Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
ABC (ended 2012)
Cast & Crew
EDIT
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Xzibit
Designer
Xzibit was born Alvin Nathaniel Joiner in Detroit, Michigan, where he lived until his mom passed away when he was 9 years old. At the age of 10, Xzibit was writing rhymes to entertain himself because he didn't have a radio as a child. His dad then remarried and moved the family to New Mexico. Xzibit eventually made his way through the southwest, staying in Arizona for awhile. During this time he started getting into trouble. At age 14 he was taken out of his home for two years. "I was just wilding," he says about those trouble filled days. Xzibit was released from the state on his own recognizance as an adult at 17. After that, Xzibit decided he needed to move again. He hit the streets and made enough money to move out to California. In 1992, Xzibit hooked up with producer Broadway in L.A. Xzibit was supposed to come out with Ahlee Rocksta as The Shady Bunch, with Broadway producing, but when that didn't work out, Xzibit decided to go solo along with his homie, Pen One, who later produced Enemies & Friends on At the Speed of Life as his DJ. Broadway soon took notice again and introduced Xzibit to Tha Alkaholiks, who in turn introduced him to King Tee. Xzibit then appeared on the track Freestyle Ghetto from King Tee IV Life. He then got busy with the Liks' Coast ][ Coast appearing on Hit and Run and on Flashback, where he showcased his humorous side as one of The Baby Babbas. Steve Rifkin, CEO at LOUD soon took notice and offered Xzibit a deal. In 1996 Xzibit made his solo debut with "At the Speed of Life." With his unique style and deadly precision of delivery and the natural intensity of his gravely voice, X to the Z delivered one of the best and freshest albums of 1996. Xzibit came out spitting fire and always staying real in an industry which had become plagued with gimmicky rappers jumping around in silver suits. "I couldn't pick a better time because what I'm bringin' to the table is fresh and new..." "I named the album 'At The Speed of Life' because there's a whole lot of shit that niggas go through. I know more niggas that is off-the-wall and crazy, runnin' guns and shit than I know regular Joes that all they want to do is feed their kids. That's their speed. But it's weird how everything is coinciding together, and at the same time is moving in all kinds of different directions." "Paparazzi," the powerful lead single from "At The Speed of Life," is a song dedicated to exposing just how "Hollywood" the hip-hop game had become. Xzibit's hook says it all: "It's a shame, niggas in the rap game only for the money and the fame." "I did this album for a lot of reasons other than the flim-flam and the whoopty-whoop, the pictures, the travel and all that shit," says Xzibit. "This album is heartfelt." In 1998, "40 Dayz & 40 Nightz" followed and was met with great reviews just like "At The Speed of Life" had been two years ago. During the next two years, Xzibit was hard at work appearing on many albums such as Snoop's "Top Dogg," Dre's "2001" and Kurupt's "Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha." Each of these appearances made the mainstream public well aware of the then underground. In 2000, the stage was set for Xzibit's 3rd solo album, titled "Restless." After finally being released in December 2000, the album was met with great reviews and earned Xzibit his first platinum record. "Restless" is still selling strongly due to a great selection of singles including "X," "Front 2 Back," "Loud & Clear," and "Get Your Walk On." "Restless" also marked the beginning of Xzibit's own label, Open Bar Entertainment. With "Restless" dominating the charts with its hot singles in 2001, Xzibit decided to expand his resume. Fortress Entertainment was hired to make a DVD/VHS titled "Restless Xposed," which featured backstage footage from the Anger Management Tour, Snoop's Puff Puff tour, the House of Blues tour and much much more. The DVD/VHS is a Fortress/Open Bar Entertainment/Loud Records release. Xzibit also appeared in The Alkaholiks DVD as well as Snoop and Dre's hit comedy, "The Wash." 2002 looked to be even bigger for Xzibit. His fifth album, "Man Vs Machine," was scheduled to come out in March. His latest album "Full Circle" was released in 2006. X is also working on his first release from his label, the Golden State Project. This is a group that Xzibit formed with Ras Kass and Saafir.moreless -
Didiayer Snyder
Designer
Didiayer is originally from Australia, but she's been living in the US since 1999. She worked previously for the Habitat for Humanity before she joined the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team in season 5. -
Micheal Moloney
Designer
After ten years in the fashion industry, Michael Moloney turned his design concepts to homes in 1993. Blending the new and the practical with the timeworn charm of things "not exactly perfect" has been Moloney's look from the beginning of his design career. Twelve years ago, the Palos Verdes, California native set out to combine his love of shopping and knowledge of design to open a "new" type of antique store in Redondo Beach. Le Garage was born, combining vintage treasures found at flea markets all over the country, new accessories and giftware. Moloney's eclectic, fresh approach to decorating took off and, a few years later, he opened Maison Luxe in Manhattan Beach, California, taking the original look to the next level, with all things luxurious from France and Italy, where he travels several times a year. Moloney's television credits include "Christopher Lowell," "Next Door with Katie Brown," Kitty Bartholomew's "You're Home," HGTV's "Designers' Challenge," and he is currently starring in "Clean House" on the Style Network, featuring speedy home makeovers.moreless -
Jillian Harris
Designer
Jillian first appeared on television in Season 5 of both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. She has since gone to become a regular Designer on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
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Leigh Anne Tuohy
Designer
Leigh Anne is best known for being portrayed by Sandra Bullock in the 2009 movie 'The Blind Side'. In 2010 she joined the cast of ABC's 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' as one of the new design team members.
