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Image: Justin Timberlake, Jesse Eisenberg
Merrick Morton  /  Columbia Pictures
You know what's cool? A BILLION people making this same joke.
By
TODAY.com
updated 7/25/2011 5:50:50 PM ET 2011-07-25T21:50:50

Justin Timberlake has moved from successful boybander to successful actor, thanks to some dynamite moments on "Saturday Night Live" and some smart movie choices. He's also dated Britney Spears, exposed Janet Jackson's breast at the Super Bowl,  and been "Punk'd" by Ashton Kutcher.

Slideshow: Justin Timberlake through the years (on this page)

As his new film "Friends With Benefits" opens, we share some of our favorite J.T. memories.

Story: 'Friends with Benefits' brings sexy back

Ashton Kutcher almost makes him cry
Ashton Kutcher never had a better moment than this "Punk'd" episode where Timberlake is convinced that he owes $900,000 to the IRS and that all his property is being seized. Even Timberlake's MOM was in on this. But whoever played the head government agent deserves an Oscar. He never breaks character (although he does break J.T.'s guitar) and at one point he disses Timberlake's $8 million house. "You don't have a paved driveway, there's no landscaping..."

Timberlake suggests a holiday gift
This 'SNL' digital short featuring Timberlake and Andy Samberg was an enormous hit because it's so perfectly done, from the 1990s throwback style to the blatant lyrics. "Step one, cut a hole in a box."

Timberlake and Samberg get intimate on 'SNL'

'You know what's cool? A BILLION dollars.'
Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) may have been the main man of "The Social Network," but Timberlake all but stole the show as Napster co-founder Sean Parker. He elbowed himself into the partnership between Zuckerberg and college pal Eduardo Saverin like a savvy basketball player and showed once and for all that he's not just that guy from the boy band who dated Britney.

Video: Watch 'The Social Network' trailer

'History of Rap,' parts one and two
Apparently inspired by Internet viral videos like Judson Laipply's "Evolution of Dance," Jimmy Fallon and Timberlake perform an amazing rap medley touching on almost all the major highlights of the genre. The first part, which aired in September 2010, was so popular that they had to come back with more in July 2011. Fallon told Access Hollywood that the concept was Timberlake's idea, and he had to practice the original routine for days while Timberlake picked it up in 10 minutes. That may be true, but Fallon more than held his own.

Timberlake, Fallon offer 'History of Rap 2'

© 2012 MSNBC Interactive.  Reprints

Vote: What was Justin Timberlake's best moment?

Video: Timberlake has career in sync

Photos: Justin Timberlake

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  1. Entertainer of the Year

    Justin Timberlake accepts the award for Entertainer of the Year onstage during Spike TV's 6th Annual "Guys Choice Awards" at Sony Pictures Studios in 2012. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  2. Foray into the future

    Justin Timberlake announces Myspace TV, a social TV service that will be available on Panasonic connected televisions, at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Timberlake is the company's co-owner. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  3. Justin 'Time'?

    Justin Timberlake has been an accomplished singer, dramatic actor, and comic star, but can he play an action hero? Audiences will find out when "In Time" hits theaters in fall 2011. (20th Century Fox) Back to slideshow navigation
  4. Rap it in a bow

    Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon perform "The History of Rap," a lively medley of rap song excerpts, on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." The two performed part one in 2010 and part two in 2011. (NBC) Back to slideshow navigation
  5. Couch potatoes

    Timberlake and Mila Kunis star in 2011's "Friends with Benefits" as a couple who think they can keep their relationship strictly physical. (Screen Gems) Back to slideshow navigation
  6. Bad boy

    In 2011's "Bad Teacher," Timberlake gets geeky (if not freaky) with star Cameron Diaz; here, he takes a stroll down the red carpet at the film's New York premiere. (Jason Kempin / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  7. Making a spectacle

    Gentlemen who wear glasses (like Timberlake) get passes from girls without glasses (Cameron Diaz, left) in 2011's "Bad Teacher." (Columbia Pictures) Back to slideshow navigation
  8. Mother's day

    Timberlake more than made up for any worry he may have given mom Lynn Harless growing up by taking her to the 83rd annual Academy Awards in 2011. (Jason Merritt / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  9. Bearing it all

    Timberlake provided the voice of Boo Boo for 2010's "Yogi Bear" and dropped in on the premiere at Mann Village Theater in Westwood, Calif. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  10. Clothes make the man

    Timberlake proved himself a fashion designer as well as singer and actor by launching the William Rast clothing line with old pal Juan "Trace" Ayala, right, in 2005. Here, they take the runway for some welcome applause at 2010's Fashion Week in New York. (Stefan Gosatti / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  11. Crowd sourcing

