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Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana, and entertained audiences nearly his entire life. His father, Joe Jackson (no relation to Joe Jackson, also a musician), had been a guitarist, but was forced to give up his musical ambitions following his marriage to Michael's mother Katherine Jackson (née Katherine Esther Scruse). Together, they prodded their growing family's musical interests at home. By the early 1960s, the older boys Jackie, Tito and Jermaine had begun performing around the city; by 1964, Michael and Marlon had joined in.

A musical prodigy, Michael's singing and dancing talents were amazingly mature, and he soon became the dominant voice and focus of the Jackson 5. An opening act for such soul groups as the O-Jays and James Brown, it was Gladys Knight (not Diana Ross) who officially brought the group to Berry Gordy's attention, and by 1969, the boys were producing back-to-back chart-busting hits as Motown artists ("I Want You Back," "ABC," "Never Can Say Goodbye," "Got to Be There," etc.). As a product of the 1970s, the boys emerged as one of the most accomplished black pop / soul vocal groups in music history, successfully evolving from a group like The Temptations to a disco phenomenon.

Solo success for Michael was inevitable, and by the 1980s, he had become infinitely more popular than his brotherly group. Record sales consistently orbited, culminating in the biggest-selling album of all time, "Thriller" in 1982. A TV natural, he ventured rather uneasily into films, such as playing the Scarecrow in The Wiz (1978), but had much better luck with elaborate music videos.

In the 1990s, the downside as an 1980s pop phenomenon began to rear itself. Michael grew terribly child-like and introverted by his peerless celebrity. A rather timorous, androgynous figure to begin with, his physical appearance began to change drastically, and his behavior grew alarmingly bizarre, making him a consistent target for scandal-making, despite his numerous charitable acts. Two brief marriages -- one to Elvis Presley's daughter Lisa Marie Presley -- were forged and two children produced by his second wife during that time, but the purposes behind them appeared image-oriented.

Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. His passion and artistry as a singer, dancer, writer and businessman were unparalleled, and it is these prodigious talents that will ultimately prevail over the extremely negative aspects of his troubled adult life.

Former Oakland Raiders/Kansas City Chiefs football star who rose to prominence as one of the first Black male action stars of the "blaxploitation" genre of the early 1970s, who has since gone on to a long and illustrious career as an actor, director, writer, and producer! Burly, 6' 3" Williamson first came to attention in the TV series Julia (1968), playing love interest, Steve Bruce. However, his rugged, athletic physique made him a natural for energetic roles and he quickly established himself as a street wise, tough guy in films including That Man Bolt (1973), Black Caesar (1973), and Mean Johnny Barrows (1975). Talented Williamson established his own production company "Po 'Boy Productions" in 1974, which has produced over 40 movies to date. Like many young American stars of the 1960s and '70s, Williamson was noticed by Italian producers who cast him in a slew of B-grade action movies that occupied a lot of his work in the 1980s. From the late '80s on wards, much of his work has been of the "straight to video" fare (often playing police officers), but none could deny he has kept actively busy in movies and TV for over three decades, both in front of and behind the camera. More recently, indie director Robert Rodriguez cast him alongside FX guru Tom Savini as two vampire killing bikers, in his bloody action film From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), and he has most recently appeared on screen (displaying his wonderful comedy skills) playing grumpy Captain Dobey in Starsky & Hutch (2004).

Alex Karras was born on 15 July 1935 in Gary, Indiana, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for Blazing Saddles (1974), Victor/Victoria (1982) and Porky's (1981). He was married to Susan Clark and Ivalyn Joan Jurgensen. He died on 10 October 2012 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Character actor Art LaFleur was born on September 9, 1943 in Gary, Indiana. LaFleur worked extensively in sales as well as in both the saloon and restaurant business prior to deciding at age 31 in 1975 to move from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California in order to pursue a career in film. Art initially planned on being a screenwriter, but was ultimately persuaded to try his hand at acting instead by fellow actor and friend Jonathan Banks. LaFleur started landing acting gigs in plays in 1977 and acted in his first TV movie a year later. Often cast in tough guy roles, Art continued to act in a steady succession of both films and television shows alike with pleasing regularity up until 2017. LaFleur died at age 78 following a ten year battle with Parkinson's disease on November 17, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

Polly Carey Draper is an award-winning actress, writer, producer, and director. She was born on June 15, 1955 in Gary, Indiana, USA, to Phyllis (Culbertson), a Peace Corps administrator, and William Henry Draper III, who was the CEO of the United Nations.

