Trivia: Tony-nominated, Drama Desk award-winning actress Anna Kendrick got her start on the stage before segueing into film with roles in the Todd Graff musical comedy Camp and Spellbound director Jeffrey Blitz's post-Napoleon Dynamite teen misfit comedy Rocket Science. Cast in the latter as the love interest of a stuttering high-school student seeking to steady his voice by joining the debate team, Kendrick charmed viewers with her effervescent radiance before taking the lead as a teen desperately searching for her missing best friend in cinematographer-turned-director Nathan Hope's 2007 thriller Elsewhere. Later that same year, Kendrick could be seen opposite Ben Stiller and Jason Schwartzman in director Todd Louiso's arrested-development comedy The Marc Pease Experience. In 2008 she landed a recurring part in the highly successful Twilight series, but her real breakthrough came in 2009 with her Oscar-nominated turn opposite George Clooney in Up in the Air. In 2010 she appeared in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and a year later she earned strong reviews playing a psychiatrist counseling a young cancer victim in 50/50. In 2012 she was in the ensemble pregnancy comedy What to Expect When You're Expecting, lent her voice to the animated film ParaNorman, and scored a huge hit with the a capella comedy Pitch Perfect.

Trivia: The burly African-American comic-turned-character actor Craig Robinson broke through to fame and success when his standup act at the 1998 Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival caught the eye of executives at Fox Broadcasting. The impressed suits offered Robinson a covetable development deal, which led to a series of plum roles within a few years. The actor scored his first significant part circa 2003, opposite Northern Exposure vet John Corbett in the short-lived television series Lucky, but his recurring role as Darryl, the stone-faced Dunder-Mifflin warehouse supervisor on the blockbuster NBC series The Office, finally brought him national recognition. Robinson followed this up with supporting turns in the 2007 A-list features Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls and Knocked Up. He was among the people who tried to help Zack and Miri Make a Porno, and was one of the circle of friends who travel back to the '80s in Hot Tub Time Machine. In addition to The Office, he found additional work on the small screen hosting Last Comic Standing for that program's seventh season.

Trivia: Studied at the Cleveland Play House and the HB Studio in New York. Made her Broadway debut as a replacement in Gypsy, opposite Ethel Merman, in 1960. Her late husband, Charles Kakatsakis, was an acting coach. First worked with Alexander Payne on his film About Schmidt (2002) before landing her breakout role in Nebraska (2013).

Trivia: Lisa Kudrow first made her name playing Phoebe, the ditzy, New Age member of the titular close-knit pals on NBC's highly successful sitcom Friends. Since then, she has bridged the gap between television and film with undeniable success, winning particular acclaim for her role as an uptight school teacher in Don Roos' The Opposite of Sex (1998).Born in Encino, California on July 30, 1963, Kudrow earned a degree in biology from Vassar College before beginning her acting career. After college, she joined the Los Angeles improvisational group, The Groundlings, at the urging of family friend Jon Lovitz. Improv paved the way for more work, and Kudrow was soon appearing in bit roles in a number of films. Her first real break didn't come until 1993, when she began appearing on the TV sitcom Mad About You as Ursula, the waitress from hell. Real fame came in 1994, when the actress was cast as Phoebe on Friends; the enormous success of the show gave her both wide recognition and a steady day job. Kudrow's first leading role on the big screen was as one of the titular heroines (alongside Mira Sorvino) of the 1997 comedy Romy and Michele's High School Reunion; unfortunately, her character was little more than a film version of Phoebe. Fortunately, Kudrow got to widen her range a little further that same year with a starring role in the independent drama Clockwatchers, portraying a struggling actress alongside the likes of Toni Collette and Parker Posey. The following year, Kudrow won raves and critical respect for her turn in The Opposite of Sex, a scathing black comedy in which she gave a comic and poignant performance as an embittered woman coping with the death of her brother, the presence of her best friend's malicious little sister (Christina Ricci), and the romantic attentions of Lyle Lovett. The acclaim she received for her portrayal was complemented the same year with an Emmy Award for her work on Friends. In 1999, Kudrow shared the screen with Robert DeNiro in the comedy Analyze This, and later that year she starred with Diane Keaton and Meg Ryan as three sisters dealing with the imminent death of their irritating father (Walter Matthau) in the comedy Hanging Up, directed by Keaton and written by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron.As the new millenium unfolded, Kudrow would prove to be a strong force on screen, appearing in a number of acclaimed films, like Wonderland, Happy Endings, The Other Woman, Easy A, and in the comedy series Web Therapy.

