As news of Charlie Sheen’s sit-down with the President had the Internet all abuzz, he continues to prove that making the cross-over from movies to television can be profitable – and attention-getting! According to the latest TV Guide magazine article Who Makes What, Charlie Sheen makes $875,000 per episode of his sitcom Two and a Half Men, giving him the ranking as one of the top earning actors in television. And it’s a good thing! His adorable daughters (Sam J., 5, and Lola Rose, 4) with ex-wife Denise Richards are sure to cost him a bundle when they grow up, just for bodyguards to keep the boys away! And Charlie and his wife Brooke Mueller recently welcomed twin boys as well!

Charlie Sheen was born Carlos Irwin Estevez in New York City, New York, and is son to Martin Sheen and an artist mother. Although his brother, Emilio Estevez, kept the family name, Charlie Sheen followed in his father’s footsteps adopting his stage name in honor of the Catholic archbishop, Fulton J. Sheen.

Charlie and his family moved to Malibu, California following his father’s Broadway role. His first acting gig was at age nine alongside his father in a TV movie called The Execution of Private Slovik, although his career would not truly begin until after high school. Charlie attended Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California. His athletic talents shone through when he was a star on the school’s baseball team, which would lend him the advantage in future baseball movie roles. However, Charlie was expelled from the school for poor attendance and bad grades.

The true beginning of his career was marked with his role in the movie Red Dawn. He appeared in such movies as Major League, Young Guns, and Men at Work, but has since even written and produced a few pieces of his own. Crossing back into television when he replaced Michael J. Fox on Spin City, he now enjoys his sixth season on Two and a Half Men.

[photo: Angela George]

Actors like Charlie Sheen have been known to choose stage names that differ from their family names. What are your thoughts on your cute kid possibly changing their name for their time in the limelight?

Ugly Betty star America Ferrera is a beauty indeed! Now on her fourth season with the series, this young starlet knew at a young age that acting was for her.

America Ferrera was born in Los Angeles, California, growing up in the Woodland Hills area of the city. At only age seven, she landed her first role in a school production of Hamlet, and began acting in school plays and community theatre. She attended George Ellery Hale Middle School and El Camino Real High School and often took the bus to auditions.

By 2002, America made her TV debut in the Disney Channel movie Gotta Kick It Up! Her feature film debut in Real Women Have Curves put her on the map to stardom, followed by much success with TV and film roles such as Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

America’s biggest success thus far is the lead role in Ugly Betty, earning her a spot in the Time Magazine “Time 100: The Most Influential People in the World” list in 2007. She is currently in production on her latest film role.

[photo: Jerry Avenaim]

Do you think characters like America Ferrera’s Ugly Betty have positive or negative effects on the self-esteem of young girls?

Not only does this Mom of three still do her family’s laundry, she looks good doing it! Kelly Ripa was born in Camden County, New Jersey, and attended Berlin Community School. During her time at Eastern Regional High School in Voorhees Township, New Jersey, she got her taste for acting through plays at her high schools. It was those performances, in fact, through which her talents were discovered her senior year. She went on to act in local theatre.

Her TV debut was as a regular on the show Dance Party USA, but her first major role was as Hayley Vaughn on the ABC soap All My Children. She went on to replace Kathie Lee Gifford to co-host (the now named) Live with Regis and Kelly while still acting on All My Children. Within a year, she left the soap to focus on her co-hosting duties.

The following year, Kelly picked up a role on the sitcom Hope & Faith while still working on Live, but after the show’s cancellation, the actress has been quoted as taking a break from acting right now.

Kelly runs a production company called Milojo Productions with husband Marc Consuelos yet still finds time to be a super mom. What’s Kelly’s next career move? Perhaps this bubbling beauty should dip her career into modeling because she’s got the rest of the world conquered!

Who do you think made a better co-host…Kathie Lee or Kelly?

[photo: The heart Truth 2007]

If you’re a fan of Vince Vaughn, then you probably already know that his latest movie Couples Retreat is scheduled to hit theaters in October this year, but the trailer is already causing waves of laughter. See how this funny man made it from Swingers to Into the Wild in a few short years.

Vince was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, growing up in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, where he was on the football and wrestling teams. However, he graduated from Lake Forest High School shortly after a car accident took any chances of an athletic career away from him. He decided to pursue his interest in acting.

