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Gary Alan Sinise was born in Blue Island, Illinois, to Mylles S. (Alsip) and Robert L. Sinise, A.C.E., a film editor. He is of Italian (from his paternal grandfather), English, Scottish, Irish, French, German, and Swedish ancestry. His family moved to Highland Park, where he attended high school. He was something of a rebel, playing in bands but paying little attention to school.

Gary and some friends tried out for "West Side Story" as a lark, but Gary was hooked on acting for life by closing night. Gary credits his love for theatre to his drama teacher, Barbara Patterson. In 1974, Gary, Terry Kinney, and Jeff Perry founded the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. Initially performing in a church basement, the company grew and gained stature in the Chicago area. In addition to acting in many plays, Gary also directed some of Steppenwolf's most notable productions, including Sam Shepard's "True West". The company made its off-Broadway debut with that production, starring Gary and John Malkovich, and its Broadway debut with "The Grapes of Wrath" at the Cort Theatre in 1990. Gary's Hollywood career also started in the director's chair with two episodes of the stylish TV series Crime Story (1986), followed in 1988 by the feature Miles from Home (1988) starring Richard Gere. Gary's first feature film as an actor was the World War II fable A Midnight Clear (1992) in 1992. That year also found Gary combining his acting and directing talents with the critically acclaimed Of Mice and Men (1992). His first real notice by the public came in 1994, however. He starred in the blockbuster miniseries The Stand (1994), rapidly followed by his bravura performance as "Lt. Dan" in Forrest Gump (1994). His portrayal of the disabled, emotionally tortured veteran earned Gary numerous awards and an Oscar nomination. Busy 1994 was followed by busy 1995, first reuniting with Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 (1995) and then starring in the HBO film Truman (1995) which earned him the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards and an Emmy nomination.

Gary is married to Moira Sinise, an actress and original member of the Steppenwolf company. They have three children, Sophie Sinise, McCanna Anthony Sinise and Ella Sinise.

John Franklin was born in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. John is an actor and writer, known for Children of the Corn (1984), The Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family Values (1993). John was previously married to David White.

Marcheline Bertrand was born on 9 May 1950 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. She was an actress and producer, known for Lookin' to Get Out (1982), The Man Who Loved Women (1983) and Ironside (1967). She was married to Tom Bessamra and Jon Voight. She died on 27 January 2007 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Christopher Denham was born in Blue Island, Cook County, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Argo (2012), Shutter Island (2010) and Billions (2016).

Anthony E. Zuiker is the creator of television's hugely successful "CSI" franchise, currently serving as executive producer of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and the newest series in the franchise, "CSI: Cyber." In December of 2014, Zuiker made his debut in the kids market with "Mysteryopolis," a seven part animated video series which was the first original series to launch exclusively on nabi tablets. "Mysteryopolis" also introduced the world to a whole new category of kids entertainment called the "gamified narrative," which combines Hollywood-style scripted narrative with top-notch interactive gameplay, so that kids don't watch the episode, they "play" through the episode.

Last year, Zuiker pushed the envelope on both scripted and reality television with his first foray into the reality genre, "Whodunnit?" for ABC. One of the most groundbreaking cross-platform storytellers today, Zuiker created and executive produced "Cybergeddon," a digital blockbuster for Yahoo! The project caught the attention of the International Digital Emmy Awards, and in April of 2013, Zuiker was recognized as the recipient of the 2013 Pioneer Prize at MIPTV in Cannes. Zuiker is also credited as pioneering the "Digi-novel" genre and is the author of the best-selling series "Level 26," published by Dutton/Penguin Group. In 2011, Zuiker published his personal memoir, Mr. CSI: How a Vegas Dreamer Made a Killing in Hollywood, One Body at a Time, with Harper Collins.

Steve Socki is an independent animation artist and an associate professor at DePaul University in Chicago. He received an MFA from Cal Arts where he studied under his mentor Jules Engel. His recent short films, "Enfold,""Hallowstide" & "Sparrow Duet" have been selected to many international film festivals received multiple awards. Steve worked for over 25 years in Hollywood as an animation director & producer on TV series including "Rugrats", "Hey Arnold", "Curious George", "The Simpsons", & "Futurama". He was nominated for 5 Emmy Awards and won 1.