Raised in Chicago, Illinois, as well as Arlington and Palo Alto, California, she is most known for her work in Thirtysomething (1987), Danielle Steel's Heartbeat (1993), The Tic Code (1998), Getting Into Heaven (2003), The Naked Brothers Band (2007), Stella's Last Weekend (2018), and Once Upon a Main Street (2020).

Currently residing with her family in New York City, Draper has been married to jazz pianist Michael Wolff since 1992. They have two children together, actor/musicians Nat Wolff and Alex Wolff.

Janet Damita Jo Jackson was born on May 16, 1966 in Gary, Indiana, to Katherine Jackson (née Katherine Esther Scruse) and Joe Jackson, a musician. She is the youngest of ten children. Before her birth, her brothers formed a band later called The Jackson 5. She lived at home with her sisters, while her brothers and father lived an extravagant life in Los Angeles. She later moved in with them while her brothers were making a name for themselves, and signed a deal with Motown. Janet was in the shadow but later also made a name for herself.

As she was touring, and making appearances with her brothers, and the rest of the family, she co-starred with the rest of them in "The Jacksons". In 1977, she got the part of Penny Gordon on "Good Times". That showed her acting abilities early on. She also made a few memorable appearances on the hit TV show "Diff'rent Strokes" as Charlene Dupree. Soon afterwards came her role on "Fame".

She married boyfriend James Debarge, but they divorced just months later. She signed with A&M Records, and recorded her first solo album titled "Janet Jackson". The album did poorly on the music charts. Two years later she recorded "Dream Street" which turned out to be another disaster. A year later she signed on Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to record a third album, this time called "Control". It was a hit, selling 5 million copies in the U.S. alone, spawning six hits, and the #1 "When I Think of You". Afterwards, she fired her father, her manager to truly gain control.

Janet was determined to make this happen again. She then recorded "Rhythm Nation 1814". This time it sold 9 million copies in the U.S. - a bigger hit than "Control"! She happened to fall in love with a dancer named René Elizondo, Jr. from one of her sister's, LaToya Jackson's music video and later secretly married him in March of 1991. The year before she got a star on the Hollywood walk of fame. Janet went to work on her fifth album simply called "Janet.". It was her biggest hit to date selling over 10 million copies in the U.S. alone and includes her biggest hit single to date, "That's The Way Love Goes". Two years later she released a Greatest Hits album "Design of a Decade" which included two new hits "Runaway", and "Twenty-Foreplay". Her sixth album "The Velvet Rope" clarified her pop culture status.

In the midst of the release of "Nutty Professor II", René Elizondo filed for divorce, which is when it emerged they had been secretly married. Janet recorded her seventh album "All For You". Another hit. She was honored by MTV as an MTV Icon. In 2003, Janet went to work on her next album "Damita Jo" - it was another hit.

Ernest Lee Thomas was born in an economically-low neighborhood in Gary, Indiana. Thomas's attempt to become a successful person was to move to New York and become a Broadway actor. He made his professional debut as as a Broadway actor appearing in the 1974 revival production of Love For Love, also in the 1975 revival production of 'The Member Of The Wedding'.

Thomas also became a graduate of the prestigious American Academy Of Dramatic Arts in New York City. He then moved to Los Angeles to further pursue his career as a television and film actor. Shortly after moving there he received a role on the starting sitcom The Jeffersons (1975) playing the character Ronnie Walker. Thomas also guest starred on other popular shows like Baretta (1975) and The Brady Bunch (1969).

During a taping session of The Jeffersons (1975) he was informed by the agent of Isabel Sanford that there was an audition for a show called, What's Happening!! (1976). He landed the role of Roger "Raj" Thomas at the age of 26. He said there were two-hundred talented actors up for the role and he states he was very blessed to have been chosen.

Shortly after the show's cancellation in 1979 despite it's high ratings, Ernest Thomas was on the verge of making his mark in Hollywood as a movie actor. Thomas received the opportunity to be a part of the comedy crime film A Piece of the Action (1977) starring along side comedic genius Bill Cosby and two Academy Award winners, Sidney Poitier and James Earl Jones. Thomas played the character John and the movie went on to receive rave reviews.

