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The legendary actress set a record when at age 82, she appeared on Dancing with the Stars (2005). Cloris Leachman was born on April 30, 1926 in Des Moines, Iowa to Berkeley Claiborne "Buck" Leachman and the former Cloris Wallace. Her father's family owned a lumber company, Leachman Lumber Co. She was of Czech (from her maternal grandmother) and English descent. After graduating from high school, Leachman attended Illinois State University and Northwestern University, where she majored in drama. After winning the title of Miss Chicago 1946 (as part of the Miss America pageant), she acted with the Des Moines Playhouse before moving to New York.

Leachman made her credited debut in 1948 in an episode of The Ford Theatre Hour (1948) and appeared in many television anthologies and series before becoming a regular on The Bob & Ray Show (1951) in 1952. Her movie debut was memorable, playing the doomed blonde femme fatale Christina Bailey in Robert Aldrich's classic noir Kiss Me Deadly (1955). Other than a role in Rod Serling's movie The Rack (1956) in support of Paul Newman, Leachman remained a television actress throughout the 1950s and the 1960s, appearing in only two movies during the latter decade, The Chapman Report (1962) and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). Though she would win an Oscar for Peter Bogdanovich's adaptation of Larry McMurtry's The Last Picture Show (1971) and appear in three Mel Brooks movies, it was in television that her career remained and her fame was assured in the 1970s and into the second decade of the new millennium.

Leachman was nominated five times for an Emmy Award playing Phyllis Lindstrom, Mary Tyler Moore's landlady and self-described best friend on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) and on the spin-off series Phyllis (1975). She won twice as Best Supporting Actress in a comedy for her "Mary Tyler Moore" gig and won a Golden Globe Award as a leading performer in comedy for "Phyllis", but her first Emmy Award came in the category Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in 1973 for the television movie A Brand New Life (1973). She also won two Emmy Awards as a supporting player for Malcolm in the Middle (2000).

She was married to director-producer George Englund from 1953 to 1979. They had five children together. Cloris Leachman died of natural causes on January 27, 2021 in Encinitas, California.

Brandon James Routh (pronounced like "south") was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and grew up in nearby Norwalk. He is the son of Catherine (Lear), a teacher, and Ronald Routh, a carpenter. He has English, Scottish, and German ancestry. Brandon attended the University of Iowa and starred in many productions at the Norwalk Theater of Performing Arts. His first professional acting role was in the ABC television series Odd Man Out (1999), and he went on to guest star in the series Gilmore Girls (2000) and Undressed (1999). He came to fame with Superman Returns (2006) and DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016). In his spare time, Routh enjoys playing soccer and basketball, swimming, biking and reading.

Stephen Collins was born on 1 October 1947 in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. He is an actor and director, known for 7th Heaven (1996), Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) and The First Wives Club (1996). He has been married to Jenny Nagel since 22 July 2019. He was previously married to Faye Grant and Marjorie Weinman.

Thirty-plus years in, Gregory Alan Williams continues to appear regularly in film and on television. He has also been producing, writing and, directing for the past several years. Born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, GregAlan served as a Combat Engineer and Journalist in the United States Marine Corps. His professional career began in 1978 as a member of the renown Penumbra Theater Company in St. Paul Minnesota.

Congenial, unassuming and always ingratiating comic actor Bill Daily came to fame as the bumbling, jittery playboy astronaut Roger Healy, best buddy and sidekick to Larry Hagman's accident-prone Tony Nelson in the perennial sitcom favourite I Dream of Jeannie (1965). Though his role had initially been earmarked for Don Dubbins, the show's creator and executive producer Sidney Sheldon (with possible input from Hagman) made the impromptu decision to cast the relatively unknown Iowa native instead.

