Posts Tagged ‘biography’

Lindsay Lohan

Thursday, September 11th, 2008

Lindsay LohanLindsay Morgan Lohan was born on the 2nd of July, 1986 in New York City and raised in Long Island. She is the eldest of four with two brothers and a sister. Lindsay’s career started at a very young age. At just three she was the first redheaded child to be signed by the Ford Modeling Agency. She appeared in print ads for companies like Toys “R” Us and modelled for Calvin Klein Kids (usually with siblings Michael and Ali) and Abercrombie Kids.

Lindsay was talented but after auditioning for some T.V. commercials she was unsuccessful. Just before she was about to give up she was awarded the role in a Duncan Hines commercial. Over sixty commercials followed including a Jell-O commercial with Bill Cosby. Lohan began appearing in soap operas, and in 1996 she landed a role in NBC’s soup opera, Another World.

Lohan was ready for the big screen. She left Another World when Nancy Meyers cast her in the Parent Trap. She played twins who attempt to bring their divorced parents together. The movie pulled in $92 million worldwide with critics praising Lohan’s performance. Disney signed her onto a three picture deal after the movie’s success. Her next two movies, Life- Size andGet a Clue, were made for T.V. Just before Get a Clue she shot a pilot for a new sitcom called Bette but left when production moved to Los Angeles. The show was cut after sixteen episodes.

After Get a Clue Lohan took time off from her movie career to focus on music. In September 2002 she signed a five-album deal with Estefan Enterprises. But Lohan was soon cast in her next Disney film, Freaky Friday. The remake of the classic had her starring alongside Jamie Lee Curtis. The movie pulled in over $160 million and allowed her to show off her singing abilities. The soundtrack ended up in the Billboard’s Top 20 in less than three weeks.

Lindsay Lohan

But her movie success didn’t follow into Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004). Lohan’s first movie which was not a remake only grossed $30 million and was a failure according to critics. “Though still a promising star, Lohan will have to do a little penance before she’s forgiven for Confessions,” Robert K. Elder wrote. Later that year Mean Girls was released to critical acclaim and $128 million worldwide. It was her first non-Disney film. Steve Rhodes said, “Lohan dazzles us once more.”

Lohan was asked to host Saturday Night Live three times, in 2004, 2005, and 2006, after her Mean Girls success. In 2005, she released her debut album, Speak, followed by A Little More Personal the next year. In the same year Lohan became the first living person to have a My Scene Goes Hollywood doll released by Mattel. She also voiced her doll in their straight to DVD movie.

Lohan was back on the Disney set in the 2005 Herbie: Fully Loaded film. Fully Loaded earned $144 million worldwide. She followed Herbie with Just My Luck. The movie received poor reviews and only $38 million worldwide. Lohan was in three limited release films leading up to 2007, the films made very little leaving critics unimpressed.

Lindsay LohanLohan began a troubled 2007, admitting herself into rehab in February. On the 11th of May Georgia Rule was released. Lohan was seen alongside Felicity Huffman and Jane Fonda. The film received mostly negative reviews and grossed $22 million worldwide. Things got worse from there. Lohan was arrested and her latest movie, I know who killed me, opened to a shocking $3.5 million dollars. Lohan was cast in Dare to Love Me after leaving rehab in 2007; the movie is due in 2009

In February 2008 Lohan re-created Marilyn Monroe’s final photo shoot, known as the Last Sitting, including nudity. Lohan continues to search for a more adult identity but is searching in all the wrong places. She turned down a few roles in 2008 but is due to star in Labor Pains. At the time of writing the film is in post-production. Lohan will play a young woman who pretends to be pregnant to avoid being fired.

Lohan, who already guest starred in the season 2 finale of ABC’s Ugly Betty, will be back in the next season for a rumoured five episodes. She also has a new album due soon.

Will Smith

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

Will SmithVery few performers have had as much success transitioning from the music scene to the film realm as Will Smith has.  Being in the entertainment scene since the late 80s, today, Smith is one of the most recognized and esteemed performers and producers in the industry.

Will Smith was born Willard Christopher Smith Jr on September 25th, 1968 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He attended Overbrook High School in Winfield Pennsylvania, which is where he soon became known to his friends as “The Prince,” for his charming antics.  Little did he know that this nickname would still have meaning over 30 years later.

