Lead singer of the rock/comedy duo Tenacious D and a frequent presence on film and television, Jack Black was likened by some to comedians John Belushi and Chris Farley both for his high-energy outrageous antics and his heavyset frame. Dark-haired, with intense eyes and rubbery features perfectly suited for his expressive performances, Black nearly always looked disheveled and about to snap, whether sporting long hair or a buzz cut. A member of Tim Robbins' Actors Gang, Black made his feature debut in Robbins' directorial debut "Bob Roberts" (1992) playing a crazed fan of the titular folk singer turned politician. He followed up with memorable turns in the Robbins films "Dead Man Walking" (1995) and "Cradle Will Rock" (1999). The latter paired him in an inspired scene with longtime collaborator Kyle Gass, an actor and guitarist who formed Tenacious D with Black in 1994. A band described by Black and Gass as the two-headed love child of heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Molly Hatchet, (as well as the far less accurate label Greatest Band on Earth), Tenacious D's comedic repertoire featured songs with subjects ranging from Sasquatch to their own hordes of willing groupies. Black and Gass' innovative efforts landed them a spot as a special musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" as well as winning Tenacious D its own self-titled HBO series (1999). Soon after, the band launched sell-out nationwide tours without the benefit of a released album. Black didn't coast on his Tenacious D success, and proved himself a versatile performer, making valued acting contributions to both film and television. His prolific small screen work included guest stints on such series as "The X-Files" (Fox), "Picket Fences" (CBS), "The Single Guy" (NBC), and oddly enough, "Touched By an Angel" (CBS). While television work kept him busy and visible, film would launch Black's career. Cameos in such features as "Demolition Man" (1993), "Bye Bye, Love" and "Waterworld" (1995) helped pave the way for more memorable turns in "The Cable Guy" and "Mars Attacks!" (both 1996). In 1998, the actor brought his frenetic screen presence to featured roles in the independent feature "Johnny Skidmarks" (debuted on HBO) and the big-budget action thriller "Enemy of the State". He had an acclaimed turn as a drug-addled hospital worker in "Jesus' Son" in 1999, the same year that Tenacious D fan and fellow Actors Gang member John Cusack snagged Black to co-star in his adaptation of Nick Hornsby's record store-set novel "High Fidelity". In addition to his impressive high-energy performance as obnoxious record store clerk Barry, Black proved his musical talent in the 2000 release, voicing a surprisingly adept and serious rendition of the Marvin Gaye classic "Let's Get it On". In addition to this roundly praised performance, the actor inked his first major deal in 2000, signing on to star with Jason Biggs and Steve Zahn in the offbeat comedy "Saving Silverman" for a reported $1 million paycheck. The film was released in 2001 to mixed reviews, but Black's performance and his onscreen rapport with the equally talented Zahn helped to keep the comedy afloat. The comic actor seemed poised for superstardom when he was tapped by hit-making directors Bobby and Peter Farrelly to star opposite Gwyneth Paltrowand Jason Alexanderin their latest low-brow comedy effort "Shallow Hal" (2001). Black played Hal Larson, a looks-obsessed Lothario who—thanks to a "spell" placed on him by self-help guru Tony Robbins—suddenly only perceives inner beauty and begins a relationship with the sweet, 300 lbs. Rosemary (Paltrow), who he believes is a radiant looker. Unfortunately, the film failed to click with audiences and failed to capitalize on Black's performing strengths, casting him as a relatively bland lout. Black found a better vehicle for his emerging persona when he teamed with second-generation director Jake Kasdan and the able screenwriter Mike White for the seemingly National Lampoon-style but also sharply introspective comedy "Orange County" (2002), in which the actor played Lance, the slacker-stoner brother of lead Colin Hanks whose mind-altering approach to life seems, at least occasionally, to have gifted him with a certain clarity. Black also provided the voice of Zeke in the popular CGI-animated comedy "Ice Age" (2002). Black reunited with his "Orange County" screenwriter Mike White for his next project when the writer tailored the script for "School of Rock" (2003) specifically to suit the skills and persona of Black. As proto-slacker and rock wannabe Dewey Finn who, in desperate need of cash, takes a substitute teaching job posing as his room mate and recruits a musically gifted class of young private school kids into a rock group to compete in a battle of the bands. Working with director Richard Linklater, Black's performance dodged obvious cuteness, ditched the usual mawkish sentimentality of such a set-up and was long on laughs, creating the best star vehicle for the comedian to date. Black followed up "Envy" (2004), a landmark misfire co-starring Jack Black and directed by Barry Levinson and shot before his "School of Rock" breakthrough. Unfunny and incoherent in the extreme and begging the question why so many talented people agreed to make the film, Black at least came off the least scathed in the film, appearing in it far less than his billing suggested. The actor next voiced Lenny, the sweet-natured shark who hides his true personality, in DreamWorks' CGI-animated underwater underworld opus "Shark Tale" (2004). Black landed a plumb role as the impresario Carl Denham who captures Skull Island's giant gorilla in director Peter Jackson's highly anticipated remake of "King Kong" (2005), and next was tapped to costar with Cameron Diazand Kate Winsletin "Holiday" (lensed 2006), a romantic comedy about the friendship between an American woman and a British woman, both of whom have recently been dumped. Black then starred in “Nacho Libre” (2006) as a monastery cook whose inability to do no right—including make good food—leads him to earn money and find his place as a Lucha Libre wrestler—a pursuit strictly forbidden by the church elders. He was next set to costar in “Holiday” (2006), a romantic comedy about an American woman (Cameron Diaz who crosses paths with a British woman (Kate Winslet from a small village with a surprisingly similar problem.