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Ty Pennington
Team Leader (Host)
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Paul DiMeo
Designer
At age 5, Paul DiMeo began his affair with home renovation after his home burned to the ground. He and his father embarked upon their own extreme makeover to reconstruct the family home. Paul's deep understanding of family hardship shines through as the rugged carpenter with a heart of gold on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Paul is originally from Media, Pennsylvania, the youngest son of five children. While attending Point Park College in Pittsburgh, Paul was able to perfect his skill by building sets for the Pittsburgh Playhouse, and he also served as stage manager for the American Dance Ensemble. In the summer of 1980, he moved to New York City. While living in the East Village, he was befriended by Harry Baum and Lynne Michaels, the owners of The Open Space Theatre on St. Marks Place. There he built sets and learned the art of dumpster diving. He also freelanced for the Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Yiddish Theater, Carnegie Hall and numerous off-Broadway and Broadway houses. As he was settling in New York City, Paul realized his true talent was helping others. He continually renovated lofts and brownstones in Greenwich Village, Harlem, Tribeca and the East Village. He was the master carpenter on the restoration of the Landmark Brownstone of Aaron Burr and also renovated various celebrities' homes, such as Madonna and the Roe family. He was instrumental in recruiting a young group of people that helped pioneer "Loft Living" in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. After 17 years in New York, Paul decided to move to Los Angeles. Once again he pioneered the "Loft Living" movement by moving into an old firehouse in downtown L.A. He excelled in his field, renovating the homes and businesses of Hollywood's movers and shakers. His client list includes the Beverly Hills Ralph Lauren Polo store, the William Morris Agency, Glenn Close, Joan and Marty Ransholff, Arnold Rifkin, David Niven Jr., Ann Archer, Marjorie Lord, Angelo DeSapio and his most memorable client George Hamilton. In addition to his work on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, he continues to run the day-to-day operations of High Meadows Production, Inc., his event marketing/labor company. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Kelly, working on an extreme makeover of their very own. --abc.commoreless -
Eduardo Xol
Designer
A love affair with outdoor living and landscape design began at a very early age for Eduardo Xol. His first exposure to gardening was through his beloved grandmother. As a child, he and his brother and sister spent a great deal of time with her in the family garden where they learned the art of raising roses and plants. He remembers fondly how his grandmother loved to share the beautiful bouquets they grew with neighbors and family members. Upon seeing the smiles and warmth that it brought into people's lives, Eduardo began to see the fruits of what would become one of his greatest passions. Born in East Los Angeles, Eduardo's multicultural experience of being raised in a predominantly Asian and Latino community shapes his aesthetic influences as a landscape designer. Throughout his life, he assisted his father in raising and pruning bonsai (miniature trees). This hobby gave him a deep appreciation for shape, texture and clean lines. His strong connection to his Mexican heritage gives him a love of rich, vibrant colors and rhythm in the garden. Before breaking ground as a landscape designer, Eduardo was an accomplished keyboardist and percussionist. He was one of the youngest musicians to be scouted and selected to perform with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of ten. But Eduardo's passion for the arts extends beyond playing music. While studying theatre arts at UCLA, he produced several hit musical theatre and comedy revues that toured throughout the U.S. Shortly thereafter, he headed south to Latin America, where he found fame as a star of music, television and videos. He starred in several worldwide-syndicated telenovelas (soap operas), including "Sentimientos Ajenos," "La Jaula de Oro" and "Acapulco Cuerpo y Alma." Over the last few years, Eduardo has transferred his experience in musical composition and television production into the world of exterior design. "Whether it be in a concert, on screen or in a garden, the importance of harmony in composition is universal," explains Eduardo. After assisting other well-known landscape designers and architects in Los Angeles, he began developing his own design niche and clientele. His firm, Xol Creative, works on projects that range from backyard makeovers and balcony retreats to multi-million dollar estates. Having divided his time between the United States and Mexico for the past two decades, Eduardo now makes Los Angeles his permanent home. However, he's excited by the opportunity that "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" gives him to visit the many wonderful cities that truly make up the heart and soul of America.moreless -
Paige Hemmis
Designer