    Timberlake wasn't just in New York for his own collection; he also took a seat with Jessica Biel at the Paris68 Fall 2010 Fashion Show. (Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  12. Power player

    In 2010's "The Social Network," Timberlake played Napster founder Sean Parker as a poisonous mentor to Jesse Eisenberg's Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook. (Merrick Morton / Columbia Pictures) Back to slideshow navigation
  13. Extra toppings

    Timberlake worked opposite Mike Myers on "The Love Guru" in 2008. (Paramount Pictures) Back to slideshow navigation
  14. You shoulda put a ring on it

    Timberlake played one of Beyonce's "Single Ladies" backup dancers when she appeared on "Saturday Night Live" in 2008 to spoof her famous video. (NBC) Back to slideshow navigation
  15. Back to the future

    No matter what other ventures he is involved in, Timberlake is first and foremost a musician: Here, he performs in Abu Dhabi during the final show for his FutureSex/LoveShow World Tour in 2007. (Dave Hogan / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  16. Strong armed

    Timberlake played cuckolded boyfriend Ronnie in 2007's "Black Snake Moan." (Paramount Vantage) Back to slideshow navigation
  17. Step one, cut a hole in a box

    Timberlake and Andy Samberg starred in the Emmy-winning "Saturday Night Live" short "(Bleep) in a Box" in 2006. (NBC) Back to slideshow navigation
  18. Fore-ward motion

    With a 6 handicap, Timberlake is also a crack golfer; here, he takes a swing at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in Palm Desert, Calif., in 2006. (Mike Guastella / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  19. Scoring points

    Back in 2006, the future "Bad Teacher" co-stars Timberlake and Cameron Diaz were still an item, and even showed up on "Saturday Night Live" together. Here, they catch some basketball as the Los Angeles Lakers take on the L.A. Clippers. (Lisa Blumenfeld / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  20. Ganging up

    In 2006's "Alpha Dog," Timberlake played a gang member who gets in way over his head. (Everett Collection) Back to slideshow navigation
  21. Clothes riot

    Janet Jackson and Timberlake right secretly planned for him to grab at her costume while performing at Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, but got more (and less) than they bargained for, when the wardrobe "malfunctioned" and Jackson was briefly exposed to 140 million viewers. (Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  22. Two in the hand

    Following the "wardrobe malfunction" with Janet Jackson at the 2004 SuperBowl, Timberlake was told he'd be barred from the 46th annual Grammys if he didn't apologize. As he accepted the first of two honors he would win that night, Timberlake offered up a scripted "sorry" speech. (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  23. Staged behavior

    Tattooed and confident, with a super-short haircut, Timberlake wowed on his "Justfied/Stripped" tour with Christina Aguilera in 2003. (Getty Images / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  24. Hand it over

    Prior to going solo and turning to acting, Timberlake had fans screaming whenever he performed with boy band N'Sync; here in 2001 he shakes hands before the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas. (Frank Micelotta / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  25. Forever in blue jeans

    Long before he went into the fashion business, Timberlake made some daring forays into clothing ... including this questionable matching ensemble with then-girlfriend Britney Spears. The two wore the clothing to the 2001 American Music Awards, where she co-hosted. (Lucy Nicholson / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  26. Retro chic

    N'Sync was one of the 1990s' top-selling boy bands; their first album sold 11 million units, thanks in part to the charisma of co-lead singer Timberlake, who shared the stage with J.C. Chasez. Here, he gets the audience jumping on their 2000 world tour. (Getty Images / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  27. Hair today

    Timberlake attended the Wango Tango Concert in 2000 in Los Angeles while still a member of N'Sync.. (Getty Images / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  28. Boy, oh boy

    Four years after forming, N'Sync (from left to right, Lance Bass, Timberlake, Joey Fatone, J.C. Chasez and Chris Kirkpatrick) could stand tall at 1999's WB Radio Music Awards in Las Vegas. (Brenda Chase / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  29. Exclusive club

    Who's the leader of one of the greatest clubs in the world? Hard to tell, but "Mickey Mouse Club's" classes of 1989-94 spawned some of the biggest future names in music and acting, including Britney Spears (blue vest), Christina Aguilera (next to Britney), Keri Russell (front of Christina), J.C. Chasez (left front), Timberlake (behind J.C.) and Ryan Gosling (second from top right). (Everett Collection) Back to slideshow navigation
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  1. Image: Spike TV's 6th Annual 2012 "Guys Choice" Awards - Show
    Kevin Winter / Getty Images
    Above: Slideshow (29) Justin Timberlake
  2. Image:
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    Slideshow (22) Summer blockbusters

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