Friday, December 28, 2007

Matt Damon Biography


Matthew Paige Damon was born on October 8, 1970, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The son of a realtor and an early-childhood education professor, Damon was involved in several theater productions while studying at Cambridge Rindge & Latin School. His love of acting became apparent at an early age, and Damon and childhood buddy Ben Affleck made their debuts as extras in films that were being shot locally.

With no more than a credit in a commercial, as well as some experience in local plays and as a film extra, 16-year-old Damon was ready to head for New York City and try his hand at acting. His parents (who are now divorced) did not fund his trip, so he went with nothing more than a paycheck from a stint in a commercial. With the help of a casting agency, Damon made his feature film debut in Mystic Pizza, albeit a one-line role.

matt damon in school ties

Although he had landed parts -- he appeared in Rising Son and had a supporting role in the 1992 film School Ties -- Damon went on to further his education at his prestigious hometown university, Harvard. His minor glimpse of an acting career became more inspirational than the pursuit of an English Literature degree, and Damon left the preppy halls of Harvard (a mere 12 credits away from a degree) to join the throng of young aspiring actors in L.A.

As one of the acting hopefuls who did not have to wait too long for roles, Damon began his journey to stardom with a supporting role in Geronimo: An American Legend. Thanks to his work in the Western, Damon landed the lead in TNT's The Good Old Boys. By the time he was cast in Courage Under Fire in 1996, starring Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan, Damon had already worked with such heavy hitters as Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones.

Although Courage Under Fire showcased Damon's undeniable acting skills, The Rainmaker can be considered the role that launched him into the Hollywood spotlight. The film industry was abuzz about this fresh face who was cast by Francis Ford Coppola to star in the John Grisham film adaptation of the novel.

good will hunting is a hit

In the meantime, Damon and Affleck were doing the rounds of movie studios to pitch their script about a troubled genius. Studios were interested in the "little script that could," but were not interested in the proviso of the script: that Damon and Affleck co-star as the lead roles. After some script retooling, perseverance on the part of the childhood friends, and Damon's Rainmaker lead, Miramax bought the script.

Good Will Hunting, the brainchild of Damon and Affleck, became the sleeper hit of 1997, with Oscar nominations in the way of Best Actor Matt Damon, Best Supporting Actor Robin Williams, and Best Original Screenplay. Williams took home the Oscar, as did the writing team and shining duo of 1997, Damon and Affleck. Damon was nominated in the same categories at the Golden Globe Awards of that year.

matt damon in rounders and dogma

In 1998, Damon appeared in Saving Private Ryan as the titular role of Private James Francis Ryan, as well as a co-starring role with Edward Norton in Rounders. He followed up his role in the controversial Dogma (reuniting him with Ben Affleck) with the title role in the drama The Talented Mr. Ripley, sharing the screen with Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law.

Damon's romantic life seems to be as full as his acting repertoire. He has been romantically linked with model Kara Sands; his Rainmaker co-star, Claire Danes; and his Good Will Hunting co-star Minnie Driver. Damon also had a long-term relationship with Winona Ryder and was reportedly cozy with his All The Pretty Horses co-star, sexy Penelope Cruz.

matt does the film rounds

After providing one of the lead voices in 2000's animated feature Titan A.E., Damon portrayed a golfer in The Legend of Bagger Vance, which co-starred Will Smith and Charlize Theron.

In 2001, Matt Damon joined the star-studded cast of Ocean's Eleven, while his voice made a cameo in The Majestic. His voice was also used as the narrator of the 2002 animated featuire, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.

matt damon stars in bourne identity

The summer of 2002 saw Damon in the highly-anticipated spy thriller, The Bourne Identity, in which he stars alongside Franka Potente. Damon stars as Jason Bourne, an expert assassin unaware of his identity. Suffering from amnesia, he must run from the dangers of his past while trying to piece together why he's in danger.

Damon was also cast as a game show contestant in George Clooney's directorial debut, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, released in 2002. In 2003, Damon joined Greg Kinnear for the comedy Stuck On You. He had bit parts in Eurotrip and Jersey Girl, before reprising his role as Jason Bourne for The Bourne Supremacy.

matt damon in ocean's twelve

In December 2004, Damon stars in the heist sequel, Ocean's Twelve. In 2005, he can add The Brothers Grimm and Syriana to his resume.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

"Boris"


Hi everyone. Thanks for reading my Bio. I am 26 years old, originally from Odessa, Ukraine. My parents decided to migrate to the US with my brother and me when I was 8 years old. Since then I have been raised in NYC.

I started modeling when I was 18 while going to college and stayed with it for a little over a year until concentrating on college full-time. Recently, I decided to get back into modeling and have found an agency in NYC and Canada. While modeling in NYC, we are deciding my plans for the winter, which potentially include hitting the Asian market.


To keep my body in great shape I have developed a rigorous workout routine and an even more strict diet. I consider the gym to be my second home and probably spend more time there than I do in my real home. I frequent my local gym, literally, every day as the receptionist can attest to that. My workouts usually last between 2 ½ -3 hours, which includes an intense 75-minute cardio routine.


When people ask me how I force myself to maintain such an exercise regimen, I immediately understand they do not see exercising from my perspective. I do not need to force myself to do anything. I want to do it and my body wants to do it. I derive pleasure from pushing my limits and knowing that I maintain myself in the best possible shape. Going to the gym never feels like a forced objective but something I look forward to everyday.


Besides modeling, I have a career in IT and many consider me to be a computer geek, which I grossly protest. Although I am talented in fixing many computer related problems, my passion is not within the IT world nor am I looking forward to a life-long career within the corporate environment. Photography seems to hold my interest at the moment and being the perfectionist that I am, I enjoy spending more time in Photoshop than I do actually taking the pictures. I have set out to learn Photoshop and potentially change career paths to become a professional retoucher.


In my spare time, I like to read about quantum physics and obtain new music from different cultures. Most of my iTunes library is not even in English, or Russian for that matter. Although I enjoy Russian music a lot, some of my favorite music is Middle Eastern in origin; particularly Turkish.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Alex Rodriguez Biography


Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez was born on July 27th, 1975, in New York. Alex was the youngest of three children born to Lourdes and Victor Rodriguez, Joe and Suzy being the other two.

