Thomas Ian Nicholas

"You nailed it, kid." That phrase, uttered in the span of about a second at the premiere of American Pie, confirmed the suspicion THOMAS IAN NICHOLAS had cautiously entertained since he started his career at the age of six: He was on to something special.

Nicholas began his career in acting the way that most kids learn how to swim—by being thrown into the deep end. At the age of six, he moved to Los Angeles with his mother, an aspiring actress who found her niche as a casting director. A resourceful woman, she would fill roles in any way possible, even by casting herself in as many as four extra roles in one feature when necessary. She eventually ran into a wall when a call came on a Sunday night for the role of an altar boy: She hired her son for the role.

That day of work was a revelation for Nicholas, who, despite the fact that he still had his baby teeth, was already feeling a sense of purpose in his life. After the film wrapped, he informed his mother that he wanted to be an actor, and Scott Grimes' mother gave them the name of an agent. Weeks later, after countless hours spent memorizing a lengthy monologue, he marched into the agent's office for his interview and was signed immediately.

That's how, within a year of his first acting role, Nicholas found himself on the set of Who's the Boss?, playing a young Tony Danza. It was an experience full of memories and, most importantly for a young boy, Alyssa Milano.

At age 12, Nicholas embarked on a series of feature films and hit television shows that would shape his career, including the now-classic Rookie of the Year, A Kid in King Arthur's Court and Party of Five, in which he had a recurring role. However, the by-products of acting wouldn't be thrust upon him until he was booked at the age of 17 for the role of Kevin Myers. The American Pie empire had begun.

That gig would make him one of the most recognizable faces of his generation, as the boy next door whom everyone loved and trusted—and who, as Tara Reid's on-screen boyfriend, would become the envy of hormonally challenged teens.

The notoriety was all well and good—no one can complain about being successful in his or her chosen field. However, it wasn't his new high profile that excited Nicholas; it was the recognition from his peers: the ones who noticed that he wasn't just reciting lines, but also exploring his character from the inside out.

With the American Pie movies as a springboard, Nicholas was able to land other exciting roles, in films such as the Roger Avary directed The Rules of Attraction, Halloween: Resurrection, National Lampoon's Cattle Call and Stealing Sinatra, opposite everyone from Tyra Banks to William H. Macy. He has worked on hit TV shows such as Grey's Anatomy and Medium. He also made his debut as a writer and director in L.A. D.J., on which he learned a new appreciation for everyone involved behind the camera in a feature film.

A lifelong musician as well, Nicholas released his debut solo album, "Without Warning," in January 2008. Co-written by rock legends Bruce Kulick (KISS), Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction) and Dan Lavery (Tonic), the album is a radio-friendly collection of pop/rock tunes that toe the line between Switchfoot's melodic rock and John Mayer's pop-crooner sensibilities. His follow-up album, "Heroes Are Human," was released in June of 2010.

Nicholas has been busy acting in independent films such as Please Give, Sherman's Way, Let the Game Begin, The Bridge to Nowhere and Life Is Hot in Cracktown. Nicholas jumped behind the camera again to produce and star in the fantasy film Fading of the Cries.

© 2012 Universal Pictures