Laura Dean

Laura Dean is one of many actresses who found themselves thrust into the national spotlight with the runaway success of "Fame." The 1980 musical hit told the story of a group of students at a high school for the performing arts in New York City. This mirrored Dean's real-life experience: When she was cast, she was in between her junior and senior year at the High School of the Performing Arts. "Fame" remains the high point of her career--the same year, she was in a gory Italian horror flick called "Cannibal Apocalypse"--but she continued to pursue acting in both TV and movies.

She was cast as Barbara Ann Boopstein in the Broadway production of "Doonesbury: The Musical," and also had a recurring role on mega-hit sitcom "Friends" as Sophie, one of Rachel's co-workers at Bloomingdale's. Dean has done a large amount of voice work as well, providing lines for My Little Pony characters in a number of movies.

Her last major movie role was as part of the ensemble in the film adaptation of hit musical "Chicago," proving that Laura Dean hasn't strayed far from her roots. She is married to Stephen Koch and has two children, Savannah and Zoey.