Shortly after his birth, Alex's parents decided to move the family back to their native Dominican Republic. But this return to the West Indies was short-lived, as the Rodriguez family then moved to Miami, Florida. Much to Alex's dismay, his father left the family a brief time after reaching Miami.

the makings of a star

Growing up, Alex Rodriguez loved watching sports. His favorite players were basketball's Michael Jordan and baseball's Cal Ripken Jr. Rodriguez showed his tremendous interest in baseball at an early age. By the time he reached high school, Rodriguez had scouts from all over the country taking notice of him. In 1992, while attending Westminster Christian Academy in Miami, his school team was named National Champion by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association, and by Baseball America.

In 1994, the Seattle Mariners chose the 17-year-old Rodriguez first overall in the baseball draft. At age 18, Alex became one of the youngest players ever to play in the major leagues. In 1995, Alex played in 48 games with the Mariners and batted .264. His play impressed the manager so much that he was awarded the starting shortstop position the following year.

a-rod, a-star

The 1996 season was A-Rod's breakout season. He batted .358, with 36 home runs and 123 runs batted in. Rodriguez finished runner-up in the MVP voting and cemented himself as the best power hitting shortstop in the majors. In 1997, Rodriguez's offensive numbers dropped off, as he only drove in 84 runs and hit 23 round trippers.

But he made up for his lack of production with a .312 batting average in the Mariners' four postseason games. Also, on July 27th, 1996, Rodriguez founded the Grand Slam for Kids, which encourages kids to work harder on reading, physical fitness, math, and good citizenship.

The 1998 and 1999 seasons brought 40 back-to-back home runs and at least 100 runs batted in stats for the Spanish star. He now held the record for most homers by a shortstop in one season, had multiple Silver Slugging awards and was named the players' American League Player of the Year. But the Mariners failed to make the postseason in each of these campaigns.

The 2000 season was marred with distractions for A-Rod, as he became a free agent at the end of the season. The Seattle fans and media wanted him to stay, as did the Mariners. But a contract agreement was never reached. Nevertheless, Rodriguez put up another 40 home run/100 RBI season, which helped propel the Mariners back to the playoffs. Despite hitting .371 against Chicago and New York, Rodriguez and the Mariners failed to reach the World Series one more time. It would be the last season for Rodriguez in Seattle.

show him the money!

The 2000 offseason was of great importance to Rodriguez and the world of baseball. After being courted heavily by several teams, he decided to become a Texas Ranger. He signed a contract reportedly worth $252 million over 10 years, the richest contract ever signed in sports. Rangers owner Tom Hicks and Rodriguez took a lot of heat for the size of the contract, but Hicks believed that Rodriguez would guarantee the team a trip to the postseason.

The 2001 season was very difficult for Alex Rodriguez. Rather than being asked about his personal achievements, A-Rod was constantly pelted with questions about his large contract. Despite all the distractions, A-Rod went out and had his finest season as a pro, hitting an astonishing 52 home runs and collecting a career high 135 RBIs. However, the Texas Rangers had a horrible season and watched as Rodriguez's former team in Seattle posted one of the best records ever by a baseball team in the regular season.

2003 proved to be another frustrating year for the Rangers. Consolation came for A-Rod by virtue of bagging the AL MVP award that year. Regardless, A-Rod's massive salary made his tenure in Texas impossible. Rumors about a potential trade with the Boston Red Sox were squashed, partially due to the complex nature of his $252 million deal. After being named captain of the Rangers in a bizarre ceremony in January 2003, the Rangers continued shopping A-Rod, who in turn solicited commissioner Bud Selig's assistance in facilitating a trade.

the new yankee

In need of a new third baseman after Aaron Boone's injury, the Yankees offered Alfonso Soriano and another player for A-Rod. The Yankees got a bargain in the end, with the Rangers agreeing to include a whopping $67 million in cash to the Bronx team in order to pay for some of A-Rod's outstanding contract.

In the end, Rodriguez became famous for signing the largest baseball deal, but he became equally infamous for being part of a trade that included more cash than any other in baseball history.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Jeremy Pivens




Jeremy Piven


What he is known for? One of television’s most likable bad boys, Jeremy Piven shot to fame in 2004 as Entourage’s foul-mouthed super agent, Ari Gold. The dream role has since garnered this veteran stage actor a coveted Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Prior to hanging with Vince and his crew, Piven chewed up the scenery in dozens of big-screen hits including PCU (1994), Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), Black Hawk Down (2001), and Old School (2003).

Behind the scenesJeremy Piven is a firm believer that a man shouldn’t be defined by his job alone. "We all have so many different elements inside of us and we're not all one thing," he says. So when he isn’t in front of the camera this multitalented thespian enjoys letting loose on his extensive collection of drum kits, congas and bongos. "I love to play the drums,” he says. “I probably would have been a drummer if acting hadn't come along." A fan of Keith Moon, Piven hopes to one day combine his two passions by filming a biopic about the infamous Who drummer.

Aside from his rock-star aspirations, Piven is notorious for making headlines for rebellious antics. There was the rumored nightclub brawl he had with Stephen Dorff earlier this year, then there was the incident at the Chicago Cubs baseball game where Cubs executives had to issue a public apology after Piven yelled out "Let's hug it out, you little b**ches!" to the crowd. It’s this no-holds-barred, fun-loving attitude that skyrockets Piven to the top of the coolness ranks.

On the horizonLook for Piven to be positively everywhere in 2007. In addition to stealing scenes in Entourage, this native New Yorker is also set to star in the big-screen comedy Smokin’ Aces with Ben Affleck, and the intense thriller The Kingdom with Jamie Foxx and

Friday, September 14, 2007

PATRICK DEMPSEY




Age 40
Status: Married to cosmetics executive Jillian, with a 4-year-old daughter and twins on the way
See Him On: ABC's – Grey's Anatomy
Why He's Sexy: A former teen idol, he has a sense of humor about his sudden burst of sexiness. "This is so funny. I'm a hunky guy now," he says. "How did that happen?"

Monday, August 27, 2007

Justin Timberlake


Biography
Grammy-winning recording artist and actor Justin Timberlake more or less grew up in the spotlight. Making his screen debut before he was even old enough to shave, Timberlake was a cast member of the early 1990s revamp of The Mickey Mouse Club (The Disney Channel, 1989-1994). His greatest claim to fame, however, was as the front man for the phenomenally popular boy band NSync. Striking out on his own in the early 2000s, Timberlake established credibility as a solo artist, soon eclipsing the careers of his N Sync colleagues. After securing his position as one of the modern music industrys most reliable artists and one half of pop musics cutest one-time couple, alongside fellow Mouseketeer Britney Spears Timberlake made his way to Hollywood, where he sought to re-ignite his acting career with a series of bold movie roles in off-beat films.

