Trivia: Although she may not have achieved her youthful dream of becoming a Solid Gold dancer, some might argue that it was more a matter of overshooting that dream rather than failing to achieve it. Elise Neal still loves to dance, even appearing on Star Search before working professionally as a dancer, though she is more likely to be recognized for her frequent work in television and film.Born in Tenessee, Neal's ballerina beginnings were set into motion after spending long hours in front of the television admiring the cutesy song-and-dance antics of Shirley Temple. A popular teenager, Neal was voted Homecoming Queen, and after high school moved to New York to pursue a career as a dancer. Finding frequent work in musical theater that eventually led to small roles in commercials, Neal soon began to realize her affection for appearing on camera. After moving to L.A. to chase her newfound dreams of becoming a full-time actress, Neal made an appearance on Law & Order before her screen debut in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992). Appearing frequently in television for the next few years with recurring roles in such series as SeaQuest DSV and Tales of the City, Neal later appeared in John Singleton's Rosewood and Money Talks (both 1997) before making a memorable appearance in Scream 2. Moving seamlessly between roles in television and film, Neal moved into sitcom territory with The Hughleys before returning to the screen in 2000 with Mission to Mars.

Trivia: John F. O'Donohue may not be as well known as Dennis Farina, Eddie Egan, or Barney Martin -- three police officers who became television stars -- but he's in the running. A 20-year veteran of the New York Police Department, O'Donohue joined the acting profession in the late '80s and ascended to bit parts in movies, moving up to supporting and guest-starring roles in television before reaching regular status on NYPD Blue in 2004. Born in New York, he was a career officer who rose as high as lieutenant in the Midtown North precinct, turning to acting as an outlet for feelings he repressed as a police officer. After some classes, and appearances in off-off-Broadway productions, he made his debut in the Ben Stiller-directed MTV program Colin Quinn: Back to Brooklyn. O'Donohue retired from the force and moved to Los Angeles to pursue work in television, making appearances in bit roles in episodes of Knots Landing and Reasonable Doubts, but it was Stiller who pulled him out of the pack of working actors. Stiller remembered O'Donohue's work in the MTV show when he was putting together the cast for his FOX network satirical series The Ben Stiller Show, and made him a regular on the series. O'Donohue showed his comedic abilities as a member of Stiller's stock company, and he later worked on The John Larroquette Show as a regular cast member in addition to appearances in series such as Knots Landing, Reasonable Doubts, and Matlock. He was a natural at playing cops (and also, occasionally, firemen), not just by experience but also with his easy New York working-class vernacular, bald physiognomy, and muscular presence. He made his first appearance on NYPD Blue in 1994 as a court clerk in the second season lead-off episode "Trials and Tribulations" and its follow-up, "From Whom the Skell Rolls." O'Donohue made the rounds on television, alternating between dramas and comedies, including Mad About You, Seinfeld, The Single Guy, Chicago Hope, Brooklyn South, Cybill, Diagnosis Murder, and Columbo, in ever larger parts. One of his funniest guest appearances was in the 1998 "Civil War" episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, playing Harry, the Civil War reenactor friend of Peter Boyle's Frank Barone. Although it was drama that would make O'Donohue into a star, he got there by way of his ability with comedy. In 2000, he rejoined NYPD Blue as a recurring cast member, portraying Detective Eddie Gibson, a veteran cop who's gone a little bit goofy working the night tour at the 15th squad, a character intended to interact comically with Dennis Franz's taciturn, slow-burning Detective Andy Sipowicz. O'Donohue was good enough as Gibson that the character was brought back and embellished over the ensuing seasons, presented as a man out-of-his-depth in modern detective work, but who also has a big heart where kids are concerned. In March 2004, O'Donohue rejoined the cast as a regular in March of 2004, playing newly promoted squad commander Det./Sgt. Eddie Gibson, still a tiny bit goofy, but knowing his limitations. During that season of the cop drama, O'Donohue gave a vivid portrayal of the increasingly rare old-fashioned cop, probably second generation on the force and Irish on at least one side, and likely a member of the Emerald Society. His presence on the series since 2000 was reminiscent of actors such as Horace McMahon on Naked City, among dozens of others, and provided the show with a great degree of verisimilitude.

Trivia: Both of her parents are scientists. In high school, auditioned for a part in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying after hearing fellow students rehearsing in the room next door to where she was serving detention. Her first professional gig was at the Pasadena Playhouse doing The Lion in Winter. Studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. Enjoys photography and dancing.

Trivia: Ex-gang member Tone-Loc is probably best known for his hit 1989 rap songs "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina" than for his acting career. Nevertheless, Loc was not welcomed into the hip-hop community, despite his debut Loc-ed After Dark being only the second rap album to top the Billboard charts. After the poor performance of his second album, 1991's Cool Hand Loc, Loc turned his attentions to acting. He appeared several times in Charles S. Dutton's sitcom Roc, and also had supporting roles in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Heat, and Titan A.E., among others. Born Anthony Smith on March 3, 1966, in Los Angeles, Loc still lives in the city of his birth. He spends his free time hanging out with his children and, as he told the Iowa State Daily in 1999, finding ways to make money. He shouldn't have much trouble with the latter -- the rapper/actor put out a new album and tour in 2001, and took on a starring role in Thieves, a television series starring John Stamos.

