Trivia: The quiet yet dynamic screen presence of actor Joe Mantegna has made him one of the most powerful supporting actors in Hollywood. Born in Chicago, Mantegna made his acting debut in the 1969 production of Hair. He then joined Chicago's Organic Theatre Company. In 1978, he debuted on Broadway in Working; he also helped write Bleacher Bums, an award-winning play. Still, he did not become well-known until he played a recurring role on the TV show Soap. By 1983 he'd returned to Chicago, where he began working with playwright David Mamet. While playing the lead in Mamet's play Glengarry Glen Ross (1983), Mantegna won a Tony. When Mamet began making films, Mantegna became his actor of choice in works such as House of Games (1987) and Homicide (1991). Prior to that, the actor had played small roles in a number of other films. He also continues to play in a variety of movie genres, working with some of Hollywood's top directors. Mantegna turned producer in 1998 with the crime comedy Jerry and Tom. That trend continued on the small screen as Montenga produced such shows as Midway USA's Gun Stories, Shooting Gallery, and QuickBites, but it was his role as a regular on the CBS series Joan of Arcadia that really kept him in the public eye. Continually returning to his recurring role as Fat Tony on The Simpsons over the next decade, Montegna joined the cast of the hit television series Criminal Minds in 2007, and recieved an Emmy nomination for his performance in the successful mini-series The Starter Wife that same year.

Trivia: Curly haired, sandy-voiced actress Mary Steenburgen is a natural when it comes to playing Southerners, probably because she hails from the region herself. Born in Arkansas on February 8, 1953, Steenburgen was the daughter of a railroad employee. Pursuing drama in college, she headed to New York in 1972, where she worked with an improvisational troupe. She was spotted by Jack Nicholson, who cast her as his feisty "in name only" frontier wife in 1978's Goin' South. Two years later, she won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance as Melvin Dummar's inamorata in Melvin and Howard (1980).Able to convey a wide age and character range, Steenburgen was effectively cast as a free-spirited Frisco girl in Time After Time (1979), the corseted matriarch of a turn-of-the-century household in Ragtime (1981), prim authoress Marjorie Rawlins in Cross Creek (1983), a long-suffering suburban housewife in Parenthood (1989), and a Marcia Clark-like attorney in Philadelphia (1993). She also portrayed the Jules Verne-loving Western schoolmarm Clara in Back to the Future 3 (1990), a role she perpetuated (via voice-over) on the Back to the Future TV cartoon series. In 1988, she was executive producer of End of the Line, in which she also appeared. Steenburgen's film appearances throughout the 1990s were erratic: some highlights, in addition to Philadelphia, include What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Nixon (1995), and The Grass Harp (1995). In 1999, she starred as Noah's wife in the biblical epic Noah's Ark, sharing the screen with the likes of Jon Voight, F. Murray Abraham, James Coburn, and Carol Kane. As the 21st century began, Steenburgen continued to work steadily in projects such as Life as a House, I Am Sam, Sunshine State, and Elf. She was cast in the CBS drama Joan of Arcadia in 2003. In 2006 she appeared in David Lynch's Inland Empire, and the next year she starred opposite Jodie Foster in the vigilante drama The Brave One. She was cast in the comedies Step Brothers and Four Christmases in 2008, and in 2011 she was the editor who inspires the main character to write the book in The Help.Formerly married for several years to actor Malcolm McDowell, Steenburgen married former Cheers star Ted Danson in 1995. The two have collaborated on a number of projects, including 1994's Pontiac Moon and the made-for-TV Gulliver's Travels in 1996.