After just missing out on the role of Kunta Kinte in the successful mini-series Roots (1977), Thomas was given the role of Kailubu. Roots (1977) went on to win several prestigious awards and inspired millions of people to find their ancestral background like Alex Haley, the author of the book on which the series was based.

What's Happening Now! (1985) was the sitcom sequel to What's Happening!! (1976). This time the spin-off presented Raj as a more mature and well-developed character, even having a wife played by Anne-Marie Johnson, and becoming a successful writer. The show was in syndication for three years. Soon after the show ended Thomas made several guest appearances on various shows as Raj Thomas including The Parent 'Hood (1995), Martin (1992), Soul Food (2000), The Steve Harvey Show (1996), All About the Andersons (2003) and Just Jordan (2007).

In 1992, Ernest Thomas starred along side various renowned actors including Denzel Washington in the biographical movie, Malcolm X (1992). Thomas played the character Sidney. The film was a success and was recently selected to be placed in the United States National Film Registry by Library Of Congress as they described it as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

In 1996 Thomas starred opposite gospel Grammy award singer Kirk Franklin in the sold out tour of "He Say, She Say, But What Does God Say". In 2005, Ernest Thomas made his comeback of being a sit-com star by being a recurring character in the period sitcom, Everybody Hates Chris (2005). Ernest Thomas played a funeral director, Mr.Omar. Ernest Thomas also because of this role is vividly remembered by younger and older audiences.

Ernest Thomas earned a bachelor degree of Science in Sociology and Psychology from Indiana State University. Though Thomas has never married, and is believed not to have any children, nevertheless, in an interview with VladTV, Thomas mentioned that he does have a daughter.

Dolores Diane (her first stage name) made her film debut at age 14 in Girls' Town (1942), a "B" picture from low-rent PRC, then played a series of juvenile roles at Universal in 1943-45 (sometimes as part of a teen dancing group known as The Jivin' Jacks and Jills). She worked at MGM (where her stage name became Helene Stanley) and elsewhere from 1945-50 and at 20th Century-Fox in 1952, but her roles never rose above starlet level. Her last role at MGM, notable if uncredited, was in The Asphalt Jungle (1950) as the sexy teenager who causes Doc's downfall. Her live-action cinema career ended with Dial Red O (1955), both English and German-language versions. However, in a second career she made major, if invisible, contributions to Disney animated features, which used live-action films as the basis for animation. Helene modeled Cinderella (1950), Sleeping Beauty (1959) and the young wife in One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961). Amusingly, one critic complained that Cinderella was too "voluptuous"! Also for Disney, Helene appeared in the Davy Crockett TV-films as Davy's wife Polly. Helene was (briefly) the third wife of gangster Johnny Stompanato, whose subsequent fatal affair with Lana Turner made headlines. Her second marriage to David Niemetz, a Beverly Hills physician, was happier, and she formally retired from show business on the birth of her son in 1961. The cause of her 1990 death was not reported.

Dynamic African American leading man and characters actor William Marshall trained in Grand Opera, Broadway and Shakespeare. In films from the 50s and 60s including: Lydia Bailey (1952), Something of Value (1957), To Trap a Spy (1964) and finally known for being in The Boston Strangler (1968) with Tony Curtis. Marshall really didn't hit it big until the "blaxplotation" era of the 70s. He starred in the contemporary vampire melodrama, Blacula (1972), and its sequel, Scream Blacula Scream (1973), and the Exorcist-type film, Abby (1974). From the 80s, Marshall was seen as the "King of Cartoons" on the Saturday morning TV kiddie show, Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986), a job that he accepted on behalf of his grandchildren. Marshall has also appeared in Maverick (1994) and Dinosaur Valley Girls (1996). Marshall retired from acting afterwards and died of Alzheimer's disease in June, 2003.

Strikingly tall (5'8"), shapely, and statuesque brunette knockout Karen McDougal was born on March 23, 1971 in Merrillville, Indiana. She's of mixed Irish and Cherokee Indian descent. Karen has three older brothers and one younger sister. McDougal's mother remarried when she was nine and moved the family to Sawyer, Michigan. Karen studied tap dance and ballet as a kid. McDougal attended River Valley High School. She was an ace clarinetist who took 1st place in Michigan state competitions for four years in a row. In addition, Karen also was a member of the softball and volleyball teams as well as a cheerleader for both the football and basketball teams. After graduating from high school in 1989, McDougal attended Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, where she majored in Elementary Education.