Trivia: One of the most prominent female hip-hoppers of the 1990s thanks to her soulful and uplifting rhymes, Queen Latifah has also crafted an increasingly successful screen presence.Born Dana Owens in Newark, NJ, on March 18, 1970, this police officer's daughter worked at Burger King before joining the group Ladies Fresh as a human beatbox. Disgusted at the misogynistic, male-dominated rap scene, Owens adapted the moniker of Queen Latifah (meaning delicate and sensitive in Arabic) and was soon on her way to changing the way many people looked at hip hop. Soon gaining a loyal following due to her unique perspective and role model-inspiring attitude, Latifah recorded the single "Wrath of My Madness" in 1988 and the following year she released her debut album, All Hail the Queen. Making her feature debut three short years later in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever, Latifah began refining a screen persona that would be equally adept in both drama and comedy. After starring as magazine editor Khadijah James on the FOX sitcom Living Single (1993-1998) and landing increasingly prominent film roles in Set It Off (1996), Living Out Loud (1998), and The Bone Collector (1999), she was given her own personal televised outlet in the form of The Queen Latifah Show in 1999. Losing her brother in a motorcycle accident in 1995 (she still wears the motorbike's key around her neck) in addition to grieving a friend who was shot when the two were carjacked the same year, Latifah has persisted in overcoming tragedy to remain positive and creative. The talented songstress has also appeared as both the Wicked Witch of the West (1998's The Wizard of Oz) and Glenda the Good (The O.Z. in 2002), in addition to remaining an innovative and inspiring recording artist. In 2003, Latifah hit a watershed moment in her career and in the public perception of her image: she signed to portray Matron Mama Morton in Rob Marshall's bold cinematization of the Bob Fosse musical Chicago. For Latifah, the turn embodied a breakthrough to end all breakthroughs - it dramatically reshaped the artist's image from that of a hip-hop singer turned actress to that of a multitalented, one-woman powerhouse with astonishing gifts in every arena of performance - voice, drama and dance. Latifah deservedly netted an Oscar nomination for this role, but lost to Catherine Zeta-Jones, who played Velma Kelly in the same film.Later that same year, the multifaceted singer/actress took a dramatic step down in ambition and sophistication, joining Steve Martin for the odd couple comedy Bringing Down the House. That farce tells the occasionally rollicking story of a hyper-anal white lawyer (Martin) who attempts to "hook up" with a barrister he meets online, but discovers that she is (surprise!) actually a slang-tossing black prison escapee with a mad taste for hip hop dancing (Latifah). Ironically - given the seemingly foolproof and ingenious premise - the film collapsed, thanks in no small part to an awkward and craven screenplay that fails to see the logic of its situations through to fruition, and wraps with a ludicrous denouement. The film did score with viewers, despite devastating reviews from critics across the country. (If nothing else, the picture offers the uproarious sight of Martin in hip-hop attire, and does celebrate Latifah's everpresent message of much-deserved respect for black women). Latifah's onscreen activity skyrocketed over the following half-decade, with an average of around 5-7 roles per year. One of her most popular efforts, Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004), constitutes a sequel to the urban comedy-drama Barbershop (2002). The original picture (without Latifah in the cast) concerned the proprietors and patrons of a (mostly) all-black barbershop on the south side of Chicago, with seriocomic lead characters portrayed by Ice-T, Cedric the Entertainer and others. In the second Barbershop go-round, Latifah plays Gina, the owner of an inner-city beauty parlor who operates her business next door. Those films reached a combined total of around $143 million worldwide, thanks in no small part to a pitch-perfect demographic that flocked to both efforts without abandon. The pictures also generated a Latifah-dominated sequel, Beauty Shop (2005), devoted to the exploits of Gina, her customers, and her employees, particularly the flamboyantly gay stylist Jorge Christoph (Kevin Bacon). The movie expanded the target audience of its predecessors and upped the ante by working in WASPy female characters played by A-listers Andie MacDowell and Mena Suvari and having Gina move her shop to the more audience-friendly Atlanta. Though the picture failed to match the grosses of its predecessors, it did reel in just under $38 million worldwide. Each of the installments generated mixed reviews from critics, Concurrent with Beauty Shop's release, Latifah signed on to collaborate with director Mark Forster and stars Will Ferrell and Emma Thompson in the comedy-fantasy Stranger than Fiction (2006). In that picture - about a man (Ferrell) who discovers he is the character in a book by a washed-up author (Thompson), and due to be killed shortly, Latifah plays Penny Escher, the "assistant" hired to end Thompson's creative block and put her back on track. Though Latifah's constituted a minor role (and, arguably, a throwaway at that), the film itself scored on all fronts, including craftsmanship, audience reactions, box office and critical response. After voicing Ellie in the CG-animated feature Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006), Latifah revisited cinematic song-and-dance (and reteamed with House director Adam Shankman) for the hotly-anticipated musical comedy Hairspray, based on the hit Broadway production (which was, in turn, based on the 1988 John Waters film). Latifah plays Motormouth Maybelle, in a cast that also includes Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer and an in-drag John Travolta, reprising the role originated by Divine. Latifah signed to star alongside Diane Keaton and Katie Holmes in the crime comedy Mad Money -- a remake of the British farce Hot Money (with echoes of 1976's How to Beat the High Cost of Living) about a trio of female janitors in the Federal Reserve bank who team up to rob the place blind. In addition to music, movies, and television, Latifah also found time to author a book on self-esteem entitled Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman, and to serve as co-chairman of the Owens Scholarship Foundation, Inc., which provides assistance to academically gifted but financially underpriveleged students.