Paige Hemmis is an unlikely vision on a construction site. The statuesque beauty is an accomplished actress, businesswoman, and skilled homebuilder. She is dynamic, and confident, and she is currently 'wowing' viewers as one of the lead carpenters on ABC's popular "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." The Wisconsin-born, California-raised actress / entrepreneur is co-founder of Rent To Own Investments, a private company, which provides innovative solutions for families to purchase their first home. Rent To Own Investments buys houses, renovates them, and develops finance programs for tenants who cannot afford the steep down payment usually required to own. Paige is self-taught with no formal carpentry training and can rarely be found without a tool of some kind in her purse. Paige grew up in Chatsworth, California with aspirations ranging from teacher to doctor to world traveler to wedding planner to building her own dream house. She attended college at the University of California Santa Barbara enrolling in the Theology and Psychology programs. Paige has been fortunate enough to experience many of the careers of her early childhood dreams. During college, Paige fulfilled her teaching penchant by teaching first aid and CPR to the UCSB student population. She became a licensed Emergency Medical Technician and pursued a medical internship in Virginia for another year after graduating with her Theology and Psychology degrees from UCSB. When Paige returned to California and accepted an International Sales Manager position for Iwerks Entertainment, she satiated her travel curiosity by serving territories throughout Asia, Australia and the United States for four years. Feeling an entrepreneurial spirit, Paige pursued substitute teaching while developing contacts in the wedding industry. Paige launched Simply Elegant Weddings in 2001 and continues to assist couples with planning the happiest and most important day of their lives. The natural progression of helping couples plan the first day of their new lives led to helping families secure their first homes. Without deep pockets, Paige used her tenacity and resourcefulness to learn all the aspects of carpentry from drywall to electrical to plumbing. Today, Rent To Own Investments has successfully bought, refurbished, leased, and sold fifteen new homes to first time buyers - an incredible accomplishment in California's competitive real estate market. Today, Paige is hard at work on her own Rent To Own Investment property, refurbishing it in between acting, wedding consulting, and working with a staff of over 100 sub-contractors on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition". When Paige finds rare free moments, she enjoys dining out, hiking, and rock climbing and curling up with a good mystery book.moreless -
Preston Sharp
Designer
Preston Sharp's background as a furniture historian and designer is often on display in Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. His own furniture was first displayed in the Museum of Contemporary Art in the early 1990s, and his knowledge is often drawn upon when the design team needs clarification on dating a certain piece or helping ensure that a room reflects the right design theme. Preston got his start doing set designs for television comedies and awards shows. His credits include being the production designer on such shows as The Bachelor and Simple Life, and he designed the thatched huts in Costa Rica for Temptation Island 2 to blend in with the indigenous surroundings. Preston has designed everything from homes to table wear. In addition, he has made furniture for such celebrities as Ellen DeGeneres and Jack Nicholson. Preston, who is single and lives in the Los Angeles area, can often be found playing music or sports on the set of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. --abc.commoreless -
Ed Sanders
Designer
Originally from London, Ed Sanders discovered he had a love for acting when he was just 11 years old and, at 16, decided that he wanted to make his living at it. He knew that the life of an actor was not an easy one, so he decided to develop a skill that would allow him to stay busy in between acting jobs. His father told him, "If you want to carry on acting, why don't you get some kind of trade behind you?"
He spent the next three years in technical college learning the art of carpentry. During his last year, he studied advanced joinery, where he perfected his skills in cabinet making and other high quality finishing carpentry.
When he wasn't studying, Ed made the time to pursue his acting career -- performing in local theatre productions and appearing in several television commercials. He continued to work in the building industry while balancing his acting career. Often he found himself finishing a play and then returning to a building site, a practice, he says, which would always keep his feet firmly on the ground.
After college, Ed landed the lead role of "Eddie Moliano" on the U.K. television series "Dream Team," a drama about a premiership soccer team. He also hosted several television programs, ranging from dating shows to live music shows. In 2002 his popularity increased when he became the host of "Fear Factor U.K.," Britain's version of "Fear Factor."
In early 2004 Ed made the move from the U.K. to Los Angeles to further pursue his acting career. He was thrilled when given the opportunity to join the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" design team. Now he will be able to use his carpentry skills along with his love of hosting.
"The icing on the cake," he said, "is that we get to help out some pretty fantastic families along the way."