After finishing college Karen moved to Detroit and worked as a preschool teacher. She entered a swimwear contest at a local nightclub and won it. McDougal then competed in the Venus Swimwear swimsuit competition in Michigan, won the state finals, and moved on to the international finals in Florida. Karen was then discovered by "Playboy" photographer David Mecey. She was approached by "Playboy" to try out for being a Playmate and was eventually chosen as the Playmate of the Month in the December, 1997 issue of the famous men's magazine. McDougal was named Playmate of the Year in 1998. In November, 2001 Karen was voted the #2 Playmate of the 1990's by "Playboy" readers. She has been featured in many "Playboy" videos and posed for a handful of newsstand special editions.

McDougal in the wake of her Playmate stint has modeled for numerous catalogs, calendars, national liquor campaigns, and posters. A hardcore fitness enthusiast, Karen has done pictorials in and/or graced the covers of countless fitness magazines (she has the distinction of being the first woman to be featured on the cover of "Men's Fitness" magazine). McDougal not only had a lead role as fierce warrior woman Jessemina in "The Arena," but also popped up in small parts in the films "Charlie's Angels," "Joe Dirt," "Grind," and "The Girl Next Door." She has served as a host of such TV programs as "Wild On," "The Red Carpet," and "VIP Access." Outside of acting and modeling, Karen is also an avid motorcycle rider -- her first modeling assignment was as a promotional model at a Harley-Davidson bike show in Detroit -- and car collector.

Born in Ohio, Charlene graduated from Youngstown University, in the mid-1960s, where she married her first husband, poet Frank Polite. Following graduation, she acted in regional theater, including the Pittsburgh (PA) Playhouse, where she had a post-graduate scholarship. Later, she moved to San Francisco, CA to work at the American Conservatory Theater, formed by provocative stage director and Tony Award nominee William Ball, whom she met in Pittsburgh.

She divorced her first husband in the late 1960s and remarried, to actor Ramon Bieri (1929-2001). They lived in Northridge, in the San Fernando Valley. Following the end of her film career in 1976, she divorced Bieri, moved to San Diego, with her stepson, and acted again in regional theater.

In the late 1980s, her health declined. She moved back to Youngstown, Ohio, to be near the family of her first husband, where she died from complications of breast cancer.

Variously described as "a true child of the 1960s," "spiritual," "extravagant" and "eccentric" with a great sense of humor, she was a strikingly gorgeous red brunette who gave up her film career to devote her life raising her stepson.

Karen Fairchild was born on 28 September 1969 in Gary, Indiana, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Forever My Girl (2018), Saturday Night Live (1975) and Monarch (2022). She has been married to Jimi Westbrook since 31 May 2006. They have one child.

La Toya Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, USA as La Toya Yvonne Jackson. As a member of the famous Jackson family, though she was the most outspoken, she has lived in her sister Janet's and brother Michael's shadow. She is a producer, known for Playboy Celebrity Centerfold: La Toya Jackson (1994), The Apprentice (2004) and Michael Jackson and Bubbles: The Untold Story (2010). She was previously married to Jack Gordon.

Bianca Taylor was born on 11 February 1955 in Gary, Indiana, USA. She is an actress, known for Grey's Anatomy (2005), True Detective (2014) and The Buddy System (1984). She was previously married to Meshach Taylor.

Tito Jackson was born on 15 October 1953 in Gary, Indiana, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1997), Glastonbury 2017 (2017) and The Jacksons: Can You Feel It (1981). He was married to Dee Dee Jackson. He died on 15 September 2024 in Gallup, New Mexico, USA.

Jermaine Jackson is an American singer from Gary, Indiana, and a member of the Jackson family which has been active in show-business for generations. Jermaine himself has been active as a singer since his childhood. He was both the second vocalist and the bass guitarist of the pop band "The Jackson Five" from 1964 to 1975. He rejoined the renamed group in 1983, and has remained with it through several breakups and reunions. He also had several top-30 hits of his own in a solo career.

In December 1954, Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana. The city was founded in 1906 by the United States Steel Corporation, and was primarily known as a center for the steel industry. It is located within the Chicago metropolitan area, at a distance of 25 miles (40 km) from downtown Chicago. Jackson was the fourth child born to Joe Jackson (1928-2018) and his wife Katherine Jackson (1930-, born under the name Kattie B. Screws). Joe was a guitarist for the band "The Falcons", and Katherine was a pianist and singer. Neither of them had a particularly lucrative career, and Joe worked at times as a steel mill worker.

