James Carpinello

Won a fifth-grade talent show by lip-synching to Bon Jovi. Debuted on Broadway at age 24 (in 1999) when he played Tony Manero in the Saturday Night Fever musical. Was originally slated to star in the Broadway version of Hairspray, but the run conflicted with filming a movie. He bowed out, making way for understudy Matthew Morrison (Glee) to take over the role. Proposed to wife Amy Acker when she visited him in Australia, where he was filming a movie. The engagement ring, which was made by a friend's father, was held up in customs; he didn't receive it until the night prior to the proposal. Almost made magic in the Broadway musical version of Xanadu, but a freak roller-skating mishap during rehearsal left him with a broken leg. Cheyenne Jackson took over the role.