Craig Bierko

Born: 15 July 1964 Where: Rye Brook, New York, USA

A sitcom actor who seemed to personify the non-neurotic yet full-blown anxiety of the 1990s male, Craig Bierko had several high-profile roles during the decade, although none of the shows clicked with the audience.

Bierko came from a theatrical family: his parents operated a theater in Rye, New York, where the budding thespian made his stage debut at age ten in a production of Gypsy.

After studying broadcast journalism at Boston University, he transferred to the famed theater arts department at Northwestern University, from which he graduated.

Moving to Los Angeles, Bierko was cast in a production of The Boys From Syracuse produced by a troupe backed by Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett and Carol Channing.

His early TV work included a role in The Day My Kid Went Punk, a 1987 ABC Afterschool Special.

After landing a three-year deal with NBC, the handsome actor co-starred in the 1993 TV-movie Danielle Steel's: Star for NBC.

His motion picture career has been slower in developing. Bierko landed his first screen role in Victimless Crimes, but the movie went the direct-to-video route.

By the late 90s, he was again trying to establish a foothold in movies. In The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996), he played off his stalwart good looks as a villainous hit man tracking Geena Davis and Samuel L Jackson.

After providing the radio voice of a preacher for Johns, he was cast as the object of Jeanne Tripplehorn's crush in the romantic comedy 'Til There Was You.

His feature film fortunes improved when he was cast in the co-starring role as Steven Weber's cousin battling over money in Larry David's Sour Grapes and as the lead as a man who may or may not have committed a murder in the thriller The Thirteenth Floor.

In 2000, Bierko surprised many by landing the much coveted lead in the revival of The Music Man. Although some felt his interpretation of the role did not stray afield from Robert Preston's definitive interpretation, the actor proved a more than competent stage presence, earning a Tony nomination for his efforts.

More recently Bierko appeared in Sex And The City and Ally McBeal, as well as a supporting role in the David Spade comedy, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.