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Michael Rooker was born on April 6, 1955 in Jasper, Alabama. When he was thirteen, his parents divorced and he went with his mother to live in Chicago. He caught the acting bug while attending college, and began appearing in local stage productions. On first breaking into film, his intensity and "don't-mess-with-me" good looks were highlighted to chilling effect as the title character in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986), filmed in 1986 but, due to its controversial nature, not released until 1990. Since that widely noticed and highly praised performance, much of his career has been spent playing brutes, villains and psychopaths. However, his occasional turns as a "good guy" are always well-acted and a welcome change for a talented actor too often typecast.

2017 marks an exciting time for Rooker, as he starred in two films premiering just two months of each other. On March 17, audiences saw Rooker in Blumhouse Tilt's indie horror thriller The Belko Experiment (2016). The film is the terrifying yet humorous look at a group of employees that become guinea pigs in a company-wide experiment that leads them to either kill their fellow employees or be killed themselves. Returning to his indie roots, Rooker starred as maintenance worker, Bud Melks, one of the employees trapped in the office building, who may or may not be able to kill his fellow staff member. On May 5, Rooker reprised his role as Yondu in the highly anticipated sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017). The film follows the same group of galactic underdogs saving the universe to a stellar soundtrack. Rooker's breakout performance earned him critical acclaim, as audiences were introduced to a more dramatic Yondu. The film went on to earn over $145 million domestically its opening weekend and has surpassed its predecessor by grossing over $850 million worldwide.

Rooker made his film debut, playing the title role in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986), a film based on the confessions of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas. It was here that audiences were first introduced to Rooker's impeccable ability to channel a character's idiosyncrasies and subtleties. He has also starred in some of the most iconic films, such as Mississippi Burning (1988), Sea of Love (1989), JFK (1991), Tombstone (1993) and Jumper (2008) to name a few. In August 2014, Rooker starred in one of the most memorable franchises in the Marvel Universe, Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), as Yondu, the blue-skinned renegade space pirate and surrogate father to Peter Quill. The film went on to gross over $700 million at the worldwide box office and spent five weekends atop the box office, more than any other film in the Marvel Universe.

On the television front, Rooker is best known for his series regular role as Merle Dixon on AMC's hit series The Walking Dead (2010). Audiences loved to hate the ill-tempered redneck hunter and were sad to see him killed off the series in season three. Rooker has completed a variety of stints on some of the most prominent series on television: Criminal Minds (2005), CSI: Miami (2002), Las Vegas (2003), Law & Order (1990) and Archer (2009), among others. Additionally, Rooker's talents go beyond both film and television. He adds his voice to various video games, including The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, and Lollipop Chainsaw.

Erin Karpluk was born in Jasper, Alberta, Canada. She is an actress and producer, known for Being Erica (2009), A Million Little Things (2018) and Holly Hobbie (2018).

The normally erudite, soft-spoken and well-mannered Alabama-born (July 2, 1937) actress Polly Dean Holliday, daughter of a truck driver, accumulated quite an extensive theater background by the time she hit sassy, blue-collar stardom on 70s TV as gum-cracking waitress Florence Jean Castleberry on the highly popular sitcom Alice (1976).

Following her studies at Alabama College for Women, where she appeared in such productions as "Medea" and "The Lady's Not for Burning" and at Florida State University, Polly began her professional stage career in outdoor drama in North Carolina before joining the Asolo Repertory Company in Sarasota, Florida, and becoming a long, respected company member. During her initial residency (1962-1972), she appeared in such classic and contemporary productions as "The Way of the World" (1962), "Major Barbara" (1967), "As You Like It" (1967), "Look Back in Anger" (1968), "Joe Egg" (1970), "Candida" (title role, 1971), "The Subject Was Roses" (1971) and "House of Blue Leaves" (1971). Later roles with the company included "Hay Fever" (1974) and "Free and Clear" (2004). Polly worked long and hard to disguise her Alabama drawl while building up a sturdy classical reputation. At the same time, she supplemented her income teaching piano and also music in elementary schools.