Trivia: As the daughter of American child star-turned-cult favorite Russ Tamblyn (Peyton Place, Twin Peaks), Hollywood heartthrob and ingenue Amber Tamblyn inherited the stunning red hair, fair complexion, and acting chops of her famous dad. Born in the early '80s to Russ and wife Bonnie Murray, Tamblyn was discovered by an agent at her school during her preteen years, and soon landed a prominent role as the maniacal tot Emily Quartermaine on General Hospital -- a turn she sustained from 1995 to 2001.Tamblyn guested on such series as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Boston Public in the early 2000s, and tackled a small role in Gore Verbinski's 2002 shocker The Ring (as one of Samara's unfortunate victims), but the actress failed to generate a sizeable fan base prior to the advent of the fantasy-tinged drama series Joan of Arcadia in 2003. Tamblyn received first billing in that program as Joan Girardi, a seemingly average high school teenager who is tapped by the Almighty to perform various assignments. Joan drew a substantial cult following and outstanding critical assessments (USA Today pegged it as the most promising dramatic series of 2003), but unfortunately, its popularity failed to spread beyond a small enthusiastic band of adherents and it folded within two years.Tamblyn then segued back into film work, with first billing in Ken Kwapis' coming-of-age comedy drama The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in 2005, as one of four teenage girlfriends (alongside America Ferrera, Blake Lively, and Alexis Bledel) who make a good-luck pact; the picture received outstanding reviews and ensured continued stardom for Tamblyn. In 2006, the young actress essayed the title role in Hilary Brougher's fine psychological drama Stephanie Daley, about a troubled teenager accused of killing her newborn child. Tamblyn also traveled the programmer route that year with a turn in the horror sequel The Grudge 2. The following year, the actress starred in Beth Schacter's teen comedy Normal Adolescent Behavior and Rigoberto Castaneda's indie thriller Blackout. In the latter -- a high-wire suspense picture about a bunch of people trapped in a hospital elevator -- Tamblyn played a young woman desperate to reach her grandmother before the elderly woman dies. In 2008, she reprised her Traveling Pants role in the sequel, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2.Amber Tamblyn is also a prolific poet and runs her own website, The Rebel Asylum, with postings of her work. Her volume of poetry Free Stallion was published by Simon & Schuster in 2005.

Trivia: Since actor Jason Ritter hails from a long line of successful entertainers, it seemed only natural that he would eventually try his hand at performing. The son of late Three's Company star John Ritter and the grandson of Hollywood Western star Tex Ritter, young Jason has proven more than capable of carrying on his family's impressive showbiz legacy with roles in such features as Mumford and Freddy vs. Jason. Born in Los Angeles in February of 1980, Ritter made his screen debut opposite father John in the 1990 made-for-television L. Frank Baum biopic The Dreamer of Oz. Though he remained relatively inactive on the screen for much of the 1990s, Ritter continued to train as an actor at both New York University and London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts before founding New York City's Irreputable Theater Company. Subsequent roles in the MTV series Undressed and the fantasy-flavored CBS drama Joan of Arcadia quickly elevated Ritter to teen-icon status. A segue into feature territory followed with parts in Freddy vs. Jason (2003) and Swimfan (2002), with his continuing role on Joan of Arcadia serving well to balance his feature and television careers. Unfortunately, personal tragedy struck in 2003 when his father died suddenly of a previously undetected heart condition. Performances in the made-for-television Who's Your Mama? and the Hilary Duff movie Raise Your Voice were quick to follow, and Ritter could also be seen opposite such screen heavies as Steve Coogan, Tom Arnold, and Maggie Gyllenhaal in director Don Roos' ensemble comedy drama Happy Endings. Meanwhile, the rising star continued to rack up impressive credits on both stage and screen, including tackling a sitcom role in the short-lived CBS series The Class (2006-07) and headlining the NBC action thriller The Event in 2010.

Trivia: Sporting a clean-cut, all-American look, Los Angeles-born actor Michael Welch entered the limelight well before his teens and balanced feature and television work with about equal weight. Early small screen projects included guest appearances and recurring roles on series such as Frasier (as a young version of David Hyde Pierce's Niles), Veronica's Closet, and Touched by an Angel, while Welch's feature work invariably emphasized teen-oriented material and often found him cast as a young heartthrob. These big screen endeavors included the teen slasher movie All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006), the gore-soaked shocker Day of the Dead (2007), the family-friendly political comedy Choose Connor (2007), and the gothic vampire outing Twilight (2008). Welch also starred as Luke Girardi on the offbeat fantasy series Joan of Arcadia (2003-5).

Trivia: A show business veteran well before his 10th birthday, Secaucus, NJ, native Christopher Marquette covered virtually all the bases of acting at a tender age, making a name for himself in such diverse venues as feature film, Broadway theater, Barney videos, and print advertisements. Marquette and his mother, Tisha, temporarily moved to Los Angeles to accommodate his burgeoning acting career in the fall of 1995 (thus coinciding with TV pilot season), and indeed, he made his biggest splash with guest spots in television programs during the late '90s and early 2000s, including Law & Order, ER, and Touched By an Angel, before scoring a regular role as Marc Delgado (son of doctor Luisa Delgado) on the Lifetime network medical drama Strong Medicine (2001-2006). Meanwhile, Marquette staked out feature territory in such projects as the guilty pleasure slasher opus Freddy Vs. Jason (2003), the crime drama Alpha Dog (2006), and musician-turned-director Fred Durst's gritty drama The Education of Charlie Banks (2007).

