JK Rowling’s story is that of rags-to-riches. She is the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series, which have sold more than 500 million copies and is the best-selling book series in history. She also writes crime fiction albeit under a pen name. Rowling supports many charities and has founded Lumos, an international NGO, working for children.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, The Undertaker is currently signed to WWE. In a career spanning over three decades, he has clinched the world heavyweight championship seven times. He has appeared in a few films and TV shows as well. In 2004, he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
Rapper, record producer, and audio engineer, Dr. Dre, is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics. He is credited with the popularization of West Coast G-funk, a sub-genre of hip hop. After establishing himself in the music industry, he promoted the careers of many other rappers, including 2Pac and Snoop Dogg.
One of the most popular comedic actors of his generation, Ben Stiller is part of the famous group The Frat Pack – he has been described as the leader of the group, which involves names like Will Ferrell, Owen Wilson and Steve Carell. A popular and successful actor, his movies have grossed over $2.6 billion in the USA and Canada.
A high-school drop-out, Chris Rock worked at restaurants before stepping into stand-up comedy. He gained fame with SNL and earned his first role through Eddie Murphy. Known for voicing Marty in the Madagascar franchise, Chris also created the series Everybody Hates Chris and was voted Comedy Central’s fifth-greatest stand-up comedian.
Mads Mikkelsen is a Danish actor best known for his portrayal of Le Chiffre in the 2006 spy film Casino Royale, which earned him international recognition. One of the most celebrated and decorated Danish actors of his generation, Mads Mikkelsen has received several prestigious awards such as the Bodil Award, European Film Academy Achievement award, and Cannes Film Festival Award.
Widely regarded as the Queen of Country Pop, Shania Twain is the best-selling female artist in the history of country music, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide. She is also one of the best-selling music artists ever. According to Billboard, Shania Twain is the 13th Greatest Music Video Female Solo Artist ever.
Former professional basketball player, Scottie Pippen, is best known for his stint with the Chicago Bulls with who he won six NBA championships. Considered one of the greatest small forwards of all time, he played a key role in transforming the Bulls into one of the most formidable forces in NBA in the 1990s.
Ranked 79th on VH1's list of 100 Greatest Kid Stars, Diane Lane started off as a child actress before becoming a well-known leading Hollywood actress. Also known for her beauty, Diane has been featured in lists, such as Top 99 Most Desirable Women. A talented actress, Diane Lane has also worked with several charity organizations, such as Heifer International.
Popular actress and model, Brooke Shields, was exposed to the show business early on as her mother was a model. Her mother helped her find work when she was just a baby. Starting her career as a model, she eventually moved on to acting. Besides TV shows and films, she has also appeared in many Broadway musicals.
Best known for her roles in the Austin Powers franchise, Bedazzled, and The Royals, Elizabeth Hurley began her career as an Estee Lauder model. A trained ballerina, she has also been in the news for her relationship with Hugh Grant and her marriage to textile magnate Arun Nayar.
Born to veteran actor Martin Sheen, Charlie Sheen began acting at an early age and later became a big star with movies like Platoon and Wall Street and television shows like Spin City and Two and a Half Men. The actor has also been in news for his alcoholism, drug abuse issues and violent behaviour towards women in his life.
Kevin James’s performance as Doug in The King of Queens earned him an Emmy Award nomination. He was active in wrestling and football in school and is also known for delivering the 2007 Pepsi 400 NASCAR command. He has also voiced characters in films such as the Hotel Transylvania series.
Martin Lawrence is a German born-American actor and comedian. Despite being traumatized after witnessing his parents' divorce at the age of eight, Lawrence went on to succeed as a comedian and later as a leading Hollywood actor. After a problematic 1990s, which included episodes of arrests, lawsuits, and health problems, he bounced back with several hit films.
Slash is an English-American songwriter, musician, and record producer. After achieving popularity as the lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses, Slash left the band to form Velvet Revolver, a hard rock supergroup. Widely regarded as one of the greatest guitar players in the history of rock, Slash is often named in lists, such as the Top Guitarists of All Time.
Retired professional wrestler, actor, and television presenter, Shawn Michaels, is regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers in history. He is a four-time world champion and two-time Royal Rumble winner. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice. Besides wrestling, he has appeared in a few films and TV shows.
Bjork is an Icelandic singer, record producer, songwriter, DJ, and actress. She is best known for her association with the now-defunct yet popular band, The Sugarcubes. The bestselling Icelandic singer-songwriter of all time, Bjork was named in Time magazine's most influential people in the world list in 2015. Over the course of her illustrious career, Bjork has received several awards.
