Damon Wayans: Favorite Male Performer In a New TV Series

In 1990 comedian Damon Wayans burst onto the television scene with In Living Color, an outrageously funny and often controversial comedy show broadcast on the Fox Network. Each week, the half-hour variety show parodied life in America, with one big distinction, its street-smart, urban perspective. He then moved on to appear in numerous films. In 2001 Wayans debuted in another, though far less controversial, hit television comedy series, My Wife and Kids.

Born in 1961 and raised in the Chelsea district of New York City as one of 11 children, Wayans learned the value of a family. Though they were poor, he doesn't hold any bad memories of his childhood. In fact, Wayans credited his upbringing for much of his comic ability, where as children and his siblings would stretch their imaginations with a game of "make me laugh or die."

The popularity of In Living Color made him especially adept at mimicking people like Louis Farrakhan. But his self-created characters Homey the Clown, Anton the Bum, and Handi-Man (a handicapped superhero) distinguished him from the rest of the ensemble and made Damon Wayans one of the most popular cast members.

Next Wayans developed the comedy TV series, Damon, which debuted mid-season in 1998. Wayans played an undercover Chicago police officer and David Allen Grier--also of In Living Color fame-- took on the role of Wayans' inept younger brother. Wayans assumes numerous disguises throughout the course of his undercover work. People Weekly's Terry Kelleher noted that "Wayans comes alive" when he puts on a disguise and presents a comic caricature, but that "when the cop is himself, the star is on autopilot." The series was not renewed for a second season.

Wayans served as producer and co-creator of the tv show “My Wife and Kids”. In 2002 My Wife and Kids won a People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy series. Wayans also garnered the Favorite Male Performer in a New TV Series award. Wayans was next set to appear in a full-length film version of Homey the Clown.

Emmy Awards for outstanding writing in a variety program, for In Living Color, 1991 and 1992; Soul Train Comedy Award for best actor in a TV sketch comedy role, 1993; People's Choice Awards, Favorite Male Performer In a New Television Series, 2002.

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Camryn Manheim: Star of "The Practice"

In 1998, Camryn Manheim came to the attention of television episode audiences when she won a Best Supporting Actress Emmy for her role as lawyer Ellenor Frutt on David E. Kelley's acclaimed law drama The Practice. Hoisting her award in the air and exuberantly declaring, "This is for all the fat girls!", the actress won over millions of viewers, many of whom may not have been aware of her existence before the awards ceremony.

Born in Caldwell, New Jersey on March 8, 1961, Manheim was raised in Peoria, Illinois and Long Beach California, the daughter of a math professor father and school teacher mother. She developed an interest in acting after attending a Renaissance fair at the age of sixteen, and she went on to get a Masters in Fine Arts from New York University in 1987. After graduating, Manheim made her screen debut with a miniscule role in Bonfire of the Vanities in 1990. A long series of similarly minor roles in films ranging from Jeffrey (1995) to Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997) followed before she was cast in The Practice in 1997. After winning fame and an Emmy for her work on the show, Manheim gained additional exposure and respect with her role as a denizen of Todd Solondz's dysfunctional New Jersey suburbia in the acclaimed Happiness (1998). The following year, in addition to winning a Golden Globe and another Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Ellenor Frutt, Manheim continued to act in films, appearing in Fools Gold and Joe the King, both of which were shown at the 1999 Sundance Festival.

In addition to acting, Manheim also authored Wake Up, I'm Fat, a memoir that began life as a one-woman show at New York's Public Theatre. By turns funny and excruciating, it details the actress's transformation from wholesome middle American to tattooed, dozen-earringed California biker, her struggles with those who told her she'd have to lose weight to fit in, and the trials and tribulations of making it in the entertainment industry.

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The Wonder Years of Fred Savage

Born in a Chicago suburb, Fred Savage began appearing in local TV commercials from the time he could read. In 1986, Fred made his big-screen debut in Disney's The Boy Who Could Fly. Savage's subsequent film roles of note included the inquisitive grandson of yarn-spinning Peter Falk in The Princess Bride (1987) and the junior edition of Judge Reinhold in Vice Versa (1988). After essaying a supporting part in the 1986 TV series Morningstar/Eveningstar, Savage was elevated to top billing in the role of Kevin Arnold on the nostalgic seriocomedy The Wonder Years (1988-1993). Fred Savage is the brother of Ben Savage, star of TV's Boy Meets World (1993), and juvenile supporting actress Kala Savage.

