University Of Southern California

The first person to walk on the Moon, Neil Armstrong was an astronaut and aeronautical engineer. Prior to his trip to the Moon, he became NASA's first civilian astronaut to fly in space. After resigning from NASA, he taught in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. He was a Presidential Medal of Freedom awardee.

Famous for his roles in Western films in the mid-20th century, actor John Wayne was among the top box office draws for three decades. In a career spanning over half a century, he starred in 142 motion pictures. Upon his death, he came to be recognized as “an enduring icon who symbolized and communicated American values and ideals.”

Will Ferrell rose to fame in the mid-1990s when he acted in a comedy show Saturday Night Live. He then went on to act in a series of comedy films such as Talladega Nights, Step Brothers and The Other Guys.  He’s considered part of the ‘Frat Pack’, essentially meaning Hollywood comic actors who emerged in the late 1990s and 2000s.

Ron Howard started his career in the show business as an actor, but it was in direction that he found his true calling. He is highly respected for his craft and films like Solo: A Star Wars Story, Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind. He won the Academy Award for the Best  Director for A Breautiful Mind.

An actor famous for his rugged good looks, Tom Selleck is best known for playing tough police officers and investigators in TV shows and films. Even though he has been active in the entertainment industry since the 1960s, he finally gained stardom only in the 1980s and continues to be a popular actor to date.

Born to a famous musician Phil Collins, Lily Collins first faced the camera at the age of two. As an adult, she gained recognition with Mirror Mirror and then followed it up with The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and Rules Don't Apply. The British-American actress, who has become extremely successful, is also a model and a published author.

Born into a family of poets and authors, Dave Franco was encouraged to pursue acting by his brother James. After appearing in minor roles, he played a prominent role in the comedy film 21 Jump Street, which proved to be a turning point in his career. He then went on to try his hand at writing, producing, and directing.

Considered one of the most underrated actresses, the late Kelly Preston left her mark in both films and television shows and across a variety of genres. The charming actress starred alongside big Hollywood actors including her husband John Travolta and made her presence felt in most of them.

An American actress and singer, Miranda Cosgrove started out as a child actress. In 2010, she became the second-highest-paid child star, having earned $180,000 per episode for the TV series iCarly. Also a philanthropist, Miranda Cosgrove supports St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and is a spokesperson for an organization called Light the Night Walk which raises awareness for blood cancer.

Katherine Schwarzenegger is a young and confident woman. As an author, she encourages young women to achieve a positive self-image and confidence. Each of her books serves as a guiding light for women, children, and youngsters. She is also associated with non-profit organizations, such as Best Friends Animal Society and American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

One of the most popular actors of his generation, Michael Landon appeared on the cover of TV Guide on 22 occasions, the most for an actor and second only to Lucille Ball. Also a singer and director, Landon had a major impact on the film industry, so much so that a community building was named after him following his demise.

Timothy Olyphant became known to a wider audience when he portrayed the character of a righteous, brooding Sheriff in the HBO series Deadwood, which ran from 2004 to 2006. He later played the same role in the 2019 film Deadwood: The Movie. He received critical acclaim for playing the role of a deputy US Marshall in the television series Justified.

As an actor, who was also interested in photography and playing the guitar, Anton Yelchin was a man of many talents. Unfortunately, he was involved in a freak accident that killed him when he was 27. Such was his impact in Hollywood that a bronze statue of his was erected at his grave and many celebrities attended the unveiling ceremony.

Paula Patton is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Jane Carter in the 2011 film Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. She is also famous for playing Ms.Blu Rain in the 2009 American drama film Precious, for which she was honored at the Boston Society of Film Critics Award. 

Regina King was first noticed when she appeared in the series 227 and then gained fame with her role in Jerry Maguire. Her performance as Sharon Rivers in If Beale Street Could Talk won her both the Academy and the Golden Globe awards for Best Supporting Actress.

Kyra Sedgwick is a popular American filmmaker and actress. Such is her popularity as a TV actress that Kyra Sedgwick started earning around US$300,000 per episode in 2007. Among many other prestigious awards, such as an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award, she has also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

Saweetie is an American rapper gained recognition when she posted her debut single Icy Grl on SoundCloud. Subsequently, the video of the song broke the internet as it went on to gather 100 million views on YouTube. She was then signed by Warner Records, which increased her popularity. She is also signed to Artistry Worldwide, her manager Max Gousse's record label.

America Ferrera is an American actress and filmmaker. Best known for her portrayal of Betty Suarez in the TV series Ugly Betty, Ferrera won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance, becoming the first Latin woman to do so. In 2007, she was named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list.

A popular American actress, Lauren German is known for portraying roles that require skills pertaining to martial arts. After playing important roles in action TV series, such as Hawaii Five-0, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D., Lauren German landed the main role of Det. Chloe Decker in the urban fantasy television series Lucifer.

The most-decorated track and field athlete, Allyson Felix, once bullied for having skinny legs, now has a record 9 Olympic medals, including 6 gold medals. Named to Time 100 in 2020, she is also part of the board of Right to Play, which caters to children in underdeveloped countries.

Active in Hollywood for over two decades, actress Sasha Alexander began her career in theater. Soon, she moved on to TV and appeared in a few shows before gaining popularity. She has also acted in many short films and feature films and is the winner of one People's Choice Award. One interesting fact about her is that she is multilingual.

DeMar DeRozan is an American basketball player who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA. A four-time NBA All-Star, DeRozan has also been an important member of the United States national team, helping the team win gold medals at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Best known for his performances as Kunta Kinte in Roots and Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation, LeVar Burton is also known for his 23-year stint as the award-winning host of Reading Rainbow. Though he initially aspired to be a Catholic priest, he doesn’t believe in any religion anymore.

Retired American astronaut Jim Lovell commanded the iconic Apollo 13 mission and was one of the first three human beings to fly to the Moon, orbit it, and get back to Earth. He had also been a US Navy captain. Following his retirement, Lovell launched a restaurant in Lake Forest.

Best known for his role in the NBC crime drama series The Blacklist, actor Ryan Eggold began his career as a stage actor. Developing an early interest in acting, he studied theater arts at the University of Southern California before making his professional debut. Besides acting, he also writes music and plays guitar and piano for the band Eleanor Avenue.

Grant Masaru Imahara, a Japanese-American electrical engineer, roboticist, television host and actor, began his career at Lucasfilm, where he got involved with several big budget films including Star War franchise. Later, he joined MythBusters as a member of Build Tea and was well-known for his contribution in it. His other important works include White Rabbit Project, BattleBots, Star Trek Continues etc.

Bridgit Mendler is best known for her Teen Choice Award-nominated portrayal in Good Luck Charlie and her role of Olivia in the TV movie Lemonade Mouth. Her debut music album contained the chartbusting track Ready or Not. She has also worked for Give With Target and First Book.

An actress who has been active in the entertainment industry for four decades, Madeleine Stowe first gained popularity for her performances in TV shows. She gradually entered films as well and received acclaim for her role in the independent film Short Cuts. Besides acting, she is on the board of directors of the foundation, 'Artists for Peace and Justice'.

Susan Downey is an American film producer. She is credited with forming a production house called Team Downey, along with her husband Robert Downey Jr. Robert credits Susan for helping him resurrect his Hollywood career after staying by his side throughout his struggle against drugs and alcohol addiction.

An actor remembered for his role in the television series The Famous Jett Jackson, Lee Thompson Young was a popular young star who died too soon. Interested in acting from an early age, he made his debut as a teenager and went on to have a successful career. Sadly, he suffered from depression and died by suicide, at the age of 29.