Bitten and Bound » before they were famous

Before They Were Famous Guess Who?

Andrea — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:33:36 +0000

Actor, director, country musician, minor league baseball team owner, NASCAR spokesman, and casino owner, this two-time Oscar winner seems to have his finger in a plethora of pies.

He made his film debut at age 19, in 1974, however, the film was not released until 1986.

He has six children with three different baby mommas.

He is a regular player in celebrity golf tournaments.

He has financially supported a variety of Democratic Party politicians, and campaigned for Barack Obama.

Who is he?

Continue reading for the answer:

In addition to acting and directing, Kevin Costner is the lead singer in a rock/country band called “Kevin Costner and Modern West,” which released an album, “Untold Truths,” on November 11, 2008.

He is partial owner of the Zion, Illinois-based Lake County Fielders minor league baseball team in the Northern League. The Fielders name is an homage to Costner’s film, “Field of Dreams,” with the logo showing a ballplayer standing amid a field of corn.

He also owns 93.5% of the “Midnight Star” casino, in Deadwood, South Dakota. The casino, its sports bar, “Diamond Lil’s”, and its restaurant, “Jake’s”, are named after characters and locations from the movie Silverado and the facility contains posters, costumes, and other memorabilia from Costner’s films.

Costner was named ceremonial Grand Marshall of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series’ Auto Club 500 which took place on February 25, 2007, at the California Speedway.[20] In 2008, he worked with the NASCAR Media Group and CMT Films to help produce the NASCAR Documentary, “The Ride of Their Lives” which would be released in 2009. Costner would be the narrator for that documentary. Also in 2009, he was named the spokesperson for NASCAR Day which took place on May 15. The next day, May 16, he and his country music band would perform in the infield of Lowe’s Motor Speedway as well as participate as a judge in the 2nd annual Pennzoil Victory Challenge before the 25th Running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. marked Costner’s film debut in 1974, but the film was not released until 1986.

Costner has three children, Annie (born in 1984), Lily (born in 1986), and Joe (born in 1988), with first wife Cindy Silva. He has one child, Liam (born in 1996), with former girlfriend Bridget Rooney, and two children, Cayden Wyatt (born in 2007), and Hayes Logan (born in 2009), with current wife Christine Baumgartner.

photos: WENN

Before They Were Famous Guess Who?

Andrea — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:54:18 +0000

Born in Dunwoody, GA, in 1974, he went on to become an entrepreneur, television host and producer. He has been dubbed “the hardest working man in Hollywood,” a title once reserved for Regis Philbin.

Who is he?

Before They Were Famous Guess Who?

Andrea — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:18:02 +0000

This Academy Award winner worked as a child actor, appearing on the PBS as well as in several made-for-television movies.

One of his first acting jobs was for a Burger King commercial. (see video below)

He has had three high-profile relationships with former co-stars.

He is actively involved in politics.

After being turned down for the big roles in films and being given the forgettable supporting ones, he and a lifelong childhood friend decided to write their own script, where they could call the shots.

Who is he?

Continue reading for the answer.

Ben Affleck appeared on the PBS kids’ series “The Voyage of the Mimi.”

One of his first acting jobs was for a Burger King commercial. (see video below)

After a high profile relationship with actress Gwyneth Paltrow, his co-star in “Shakespeare in Love,” in 1998, his relationship with actress/singer Jennifer Lopez attracted worldwide media attention in which Affleck and Lopez were dubbed as “Bennifer.” He met Lopez prior to co-starring with her in “Gigli.” Following their breakup in 2004, he began dating Jennifer Garner, his co-star in “Daredevil.” The two married in June 2005 and have two daughters, Violet, born December 2005 and Seraphina, born January 2009.

Affleck regularly enters poker tournaments. He has been tutored by poker professionals Amir Vahedi and Annie Duke, and won the California State Poker Championship on June 20, 2004, taking home the first prize of $356,000, which qualified him for the 2004 World Poker Tour final tournament.

A political activist, Affleck said In the May 2001 issue of GQ,”My fantasy is that someday I’m independently wealthy enough that I’m not beholden to anybody, so I can run for Congress on the grounds that everyday people should be in government.”

