Category: Go Away With…

Go Away With … Lance Briggs

Jae-Ha Kim

Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs has always had a love for comic books, and creating his own has been a dream come true for the 31-year-old football player. “Seraph” — created by Briggs and co-written with Phil Hester — is one of eight titles in the Top Cow and Image Comics Pilot Season Competition. Throughout December, fans may vote for their favorite title at Topcow.com. “Vote as often as you like,” says Briggs, who resides in Scottsdale, Ariz., when he’s not in Chicago with the Bears. “Just like when you vote for the Pro Bowl.”

Go Away With … Richard Marx

Jae-Ha Kim

With more than 30 million records sold worldwide, Richard Marx’s first seven singles, including “Don’t Mean Nothing,” “Right Here Waiting” and “Should’ve Known Better,” hit the Top Five on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart. A savvy businessman, Marx, 48, has made a second career as a songwriter and producer for other artists.

Go Away With … Shannon Lee

Jae-Ha Kim

As a little girl, Shannon Lee grew up in Hong Kong and Los Angeles. The only surviving child of Bruce Lee — who would’ve celebrated his 71st birthday this year — Shannon is the CEO of Bruce Lee Enterprises and president of the board of directors for the Bruce Lee Foundation. Based out of L.A., the 42-year-old actress/singer/entrepreneur may be seen next in “I Am Bruce Lee,” a feature-length documentary that will soon air on Spike TV.

Go Away With … Dionne Warwick

Jae-Ha Kim

“I love being exposed to different cultures,” says singer Dionne Warwick. “And traveling is a learning experience. It’s something we should all do more of. And as Americans we’re very fortunate because the entire world speaks English.” Warwick received her first Grammy in 1968 for “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” Her hit singles include “Walk on By,” “Anyone Who Had a Heart” and “Alfie.”

Go Away With … Eric Van Lustbader

Jae-Ha Kim

Born and raised in Greenwich Village, N.Y., author Eric Van Lustbader once lived in the same building as Lauren Bacall. Two years after Robert Ludlum died in 2001, Lustbader was chosen by Ludlum’s estate to continue the popular Jason Bourne series. The latest is “The Bourne Dominion” (Grand Central Publishing, $27.99). Lustbader counts Paris, Venice and New York — where he resides with his wife — amongst his favorite cities.

Go Away With … Benjamin Utecht

Jae-Ha Kim

“I’m the nonfiction answer to ‘Glee’ and ‘High School Musical,’” says Benjamin Utecht. “I was the star athlete and homecoming king in high school. But I was also in choir and a thespian, and I really got a kick out of all that.” Utecht is currently on tour promoting his album “Christmas Hope.” Keep tabs on his latest concert dates at benjaminutecht.com.

Go Away With … Robin Meade

Jae-Ha Kim

As the lead anchor on HLN’s “Morning Express with Robin Meade,” Meade is known for her reporting and interviewing skills. What may surprise some viewers is that she’s a singer, too. Her debut country CD “Brand New Day” is available at Target and on iTunes. “I spent a lot of weekends and vacation days driving from Atlanta to Nashville to write and record my album,” says Meade.

Go Away With … Yo-Yo Ma

Jae-Ha Kim

Born in Paris and raised in New York, cellist Yo-Yo Ma is one of the world’s most famous classical musicians. But with his latest CD “The Goat Rodeo Sessions,” Ma tackles a different genre: Americana. The record is a collaborative effort with fiddler Stuart Duncan, bassist Edgar Meyer and mandolinist Chris Thile. Ma, 56, has won several Grammy Awards. He has also been honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Ma resides with his wife in Cambridge, Mass.

Go Away With … Alexandra Breckenridge

Jae-Ha Kim

You’ve probably seen — or heard — Alexandra Breckenridge on some of your favorite television series. She portrays Katerina on HBO’s “True Blood” and spent six years doing voice work for such shows as Fox’s “Family Guy” and “American Dad.” Her latest role is playing Moira on the new FX series “American Horror Story,” which is the brainchild of “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy. Born and raised in Connecticut, Breckenridge and her mother moved to California when she was 12.