Born on Jan. 31, 1981, Justin Randall Timberlake grew up in the suburb of Millington, TN, just outside the city of Memphis. The grandson of a Baptist mister, Timberlake was raised in the religion and even attended the same Baptist church where his father, Randall, served as choir director. Randall Timberlake and Justins mother, Lynn Bomar Timberlake, divorced in 1985. However, Lynn remained an active part of her sons life and career well into his adulthood. Showing a proclivity for singing early on, the 11-year-old Timberlake appeared as a contestant on Star Search (Synd., 1983-1995) in 1993. Performing under the stage moniker of Justin Randall, Timberlake crooned cute country-western tunes to an appreciative audience. While he did not go home a winner that night, Timberlakes career was officially launched.

Soon after his Star Search appearance, Timberlake was tapped by an Orlando casting for a remake of the popular childrens variety series, The Mickey Mouse Club. The cast proved to be a talented assemblage in addition to Timberlake, other cast members included Timberlakes future girlfriend, Spears, future tour mate Christina Aguilera and future N Sync band member, J.C. Chasez. It was Timberlake and his short-cropped curly blonde hair with his burgeoning dancing and singing talents frequently on display who emerged as one of the shows brightest stars.

After The Mickey Mouse Club ended production in 1995, Timberlake was recruited by singer Chris Kirkpatrick and music producer Lou Pearlman to be a member of a new all-male vocal group. To help fill the remaining ranks, Timberlake recommended his fellow Mouseketeer, J.C. Chasez. Along with Joey Fatone and Lance Bass, the photogenic quintet was dubbed N Sync (or *NSYNC, as it was often stylized). Launching their careers in Germany first, the group later conquered U.S. charts. Their first album, 1998s self-titled *NSYNC spawned a number of Top 40 hits, most notably the chart topper "Tearin' Up My Heart" and the saccharine sweet puppy lust ballad, "God Must Have Spent a Little More Time On You." N Syncs next effort, 2000s No Strings Attached, fared even better, selling over 2.4 million albums in its first week eventually becoming the groups fastest selling album of all time.

Not surprisingly, expectations ran extraordinarily high for their next album, 2001s Celebrity. Although the album did well eventually selling well over 5 million units sales for Celebrity fell far short of the 15 million copies sold of No Strings Attached. Soon after the completion of the Celebrity tour in 2002, N Sync issued a press release stating that the group would be taking a sabbatical from the recording studio. As expected, Timberlake used the time off to pursue his long-rumored solo project. Tired of his squeaky-clean image, Timberlake actively sought out help from hip-hop producers Pharrell Williams and Timbaland to help him craft a sexier, edgier new sound. Mindful of his old fan base, Timberlake also hired R&B singer-producer Brian McKnight to polish his sexy pop-friendly ballads. Released on Nov. 5, 2002, Justified debuted at #2 on the charts and eventually went seven times platinum. In addition to winning the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album of the year, Justified also spawned a Grammy-winning single Cry Me a River and a video that so obviously took a swipe at his now ex-girlfriend Spears.

Alas, Timberlakes road to success was not without its share of bumps In February 2004, the singer found himself thrust into the center of controversy as the result of a performance during the Super Bowl XXXVIII half-time show. Scheduled to sing Rock the Body live on-stage alongside Janet Jackson, Timberlake surprised audiences with an especially sultry rendition and sexually suggestive choreography. At the climax of the song, Timberlake tore off a part of Jacksons black leather outfit as part of a planned costume reveal. As part of her outfit detached, however, Jacksons right breast complete with metal nipple cover was briefly exposed before 140 million viewers worldwide. The fallout from this so-called wardrobe malfunction was surprisingly intense. The next day, CBS (the network that aired the Super Bowl that year) issued a press release, expressing outrage over the incident. Pressured into offering a mea culpa, Timberlake publicly apologized for the boob-boo at the 2004 Grammy Awards. For her part, Jackson seemed less contrite. Ironically enough, as a result, it was she much more so than Timberlake who ended up taking the brunt of the controversy.

The only thing hotter than Timberlakes recording career was his personal life. Between 1998 to 2007, Timberlake was romantically linked with a bevy of A-list starlets and songstresses, starting with pop queen and former Mouseketeer, Spears. The relationship ended after four years in 2002 amid speculations of her infidelity which he had so blatantly revealed to the world with his Cry Me a River video, complete w/ a cheating Britney look-a-like but the two remained friendly after the break-up. After his split with Spears, Timberlake entered into another long-term romance, this time with actress, Cameron Diaz. The love connection between these two young, beautiful, and highly successful individuals lasted nearly four years, during which time the athletic twosome graced the covers of countless supermarket tabloids, often seeing golfing or surfing. In early 2007, however, the couple confirmed what many gossip columnists had predicted by splitting up. Timberlake reportedly wasted no time re-embracing his bachelorhood. Following his break-up with Diaz, Timberlake was publicly spotted in the company of some of Tinseltowns hottest ingénues, including a rumored Jessica Biel and Scarlett Johansson.

In September 2006, Timberlake released his second solo album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts. To promote the album, Timberlake appeared on Saturday Night Live (NBC, 1975- ) as both guest host and musical guest. The highlight of the evening was a mock music video that featured Timberlake and S.N.L. regular Adam Samberg for a song called D*ck in a Box. Shockingly vulgar and riotously funny, D*ck in a Box quickly gained a cult following on the internet, becoming one of the most downloaded video clips on YouTube.com. In addition to spawning two hit singles SexyBack and My Love (featuring T.I.) FutureSex/LoveSounds also garnered Timberlake two more Grammys for Best Dance Recording and Best Rap/Collaboration.

Hot off his latest musical triumphs, Timberlake launched his screen-acting career in 2007. Though Timberlake had a few small film roles in the past such as in the 2006 direct-to-video thriller, Edison Force Timberlakes first true role of substance was as Frankie Ballenbacher in director Nick Cassavettes Alpha Dog (2007). Based on the true-life story of baby-faced drug dealer, Jesse James Hollywood, Alpha Dog fared poorly at the box office, despite a strong marketing push from Universal Pictures. Timberlakes next project, the unsettling Black Snake Moan (2007) did nominally better, but reception of Timberlakes performance was decidedly mixed. Timberlake was such a hot property on so many levels, however, that Hollywood hardly cared, lining up to land the singer-turned-actor for roles in future film projects.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Michael Bergin


NAME: Michael Bergin
NATIONALITY: American
HEIGHT: 6'1.5"
WEIGHT: 185 lbs
HAIR: Brown
EYES: Hazel
BORN: In Waterbury, Conneticut, USA (but grew up in Naugatuck, Connecticut).
DISCOVERED: Michael was a college student at the University of Connecticut working odd jobs to make money for groceries when a friend told him he could earn up to $1,000. a day modeling in New York. He visited some agencies and landed a modeling contract with the prestigious Click Agency.

