Favorite Television and Movie Stars: Tom Cruise, Jada Pinkett Smith, Denzel Washington:

Growing up as a child my television exposure was limited to Sesame Street, Wild Kingdom and the 700 club and the occasional Saturday morning cartoon. Due to those restrictions when we were allowed to watch television at our discretion, I would drink a liter of RC cola so I could stay up at night and watch my favorite show "The Honey Mooners' all night long. At the tender age of 8 or 9, I loved black and white films and television shows.

I have no idea where that love came from but even today, I search for good black and white films to enjoy. Drama and comedy are my preferences, but I love comedy the most, because I believe laughter is good medicine for the soul. During my teenage years, I discovered and mystery shows and I became a big Columbo fan. Seriously, even today I have a collection of Columbo's greatest shows and I am loving these crimes shows they have today such as forensic files and body of evidence. I don't get to indulge in movies or television as much as I did, but I am always on the look out for the next best drama or comedy. Today, I want to highlight 3 very different actors who bring a lot of drama and sometimes comedy to our world.

Thomas Cruise Mapother IV -Tom Cruise was born in Syracuse, New York, but moved from town to town without roots for many years. In high school Tom was on the wrestling team, but later had to stop due to a knee injury. While he recovered, he began pursuing acting which gave him the attention he sought as well as a way to overcome his dyslexia. Tom moved back to New York in 1980 where he had many odd jobs until he got his first break on Endless Love. In the 80's Tom Cruise was a household name; everyone knew who he was and couldn't get enough of him. Tom married Nicole Kidman and later adopted 2 children. However, after 10 years, they divorced and Nicole has since remarried Keith Urban. Tom is currently engaged to actress Katie Holmes and this year welcomed their daughter Suri to the world. Cruise is a very active Scientologist and has displayed questionable behavior over the past couple of years from his lashing out at Matt on the Today Show to his over the top antics on the Oprah show in 2005. Although his personal life and opinions are not popular, we can't deny his talent. Here are some of Tom Cruise's most memorable film credits:

Endless Love
Top Gun
Risky Business
Rain Man
Jerry Maguire
A Few Good Men
Mission Impossible

Jada Koren Pinkett - Jada Pinkett Smith was born in Baltimore, Maryland where later she studied music and dance. Jada by her own admission is extremely driven and doesn't mind working hard for what she wants. Jada moved to Los Angles to actively pursue her acting career. One of her first encounters was with Keenan Ivory Wayans who later offered Pinkett a lead in his pop culture flick "Low down dirty shame", where Jada played an outspoken office assistant who fell in love with her boss Shame. However, Jada got her first break in 1991 when she joined the cast of a Different world as freshman Lena James. Later she auditioned for the part of Will Smith's girlfriend on his then hit television comedy "The Fresh Prince of Bel-aire. Although Jada didn't get casted in the role as Smith's television girlfriend, in 1997 she took on a leading role in real life as his wife. Jada and Will have 2 children together and Will has one son from a previous marriage. Jada is a focused, feisty, ambitious woman and we can expect many more great things from her in the future. Here are some of Jada's biggest film credits:

Menace II Society
Low down Dirty Shame
Ink Well
Jason's Lyric
The Nutty Professor
Set it off
Scream 2
Woo
Bamboozled
Ali
The Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix Revolutions
Collateral
Madagascar

Denzel Washington Jr. - Born in Mount Vernon, New York, Denzel was the son of a preacher man and beautician. Growing up Denzel enjoyed the stories from scripture that his father would minister to the crowd at church and he loved the graphic stories and gosspic her heard at his mothers beauty shop. It's no wonder Denzel became enamored with story telling. At the age of 14 Denzel and his sister were sent to a boarding school but he never lost his love for drama. Denzel later graduated from Fordham University with a BA in journalism and went on to attend the American Conservatory Theatre to study drama. However, unable to contain his passion he decided to leave school and actively pursue acting.

Prior to Washington's big break on a television drama called "St Elsewhere", he appeared on a made for television drama called Wilma and a production of Coriolanus at a Shakespeare Festival. We have seen Denzel in a host of films since that time that have captured our hearts and emotions. It's no wonder he received the prestigious Oscar in 2002. Denzel is not only America's favorite, but no doubt the favorite of his wife of 17 years Paulette Peterson and 4 children. Denzel Washington is a phenomenal actor and we can expect to see him for many years to come. Here are some of Denzel's most noted credits:

Glory
He got Game
Crimson Tide
Fallen
Philadelphia
Remember the Titians
John Q
Training Day
Out of Time

Love them or hate them, these actors have proven their commitment and passion for their craft. Kudos to people everywhere that never give up and actively purpose what they know they've been called to do in this life.