Orlando Bloom

Profile
Name: Orlando Bloom
Birth Name: Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom
Height: 5' 11''
Sex: M
Nationality: British
Birth Date: January 13, 1977
Birth Place: Canterbury, Kent, England, UK
Profession: Actor, Producer
Education: St. Edmund's School in Canterbury, England
British American Drama Academy in London, England
Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England
Relationship: Kate Bosworth (actress; born on January 2, 1983; began dating in the spring of 2002; split in January 2005)
Father: Colin Stone (British teacher, biological father), Harry Bloom (he was lead to believe that he's his real dad - a famous South African lawyer, writer & activist)
Mother: Sonia Bloom
Sister: Samantha Bloom (actress; born in 1975; 2 years older)
Claim to fame: The role of Legolas Greenleaf in the The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Biography
Orlando Bloom was born in Canterbury, Kent, England on January 13, 1977. The man he briefly knew as his father, Harry Bloom, was a legendary political activist who fought for civil rights in South Africa. But Harry died of a stroke when Orlando was only four years old. After that, Orlando and his older sister, Samantha Bloom, were raised by their mother, Sonia, and family friend, Colin Stone. When Orlando was 13, Sonia revealed to him that Colin was actually his biological father.

Orlando attended St. Edmunds School in Canterbury but struggled in many courses because of dyslexia. He did embrace the arts, however, and enjoyed pottery, photography and sculpturing. He also participated in school plays and was active at his local theater. As a teen, Orlando landed his first job: he was a clay trapper at a pigeon shooting range. Encouraged by his mother, he and his sister began studying poetry and prose, eventually giving readings at Kent Festival. Orlando and Samantha won many poetry and Bible reciting competitions. Then Orlando, who always idolized larger-than-life characters, gravitated towards serious acting. At the age of 16, he moved to London and joined the National Youth Theatre, spending two seasons there and gaining a scholarship to train with the British American Drama Academy. Like many young actors, he also auditioned for a number of television roles to further his career, landing bit parts in British television shows "Casualty" (1986), "Midsomer Murders" (1997) and "Smack the Pony" (1999). He also appeared in the critically acclaimed movie Wilde (1997).

He then attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. It was there, in 1998, that Orlando fell three stories from a rooftop terrace and broke his back. Despite fears that he would be permanently paralyzed, he quickly recovered and returned to the stage. As fate would have it, seated in the audience one night in 1999 was a director named Peter Jackson. After the show, he met with Orlando and asked him to audition for his new set of movies. After graduating from Guildhall, Orlando began work on the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, spending 18 months in New Zealand bringing to life "Legolas", a part which made him a household name. Today, he is one of the busiest and most sought-after actors in the industry.

Filmography
Actor
2008 Seasons of Dust
2007 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
2006 Love and Other Disasters
2006 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
2005 Kingdom of Heaven
2005 Elizabethtown
2004 The Calcium Kid
2004 Haven
2004 The Remains of the Piano
2004 Troy
2003 Ned Kelly
2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2003 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
2001 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
2001 Black Hawk Down

Executive Producer
2004 Haven

Awards
2004 Empire Film Award - Best Debut Performance
2004 Screen Actors Guild Award - Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2004 BFCA Award - Best Acting Ensemble
2003 Hollywood Discovery Award - Breakthrough Acting - Male
2003 NBR Award - Best Ensemble Performance
2002 MTV Movie Award - Breakthrough Male Performance
2002 Empire Award - Best Debut

Trivia

Disney bosses have hit out at reports they're planning to kill off Bloom in the fourth PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN installment, insisting the story is completely unfounded. (October 14, 2006)

Has been spotted out and about with Penelope Cruz in Los Angeles, prompting rumors that the two are dating. (October 3, 2006)

Has admitted that he recently bought his first ever computer. Bloom has spent years trying to avoid technology, but has succumbed and is gagging to get on MySpace.com. (September 16, 2006)

Is reportedly romancing Uma Thurman - just days after splitting from Kate Bosworth. (September 12, 2006)

Bloom and girlfriend Kate Bosworth have reportedly decided to end their four year relationship. (September 6, 2006)

Is reportedly planning to splash out $4 million on a luxury boat. (August 16, 2006)

Says he loves women with a good sense of humor.

Admitted that he was terrified of starring opposite Johnny Depp in the first PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN film as he was intimidated by the screen icon's experience. (July 3, 2006)

Confessed that he loves having to kiss Keira Knightley while filming the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN sequels because he thinks she’s a great kisser. (June 21, 2006)

Bloom and Kate Bosworth have sparked rumors they have become engaged to be married, after being seen picking out an engagement ring in London. (December 20, 2005)

Sued by the bosses of his former management company The Firm over claims he still owes them for securing high-profile film roles for him. (November 17, 2005)

Confirmed he is back with ex-girlfriend Kate Bosworth. (August 29, 2005)

Bloom and Jennifer Aniston are the celebrities American singles would most like to stumble across in an online chat room, according to a survey by one of the leading internet US dating services. (August 29, 2005)

Was left red-faced after his credit card was refused when he treated his girlfriend Kate Bosworth to a gourmet meal at the Casaro Amarelo eaterie in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He left the restaurant promising to settle up later. But the restaurant's owner admits she's still awaiting payment from Bloom. (April 30, 2005)

Says he would appear in CORONATION STREET - if the money was right. (April 27, 2005)

Denies reports he is being lined-up to play a young James Bond. (April 12, 2005)

Has put his love affair with Kate Bosworth on hold for a year so they can give each other time to grow. (April 11, 2005)

Has confirmed he has been in negotiations to star in YOUNG 007. Based on new novel Silverfin, the film will follow the young James Bond from school at Eton, England, to his uncle's house in the west Highlands. (March 30, 2005)

Topped a poll of stars whom British women most want to kiss under the mistletoe. (2004)

Topped the list of celebrities walking the red carpet at the first Dubai International Film Festival, which hopes to be a cultural bridge between East and West. (December 9, 2004)

Has committed himself to Buddhism in an hour-long ceremony in Britain. (December 8, 2004)

Is voted Britain's sexiest actor in an internet poll by Sky Movies. (2004)

His role as Elf warrior Legolas gets the most piercing screams at the public screenings of LORD OF THE RING TRILOGY Tuesday at the Senator Theatre in Baltimore. (December 17, 2003)

Orlando, 10 years old at the time, decided he would become an actor while watching SUPERMAN with his then-girlfriend, when she was apparently drooling over the actor who played superman, and not Orlando.

His first film role was as a rent boy in Wilde in 1997, and he has also appeared on TV shows such as Casualty, London's Burning and Midsomer Murders.

Originally auditioned for the part of Faramir in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS (2002). He was called back and subsequently cast, instead, as Legolas.

His career was halted after he broke his back in an accident in 1998 and doctors feared he would never walk again. But 12 days later he hobbled out of hospital on crutches and just months afterwards he was offered the part of Legolas.

Eight of the nine members of the Fellowship got a small tattoo, the Elvish symbol for 9 at a tattoo parlor in Wellington, New Zealand, to commemorate the experience of the movie. And Bloom who plays the archer elf Legolas, has his on his forearm.

Staring as Legolas, he did most of his own stunts and broke a rib in the process.

Filming TROY in Mexico. (August 2003)

His friend's call his O.B. or Orli.