RÉSUMÉ: Replaced Marky Mark as main model for Calvin Klein underwear. Had a recuring role on 'Baywatch' as lifeguard Jack Darrius (J.D.). Models on the runway regularily for Valentino, Donna Karan and Hugo Boss. Wrote a highly criticized book called "The Other Man" about his alleged affair with Carolyn Bassett Kennedy (years after her death).

AGENCY: Click and Wilhelmina

KNOWN FOR: His sexy washboard abs in the CK ads.

HOME: New York City and Los Angeles.

OTHER: He is a model and an actor. He collects antique furniture.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Al Pachino


Brooding and intense, Al Pacino has remained one of Hollywood's premier actors throughout his lengthy career, a popular and critical favorite whose list of credits includes many of the finest films of his era. Pacino was born April 25, 1940, in East Harlem, NY. Raised in the Bronx, he attended the legendary High School for Performing Arts, but dropped out at the age of 17. He spent the next several years drifting from job to job, continuing to study acting and occasionally appearing in off-off-Broadway productions. In 1966, Pacino was accepted to train at the Actors' Studio, and after working with James Earl Jones in The Peace Creeps, he starred as a brutal street youth in the off-Broadway social drama The Indian Wants the Bronx, earning an Obie Award as Best Actor for the 1967-1968 theatrical season. A year later, he made his Broadway debut in Does the Tiger Wear a Necktie? Although the play itself closed after less than 40 performances, Pacino was universally praised for his potent portrayal of a sociopathic drug addict, and he won a Tony Award for his performance.


Pacino made his film debut in the 1969 flop Me, Natalie. After making his theatrical directorial debut with 1970's Rats, he returned to the screen a year later in Panic in Needle Park, again appearing as a junkie. (To prepare for the role, he and co-star Kitty Winn conducted extensive research in known drug-dealer haunts as well as methadone clinics.) While the picture was not a success, Pacino again earned critical raves. Next came Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 Mafia epic The Godfather. As Michael Corleone, the son of an infamous crime lord reluctantly thrust into the family business, Pacino shot to stardom, earning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his soulful performance. While the follow-up, 1973's Scarecrow, was received far less warmly, the police drama Serpico was a smash, as was 1974's The Godfather Part II for which he earned his third Academy Award nomination. The 1975 fact-based Dog Day Afternoon, in which Pacino starred as a robber attempting to stick up a bank in order to finance his gay lover's sex-change operation, was yet another staggering success.


The 1977 auto-racing drama Bobby Deerfield, on the other hand, was a disaster. Pacino then retreated to Broadway, winning a second Tony for his performance in the title role in The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel. Upon returning to Hollywood, he starred in ...And Justice for All, which did not appease reviewers but restored him to moviegoers' good graces. Pacino next starred in William Friedkin's controversial Cruising, portraying a New York City cop on the trail of a serial killer targeting homosexuals; it was not a hit, nor was the 1982 comedy Author! Author! Brian DePalma's violent 1983 remake of Scarface followed; while moderately successful during its initial release, the movie later became a major cult favorite. Still, its lukewarm initial reception further tarnished Pacino's star. However, no one was fully prepared for the fate which befell 1985's historical epic Revolution; made for over $28 million, the film failed to gross even $1 million dollars at the box office. Pacino subsequently vanished from the public eye, directing his own film, The Local Stigmatic, which outside of a handful of 1990 showings at the Museum of Modern Art was never screened publicly. While his name was attached to a number of projects during this time period, none came to fruition, and he disappeared from cinema for over four years.


Finally, in 1989, Pacino returned with the stylish thriller Sea of Love; the picture was a hit, and suddenly he was a star all over again. A virtually unrecognizable turn as a garish gangster in 1990's Dick Tracy earned him a sixth Oscar nomination, but The Godfather Part III was not the financial blockbuster many anticipated it to be. The 1991 romantic comedy Frankie and Johnny was a success, however, and a year later Pacino starred in the highly regarded Glengarry Glen Ross as well as Scent of a Woman, at last earning an Oscar for his performance in the latter film. He reunited with DePalma for 1993's stylish crime drama Carlito's Way, to which he'd first been slated to star in several years prior. Remaining in the underworld, he starred as a cop opposite master thief Robert De Niro in 1995's superb Heat, written and directed by Michael Mann. Pacino next starred in the 1996 political drama City Hall, but earned more notice that year for writing, directing, producing, and starring in Looking for Richard, a documentary exploration of Shakespeare's Richard III shot with an all-star cast. In 1997, he appeared with two of Hollywood's most notable young stars, first shooting Donnie Brasco opposite Johnny Depp, and then acting alongside Keanu Reeves in The Devil's Advocate. Following roles in The Insider and Any Given Sunday two-years later, Pacino would appear in the film version of the stage play Chinese Coffee (2000) before a two-year periods in which the actor was curiously absent from the screen.


Any speculation on the workhorse actor's slowing down ended when in 2002 Pacino returned with the quadruple-threat of Insomnia, Simone, People I Know and The Recruit. With roles ranging from that of a troubled detective investigating a murder in the land of the midnight sun, to a film producer who builds the worlds first virtual actress, Pacino reenforced his image as a versatile, energetic and adventurous an actor. The films struck uneven chords, however; Insomnia hit a zenith, critically and commercially, while Pacino scraped bottom with Simone.