Fred Savage is best known for his role as Kevin Arnold in the television series The Wonder Years, an American television show drama created by Carol Black and Neal Marlens. It ran for six seasons on ABC, from 1988 through 1993. The pilot aired on January 31, 1988 after ABC's coverage of Super Bowl XXII.

The show achieved a spot in the Nielsen Top Ten for two of its six seasons. TV Guide named the show one of the 1980s' 20 best. After only six episodes aired, The Wonder Years won an Emmy for best comedy show series in 1988. Moreover, at the age of 13, Fred Savage gained the honor of being the youngest actor ever nominated Outstanding Lead Actor for a Comedy Series. In addition, the tv show was awarded a Peabody Award in 1989, for achieving two seemingly contradictory effects, evoking a traditional family sitcom while pushing boundaries and using new modes of storytelling. In total, the tv series won 22 awards, and was nominated for a further 54 more.

The Wonder Years | TV Episodes

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Dharma on TV's Dharma and Greg

A California babe, Jenna Elfman starred in the sitcom Dharma and Greg (1997-2002). She also starred in the short-lived 2006 sitcom series Courting Alex. Her films include Krippendorf's Tribe (1998), EDtv (1999) and Town and Country (2001). Elfman executive-produced and starred in the independent film Touched in 2005, then made a development deal with CBS in 2006. She starred briefly in the TV series Courting Alex - a dozen episodes in 2006.

Her character's full name in Dharma and Greg was Dharma Freedom Finkelstein-Montgomery. With her blonde, lanky good looks and a quirky comedic talent, Jenna Elfman possesses many abilities, one of which is that of making the transition from television to film. With the popularity of her ABC sitcom, Dharma and Greg, and a growing screen career, Elfman has become one of the few actresses to successfully straddle the great divide between large screen and small.

Born Jennifer Mary Butula on September 30, 1971, in Los Angeles, Elfman initially trained as a classical ballerina. However, a foray into acting brought with it new opportunities and Elfman found work in various television shows before being cast in a bit role in Grosse Point Blank in 1997. The same year, she won the role of Dharma in Dharma and Greg and was soon being touted as one of the most exciting new actors on television. Such acclaim led to a large role in the 1998 Richard Dreyfuss vehicle Krippendorff's Tribe and an uncredited appearance in the same year's Can't Hardly Wait. 1999 brought with it Elfman's lead role in Ron Howard's EdTV, a film that fared respectably with both critics and audiences alike. In her role as Ed's girlfriend Shari, Elfman displayed more of the comic finesse and unconventional charm that had endeared her to her television audience. Those qualities were again on display in Keeping the Faith (2000), a romantic comedy that cast the actress as the love interest of both a priest, Edward Norton and a rabbi, Ben Stiller.

Dharma and Greg | TV on DVD

If Elfman's last name sounds familiar, it's probably because she is related to Danny Elfman, composer of soundtracks ranging from The Simpsons to Good Will Hunting. The composer is uncle to Bodhi Elfman, whom Jenna Elfman married in 1995.

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Patrick Swayze: 1952 - 2009

Actor Patrick Swayze was best known for his romantic roles in the surprise movie hits Dirty Dancing (1987) and Ghost (1990). Trained as a ballet dancer, Swayze got his start in acting on the New York stage, and his success in the Broadway production of Grease led to a career in Hollywood. His performance as the eldest "greaser" in the Francis Ford Coppola film The Outsiders proved his talent and marketability as leading man. After action films such as Uncommon Valor and Red Dawn, Swayze got back to dancing in the box office smash Dirty Dancing. The role made him a famous beefcake, his place as a romantic hunk was cemented with the even bigger hit Ghost. Then came the 1990s, the ridiculous and yet beloved Point Break, his sister's death, troubles with alcohol and forgettable movies. Swayze bounced back in the 2000s, in a key role in the Jake Gyllenhaal film Donnie Darko (2001). His other films include Road House, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar and Green Dragon. He began starring as a rogue FBI agent in the TV series The Beast in 2008, but he was soon incapacitated by pancreatic cancer and died in September of 2009.

The National Enquirer reported in March of 2008 that Swayze was ill with pancreatic cancer and had five weeks to live. Swayze announced that he did have pancreatic cancer but had been given no such timeline. He went on to begin filming episodes of his TV series The Beast while undergoing treatment.