Daily had started his professional life as a musician playing bass with a local jazz combo called 'Jack and the Beanstalks'. Having completed compulsory military service during the Korean War he took on acting studies at the Goodman Theater College in Chicago. After graduating, he worked briefly as an announcer and staff director for NBC and subsequently developed his own stand-up comedy act which he took to nightclubs across the mid-west. By 1960, Daily contributed material for comedic sketches to Westinghouse Broadcasting for use in popular variety shows hosted by Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin and Steve Allen. Douglas also occasionally featured him in sketches. Daily was well on his way to accumulating the credentials to becoming a top comedy writer when Sheldon noticed him in a small supporting role in Bewitched (1964) (his TV debut). While now happily employed at Columbia/NBC as the affable Major Healy, Daily continued to moonlight as a writer for assorted food commercials. In the wake of 'Jeanie', he enjoyed an even longer run (six seasons) as the star's annoying neighbour and clueless comic foil on The Bob Newhart Show (1972).

During his later career he made numerous guest appearances, frequently as a panellist on TV shows like Match Game (1973) (which inspired the later UK franchise Blankety Blank (1978)). He also tried his hand hosting several youth-oriented specials on magic ('Bill Daily's Hocus-Pocus Gang') and appeared at conventions with his former co-stars for nostalgic reunions.

David Anthony Higgins was born on 9 December 1961 in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Malcolm in the Middle (2000), Mike & Molly (2010) and The Wrong Guy (1997). He has been married to Julia since 2000. They have two children.

Stony-faced, grizzled-looking tough guy Charles McGraw (real name Charles Butters) notched up dozens of TV and film credits, usually portraying law enforcement figures or military officers, plus the odd shifty gangster. While at high school he worked as a theatre usher and was nicknamed "Chick" by his friends. At 17, he returned to his home town of Akron to study at university. He hitchhiked to New York from Ohio, enjoyed a substantial period in the boxing ring as a middleweight pugilist and then found his first success as an actor in 1937 on the Broadway stage in the Clifford Odets play "Golden Boy". Afterwards, stage work proved hard to come by. Therefore, to make ends meet, McGraw began to earn his living as a hoofer in dime-a-dance establishments. His career in Hollywood began in 1942 with bit parts and stalled again after a brief sojourn in the army. However, by 1947, he had picked up a solid amount of work as radio actor thanks to his gravelly voice which was perfectly suited for crime dramas. This did eventually re-open the door to Hollywood. Before long, McGraw regularly plied his trade as assorted hard cases who perfectly matched his craggy looks and steely-eyed visage. Best remembered among his standout roles are the dogged cop protecting a mob witness in the 1952 classic thriller The Narrow Margin (1952) , as resolute Lt. Jim Cordell pursuing armed bandits in Armored Car Robbery (1950), as a hit man in Robert Siodmak's seminal film noir The Killers (1946), as sadistic gladiatorial trainer Marcellus taunting slave Kirk Douglas (and ending up in a vat of boiling soup) in the epic Spartacus (1960), as William Holden's naval commander in the Korean War drama The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954) and as jaded police officer Lt. Matthews assisting Spencer Tracy in the all-star comedy It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963). McGraw died in 1980 after a tragic accident in which he slipped and fell through a glass shower door.

Phyllis Anne Love was born in Des Moines, Iowa on December 21, 1925. She attended Roosevelt High School in Des Moines along with her close friend, Cloris Leachman. After performing in various local and regional drama productions, Love enrolled in the Actors Studio in New York in 1948. Her movie debut was a bit as a juvenile delinquent in the 1950 movie So Young, So Bad (1950), which starred Paul Henreid and Rita Moreno. Love's best-known film role was as "Mattie Birdwell" in William Wyler's Friendly Persuasion (1956). Love guested in numerous TV programs in the 50s, 60s, and 70s but enjoyed her greatest success on the Broadway stage. She appeared in eight shows and, in 1951, won the New York Charles Derwent Award for Best Featured Actress for her portrayal of "Rosa Delle Rosa" in the original production of "The Rose Tattoo". After retiring from acting in the early 70s, she changed her first name to "Osanna".

