John O'Hurley

Though he had been acting on stage and television for years, John O'Hurley did not become a household name until 1995, when his signature character of J. Peterman, the pompous, effusive and foolhardy catalogue clothier made his debut on the popular sitcom "Seinfeld" (NBC, 1989-1998). Speaking in flowery prose, much like the over-the-top copy in the real J. Peterman catalogue, O'Hurley's character entered the cultural zeitgeist and became a part of television history. Though always possessing a flair for broad comedy, O'Hurley's talents were far-reaching - he appeared in numerous soap operas, television movies and Broadway productions, hosted game shows, and lent his distinctive voice to dozens of animated series. He even impressed audiences with his fancy footwork on the surprise summer hit, "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 2005- ), where his last-minute, surprising loss created a major ratings boost for the then fledgling show. While some actors, lucky enough to have landed a memorable character like Peterman might never have emerged out from under its considerable shadow, O'Hurley managed to parlay that notoriety into a vibrant career, equally diverse and prolific.