Jeff Goldblum

Born: 22nd October 1952
Where: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Goldblum has perfected the skill of combining offbeat movies such as Igby Goes Down with Hollywood big grossers.

He has starred in three of the 15 highest grossing films of all time - Jurassic Park, The Lost World and Independence Day.

However, his beginnings were not so auspicious - he made his film debut as a rapist in 1974's Death Wish billed as "Freak 1".

Small but telling parts in movies including California Split, Nashville and Annie Hall followed although he never hit the big time.

He alternated between TV, theatre, and features throughout the 80s with roles ranging from the treacherous frontier cardsharp in Silverado to his portrayal of a scientist-turned-insect in David Cronenberg's remake of The Fly.

The intense rapport between Goldblum and co-star Geena Davis transformed the horror film into a deeply moving romance.

He first met Davis during the filming of Transylvania 6-5000, and ended up marrying her in 1987 for three years.

With 1989's The Tall Guy - opposite Emma Thompson - he made a name for himself with British audiences.

1993 saw Goldblum well cast as eccentric mathematician Ian Malcolm in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park, where he also met future wife Laura Dern.

Roles followed in Christopher Columbus' comedy Nine Months before sci-fi thriller Independence Day re-established him on the big stage.

He reprised his role of Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park II and went on to make Holy Man and played the father in Cats & Dogs.

Recently, he appeared in the black comecy Igby Goes Down and can next be seen in the Soviet satire The Yelstin Project.