Along with some of his brothers, Jackson practiced his own songs with his father's guitar at an early age. Their mother taught them to sing harmonies, and they founded their own band in 1964. Joe realized that his sons could become more successful than he ever was, and started training them under a strict regimen.

"The Jackson 5" signed a contract with Steeltown Records in November, 1967. In January 1968, they released their first single under the title "Big Boy". In 1969, the band signed a new contract with Motown Records. Motown had been one of the leading record labels of the 1960s, and was better able to promote their songs. Jackson started a romantic relationship with Hazel Gordy, daughter of the Motown founder Berry Gordy (1929-). The couple were married in 1973.

"The Jackson 5" became Motown's main marketing focus in the early 1970s. Their name has used on an ever-increasing number of merchandise, and they were even used as the main inspiration for a Saturday morning cartoon by the animation studio Rankin/Bass. However, the Jackson siblings were increasingly displeased with Motown's practices in the field of royalties. They were earning only 2.8% of royalties from Motown. In June 1975, the band signed a more lucrative contract with Epic Records. But Jackson remain loyal to Motown and left the band.

Jackson had already enjoyed solo success with his 1972 cover of the song "Daddy's Home", which had sold sold over one million copies. His subsequent solo hit songs were "That's How Love Goes", "Let's Be Young Tonight", "Bass Odyssey", "Feel the Fire", "Let Me Tickle Your Fancy" , "Let's Get Serious" , "Dynamite", "Do What You Do" , and "I Think It's Love". Jermaine decided to rejoin the renamed band "The Jacksons" in 1983, and worked on their album "Victory".

In 1984, Jackson and his brother Michael released the duet song "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True)". It received a lot of airplay. It peaked at 6th place on the Radio and Records' Top 40 chart, a chart based solely on airplay. It also reached the 1st place on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. However, there was a legal dispute between the record labels Epic and Arista over who owned the rights to this song. Due to this dispute, the song had only a limited distribution on records. Jermaine and Michael both provided guest vocals on the hit song "Somebody's Watching Me" (1984) by Rockwell.

In October 1984, Jackson and Pia Zadora collaborated on the duet song "When the Rain Begins to Fall". It was only moderately successful in the United States, but became a smash hit in Europe during 1985. It topped the charts in Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and West Germany. Cover versions of the song by other singers have also enjoyed chart success, decades following the song's initial release.

In 1989, Jackson released the single "Don't Take It Personal". It peaked at 64th place on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, and on the 1st place at the R&B chart. This was his last song to rank highly at any chart. Also in 1989, "The Jacksons" released the studio album "2300 Jackson Street". Despite receiving critical praise, the album peaked at 59th place on the Billboard Top Pop Albums. Disappointed with their declining commercial success, the band disbanded. This has remained their final studio album.

Jackson's music career declined during the 1990s, though some of his stage performances managed to attract crowds. In 1997, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with other members of "The Jackson 5". In 2001, "The Jacksons" reunited for two performances at Madison Square Garden. They were celebrating the 30h anniversary of Michael Jackson's debut performance as a solo singer.

In 2007, Jackson was a contestant at the "Celebrity Big Brother UK". He acted as a peaceful mediator between his arguing housemates, receiving attention from the press. While staying in the United Kingdom, Jackson voiced support for an anti-racism campaign which was financed by the magazine "Searchlight". In 2008, Jackson served as a guest judge for the music show "Australian Idol". That same year, he was invited as the guest of honor at the "Muslim Writers Awards" in Birmingham.

From December 2009 to January 2010, Jackson and several of his brothers appeared in the reality television series "The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty". The series in part focused on the plans of the brothers to relaunch their music careers, and in part on their reactions to the then-recent death of their brother Michael Jackson. The series only lasted for 6 episodes. Plans for a second season ended in development hell.

In 2011, Jackson published the memoir "You Are Not Alone: Michael Through a Brother's Eyes ". It focused on his memories concerning his deceased brother Michael. In 2012, "The Jacksons" reunited for their first concert tour in decades. Their tour lasted from June 2012 to July 2013. Jackson had previously refused to collaborate with his brothers for a 2011 tribute concert in Cardiff.. He reportedly felt that the concert capitalized on the publicity for an ongoing manslaughter trial, which was based on the suspicious death of Michael Jackson. .