At the early age of 12, Smith began rapping and developing his own style under the influence of hip-hop legend, Grandmaster Flash.  Four years later, at only 16, he met Jeff Townes, also known as DJ Jazzy Jeff, who he eventually collaborated with under the title, Fresh Prince.  The two produced a number of songs including the worldwide hit, Girls Ain’t Nothin But Trouble, and in 1989, the duo won their first Grammy for Best Rap Performance for Parents Just Don’t Understand.

Shortly thereafter, they won another Grammy in 1991 for Summertime.  DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince continued to make music together until their final album, Code Red, which was released in 1993.  Even though this was the end for the rap duo, Smith re-emerged as a solo artist in 1997 with his debut LP, Big Willie Style and continues to make and produce music today.

Prior to his debut as a solo artist, Will Smith had already made a name for himself in the acting realm.  In 1990, Will Smith was cast in the NBC sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which starred Smith as the “Fresh Prince,” a young street-smart kid from Philly living in one of LA’s wealthiest areas, Bel-Air.  The family comedy proved to be a great success running for six years and giving Smith a name in the industry.

It wasn’t long before the movie offers came rolling in.  One of his first roles was in the film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson, Made In America, in which Smith played the best friend of Goldberg’s onscreen daughter.  His next role in the Oscar-nominated film, Six Degrees of Separation, garnered him international respect after proving to the world that he could play more than the comical Fresh Prince.  This eventually led to the 1995 box-office hit, Bad Boys, which was one of the first-ever action films to feature two black lead actors.

After Bad Boys, things only got better for Will Smith.  He starred in over a dozen films including Independence Day (1996), Men in Black (1997), Enemy of the State (1998), Ali (2001), I, Robot (2004), Hitch (2005) and the Pursuit of Happyness (2006) to name a few.  Over the span of his acting career, he’s won 28 awards and has been nominated for 49 others including two Oscar nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his role in Ali and in The Pursuit of Happyness.

After successfully conquering the music and film industries, Will Smith has taken on the new role as producer.  With the help of partner James Lassiter, Smith recently launched Overbrook Entertainment, a film and television production company that also does artist management.  Since its birth, Overbrook has produced several box office hits including I Robot, Hitch, and The Pursuit of Happyness.

Will Smith

Ashley Tisdale Biography

Monday, July 28th, 2008

Recently named one of Teen People’s 25 Hottest Stars Under 25, Ashley Tisdale is best known for her role as Maddie, a hotel candy counter clerk and baby-sitter of devious twin boys who live in The Tipton Hotel on the Disney Channel series “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.”
Ashley Tisdale

Ashley can currently be seen starring opposite Zac Efron in the original movie musical, “High School Musical,” directed and choreographed by Kenny Ortega. The film premiered in January 2006 and was the highest rated telecast in Disney Channel history. Ashley made music history by being the first female artist to ever debut with two songs simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (“Bop To The Top” and “What I’ve Been Looking For,” both duets with co-star Lucas Grabeel from the RIAA triple-platinum certified “High School Musical” soundtrack).

Ashley has currently recorded her debut album for Warner Bros. Records, “Headstrong”. Her new version of “Kiss The Girl” is featured on the special edition DVD of “The Little Mermaid.”

Ashley TisdaleAshley’s acting credits include a featured role in the film “Donnie Darko” with Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Duval. She was a series regular on “Nathan’s Choice,” “Mayor of Oyster Bay” and “The Howie Mandel Pilot,” and had recurring roles on “The George Lopez Show,” “Still Standing” and “The Hughleys.” Guest star roles include “Grounded for Life,” “Strong Medicine,” “Boston Public” and “Seventh Heaven,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Charmed,” “Hannah Montana,” “Once and Again” and “Saturday Night Live.” Ashley also shot the-now-famous
T-mobile commercial with Catherine Zeta-Jones. On the animated front, Ashley has a recurring role on Disney Channel’s “Kim Possible” and will voice one of the lead characters in the new Disney Channel animated series “Phineas and Ferb.”