Introduced his pal Heath Ledger to Naomi Watts - the two have been an item ever since.

Has three tattoos, including the number '9' in Elvish, the language spoken in LORD OF THE RINGS. All of the cast members marked themselves with the same tattoo in different locations.

His performance at the National Youth Theatre earned him a scholarship to the British American Drama Academy.

During the filming for LORD OF THE RINGS, Orlando fell off his horse and broke one of his ribs.

When he was very young, he realized that all the superheroes he admired, like Superman, were actually played by actors so Bloom decided he wanted to be one too.

Chosen as one of Teen People Magazine's 25 Hottest Stars Under 25. (2002)

Learned to surf during the filming of the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy in New Zealand.

Appeared on 2002 clothing commercial named Denim Invasion for Gap with Kate Beckinsale. The commercial was directed by Cameron Crowe.

Was nominated with the entire FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING cast for 'Best Ensemble Acting' at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Underwent a great deal of training with knives, horseback riding, canoeing and archery before his role as Legolas.

Commanded $5,5 for his role in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN.

Hair: Dark brown, naturally wavy

Eyes Dark brown

Pets: A dog named Maude

Recently gave up smoking and has resorted to biting his nails.

Was dyslexic as a child - he says he is still mildly dyslexic.

Enjoys all kinds of music, especially folk-style musicians like Ben Harper, David Gray and Bob Dylan.

Can speak French

Favorite color: yellow

Since filming LOTR he has given up on dairy products and red meat. He says portraying an ethereal character like Legolas made him have a healthier outlook.

His first Hollywood crush was Dynasty star Linda Evans

His first concert was 'Jamiroquai' in his hometown of Canterbury.

His first CD was 'Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians' and his first 45 was 'Thriller' by Michael Jackson

His first job was as a clay-trapper at a pigeon shooting range

Selected as one of E! Online's Sizzlin' Sixteen (2002)

His hobbies include skydiving, bungee jumping, paragliding, surfing, photography and snowboarding.

Says he's accident prone, and has the injury list to prove it. He's broken his back, his ribs, his nose, both his legs, his arm, his wrist, a finger, a toe, and cracked his skull three times!

Orlando and his sister were raised by their mother, Sonia, and a guardian, Colin Stone. When Orlando was 13, his mother told him that Harry was not his biological father, that Colin was.

He wears a replica of the One ring that says, To wherever it may lead. It was given to him by one of the make-up artists on LOTR.

Favorite Foods: Pasta, pizza, oatmeal, rice, vegetables, and baked potatoes.

Favorite Football Team: Manchester United.

Favorite Sports: Snowboarding and Surfing.

Favorite Actors: Johnny Depp, Edward Norton, Paul Newman, and Daniel Day-Lewis.

Favorite Movie: STAND BY ME. He also likes THE HUSTLER and AMELIE.

Favorite Type of Girls: Nice, sweet girls.

His father, Harry Bloom, died when Orlando was 4 and was a legendary figure in antiapartheid circles in South Africa. Harry was jailed for his beliefs, and worked alongside Nelson Mandela.

Was named after the hero in Virginia Woolfe's novel Orlando.

Lost his virginity to an English rose at fourteen.

Had a middle-class upbringing in Canterbury, which included attending local poetry and Bible readings.

Nominated for Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture at Screen Actors Guild Awards for THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS (2003)

Nicky Hilton

Profile
Name: Nicky Hilton
Birth Name: Nicholai Olivia Hilton
Height: 5' 7"
Sex: F
Nationality: American
Birth Date: October 5, 1983
Birth Place: New York City, New York, USA
Profession: actress, model
Education: Buckley School, Sherman Oaks, California
Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City
Husband/Wife: Todd Andrew Meister (businessman; married on August 15, 2004; annulled on November 9, 2004)
Relationship: Kevin Connelly (actor; dating since September 2004), Mark Vanderloo (actor; b. April 24, 1968), Marcus Schenkenberg (actor; b. August 4, 1968), Brian McFayden (host of MTV's TRL; b. 1976)
Father: Rick Hilton (grandson of Hilton hotel-chain founder, Conrad Hilton; b. 1955)
Mother: Kathy Richards Hilton (actress; born on April 7, 1959)
Sister: Paris Hilton (actress, model; b. February 17, 1981)
Brother: Barron Nicholas Hilton and Conrad Hughes Hilton
Aunt: Kyle Richards (actress; born on January 11, 1969), Kim Richards (actress; born on September 19, 1964)
Claim to fame: Heiress to the Hilton hotel-chain

Biography

Born into a life of luxury on October 5, 1983, Nicky Hilton grew up in the rich Waldorf-Astoria with parents Kathy and Rick, and sister Paris, who is two years older. Both girls stand to inherit the hundreds of millions of dollars made by great-grandfather Conrad Hilton, who founded the famous Hilton hotels chain. Like her sister, with whom she is very close, she recognized the need to establish a name for herself that would be separate from the "hotel heiress" label. The Hilton sisters elbowed their way into New York's inner social circle and, for a while, Nicky got swept up in the dizzying heights this popularity could bring. Magazines such as FHM, Vanity Fair and Vogue noticed the clout the heiresses had and featured photo shoots and interviews of the girls. Socialite extraordinaire, Nicky ate up the publicity and continued to attend big-time events in New York City. Nicky continued to mature into a woman and, with her beautiful physique, many wondered whether she would try her hand at modeling like Paris had done. Though she does not get enough credit for it, Nicky always had a flair for the business side of things and began studying design in the hopes that her abilities would be fueled. Her goal was to create accessories for the fashion industry, not simply model in them.

Her natural good looks and marketable name were too much to pass up for designer Anand Jon, and consequently, Nicky did end up doing some modeling for him. Her big feat, however, came when she was asked to design handbags for Tokyo-based Samantha Thavasa. Nicky and sister Paris produced such great results, that their handbags could be found in select stores and won over celebrity fans like Britney Spears, Tara Reid and Pamela Anderson. Now living with MTV VJ boyfriend, Brian McFayden, in his Upper West Side apartment, Nicky still has a lot planned. Instead of sitting pretty with her inheritance, she is continuing her work in fashion design and still contributes to the Free Arts for Abused Children Foundation. While her nightclub partying still grabs headlines and makes for interesting water cooler gossip, Nicky Hilton has proven that she is more than just a hot heiress. Her future in the fashion industry is still bright.

