Websites with Cool Facts on Your Favorite Actors

If you're a fan of a very popular star (say Brangelina or Jessica Simpson or something), it won't be hard to find information on these people online. In fact, it might be hard not to find it, we're so bombarded with tabloid press. But if your favorite star is a little less overexposed, you may have to dig a little deeper than simply going online to find useful information on their upcoming appearances, past work, available merchandise, and other must-have fan facts. Here are some websites where these facts can be found.

For a basic filmography of your favorite TV and film stars, I of course recommend the famous Internet Movie Database. (imdb.com) This site is beyond comprehensive, listing basically every film and TV your favorite actor has been in - no matter how small the part, or how obscure the actor. You can look up specific TV episodes, even. Also, you can access biographical information and other words such as commercials and theatre the actor may have done on the side. And if a movie or program is airing soon, the imdb.com will list the channel and date.

For information on your favorite star's upcoming TV appearances, I recommend the website TV-NOW.com. Punch in your favorite actor's name and you will get a list of appearances for the month. The site is updated a few times a week, at least, so the list keeps reaching further into the future. You get the time, the channel, and, if you click on the title, information about the series or movie in which the star appeared. Actor filmographies and some actors' biographies are also included. One warning: the appearance lists aren't always all-inclusive. Sometimes they'll miss something, but still, overall, it's a pretty darn good listing, which, it should be - it's linked to TVGuide.com

Of course, TVGuide.com is also an excellent resource, with an archive of shows, movie reviews, and several different frequently updated columns. The Ausiello Report is a very popular column run by a guy who always seems to have the inside scoop- but can't give away the specifics you might want on your favorite shows- but it's fun sometimes to keep guessing. You can also ask Ausiello questions and occasionally get a response.

I also recommend TV.com for finding out where your favorite actor may appear on the small screen. They list filmographies and break down TV appearances with details of who they played, when they played the role, and when the episode originally aired. You can also find tons of message boards and blogs and news on stars of currently airing shows and specific actors. There's a very active community especially for trendy shows of the moment like Heroes or Lost. And if your actor doesn't have an active forum- don't worry- you can start one!

Another site you may want to check for information on your favorite actors is ibdb.com - the Internet Broadway Database. This website includes information on actors who have performed in theatre in New York. Information includes what plays they were in, and when, plus awards they were nominated for and Tony Awards. It's surprising how many popular actors - including Oscar winners Denzel Washington to Julia Roberts - have appeared recently on Broadway. Playbill.com also contains an archive of articles about and interviews with actors who have appeared on stage.

If you're looking for the most basic of information about your favorite actor, like whether he or she is still alive, you might want to check out a really funny site called simply deadoraliveinfo.com. Put in an actor's name and get information on whether he or she is still alive. You can also check out lists of people who have died recently (wonder where that actor's been lately...), people who are over 85 and still living (for all you Karl Malden fans...) and lists of people who lived past 100. It's a sort of morbid database, but it's got a lot of facts on it.

rottentomatoes.com offers you a chance to read reviews of your favorite actors' work from all over the place. Search a movie and see what a slew of different critics said about your favorite actor's performance. You may also want to check out Roger Ebert's page, rogerebert.suntimes.com, if you want reviews. He's got tons of them online dating back to the 60s. Unfortunately, due to illness, he hasn't done any recently, but there's plenty to catch up with.

And, of course, all the big search engines and directories these days have special sections devoted to film and tv, with listings for your favorite actors. Yahoo, MSN, AOL. They've all got 'em. And there's always wikipedia. Use at your own risk.

And then, lastly, there are many other sites out there which purvey all sorts of gossip - like TMZ.com, People Magazine's website, Entertainment Weekly's website, E! Online and others, but I'm not personally into that stuff (though I do like the spoilers about TV shows.) But, of course, it's out there. However, if you're looking for just the facts, ma'am, the sites I recommended should do the trick.