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John Littlefield
Designer
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Tracy Hutson
Designer
With ten years' experience in the fashion and entertainment industry, Tracy Hutson took her life-long passion for creative interior design and flair for decorating and started her company, Tracy Hutson Designs, in 1999. Tracy caters to each of her clients' individual lifestyles and unique tastes to help create the home of their dreams, whether that be totally remodeling the whole house or creating a spectacular new look for one special room. Tracy grew up in Dallas, Texas, and starting doing fashion print work for a major modeling agency when she was fourteen, which landed her major international contracts in Tokyo, Milan, Monte Carlo and Geneva. She moved to Los Angeles in 1997 to broaden her career in the entertainment industry and to pursue her fascination with design concepts. Tracy has appeared in numerous national television commercials and sitcoms, as well as in leading roles in two theatre productions. She has always loved to have a design project in progress she can often be found shopping the area antique and specialty stores, or tapping into her extensive network of experts to find that "just perfect" piece of furniture, fabric or accessory, much to her clients' and friends' delight! Her there-are-no-rules style and attitude have made her one of the most sought-after designers in the Los Angeles area for clients who seek creative and individual decorating style. She continues to expand her successful design company with current projects in Dallas, as well as California.moreless -
Alle Ghadban
Designer
Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Alle Ghadban began his construction experiences fresh out of high school by doing asbestos removal and other miscellaneous jobs. After two years, Alle left to design and build his brother's Newfoundland Bakery. Although his brother and Alle are the best of friends, his brother needed to fire Alle for his own good — his brother's good, that is. Alle had a habit of entertaining people who simply needed to get their muffins and go. Tired of Alle's antics, his brother drove him to Toronto, where Alle performed standup comedy for the first time. He instantly caught the stage bug and, in his first few efforts on stage, won the quarterfinals of a contest to find Canada's funniest comedian.
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The following two years Alle performed in such comedy rooms as Caroline's, Dangerfield's, the Improv and the Laugh Factory. He landed the lead role in the independent film The Events Leading Up to My Death, which led to a starring role in the feature film Prom Night IV, and he is also featured in Liar's Edge. His television achievements range from guest star roles on JAG and Top Cops to of '96 and Saved by the Bell.
As he was settling into life in Los Angeles, Alle found a need to be creative. He turned to transforming homes and helping people realize their visions for remodels. It was a great part-time way to supplement his income. He decided that it was also time to try his hand at writing, directing and producing, so he completed his first feature film, entitled "Broken Dreams." He then went on to be hired as a producer for an independent film -- not the big budget stuff, but film nonetheless.
While his career was on an upward swing, Alle was enjoying the continued pursuit of entertainment, but needed to provide for his growing family. He started as a handyman and remodeled many homes. He expanded his handyman business by getting his contractor license and growing his Southern California company into a full construction company. Alle's company, Profix, Inc., handles everything from residential and commercial renovations to development and property management. The interesting part about the design of his company is that he found homeowners wanting for one-stop-shopping. Alle's motto became 'handle everything and anything with one phone call.' He created Profix Inc. to do just that, from making long lists of handyman items to working on extensive remodels, restorations and one-of-a-kind design creations.
He currently lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife and two children.
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Dawson Connor
Designer
Dawson Connor is a talented naturalist and garden designer who has created beautiful landscapes on both the East and West coasts. His lifelong passion began at the age of five, when his family's housekeeper presented him with a few cottonseeds from a recent trip to the southern U.S. Dawson planted them among his father's prized roses, and an immediate love affair with the soil began. Equally at home with perennials or annuals, cacti or succulents, Dawson has a special affinity for roses and tropical shrubs, ranging from camellias, azaleas and dogwoods to rhododendrons. Rare ferns and Japanese Maples also are included in his exotic tastes with a particular emphasis on integrating interesting and unusual species such as orchids, bromeliads and cycads into everyday landscapes. Apart from his unique landscape design work, Dawson has been a frequent guest on HGTV's highly rated show, The Surprise Gardener. In addition, he recently had a new book published, The Slave Letters, available currently at Barnes and Noble bookstores across the country. Official Bio from ABC.commoreless -
Constance Ramos
Designer