Filmography
Jump to filmography as: Actress, Self, Archive Footage
Actress:

* 2000s
* 1990s

1. Pledge This! (2006) (V) (uncredited) .... Nicky
2. Wishman (1991) .... Girl on Beach

Self:
1. MTV Video Music Awards 2006 (2006) (TV) (uncredited) .... Herself - Audienc
2. "The Simple Life" .... Herself (2 episodes, 2004-2006)
... aka The Simple Life 2: Road Trip (USA: second season title)
... aka The Simple Life: 'Til Death Do Us Part (USA: fourth season title)
... aka The Simple Life: Interns (USA: third season title)
- Murrie Family (2006) TV Episode .... Herself
- Episode #2.10 (2004) TV Episode .... Herself
3. "Project Runway" .... Herself (1 episode, 2006)
... aka Project Runway 2 (USA: second season title)
... aka Project Runway 3 (USA: third season title)
- Social Scene (2006) TV Episode .... Herself
4. "The Tyra Banks Show" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
- Hook Me Up like a Star (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
5. "Good Morning Australia" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
... aka G.M.A. (Australia: short title)
- Episode dated 30 September 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
6. "Sunrise" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
- Episode dated 29 September 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
7. "Rove Live" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
- Episode #6.34 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
8. "I Want to Be a Hilton" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
- Episode #1.2 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
9. "Larry King Live" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
- Episode dated 27 June 2005 (2005) TV Episode (voice) .... Herself
10. "E! True Hollywood Story" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
- The Hilton Sisters (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
11. VH1 Big in 04 (2004) (TV) .... Herself
12. The Teen Choice Awards 2004 (2004) (TV) .... Herself
13. "Fashion in Focus" .... Herself (1 episode, 2004)
- New Kids on the Block: Part 3 (2004) TV Episode .... Herself
14. 2004 MTV Movie Awards (2004) (TV) .... Herself - Presenter
15. E!'s Live Countdown to the Golden Globes (2004) (TV) .... Herself
16. Playboy's 50th Anniversary Celebration (2003) (TV) .... Herself
17. VH1 Big in 03 (2003) (TV) .... Herself
18. MTV Video Music Awards 2003 (2003) (TV) .... Herself
19. MTV Bash: Carson Daly (2003) (TV) .... Herself
20. 2003 MTV Movie Awards (2003) (TV) .... Herself
21. Pauly Shore Is Dead (2003) .... Herself
... aka Pauly Shore Is Dead (Australia)

Trivia
* Is sued by a Chicago developer for breach of contract, claiming she reneged on deals to promote a planned Nicky O Hotel. (February 14, 2007)
* Has split from actor boyfriend Kevin Connolly. (October 19, 2006)
* Revealed her ambitions to develop her own chain of hotels, which she plans to name 'Nicky O.' (July 8, 2006)
* Along with her sister Paris, Nicky was turned into cartoon superheroines for an issue of men's magazine Playboy. (April 07, 2005)
* Designed handbags for Tokyo-based Samantha Thavasa.
* MOre than 100 stores in Japan sell her handbags.
* Her handbags has won over celebrity fans like Britney Spears, Tara Reid and Pamela Anderson.
* Was offered a starring role in The Simple Life (2003) with her sister Paris Hilton, but turned down the offer because she didn't want to live the simple life.
* Great-niece of Conrad Hilton Jr., whose first and second wives were Elizabeth Taylor and Patricia McClintock. Conrad N. Nicky Hilton, Jr.'s two sons with Trish McClintock were Conrad Nicholson Hilton III (born 1959) and Michael Otis Hilton (born 1961).
* Her brief marriage to businessman Todd Andrew Meister was officially annulled by a judge in Las Vegas, where the couple wed in a surprise ceremony attended by her older sister Paris Hilton and Bijou Phillips.
* Hair color: Bottle Blond
* Eye color: Blue

John Travolta

Profile
Name: John Travolta
Birth Name: John Joseph Travolta
Height: 6' 2"
Sex: M
Nationality: American
Birth Date: February 18, 1954
Birth Place: Englewood, New Jersey, USA
Profession: actor, musician
Education: high school (dropped out)
Took dancing lessons from Fred Kelly (Gene Kelly's brother) from age six.
Husband/Wife: Kelly Preston (actress; born on October 13, 1962; engaged on January 1, 1991; married on September 5, 1991, in Paris; remarried on September 12, 1991, in Daytona Beach)
Relationship: Diana Hyland (actress; born on Januray 25, 1936; died on March 28, 1977 of cancer)
Father: Salvatore Travolta (former semi-professional football player; born in 1913; died on May 26, 1995)
Mother: Helen Travolta (actress; born on January 18, 1912; died on December 3, 1978 of cancer)
Sister: Ellen Travolta (actress; born on October 6, 1940), Ann Travolta (actress; older), Margaret Travolta (older)
Brother: Joey Travolta (actor; born on October 14, 1950), Sam Travolta (actor; older)
Son: Jett Travolta (born on April 13, 1992; mother: Kelly Preston)
Daughter: Ella Bleu Travolta (born on April 3, 2000; mother: Kelly Preston)
Claim to fame: as Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever (1977)

Biography
John Joseph Travolta was born on the 18th of February, 1954, in Englewood, New Jersey. His father, Salvatore, was a semi-pro footballer turned tyre salesman. His mother, Helen, had played in a radio vocal group called The Sunshine Sisters, and had acted and directed before becoming a high school drama teacher. John also had five brothers and sisters - Joey and Sam, and Ellen, Ann and Margaret. All of them have worked in TV, film or music. This clearly had much to do with Helen's influence, but also Salvatore's who encouraged his children by assembling a small theatre in the family's basement. Young John was very quick to make his career choice. His great loves all pointed him towards a life onstage. He loved to dance, winning a Twist competition at a very young age. He joined an Actor's Workshop at age 12. Employing all his talents, he played in local musicals and worked in dinner theatre. He also took tap lessons.
Travolta swaggered into the national consciousness at the age of 21, five years after dropping out of high school in New Jersey to pursue an acting career. In no time at all Travolta had conquered Hollywood with a musical triumvirate - Saturday Night Fever (1977), Grease (1978), and Urban Cowboy (1980) - that gave birth to the modern movie soundtrack. Yet the polyester, black leather, and Levis-fueled rocket began to plummet almost as quickly as it ascended. Four years later Travolta left the fortress of solitude he found in the sky (piloting jets) to appear in the surprise hit of 1989 Look Who's Talking. Two sequels followed, but it was Vincent Vega and his "Royale with cheese" dissertation from Pulp Fiction (1994) that finally helped Travolta get his cool back.
Some of his films ranging from the crime-comedy Get Shorty (1995), the feel good films Phenomenon and Michael (1996), the action adventure Face/Off (1997), the political satire Primary Colors, (1998) the mystery The General's Daughter (1999), the techno-thriller Swordfish (2001) and as a dad in Domestic Disturbance (2001) were vry much liked by the public. Travolta still loves dancing, and music, and he loves to fly jets, owning at least four. In 1993, after a total electric failure, at night and in icy conditions, he managed to safely land his Gulfstream. That's Travolta - smooth beyond the call of duty.