Trivia: A native of Hanham, England, Stephen Merchant shot to fame practically overnight by virtue of his role executive producing the BBC situation comedy blockbuster The Office (2001-2003) with creative partner Ricky Gervais. Born in Bristol, England, in 1974, Merchant enjoyed a brief tenure as a standup comedian and then culled a massive British audience by emceeing his own satirical radio program, The Steve Show, on W963 radio. From 1992 to 1996, the burgeoning comic attended the University of Warwick, where he earned his degree in film and television; he subsequently partnered up with Gervais, and the two attempted to launch a comedy series entitled "Golden Years" on Channel 4 television in the U.K. While that pilot failed to connect with an audience, it prompted the network to give Gervais a spot on the sketch comedy ensemble program The 11 O'Clock Show and paved the way for the duo's success with The Office.The said program premiered in July 2001, and satirized British corporate culture by observing the eccentric doings of the Hough-Wernham paper company's Slough, Berkshire branch. Though the U.K. version of The Office lasted only two seasons, it became an instant sensation, put the names of Gervais and Merchant on the map, and inspired producers Greg Daniels and Ben Silverman to buy the rights to a U.S. remake of the program -- which ran for numerous seasons, culled an untoward number of Emmys, and became one of the highest-rated programs on any network. Gervais and Merchant then created Extras, a satirical comedy about a pair of actors (one played by Gervais, the other by Ashley Jensen) repeatedly working as extras in productions starring famous celebrities. The series featured at least one famous guest star per episode, each a caricatured version of himself or herself. Having previously only played a bit part on The Office, Merchant also took on the supporting role of Darren Lamb, the egregiously incompetent agent of Gervais' character, Andy Millman. The program mirrored the success of its Gervais-Merchant predecessor, and series co-producer HBO quickly picked it up for a run in the United States.Merchant would go on to appear in comedies like The Invention of Lying and Hall Pass, in addition to writing, directing, and appearing in ongoing Gervais collaborations, like Life's Too Short and The Ricky Gervais Show.

Trivia: Began acting at age 2, when he starred in a baby food commercial followed by small parts in Entourage, My Name Is Earl and Shameless. Director Wes Anderson picked him over his actor brother Mario for the breakout role of Zero Moustafa in The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). Was slapped 42 times by Harvey Keitel when shooting The Grand Budapest Hotel, as they couldn't get the scene right. Plays the guitar, piano, bass guitar and writes his own songs.

Trivia: Has played goalkeeper for the Richmond Sockeyes, Langley Hornets and Chicago Steel hockey teams. As a youngster, appeared in two of his father's films, 'Escape From L.A.' (1996) and 'Soldier' (1998), but had little interest in show business. Had to give up his career in professional hockey after suffering a serious injury. Developed a love of film while recuperating from a broken hip and decided to give the family business a try. Formed a close bond with the cast members of Everybody Wants Some!! after spending 3 weeks in Texas. Attended the Maui film festival with his mother Goldie Hawn in June 2016. Along with Kelly Rohrbach, won the Rising Star Award at the Maui Film Festival in 2016.

Trivia: A native of Langley, British Columbia, actress Amanda Crew began her entertainment career in Canadian productions, with assignments such as an ongoing role on the YTV network's series 15/Love and CTV's Whistler. Following work on a succession of Vancouver-based television series, Crew signed for series guest spots on Smallville and a multi-episode turn on Life As We Know It, then moved into features. She placed her strongest emphasis on teen-oriented material, such as the romantic comedies John Tucker Must Die and She's the Man and the teen thriller Final Destination 3 (all 2006). In 2008, Crew landed one of the lead roles, opposite James Marsden, Clark Duke, and Seth Green, in the comedy Sex Drive.

Trivia: While some may not recognize Margo Martindale's name, many recognize her face. An actress onscreen from the early '90s, Martindale's list of memorable roles is long, and the character actress found a strong niche playing mothers (Million Dollar Baby) grandmothers (Hannah Montana: The Movie), and generally maternal figures (Practical Magic). Martindale even parodied her own typecasting, playing the mother of the title character in the biopic spoof Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Martindale would continue to act at a furious pace for years to come, appearing in movies like Secretariat, and on shows like Justified and A Gifted Man.

Trivia: A former professional baseball player, Jeff Richards displayed his diamond skills to the utmost in his first film, Kill the Umpire (1951), in which he was billed under his given name of Richard Taylor. Richards was subsequently cast in the MGM baseball flicks Angels in the Outfield (1951) and The Big Leaguer (1953), playing the nominal lead in the latter picture. During his MGM years, he also appeared in a number of non-sports efforts; third-billed in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), he expanded his range to include dancing and singing. After starring in the 1958 TV western Jefferson Drum, Jeff Richards faded from public view.

Trivia: Is a founding member of New York improv group the Swarm; has also performed improv with the Upright Citizens Brigade. Has done voice work for Robert Smigel's TV Funhouse cartoons that aired on Saturday Night Live. Among the impressions he performed on MADtv were Carrot Top, Bill Maher, Dick Cheney and Pat Sajak.

Trivia: An actress best known for her ongoing series portrayal of Tammi Littlenut, best friend of Jerri Blank on the Comedy Central Afterschool Special send-up Strangers with Candy, actress Maria Thayer specialized in farce. She went on to distinguish herself in offbeat comedies including the teen-oriented Accepted (2006) and the Judd Apatow-produced romantic comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008).

Trivia: Was an Army brat and traveled around with her parents from base to base. Got the acting bug after appearing in a 6th grade play. Started acting professionally in theater as a chorus girl and landed a part in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas on Broadway in 1978. Other Broadway credits include: Titanic; Assassins; All My Sons; A Streetcar Named Desire; and Good People. Big TV break came when she was cast as Jean Weir, the lovable mom on Freaks and Geeks in 1999. In 2012 was cast as Lena Dunham's mother on Girls and appeared as Katharine McPhee's mom on Smash, along with her real-life husband Dylan Baker who played McPhee's dad. Is a founding member of New York-based theater company The Drama Dept. and is a member of Actor's Studio.