After landing a role in a Chevrolet commercial, Vince moved to Hollywood where he was cast in the TV show China Beach, as well as three after-school specials. His theatrical debut was in the movie Rudy, but it was his role in Swingers that finally brought him the success he was seeking.

Vince went on to appear in many big-screen hits, perhaps some of the most memorable being Old School, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and Wedding Crashers. However, he’s played a handful of serious roles along the way, including the remake of Psycho and his role in Into the Wild. Try as he may to play straight roles, Vince Vaughn is always best known as a comedic actor.

Do you think Vince Vaughn can be taken seriously as an actor? Or, is he destined to be thought of as a big guy that brings in big laughts?

[Photo: James Caws]

The Taking of Pelham 123 may be the first big drama movie to hit Summer 2009, but it’s certainly not John Travolta’s first blockbuster smash! From Grease to Pulp Fiction, he’s played good guys and bad guys, but his latest movie Pelham is his most villainous character yet!

Born February 18, 1954, this dimpled-chin darling made his debut into the world in Englewood, New Jersey, as one of six children. Perhaps it was in his genes (his mother was an actress and singer and eventually a drama teacher), but John moved to New York City after graduating from Dwight Morrow High School and hit the stage in the musical Grease. He also landed a role on Broadway in Over Here!

This taste of the spotlight prompted John to move to Los Angeles to further his career in show biz. His first TV gig was on a soap opera called The Edge of Night, followed by several TV roles, the most famous of which was Vinnie Barbarino on Welcome Back, Kotter from 1975-1979. This unforgettable character made John go from actor to superstar.

His first major motion picture role was in the movie Carrie around the same time, and he even had a hit single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Now deemed a movie actor, he appeared in memorable movies such as Saturday Night Fever (for which he became one of the youngest actors to ever be nominated for a Best Actor Oscar) and Grease.

After several negatively received movie roles, John’s career seemed to be on hiatus until his role as Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction. He’s since chosen movie roles that have brought him both positive and negative reviews, but this actor/singer/licensed pilot’s star has no risk of falling with his newest movie!

Do you feel that the media gave John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston the privacy they requested following the death of their son Jett this past January?

A couple that Twitters together stays together… or at least that seems to be the mantra that Twittering couple Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher seem to follow. Ashton boasts the title of first Tweeter (Twitterer?) to have more than a million followers, and with them he’s shared his consideration to star in Neil LaBute’s Broadway production of “Fat Pig.” It will be this former model’s first time setting foot on stage, but certainly not his first time in the spotlight.

Ashton was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he grew up and attended Washington High School before moving to Tiffin, Iowa, where he attended the Clear Creek-Amana High School. The move to the new school prompted his involvement in school plays and he also took a place on the football team, although his brother’s heart ailment would motivate him to major in biochemical engineering when he attended the University of Iowa.

While in college, Ashton was approached by a scout in an Iowa City bar called The Airliner. He entered the “Fresh Faces of Iowa” modeling competition, which earned him first place and a trip to New York City for the International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) convention. Although he didn’t win, he still signed with Next modeling agency in New York, which landed him gigs in Calvin Klein ads, jobs modeling in Paris and Milan, and a spot in a Pizza Hut commercial. He headed to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career.

Ashton’s first audition secured his role in the TV series That ’70s Show, followed by a series of movie roles such as Dude, Where’s My Car?, Just Married, and The Butterfly Effect. With success on his side, he continued to produce and star in his own series called Punk’d on MTV, as well as executive produce several reality shows, thanks in part to his co-owned production company Katalyst Films.

Ashton continues to dabble in modeling, acting, and as an entrepreneur, but it is his comedic personality and his marriage to Demi that seems to gain him the most attention.

What do you think of Ashton on Broadway? A natural progression or totally out of his element?

Recent pics of Jennifer Lopez on the set of her latest film The Back-Up Plan show no signs of the incessant rumors that she and hubby Marc Anthony are having marital trouble. This cheerful dancer turned actor turned singer has two cute kids of her own, but once was just Jenny from the block.

Born and raised in South Bronx, New York, this Puerto Rican beauty attended Catholic schools, including Preston High School in the Bronx. At age 19, Jennifer financed her own singing and dance lessons while attending Baruch College. After only one semester, her schedule of balancing her job in a legal office, attending dance class, and performing at night clubs left her little time for school.