Go Away With … Richard Wiese

Jae-Ha Kim

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Richard Wiese, field scientist and host of ABC’s travel program “Born to Explore,” based on his 2009 book of the same name, was born to explore. His father was the first man to fly solo around the Pacific Ocean. At the age of 11, Wiese and his father climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and when he got older, Wiese led numerous expeditions there. Wiese, who’s been to all seven continents, lives in Connecticut with his wife and three young children.

Go Away With … Emeril Lagasse

Jae-Ha Kim

A bona-fide foodie, Emeril Lagasse picks New Orleans as one of the all-time great food destinations. “We have unbelievable food here in New Orleans,” says Lagasse, 51. “There is a season for everything down here — shrimp, oysters, strawberries, crabs. No other place has such a direct connection to the farms and fisheries. You can’t beat going to Jazz Fest and getting a soft-shell crab po’ boy, or jambalaya at Mardi Gras or making a big pot of seafood gumbo on football weekends.

Go Away With … Carrot Top

Jae-Ha Kim

Born in Rockledge, Fla., Scott Thompson did his first stand-up routine while still a freshman in college. These days, the redheaded comic goes by the moniker Carrot Top. The 46-year-old comedian and actor has a multi-year deal with the Luxor Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, where — this fall — he will perform his 1,500th show. “I live in Las Vegas where we’ve got gambling, smoking and prostitution,” jokes Carrot Top. “Bring the kids!”

Go Away With … Kristin Chenoweth

Jae-Ha Kim

There is no doubt that Kristin Chenoweth works hard at her career. But the 4-foot-11-inch actress and singer makes it all seem effortless. She originated the role of Glinda in the musical “Wicked,” won an Emmy for her work on “Pushing Daisies” and earned critical praise for her CDs. Her latest album, “Some Lessons Learned,” hits stores on Sept. 13.

Go Away With … Chuck Liddell

Jae-Ha Kim

Ultimate Fighting fans know Chuck Liddell as The Iceman. But since retiring last year, the 41-year-old mixed marital artist is now known as The EVP—the executive vice president of business development for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He’s also featured in the new DVD and Blu-ray release, “UFC: Bad Blood — Liddell vs. Ortiz,” which documents Liddell’s longstanding rivalry with fellow MMA superstar Tito Ortiz.

Go Away With … Diane Farr

Jae-Ha Kim

Diane Farr says she got a late start in traveling and didn’t leave the country until she was 15 years old. But since then, the 41-year-old actress (“Californication,” “Rescue Me,” “Numb3rs”) has more than made up for it by traveling all around the world, primarily alone. That exposure to other cultures — as well as her marriage to a man of different ethnicity — inspired her to write the very funny and astute memoir “Kissing Outside the Lines: A True Story of Love and Race and Happily Ever After” (Seal Press, $24.95).

Go Away With … Gail Simmons

Jae-Ha Kim

“There is no difference between my job and my life,” says “Top Chef Just Desserts” host Gail Simmons. “It’s one big blur and it’s all delicious. I travel and seek out great food. That’s kind of how I plan my trips, and my life.” Born in Toronto and currently residing in New York City, the 35-year-old TV personality — who also handles special projects for Food and Wine magazine — studied at the Institute of Culinary Education and worked in the kitchens of the Vong restaurants and Le Cirque 2000. Her memoir, “Talking with My Mouth Full: My Life as a Professional Eater,” will hit stores next year.

Go Away With … Elinor Donahue

Jae-Ha Kim

Elinor Donahue enjoyed television success playing Robert Young’s eldest daughter Betty Anderson (also known as “Princess”) in the 1950s series “Father Knows Best.” The actress had a slew of fans that wanted to emulate her beauty, grace and character, but for the most part they let her be.

Go Away With … Loni Love

Jae-Ha Kim

“There were people who had been there for 30 years and I asked myself, ‘Is this something that makes me happy?’” says Loni Love. “I wanted to be laid off and save someone else’s job. I had been doing stand-up all along, and now I was free to do it full time. Being good to yourself and not getting too caught up in life goes along with traveling and taking vacations in my view. You need a good balance to keep you happy.”

Go Away With … Kristin Bauer

Jae-Ha Kim

Kristin Bauer portrays Pam on HBO’s hit series “True Blood.” Pam, a bloodthirsty vampire, will do whatever it takes to protect her maker Eric (Alexander Skarsgard). In real life, the actress — who was born in Racine, Wis. — resides in Los Angeles with her husband Abri van Straten, their two dogs and two cats.