John Corbett

Born: 9 May 1961
Where: Wheeling, West Virginia, USA

If Greeks come bearing gifts, then My Big Fat Greek Wedding must have been one of the best presents Corbett ever had.

Playing the straight man to Nia Vardalos, the budget production went on to become one of America's biggest-grossing movies of 2002.

After an early career in commercials and a brief scene in Tombstone, Corbett's screen break came as the Alaskan disc jockey in Northern Exposure, which he followed with Innocent Victims.

He then landed a role on one of TV's most watched-and discussed-series, the acclaimed HBO comedy Sex and the City, playing furniture maker Aidan Shaw.

Corbett cropped up in serviceable disaster movie Volcano and as an urbane hitman in Dinner Rush and then practically parodied Shaw's role in the 2001 film Serendipity as Kate Beckinsale's New Age beau.

He then hit paydirt as the romantic lead Ian Miller in the surprise hit film My Big Fat Greek Wedding, one of the biggest moneymakers of 2002.

Subsequent roles include Pastor Dan Parker opposite Kate Hudson in the rom-com Raising Helen.