As she upped her audition schedule focusing on dance roles, J-Lo’s first break was found in various rap music videos. She landed a role as a back-up dancer for New Kids on the Block during their American Music Awards performance in 1991, and her continued persistence landed her a regular job as a Fly Girl on the TV series In Living Color (who didn’t want to be a Fly Girl?!) in 1990 and as a back-up dancer for Janet Jackson soon after.

Opening the door for acting, Jenny from the Block made appearances on several TV series before landing her big-screen debut in the movie My Family in 1995. With a few more films under her belt, her biggest break came with her lead role as Selena in the movie with the same title, earning her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (and the title of highest-paid Hispanic actress in history).

Since then, Jennifer Lopez has managed to juggle life as an actress, singer, producer, and more, keeping her romantic life in the very public eye. It wasn’t until 2007 that she seemed to find her soul mate when she teamed up with her now husband Marc Anthony on the movie El Cantante, proving that a girl from the Bronx really can have it all!

Do you love Jennifer Lopez for her dancing, singing, or acting?

[USCG photo by PA2 Anastasia Burns]

Will Adam Sandler’s second daughter, Sunny Madeline, have a future as a child actor? Or, perhaps, a cute kid model? At age six months, the youngest Sandler made her public debut on set visiting her actor-father as he films his latest movie Grown-Ups.

Before Adam Sandler was called Daddy, he was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1966. At age five, his family moved to Manchester, New Hampshire, where he grew up and eventually attended Manchester Central High School. While at New York University studying for his BA, he performed in clubs and on campuses as a comedian.

Adam’s first acting gig was a recurring role on the TV hit The Cosby Show, followed by a steady job as a performer on the MTV game show Remote Control. He continued to perform in comedy clubs, where he was soon discovered by comedian Dennis Miller, who referred him to Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels. After one year as a writer for SNL, Adam became a featured actor on the show.

He made his big-screen debut in the film Going Overboard, but became more widely known for comedies such as Billy Madison and The Wedding Singer. Although he earned kudos for his dramatic acting chops with such films as Punch-Drunk Love and Reign Over Me.

As if being an actor, comedian, screen writer, and musician wasn’t enough, Adam formed his own film production company called Happy Madison Productions in 1999. Now a happily married father of two, he is in production for his 35^th film and continues to find success through acting.

Do you prefer Adam Sandler’s acting in comedic or serious film roles?

[photo: Mario Antonio Pena Zapatería]

Jay Leno is resting back home after his mysterious overnight stay in the hospital last week for “observation purposes only.” But, will this funny-man be able to keep America laughing upon his return? Only time will tell!

Jay was born in New York in 1950 to two immigrant parents: a filmmaker mother and father in showbiz. He attended high school in Andover, Massachusetts and earned a bachelor’s degree in speech therapy from Emerson College despite his high school counselor’s recommendation that he drop out.

The beginning of his career was marked by his roles in TV commercials such as Doritos, and by the late 1970s he was opening for acts such as Johnny Mathis and John Denver. The comedian’s biggest break came when he substituted for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show from 1987 until he took over the show in 1992, never giving up his natural talent as a stand-up comic.

Although his role as host of The Tonight Show is coming to an end in May 2009, his involvement as an NBC Network icon will remain with other projects in the works.

Although Jay Leno is not famous for his small movie roles, he’ll always be remembered as the funny, large-jawed lover of automobiles way beyond his years as a comedian.

Did you like Johnny Carson or Jay Leno best as host of The Tonight Show?

[photo by Michael Albov]

With a hosting career only held longer by Johnny Carson, David Letterman has been synonymous with late night TV. He graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana from the Department of Radio and Television but began his career as a newscaster and announcer at the college’s radio station.

Upon graduation, he realized his true passion was for television. His gig as the host of an Indianapolis radio talk show station was followed by his job as a local anchor and weatherman on his first TV appearance, which quickly brought him recognition for his unpredictable on-air behavior.

After moving to Los Angeles with the goal of becoming a comedy writer, he worked writing material for the show Good Times, appearing on stage at The Comedy Store, and made a brief appearance on the Starland Vocal Band Show. Several appearances on various other shows led to his regular guest appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Eventually, he earned his own morning comedy show, which led to his long-running Late Night with David Letterman program, which still airs today.

This hot star waited until college to aim his sights on Hollywood, but if you’re sure your cute kid has a funny bone that will get him places, embrace it! He or she could be the next David Letterman!

[photo: SSGT REYNALDO RAMON, USAF]

What’s your favorite Late Night skit on Letterman’s show?