Thomas Hennessy is an award winning Cinematographer and Director, originally from Blue Island, Illinois, USA. After serving 11 years in the US Navy he got his start in the film industry playing a supporting role in Nick Broomfield's Battle for Haditha in 2007.

A graduate of Columbia College Hollywood with a BFA in Cinema Arts, he has directed the independent feature films What We Can't Have and Another Time, and has built up a strong resume as a cinematographer.

Tiffany Commons was born on 17 January 1981 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. She is an actress, known for This Is Us (2016), Modern Family (2009) and Kirk Franklin's A Gospel Christmas (2021).

Robin McGee was born on 5 October 1962 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for Drive Angry (2011), The Lone Ranger (2013) and Leaves of Grass (2009). He died on 16 December 2020 in Purcell, Oklahoma, USA.

Tony Lovato was born on 20 June 1980 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Bring It On (2000), Highway to Havasu (2017) and A Time for Dancing (2002).

Jose Garibaldi was born on 1 January 1978 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. Jose is known for The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012) and Electric City (2012).

Rob Biegel was born on 13 May 1979 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. He is an actor, known for Cloverfield (2008), Elizabethtown (2005) and Stuck on You (2003).

Brent Matthews was born on 6 May 1957 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. He is an actor, known for Godsalt (2014) and Wildest Dreams (1987). He has been married to Ann Matthews since April 2006. He was previously married to Dee Anna Phares and Beth McGinnis.

Stephen Cinabro was born on 26 December 1959 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for Payback (1999), U.S. Marshals (1998) and Hardball (2001). He died on 27 May 2009 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA.

Ed Hartig was born on 28 January 1965 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA.

Matt Lovato was born on 1 May 1978 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. He is a writer and composer, known for Mest: Seven Deadly Sins (2005) and Punk Rock Holocaust (2004).

John Franco Jr. was born on 21 December 1932 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. He was a set decorator, known for Spaceballs (1987), King Kong (1976) and Absence of Malice (1981). He died on 16 June 2001 in Stockton, California, USA.

Christian Picciolini is an award-winning television producer, a public speaker, author, anti-racism advocate, and a former violent extremist. After leaving the hate movement that he helped create during the 1980s and 90s, he began the painstaking process of making amends and rebuilding his life.

Christian went on to earn a degree in international relations from DePaul University and launched Goldmill Group, a counter-extremism consulting and digital media firm. In 2016, he won an Emmy Award for producing an anti-hate advertising campaign aimed at helping people disengage from extremism.

For nearly two decades, Christian has helped hundreds of individuals leave hate behind through his disengagement work and the organizations he founded. He has spoken all over the world, including on the TEDx stage, where he shares his unique and extensive knowledge about how to effectively prevent and counter extremism.

Christian chronicles his involvement in and exit from the early American white-supremacist skinhead movement in his memoir, 'White American Youth', and he is the featured subject in season 3 of WBEZ's 'Motive' podcast, which received the 2021 National Edward R. Murrow Award for best podcast in large market radio. He showcased his disengagement work in a second book, 'Breaking Hate: Confronting the New Culture of Extremism', published in 2020 by Hachette Books, as well as in the MSNBC documentary series 'Breaking Hate,' which aired in 2018-2019.

He is the host of the 'F*** Your Racist History' podcast, a scripted history show that tells America's hidden, overlooked, and unknown racist origin stories. The first season of it is available across major podcast platforms.

David C. Huet was born on 28 December 1984 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. He is an actor, known for A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011), Run (2013) and The Chipping (2006). He has been married to Sarah R. Huet since 8 November 2008.

Curtis Granderson was born on 16 March 1981 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Impact Wrestling PPV Events (2004), First Step (2016) and Sunday Night Baseball (1990).

Danny Clark was born on 9 May 1977 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA.

Nick Gigler was born on 5 November 1979 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. He is a writer and composer, known for Mest: Seven Deadly Sins (2005) and Punk Rock Holocaust (2004).

Corey Lloyd was born on 9 December 1978 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. He is an actor, known for Street Gun (1996).

Jeremiah Rangel was born on 2 October 1977 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. He is a writer and composer, known for Mest: Seven Deadly Sins (2005).

Karyn Lynn Dale was born in 1962 in Blue Island, Illinois, USA. She is an actress, known for No Big Deal (1985).