At the age of eight, Affleck’s family moved from Berkeley, CA to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he met ten-year-old Matt Damon, who lived two blocks away. They played little league and took drama classes together. Moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting careers, the two shared an apartment with Ben’s younger brother Casey. They wrote and starred in “Good Will Hunting,” which went on to be nominated for 9 Academy Awards, winning two, including Best Original Screenplay for Ben and Matt, and making the two unknown actors famous.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njY94weLbJ8[/youtube]

Ben Affleck in Burger King commercial

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Before They Were Famous Guess Who?

Andrea — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:27:04 +0000

This critically acclaimed actor is also an avid musician, who has sung in two films where he portrayed rock stars.

He released a CD in the fall of 2007.

At age 17 he was the youngest person at the time to be accepted into Julliard’s drama program.

He published a book of his poems in 1987.

He dated supermodel Cindy Crawford in the 1990s.

He has a reputation of being difficult to work with.

He is considering entering into politics.

Who is he?

Continue reading for the answer.

Val Kilmer got his big break when he received top billing in the 1984 spoof “Top Secret!,” where he played an American rock and roll star. Kilmer sang all the songs in the film and actually released an album under the film character’s name, “Nick Rivers”.

When he was cast as Jim Morrison in the film “The Doors,” he prepared for the role by attending Doors tribute concerts and reading Morrison’s poetry. He spent close to a year before production dressing in Morrison-like clothes, and spent time at Morrison’s old hangouts along the Sunset Strip. His portrayal of Morrison was praised and real members of The Doors noted that Kilmer did such a convincing job that they had trouble distinguishing his voice from Morrison’s.

Kilmer released a CD in the fall of 2007, proceeds of which went to his charity interests.

He published a book of his poems, “My Edens After Burns,” in 1987.

He dated Cindy Crawford in 1996. A noted incident in their dating life involved Crawford’s advertising for a bar where Kilmer did not approve. He admitted being unreasonable.

On rumors of being difficult to work with Kilmer has said:

“Interesting characters are troubled characters. The only problem I’ve had in my business is very few people – unfortunately, very vocal – confusing the difficult role that I play with me. I play these guys, but I’m not like them. I’ve been accused of being difficult to work with. But that’s like saying the football player’s out of breath ’cause when he comes off the field having caught a hundred-yard pass he shouldn’t be out of breath. He’s not out of shape; he just went and did his job.”

and:

“It’s probably fair to say I have taken myself too seriously on some jobs. I’m sure I’m more guilty of being difficult than I’d like to remember. I don’t regret my desires; I’ve regretted the way I would communicate my desires. Maybe I’ve lost a job because of some rumor, I doubt it. But nobody good that I’ve worked with has ever said anything negative about me, because we’ve never had a negative experience. By good, I mean directors who do their homework, people that are passionate, crazy, never sleep, and do like I do and just go after it.”

Kilmer is considering a run for Governor of New Mexico, where he owns a ranch and is a longtime board member of the New Mexico State Film Commission. He is also involved with The Wildlife Center of New Mexico and assists in rescuing animals and releasing them on his ranch.

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photos: WENN

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Before They Were Famous Guess Who?

Andrea — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:54:27 +0000

This three-time Emmy Award nominated actress got her start in shampoo and toothpaste commercials.

Her trademark tousled blonde hairdo became an international trend.

Her swimsuit poster is the top-selling poster of all time.

She posed nude in the December 1995 issue of Playboy, which became the best-selling issue of the 1990s.

Her appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman is one of the most talked about episodes of the show.

Who is she?

Continue reading for the answer.

Farrah Fawcett, who began her acting career in Wella Balsam shampoo and Ultra-Brite toothpase commercials, received her first Emmy Award nomination for her role as a battered wife in the 1984 television movie The Burning Bed. Her second nomination was for a predatory role in the miniseries Small Sacrifices. Her third Emmy nomination came in 2004 for her work in The Guardian. Fawcett has been nominated for several other awards as well a Golden Globe and ACE awards.

Farrah’s hairstyle became an international trend in the late 1970s, with women sporting a “Farrah-Do” or “Farrah Hair” and the hairstyle was even spoofed in various media.

Her famous red swimsuit poster sold a still-unrivaled 12 million copies.

After steadfastly refusing to appear nude in films or magazines, she caused a stir by posing nude for Playboy magazine’s December 1995 issue. She returned to the pages of Playboy at age 50 with a pictorial for the July 1997 issue.

