Kyle Massey

Though perhaps not as pop culture-saturated as some of his other Disney Channel peers, actor Kyle Massey enjoyed a solid fanbase thanks to his cheeky turns as the scheming Cory Baxter on the network's "That's So Raven" (2003-07) and its spin-off, "Cory in the House" (2008-09). A tween version of every money-minded schemer to ever get a laugh on a TV series, Massey showed considerable showbiz chops in the role and earned his place among the Disney pantheon of kid favorites. Though none of his subsequent efforts rocketed him to the stratosphere like Miley Cyrus or Zac Efron, he remained a popular and welcome figure in the world of kid-friendly programming.

Born in Atlanta, GA on Aug. 28, 1991, Kyle Orlando Massey and his older brother Christopher were discovered by a talent scout while visiting a local shopping mall. Roles in local theater productions preceded his first screen credit with a bit part for the Disney Channel TV movie, "Selma, Lord, Selma" (1999), which was filmed in his home state. By 2001, he had moved up to guest appearances on TV series like "The Parkers" (UPN, 1999-2004) and "The Practice" (ABC, 1997-2004) before landing his star-making turn on "That's So Raven," which was the highest rated series ever to air on the Disney Channel during its initial network run.

Massey's Cory Baxter on "Raven" was a classic TV sitcom foil - a wise-beyond-his-years pre-teen with a taste for get-rich-quick schemes and pranks on his older sister Raven (star Raven-Symone). Cory proved popular throughout the series' lengthy run, earning Massey two Young Artist Awards and a pair of Image Award nominations. It also allowed him to segue into work outside the series, including his first starring role in "Life is Ruff" (Disney Channel, 2005), a lighthearted, kid-friendly comedy about a spoiled boy (Massey) who learned the value of responsibilities through caring for an abandoned dog.

In 2007, Massey scored his own television series, "Cory in the House." A spin-off of "Raven" - and the network's first in its history - it sent his character to the White House, where his father was the head chef. The show's humor centered largely around Cory's schemes and their impact on the Commander in Chief, and if it proved less popular than its predecessor, it had little impact on Massey's popularity with pre-teen audiences. If anything, Massey's presence in that demographic grew even more substantial; after making his singing debut on the soundtrack for "Life is Ruff" and crooning the theme song to "Cory," he began contributing songs and raps for projects ranging from "Underdog" (2007) and the animated series "Ying Yang Yo!" (Jetix/Disney XD, 2006-09).

In 2009, Massey began making regular appearances on the revived "Electric Company" (PBS, 2009- ) as P.J. Watson, the eccentric cousin of one the show's main characters, Keith Watson (Ricky Smith). The following year, he was announced as a contestant on the 11th season of the popular reality competition show, "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 2005- ).