Jamie Denton Biography:

James Denton has made all of America wish for faulty pipes due to his role as the world's sexiest plumber, Mike Delfino, on ABC's smash hit, Desperate Housewives. Along with the rest of the cast, Denton was honored with the 2005 SAG Award for Best Ensemble in a Comedy.

A native of Nashville, Denton has been one of Hollywood's busiest actors since he hit town with a training background that has launched many performers into stardom -- a solid body of respected work in the Chicago theatre.

Originally attending college on a basketball scholarship, Denton wasn't bitten by the acting bug until he was 20. He landed the role of George Gibbs in a Nashville production of "Our Town," got fine reviews, but thought there was a more solid career in selling advertising. He did that in Tennessee and then in North Carolina for four years, before taking off for Chicago to risk everything to become a professional actor.

He was soon accepted as one of the town's brightest and busiest actors. After earning a key casting when the "Untouchables" series came to town to film, Denton was drawn to Los Angeles, where his strong theatre reputation had preceded him, and he was quickly locked in with choice turns in film, on TV and on stage.

He started building his big screen profile with performances in such films as "Primary Colors," "Face/Off" and "That Old Feeling," but soon off-beat roles in adventurous TV series were claiming his time. In 1997 he landed the role of the eerily sociopathic Mr. Lyle on NBC's hit drama show, "The Pretender." The NBC series' multi-year run was followed by "The Pretender" television films, "Pretender 2001" and "Pretender: The Island of the Haunted."

In 2001 Denton was cast by ABC to star opposite Kim Delaney in Steven Bochco's "Philly" series, which was critically acclaimed but short-lived. But his growing reputation soon led to a new series casting him as a top player in this nation's homeland security community, Special Agent Jon Kilmer on "Threat Matrix."

Acting obviously is serious work for the handsome and athletic star. Denton's first role in Chicago theatre was as Stanley Kowalski in "A Streetcar Named Desire," and his last was the terrorist on the French farce, "Lapin, Lapin." He was a company member of the Griffin Theatre and at the Strawdog Theatre Ensemble. He added a steady string of roles and accolades to his quickly growing list, including one of the leads in the world premiere of "Flesh and Blood," performing in and composing the music for "The Night Hank Williams Died," and his portrayal of Kentucky preacher C.C. Showers in "The Diviners," which gained him a coveted Joseph Jefferson Best Actor nomination. For these performances, Denton was listed as one of Chicago's hottest actors by Screen Magazine. In Los Angeles he appeared in the premieres of "Asylum" at the Court Theatre, "Locked Up Down Shorty's" at the Powerhouse Theatre and "In Walked Monk" at the Hudson Theatre.

In addition to his series-starring roles on TV, his guest appearances include "JAG," "Slider," "Dark Skies," "Two Guys and a Girl," "Ally McBeal" and "The West Wing."
(courtesy of ABC)
After bit parts in the John Woo martial arts extravaganza Face/Off (1997) and guest-starring appearances on the weekly series Ally McBeal and The Drew Carey Show, Jamie Denton (also billed under his formal prename, James Denton) achieved national recognition for his contribution to the darkly comic prime-time soap opera Desperate Housewives. In that program, Denton played Mike Delfino, the very eligible bachelor plumber, tossed like a volleyball in between sexy suburbanites Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan) and Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher).

The eldest child of a Nashville, TN, dentist, Denton attended Goodlettsville High School and junior college prior to enrolling in the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. At that institution, he majored in television and journalism, and graduated with honors, a degree in advertising under his arm. Grassroots experience acting in a number of regional plays -- including a local production of Thornton Wilder's +Our Town -- imparted to Denton a permanent love of acting, and thus shifted his career path; he spent four years making a living by selling advertising to radio stations, but nothing could outshine the passion and drive he felt for acting. Thus, after a short theatrical stint in North Carolina, Denton set out for Chicago to pursue drama full-time. In the Windy City, Denton landed roles in such productions as +A Streetcar Named Desire and +Lapin, Lapin, and signed on as a semi-permanent member of the Griffin Theater and the Strawdog Theater Ensemble.

Denton subsequently scored the key role of Mr. Lyle in the NBC fantasy-adventure series The Pretender, and worked on a number of other small-screen programs, including The Untouchables, Sliders, and Dark Skies. Cinematically, he landed bit parts in not only Face/Off, but Primary Colors and That Old Feeling. Regular roles on the series Threat Matrix and Philly suggested great promise, but unfortunately, those series folded before they could snag a sizeable audience.

Not one easily daunted, Denton held out for a bigger break, and that arrived in the form of his Housewives role. Shortly after the series premiered in October 2004, it rocketed up to become one of the most popular and scintillating new dramas on television. Fans of cult horror could also catch Denton as miscreant Elmer Winslow in the comic slasher movie Undead or Alive: A Zombedy

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

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.

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.

Mel Gibson

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

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

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.

Antonio Sabato Jr.

NAME: Antonio Sabato Jr.
NATIONALITY: Italian
HEIGHT: 6'1"
WEIGHT: 175 lbs
HAIR: Brown
EYES: Brown
BORN: February 29, 1972 in Rome, Italy.
DISCOVERED: When Antonio arrived in America, he was a young teenager.

RÉSUMÉ: He replaced Mark Wahlberg as the Calvin Klein underwear boy. Antonio played Jack (Jagger) Cates on General Hospital for two years. He also starred in Steven Spielberg's short-lived TV series called Earth 2. He also guest-starred in six episodes of Melrose Place, in which he played Heather Locklear's husband. He has a small but noteworthy role in movie The Big Hit where he plays a dedicated mercenary opposite fellow hunk Mark Wahlberg.

He is now starting up his own production company called Namtab (Batman spelled backwards.) He has his own book about exercise, filled with photos of himself.

HOME: Has an appartment in New York City. Antonio's father is Italian film star Antonio Sabato Sr.

SWEETIE: He has a son, Jack Antonio, born August 6, 1994 by actress Virginia Madsen. Theirs was a bitter custody battle which he eventually won. "Jack is the most important thing in my life." says Antonio.

Antonio admits he's leery of relationships because "I've been unlucky in love. I'm told I'm too nice. I'm always good to the women in my life so it's easy for them to take advantage of me." Antonio also has to be on the alert for female fans who stalk him. "They're amazing. They learn what hotels I'm staying at and try to get up to my room. The scariest time was when I got a call at 1 am and the women told me she was on a cellular phone just outside my hotel room door. She was. I had to call security to have her removed."

OTHER: Antonio models to pay the bills but his real goal is acting. "I could have been a regular on Melrose Place but I chose just to do a cameo. My goal is to make movies. Melrose Place came along right after Earth 2 was cancelled. I needed something to boost my ego a bit. We all thought with Steven Spielberg at the helm, Earth 2 was going to be a mega-hit." says Antonio. "I'd have been much further ahead if I'd spoken English when I came to America 12 years ago." explains Sabato. Antonio became a United States citizen in November 1996. Antonio now has his own exercise and diet/nutrition book, No Excuses, filled with photos of... who else? Antonio.

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.