Filmography
Actor
2009 Dallas
2007 Hairspray
2007 Wild Hogs
2006 Lonely Hearts
2005 Be Cool
2005 Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D
2005 Fat Actress [TV Series]
2004 Dream Jets
2004 The Punisher
2004 Ladder 49
2004 A Love Song For Bobby Long
2003 Basic
2002 Jets: Altitude & Attitude, Vol. 4 - Blue Angels
2001 Domestic Disturbance
2001 Swordfish
2000 Lucky Numbers
2000 Battlefield Earth
1999 The General's Daughter
1999 Forever Hollywood
1998 The Thin Red Line
1998 A Civil Action
1998 Welcome to Hollywood
1998 Primary Colors
1997 Mad City
1997 Face/Off
1997 She's So Lovely
1996 Phenomenon
1996 America's Flying Aces: Blue Angels - 50th Anniversary
1996 Michael
1996 Broken Arrow
1995 Get Shorty
1995 White Man's Burden
1994 Saturday Night Live: John Travolta
1994 Pulp Fiction
1993 Look Who's Talking Now
1992 Chains of Gold
1991 Eyes of an Angel
1991 Boris and Natasha
1991 Shout
1990 Look Who's Talking, Too
1989 Twist of Fate
1989 The Experts
1989 Look Who's Talking
1987 The Dumb Waiter
1985 Perfect
1984 Olivia Newton-John: Twist of Fate
1983 Staying Alive
1983 Two of a Kind
1981 Blow Out
1980 Urban Cowboy
1978 Moment by Moment
1978 Grease
1978 Welcome Back, Kotter: Season 04
1977 Saturday Night Fever
1977 Welcome Back, Kotter: Season 03
1976 Carrie
1976 The Boy in the Plastic Bubble
1976 Welcome Back, Kotter: Season 02
1975 Welcome Back, Kotter: Season 01
1975 The Devil's Rain

Executive Producer
1997 She's So Lovely

Producer
2000 Battlefield Earth

Screenwriter
1992 Chains of Gold

Awards
Academy
1994 Best Actor Pulp Fiction
1977 Best Actor Saturday Night Fever

Golden Globe
1995 Best Actor - Musical or Comedy Get Shorty
1994 Best Actor - Drama Pulp Fiction
1978 Best Actor - Musical or Comedy Grease
1978 Henrietta Award (World Film Favorite)
1977 Best Actor - Musical or Comedy Saturday Night Fever

L.A. Film Critics Association
1993 Best Actor Pulp Fiction

National Board of Review
1977 Best Actor Saturday Night Fever

National Society of Film Critics
1994 Best Supporting Actor (Runner-up) Pulp Fiction
Screen Actors Guild 1994 Best Actor Pulp Fiction

Trivia

Will auction her Harley-Davidson motorcycle, signed leather jacket, and a signed motorcycle helmet to support the Marion Theatre renovation project and the Ocala Film Commission. (March 20, 2007)

Donated $15,000 to central Florida tornado victims during the premiere of his new film, WILD HOGS. (March 2, 2007)

Reportedly told a New York hotel to turn off any music playing before he entered any room during a stay. (May 11, 2006)

Travolta and wife Kelly Preston have apparently suggested that Katie Holmes have a 'silent birth', meaning that the child comes into the world without music, background sounds or expressions of pain from the mother, to ensure that the baby can adapt to its surroundings without a fuss. (October 10, 2005)

Among the top choices to play J.R. Ewing in New Regency's screen version of the TV soap Dallas. (September 29, 2005)

Has revealed he and wife Kelly Preston are members of the mile high club. (March 23, 2005)

Will reveal intimate secrets of his intense friendship with late British royal Diana, Princess of Wales in his forthcoming autobiography. (March 10, 2005)

To attend the London premiere of his movie, BE COOL, he flew across the Atlantic in his private jet. (2005)

The dance floor that Travolta made famous in SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER is to be auctioned on April 1. (February 23, 2005)

Sings the traditional Barbara Allen and the Howard Barnes/Don Robertson song ``I Really Don't Want To Know'' on the soundtrack to A LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG. (2004)

Was honored by New York's Museum of the Moving\ Image in a star-studded gala that celebrated his 30-year career with clips from films such as GREASE, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, PULP FICTION and GET SHORTY. (December 9, 2004)

Travolta and wife are being heavily guarded by security after receiving undisclosed threats. (October 21, 2004)

Says the best experience he ever had on a film was the 1980 URBAN COWBOY.

Among the guests at his 50th birthday party were Oprah Winfrey, Tom Cruise, Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Robin Williams, Meg Ryan, Sylvester Stallone and Dan Aykroyd. (2004)

Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix worried the producers of their upcoming movie Ladder 49 a great deal because they got a little too involved in their firefighting research. (January 28, 2004)

Attended the dedication of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on Thursday, the new second home for the National Air and Space Museum. (December 13, 2003)

Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks and John Travolta helped Mickey Mouse celebrate his 75th birthday by designing larger-than-life statues of the Disney icon. (November 20, 2003)

The master of ceremonies for the final day of the First Flight Centennial celebration Dec. 17. (2003)

Travolta has teamed up with four of his siblings to form Los Angeles-based Travolta Family Films, which he hopes will restore the tradition of families watching movies together -- The company is also responsible for the independent comedy ENEMIES OF LAUGHTER, which has started a limited run in Los Angeles. (August 5, 2003)

Travolta told a German magazine in an interview he has lost more than 30 pounds (15 kilograms) without dieting and feels sexy again, adding a strict exercise regiment had helped him shed his love handles. (July 18, 2003)

Travolta says he made a big mistake in turning down a starring role in this year's Academy Award winning film CHICAGO –The actor said Richard Gere did a great job with the dance numbers in Chicago, adding, “How I would have loved to have showed them all what I can do one more time.” (July 17, 2003)

Travolta flew his Boeing 707 to the southwest Ohio city to accept an award for his efforts at promoting commercial flying – Travolta was honored with the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics ) Foundation Award for Excellence for his efforts in promoting commercial flying Tuesday night at the Air Force Museum. (July 17, 2003)

The producers of the BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY sequel have turned to John Travolta to provide the romance after lead star Renee Zellweger told them their first choice of George Clooney as the love interest was unsuitable because of a previous relationship between the pair. (June 26, 2003)

Travolta feared for his life when a stunt went dramatically wrong on the set of his new movie and caused a massive fire -- The actor had to be rescued for a blazing building while training to be a firefighter in Ladder 49, in which he co-stars with Joaquin Phoenix. (April 16, 2003)

Travolta is featured in an engaging, watchable, two-hour special edition of Bravo's Inside the Actors Studio, and he comes across as open, funny, sincere and likable -- The always remarkably prepared host, James Lipton, again has done his homework as he prompts Travolta to share details of his life and craft for an audience of apparently admiring acting students and friends of the guest. (April 10, 2003)

Travolta is infuriating studio executives with his outrageous salary demands for THE OUTLAWS and in the process is estranging himself from powerful allies, and since he has made little impression at the box office in recent years, insiders predict he could find himself tossed off of the A list. (March 4, 2003)

Travolta prefers his airplanes big -- on Wednesday Travolta was given a model 747-400ER Extended Range jet, the first of six to be delivered to Qantas. (November 1, 2002)

Travolta and Olivia Newton-John thrilled revelers at a Hollywood bash when they teamed up for the first time in 20 years to belt out a string of hits from their classic movie GREASE. (September 26, 2002)

Turned down the lead role in AMERICAN GIGOLO (1980)

An ambassador at large for Australia's Qantas Airlines to help promote air travel. (June 2002)

Admitted that ever since he was four he wanted to have his own pilot’s uniform.

He loves flying so much, he said he tried to convince wife Kelly Preston to name their second tyke Qantas, but she went with the more ethereal girl's name Ella Bleu. Their first child is named Jett.

After a string of hits in films, on television and on the radio, Travolta in the 1970s had emerged as a true cultural phenomenon, defining tastes in music and fashion while dominating innumerable column inches in newspapers, magazines and gossip columns.

He was ranked #21 in Empire (UK) magazine's The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time list. (October 1997)

He appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine 4 times, the most for any actor (through 1994).