Fawcett received some negative commentary after giving a less-than-coherent interview on The Late Show with David Letterman in 1997. It was speculated that her rambling, incoherent manner was the result of drug abuse. Months later, she explained on The Howard Stern Show that her rambling was in fact just her way of joking around with the television host. After Joaquin Phoenix’s mumbling act on a 2009 appearance on The Late Show, David Letterman wrapped up the interview by saying, “Joaquin, I’m sorry you couldn’t be here tonight,” followed by, “We owe an apology to Farrah Fawcett.” (View video below)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUmojv8Ui9g[/youtube]

Farrah Fawcett on Late Night with David Letterman (part 1)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU92ntvzYgA[/youtube]

Farrah Fawcett on Late Night with David Letterman (part 2)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auuZY2_Zs4g[/youtube]

Farrah Fawcett on Late Night with David Letterman (part 3)

View Joaquin Phoenix on Late Night with David Letterman video.

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Before They Were Famous Guess Who?

Andrea — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 05:41:03 +0000

This actor’s mother was once ranked as one of the United States’ top money managers by Bloomberg Wealth Manager magazine.

He decided to become an actor after being involved in a car accident which derailed his chance at athletic success.

He was considered for the role of Chandler on “Friends.”

He is an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and the University of Notre Dame, both of which were featured prominently in one of his films.

He does not own a cell phone.

He has been dubbed one of Hollywood’s Frat Pack

Who is he?

Continue reading for the answer.

Vince Vaughn is the son of Sharon Eileen, a Canadian-born real estate agent and stockbroker who was once ranked as one of the United States’ top money managers by Bloomberg Wealth Manager magazine.

Although he didn’t get the role of Chandler Bing on “Friends,” he did go on to date on of the stars of the show, Jennifer Aniston.

The Chicago Cubs and the University of Notre Dame were both featured in his film “The Break-Up,” which also starred Aniston.

Vaughn does not like cell phones and does not own one. When he’s working on a movie, he is given one and usually winds up losing it.

He is considered the leader of, what the media refers to as, “The Frat Pack,” along with Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Steve Carell, Owen Wilson, and Luke Wilson. The “Frat Pack” name is a reference to the film, Old School (2003), featuring Vaughn, Ferrell and Luke Wilson, due to the wide number of films featuring the seven actors. Vaughn’s “Frat Pack” films include, Wedding Crashers (2005), Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Starsky & Hutch (2004) and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004).

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Before They Were Famous Guess Who?

Andrea — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:18:22 +0000

This Academy Award-winning actress, model and singer was born in Hawaii.

A high school dropout, she landed her first film role at age 16.

She often plays cold, emotionally vacant characters.

She is scared of butterflies.

She currently holds the record for the most money paid per minute to an actor.

Who is she?

Continue reading for the answer.

Nicole Kidman, known as one of Hollywood’s top Australian imports, was actually born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Australian parents, giving her dual citizenship in the U.S. and Australia.

Kidman dropped out of high school to pursue acting full-time, and landed her first film role at age 16, in the Australian holiday favorite Bush Christmas (1983).

On her fear of butterflies Kidman is quoted as saying, “It’s so bizarre, I’m not scared of snakes or spiders. But I’m scared of butterflies. There is something eerie about them. Something weird!”

A three-minute commercial produced for Chanel No. 5 perfume made Kidman the record holder for the most money paid per minute to an actor after she reportedly earned $12million for the 3 minute advertisement.

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Before They Were Famous Guess Who?

Andrea — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:43:53 +0000

After several small parts, this actor received his first major television role only after Matthew Broderick turned it down.

He secured the role from a phone booth because he had no home phone.

One of the show’s producers tried to have him replaced saying “this is not the kind of face you’ll ever find on a lunchbox.”

He replaced Eric Stoltz in his first major film role. The film was number one at the box office for 11 consecutive weeks.

His real-life wife once played his on-screen girlfriend.

He is currently semi-retired from acting.

Who is he?

Continue reading for the answer.

Michael J. Fox played Alex P. Keaton on the television show “Family Ties” from 1982-1989. The role was originally offered to Matthew Broderick.

Fox negotiated the deal for “Family Ties” from a phone booth outside a Pioneer Chicken restaurant in Hollywood because he had no phone at home. He was told the network would need to call, and he said he was only home between the hours of four and five. He waited for the call, and fortunately he was there to answer it and secure the Family Ties role.