Manager Bill Perlman, who continues to represent her today, discovered Ashley at the age of three in her hometown mall in Monmouth County, NJ. After booking the first audition she was sent out on, Ashley went on to star in over 100 national network commercials. At the age of eight she booked a leading role in the national tour of the Broadway musical “Les Miserables.” She then toured internationally with the cast of “Annie.”

When Ashley isn’t pursuing her acting career, her passions include singing (she sang at the White House at the age of 12), shopping, and hanging out with her friends and sister Jennifer, who is also an actress.

Ashley currently resides in Los Angeles.

Ashley TisdaleStats

Birthday: July 2nd, 1985

Height: 5′-3″

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Blonde

Siblings: An older sister Jennifer who is also an actress,
and is her best friend

Pets: A Maltipoo named Blondie (Ashley’s nickname on the SLOZC)

Miley Cyrus Biography

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

Miley CyrusDestiny Hope Cyrus was born on the 23rd of November 1992. In January 2008 she officially changed her name to Miley Ray Cyrus.

Miley become an overnight star thanks to Disney’s Hanna Montana which debuted in March of 2006. In October that year the shows soundtrack was released, eventually going triple platinum. Hannah Montana: The movie is due to be released in May 2009.

Miley was born in Franklin, Tennessee. She has two older half brothers, Christopher Cody and Trace. She also has a half sister, Brandi, a younger brother Braison, and a younger sister, Noah, who is also an actress. Apparently she was nicknamed Miley because she was always smiling.

Miley’s first acting role was at 9 years old. She was a guest star on her father, Billy Ray Cyrus’, television series Doc. In 2003 she played Young Ruthie in Tim Burton’s Big Fish. When Miley was twelve she auditioned for the lead role of Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana in the new Disney Channel show but was told she was too small and too young. Disney finally signed her on. She then had the rare opertunity to audition her real father to play her on screen father. After trying to get rid of her Southern accent for seven years Disney told her to keep it.

Miley Cyrus - BreakoutIn 2007 Miley had a few seconds air time in the Disney Channel movie hit High School Musical 2, seen dancing by the pool. She also guest starred as Yatta on the Emperor’s new school.

Her Best of Both Worlds Tour was extended due to high demand. Tour tickets sold out in record time, and even the 3D movie concert broke records. Miley’s second studio album, Breakout will be released in July 2008.

In 2007 Disney released a Hannah Montana clothing line with some of Miley’s designs. Miley said, “It’s not a costume. A tween girl isn’t doing dress-up, they want to look like they could be Hannah Montana’s friend. This is a fashion line.” Miley is also writing a book about her life and career. Disney has reportedly bought the rights to the book for seven figures. It’s scheduled for release in spring 2009.

Miley is good friends with Emily Osment and Mitchel Musso from the set of Hanna Montana. She is also said to be friends with other Disney Channel stars such as Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron, Brenda Song and Ashley Tisdale. She has told Oprah that Hilary Duff is her role model. Miley has many pets, these include, horses, dogs, cats, fish and chickens.

Miley says her faith is “the main thing” and the reason she works in Hollywood.

Miley Trivia

Birth Name: Destiny Hope Cyrus

Nickname: Smiley; Miley

Height: 5′ 5″ (1.65 m)

Trivia

Daughter of singer/actor Billy Ray Cyrus and Leticia “Tish” Cyrus. Sister of Noah Lindsey Cyrus

Has five siblings: older paternal half-brother Christopher Cody, older maternal half-brother Trace, older maternal half-sister Brandi, and younger siblings Braison Chance and Noah Lindsey.

Her favorite sport is cheerleading.

Her favorite book is, “Don’t Die, My Love.”

Her favorite song by her Dad is “Achy Breaky Heart.”

Has written over a hundred songs and some of them have been used on her show, ”Hannah Montana” (2006).

Her favorite singers are Hilary Duff, Kelly Clarkson, Mariah Carey, and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz.

Her favorite album is Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway”.

Her favorite movie is Steel Magnolias (1989).

Likes to eat Chinese food.

Favourite hobby is going shopping.

She loves to watch High School Musical (2006) (TV) with her sisters.

She has three dogs, Loco (because “It’s crazy!”), Juicy (because of the clothing brand) and her newest dog, Minnie Pearl.

Miley was on the green team for 2 summers in a row in the Disney Channel Games.

