Matthew Cohen (Aiden Dennison)

South Florida native Matthew Cohen, who makes his TV debut as charismatic golden boy Aiden, spent his high school years excelling in sports as well as academics. As a special team starter on the football team and a top three finisher in numerous district track meets, Cohen achieved the Brian Piccolo Student Scholar Athlete Award, all the while maintaining perfect attendance and a 3.8 GPA.

Matthew headed to Florida State University to pursue a business degree and on a lark signed up for a couple of theater classes. Soon he decided to plunge into his newfound passion for the arts. Strengthened by the support of his father, whom he considers his best friend, and having met a manager, Matthew found himself screen testing for a soap opera in Los Angeles within six months.

When he is not acting, Matthew still spends a majority of his free time feeding his adrenaline addiction with a wide range of sports including skydiving, boxing, racing and anything involving a board.

Gabrielle Christian (Spencer Carlin)

When Gabrielle Christian clinched her first starring role as South of Nowhere's Spencer Carlin, this cousin of the famed movie legend Spencer Tracy was amazed and delighted by the irony of her character's name.

One of five daughters of a librarian for the Library of Congress and a writer/editor for SIDS Educational Services (a charity in which Gabrielle is extremely involved), Gabrielle tapped into her extended family's show biz roots and began performing professionally onstage in the nation's capital at age 12. She starred in numerous plays at her performing arts high school before embarking in theater studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

While still in high school, Gabrielle landed a recurring role on the WB series Young Americans, and once in Hollywood, she won guest spots on CBS' Without a Trace, Lifetime's What Should You Do? and the recurring role as Lucy on Nickelodeon's Drake & Josh. Most recently, she has been seen on the new NBC series Windfall and will appear in an episode of Drake and Josh in Fall 2006. Of all her television experiences, she especially savors South of Nowhere as a series that expresses sensitive subjects that should be socially expressed.

An avid traveler, Gabrielle was born and raised in Maryland, enjoys studying new languages and is fluent in Hungarian (her father's native tongue). Hiking, boogie boarding, movies and singing are among her favorite leisure time activities.

Mandy Musgrave (Ashley Davies)

Game to tackle troubled characters like Ashley, Mandy Musgrave welcomes the challenge. She came to California to be an actress, not to be typecast, which is why the role of Ashley allows her to express her true talent. The Orlando native, who previously played vixen Chelsea Benson on the NBC daytime drama Days Of Our Lives (DOOL) describes her current screen teen as "a hurt and wild-hearted soul."

Mandy first stepped onstage in school plays at age six and focused intently on acting in high school with productions of Anything Goes and The Miracle Worker. After graduation, she resolved to follow in the footsteps of her grandmother, actress Rita Ray and bid farewell to her parents, twin sister Jamie and older sister Brianna to venture to Hollywood for her career. Within a year, she snagged guest-starring roles in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and appearances in: The King of Queens, Malcolm in the Middle and Drake & Josh, in addition to DOOL and The N's South of Nowhere. Her feature film credits include a supporting role in the independent feature Pope Dreams.

In her off-hours the athletic actress enjoys volleyball, water polo, kickball, bowling and running track. She also writes poetry, creates collages, sings and dances.

Danso Gordon (Clay Carlin)

Growing up in Toronto and Halifax, athletic Danso Gordon shot hoops and ran, but the budding performer also enjoyed amusing schoolmates with his antics. He kicked off his career in 1995, by appearing on the popular CBC series Street Cents. Soon after, this third of five kids of an engineer and a secretary set his sights on Hollywood.

After moving to LA to live with his dad at 15, Danso found high school a social challenge, which helps him relate to his character Clay.

While studying theater arts at Valley College and psychobiology at UCLA, Gordon pursued his acting career, performing in numerous theatrical productions and commercials - including a sneaker spot with basketball great Charles Barkley - and guest-starring on such series as Sliders and Get Real. He landed regular roles on the NBC comedy series Hang Time and Disney Channel's In a Heartbeat. His feature films credits include American History X, Dirty Deeds and Dear Wendy.

In his off-hours Danso maintains an interest in real estate, travel and films and enjoys playing basketball. His future plans include producing and writing his own films.

Valery Ortiz (Madison Duarte)

As a junior at the University of Central Florida, Valery Ortiz nabbed an offer to host Nickelodeon's live interstitial game show Splat! in Orlando. And the hometown gig hastened a TV career for this Puerto Rico-born Floridian.

After Splat! Valery, who had acted in childhood for her brother's home movies and taken her talents to the stage at Dr. Phillips Theatre Magnet, Southern Ballet Theatre and Scotland's Edinburgh Fringe Festival, ventured to LA. In short order she won the role of opportunistic head cheerleader Madison on South of Nowhere. In addition, Valery delighted fans when she spoofed J-Lo as the wedding planner, "Jello," in the hit film Date Movie that opened #1 at the box office and topped the DVD sales charts. Valery has also made an appearance on the comedy series Emily's Reasons Why Not and is a guest correspondent for LATV's popular show LATV Does Hollywood.

The off-stage antithesis of her character Madison, Valery deems herself open, optimistic and emotional. An avowed goal-setter, in ensuing years she aims to act in all mediums, open a small, family-owned restaurant, launch a charity for disadvantaged kids in Orlando, write novels and work with the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater. She also recently joined numerous celebrities in the acclaimed Lloyd Klein fashion show that benefited Sheila E's Elevate Hope Foundation.

In her leisure time Valery enjoys decorating, hiking, reading and writing.

Chris Hunter (Glen Carlin)

Chris Hunter, who marks his first regular series role with The N's South of Nowhere, felt an immediate affinity for handsome, popular basketball star Glen.

Chris, the youngest of three to a surgeon and homemaker from Tacoma, WA, is the first in his family to take the show biz path. Chris began appearing in middle school plays and soon won guest-starring roles on Nickelodeon's The Amanda Show, Disney's Phil of the Future and That's So Raven, Fox's Boston Public and Nick's Just for Kicks.

When he's not riding the waves, he enjoys relaxing to the jazz of Jack Johnson and John Mayer. An animation buff, Hunter hopes to add voiceover roles to his resume and currently is co-creating a cartoon.

Austen Parros (Sean Miller)

Austen Parros has enjoyed acting ever since he played "The Major General" in his school production of Pirates of Penzance at age 13. Though he continued to act in school and community plays, he took some time off to join the U.S. Air-Force where he served as an Aerospace Propulsion Journeyman and Staff-Sergeant-Select at Edwards Air-Force Base.

Austen came to Los Angeles in 2005 and quickly gained the attention of the casting community by booking his very first audition – a recurring role on the CBS prime-time series Judging Amy. In his latest role, Austen plays Sean Miller, the 17-year-old inner city philosopher on The N's South of Nowhere. He can relate to his character because, "he too, has dealt with racism and ignorance as a teenager."

Austen, the nephew of Peter Parros (Knight Rider), has also guest-starred as T-Bone on the ABC Family series Lincoln Heights. His film credits include All Consuming, On the Down Low and his television credits include What Should You Do? and General Hospital.

Austen was born in California, but raised in Colorado. He enjoys music, specifically neo-soul and R&B, dancing, and watching football. His career goals include owning a business.