Evan Peters

He launched his acting career innocently enough with supporting roles, such as the title character's best friend on the Disney Channel sci-fi series "Phil of the Future" (2004-06) and as a goofy skateboarder in the teen comedy "Sleepover" (2004). Peters began taking on more layered characters in feature films like "Never Back Down" (2008), about teens who competed in underground martial arts matches. Yet it was his career-making turn on the provocative and genre-bending series "American Horror Story" (FX, 2011- ) that turned Peters from a supporting player to a viable lead. Cast as Tate Langdon - a teen who committed an unspeakable crime against his classmates that left him dead and eternally searching for redemption - opened Hollywood's eyes to the sheer talent and courage of an actor capable of taking on roles that pushed boundaries while entertaining viewers at the same time.

Evan Thomas Peters was born on Jan. 20, 1987 in St. Louis, MO to Phil and Julie Peters. His father was vice president of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to civil and human rights. The young Peters made his acting debut in the coming-of-age drama "Clipping Adam" (2004). The Southern California-set film followed the title character (Peters) as he copes with a family tragedy and the impending horrors of his freshman year of high school. That same year, Peters also appeared in a much different film, "Sleepover." The teen comedy starred Alexa Vega as one of four best friends who embark on an all-night scavenger hunt against the popular girls at her school. Peters was cast as a fun-loving skateboarder named Russell (AKA SpongeBob).

Peters made his television acting debut with a recurring role on "Phil of the Future." The Disney Channel series starred Ricky Ullman as a time-traveling teen whose futuristic family discovers they are stuck in 2004. Peters played the title character's (Ullman) nerdy sidekick. In 2005, Peters joined an ensemble cast that included Eddie Cibrian and William Fichtner on the short-lived ABC drama "Invasion" (2005-06). The series capitalized on the network's success with "Lost" (2004-2010) and tried to imitate its blend of human drama and supernatural occurrences. Following the show's cancellation, Peters landed a supporting role in the disturbing yet fact-based drama, "An American Crime" (2007). The film starred Ellen Page as a young woman savagely tortured by a suburban single mother (Catherine Keener), who was left in charge of her and her sister. Peters also played a supporting role opposite Sean Faris and Amber Heard in "Never Back Down," about rebellious teens involved in underground mixed martial arts competitions. The young actor further padded his résumé with guest appearances on TV shows such as "The Office" (NBC, 2005- ), where he played the nephew of Steve Michael Scott (Steve Carrel), and as a hostage in an episode of the popular Fox series "House M.D." (2004- ). Peters also appeared in the action comedy "Kick-Ass" (2010), about ordinary teenagers who turn themselves into superheroes despite having little to no powers or amazing skills.

In 2011, Peters landed his breakthrough role on the FX series "American Horror Story." Created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk - the team behind hits like "Nip/Tuck" (2003-2010) and "Glee" (Fox, 2009- ) - "American Horror Story" centered on a family who moves into a home haunted by the ghosts of previous residents. The series featured a talented pool of actors, including Dylan McDermott, Connie Britton, and Jessica Lange. On the disturbing series, Peters played Tate Langdon, the son of Constance Langdon (Lange) and a patient of adulterous Dr. Harmon (McDermott). During the show's debut season, it was revealed Tate had killed his classmates during a Columbine-style high school massacre and was later unmasked as the mysterious ghost "Rubber Man" (nicknamed for the latex fetish full body suit he wears) who had impregnated Britton's character. His character provided some of the series' most intense plotlines, but audiences were immediately drawn to Tate's transformation from a deeply troubled teen to a nurturing spirit stuck in the afterlife. "American Horror Story" was a commercial and critical hit, helping Peters procure a slew of new fans, most notably on Internet sites such as Tumblr.com, where pages dedicated to Tate fan-fiction went viral.

By Candy Cuenco