Pacino fared better at the box and in the press with Michael Radford's December 2004 Merchant of Venice but dodged critical bullets with the D.J. Caruso-helmed 2005 gambling drama Two for the Money. Circa 2006, Pacino starred as Jack Gramm in 88 Minutes, the gripping tale of a college prof who moonlights as a forensics expert for the feds. He also announced plans, that year, to join the cast of Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Thirteen and a remake of Jules Dassin's seminal Rififi, to reunite him with City Hall helmer Harold Becker.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Patrick Swayze


Full name Patrick Wayne Swayze
Date of birth 18th August 1954 (51) Full name Patrick Wayne Swayze
Date of birth 18th August 1954 (51)
Star Sign Leo
Hair Mousy Brown
Eyes Blue
Height 5'10" (178cm)
Dance Influence Mother, Choreographer
Born Houston, Texas




SEXIEST MOVIES


Dirty Dancing
The role that made him a mega star and every woman's ideal fantasy - to be swept off her feet like baby and taught to tango ... and horozontal mambo. Jennifer Grey stars as Frances Houseman, and the late Jerry Orbach as her father. The Dirty Dancing fad has sold millions of dvd's around the world and made the dance craze popular again, combining the raw energy of foreplay with the co-ordinated moves of dance.

Dirty Dancing has always ranked up there as one of the sexiest movies of all time, giving Patrick a permanent spot on the hottest hunks list proving you can still be sexy after 50!

Budget - $6 Million
Gross Earnings - $170 Million

Point Break
He grew his hair long and didn't shave for a while ... he hung out the beach more than usual and worked on his tan ... he played in a wetsuit in some waves for a few months ... he and Keanu Reeves said Woah to each other a few times ... and out came Point Break.

It wasn't much for its acting talent, but the boys sure sexed up the screen with shirtless hunks in scene after scene, and Patrick doesn't disappoint with several full body shots showing that buff chest and powerful arms.

Ghost
It brought back the Righteous Brothers and their song "oooooohhhhh Myyyyy looooooove ... my daaaaarliiiiiin ... I huuuuungeeeer fooooor yoooor touch. You know the one? And it also started up a whole new craze for clay sculpture.

The famous scene where Patrick and Demi fog up the screen and get dirty with some sloppy clay was burned onto the minds of millions when the flick first hit the screens in 1990. Patrick Swayze plays Sam Wheat, a character who is killed but has trouble leaving without saying goodbye to his one true love. *sob* Keep tissues handy

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Sean Connery


Thomas Sean Connery was born in the Fountainbridge district of Edinburgh, Scotland on August 25, 1930. He grew up impoverished. The son of a truck-driver, he came from a background very different from that of his most famous screen alter-ego. After leaving school, he joined the Royal Navy, but was released due to ulcers. He had many jobs, including laborer, lifeguard and model for art classes. But it was his career as a bodybuilder that led to his representing Scotland in the 1953 Mr. Universe contest, in which he placed 3rd. This in turn led to a job in the chorus with the touring company of South Pacific. He appeared in several stage productions, and made his television debut in 1956. He signed a movie contract with MGM in the late 1950's, which led to a string of film roles.

He was cast as the first cinematic James Bond in Dr. No in 1962. He won the role over Cary Grant, Rex Harrison, Trevor Howard, Patrick McGoohan and Roger Moore, even though Ian Fleming was quoted as saying, "He [Connery] is not exactly what I envisioned" as the fictional British agent . However, the film was a success, which led to 3 more Bond films in the next 5 years.

Tired of being identified only as 007, Connery quit the role after You Only Live Twice, in order to devote more time to his family and to golf. The next Bond film starred George Lazenby, but Connery was persuaded to return as Bond in Diamonds are Forever. With that role, he said he was finished as Bond, but he returned in 1983's Never Say Never Again, which was not an "official" Bond film, as it was produced by Kevin McClory instead of Eon. This film did not help his relations with Bond producer Cubby Broccoli, with whom Connery was feuding

Connery has played many varied roles in films over the years, working with directors such as Alfred Hitchcock, John Huston and Brian De Palma. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as well as the Golden Globe award in 1987, for his role as the Irish cop Malone in The Untouchables. He was also named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1989. He continues to work steadily, despite suffering from various throat ailments. In part due to this, widespread false rumors of his death circulated in 1993.

Connery is an avid golfer (he learned the game for 1964's Goldfinger) and in 1996 won the Lexus Challenge golf tournament with pro Hale Irwin.

In 1990, Connery received the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1995, he received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field," given by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. In 1997, he was honored with a Gala Tribute by the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York and in 1998, received a the British Academy Fellowship from BAFTA. He was honored by the Kennedy Center in 1999. He became Sir Sean Connery in July 2000, received a knighthood from the British government, despite being refused the honor 2 years previously for political reasons. He has also received awards in France, including the Legion d'Honeur, and the Commandeur des Arts and des Lettres

Sean Connery has been married twice. His first wife was actress Diane Cilento. In an ironic twist, their son, actor Jason Connery, portrayed James Bond creator Ian Fleming in the film Spymaker. Sean has been married to French artist Micheline Roquebrune since 1975.

Monday, August 6, 2007

Mel Gibson


Birth Name
Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson
Date of birth (location)
3 January 1956
Peekskill, New York, USA

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Though introduced to American audiences as Australian, the strikingly handsome, blue-eyed Mel Gibson was born on January 3, 1956, in Peekskill, New York, USA as the sixth of eleven children to parents Hutton Gibson, a railroad brakeman, and Ann Gibson, who was born in Australia and died in December of 1990. (He and his family had emigrated Down Under in 1968 at the height of the Vietnam War.) After a season onstage with Sydney's South Australian Theatre Company where he portrayed both Oedipus and Henry IV, he made his name as the leather-clad, post-apocalyptic action hero of George Miller's "Mad Max" and in the radically different "Tim" (both 1979), for which he picked up his first of two Australian Film Institute Awards as Best Actor, playing a retarded handyman in love with Piper Laurie. Peter Weir's World War I drama "Gallipoli" and "Mad Max 2" (both 1981), Miller's transcendent follow-up to "Mad Max" (released in the USA as "The Road Warrior" since American audiences knew nothing of the barely-released earlier movie), established Gibson as an international star. "The Year of Living Dangerously" (1982), Weir's film about the political upheavals of 1960s Indonesia, gave him his first romantic lead opposite Sigourney Weaver and launched him as a sex symbol.

After a turn as a reluctantly mutinous Fletcher Christian opposite Anthony Hopkins' Captain Bligh in "The Bounty", Gibson made an inauspicious American debut in "The River" (both 1984), playing a character so coldly stubborn that few could empathize. The well-made but gloomy "Mrs. Soffel" (also 1984) followed quickly before he returned to Australia to wrap up the "Mad Max" series with "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" (1985), a cumbersome satire with less action, a bigger budget, Tina Turner and Max, mostly on foot, looking like a wandering prophet. Gibson then took two years off to concentrate on his family, returning to the screen in "Lethal Weapon" (1987), for which he created perhaps his most popular character, Martin Riggs, an explosive homicide cop paired with the long-suffering Danny Glover. The film propelled Gibson to superstardom, spawned three sequels (to date) and allowed him to incorporate his innate playfulness as part of an unusually rich characterization for a modern action hero. Called at various times "practical joker", "eternal adolescent" and "fun-loving fourth Stooge", Gibson has remained a "regular guy" who doesn't take himself or his work too seriously and consistently comes across as relaxed and natural.