Patrick Swayze passed away last September 14, 2009 at home with his family. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and his condition took a turn for the worse earlier this year. He was 57 years old. Swayze is survived by his wife, who he's been with since he was 18 years old, Lisa Niemi. Patrick has a very special place in our hearts for many of his movies like Ghost and Point Break to name a couple, but perhaps most of all for Dirty Dancing. Our thoughts are with his loved ones, and he will be missed.

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Teri Hatcher as Lois Lane

Teri Hatcher jumped into acting after a brief stint as a cheerleader for the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. After several small roles, she was cast in 1993 for the television episodes Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. The show was a hit, and Hatcher's success on TV was matched by her success on the Internet: in the early days of the World Wide Web, Hatcher was unofficially "the most downloaded woman in the world." After Lois & Clark, Hatcher moved into feature films, including the James Bond flick Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997, with Pierce Brosnan as Bond and Spy Kids (2001). In 2004 she landed a role on another hit series, the jokey, soapy television show drama Desperate Housewives, playing as her show bio put it, "a single mom searching for love amid the sometimes sordid, always intriguing goings-on of her suburban neighborhood."

Hatcher's TV debut was as a “Love Boat Mermaid” on the TV series The Love Boat. She is also known for her long-running series of Radio Shack TV commercials with former NFL star Howie Long. Felicity Huffman and Eva Longoria co-star with Hatcher many on Desperate Housewives.

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

One of the most beloved characters in comic book history, Superman was created in 1938 by artist Joe Shuster and writer Jerry Siegel. Superman came to Earth as a baby from the planet Krypton; on Earth he had super strength, X-ray vision and could fly. His only weakness was the substance Kryptonite, which rendered him powerless. He kept his identity secret, posing as mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent and changing into his Superman costume with the distinctive "S" on the chest whenever he set out to do good deeds. Other key characters included his love interest Lois Lane, his news editor Perry White, and the villainous Lex Luthor. Superman was played in the movies most famously by actor Christopher Reeve, and in the popular 1950's television series The Adventures of Superman he was played by George Reeves. His popularity was renewed by the 1990s TV series Lois and Clark, starring Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher.

Traditionally Superman is "more powerful than a locomotive, faster than a speeding bullet and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound."

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Eddie Murphy's Delirious

Eddie Murphy's stint as a standout performer on Saturday Night Live led to a successful movie career. He was known for playful impressions of rocker James Brown, children's host Mister Rogers, and Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas of the old Our Gang show, with Murphy tweaking racial stereotypes as part of the act. He became a star with the success of his first three movies: 48 Hrs., Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop. After some disappointments in the early 1990s, Murphy bounced back with a remake of the Jerry Lewis comedy The Nutty Professor. He followed up with a string of successes, including Dr. Doolittle, Bowfinger, with Steve Martin and voice roles in Mulan and Shrek, plus Shrek II in 2004. Murphy has also had success with his comedy show, winning a Grammy for Eddie Murphy: Comedian in 1983, and he even had a hit dance single in 1986 "Party All The Time". Murphy often plays several roles in the same movie, often under heavy makeup. He plays multiple roles in the Nutty Professor films, in Coming to America 1988 and Vampire in Brooklyn 1995, and a dual role in Bowfinger. His other films include Harlem Nights 1989, with Richard Pryor, Boomerang 1992, with Halle Berry, I Spy 2002, with Owen Wilson and Dreamgirls 2006, with Jamie Foxx and Beyonce.

Eddie Murphy's Delirious

Delirious is a stand-up comedy television show special starring Eddie Murphy. The 70-minute show, released in 1983, showcases his most racy material. It was a big success and he had a follow-up performance with the concert film Eddie Murphy Raw. The Bus Boys perform in the beginning of the concert and are referenced throughout by Murphy. Eddie Murphy's Delirious is comedy show that actually crumpled your stomach by laughing.

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Will Smith a.k.a The Fresh Prince

Born in Philadelphia on September 25, 1968, Will Smith began his career as a rapper a.k.a The Fresh Prince with friend Jeff Townes a.k.a. DJ Jazzy Jeff.

The teen duo would go on to produce two platinum albums - with such megahits as Girls Ain't Nothin' But Trouble, Summertime, Parents Just Don't Understand, and Gettin' Jiggy Wit It.

They also happened to distinguish themseles as the first recipients ever to win a Grammy Award for rap.

Intelligent and charismatic, Smith caught the attention of television producers who cast him in a starring role in the sitcom series “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” in 1990, an instant hit that ran for six years.