Making her off-Broadway debut in "Orphee" back in 1964, she moved to the East Coast in 1972 and appeared in New York productions of "Wedding Bond," and "The Girl Most Likely to Succeed" before taking her first Broadway bow in "All Over Town" directed by Dustin Hoffman in 1974. She then began appearing in small parts in such movies as The Catamount Killing (1974), W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975) and All the President's Men (1976)

Polly won the flashy TV role of Flo in 1976. As the Southern-baked hash slinger who delightfully redefined trailer park trash, the actress gave a no-holds barred performance that earned her two Golden Globes awards and an Emmy nomination. She hit it so big with fans (her character introduced the catch phrase "Kiss mah grits!") that she was given her own spin-off, aptly titled Flo (1980). Surprisingly, the show lasted only one season despite another Emmy-nomination.

To avoid severe typecasting, Polly veered away from the television limelight and returned to her first love, the theatre. She won renewed respect and critical notice on Broadway and in regional theatre for her performances in "A Sense of Humor" (1983), "Black Coffee" (1985), her eccentric Martha Brewster in "Arsenic and Old Lace" (1986), as Amanda Wingfield in "The Glass Menagerie" (1988), her Tony-nominated turn as Big Mama in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1990), "A Quarrel of Sparrows" (1993), her Veta in "Harvey" (1993), as spinster schoolteacher Flo Owens in "Picnic" (1994) and again off-Broadway in "Marco Polo Sings a Solo" (1998).

From time to time, Polly has taken on feisty roles in both comic and dramatic films, such as the old crank who meets a freakish end in the box-office critter hit Gremlins (1984), and on TV wherein she briefly replaced Eileen Brennan as Captain Amanda Allen in the series Private Benjamin (1981) after Ms. Brennan's near-fatal car accident in 1982.

Though Polly never recaptured the brash success of her Alice (1976) years, she has continued at a healthy pace primarily in guest spots. She nominally played wise and opinionated mothers and grandmothers on such shows as "Stir Crazy," "The Golden Girls," "Amazing Stories," "The Equalizer" and "Homicide: Life on the Streets." She also had recurring roles as Momma Love on the short-lived crime series The Client (1995) and as Patricia Richardson's mom on the hit sitcom Home Improvement (1991).

Broaching the millennium she continued sporadically with featured parts in such films as Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Mr. Wrong (1996), The Parent Trap (1998), Stick It (2006), The Heartbreak Kid (2007) and Fair Game (2010). She has also been featured on stage in such plays as "The Time of the Cuckoo" (2000), "Dividing the Estate" (2007), "A Christmas Carol" (2013) and "The Old Friends" (2014).

Kirby Morrow trained in theatre at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. Throughout his career, he also trained in Vancouver, Paris, Dublin, Toronto and Los Angeles. Reaching a successful stature in both on camera and animation voice-overs, he was a highly sought-after guest at animation, science fiction and Comicon conventions around the world.

Kirby Morrow died at the age of 47 on November 18, 2020, just eight days after the death of his father. No cause of death was given but Morrow's brother, Casey Morrow, wrote on Facebook that his brother's body "could not keep up" after a long history of substance abuse.

Eric Butterbean Esch was born on 3 August 1968 in Jasper, Alabama, USA. He is an actor, known for Jackass: The Movie (2002), PWS: Brawl for Paul (2009) and PWS: Vendetta (2010). He has been married to Libby Gaskin since 1985. They have three children.