Gordon Alan Gebert II was the only child of Gordon Alan Gebert Sr. and Violette Gebert. His father was a salesman for a trailer company and later managed sales of truck and bus fleets for the Ford Motor Co. in Iowa. In 1946, a boy was needed for a role in a play for Drake University. Gordon was chosen and received acting lessons through the theatre. In 1948, Gordon and his parents moved to Los Angeles and Gordon started at Pasadena Playhouse in a production of 'Life With Father', opposite Victor Jory. An agent saw him and he was cast in a bit part in the film Come to the Stable (1949), which starred Loretta Young and Celeste Holm.

His next film was Holiday Affair (1949), where he got the pivotal role as Janet Leigh's son. The Des Moines Tribune reviewer wrote, "Gordon Gebert boldly and skillfully walks away with the whole 'Affair.' Not from unknowns or has-beens, either. He's up against such polished operators as Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh and Wendell Corey." The Milwaukee Sentinel critic wrote that the film "shows up young Gebert as a screen natural." He made more films with stars such as Burt Lancaster, Dan Duryea, Joel McCrea, Ray Milland, and John Wayne. He even portrayed young Audie Murphy in Murphy's autobiographical film, To Hell and Back (1955).

As he grew up, he became interested in architecture. Graduating from Van Nuys High School, he attended both UCLA and USC but did not graduate. Then he drove across the country and stopped at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he applied. He was accepted and never returned to acting. In June 1966, he graduated with his bachelor's degree in architecture. He then attended Princeton University and graduated from there with his master's degree in January 1968. He taught at Princeton for a year before becoming part of the staff of New York's City College School of Architecture in July 1969. He is a professor teaching Modeling, Digital Media, Design and Construction Technology. He has been a consultant to various agencies including US Veterans Affairs, US Public Health Service, and the Department of Defense. In 1986, while in line for a flight to a speaking engagement, he met his future wife, Lizabeth Paravisini, a professor at Vassar College. They married and have a son, Gordon Alan Gebert III.

Shawn Johnson was born on 19 January 1992 in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. She is an actress, known for The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008), Beijing 2008: Games of the XXIX Olympiad (2008) and Dancing with the Stars (2005). She has been married to Andrew East since 16 April 2016. They have three children.

Nicholas Downs grew up in the small Midwest town of Bondurant, Iowa as the second youngest of ten brothers and sisters. By high school, Nicholas found acting as a way to create a voice of his own. His English teacher, Mrs. Sandoval, helped him by guiding him into the fine arts. With guidance from Director, Arthur Allan Seidelman, who cast him in his first feature film, Nicholas ventured to Los Angeles to start his acting career. He found an agent and a manager and soon started building a foundation of work. After booking several independent films, commercials, and guest spots on television, he soon started landing more prominent roles in major motion pictures, including Pearl Harbor (2001), The Girl Next Door (2004), Constantine (2005), and The Holiday (2006). Nicholas has used the experience he has found as an actor to start producing his own projects. Most recently he has partnered up with Illumination Pictures and has just completed Anderson's Cross (2010), their first joint venture. Nicholas is already at work on Illumination Pictures' next project, Prep School (2011). As with Anderson's Cross (2010), Nicholas will not only produce but will also have a lead acting role.

Andi Gallagher was born on 13 September 1989 in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. She is an actress, known for 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020), Wedding Screeners (2020) and Burn: 68 Thunderbird (2016). She is married to Matthew Shanley Gallagher.

Corey Taylor was born on 8 December 1973 in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Thunder Force (2021), Resident Evil (2002) and Rollerball (2002). He has been married to Alicia Dove since 6 October 2019. He was previously married to Stephanie Luby and Scarlett Stone.

Peter Hedges was born on 6 July 1962 in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. He is a writer and director, known for What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Ben Is Back (2018) and Pieces of April (2003).