Constance Ramos is a designer with over 15 years' experience. The scope of her work includes commercial, retail and residential projects in 12 states, as well as Venezuela. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Kansas State University. Through her company, Constance Ramos Design, she has worked for a variety of corporations, including Walt Disney Imagineering, Mattel, Inc., Sony Corporation of America, I.M. Pei & Partners and her family's firm, Ramos Design Corporation. Her projects consist of the design of commercial structures, multi-family complexes, regional shopping centers, cinemas, themed retail centers, hotels, resorts and educational institutions. Ramos has appeared on HGTV's "Designers' Challenge" as the winning Designer, and is featured on the cover of the book The Best of Designers' Challenge by Better Homes and Gardens' Meredith Publications. Her work also includes designs for interiors and graphics, and she has lent her entertainment production design talents to recording artists Todd Rundgren and Erykah Badu, as well as to television commercials for Wal-Mart, Hallmark Cards, Inc., Kodak and H & R Block. Many regional theatres rely on her effective and memorable designs to enhance the story, as she has worked as a production designer, technical director, master of properties, wardrobe designer, set carpenter and set painter. In addition to her design talents, Ramos appeared as Rose Medema in the television movie "Gone in the Night," with Shannon Doherty and Kevin Dillon.moreless -
Daniel Kucan
Designer
From the age of seven, Daniel Kucan grew up in a strict theater conservatory in Las Vegas where he began his education in design and carpentry. Over the next eleven years, he developed an edgy, dramatic style and quickly became known as an artist who made rules up as he went along. Going from one extreme to another, Kucan then attended New York University, where he added a hip, global perspective to his style and embraced the East Village rock and roll aesthetic of the downtown crowd. After graduating from NYU, he moved back to the west coast and became the lead designer for Hollywood's ultra current and eclectic Mortise and Tenon on La Brea, where his sense of neoteric cool found a warm home among the trendy Hollywood elite. With the ability to actually construct the furniture he designs, his creations take on a fresh and personal vibe that makes each one a distinct and unconventional work of originality. Combining a strong sense of tradition with an urban mentality, Kucan has little use for the prosaic, choosing instead to redefine the relationships between line, texture and spatial semblance. He is also a prolific world traveler, and often gains inspiration from the most obscure sources. This global awareness has instilled in Kucan a tenacious commitment to building in recycled and renewable materials, often resulting in striking compositions of offbeat character. He currently lives in LA in a Spanish Revival home of his own restoration with his girlfriend and two smelly hound dogs. An expert in Chinese martial arts, he still occasionally fights competitively, with often disastrous results.moreless -
Tanya McQueen
Designer
Tanya McQueen began her career in design and construction through a hands-on approach. After working closely with architects, conceptualizing and designing custom homes, she set about working hand in hand with the contractors. Through these close working relationships, she discovered her interest in the artistic approach of designing and creative beautiful spaces within the homes.
After spending time involved in this endeavor, McQueen decided to do put a twist on things and focus on her passion, which was designing and decorating. After much thought, she invited her friend, a licensed designer, to join her in this exciting adventure. Thus, a wonderfully successful and fulfilling business started, Tattered Hydrangea. The strength of McQueen and her partner within Tattered Hydrangea, is that they are able to find already existing properties that others deem unworthy, or lacking in certain layout or architectural integrity, and turn them into the "showplace" of the neighborhood.
Many times these properties that McQueen acquires simply need minimal renovations that others cannot or are not willing to allow themselves to see. It is this positive potential that she loves to find in her renovations. Her business approach is to always keep the market in mind when designing for others. She believes that diversity in approach is the key to creating the perfect interiors. She allows the house to dictate many of her thoughts and decisions on what will be changed, embellished or left in its original state.
McQueen can be found using her design approach to incorporate diverse and unique ways of decorating. Some of her concepts allow for financial compromise, while at other times full out lavishness is required. No place is off limits for Tanya when searching or perusing for that "perfect" piece. She has been known to scavenge in many removed and undesirable locations, while also loving to shop the one-of-a-kind boutiques.
McQueen feels that being a part of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is a dream come true. It's an opportunity to do what she loves for so many amazing families. The best part of an exhausting design process for her is to hand the keys over to people that truly love the space. It is an opportunity to create a haven for families to comfortably gather and make many wonderful memories together.