Gibson sandwiched the meandering "Tequila Sunrise" (1988) and even more disappointing "Bird on a Wire" (1990) around a blockbuster "Lethal Weapon 2" (1989), and his patented swagger could not save the alleged action-comedy "Air America" (1990) from the inadequacy of its script. Next, in a surprising career move, he opted to take his shot at Shakespeare's Melancholy Dane in Franco Zeffirelli's "Hamlet" (1990). While the film was problematic, Gibson turned in a finely rendered portrait of the famed prince in the first project produced by his Icon Productions. He continued in a more sentimental vein with the sudsy "Forever Young" (1992), scored another huge hit with "Lethal Weapon 3" (1993), then made his directorial debut with "The Man Without a Face" (1993), a drama in which he hid his good looks behind the heavy makeup of a burn victim. After this mildly popular effort, Gibson returned to rowdy commercial fare with "Maverick" (1994), teaming for a fourth time with "Lethal Weapon" director Richard Donner for a 90s adaptation of the 60s TV Western-comedy series, which shrewdly parlayed his dashing rogue qualities into more box-office bliss.

Gibson returned to the director's chair for "Braveheart" (1995), a project far bigger than any with which he had been previously involved in any capacity. Clad in a kilt, sporting blue war paint and wielding a big sword, Gibson starred as Sir William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish nobleman persecuted for his efforts to free Scotland from English rule. Wags dubbed the film "Mad Mac", but the Academy deemed it worthy, voting it five awards including Best Picture and honoring Gibson as Best Director. Later that same year, in addition to providing the speaking voice for John Smith in Disney's "Pocahontas", Gibson made his screen singing debut. His collaboration with Ron Howard, "Ransom" (1996), another box-office hit that earned $35 million its first week, preceded "Conspiracy Theory" (1997), his fifth film with Donner and a surprising commercial dud compared to their previous work, especially with Julia Roberts starring opposite Gibson. The actor-director pair rebounded with "Lethal Weapon 4" (1998), its healthy box office reaffirming Riggs-Murtaugh (in reportedly their last outing) as a bankable team.

Gibson next starred as a murderous thief bent on getting his "Payback" (1999), a loose reworking of the same Donald Westlake novel that had inspired John Boorman's 1967 classic thriller "Point Blank". Playing to Gibson's strengths, the urban Western veered problematically from dark and sinister to comic and whimsical but still managed a respectable box office. His star power could not make Wim Wenders' "The Million Dollar Hotel" (2000) a mainstream success, and though the director's visual skills were on display, the underdeveloped, not very interesting story made it a tough sell at the art-houses. Gibson then joined "popcorn" specialists Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich for Emmerich's Revolutionary War drama "The Patriot" (also 2000), scripted by Robert Rodat. Essentially a Western, "The Patriot" cast him as a retired "gunslinger", still spooked by his memories of the French and Indian War, who clings fast to his pacifism until his son falls into enemy hands, triggering his course of revenge. After voicing Rocky the Rooster in the animated "Chicken Run", a sort of feathered "Great Escape", he rounded out the busy year as star of Nancy Meyers' romantic comedy "What Women Want" (both 2000).

Aside from making Gibson vehicles, his Icon Productions has produced projects like the Beethoven biopic "Immortal Beloved" (1994, directed by Bernard Rose), the remake of "Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina" (1997, also helmed by Rose), the black comedy "Ordinary Decent Criminals" (a fictionalized version of the life of Irish thief Martin Cahill) and the ABC biopic "The Three Stooges" (both 2000).

In 2002, Gibson appeared in the war film "We Were Soldiers," directed by "Pearl Harbor"(2001) scribe Randall Wallace and in "Signs," the much anticipated M. Night Shyamalan movie about crop circles. In 2003, Gibson starred alongside Robert Downey Jr. and Robin Wright-Penn in a remake of The Singing Detective. 2004 saw Gibson return to the director's chair for The Passion of Christ. Funded by 25 million of Gibson's own dollars, the religious drama generated controversy amid cries of anti-semitism. Despite the debates surrounding the film -- and the fact that all of the dialogue was spoken in Latin and Aramaic -- it nearly recouped its budget in the first day of release.

Facts

Married to Robyn Moore since 1980 and father of 7 children 7 children: daughter, Hannah Gibson (born 1980); twin sons, Edward Gibson and Christian Gibson (born 1982); son, Willie Gibson (born 1985); daughter, Louis Gibson (born 1988); son, Milo Gibson (born 1990); son, Tommy Gibson (born 1999).

He took up acting only because his sister submitted an application behind his back. The night before an audition, he got into a fight, and his face was badly beaten, an accident that won him the role.

Roommates with Geoffrey Rush in college.

Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world in 1990, 1991, 1996.

Ranked #12 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list in October 1997.

Mel was awarded of the AO (Officer of the Order of Australia), Australia's highest honor, in mid-1997.

Ranked #15 in Premiere's 2003 annual Power 100 List. Had ranked #17 in 2002.

Friday, August 3, 2007

Alex Rodriguez


Alex Rodriguez is a two-time Major League Baseball MVP and is one of the top players in the league. He is a member of the 50 Home Run Club and is one of only four members in the 40-40 club (home runs and steals). He is well known for signing the most lucrative contract in sports history -- a 10-year, $252-million pact with the Texas Rangers was signed and sealed in 2000.

At one point in his career, he was frequently touted as a five-tool player and he was arguably one of the best in the sport. Unfortunately, like a number of players who have sported the pinstripes, A-Rod has seemingly shriveled under the bright lights in New York as a Yankee.

Behind the scenesRodriguez is a charismatic person and a generous athlete with strong community connections. 1998 marked the first year of the Alex Rodriguez Evening with the All Stars benefit, which has since raised more than $500,000 for The Boys and Girls Club of Miami. The club was vital in his growth when he was just 7 years old. Construction began in 2005 for the Alex Rodriguez Learning Center in Miami, which will focus on the advancement of literacy, computer study and math skills for children.