He was named Man of the Year by Harvard's Hasty Pudding Club in 1981.

Richard Gere practically owes his film career to Travolta. Travolta turned down the leads for DAYS OF HEAVEN (1978), AMERICAN GIGOLO (1980) and AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (1982), all of which went to Gere.

Married Kelly Preston twice. Their first wedding on 5 September 1991, by a French Scientologist minister, was declared illegal. The couple met during the filming of THE EXPERTS (1989).

During the filming of Boy in the THE PLASTIC BUBBLE (1976) (TV) he fell in love with Diana Hyland, 18 years his senior. She died of cancer in his arms in 1977.

He pilots a multitude of jet aircraft. Most notable aviation feat is succesful landing at Washington National of a Gulfstream IIB with complete electrical failure. Conditions at the time were night, IMC, icing. December of 1993

In July 1978 he became the very first male to make the cover of McCall's magazine.

He did yoga and boxing to cut his love handles for the film SWORDFISH (2001).

Travolta is a New Operating Thetan Level Eight.

It appears that one of Hollywood's more enduring manager/client relationships may be on the rocks, with Jonathan Krane and actor John Travolta considering an end to their 17-year association.

Has upped security in his home and on his private plane following the terrorist attacks on America.

Has defied his critics by saying he is proud to be pudgy.

Determined not to follow Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's failed marriage example.

During production of BLOW OUT (1981), Travolta started learning the violin to calm his nerves due to a lack of sleep. He has always suffered from insomnia since he used to wait up for his mother to return home late from acting jobs when he was a kid.

Was given the choice of playing either Deakins or Hale in BROKEN ARROW (1996). He chose the villain Deakins.

(BATTLEFIELD EARTH: A SAGA OF THE YEAR 3000 (2000)) When the book was first written, he wanted to make the movie, and star as Johnny Goodboy, the young hero. Of course, he could get no investors to back him. By the time the movie was made, he was too old to play the part of the hero and, instead, opted to play the part of the villain, Terl.

He first met Quentin Tarantino to discuss his part in PULP FICTION (1994) at Tarantino's L.A. apartment. It was the same apartment in which Travolta once lived as a struggling Hollywood newcomer.

In SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (1977), his sister appears as the pizza lady, and his mother appears as the women for whom he gets the paint.

Originally wanted his disco suit to be black until it was pointed out that in the darkened disco, his co-star's red dress would make her easier to see than him (SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER).

Set in high school, most of the principal cast were way past their teenage years at the time of filming. Travolta himself was only 24, Conaway was already 28 and Olivia Newton John was 29.

The shot of Vincent plunging the syringe into Mia's chest was filmed by having John Travolta pull the needle out, then running the film backwards (PULP FICTION).

Was nominated Oscar for Best Actor in 1995 for PULP FICTION and in 1978 for SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER.

Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical at Golden Globe Awards for PRIMARY COLORS (1999)

Nominated for Best Villain at MTV Movie Awards for FACE/OFF (1998) - shared with Nicolas Cage

Nominated for Best Male Performance at MTV Movie Awards for FACE/OFF (1998)

Nominated for Best Kiss at MTV Movie Awards for PHENOMENON (1997) - shared with Kyra Sedgwick

Nominated for Best Male Performance at MTV Movie Awards for PHENOMENON (1997)

Nominated for Best Fight at MTV Movie Awards for BROKEN ARROW (1996) - shared with Christian Slater

Nominated for Best Villain at MTV Movie Awards for BROKEN ARROW (1996)

Nominated for Best On-Screen Duo at MTV Movie Awards for PULP FICTION (1995) - shared with Samuel L. Jackson

Nominated for Best Actor Leading at BAFTA Awards for PULP FICTION (1995)

Nominated for Best Male Performance at MTV Movie Awards for PULP FICTION (1995)

Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for PULP FICTION (1995)

Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role at Screen Actors Guild Awards for PULP FICTION (1995)

Nominated for Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical/Comedy at Golden Globe Awards for GREASE (1979)

Nominated for Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical/Comedy at Golden Globe Awards for SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (1978)

Sheryl Crow

Profile
Name: Sheryl Crow
Birth Name: Sheryl Suzanne Crow
Height: 5' 3 ½''
Sex: F
Nationality: American
Birth Date: February 11, 1962
Birth Place: Kennett, Missouri, USA
Profession: Actress, Song writer, Musician
Education: Kennett High School, Kennett, Missouri
University of Missouri at Columbia
Relationship: Lance Armstrong (cyclist; born September 18, 1971; met October 2003; engaged August 2005; split on February 3, 2006), Owen Wilson (actor; born November 18, 1968; dated 1999-2000), Eric Clapton (musician; broke up), Kevin Gilbert (musician; died in 1996)
Father: Wendell (trumpet player, lawyer)
Mother: Bernice
Sister: Kathy (older), Karen (older)
Brother: Steve (younger)
Claim to fame: Album: Tuesday Night Music Club

Biography
Singer, pianist and guitarist, born Sheryl Suzanne Crow, on February 11, 1962, in Kennett, Missouri, to Wendell and Bernice Crow. She has two older sisters, Kathy and Karen, and one younger brother, Steve. Crow began playing piano at age six. She graduated from Kennett High School in 1980 and the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1984, where she majored in music education. During college, she spent her weekends performing with a local band, Cashmere.

After college, Crow worked as a music teacher in an elementary school in St. Louis before moving to Los Angeles in 1986. She began recording jingles for advertising clients, including McDonald’s, and worked as a back-up singer. In 1987-88 she sang on Michael Jackson’s “Bad” world tour. She later sang back-up for Sting, Rod Stewart and Don Henley. In 1991 Crow recorded an album for A&M Records which she shelved because it sounded too “slick.” She began playing with the band The Tuesday Music Club, comprised of Bill Bottrell, David Baerwald, David Ricketts, and Sheryl’s then-boyfriend Kevin Gilbert. In 1993 the group released the multi-platinum album Tuesday Night Music Club which included the smash hit, “All I Wanna Do.”

In 1995, she won three Grammy Awards for Best New Artist, Record of the Year (for “All I Want to Do”), and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for Tuesday Music Club. She also performed a MTV Unplugged session in 1995. Crow released the album Sheryl Crow in 1996, winning two Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. She spent much of 1997-98 on tour, playing select dates on the Rolling Stones’ Bridges to Babylon tour and performing at the 1998 Lilith Fair concerts. She released her third album The Globe Sessions in the fall of 1998, which won a Grammy for Best Rock Album. During 1999, Crow performed in Europe and toured with Lilith Fair throughout the United States. At the Grammy Awards in February 2000, Crow won for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, for her rendition of the Guns 'n Roses hit "Sweet Child o'Mine."

