Category: Go Away With…

Go Away With … Stephen Lang

Jae-Ha Kim

A stage, film and television actor, Stephen Lang, is known for his commanding roles. One of the stars of “Avatar,” the 59-year-old New Yorker may currently be seen in the Fox series “Terra Nova.” Lang’s love of traveling began early. “The first trip I recall was driving with my family to Washington, D.C., Mount Vernon and Williamsburg,” Lang says. “I liked all of it, but my favorite part was staying in motels. I loved motels when I was a kid, particularly the swimming pools and ice machines. My kids were the same way. I imagine most kids are.”

Go Away With … Andrew Zimmern

Jae-Ha Kim

To television viewers, Andrew Zimmern of “Bizarre Foods” fame is known as that guy who’ll eat anything. And he’d like Americans to give it a shot, too. “Open up and expand your horizons, people!” says the James Beard Award-winning chef and author. “My favorite mixed metaphor is, ‘Put on your big girl pants and man up!’ I am unable to comprehend a place on the planet where the food is ‘too different.’”

Go Away With … Henry Winkler

Jae-Ha Kim

Henry Winkler is an actor, author, director and photographer, but if he were to pursue a new career, he says he’d become a professional fly fisherman. “There’s no way I’d compare myself to any of the great fishermen out there,” says Winkler, 66, “but what a perfect way to spend your life.” Best known for playing Fonzie on the hit TV series “Happy Days,” Winkler currently has roles on the series “Royal Pains” and “Childrens Hospital.” His latest book — “I’ve Never Met an Idiot on the River: Reflections on Family, Fishing, and Photography” (Insight Editions, $21.95) — is a collection of photographs and anecdotes about his life.

Go Away With … Sophie Flack

Jae-Ha Kim

In her debut novel, “Bunheads,” Sophie Flack writes with an insider’s knowledge about the world of ballet. A former ballerina with the New York City Ballet, the 28-year-old artist, author and college student writes of an environment where surreal beauty comes at the expense of personal freedom. Flack, who retired from dance in 2009, resides in Manhattan with her puppy, Zeus, and boyfriend Josh Charles (“The Good Wife”).

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).