Chloe O’Brian from “24” might lack a couple of social skills, but her abilities at the computer not only make her an important part of Jack Bauer’s team but makes her a solid nerd. While the actress who plays her, Mary Lynn Rajskub, is best known for her portrayal of mission control for Bauer, she’s done quite a lot else.
From “Mr. Show” to “The Kings of Summer,” Rajskub’s filmography is quite extensive. She has also spent a lot of time on the stand-up comedy circuit, which is where she met her husband of ten years (and now ex-husband) Matthew Rolph.
Russell Johnson – Gilligan's Island
After joining a three-hour tour for information on his book “Fun with Ferns,” Professor Roy Hinkley becomes the driving force behind getting the castaways back to civilization, even if Gilligan tends to mess up his projects.
But Johnson was cool long before he landed on the island, having appeared in both “Twilight Zone” and “Outer Limits” episodes. He's also achieved the highest level of cool possible – being a Western movie star. In addition, Johnson reached the rank of first lieutenant in the United States Army Air Force, flying a total of forty-four combat missions in the Pacific theater of World War II. Undeniably cool.
Tracey Gold – Growing Pains
A lot of sitcom children go like this: cool older sibling, geeky middle child, and weird or mischievous younger sibling. Carol Seaver from “Growing Pains” fits in perfectly in the middle. She wants to be part of the cool kids, wants to do well in school, and wants to catch cute boys' eyes. In real life, Tracey had no problem getting attention from guys.
She married Roby Marshall in 1994, and the two now have four children together. Gold suffered from anorexia beginning in 1988 but managed to defeat it. At one point, she was down to five hundred calories a day and weighed only eighty pounds, but she's healthy and happy now.
Emily Bett Rickards – Arrow
Felicity Smoak, played by Emily Bett Rickards, was only supposed to be in one episode of “Arrow.” However, the quirky MIT computer nerd won the hearts of viewers and turned into the eponymous Oliver's main love interest. She also delivered a lot of comic relief in an otherwise dark show. In real life, Rickards is a big philanthropist.
She has worked with campaigns of the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, made a public service announcement in conjunction with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation for advancement in spinal injuries, and has founded an acting scholarship with Vancouver Film School. Now that's cool!
John Ratzenberger – Cheers
Cliff Clavin might not be your standard nerd, but as an endless repository of random – and often incorrect – facts, he has a few qualities. He even makes it onto “Jeopardy” as part of the show, losing in the final round.
Even if you've never seen “Cheers,” you're probably familiar with Ratzenberger's voice. He's had a part in almost every Pixar film ever, from the piggy bank in the Toy Story films to Fennwick, the cyclops construction worker in “Onward.” “Soul” is the only Pixar film not to have him in a role. In fact, Ratzenberger has the largest aggregate box office for films he's appeared in EVER. That's pretty cool.