Randy Harrison

When producers of the Showtime adaptation of the popular British drama "Queer as Folk" were looking for a young actor who could pass for a teenager but had the chops of a seasoned pro, they opted to go with an unknown, and Randy Harrison landed the coveted part. Born in New Hampshire but raised in Georgia, the handsome blond had begun his acting career in local theater at age seven. The openly gay Harrison (he came out to his family and friends at age 16) studied theater at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music and spent summers honing his craft in shows like "1776," "Anything Goes" and "Grease" at St Louis' MUNY Theater and the Ensemble Theater of Cincinnati. After graduating in early 2000, he and his partner moved to Manhattan in the hopes of landing work on Broadway. Instead, his agent submitted him for the role of Justin and after an audition, he was cast. Playing the newly "out" 17-year-old, Harrison earned good notices from critics and a loyal fan following.