Common Bond Guest Stars Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bryan Cranston

Bryan Cranston was born and raised in southern California and studied police science before becoming an actor. He also waited tables, ran the audio-visual equipment for a video dating service, and worked as a security guard. An actor of great range, he played the goofy dad on "Malcolm in the Middle" and the mild-mannered chemistry teacher-turned-drug kingpin in "Breaking Bad".

Answer: Mariska Hargitay

Mariska Hargitay may be the daughter of movie star Jayne Mansfield, but she paved her own way to success through study and hard work. She studied drama at UCLA and was a member of the Groundlings, and moved her way up from a music video, to a horror film, to a soap opera, and eventually to her own show, where she starred as Lieutenant Olivia Benson on "Law and Order: SVU".

Answer: James Spader

James Spader attended prep schools before becoming a professional actor. He made his mark playing arrogant teenagers in such films as "Endless Love", "Pretty in Pink", and "Less Than Zero". As he aged, he was unafraid to play unlikeable characters, including a smarmy but effective lawyer and a reformed but experienced criminal.

Answer: Anna Gunn

Anna Gunn was raised in Sante Fe, so she was at home while starring in "Breaking Bad", which was set in New Mexico. Before she was Skylar White in that show, Anna appeared in a multitude of small roles in such shows as "Quantum Leap", "Murder One", and "Chicago Hope".

Answer: Courteney Cox

Courtney Cox, born in Alabama, had a memorable role in Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" video; it was presented as if he randomly picked a girl out of the crowd to dance with him on the stage, but it was actually budding actress and model Courteney Cox. From there, she had a recurring role on "Family Ties" and later landed the life-changing sitcom on NBC, "Friends".

Answer: Bob Odenkirk

Bob Odenkirk, born in Illinois, paved his way to access through writing for a variety of shows, including "Late Night with David Letterman", "The Larry Sanders Show", and eventually "Saturday Night Live". From there he and fellow writer/comic David Cross created and starred in "Mr. Show", a fan favorite that ran on HBO from 1995 to 1998. Later, he appeared as a corrupt lawyer on "Breaking Bad".

Answer: Debra Messing

Debra Messing was born in Brooklyn and studied acting at both Brandeis and the Tisch School of the Arts. She had a sprinkling of small roles, then played Stacey in "Ned and Stacey" about a couple who married for convenience rather than love. She reached a wider audience starring as Grace in "Will & Grace".

Answer: Molly Shannon

Molly Shannon was born in Shaker Heights and had small acting roles on both coasts before landing a role mid-season on "Saturday Night Live" in 1995. She has appeared as a minor character or cameo in many television shows and films. In season two of the critically-acclaimed HBO show "Enlightened" with Laura Dern, Molly played a shy executive assistant.

Answer: Teri Hatcher

Teri Hatcher was born in Palo Alto, California and began her acting career with the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, while she was also a cheerleader for the city's NFL team, the 49ers. After small parts on shows like "The Love Boat" and "MacGyver", Teri earned the role of Lois in "Lois & Clark", with Dean Cain as the Man of Steel.

She gained a greater audience when she starred as one of the "Desperate Housewives" on ABC.

Answer: Seinfeld

"Seinfeld" was once rated the greatest TV show of all time by TV Guide (2002). Many guest actors shared the stage with the show's four stars and then went on to stardom themselves. Can you identify all the roles the actors in this quiz played on "Seinfeld"?

Bryan Cranston played dentist Tim Whatley in five episodes. Molly Shannon played a crazed coworker of Elaine's at the J. Peterman office. James Spader played sober-not-sober alcoholic friend Jason Hanky in "The Apology", and Anna, Courtney, Debra, and Teri all played love interests of Jerry's. Odenkirk played one of Elaine's suitors, the one who dumped her when he became a doctor.