Creek Wilson was raised in the small town of Jasper, Alabama by his parents, Buddy and Frances Wilson. During his younger years, he dedicated himself to chasing a career in country music. However, at the age of 24, and after a tragic situation that left him fighting for his life, he was forced to relinquish his aspirations in the music industry. Creek's life continued on and he was ultimately blessed with two beautiful daughters, Kristen and Kamryn, as well as a successful career in sales. After many years, Kamryn noticed something was missing in her father's life and suggested he return to the entertainment industry. Creek, at the ripe age of 50, took a leap of faith and thus began his career as a professional actor. He has since honed his craft through extensive guidance of esteemed acting instructors and mentors. Creek is immensely grateful to have achieved numerous major roles in a variety of productions and genre's including the Budweiser Super Bowl Commercial (2017), Red Dead Redemption II (2018), Wounds (2019), MA (2019), Pureflix's Sons Of Thunder (2020), The Wilderness Road (2021), Netflix's We Have A Ghost (2023), Twisted Metal (2023), Gunner (2023), and many others. As someone who always tries to find the silver lining in difficult situations and approach setbacks as opportunities for growth, Creek's two personal motto's have always been "Blessed!" and "Damn! I Love My Life!"

Her biography shows that she graduated from high school in Memphis, Tn. in 1962 but she actually went to and graduated from West Memphis High School in West Memphis, Arkansas in 1962 where she was a high school cheer leader and member of the West Memphis High School Home Coming Court.

David Bates was born on 15 June 1976 in Jasper, Alberta, Canada. He is a cinematographer, known for Seg/me/nts (2006), Mail Order Beard (2015) and My Pet Cowboy (2004).

Brandon Blake was born on 26 July 1985 in Jasper, Indiana, USA. He is an actor, known for YouJustGotClayd.mp4 (2024), Color of Vacancy (2020) and Herbie.

Shauna Smith was born in October 1982 in Jasper, Georgia, USA. She is an actress, known for Saudade (2015) and Dirty Jobs (2005).

Ken Yakiwchuk was born on 9 May 1968 in Jasper, Alberta, Canada. He is an actor, known for The Final Sacrifice (1990).

Frank Durlauf was born on 28 November 1893 in Jasper, Indiana, USA. He was an art director and production designer, known for Canon City (1948), The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952) and The Big Cat (1949). He was married to Lillie Elizabeth Gardner. He died on 2 February 1984 in Seal Beach, California, USA.

Ronnie L. Coleman was born on 9 July 1951 in Jasper, Alabama, USA. He is an actor, known for North Dallas Forty (1979), The NFL on CBS (1956) and The NFL on NBC (1965).

Bud Guin was born on 4 August 1954 in Jasper, Alabama, USA. Bud is known for Meet the Spartans (2008), Bad Santa 2 (2016) and Dragon Ball Z (1996). Bud has been married to Emily Agee since 1 June 1980. They have two children.

Zack Bronson was born on 28 January 1974 in Jasper, Texas, USA.

C.J. Harris was born on 28 January 1991 in Jasper, Alabama, USA. He died on 15 January 2023 in Jasper, Alabama, USA.

Darrell McCall was born on 30 April 1940 in New Jasper, Ohio, USA. He is an actor, known for The Porter Wagoner Show (1961), Country Style, U.S.A. (1957) and What Am I Bid? (1967). He is married to Mona Vary.

James Hadnot was born on 11 July 1957 in Jasper, Texas, USA. He died on 31 March 2017 in Lubbock, Texas, USA.

Kevin Lazzari was born on 16 April 1962 in Jasper, Alberta, Canada. Kevin is a production manager, known for The Boxing Day Classic (2005).

Mike Braun was born on 24 March 1954 in Jasper, Indiana, USA.

Terry Owens was born on 5 July 1944 in Jasper, Alabama, USA. He died on 27 October 2012 in Decatur, Alabama, USA.

Eddie Brown was born on 19 February 1952 in Jasper, Tennessee, USA.

Scott Rolen was born on 4 April 1975 in Jasper, Indiana, USA. He has been married to Niki Warner since 2 February 2002. They have two children.

James McCrea was born on 22 June 1983 in Jasper, Alberta, Canada. James is a composer, known for The Wild Man of the Navidad (2008) and Sketchy House (2011).

Lem F. Kennedy was born on 4 February 1880 in Jasper, Tennessee, USA. He is known for The Power Within (1921), The New Minister (1922) and Down Upon the Suwanee River (1925).