She has never taken formal singing lessons (as of June 2007).

Started auditioning for Hannah Montana when she was 11 years old, She originally tried out for the part of Lilly Truscott.

Was ranked #17 on Forbes List of The 20 Top-Earning Young Superstars.(2007).

Ranked #12 on interview magazines Hollywood faces to watch “future stars of tomorrow”.

In January 2008, she legally changed her name from Destiny Hope Cyrus to Miley Ray Cyrus. Ray is for her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Miley was her nickname, given because as a

baby, she always smiled. Smiley evolved into Miley in baby slang.

Released a 3D concert movie of her Best of Both Worlds Tour on February 1st, 2008. It became the highest grossing Super Bowl weekend release ever.

Was ranked #22 on Entertainment Weekly’s ’30 Under 30′ the actress list. (2008).

Was ranked #1 on TV Guide Top 10 Teen Star Countdown (2008).

Befriended her backup dancer, Mandy Jiroux, while on tour. The two have a Youtube channel that they regularly update with new videos.

Miley’s half-brother (Trace) and Hannah Montana co-star Mitchel Musso’s brother (Mason) are in the band Metro Station.

Godmother is Dolly Parton.

Jessica Simpson

Thursday, July 3rd, 2008

Jessica SimpsonJessica Simpson has taken the music, fashion, and beauty and entertainment industries by storm. A talented artist with universal appeal, she has become an international star and shows no signs of slowing down.

Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Jessica began her performing career by sharing the stage with famous gospel acts such as Kirk Franklin, God’s Property, and Ce Ce Winans.  With her unmistakable voice and unique pop sound, Jessica caught the eye of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mattola, and after joining a tour in support of the boy-band 98 Degrees, she quickly burst onto the music scene in 1999 with her debut release Sweet Kisses.  Her RIAA-certified double platinum debut featured Jessica’s massive breakthrough hit, “I Wanna Love You Forever,” which hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The title track to Irresistible, her 2001 follow-up, was a crossover smash, charting on the Hot 100 (#15), the Rhythmic Top 40 (#12), Top 40 Mainstream (#3) and Top 40 Tracks (#5).

But it was the success of her 4 times platinum album, In This Skin, which marked Jessica’s debut as a songwriter and further refined her ever-evolving voice as an artist. “Sweetest Sin,” the album’s first single to hit the Top 40, is a marked change from the giddy teen pop that launched her career.

Having made her mark in the music industry, it wasn’t long before Hollywood was knocking on her door.  In addition to a recurring role on That 70′s Show, Jessica’s MTV reality show Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica launched in 2003, and was a huge hit, making her a household name.  In 2005, Jessica made her film debut as Daisy Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard, and released a cover of Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Were Made For Walkin’” for the movie’s soundtrack which topped the Billboard Hot Digital Tracks charts and was certified platinum.  Jessica’s just completed shooting her next film project, Employee of the Month for Lions Gate Films.
Jessica just finished recording her fifth solo album, “ A Public Affair” to be released August 29th on Epic Records. Simpson boasts songwriting credits on 10 out of the 13 slated tracks produced by the most sought-after producers in the business: Lester Mendez, Jimmy Jam &Terry Lewis, Cory Rooney, Scott Storch and Stargate. The album is a true reflection of her growth both personally and musically, showcasing her diverse range of artistic influences. There are up-tempo dance tracks, ballads, and a beautiful cover of “Let Him Fly” originally recorded by her personal favorite, Patty Griffith.

An enthusiastic philanthropist, Jessica serves as Operation Smile’s International Youth Ambassador.  She most recently joined the Operation Smile international medical mission in Nakuru, Kenya where she assisted the volunteer team with the medical evaluations of the more than 280 children who visited the remote region with the hopes of receiving life-changing corrective surgery for their facial deformities.

Jessica has been praised by fans and recognized by critics with three Teen Choice Awards for Breakout Artist, Love Song of the Year and Red Carpet Fashion Icon, and nominations for two American Music Awards including Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Album and two MTV Video Music Awards for Best Female Video and Best Pop Video.  She has also graced the covers of many high-profile magazines, such as Rolling Stone, Cosmopolitan, GQ, Marie Claire and Elle.