Meanwhile, Smith was also expanding his acting career in film, with his first screen appearance in Where the Day Takes You in 1992, followed by Made in America in 1993. That same year, it was his starring role in Six Degrees Of Separation that secured his reputation as a serious actor.

Two years later, Smith first major commercial success was in the action movie, Bad Boys and the following year he achieved superstar status in the sci-fi hit, Independence Day.

Smith's career continued to skyrocket with appearances opposite Tommy Lee Jones in the Men in Black sci-fi comedy films, and alongside Gene Hackman in the thriller, Enemy of the State.

He later won an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in the title role in Ali, a much-anticipated biopic about boxing great Muhammad Ali.

In 2005, Smith could be seen in another big budget sci-fi role in I, Robot and that same year was the voice of "Oscar", the little fish who dreams big in the animated Shark Tale.

In 2006, the actor won for Favorite Male Action Movie Star at the 2005 People's Choice Awards for his performance in the sci-fi thriller I, Robot.

In 2007, He was nominated Best Actor at the Golden Globe Awards for his serious acting turn in "The Pursuit of Happyness" and, for the same performance, won a nod at the Oscars. In 2007, another serious performance came in the futuristic thriller, I Am Legend, followed by an offbeat comedy in which Smith plays a down-on-his-luck super hero in Hancock.

Late in 2008, the actor performed to less- than-glowing reviews in the Hollywood drama, "Seven Pounds."

Off-screen, Smith is married to actress Jada Pinkett Smith. Together they have a son, Jaden (his co-star in "The Pursuit of Happyness") and daughter, Willow. Smith also has a son, Willard "Trey" Smith III, from a previous marriage to actress Sharee Zampino.

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Orlando Bloom: Most Searched Male Actor

Born in Canterbury, Kent, England on January 13, 1977, Orlando Bloom moved to London at 16 where he received an education in serious drama at the National Youth Theatre, later training at the British American Drama Academy before his final graduate studies at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Shortly after graduation, Bloom returned to the stage where he was spotted by director Peter Jackson, who offered him the part of Legolas in a Lord of the Rings.

After appearing in the three-part epic blockbuster, Bloom subsequently took on high-profile roles in other major hits. They include Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down and an appearance alongside Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean.

The actor next co-starred with Brad Pitt in Troy and in the medieval crusade epic, Kingdom of Heaven.

He reprised his role in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest in 2006 and is slated to appear in the final film in the franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End opening in May 2007.

In 2008 he was slimed at the Kid's Choice Awards, what Jack Black called, "The biggest slime in history! He signed on to play a small role in the British film An Education but dropped out to take the lead in Johnny To's film Red Circle. Also coming this October 2009, he will be one of many Hollywood stars movie to be in New York, I Love You, which contains twelve short films in one. It is safe to say that “New York, I Love You” is a Bloom's coming soon movie, and should be watch on a BIG TV! After this movie, he will be busy for the production of “The Cross” in 2010 and “The Red Circle” in 2011.

Orlando Bloom as Legolas and Johnny Depp

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TV Teen Star: Melissa Joan Hart

After spending the 1990s as a TV teen star, Melissa Joan Hart set her sights on feature films. Born and raised on Long Island, Hart began acting in TV commercials as a child. She further honed her skills in New York theater in the late '80s as the youngest member of the Circle Repertory Lab Company. Hart then broke through as a cable TV favorite and a CableACE Award nominee in the role of the precocious titular preteen on the Nickelodeon series Clarissa Explains. After the tv series ended, Hart moved to network TV stardom in 1996 as the supernaturally gifted title teen on Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Maintaining her pert prime time persona while revealing her range, Hart also starred in several TV movies, including:

• Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare

• Twisted Desire

• The Right Connections

• Silencing Mary (the college date rape drama)

Though Hart continued to produce and star in Sabrina, she also attempted to parlay her TV fame into movie stardom with the romantic comedy Drive Me Crazy. The film, however, failed to perform as well as the Britney Spears tune that gave it its title. Hart raised eyebrows that same year when she tried to shed her squeaky-clean adolescent image with a racy photo spread and interview in men's magazine Maxim.

Sabrina The Teenage Witch | TV Show

By now Sabrina – I mean Melissa Joan Hart already completed her new movie for this year entitled “Nine Dead”. This is an interesting variation on horror films, the movie is likely to be rated "R". This may be unexpected to some viewers who remember the Television series work of Ms. Melissa Joan Hart.

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