Career: Sandler made his acting debut in The Cosby Show in 1987, but didn't become a star until he was signed by Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 1990. He became one of its most popular performers during a five-year stint on the programme. During that period, he also made the movies Coneheads (1993), Mixed Nuts (1994) and Airheads (1994). His big-screen career really took off when he left SNL. Since then, he's starred in such hits as The Wedding Singer (1998), The Waterboy (1998), Big Daddy (1999), Punch-Drunk Love (2002), 50 First Dates (2004), Funny People (2009), Grown Ups (2010) and its 2013 sequel, Jack and Jill (2011), Blended (2014) and The Cobbler (2014). He is also the founder of the Happy Madison production company.

Career: Samberg began making comedy videos with childhood friends Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone. Collectively they are known as the comedy troupe The Lonely Island. Andy's big break came in 2005 when Saturday Night Live (SNL) employed him as a cast member. Akiva and Jorma joined as writers and they went on to collaborate on SNL hip-hop parody video Lazy Sunday, which became a hit on YouTube, and box-office flop Hot Rod (2007). Samberg left SNL in 2012 to concentrate on making films. His first film after SNL was opposite Adam Sandler in box-office flop That's My Boy (2012). He has had more success on the big screen voicing characters in animated films Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) and its 2013 sequel and Hotel Transylvania (2012). He returned to the small screen in 2013 to star in sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, for which he won a Golden Globe in 2014.

Career: Gomez made her film debut with a cameo in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003). Bit parts followed in different movies and she made guest appearances in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Hannah Montana before landing the lead role on the Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place. The show was a big hit and ran for four seasons between 2007 and 2012. During her time on Wizards, Gomez invested more time into singing and released an album in 2009. Since then, she has combined recording and performing with her acting career. More recently, she has voiced a character in animated movie Hotel Transylvania (2012) and starred in box-office hit Spring Breakers (2012).

Career: James began doing stand-up and it was on the comedy circuit that he met comedian and actor Ray Romano. He made guest appearances on Ray's sitcom, Everybody Loves Raymond, and this led to the development of his own sitcom, The King of Queens, which ran from 1998 to 2007. James made his big-screen debut in 2005 romantic comedy Hitch, alongside Will Smith. Since then he has appeared in a number of comedy films, including I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007), Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009), Grown Ups (2010), Zookeeper (2011), Here Comes the Boom (2012) and Grown Ups 2 (2013).

Career: Buscemi's early roles included several in experimental theatre, co-written by himself and fellow actor/writer Mark Boone Jr. He also appeared in Miami Vice, The Equalizer, and films The Way It Is, Tommy's and Parting Glances. He received excellent reviews for the latter, which led to parts in Lonesome Dove and New York Stories. He's since become a stalwart of indie movies thanks to his scene-stealing appearances in Reservoir Dogs, Miller's Crossing, Fargo and The Big Lebowski. Bigger-budget films include Armageddon, Con Air and The Wedding Singer. Buscemi has also written, directed, and produced several projects, and appeared in TV show The Sopranos. More recently he's played Enoch "Nucky" Thompson in acclaimed drama Boardwalk Empire, for which he won a Golden Globe in 2011.

Career: Spade's first break came in 1990 when he became a writer and a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live. He stayed with the sketch series until 1996. He enjoyed success on the big screen alongside Chris Farley in Tommy Boy (1995) and Black Sheep (1996). They were all set to star in a third film when Farley died of drug overdose at the age of 33. Spade went on to join the cast of sitcom Just Shoot Me!, which ran for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003. His other film credits include Joe Dirt (2001), Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003), Grown Ups (2010) and Grown Ups 2 (2013). In 2004, he joined the cast of the sitcom 8 Simple Rules for the show's final season, and from 2007 to 2013, he played Russell Dunbar in the sitcom Rules of Engagement.