Ashley Hamilton

Entering the soap opera world, Hamilton played Cole Deschanel, a jewel thief on the short-lived "Sunset Beach" (NBC, 1997-99), though he was replaced by another actor less than a month after his debut episode. Not to be deterred, Hamilton continued trying to make it as an actor, co-starring in "Not Even the Trees" (1999), a low-budget drama about a drug-addicted New York model trying to get clean and make it in the business. He raised his game several notches with a guest starring turn on the brutal prison drama, "Oz" (HBO, 1997-2003), playing a convicted marijuana dealer who gets killed by a gang leader (muMs da Schemer) for slipping pot brownies into the prisoner's lunch. In 2007, Hamilton began a stand-up comedy career, appearing onstage at noted clubs like The Improv and The Comedy Store, while also trying to kick start a music career with songs like "Takin' a Lifetime," "This Morning" and "Wimmin'." In 2009, Hamilton joined the season nine cast of "Dancing With the Stars" (ABC, 2005-), following in the footsteps of his famous father, who was an audience favorite in season two.