Filmography
2005 Willie Nelson and Friends: Live and Kickin'
2005 All We Are Saying
2005 Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast
2004 Soundstage: Sheryl Crow
2004 Sheryl Crow: The Very Best of Sheryl Crow - The Videos
2004 De-Lovely
2003 Intimate Portrait: Sheryl Crow
2003 Sheryl Crow: C'mon America
2003 Soundstage: Farm Aid 2003
2001 Lilith on Top
2001 All Access: Front Row. Backstage. Live!
2001 America: A Tribute to Heroes
2001 VH1 Storytellers: Classics
1999 The Minus Man
1999 Eric Clapton & Friends: In Concert - A Benefit for the Crossroads Centre at Antigua
1999 Sheryl Crow: Rockin' the Globe Live
1998 Saturday Night Live: Kelsey Grammer [2]
1997 Lilith Fair: A Celebration of Women in Music
1996 Saturday Night Live: Lisa Kudrow
Sesame Street: All-Star Alphabet

Discography
Albums | Compilations | Singles | Videos | Other
2006 Wildflower [Bonus Tracks]
2005 Wildflower [UK Bonus Tracks]
2005 Wildflower [Target Exclusive] [CD/DVD]
2005 Wildflower [Japan]
2005 Wildflower [Japan Bonus Tracks]
2005 Wildflower [Deluxe Edition]
2005 Wildflower
2004 Globe Sessions [SACD/Bonus Track]
2003 Sheryl Crow: Live at Budokan
2002 Sheryl Crow [Japan Bonus Tracks]
2002 Globe Sessions [Japan Bonus Track]
2002 Globe Sessions [DVD]
2002 C'mon, C'mon [UK Bonus Tracks]
2002 C'mon, C'mon [Japan Bonus Tracks]
2002 C'mon, C'mon [Bonus CD]
2002 C'mon, C'mon
2000 Globe Sessions [Import Bonus Track]
1999 Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live in Central Park
1999 Globe Sessions [Japan Bonus Tracks]
1999 Globe Sessions [Australia Bonus CD]
1998 Sheryl Crow [Japan]
1998 Sheryl Crow [Bonus CD]
1998 Globe Sessions
1996 Sheryl Crow [Germany Bonus Track]
1996 Sheryl Crow
1993 Tuesday Night Music Club

Trivia

Crow, riding aboard a bus that uses biodiesel fuel, is on an 11-stop college tour to raise awareness about global warming. (April 11, 2007)

Shocked her tour-mate John Mayer by appearing onstage in a skimpy bikini, one day after he surprised her by dressing up in a bear costume. (October 18, 2006)

Has been given the all-clear from breast cancer. (October 7, 2006)

Her cancer battle has prompted her to ditch junk food for a healthy new diet. (August 14, 2006)

Says it was difficult to be apart from ex-fiance Lance Armstrong after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, insisting that she still loves and thinks about him every day. (July 7, 2006)

Has reportedly found love with John Stamos, thanks to a mutual friend who set them up. (May 20, 2006)

Underwent surgery for breast cancer and the prognosis for a full recovery is excellent. (February 25, 2006)

Split from fiance Lance Armstrong just weeks before their scheduled wedding. (February 6, 2006)

Rules out wearing a certain Vera Wang gown when she exchanges vows with cyclist Lane Armstrong later this year - after donning it for Allure magazine photoshoot. (January 23, 2006)

Says Lance Armstrong's marriage proposal was spur-of-the-moment and terribly romantic. He popped the question to her on a boat in a lake. (September 26, 2005)

Is engaged to cyclist boyfriend Lance Armstrong. (September 7, 2005)

If she wrote a song about boyfriend Lance Armstrong, she said the title would be Make 'em suffer. (July 16, 2005)

Pulled out of the Paris, France Live 8 show due to a scheduling conflict. (June 29, 2005)

Has an aquatic center in her southeast Missouri hometown named after her.

Was elected to the Missouri Academy of Squires, a ceremonial group dedicated to honoring current and former Missouri residents. (2004)

The man who was accused of stalking her has been found not guilty. (December 2, 2004)

Best friend of actress Kelly Lynch.

Vanity Fair covergirls Sheryl Crow, Jennifer Lopez and Alicia Keys engaged in all-out diva warfare in order to be best represented on the magazine -- each starlet brought their own hairdresser and make-up team. (October 17, 2002)

Her two front teeth are false. She lost the originals when she tripped on stage.

Was nominated for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television at Grammy Awards in 1999 for TOMORROW NEVER DIES. (shared with Mitchell Froom)

Nominated for Best Original Song - Motion Picture at Golden Globe Awards for TOMORROW NEVER DIES (1998)

Mel Gibson

Profile
Name: Mel Gibson
Birth Name: Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson
Height: 5' 9"
Sex: M
Nationality: Australian
Birth Date: January 3, 1956 at 4:45pm-EST
Birth Place: Peekskill, New York, USA
Profession: actor, director, producer
Education: All-boys Catholic school
National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, Australia
South Australia Theater Company
Husband/Wife: Robyn Gibson (dental nurse; married on June 7, 1980)
Father: Hutton Gibson (railroad brakeman)
Mother: Ann Gibson (Australian; died in December 1990)
Brother: Donal Gibson (actor; born on February 13, 1958)
Son: Thomas Gibson (born in 1999), Milo Gibson (born in 1990), Willie Gibson (born in 1985), Christian Gibson (actor; born in 1982), Edward Gibson (actor; twin of Christian; born in 1982)
Daughter: Louis Gibson (born in 1988), Hannah Gibson (born in 1980)
Claim to fame: as Max Rockatansky in Mad Max (1979)

Biography
Gibson was born in Westchester County New York and moved with his family to Australia when he was 12 years old. Gibson attended the National Institute of Dramatic Arts at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. Gibson was brought to the attention of director George Miller, who cast him in Mad Max, the film that first brought him worldwide recognition. This was followed by the title role in Tim, starring as a handicapped young man for which he won an Australian Film Institute Best Actor Award. He went on to reprise his role as Mad Max in Mad Max -- The Road Warrior and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and teamed with director Peter Weir in Gallipoli, which brought Gibson a second Australian Best Actor Award. A few years later, Weir and Gibson again collaborated on The Year of Living Dangerously. Gibson made his American film debut in The River. His other films include The Bounty, Mrs. Soffel,Tequila Sunrise, Bird on a Wire and Air America. He has starred in Icon productions "Forever Young"; "The Man Without a Face," which also marked his film directorial debut; "Maverick," opposite Jodie Foster.

Mel Gibson recently starred in the Revolutionary War drama The Patriot and was one of the featured voices in the animated movie Chicken Run. He is not only one of the world’s most accomplished actors but also an Oscar®-winning director and a respected filmmaker. In the course of his career as an actor, he has tackled roles in films ranging from the smash hit Lethal Weapon series to the western comedy Maverick to the psychological thriller Conspiracy Theory to the historical epic adventure Braveheart. Gibson produced, directed and starred in Braveheart, which won five Academy Awards® out of 10 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Gibson’s company, Icon Productions, which Gibson created with Bruce Davey, developed and produced Braveheart along with many other movies in a diverse range of genres including Immortal Beloved and FairyTale: A True Story. Other Icon productions in which Gibson starred include Hamlet, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, Forever Young, The Man Without a Face, which also marked Gibson’s directorial debut, and the hit thriller Payback. Off the screen, Mel is a true Hollywood Wonder. He's been married since 1980, has 7 children (Hannah, twins Edward and Christian, William, Louis, Milo and Tommy), and has not been divorced!