American actor and comedian John C. Reilly soared to fame with his role in the war drama Casualties of War and his Academy Award-nominated role in Chicago. A musician, too, he performs with his own band. He was also nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in the play True West.
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.
Professional basketball coach and former player, Steve Kerr, is currently the head coach of the Golden State Warriors of the NBA. He has won five NBA titles as a player and three as a head coach. He has been immensely successful as a coach, helping his team break the record for the most wins in an NBA season.
Sunita Williams is an American US Navy officer and astronaut. She formerly held the records for most spacewalk time for a woman and most spacewalks by a woman. In 2007, she became the first person to run a marathon in space. She has several honors under her belt, including a NASA Spaceflight Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Navy Commendation Medal.
Muggsy Bogues is a former basketball player. Standing at 5 feet 3 inches tall, Bogues is the shortest player in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). When his 14-season NBA career came to an end, Bogues served as the head coach for Charlotte Sting, which participated in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) from 1997 to 2007.
Marlee Matlin is an American actress and author. Her portrayal of Sarah Norman in the 1986 film Children of a Lesser God earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, making her the only deaf performer to have received an Oscar. Apart from being an accomplished actress, Matlin is also an important member of the National Association of the Deaf.
Kristin Davis is an American actress best known for portraying Charlotte in the popular comedy-drama TV series Sex and the City. Also renowned for her philanthropic work, she has campaigned in support of Oxfam's work as the confederation's global ambassador since 2004. As part of her philanthropic work, Kristin Davis has traveled to places like South Africa, Haiti, and Mozambique.
William Zabka is an actor best known for his role as Johnny Lawrence in the film The Karate Kid. He started attending California State University but quit before completing his degree. He began his acting career in the mid-1980s and established himself in Hollywood within a few years. He turned a producer with the short film Most in 2003.
Sarah Jessica Parker's name is synonymous with the TV series, Sex and the City TV. Apart from being an actress, she is also known for her work in the fashion industry; she has become the face of several popular fashion brands, such as Garnier and Gap. Not surprisingly, she has launched her own fashion line, featuring accessories and clothing items.
Kyle Chandler is an American actor who received widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Eric Taylor in the sports drama TV series Friday Night Lights. Apart from acting, Chandler volunteers as a firefighter. He also raises funds to help football players with spinal cord injuries by taking part in a charity golf tournament that takes place every year.
The founding member of the popular heavy metal band White Zombie, Rob Zombie is an American singer-songwriter, voice actor, and filmmaker. Having incorporated horror and sci-fi themes into his music and lyrics from the beginning of his career, Zombie often entertains his audience visually in his live shows; he is credited with popularizing shock rock theatricality.
Sherilyn Fenn is an American actress best known for playing Audrey Horne on the mystery horror drama TV series, Twin Peaks. Over the years, Fenn's acting skills have been overshadowed by her good looks with several publications including her on their lists like the most beautiful women in the world, sexiest women in the world, and 50 hottest babes ever.
Alan Cumming is a Scottish-American actor, filmmaker, comedian, and singer. A Tony Award winner, Cumming has contributed immensely to the development of the Scottish Youth Theatre, of which he is a patron. An openly bisexual actor, Cumming's work as an LGBT rights activist has earned him several awards, including the Vito Russo Award and HRC's Humanitarian Award.
Referred to as King of Bollywood and King Khan in the media, Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan is considered one of the most successful film stars of the Hindi film indusrty. Beginning his career as a TV actor, he struggled for many years before making it big as a Hindi film star.
Maura Tierney is an actress who has been contributing immensely to the success of the American film and TV industry since the 1990s. She mainly plays supporting roles, many of which have been worthy of prestigious awards. Maura Tierney is a cancer survivor.
Trent Reznor is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and composer. Reznor is credited with founding the popular band Nine Inch Nails, where he serves as the principal songwriter, lead vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. Trent Reznor is also credited with mentoring Marilyn Manson and has contributed to the latter's albums. .
Canadian former professional ice hockey player Mario Lemieux spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, playing parts of 17 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons. A gifted playmaker and fast skater, he is considered to be one of the best players of all time. With a 0.754 career goals-per-game average, he ranks second in NHL history, behind only Mike Bossy.
Bryan Holland, or Dexter Holland, formed the rock band The Offspring, of which he is also the lead singer and guitarist. A virologist, too, he also attained a PhD in molecular biology from USC. He is also a certified pilot and works for charitable causes such as AIDS awareness.
Italian-American actor, Frank Grillo, is known for his work in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Warrior, The Grey and Zero Dark Thirty. A business graduate, he began his show business career by doing commercials and later moved to acting. He other significant work include films like The Purge: Anarchy, Wolf Warrior 2 and television series Prison Break and Kingdom.