Producer Brandon Tartikoff felt that Fox was too short for the role, and tried to have him replaced. Tartikoff reportedly said that “this is not the kind of face you’ll ever find on a lunchbox.” After his later successes, Fox presented Tartikoff with a custom-made lunchbox with the inscription “To Brandon, this is for you to put your crow in. Love and Kisses, Michael J.Fox.” Tartikoff kept the lunchbox in his office for the rest of his NBC career.

A few years into Family Ties, the show’s creator, Gary David Goldberg, was approached and asked to let Fox star in a Steven Spielberg film about a time-travelling teenager. Initially, Goldberg did not tell Michael about the offer, not wanting to lose Michael to film stardom. Months later, Goldberg was again asked about Michael because Eric Stoltz, who had been chosen for the part after Goldberg stated that Fox wasn’t available, was reportedly not giving the energetic performance that Robert Zemeckis, the director, was looking for. Goldberg finally told Michael about the offer and he quickly agreed to play the role of Marty McFly in the film Back to the Future. Fox would rehearse for Family Ties from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. After he was done, he would be rushed to the Back to the Future set where he would rehearse and shoot until 2:30 A.M. This schedule lasted for two full months. On July 4, 1985 Back to the Future was number one at the box office. The film was number one for 11 consecutive weeks.

Fox met wife Tracy Pollan on the set of “Family Ties” when she played his girlfriend, Ellen. The two were reunited during the shooting of the film “Bright Lights, Big City” and were married on July 16, 1988.

In 1998, Fox disclosed that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991. As the symptoms of his disease worsened he semi-retired from acting in 2000.

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Before They Were Famous Guess Who?

Andrea — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:00:34 +0000

This Academy Award winning actress was voted “Best Looking” in high school.

She was named one of People magazine’s 50 most beautiful people in the world in 2001.

He mother is Norwegian and her father is Swiss.

After graduating college with an English degree, she worked as a cocktail waitress in a strip club while trying to catch her “big break” in acting.

In one of her first film roles she appeared with another up-and-coming actor – Matthew McConaughey.

Her first high-profile romance was with actor/comedian Jim Carrey.

She once gained 20 pounds for a film role after being told she was too skinny.

*She is one of five actresses to have won the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award for the same performance.

The first time she won a Golden Globe Award (she has currently won three), she was in the bathroom when she was announced as the winner.

Who is she?

Continue reading for the answer.

Renee Zellweger appeared in the 1994 film “The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre” with Matthew McConaughey.

In 2000, she starred opposite Jim Carrey in “Me, Myself & Irene,” and soon after began dating Carrey. The two denied their relationship at first, but finally gave in and admitted it.

During casting for “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” Zellweger was told she was too skinny to play the chubby Bridget, so she very quickly embarked on gaining the required weight and learned an English accent. She gained 20 pounds in order to complete her transformation to Bridget Jones.

In 2004, she won the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award for Best Supporting Actress in the film “Cold Mountain.”

*The other four actresses are Julia Roberts for Erin Brockovich (2000), Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line (2005), Helen Mirren for The Queen (2006) and Jennifer Hudson for Dreamgirls (2006).

She won her first Golden Globe Award for her role in “Nurse Betty,” but was in the bathroom when Hugh Grant announced her name. She later said, “I had lipstick on my teeth!”

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Before They Were Famous Guess Who?

Andrea — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:07:22 +0000

This former high school cheerleader known for her trademark blonde hair and curvaceous figure, turned down a part in the 2000 film “Coyote Ugly.”

She performed at President George W. Bush’s Inauguration in 2001.

She was part of the USO tour in the 2003 Iraqi War (aka Desert Storm Part II).

She was No. 1 on Maxim magazine’s Hot 100 list for 2004, dropping to No. 9 in 2005.

She won the Teen Choice Award for Movies – Choice Breakout (Female) in 2006.

Who is she?

Continue reading for the answer.

Jessica Simpson was a cheerleader at J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, TX, before dropping out her junior year to pursue a music career.

Jessica won the Teen Choice Award for Movies – Choice Breakout (Female) in 2006 for her role as Daisy Duke in “The Dukes of Hazzard,” also picking up a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress for the same role.

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