Michael Emerson

Despite having been drawn to comedy at the start of his career, actor Michael Emerson emerged in decidedly creepier roles that later earned him great notoriety. In the beginning, he cut his teeth on the stage, while struggling to earn a living with odd jobs. He gained momentum once he began performing Shakespeare, which propelled him to New York City and several acclaimed Off-Broadway productions, particularly "The Misanthrope" (1998) and "The Iceman Cometh" (1999). But it was his Emmy Award-winning performance as a suspected serial killer on "The Practice" (NBC, 1997-2004) that propelled his career, leading to him being cast as the manipulative leader of the mysterious Others on "Lost" (ABC, 2004-2010); a role that turned Emerson into a household name practically overnight.