Shane West

Highest Rated: 47% Here Alone (2016)

Lowest Rated: 8% Echelon Conspiracy (2009)

Birthday: Jun 10, 1978

Birthplace: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Though he appeared at first blush to be the latest in a long line of handsome but brooding leading men, actor Shane West proved to be a capable and adventurous actor who pursued roles of substance after a brief run as an idol in "Whatever it Takes" (2000) and "A Walk to Remember" (2003). Though in his twenties when he began acting, he started out as a juvenile lead on television; most notably on "Once and Again" (ABC, 1999-2002). Its popularity led to pin-up status with the aforementioned teen projects, but West quickly dodged the label with mature turns in "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" (2003) and the punk biopic "What We Do Is Secret" (2008). A four-year stint on "ER" (NBC, 1994-2009) solidified his status as an adult, though he struggled in subsequent years to find an appropriate vehicle for his talents. He finally made good playing a rogue operative who trains a troubled teen-turned-assassin on the well-received revamp, "Nikita" (The CW, 2010-13), one of several spin-offs of Luc Besson's popular 1990 thriller. West's willingness to reach beyond the limitations of standard Hollywood fare made his career worth following.