Megan Hensley was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. She went to North High School and Grand View University. She was conceived in a trailer and baptized in a cow tank. She started her career by auditioning for plays in High School and driving all over the Midwest with 2 other actresses to audition in surrounding states. Sometimes driving 10 hours just for a single audition. She booked her first big project in Iowa "The Crazies", with Timothy Olyphant. Since then she has been in LA for the past 10 years and also New Mexico and loving it! She enjoys squirrel and bird watching, the outdoors, archery, horse riding, playing her acoustic, resonator and electric guitars, playing her ukulele, drinking fine wine, eating decadent chocolate and tortilla chips, and watching classic and cutting edge TV and film. She dreams of opening her own tea room and wine bar someday! She now studies at Lesly Kahn. She has been in several TV shows and quite a few movies too. Most recently, this year, she has 3 movies coming out. "Americana" (alongside Toby Huss), "End of the Rope" and "Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch". The latter two films she is playing her guitar and singing. "Americana" premiered at SXSW and "End of the Rope" at Dances with Films. She just finished a screenplay about a true story close to her heart and hopes to make that film in 2024.

Renowned and highly respected actress Sada Thompson has earned critical acclaim both on stage and TV for her noble, strong-minded matrons, but her more challenging and compelling work has come when her characters have displayed darker, more neurotic tones.

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, she was the eldest of three children of magazine editor Hugh Woodruff Thompson and his wife Corlyss Gibson. After a family move to New Jersey, Sada developed an interest in acting, performing in school plays. She subsequently studied drama at the Carnegie Institute of Technology.

Upon graduating in 1949, she began to build up her resume in regional stock and with repertory companies appearing in such productions as "Hay Fever", "The Little Foxes", "Born Yesterday", "The Clandestine Marriage" and "The Cocktail Party". Making her off-Broadway debut in 1955 with the first concert reading of Dylan Thomas' "Under Milk Wood", Sada won a 1957 Drama Desk award for her work in both The Misanthrope" and "The River Line" and, thereafter, started leaning heavily toward the classics -- "Much Ado About Nothing," "Othello," "The Merry Wives of Windsor," "Twelfth Night," "The Tempest" and "Richard II" to name a few. The 1970s began exceptionally well, hitting her zenith with complex, transcending performances in both "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the Moon Marigolds" (earning both Drama Desk and Obie awards) and "Twigs," in which she captured the Tony (as well as Drama Desk, Obie and Sarah Siddons awards) in which she played four roles--three sisters and their elderly mother.

This renewed attention for Sada finally lent itself to film and TV work. The dark-haired, somewhat plump-figured woman with classy but slightly offbeat features was not deemed marketable for film. So, despite adding distinctive support to the dramas Desperate Characters (1971) and The Pursuit of Happiness (1971), it was television that would garner her the attention she longed for and deserved. She won her first Emmy nomination playing Mary Todd Lincoln in Lincoln (1974) opposite Hal Holbrook's Honest Abe. The following year, she earned another nomination as Jack Lemmon's put-upon wife in The Entertainer (1975), a TV remake of the 1960 British film. The Emmy would finally come to her for her sensible mother role in the touching dramatic series Family (1976). As the proper, intelligent, slightly remote Kate Lawrence," mother of three, Sada became a TV symbol of strength, courage and integrity during the show's four seasons. She went on to receive two more Emmy nominations as Rhea Perlman's mother on Cheers (1982) and as accused California schoolteacher Virginia McMartin, on trial for sexual abuse, in the mini-movie Indictment: The McMartin Trial (1995). The quality of her performance along with those of fellow actors James Woods, Shirley Knight and Henry Thomas (of E.T. fame), lent an air of distinction to the obvious tabloid-driven material.

In addition to other socially-relevant mini-movies, Sada occasionally returned to her beloved theater roots. She won a second Sarah Siddons award for the title role in "Driving Miss Daisy" (1989), and enjoyed a return to Broadway after nearly 20 years with "Any Given Day" in 1993. Elsewhere, her warm, soothing voice has been used frequently in documentary narratives and books-on-tape. Ms. Thompson, who lived in Connecticut with long-time husband (since 1949) Donald Stewart, had one daughter, Liza Stewart, a costume designer. She died in a Danbury hospital of lung disease on May 4, 2011, at age 83.

