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.

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford is another one of those actors that many fancy at some point, be it by early exposure to Star Wars, Indiana Jones, or both. For me, it was Star Wars. I remember getting the SE boxset for Christmas in 7th grade, and spending the following, flu-addled weekend watching them for the first time while falling in and out of sleep. By the end of The Empire Strikes Back, I was most certainly smitten. He may not be an actor of great range, but he's still a fine dramatic actor, and is in my opinion the best action star of our age.


The Hot List
(1) Is the living definition of "ruggedly handsome".
(2) Has aged very well
(3) Oooooooh, that smirk.
(4) Can't hate him despite the fact that most of his movies since Air Force One sucked.
(5) Dates Calista Flockhart and I still can't hate him (although I could easily imagine him literally snapping her like a toothpick)
(6) The man is just undeniably cool in a DIY sort of way, with the flying and the woodworking and whatnot.

*sneaks off with IMDB bio and trivia while humming Indiana Jones theme*

Height

6' 1" (1.85 m)

Mini biography
His father was Irish, his mother Russian-Jewish. He was a lackluster student at Maine Township High School in Park Ridge Illinois (no athletic star, never above a C average). After dropping out of Ripon College in Wisconsin, where he did some acting and later summer stock, he signed a Hollywood contract with Columbia and later Universal. His roles in movies and TV ( "Ironside" (1967), "Virginian, The" (1962)) remained secondary and, discouraged, he turned to a career in professional carpentry. He came back big four years later, however, as Bob Falfa in American Graffiti (1973). Four years after that he hit colossal with the role of Han Solo in Star Wars (1977). Another four years and Ford was (words fail) Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Still another four years and he received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for his role as John Book in Witness (1985). All he managed four years after that was his third starring success as Indiana Jones; in fact, many of his earlier successful roles led to sequels as did his more recent portrayal of Jack Ryan in Patriot Games (1992). Another Golden Globe nomination came his way for the part of Dr. Richard Kimble in Fugitive, The (1993). He is clearly a well- established Hollywood superstar. He also maintains an 800-acre ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Spouse
Melissa Mathison (14 March 1983 - 6 January 2004) (divorced) 2 children
Mary Marquardt -- (18 June 1964 - 1979) (divorced) 2 children

Trivia

In his spare time, as a hobby, is also a master craftsman.Revealed on the David Letterman show that he has some false teeth; 2 were pulled by a dentist after some others were damaged when he fell on a gun during a stunt for a TV appearance early in his career.

Private pilot, single engine fixed wing and helicopter. Owns a Bonanza, Gulfstream IV, DeHavland Beaver, and Bell 407 helicopter. Destroyed first 407 during simulated "engine-out" practice. Regularly flies himself between New York City and Wyoming homes. Has a loft in Tribeca, NYC.

Listed as one of 50 people barred from entering Tibet. Disney clashed with Chinese officials over the film Kundun (1997), which Ford's second wife, Melissa Mathison, wrote. [19 December 1996]

Studied at Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin, but left without obtaining a degree.

Considers Mosquito Coast, The (1986) to be his favorite of all the movies in which he has starred.

Lives in a white-painted ranch that he built himself in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Has a scar on his chin which he got when he tried to "buckle up" while already driving, and lost control of the car.

He was billed as Harrison J. Ford until 1970 for less confusion between him and a silent-screen actor Harrison Ford -- he actually has no middle name.

While in college Ford appeared as Mac the Knife in the musical play, "The Threepenny Opera".

Piloted his helicopter to rescue dehydrated 20 year old hiker Sarah George from Table Mountain near his Jackson Hole, Wyoming ranch. [31 July 2000]

Turned down the romance-action film _Proof Of Life(2000)_ (the 'Russell Crowe' role), the summer-blockbuster _Perfect Storm(2000)_ (the George Clooney role) and, finally, another summer-blockbuster, the war-epic _The Patriot(2000)_ (the 'Mel Gibson' role). Ford has said The Patriot was "too violent" for his tastes, especially considering that many children were killed and endangered throughout the film. Ford also told People Magazine that he turned down The Patriot because he felt the story was too simple: "The Revolutionary War boiled down to one man seeking revenge," he said.

Replaced Kevin Costner for the lead in Air Force One (1997).