Trivia: The older sister of actress and teen pop sensation Hilary Duff, Haylie Duff kicked off her career by focusing more on her skills in front of the camera than her talents behind a microphone. Though she would pen the occasional tune for her younger sibling, it was screen roles in such television hits as Chicago Hope, Boston Public, and, alongside her sister in Lizzie McGuire, that first opened the eyes of the public to the talents of the ambitious rising starlet.Born just two years prior to her sister, Haylie made her screen debut alongside Hilary in the female Western True Women before branching out into features with supporting performances in Dreams in the Attic and I Love Your Work. It was during this period of her career that Haylie would contribute to the soundtracks of such films as A Cinderella Story, Stuck in the Suburbs, and Raising Helen, with a memorable performance in the cult hit Napoleon Dynamite serving well to offer her some indie exposure in addition to her mainstream success. A subsequent return to the small screen found Haylie making a notable impression in That's So Raven, Joan of Arcadia, and 7th Heaven, and in 2006 the it was finally time to join Hilary in the big screen (as sisters no less) for the riches to rags comedy Material Girls. Duff appeared in films such as Love Finds a Home (2009), Love Takes Wing (2009), and A Holiday Engagement (2011). She reprised her role from Napoleon Dynamite in the short-lived cartoon series, and continued to appear in made-for-TV movies like All About Christmas Eve and Christmas Belle.

Trivia: Began his career as a model after attending the 1997 International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) convention in New York, where he roomed with fellow Cedar Rapids native Ashton Kutcher. An agent saw him in ads and flew him out to Los Angeles to audition for the WB pilot Minor Threat. Big TV break came when he appeared in FOX's 24 for a six-episode arc in 2003. Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen handpicked him to play a love interest in their feature film New York Minute (2004). Is the front man for the band Life of Riley; the group released a CD of live performances in 2010.

Trivia: Once worked as a psychiatric nurse at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. Took acting classes at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater. While pursuing her dream of a career in acting, she worked as a painter, paperhanger, bartender and waitress. Moved to Hollywood in her mid-50s to pursue her acting career. First TV job was a small role on the sitcom Family Matters. After the death of her West Wing character, White House presidential secretary Mrs. Landingham, the position was filled by Lily Tomlin. She and Tomlin went on to costar as sisters on Desperate Housewives. Survived lung cancer twice before succumbing to the disease in June of 2012.

Trivia: Though his resumé exhibits strong ties to cinema, performer will.i.am sustained his most enduring reputation as a music star, more specifically as one of the lead musicians and the producer of the pop-rap dance ensemble Black Eyed Peas. Born William Adams in March 1975, the native Angelino first delved into music amid the breakdancing craze of the mid- to late '80s and adopted the stage name will.i.am by cleverly punctuating his prename. He met musician apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda Lindo) in high school; the two forged an enduring friendship and a strong creative bond that guided them through the formation of the Tribal Nation breakdancing crew, the two-man music act Atban Klann, and -- eventually -- Black Eyed Peas. The latter initially caught fire thanks to the enthusiasm of the late rapper Eazy-E, who signed the ensemble to his Ruthless Records label and produced one of its earliest albums just before his death. The outfit endured a rocky start thanks to E's passing and Ruthless' uncertainty about how to handle the ensemble, but the Peas eventually attained enormous popularity thanks to the addition of MC Taboo and will.i.am's ingenious production efforts.In time, will.i.am broke off on his own as a solo act; he also moved into films, initially by composing the score to the 2007 drama Freedom Writers. He continued to do soundtrack work and landed an acting assignment voicing the character of Moto Moto in the 2008 animated comedy Madagascar 2, then signed for the role of John Wraith in the mega-budgeted 2009 sequel X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Trivia: Worked for Boston mayor Thomas Menino in the early 1990s; later worked as the director of Boston's film bureau. Also worked as a doorman and dabbled in stand-up comedy. Was discovered by director Ted Demme. Made his film debut in the 1998 drama Monument Ave. Produced the 2008 film Lonely Street.