Filmography
Actor
2006 Payback: Straight Up
2006 Who Killed the Electric Car?
2004 ABC Primetime: Mel Gibson's Passion
2004 The Big Question
2003 The Singing Detective
2002 We Were Soldiers
2002 Signs
2000 Chicken Run
2000 The Patriot
2000 The Million Dollar Hotel
2000 What Women Want
1999 Forever Hollywood
1999 Payback
1998 Lethal Weapon 4
1997 Fairy Tale: A True Story
1997 Conspiracy Theory
1996 Ransom
1995 Casper
1995 Braveheart
1995 Pocahontas
1994 Maverick
1993 Earth and the American Dream
1993 The Man without a Face
1993 Chili Con Carne
1992 Forever Young
1992 World War II Collection: The Year of the Generals
1992 Greatest Stories Ever Told: David and Goliath
1992 Lethal Weapon 3
1992 David and Goliath
1990 Hamlet
1990 Bird on a Wire
1990 Air America
1989 Saturday Night Live: Mel Gibson
1989 Lethal Weapon 2
1988 Tequila Sunrise
1987 Lethal Weapon
1985 Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
1984 Mrs. Soffel
1984 The River
1984 The Bounty
1982 Attack Force Z
1982 The Year of Living Dangerously
1981 Gallipoli
1981 The Road Warrior
1980 The Chain Reaction
1979 Mad Max
1979 Tim
1977 Summer City
ABC World of Discovery: Australia's Outback

Director
2006 Apocalypto
2004 The Passion of The Christ
2004 Complete Savages [TV Series]
1995 Braveheart
1993 The Man without a Face

Executive Producer
2005 Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man
2004 Clubhouse [TV Series]
2004 Complete Savages [TV Series]
2001 Invincible
2000 The Three Stooges

Producer
2006 Apocalypto
2005 Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man
2004 Paparazzi
2004 The Passion of The Christ
2003 The Singing Detective
1997 Anna Karenina
1995 Braveheart

Screenwriter
2006 Apocalypto
2004 The Passion of The Christ

Awards
Academy
1995 Best Director Braveheart

Broadcast Film Critics Association
1995 Best Director Braveheart

Directors Guild of America
1995 Best Director Braveheart

Golden Globe
2000 Best Actor - Comedy or Musical What Women Want
1995 Best Director Braveheart

National Board of Review
1995 Career Achievement

Trivia

Exploded in anger by using an f word at CSUN college campus after an expert on Mayan culture accused him of stereotyping the Mayans as bloodthirsty savages in the movie APOCALYPTO. (March 22, 2007)

Is allegedly facing a legal battle from a young Australian woman who insists she is his love-child. (December 18, 2006)

Calls his anti-Semitic rant following his arrest for drunk driving in July the stupid ramblings of a drunkard during an exclusive TV interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer. (October 11, 2006)

Will appear on ABC’s Good Morning America on October 12 and 13. (October 9, 2006)

Wore a mask and wig when he visited Oklahoma to attend screenings of his new movie, APOCALYPTO - because he did not want to be noticed by fans. (September 21, 2006)

Has apologized to the police officers he insulted when he was arrested for DUI two months ago by sending them flowers and an invitation to go to the premiere of his new film APOCAYPTO. (September 5, 2006)

Was charged with misdemeanor drunken driving. (August 3, 2006)

Was arrested in Malibu for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies pulled over his vehicle for speeding. (July 28, 2006)

Is donating money to build houses for poor people in Mexico to thank them for their help and generosity while he was filming his new movie APOCALYPTO in the region. (July 15, 2006)

Is selling his Malibu, California, mansion because he is sick of the commotion neighbor Britney Spears causes. (June 13, 2006)

The set of Gibson's latest movie epic, APOCALYPTO, has been hit by South American storms, prompting studio bosses at Disney to scrap plans for a summer release. (April 18, 2006)

Is America's no.7 favorite movie star according to a poll released by Garris Interactive. (January 21, 2006)

Has tricked fans by making a surprise cameo in the trailer for his new movie APOCALYPTO in the promotional advertisement. (January 2, 2006)

Has been tipped by some Californian Republicans as the next showbiz governor of the state, in a bid to oust increasingly unpopular Arnold Schwarzenegger from office. (December 13, 2005)

Has bought himself a $24 million Malibu house, this one being his second residence in California. (October 20, 2005)

Has been asked to recreate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in the streets of Sydney if the city is selected to host a major Catholic gathering in 2008. (August 8, 2005)

An Idaho drifter who believed he had been sent by God to pray Gibson, was sentenced to three years in prison for stalking. (June 23, 2005)

His Fijian idyllic island getaway is under threat from local villagers, who claim their ancestors were cheated out of the land over a century ago. (March 3, 2005)

His 1995 epic BRAVEHEART is named the worst film ever to win an Academy Award for best picture by Empire magazine. (2005)

Has lost his bid to have a portion of his Connecticut estate classified as a farm. Assessor John Ted Gwartney ruled that Gibson's property was not being used as a bona fide productive farming activity. (January 17, 2005)

His controversial movie THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST won the award for favorite drama in the 2005 Annual People's Choice Awards.

Refused to spend any cash on an Oscar campaign for his controversial movie THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, preferring instead to rely on faith. (2004)

The sale of his farms in the picturesque Kiewa Valley in northeast Victoria went for $6 million. (November 8, 2004)

Lashed out at Arnold Schwarzenegger's backing of a new plan to have California taxpayers fund embryonic stem cell research.

Donated $10 million to two Los Angeles hospitals to help children with serious medical problems who cannot afford treatment or get proper care in their own countries. (2004)

Named as the world's most powerful celebrity by U.S. business magazine Forbes. (2004)

His movie distribution company sued Regal Entertainment Group, the U.S. largest movie chain for $40 million, alleging it reneged on a deal to pay out 55 percent of revenues from THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. (June 9, 2004)

Wants to bring the unedited version of THE PASSION OF CHRIST to TV. (April 15, 2004)

The soundtrack of his movie THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST went gold, selling 500,000 copies in February. (April 15, 2004)

A bid by three Jewish brothers to have Gibson's controversial film THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST banned in France as anti-Semitic has failed after a Paris court found no reason to stop its premiere. (March 30, 2004)

A repentant Texas man went to police after seeing Gibson's controversial film THE PASSION OF CHRIST and confessed to murdering a 19-year-old woman who was pregnant with his child. (March 26, 2004)

Is considering dropping his support for American President George W Bush, after questioning his handling of the Iraq War. (March 19, 2004)

Gibson's company has sued a movie post-production firm where workers allegedly made pirate copies of his hit movie THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. (March 6, 2004)

His movie THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST has inspired a new craze across America for Christian-themed jewelry. (March 2, 2004)

Said his film THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST was unfairly prejudged for a year before its release but he forgives his critics. (February 28, 2004)

Animal rights activists PETA is furious he's raising animals for meat at his beef cattle ranch in Columbus, Montana. (February 27, 2004)

His controversial movie THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST took in an estimated $15 million to $20 million after just one day of release, a remarkable number for a religious-themed movie so divisive that no Hollywood studio would touch it. (February 26, 2004)

One week before the U.S. release of his controversial movie, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, Gibson and his father has publicly reiterated claims that the Holocaust was exaggerated. (February 19, 2004)

Arch Bonnema, a Southern Baptist, was so moved by Gibson's controversial film THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, he bought $42,000 worth of tickets so more people could see it. (February 14, 2004)