Credited with "creating" what many believe to be the best scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) because he was suffering from a bout of dysentery at the time of filming: during the scene in Cairo with the swordsman in black, the script called for a much longer fight, but because of his condition, Harrison quietly asked director Spielberg if they could shorten the scene. Spielberg's reply was that the only way it could be done would be if Indy pulled out his gun and "just shot the guy." The rest of the crew, not aware of the change, laughed at this, and it remained in the final cut.

Honored for his work with the environment, Ford was asked to name a new breed of butterfly. He named it after his daughter, Georgia.

Kevin Costner's character in Dragonfly (2002) was written with the intention of Harrison Ford taking the film role. Ford turned down the role to take a year off from movies.

Has a species of ant named after him. Peidole harrisonfordi - a species of Central American ant was named in honour of the actor's conservation work. Also a spider - Calponia Harrisonfordi.

Both his Indiana Jones jacket and fedora are on display at the Smithsonian.

He nearly turned down the role of Henry in Regarding Henry (1991) because the main character was a trial lawyer. He had just played a trial lawyer in Presumed Innocent (1990), and was afraid of being typecast as a lawyer! He later took the role when he realized that Henry would only be functioning as a lawyer for the first ten minutes of the film.

Worked as a carpenter before hitting the big time. On the "Westside" of Los Angeles, it's a (pretty) big deal to have kitchen cabinets made by Harrison Ford.

Scared director Steven Spielberg and the crew during _Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom (1984)_ when, without warning, he ran out across the rope bridge used in the film's climax to test its safety.

Children: with Mary Marquardt, sons Benjamin (22.09.1967) and Willard (14.05.1969); with Melissa Mathison, son Malcolm (10.03.1987) and daughter Georgia (30.06.1991).

He had a role as the principal in _E.T. The Extra Terrestrial(1982)_ who lectures Elliot about the dangers of alcohol. The scene was cut because Spielberg felt that Ford's presence would break the flow of the film. His scene was filmed but never used. The only footage that is known to exist appeared in The E.T. Storybook, released at the same time as the film.

Said that _Blade Runner(1982)_ was one of the most frustrating films he'd ever done, because the actual shoot was very grueling and because of the post-production changes which were meant to (but didn't) help the film do better at the box office.


The Hot Films
(1) The Empire Strikes Back -- Shocking, I know. It's the best of the SW films overall, and features the most of everyone's favorite intergalactic scoundrel.
(2) Raiders of the Lost Ark -- Again, it's the best of its respective trilogy. Further evidence that nothing makes a man foxier than a fedora. Of course, I wish my archaeology professors could ever come close to being that handsome. *sigh* Oh well.
(3) Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade -- Ok, it's a little silly, it's still good, it's still good. Even when dressed like a Nazi, he looks like a million sexy bucks. Plus, my inner archaeology geek rejoices at the end, since it was shot at Petra, which is an awesome ancient site in Jordan.
(4) A New Hope -- Han at his butt-kicking best. I still love that "how you doin'" wink at the end.
(5) Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom -- This one so low mainly because of the presence of the ever-irritating Kate Capshaw and that not-quite-so-irritating Asian kid. On the other hand, you get Indy in a tux at the beginning, not to mention all the buff goodness near the end.
(6) Return of the Jedi -- I like this one more than most people, mainly because Luke just so damn cool by this film. Han's still great, but that bit of whininess over "Oh, you can tell Luke, but you can't tell me?" is not so cool.
(7) Witness -- Amish boy witnesses murder. Ford protects boy and his attractive widow mother by going undercover in Amish colony. Much tension between sexy cop and widow ensues. Megan is very pleased. Plus, if you look real hard, you can find Viggo Mortensen as another Amish guy.
(8) Air Force One -- Harrison Ford + Gary Oldman = . Too bad it's a mediocre Die Hard on a Plane, and that it features Glenn Close. Still, it's fairly entertaining, and who wouldn't want a guy like this for president?
(9) Blade Runner -- Really, I don't remember so much about his performance in this as I do the visuals. It's wasnt' bad though, and for future reference...Select the black box below with your cursor to view the spoiler text
Select the black box below with your cursor to view the spoiler text
I side with the "he's a replicant" theory. Feel free to disagree.

(10) What Lies Beneath -- The film over all was rather m'eh, and the ending was silly, but I give this film credit for casting Ford against type.