A-Rod has helped the organization out on a number of occasions, even playing Santa Claus in 2004 at a christmas party which treated kids to pizza, gifts and other treats. Rodriguez has also set up a scholarship fund with the University of Miami and participates in several fundraising evenings. In 2003, he also funded $3.9 million for the renovation of the University of Miami’s baseball field.

On the horizonAfter failing in the postseason with the Yankees in 2006, A-Rod has seemingly worn out his welcome in New York. His regular season statistics continue to sparkle, but they are overshadowed by his inability to make clutch hits in the playoffs. There have already been some preliminary rumors about the Yankees trading him, and although his lofty contract figures seem to be an impediment, there will be suitors waiting with open arms for this surefire hall of famer.

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Derek Jeter


Derek Sanderson Jeter was born June 26th, 1974, to parents Charles Jeter and Dorothy Conner, in Pequannock, New Jersey. When Jeter was four, the family (which includes sister Sharlee) moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. By the age of six, Jeter's grandmother had introduced him to baseball and he began rooting for the Yankees.

Almost immediately, the young Jeter dreamed of playing for the "Bronx Bombers." One of the Yankee players that Derek Jeter looked up to was Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.

junior jeter shows promise

Upon entering Kalamazoo High School, Jeter focused his attention on baseball. He wasn't one for getting into trouble, as his father, a substance abuse counselor, was a tremendous influence. Jeter's high-school academic performance was outstanding, and he was named to the National Honor Society.

In his senior year, Jeter batted .508 for the baseball team, with twelve stolen bases. Although he was recruited to go to college, Jeter chose to pursue a baseball career and attend college in the off-season. He was the first high-school player chosen (sixth overall) by the Yankees in the 1992 free agent draft.

While playing for class (a) Tampa in 1992, Jeter batted just .202 and often cried. He was homesick and had a difficult time adjusting to minor league baseball life. But, his nest season was a huge improvement, as he batted .293 for (a) Greensboro. The following season, Jeter enjoyed immense success, as he batted .377 at (aa) Albany and .349 at (aaa) Columbus. He was named the Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year for 1994.

Jeter's 1995 season was split between Columbus and New York. On May 29th, 1995, Jeter made his major league debut with the Yankees. He managed to bat .250 in a limited time with New York, before being optioned back to (aaa) Columbus. Upon completion of the Yankees' 1995 season, manager Joe Torre announced that Derek Jeter would be his starting shortstop the following year.

a yankee to the finish

Having Jeter start the season with New York did wonders for his confidence. He went on to bat .314 and capture the American League's Rookie of the Year award. The Yankees went on to defeat the Atlanta Braves for the World Series title. Jeter batted .360 through all three rounds of the playoffs, cementing himself as one of the best "clutch" performers in all of baseball.

The 1997 season wasn't as productive as his first big league season. Nevertheless, Jeter still managed to score over 100 runs and bat .291. The Yankees did manage to make the playoffs, but were eliminated by Baltimore.

The 1998 season was a magical one for Derek Jeter and the Yankees. Not only did the Yankees have the best record in baseball, but Jeter also made his first all-star appearance. Derek finished the year with career highs in batting average, stolen bases, runs batted in, home runs, and runs scored. The Yankees capped off the season by winning the World Series over San Diego in four games. Jeter had a terrific World Series, batting .353 in the four games.

Looking to better his numbers from 1998, Derek Jeter had yet another career year in 1999. He posted his first 100 RBI season, as well as his first 20 home run year. Jeter led the Yankees to yet another World Series title over Atlanta, batting .375 for the entire postseason.

Although Jeter had another stellar year in 2000, his numbers didn't quite match up to those posted in 1999. After winning the 2000 MVP award for his third all-star game, Jeter made sure he saved his best for the postseason. Despite Jeter batting just .211 in the first round against Oakland, the Yankees managed to advance to the A.L. Championship Series. Facing the Mariners, Jeter improved his eye at the plate to bat .318 in six games.

Dubbed the "Subway Series," Jeter and the Yankees squared off versus their New York counterparts, the Mets. Not since the 1950s had two New York teams faced each other for baseball's most coveted prize. Derek rose to the challenge, as he hit .408 in five games, with two doubles, a triple and two home runs. Derek was awarded the World Series MVP trophy, as the Yankees took home their fourth title in five years.

jeter just keeps going

In 2001, Derek had another phenomenal season, as he topped .300, hit 21 home runs, stole 27 bases and earned another all-star selection. However, despite being the three-time defending champs, the Yankees were not even favored to represent the American League in the World Series. The Seattle Mariners, who lost to New York in the A.L. Championship Series in 2000, had one of the best regular season records ever in 2001.

In the first round of the 2001 playoffs, the Yankees were down two games to none in their best-of-five series with Oakland. With games three and four being played in Oakland, few observers gave New York a chance to win the series. In the final stages of game three, Derek Jeter came up with a play that turned the series around. He was able to make a leaping stab at a ball thrown weakly home, and then quickly relay it home to throw out an Oakland base runner. Had Jeter not made that play, the Yankees might not have won the last three games in the series and advanced to face the Mariners.

Despite the Mariners being favored and Jeter hitting just .118 in the A.L. Championship Series, the Yankees disposed of Seattle in five games. However, the Yankees were not able to successfully defend their title, as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Yankees in a thrilling seven-game series. Arizona scored the winning run on hit that sailed over Jeter's head and into shallow left field.

Currently, the Yankees are in a heated battle for the A.L. East Division and Jeter is a major part of their success. He continues to display the skills that have made him a household name. Jeter is looking forward to trying for his fifth World Series ring, and based on his track record, it's hard to bet against him.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Johnny Depp


Having cut his teeth on the popular ‘80s television show 21 Jump Street and a whole host of schlocky films (like 1985’s sex comedy Private Resort), Johnny Depp deftly transformed himself into a reliable yet thoroughly unpredictable cinematic presence via a series of memorable films, such as 1990’s Edward Scissorhands, 1993’s What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and 2001’s Blow. Johnny’s star status changed exponentially with the release of the first Pirates of the Caribbean film in 2003, which garnered him his first Academy Award nomination.

His second nomination came the following year for his poignant performance in 2004’s Finding Neverland. Now raking in a reported $20 million per film, it's clear that Depp’s onscreen charisma and bad-boy charm make him an undeniable box-office draw.