Wally Wingert is an American voice actor, collector and comedic actor from South Dakota. He is most well-known for voicing the Riddler in several Batman video games and cartoons, dozens of characters in Family Guy, Ant-Man from Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Almighty Tallest Red and Mortos der Soulstealer in Invader Zim, Renji Abarai in Bleach, Green Eyed Skeleton Man in Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed and Jon Arbuckle in Garfield.

Ruth Kobart was born on 24 April 1924 in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. She was an actress, known for How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967), Dirty Harry (1971) and Sister Act (1992). She died on 14 December 2002 in San Francisco, California, USA.

Wavy-haired American character actor and musician Frank Jenks was the son of advertising man Frank Jenks and pianist Lillian Sadler. After his family settled in Los Angeles, he attended the University of Southern California. He learned to play trumpet, trombone and clarinet, but eventually dropped out of college and embarked on leading a band on the West Coast vaudeville circuit. He then took the next step and became a song-and-dance man. From being a hoofer, he made his way to the legitimate stage and from there to movies, at first playing orchestra leaders. While this required little acting ability, he soon came into his own as a comic actor, his cinematic stock-in-trade being fast talking reporters (his caustic delivery was used to best effect in His Girl Friday (1940)), droll Runyonesque henchmen, cabbies, grifters, cops, bartenders and drunks. His improvisational acumen in adding his own routines to varied comedy scripts led to his receiving Hollywood's sobriquet as "off-the-cuff Jenks".

Amid numerous supporting parts, often for Universal's B-team, Jenks finagled the odd star billing, notably in a series of forgotten potboilers made by Poverty Row outfit PRC during the 1940s. From the early 1950s, he was a regular guest performer on television, appearing in just about anything, from Adventures of Superman (1952) to Perry Mason (1957).

Harriet Nelson will always have a secure place alongside Barbara Billingsley and Jane Wyatt in the "TV's Golden Age Mom Hall of Fame." For fourteen years, she, husband Ozzie Nelson, and their two boys, David Nelson and Ricky Nelson, were the quintessential role models of the '50s ideal nuclear family.

Harriet, the daughter of actors, was practically born in a trunk on July 18, 1909, in Des Moines, Iowa. She made her debut amid the footlights at age 6 weeks with her parents. The mid-West beauty attended St. Agnes Academy in her early years. Quite a dazzler in her youth, she was playing vaudeville when she attracted the attention of saxophone-playing Ozzie Nelson and was hired by him as vocalist for his orchestra in 1932. They married three years later.

Harriet had a bold, sassy edge to her that proved a perfect counterpoint to Ozzie's genial, stumbling personality in their off-the-cuff routines. During the '40s, they were regulars on Red Skelton's radio show and even took over the comic's time slot when Red was drafted into the army. As Harriet Hilliard, she moved to leading lady status in a number of cool, snazzy war-era musicals, the most notable as "second lead" to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Follow the Fleet (1936). Other minor efforts included Cocoanut Grove (1938), Sweetheart of the Campus (1941) with Ozzie, Juke Box Jenny (1942), and Honeymoon Lodge (1943), also with Ozzie. Breezy, tuneful films, but nothing to write home about.

Once Harriet partnered with Ozzie in their own radio series "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" in 1944, the family-oriented woman's career became unequivocally bound to his. They extended their devoted radio audience to TV (1952-1966). The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952), which now included both their sons, made household names of the entire clan. David followed in his father's footsteps as director/producer, while Ricky turned pop teen idol with such hits as "Hello, Mary Lou" and "Travelin' Man," songs that were introduced on the show. Following the show's long run, Ozzie and Harriet lay back a bit and settled in Laguna Beach, California, touring occasionally on stage. A second series entitled Ozzie's Girls (1973) lasted only one season.

