Career: McCormack began landing lead roles in such plays as A Midsummer Night's Dream, Henry V and Three Sisters. He moved into TV and films during a spell in Vancouver. His big break came in 1991 with parts in Lonesome Dove: The Series and movie The Lost World. Several small TV roles followed, as well as cameos in Ally McBeal and Veronica's Closet. In 1998, he accepted one of the lead roles in Will & Grace, picking up an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for the part in 2001.

Career: Messing appeared in various stage productions before landing a role in NYPD Blue in 1994. A year later, she made her movie debut alongside Keanu Reeves in A Walk in the Clouds and starred in short-lived sitcom Ned and Stacy. Sci-fi drama Prey failed to get her noticed, but she hit the big time in 1998 when she landed a lead role in sitcom Will & Grace. She won an Emmy in 2003 for her portrayal of Grace. Messing has also starred on the big screen in The Mothman Prophecies, Hollywood Ending and Along Came Polly. Most recently she starred in comedy drama The Starter Wife, which started out as a miniseries and ran for 10 episodes when it was turned into a series. Her recent work includes the musical TV drama Smash and comedy drama The Mysteries of Laura.

Career: Despite moving back to LA in 1985, Mullally's efforts to hit the big time came to nothing. Instead, she made ends meet appearing in small roles in such films as About Last Night and Risky Business, and TV series Murder, She Wrote and China Beach. Regular parts in The Ellen Burstyn Show and My Life and Times also failed to make her a star. In 1994 she appeared in an acclaimed stage version of Grease. From then, Mullally began getting better roles and, in 1998, became a household name thanks to Will & Grace. After Will & Grace ended in 2006, she hosted a short-lived talk show. Since then, she has popped up in various shows, including 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, and Childrens Hospital. Away from acting, she is the member of the band Supreme Music Program.

Career: On leaving university, Hayes had a stint with a comedy troupe, then became musical director for a local theatre. He later moved to Los Angeles and toured with Kenny Rogers. In 1996, he made his TV debut in Silk Stalkings, while his first film, Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss, was released in 1998. Later that year a string of appearances in successful commercials led to the role of Jack in Will & Grace, for which he won an Emmy in 2000. Since then, he's lent his vocal skills to Cats and Dogs, and The Cat in the Hat, and appeared in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! He was nominated for a Tony Award in 2010 for his role on Broadway in Promises, Promises. He returned to the big screen in 2012, playing Larry Fine in The Three Stooges. He has also worked behind the camera on TV shows Hot in Cleveland and Grimm.

Career: Reynolds made several forgettable films before being picked by Gene Kelly to play his love interest in 1952's Singin' in the Rain. She was not a professional dancer, but was trained by Kelly to cope with the routines. She followed it up with a series of lightweight musicals, and gained a Best Actress Oscar nomination for 1964's The Unsinkable Molly Brown, but her movie career waned as her frothy style went out of fashion. She remained in the spotlight thanks to TV series The Debbie Reynolds Show, and continued to make guest appearances on the big and small screens. The 1996 TV movie Mother brought her a Golden Globe nomination, and she won an Emmy Award in 2000 for her role of Bobbi Adler in the sitcom Will & Grace. Her daughter, Carrie Fisher, died on December 27, 2016. Reynolds died a day later at the age of 84.