Behind the scenesThough he’s been linked with many famous faces in the past (including Kate Moss and Winona Ryder), Johnny seems to have found true love with French singer/actress Vanessa Paradis. The pair has two children and currently resides in France. Johnny’s desire to keep his family out of the public eye has thus far proven to be extremely successful, and as such, he’s generally had few run-ins with the paparazzi and their ilk.

Little is known of Johnny’s extracurricular activities, though he has long-since established himself as a thoroughly adept musician; he used to be in a band called P and has made appearances on a couple of Oasis songs. His passion for music is also reflected in his ownership -- along with Sean Penn and John Malkovich -- of a Parisian nightclub called Man Ray.

On the horizonNow that Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest has become one of the top-grossing films in cinematic history, Johnny seemingly has the ability to write his own ticket. But rather than take on a big-budget action film or a predictable romantic comedy, Johnny is thus far sticking to his quirky, almost avant-garde roots. In addition to next year’s conclusion to the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Johnny is currently prepping an adaptation of the Sweeney Todd musical with frequent collaborator Tim Burton.

Johnny has also put on the producer’s hat for the first time in his career, as he is producing a slew of movies slated for release in 2007 and 2008, such as A Long Way Down, The Rum Diary and Happy Days.
"I'm shy, paranoid, whatever word you want to use. I hate fame. I've done everything I can to avoid it."

- Johnny Depp
on being a celebrity."With any part you play, there is a certain amount of yourself in it. There has to be, otherwise it's just not acting. It's lying."

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Tom Brady


Tom Brady is one of the top quarterbacks in the National Football League and with three championships with the New England Patriots under his belt he is prepping a resume for the Hall of Fame. Brady has twice been named the Super Bowl MVP in his four appearances. He acts, plays and looks like a winner and garners a lot of attention on and off the field. In 2002, Brady was one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People and in 2005 he was named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated.

Off the field, Brady has made a few TV appearances on NFL Monday Night Football, Saturday Night Live, Late Show with David Letterman, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and he made a cameo as a computer geek in the movie Stuck On You.

As a celebrity himself, Brady’s handsome farm-boy charm has attracted the attention of a number of celebrity women, such as Tara Reid, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, and Bridget Moynahan.

Behind the scenesBorn in San Mateo, California in 1977, Brady is a genuine, all-American nice guy in a sport built on tough and rough men. He is reportedly a person who treats everyone with respect and he is never arrogant. Proving that being a star quarterback doesn’t grant you the privilege to slack off, Tom is the first to arrive in the locker room and the last to leave.

Although Tom doesn’t have his own charity, he has contributed to those of his teammates, such as Lawyer Milloy, Joe Andruzzi and Lonie Paxton’s Active Force Foundation, which engineers, designs and provides adaptive sports equipment to people with physical disabilities. In addition to working with the Starlight Children’s Foundation of New England, Tom is the two-millionth member of the ONE Campaign -- an international movement to make poverty history and dedicated to encouraging Americans to lobby Congress for a 1% budget increase in humanitarian aid to the developing world.

On the horizon On a professional level, Brady continues to strive toward another Super Bowl. His head coach, Bill Belichick, keeps him focused on the future, leaving his three championship rings as a memory to enjoy during the off-season. At the rate Brady is going, an induction into Pro Football Hall of Fame is likely on the horizon.

On a personal level, Brady is not married and that figures to also be a pursuit considering his strong Roman Catholic roots.

Jeremy Piven




Jeremy Piven


What he is known for? One of television’s most likable bad boys, Jeremy Piven shot to fame in 2004 as Entourage’s foul-mouthed super agent, Ari Gold. The dream role has since garnered this veteran stage actor a coveted Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Prior to hanging with Vince and his crew, Piven chewed up the scenery in dozens of big-screen hits including PCU (1994), Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), Black Hawk Down (2001), and Old School (2003).

Behind the scenesJeremy Piven is a firm believer that a man shouldn’t be defined by his job alone. "We all have so many different elements inside of us and we're not all one thing," he says. So when he isn’t in front of the camera this multitalented thespian enjoys letting loose on his extensive collection of drum kits, congas and bongos. "I love to play the drums,” he says. “I probably would have been a drummer if acting hadn't come along." A fan of Keith Moon, Piven hopes to one day combine his two passions by filming a biopic about the infamous Who drummer.

Aside from his rock-star aspirations, Piven is notorious for making headlines for rebellious antics. There was the rumored nightclub brawl he had with Stephen Dorff earlier this year, then there was the incident at the Chicago Cubs baseball game where Cubs executives had to issue a public apology after Piven yelled out "Let's hug it out, you little b**ches!" to the crowd. It’s this no-holds-barred, fun-loving attitude that skyrockets Piven to the top of the coolness ranks.

On the horizonLook for Piven to be positively everywhere in 2007. In addition to stealing scenes in Entourage, this native New Yorker is also set to star in the big-screen comedy Smokin’ Aces with Ben Affleck, and the intense thriller The Kingdom with Jamie Foxx and

Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Mark Vanderloo


NAME: Mark Vanderloo
NATIONALITY: Dutch
HEIGHT: 6'2"Mark Vanderloo
HAIR: Brown
EYES: Brown
BORN: April 24, 1968 in Waddinzveen, Holland.
DISCOVERED: At 22, he entered the University of Amsterdam to study history. Accompanying a model girlfriend one day to a shoot, he found himself modeling for the very first time. The photographer had another assignment he needed to complete, for a milk advertisement and liking the look of the two of them together, he shot them for the ad. Mark just hated the way he looked in the pictures and thought that was the end of a very short modeling career. But 1992 Mark was tending bar for $200 a night and modeling part-time near his village in Holland when he was signed by Willemina. He hit the international modeling scene and four months later he had become a runway sensation in Paris, Milan and Manhattan.

AGENCY: Wilhelmina

RÉSUMÉ: Hugo Boss' main man for the past three years in their stylist B&W print ads and billboards. Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Armani, Valentino, Trussardi and Guess? all chose him for their campaigns. Mark struts the runway for Calvin Klein, Versace, Hermés, Valentino and Hugo Boss, amung others.

KNOWN FOR: His great print ads and for being one of the first male supermodels.

HOME: Has appartments in New York City and Paris, but speands most of his time at home in Holland.

SWEETIE: Dated supermodel Carolyn Murphy for years. Is now married to supermodel Esther Cañadas.

OTHER: His best friend is male supermodel (and Guess? model) Alex Ludquist. He speaks five languages. VH1's Fashion and Music Awards named him Male Model of the Year in 1995. He speaks five languages.