Following Ozzie's death in 1975, Harriet turned somewhat reclusive, save for a few mini-movies or guest spots. She never fully recovered from son Ricky's death in a plane crash in 1985. She was the doting grandmother of actress Tracy Nelson and of twin rockers Matthew Nelson and Gunnar Nelson, who were simply called "Nelson." A heavy smoker most of her life, she never smoked in public, feeling it did not befit her "perfect mom" image. She died of emphysema and congestive heart failure on October 2, 1994, at age 85.

Kourtney Hansen was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. After studying acting for the theater, she earned her BFA from Drake University in 2003. Following graduation, she appeared on stage in professional theater productions and served as a sidekick to Hatfield and McCoy on their morning show on radio station KJJY in Des Moines. She moved to Nashville in 2008 where she worked heavily as a model/actor in print and online media, films, commercials and music videos -- most notably Keith Urban's "Sweet Thing" and Luke Bryan's "Do I". The latter was named the USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year at the 2010 CMT Music Awards. She has also appeared in several 1800PetMeds commercials.

In early 2010, Hansen joined CMT as a correspondent for CMT Insider followed by Hot 20 Countdown. She's had the pleasure of interviewing Kristen Bell, Zac Efron, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Jason Aldean, and Luke Bryan among others.

Hansen is most well known for her role on the hit TV series, Nashville, where she played Emily, the assistant to Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panetierre) for all six seasons. She also landed the role of Becca in the Hallmark Christmas movie, Christmas at Graceland starring Kellie Pickler.

It should also be noted that Hansen trained in several styles of dance throughout her life and spent over ten years as a dance instructor to children and adults. She has also choreographed routines for many professional organizations. Kourtney is a former member and captain of the Nashville Predators' dance team and was an in-arena host for home games, host of Predators Snapshot on Fox Sports Tennessee and host for the Predators website features for several seasons.

She resides in Nashville with her husband, country music singer/songwriter Jeremy McComb and their two sons. She appeared in McComb's video for "This Town Needs a Bar" in 2008.

Shae LeRae Smolik is an American Actress who is known for her great energy and emotional layers that give her the ability to make her characters come to life on screen. Shae is a natural actress and her strong work ethic is unparalleled. She has a photographic memory and can memorize entire scripts in a matter of hours. She takes direction extremely well and is able to make adjustments whenever asked to do so. Shae has a very dynamic personality is precocious and will light up a room with her smile. Her facial expressions are phenomenal and have pleased many directors when they are trying to get that perfect on screen look.

Shae is the youngest of five children. Her father, Mark Smolik, is a Surgeon and her mother, Jaime Smolik, is a Physician Assistant. She is from a small town in rural Iowa but now resides in Los Angeles.

Shae started in the industry as a model when she was 6 years old at an agency in Iowa then moved on to do commercials. She had a passion for performing even at that young age and so she obtained representation in a a bigger market in Chicago. Her agent from Iowa knew she had extraordinary talent and suggested she move to Los Angeles for more opportunities. In her first few months in Los Angeles she was booked as a Principal on a National Tide commercial and immediately became SAG eligible. She then went on to book leads in short films, web series and more National commercials. Her feature film career started with Trafficked (I) (2016) opposite of Elisabeth Röhm in a very dramatic and emotional role. Shae recently finished two exciting projects: the lead in a horror/thriller tentatively called The Hatred with Malek Akkad producing and the drama Pursued by director Doug Campbell

Shae has studied with thee best acting coaches in Los Angeles to enhance her performance skills and continues to work on her craft everyday. Shae is a brilliant student and is home schooled so that she can be onset or at auditions anywhere at anytime.

Shae's skill set goes beyond her dramatic and comedic abilities as she is an extremely talented gymnast, dancer, singer and horseback rider. She is an extroverted thrill seeker and is always up for a challenge. Shae is represented by Brad Diffley from Mavrick Artists.

Bob Jellison was born on 21 August 1908 in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. He was an actor, known for I Love Lucy (1951), Petticoat Junction (1963) and Shirley Temple's Storybook (1958). He was married to Lacey. He died on 21 April 1980 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Kincaid Walker was born in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Speechless (2016), Hug It Out (2017) and Parks and Recreation (2009).

