may also remember Scott for his role as Palek, one of the troubled husbands on the racy HBO relationship drama series Tell Me You Love Me (2007). He appeared in Step Brothers, but started to generate buzz as the lead in the made for cable comedy series Party Down. He joined the cast of Parks and Recreation in that show's second season which led quickly to roles in a number of big-screen comedies including Leap Year, Our Idiot Brother, and Friends With Kids.