With his long locks and accessible sexuality, Joe Lando gained TV stardom playing the mysterious mountain man Byron Sully on the CBS series "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" (1993-98.) In the process, he also won the heart of the good doctor, portrayed by Jane Seymour.

It was a long haul from the suburbs of Chicago, though, and was filled with almost a decade of working as a "chef" while studying acting and making rounds. Lando first became interested in acting when his high school girlfriend (future TV star Alison LaPlaca) suggested he audition for the school musical, "Li'l Abner". To his surprise,