Ty Pennington

Biography: This former model got his showbiz break during his carpenter day job, when he was tapped to join the crew of the home-improvement cable series Trading Spaces in 2000. Three years later, this zany handyman earned his own network show, ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which allowed him to shout through a bullhorn, knock down walls and tear up at the stories of the families he helped build homes for. Pennington's good looks and goofy antics endeared him to audiences and even led to a handful of acting gigs. Off screen, Pennington has designed his own furniture line, launched the magazine Ty Pennington At Home, played in a one-man band named Barney and authored a how-to book.