In October 2012, Jackson released his solo album "I Wish You Love". It was his first solo album since 1991, and consisted mostly of cover song renditions of previous Jazz hits. The album was produced by the French singer David Serero through his private record label. Jackson and Serero also recorded the duet song "Autumn Leaves". They performed together in the musical "You Are Not Alone: The Musical" (2013).

In 2015, Jackson was in the news for his private life. In November 2015, his third wife Halima Rashid was arrested on charges of domestic violence. She had reportedly been abusing Jackson during their marriage. Rashid herself filed a petition for divorce in June 2016. Jackson had no children with Rashid, but had fathered 7 children from previous relationships.

By 2022, Jackson was 67-years-old. He has not released any new records or singles since 2015, but he has at times provided stage performances of various songs. He has never fully retired, and he retains a cult following due to his fondly recalled songs. While often overshadowed by his brother Michael, Jackson himself has had remarkable endurance as a performer.

William L Johnson is one of the most talented actors in Hollywood. Originally from the mid west and he is making his presents felt. A tall, handsome, and versatile American actor, he is best remembered playing the role of E-Bone in Blue Hill Avenue, The Mannsfield 12 , Doing Hard Time and Nothing Like ThanksGiving. William is also an excellent singer and would love a chance to play Marvin Gaye in a bio pic. He is the father of two sons William and Daniel Johnson.

Amari Noelle Ferguson was born on 19 November 1997 in Gary, Indiana. Amari Noelle is an actor, known for The Chi (2018).

Marlon Jackson was born on 12 March 1957 in Gary, Indiana, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Nell (1994), Cronies (2015) and The Jacksons: Can You Feel It (1981). He has been married to Carol Parker since 16 August 1975. They have three children.

Byron Gilliam was born on 3 November 1940 in Gary, Indiana, USA. He was an actor, known for Playboy After Dark (1969), Soul (1968) and Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967). He died on 22 November 1990 in Wisconsin, USA.

Randy Jackson was born on 31 October 1961 in Gary, Indiana, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for This Is 40 (2012), Happy Feet Two (2011) and Moonwalker (1988). He was previously married to Alejandra Genevieve Oaiaza and Eliza Shaffy.

Jackie Jackson was born on 4 May 1951 in Gary, Indiana, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for The Running Man (1987), My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988) and Drumline (2002). He has been married to Emily Besselink since 2012. They have two children. He was previously married to Victoria Triggs and Enid Adren.

Victor Varnado grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, later moving to Minneapolis, where he worked with the local improvisation troupes ComedySportz MN, The Bad Mamma Jammas and several regional theater companies, before landing his first role in the Big River Productions film Full Moon Rising (1996), playing a copy clerk. Soon after, his role in Giraffe Films' "Kids Adventures in Oz" spurred him on move to New York and to pursue an acting career. His first "big break" came when he landed a role in Elton John's music video "Recovering Your Soul". Shortly after, he starred in Forensic Films' Julien Donkey-Boy (1999) with Ewen Bremner, Werner Herzog and Chloe Sevigny. He was subsequently cast in Universal's feature film End of Days (1999), starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which was released in November 1999.

He co-stars in Eddie Murphy's space-age comic thriller, The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002), released nationally on August 16, 2003.

Winner of the Most Valuable Performer award in the 2001 Montreal Just For Laughs Improv Championship, and bronze medallist in the 2002 Comedy Central Laugh Riots National Stand-Up Competition, Varnado can currently be seen as Otis, an outrageous urban comic, in the independent film _Hacks (2001)_. Showing in the New York International Film Festival playing in Los Angeles, "Hacks" is now an official selection for The Milan Film Festival.

Varnado is a member of Chicago City Limits, New York¹s longest running comedy improv theater company for which he writes and direct as well as performing regularly as a stand up comedian.

Claire Malis was born on 17 February 1943 in Gary, Indiana, USA. She was an actress, known for The Incredible Hulk (1977), Simon & Simon (1981) and One Life to Live (1968). She was married to Thomas Callaway. She died on 24 August 2012 in Duarte, California, USA.

Michael McCormick was born on 24 July 1951 in Gary, Indiana, USA. He is an actor, known for Let's Be Cops (2014), The Producers (2005) and Great Performances (1971).