Q. I'm a fan of Paul Reiser and "Mad About You." I don't remember seeing Helen Hunt before. How about a brief bio? And the address of Reiser and Hunt. - M.W., Southfield, Mich.
A. Hunt, 30, was born in Los Angeles, but grew up in New York City. She made her acting debut at age 9 in a TV movie, "Pioneer Woman." "Mad" is her fifth series. Her others were "Amy Prentiss," "Swiss Family Robinson," "The Fitzpatricks" and "It Takes Two." She's done many other TV shows, TV movies and features, the most recent "Mr. Saturday Night." She's single. Write to Hunt and Reiser Tri-Star Television, 1875 Century Park E., Los Angeles, Calif.Q. On a "Mary Tyler Moore Show" rerun, I noticed an actor named Jack Cassidy. I thought he resembled David Cassidy of "The Partridge Family." Is there any relationship? - Mrs. V.K., Virginia Beach, Va.
A. David is Jack's son from his first marriage, to actress Evelyn Ward. Jack's also the father of Shaun, Patrick and Ryan Cassidy by second wife Shirley Jones. In 1976, Jack Cassidy died in a fire when he fell asleep while smoking. He was 49.
Q. What happened to Jeremy Gelbwaks and Brian Forster, the two boys who played Chris on "The Partridge Family"? - S.G., Buffalo, N.Y.
A. Gelbwaks, the first Chris, left the show after a single season, 1970-71, when his father's job caused the family to move. Now 32, he's a computer technician in Louisiana. Forster, now 33, is a race-car driver in California.
Q. Where did Alex Trebek go to college? How does he know so much? Does he study up on the categories on "Jeopardy!"? - N.C. and family, Villanova, Pa.
A. Trebek earned a philosophy degree from the University of Ottawa in 1960. While co-workers describe him as "knowledgable," Trebek's not the man who thinks up the answers and questions on the game show. His staff and outside experts research the questions. And remember, he has a card with the questions in front of him during the show.
Q. What is the big secret about "Hearts Afire"? I watched it every week, then it suddenly disappeared. Will it be back? - N.K., Bradenton, Fla.
A. "Hearts" will return but not as soon as first announced. CBS had it scheduled for Fridays but pulled it to plug in a renovated "Bob," the Bob Newhart series. "Hearts" ran into problems last season when viewers and advertisers complained about its sexuality. That's the reason the Markie Post and John Ritter characters were married. The new version will tone down the sex. And it won't be based in Washington any more; the newlyweds will move to the Midwest, taking over a small-town newspaper.
Q. I enjoy "Lost in Space" on the Sci-Fi Channel. I've seen most of the actors except for Guy Williams. What's his status and where can I write? - E.C., Novi, Mich.
A. Williams' career nose-dived after "Space" ended in 1969. By 1989, he was living in Buenos Aires, where he died suddenly. He was 65.
Q. Tell me about John Glover of "South Beach." Is he married? Has he done any other series? - M.E.W., Drexel Hill, Pa.
A. In addition to an impressive string of feature films, from "Julia" to "Gremlins 2," Glover also has many TV credits. Only one, however, was a semi-regular role, on "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd." He's appeared in many miniseries, including "Kennedy," "Rage of Angels," "George Washington" and "David." He has three Emmy nominations for his work in "An Early Frost," "Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder" and a 1992 episode of "L.A. Law." He's single.
Q. My husband and I still think "Gunsmoke" with James Arness was the best western on TV. Is it possible to order segments? Is there a catalog available of all the shows? - M.P., San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
A. CBS Video Library released the first of a projected series of "Gunsmoke" videos in 1990 with four half-hour shows from 1955-56, including the premiere with an introduction by John Wayne. You can't order certain episodes. Check with Columbia House Video Library, Box 1112, Terre Haute, Ind. 47811.
Q. I say Gary Lockwood was the lead in "The Lieutenant," about 1960 or '70. My husband says Robert Urich. - C.G., Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
A. Lockwood starred in the series, 1963-64.
Q. I was a fan of "Family Ties." Can you tell me what has happened to Tina Yothers? What movies has she starred in? - M.S., New Haven, Conn.
A. Yothers, now 20, wanted to keep acting and launch a singing career after "Family Ties." She's done a few minor TV roles and one TV movie, "Laker Girls," and is still waiting to record an album.
Q. I've admired Carey Elwes for the longest time. I'm dying to know more about him. - M.A.G., Cushing, Okla.
A. Elwes is 30, born in London and moved to New York, where he attended Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y. He made his movie debut in England in "Another Country" in 1984; he hit it big in the U.S. in 1987 in "The Princess Bride." Since then he's been seen in "Glory," "Days of Thunder," "Hot Shots," "Bram Stoker's Dracula" and the current "Robin Hood: Men in Tights." He's single and lives in California.
Q. Tell me about Gabrielle Anwar, of "Scent of a Woman." - L.T., Aledo, Texas.
A. Anwar's 23, British and studied at London's School for the Performing Arts. She made her TV debut in Britain at 15 in a series, "Hideaway," and her movie debut at 18 in "Manifesto."
Q. A few years ago Penny Marshall starred in a TV movie about a single mom who entered a triathalon and struggled to finish. What was its name and where can I get the video? - K.D., Virginia Beach, Va.
A. It was 1985's "Challenge of a Lifetime" and it's not on video tape. Joanne Woodward starred in a similar movie, "See How She Runs," about a middle-aged housewife who enters the Boston Marathon. Woodward won a 1978 Emmy for the role. It is on video tape.
Q. What happened to Billy Eckstine, the singer? - M.W., Detroit.
A. Eckstine died in March 1993 after a long illness.
Q. I wish people would use the right gender for players in films and TV. A woman is an actress; a man is an actor. - Angry, Tampa, Fla.
A. Actor can be used correctly for both sexes. Webster defines actress as "a female actor." These days most women prefer the non-sexist term actor.
Q. My friend and I are wondering what happened to the other Margo on "As the World Turns." We miss her. - D.D., Phoenix, Ariz.
A. There have been three "other" Margos on "ATWT" before the current occupant of the role, Glynnis O'Connor. Margaret Colin created the role. She was followed by Hilary B. Smith, then Ellen Dolan, who preceded O'Connor. Dolan was nominated for a 1992 Daytime Emmy for her work in the role, then departed to try prime-time TV. O'Connor was seen in a short role in the serial in 1973. She's best known for her work in the movie "Ode to Billy Joe."
Q. I love the actress who plays Eleni on "The Guiding Light." Tell me about her and where I can write her. - A.A., E. Amherst, N.Y.
A. Melina Kanakaredes has played Eleni since April 1991. She's from Akron, Ohio, and started modeling to finance her college education. She was a runner-up in the Miss Ohio pageant, did industrial films and commercials before she landed a role in a cable movie and on the soap "One Life to Live." She's married. She's been doubling between her soap role and a movie, "White Man's Burden." Write: CBS-TV, 51 W 52nd St. New York, N.Y. 10019.
- Send your questions to Celebrity Questions, Detroit Free Press, 321 W. Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48231.