Said he used his controversial new film THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST to heal his suicidal tendencies following a severe bout of depression. (February 14, 2004)

Said his need to reevaluate his life inspired him to make the biblical epic THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. (February 9, 2004)

Maia Morgenstern, the Romanian actress who plays Mary in Gibson's THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST does not consider the film anti-Semitic. (February 4, 2004)

A statement from the Global Pastors Network said up to 3000 pastors, representing 80 denominations from 40 countries and every state and province in North America, will be able to view Gibson's controversial film The Passion of The Christ during a conference in Orlando, Florida, on January 21, 2004

His controversial film THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST has received the approval of the Pope -- Vatican insiders have disclosed that the Pope watched a video version at the Vatican and declared: It is as it was. (December 20, 2003)

Pope John Paul II has been given a personal screening of Gibson’s controversial new movie THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. (December 18, 2003)

America's most influential minister, the Rev. Billy Graham, gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up to Gibson's biblical epic, THE PASSION OF CHRIST, after a private screening with him. (December 1, 2003)

Jim Caviezel, the actor who stars as Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson's controversial new movie THE PASSION OF CHRIST was struck by lightning on the set. (October 24, 2003)

Has renamed his epic about the last hours of Jesus to THE PASSION OF CHRIST because the original name - THE PASSION was claimed by another movie in the works. (October 16, 2003)

The well-documented controversy swirling around Gibson's upcoming movie THE PASSION OF CHRIST, has movie fans so curious that they've been crashing Web sites in their search for bootleg trailers. (October 13, 2003)

Was experiencing big problems in his quest to find a major studio willing to take on his controversial film THE PASSION. (October 8, 2003)

Has spent nearly $30 million of his own money to produce, co-write and direct controversial movie THE PASSION. (August 9, 2003)

Gibson's controversial religious film THE PASSION has been praised as the best adaptation of The Bible in Hollywood history by an acclaimed American reviewer, who is also an orthodox Jew -- Critic Michael Medved spoke on television of his approval of the $25.6 million film, funded entirely by devout Roman Catholic Gibson. (August 7, 2003)

Gibson has received an apology from the United States Conference Of Catholic Bishops after members lashed out at his plans to make a film about the last 12 hours of Christ's life -- The high clergy were skeptical about THE PASSION, which Gibson is directing in Italy, but a spokesman for the Conference admits members were wrong to be critical of a film that has yet to be completed. (June 16, 2003)

Gibson's son Edward narrowly escaped death when his truck skidded off a muddy road and plunged into a river -- the lucky 20-year-old and two pals were swept away by the force of the river, but were washed to safety in a shallow stretch after they skidded off a bridge on December 20. (January 2, 2003)

Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. (1996)

Auditioned for the role of Mozart in THE AMADEUS 1984.

Was considered for the lead role in BATMAN (1989).

A big fan of The Three Stooges.

Awarded the AO (Officer of the Order of Australia), Australia's highest honor, in mid-1997.

He and his wife met through a dating service.

He has a horseshoe kidney (two kidneys fused into one)

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.

He was considered for the role of James Bond in GOLDEN EYE (1995).

His father moved the family to Australia in part because he was afraid his sons would be drafted during the Vietnam War.

Roommates with Geoffrey Rush in college.

Director/producer of BRAVEHEART (1995), Gibson was investigated by the RSPCA, who were convinced that the fake horses used were real.

Gibson was supposed to star in Terry Gilliam's never made film, A TALE OF TWO CITIES, but turned it down to star in BRAVEHEART which he then offered to Gilliam to direct. Gilliam declined.

Because he was relatively unknown in the U.S., trailers and previews did not feature Mel Gibson, but instead focused on the car crashes and action scenes. (MAD MAX).

Cast himself in the role of McLeod for THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE (1993) only after he was unable to find any other satisfactory actor willing to take the part.

Considered for the role of Simon Templar in THE SAINT

For release of PAYBACK (1999) in Australia, the U.S. tagline, Get ready to root for the bad guy, was changed to, Get ready to CHEER for the bad guy, because Gibson pointed out that in Australia, to root is slang for having sexual intercourse.

Franco Zeferelli reportedly decided to offer him the role of Hamlet after seeing his suicide contemplation scene in LETHAL WEAPON (1987).

He and Greg Henry (PAYBACK) have starred in movies called THE PATRIOT. Mel Gibson in THE PATRIOT (2000), and Gregg Henry in THE PATRIOT (1986).

He eats some dog cookies in order to stop smoking in LETHAL WEAPON 3 (1992). In MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR (1981), Mel eats a can of dog food in order to survive.

His character in THE PATRIOT (2000) was originally scripted to be the real historical figure Francis Marion, THE SWAMP FOX, but after historians informed the filmmakers of some of the more sordid aspects of Marion's life (slaughtering Indians, raping his female slaves) they decided to create a fictional story and a more likeable hero.

His voice in MAD MAX (1979) was dubbed after producers were concerned that American audiences wouldn't understand his then-thick Australian accent.

In MAVERICK, he had special lessons to learn how to draw a gun from a holster.

In one scene of PAYBACK, Detective Hicks tells Mel Gibson's character, See you later Rocky. This may be a reference to CHICKEN RUN (2000), where Gibson plays a rooster named Rocky.

M. Night Shyamalan had originally written the main character in SIGNS (2002) as older. Once Gibson showed interest in the project, Shyamalan rewrote the character with Gibson in mind.

Production of RANSOM (1996) was delayed a few days when he needed an emergency appendicectomy.

The producers were looking for someone beaten and rough for the role of Max. The night before his audition for the film, he had his face cut in a bar fight.

Turned down the role of Eliot Ness in THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987) before Costner was signed.

CHICKEN RUN (2000): After Rocky leaves, there is another joke at Mel Gibson's expense. Bunty says, I don't even think he was American, a reference to the common misconception that Gibson is actually Australian. Although he was born in the USA and didn't move to Australia until he was 12, the belief persists, especially in the UK, that he's Australian.

He has his own production agency ( Icon Productions).

His partner at Icon Productions is Bruce Davey.

Mel's father, Hutton, was a railroad brakeman who was injured on the job, resulting in him transporting Mel and the other children to Australia.

Mel has a home in Montana, Connecticut, Australia, and California.

Mel's children were most impressed when he was the voice of John Smith in Disney's Pocahontas.

Mel has 10 brothers and no sisters.

THE THREE STOOGES are Mel's role models.

Was nominated for Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical in 2001 for WHAT WOMEN WANT.

Nominated for Best Male Performance at MTV Movie Awards for THE PATRIOT (2001)

Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical at Golden Globe Awards for WHAT WOMEN WANT (2001)

Nominated for Best Action Sequence at MTV Movie Awards for LETHAL WEAPON 4 (1999) - shared with Danny Glover

Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama, RANSOM (1997)

Nominated for Best Male Performance at MTV Movie Awards for BRAVEHEART (1996)

Nominated for David Lean Award for Direction at BAFTA Awards for BRAVEHEART (1996)

Nominated for Most Desirable Male at MTV Movie Awards (1996)

Nominated for Best Kiss at MTV Movie Awards for LETHAL WEAPON 3 (1993) - shared with Rene Russo

Nominated for Most Desirable Male at MTV Movie Awards for LETHAL WEAPON 3 (1993)