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Michael Buffer
Himself
Michael is a ring announcer for Boxing and professional wrestling. He is best known for his famous quote of "Let's Get Ready To Rumble" which he had registered as a personal trade mark in the U.S. -
Earvin Johnson
Himself
Earvin "Magic" Johnson is one of if not the greatest basketball players in NBA history. He was given the nickname "Magic" as a 15 year-old high school player by a sports writer after seeing Johnson play for the first time. He scored 36 points while grabbing 16 rebounds and dishing out 16 assists. Magic went on to play at Michigan State University and professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers.moreless -
Regis Philbin
Himself
A native New Yorker, Regis Philbin took A.M. Los Angeles from the bottom of the ratings to number one. Philbin is the co-host of the long-running morning show, originally The Morning Show, then changed to Live with Regis and Kathy Lee when Kathy Lee Gifford joined. Upon Gifford's departure, Kelly Ripa became co-host, and the name was changed to Live with Regis and Kelly. Philbin has also hosted Who Wants To Be a Millionaire and currently hosts a reincarnation of the c game show Password titled Million Dollar Password. In the summer of 2004, he became the most filmed television personality of all-time, with over 15,000 hours. Regis and wife Joy have two adult daughters, Joanne and Jennifer.moreless -
Elton John
himself
Bursting onto the scene in the early 1970s with his flashy clothes, oversized glasses and a seemingly endless string of hit songs, Elton John has become an unforgettable icon of the music industry and a staunch humanitarian. The man who would come to be known as Elton John was born on March 25 1947 in Middlesex, England in a town called Pinner. Reginald Kenneth Dwight was an only child who could have been described as awkward. He was overweight and wore glasses, which caused him to feel insecure in the eyes of his father, a squadron leader with the British Royal Air Force. It was his mother who introduced music into young Reginald's life and at the age of 4 years old, he had begun to learn the piano. By his eleventh birthday, he had won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. In the mid- to late 1950s, Reginald became enthralled with the new of music called Rock & Roll. He was particularly enamoured with the works of Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, but he had to be careful about what he played in the house since his father had forbidden all rock & roll music. In 1961, when he was 14 years old, he joined his first band called Bluesology. He spent most of his free time playing both with the band or occasionally performing solo. Within four years, Bluesology was performing as the accompanying act for American R&B musicians like The Bluebells, Major Lance and Doris Troy when they toured Britain. Shortly thereafter, they became the Long John Baldry's backing band and together they had toured throughout England. Over time, however, tensions within the band had begun to wear on Reginald. John Baldry had become more and more domineering and would not allow any of the other band members any degree of creative input. Frustrated with the situation, Reginald began looking for opportunities elsewhere. In 1968, Reginald was auditioning for Liberty Records when he met Bernie Taupin. The two began to correspond with each other and found that they worked well together creatively. Thinking that fame was just around the corner, Reginald changed his name, but still wanted to honor the people he had worked with for so long. Borrowing from the names of Bluesology saxophonist Elton Dean and singer John Baldry, Elton John was born. Elton John and Bernie Taupin were hired as songwriters for the newly formed DJM Records in 1968. They had written several songs for other British artists like Lulu and Roger Cook, but Elton knew he wanted to be the one in the limelight and getting the applause. He had always enjoyed performing before others and he vowed that he would do it again. In June of 1969, Elton recorded his debut album with DJM Records called "Empty Sky". The effort garnered respectable reviews, but few sales. Not prepared to give up, a second album was released in 1970. This self-titled effort managed to gain some popularity with American audiences and Elton's first single, "Your Song", began to climb the charts. Encouraged by the success of "Elton John", he returned to the studio determined not to lose the momentum of popularity that had built up behind him. In February of 1971, Elton released the concept album "Tumbleweed Connection". It rocketed up the charts in both the American and British markets. The single "Madman Across The Water" quickly went platinum and established Elton John as a bona fide rock star. After that, a string of albums throughout the 1970s solidified Elton John's position as a living rock & roll legend. Elton John's flamboyance on stage matched that of his personal life. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he shouldered a heavy addiction to cocaine and alcohol. He would continue to abuse drugs and alcohol for many years to come. Even after he was convalescing after having had surgery on his vocal chords, he continued his habit of substance abuse. In addition, worrying that rumors of his homosexuality might damage his career, he married German recording engineer Renate Blauel in 1984. After four years of marriage to her, the two divorced and Elton finally came out of the closet. To his surprise, his declaration that he was a homosexual had no impact on his popularity. In addition, he had begun using this revelation to help bring awareness to the new affliction which was devastating the gay community during the 1980s: AIDS. Even prior to revealing his sexual preferences to the world, Elton had worked alongside several celebrities to help raise awareness of this disease and help raise funds to help find a cure. In 1985, he collaborated with Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight to record the some "That's What Friends Are For". The song became the highest selling single in Elton John's career to that point and proceeds of the effort were channelled completely into AIDS research. His work as an AIDS activist continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Concerts and gatherings held in the names of those of his friends that had succumbed to the disease have raised millions of dollars for research. His activism seemed to bring his flagging career back to the superstar status he enjoyed in the 70s and his resurging fame as a singer helped fuel his activism. It was a win-win scenario for him. The 1990s had their share of misery for Elton John as well. In 1997, he lost two of his dearest friends and fellow activists. First was fashion designer Gianni Versace, who was murdered on July 15 1997 at the door of his Miami Beach home. Barely six weeks later, Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a car crash in Paris. During her memorial service, Elton John performed a version of "Candle In The Wind" which he and Bernie Taupin altered to honor Lady Diana. The single "Goodbye England's Rose" became one of the highest selling singles of all time with the proceeds going to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. After the funeral, Elton never sang the song himself again. In 1998, Queen Elizabeth II honoured Elton John for his work with a knighthood. Although still active as a performer and an AIDS activist, Sir Elton has also taken up the cause of civil right for homosexuals. He himself entered into a civil union with his partner David Furnish on December 21 2005.moreless -
Florence Henderson
Herself
Florence is the youngest of ten children. During the filming of the original Brady Bunch TV series she flew to New York every weekend. The show was filmed in Los Angeles. Florence has four children from her first marriage. -
Mr. T
Himself
T, Mr. was born Laurence Tureaud on 21 May 1952 in the rough southside ghetto area of Chicago. He is the second to youngest of twelve children (he has four sisters and seven brothers) and grew up in the housing projects of Chicago. His father left when he was 5, and his mother raised the family on $87 a month welfare in a three-room apartment. Mr. T's brothers encouraged him to build up his body in order to survive in the area, and he has commented, "If you think I'm big, you should see my brothers!" His mother is a religious woman, who has had a strong influence on him. He says, "Any man who don't love his momma can't be no friend of mine." He was an average student in school. "Most of the time", he says, "I stared out the windows, just daydreaming. I didn't study much because I have a photographic memory". Apart from one spell between 5th and 7th grades when he went a little astray - playing hookey, cursing, acting tough, being disrespectful -- he was a well- behaved child. (He worried about how his mother would feel if he ended up in jail, and stayed out of trouble!) He attended Dunbar Vocational High School. He was a college football star, studied martial arts, and was three times city wrestling champion! He won a scholarship to Prairie View A&M University in Texas, but was thrown out after a year. Entered the world of pro wrestling in 1985-86 and 1994-95. Was Hulk Hogan's tag team partner at the first WrestleMania, defeating the team of Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper on March 31, 1985. His feud with Piper continued into WrestleMania 2 in 1986, defeating Piper in a boxing match by DQ. Mr. T returned to the WWF as a special guest referee in 1987, before disappearing from the wrestling world. He reappeared as a special referee for a Hogan-Ric Flair match, 7 years later in October 1994. He stayed with Hogan for a few matches before returning to obscurity. *from www.imdb.commoreless -
Marlee Matlin
Herself
Marlee, who burst onto the scene years ago with her performance in the feature film Children of a Lesser God (for which she won an academy award), has continued to build her resume ever since. Like any celebrity, Matlin's personal life is grist for the press. ParentTime did an interview with Matlin. Earlier, the pregnancy and birth of her daughter was reported in People magazine. Matlin has already appeared in numerous films, but it is her television roles that have most increased awareness of Matlin in the hearing world. Most recently she appeared in E.R. as a sign language instructor, and her Reasonable Doubts program was popular when it was on the air. Her starring role on Reasonable Doubts earned her an appearance on the cover of Deaf Life magazine. Another of her popular television programs was Picket Fences. Marlee currently stars opposite Martin Sheen, Jimmy Smits and Bradley Whitford as pollster, Joey Lucas, on NBC's Emmy Award winning series, "The West Wing." She has also guest-starred on numerous shows including NBC's "Sweet Justice" with Cicely Tyson, as well as Showtime's anthology series "The Outer Limits." Marlee starred in HBO's original feature, "Dead Silence," opposite James Garner and starred in the Showtime Original feature, "Freak City," opposite Jonathan Silverman and Natalie Cole. Marlee also guest starred on HBO's Emmy Award-winning series, "The Larry Sanders Show," ABC's comedy "Spin City." Marlee received her third Emmy Award nomination for her work on ABC's "The Practice" and starred in the ABC telefilm, "Kiss My Act." Despite being well-known and having a track record as an actress, Matlin has had difficulty obtaining the roles she wants -- she wants to play characters that just happen to have a hearing loss -- and is creating her own projects. She has her own production company, Solo One. Lifetime Television has aired one of her projects, "Where The Truth Lies." With hearing impairment as common as it is, Hollywood casting directors must be awfully short-sighted if hearing impaired people are not getting more film roles. **excerpted from About.com and Marlee Matlin official site**moreless -
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Randy Travis
Himself
Randy Travis is one of the most legendary country music artists. He is the first country artist to go multi-platinum. He started performing when he was only 8 years old when he played the guitar in a band with his brother. Eventually he dropped out of high school and had several brushes with the law. He started performing a regular gig in a bar and then moved to Nashville. He released two failed albums under his birth name and then Randy Ray. They both flopped. He finally signed a record deal in 1985 under Randy Travis and things took off from there. He has had over 20 albums, 22 number one hits, and 6 number one albums. His Discography includes:
Storms of Life (1986)
Always & Forever (1987)
Old 8x10 (1988) An Old Time Christmas (1989)
No Holdin' Back (1989)
Heroes and Friends (1990)
High Lonesome (1991)
Greatest Hits Album Volumes 1 & 2 (1992)
Wind in the Wire (1993)
This Is Me (Released on April 26, 1994)
Full Circle (1996)
You and You Alone (1998)
A Man Ain't Made of Stone (1999)
Inspirational Journey (2000)
Randy Travis Live (2001)
Anthology (2002)
Rise and Shine (2002)
Worship & Faith (2003)
Passing Through (2004)
Glory Train (2005) Songs of the Season (2007)moreless -
Jeff Foxworthy
Himself
Jeff Foxworthy followed in his father's footsteps working for IBM in Georgia, but on a dare from friends did a few minutes of comedy at an Atlanta comedy club. A few months later, he quit his job and started on the standup comedy road. His comedy originally centered on family situations, but he soon hit upon his successful "You might be a redneck if..". tagline which he says signifies "a glorious absence of sophistication". Following two successful albums, Foxworthy joined the growing trend of standup comics with their own TV sitcoms.moreless -
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Himself
Arnold Schwarzenegger grew up in the small isolated village of Graz, Austria. He was encouraged by his father at a young age to participate in some kind of athletics. It wasn't until he was 15 that he discovered weightlifting. And by the age of 20 was awarded the Mr. Universe title. He later won 13 world body building records. Arnold became a U.S citizen in 1983 and currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife Maria Shriver and their three children, Katherine, Christina and Patrick.Being the world famous body builder he is, Arnold Schwarzenegger has produced body building competitions in Columbus, Ohio for over two decades. Alongside that he has coined the Annual Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic, which has been around since 1989. Besides that he has produced the Fitness EXPO in 1993, the Ms. Fitness World Competition in 1994, and the Arnold Martial Arts Festival in 1996. While George Bush was in administration Arnold served on the Presidents council of physical fitness and sports. Also he has written numerous books on the topics of health and fitness.Arnold currently serves in the Governers council of physical fitness in the state of California. Arnold has served as the international weight traininer for the Special Olympics since 1979. Over the years Arnold has taken a stand against youth drug abuse, he started mini olympics designed to help kids say 'no' to drugs and yes to a healthy and fit life style. He feels that fitness is a safe and effective alternative to drug abuse. Arnold is chairman of the Inner-City Games Foundation, this program covers 10 city's and is continuing to grow.Arnold isn't only the worlds best bodybuilder, he is the world famous action star known by people everywhere. One of his biggest roles is as 'The Terminator.' Arnold has starred in two 'Terminator' films and has the third terminator film, 'Terminator 3', lined up for a release in 2002. Some of his other blockbuster saction hit include, 'True Lies', 'Eraser', and 'Total Recall.' Arnold will be starring in the up coming 'Collateral Damage' set to be released in 2001moreless -
Alle Ghadban
Building/Planning
Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Alle Ghadban began his construction experiences fresh out of high school by doing asbestos removal and other miscellaneous jobs. After two years, Alle left to design and build his brother's Newfoundland Bakery. Although his brother and Alle are the best of friends, his brother needed to fire Alle for his own good — his brother's good, that is. Alle had a habit of entertaining people who simply needed to get their muffins and go. Tired of Alle's antics, his brother drove him to Toronto, where Alle performed standup comedy for the first time. He instantly caught the stage bug and, in his first few efforts on stage, won the quarterfinals of a contest to find Canada's funniest comedian.
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The following two years Alle performed in such comedy rooms as Caroline's, Dangerfield's, the Improv and the Laugh Factory. He landed the lead role in the independent film The Events Leading Up to My Death, which led to a starring role in the feature film Prom Night IV, and he is also featured in Liar's Edge. His television achievements range from guest star roles on JAG and Top Cops to of '96 and Saved by the Bell.
As he was settling into life in Los Angeles, Alle found a need to be creative. He turned to transforming homes and helping people realize their visions for remodels. It was a great part-time way to supplement his income. He decided that it was also time to try his hand at writing, directing and producing, so he completed his first feature film, entitled "Broken Dreams." He then went on to be hired as a producer for an independent film -- not the big budget stuff, but film nonetheless.
While his career was on an upward swing, Alle was enjoying the continued pursuit of entertainment, but needed to provide for his growing family. He started as a handyman and remodeled many homes. He expanded his handyman business by getting his contractor license and growing his Southern California company into a full construction company. Alle's company, Profix, Inc., handles everything from residential and commercial renovations to development and property management. The interesting part about the design of his company is that he found homeowners wanting for one-stop-shopping. Alle's motto became 'handle everything and anything with one phone call.' He created Profix Inc. to do just that, from making long lists of handyman items to working on extensive remodels, restorations and one-of-a-kind design creations.
He currently lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife and two children.
Official Bio from ABC.com
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Categories
Drama, Game Show, Health & Lifestyle, Reality
Themes
Altruistic Behavior, Gender Roles, Large Family, Mainstream America, The Low Class