Tionne Tenese Watkins was born on April 26, 1970 in Des Moines, Iowa. She is also known as "T-Boz" in the R&B/Hip-Hop group, TLC. Born to parents of both African American and Native American descent. As a child she was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia (1 in 12 people of African American descent have the disease). She is the founder of the group TLC and is usually the lead singer. She often shares lead vocals with Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas who also sings lead on some songs performed by the group.

Since childhood, she has been in and out of the hospital, due to her sickle cell disease. At the age of nine, her family moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Tionne's mother and father (divorced when she was 3) were also musicians/singers and sang in a group together. Tionne knew from early childhood that she wanted to one day become a performer too. As a teenager she was a hair model, and eventually became a manicurist and shampoo girl at a popular Atlanta hair salon. In her free time she pursued her passion "dancing" at the local legendary skating rink Jellybeans. It was through a stylist/friend at this salon that she met Perri "Pebbles" Reid and was discovered in 1991 along with Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes and Crystal Jones. The trio's original name was 2nd Nature (Crystal's group), but was renamed TLC by Reid. Crystal Jones was quickly replaced however by Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas and the group began recording almost immediately.

The first album "Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip" was released in February of 1992 and by 1996 the album was certified quadruple-platinum. It was during the first album's tour with MC Hammer that Tionne's sickle cell condition was revealed (she'd kept it secret). The rigorous tour schedule had taken a physical toll and she was hospitalized for 2 weeks. Her bandmates stayed by her side until her release and decided to lessen the tour schedule to allow Tionne enough days of rest. In 1996, she eventually went public with her disease.

CrazySexyCool was released in 1994 and had two "Billboard Hot 100" number one singles. Tionne gained a higher profile as her distinctive voice fueled many of the album's smooth and seductive tracks. The album was certified Diamond (first girl group in history to receive this) and earned them 2 Grammy's. Despite their incredible global success as the number 1 girl group at the time, the members of TLC were forced to file for bankruptcy due to poor contracts signed at the start of their careers. Eventually the group signed a new contract with LaFace/Arista and went back into the studio.

FanMail was released in 1999 after a long hiatus that included several dramas affecting the group individually and as whole. Amazingly, the group continued their upward trajectory of success reaching new heights. FanMail debuted as the #1 album and went 6x Platinum, receiving 8 Grammy nominations and winning 3.

Tionne married rapper Mack 10 in August 2000, and share a daughter together, Chase Anela Rolison, born on October 20, 2000.

3D was released in 2002 but the production was interrupted by the death of group member Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes. Lopes' death traumatized her groupmates, also close friends, who were compelled by contract to complete the album in spite of her death. One of Tionne's longest hospital stays was for four months in 2002. Lopes had visited her before her fateful trip to Honduras. Despite some internal strife the strength of the group was their sorority, chemistry and their insistence on keeping the group intact even if solo efforts were pursued separately.

In June 2004, T-Boz filed for divorce and requested a restraining order against Mack 10.

In 2005, Watkins and a partner opened a children's boutique called Chase's Closet (named after her daughter). They closed down in 2008 however while Tionne was still recovering/rehabilitating from her brain tumor surgery. Chase's Closet was an A-list boutique and is still named one of the best children's stores today.

In 2006 she was diagnosed with a potentially deadly brain tumor which also affected her sight, balance, hearing and facial movement. Due to anticipated life-threatening complications related to her sickle cell disease Tionne struggled to find a surgeon willing to perform surgery. Motivated by her need to live for her daughter she finally found a surgeon willing to take the risk. The surgery was successful, save a 3% loss of hearing in her right ear and paralysis on the right side of her face. Tionne spent 3+ years rehabilitating post the surgery.

Tionne was named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People of the World" by People Magazine twice, in 1995 and 2000.

She is one of the spokespeople for Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.