Movie/Actor Matchup Trivia Quiz

Answer: John Vernon

Canadian actor John Vernon played mostly tough-guy roles throughout his career. However, he took a turn into comedy as Dean Wormer in "Animal House" and as Mr. Big in the Wayans brothers' spoof "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka". Sadly, he passed away on February 1, 2005 at the age of 72.

In "The Outlaw Josey Wales" he played Fletcher, who had the memorable line, "Don't (pee) down my back and tell me it's raining!" Set primarily just after the Civil War, the movie tells the tale of a Missouri farmer (Clint Eastwood in the titular role) who becomes an outlaw after his family is brutally murdered.

When his fellow outlaws are murdered by Yankees, after being lured into a trap, Josey tries to go it alone, with Fletcher and a posse hot on his trail.

Answer: Cleavon Little

African-American actor Cleavon Little found success on stage, in films, and on television. One of my favorites is his role as preacher Hawthorne Dooley in the 1971 TV movie "The Homecoming", which led to the TV series "The Waltons". Sadly, he passed away at the young age of 53 on October 22, 1992.

In "Blazing Saddles", Mel Brooks' hilarious spoof of the classic American Western, he played Sheriff Bart. The movie tells the wacky tale of greedy, corrupt politicians who try to scare away the residents of the peaceful town of Rock Ridge in order for the railroad to pass through.

When all attempts to do so fail, they send in Bart, a black man, as Sheriff, hoping that'll do the trick.

Answer: Robin Williams

Robin Williams got his big break playing Mork form Ork in the 1970s TV sitcom "Mork and Mindy". It wasn't too long before he transitioned from television to the big screen. My personal favorite is his role as Donald Quinelle in "The Survivors" from 1983. I've always been somewhat amazed at his range; from manic comedian to serious actor. Sadly, he passed away on August 11, 2014 at age 63.

In "Mrs. Doubtfire", a very funny and touching film, he played Daniel Hillard, a man so desperate to be with his children after a messy divorce, that he disguises himself as a woman and becomes their Nanny.

He is so convincing portraying this lady that he actually becomes friends with his ex-wife! He later lands a TV show playing Mrs. Doubtfire, which eventually goes national.

Answer: William Holden

William Holden was a major Hollywood star for decades. He had roles in such other classics as "Stalag 17", "The Wild Bunch", "Network" and "The Towering Inferno". He passed away too soon on November 12, 1981 at the age of 63. In director David Lean's 1957 masterpiece "The Bridge on the River Kwai" he played U.S. Navy Commander Shears, a P.O.W.

The movie is based on a real event that occurred during World War 2. It tells the story of British prisoners of war forced by the Japanese to construct a strategic railway bridge over the River Kwai, connecting Bangkok and Rangoon.

Shears escapes the prison camp prior to the start of construction, only to come back later as part of a team intent on destroying the bridge.

Answer: James Garner

James Garner starred in many other great films such as "Up Periscope", "Support Your Local Sheriff", "My Fellow Americans" and "Space Cowboys". On television, he played Brett Maverick in "Maverick" (he would later appear as Bret's (Mel Gibson) "pappy" in the film adaptation, and Jim Rockford in "The Rockford Files". Sadly, he passed away on July 19, 2014 at the age of 86.

He played Bob Hendley in "The Great Escape". The movie is based on a true event. It tells the story of an incredible and daring escape by mostly British prisoners from a German P.O.W. camp during World War 2.

Hendley is the scrounger who very cleverly obtains needed materials for the escape effort through blackmail and deception. He is one of only three American prisoners in the camp.

Answer: Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro is one of the greatest and most prolific actors of all-time. He has starred in many classic films in his illustrious career, such as "The Godfather Part 2", "Raging Bull", "Taxi Driver", "The Deer Hunter", "Once Upon a Time in America", "Goodfellows" and "Casino", just to name a few.

His collaborations with director Martin Scorsese are legendary. He is still working as of 2024. He played Rupert Pupkin in "The King of Comedy", with Scorsese directing. It tells the story of a mentally unbalanced man obsessed with becoming famous by taking the place of late-night talk show host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis).

It's a very sharp departure from De Niro's usual tough-guy roles, but he pulls it off very well.

Answer: Dan Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd was one of the original "Not Ready For Primetime Players" in the first four seasons of "Saturday Night Live" (he left in 1979). He later went on to star in such great films as "The Blues Brothers", "Trading Places", "Ghostbusters", "Ghostbusters 2", "Coneheads" and "Driving Miss Daisy".

He's still working as of 2024. In "Tommy Boy" he played the small but pivotal role of Ray Zalinsky. The film tells the tale of Tom "Tommy Boy" Callahan, Jr. (Chris Farley), a major slacker who is thrust into becoming president of his family-owned auto parts factory after his father suddenly dies. Zalinsky, "The Auto Parts King", tries to buy the company just for the name, intending to shut the Callahan factory down.

Answer: Chris Farley

Comedian and actor Chris Farley gained fame after appearing on "Saturday Night Live" from 1990 until 1995. His characters were both funny and memorable, most notably that of motivational speaker Matt Foley. He also appeared in the movies "Wayne's World" "Coneheads" and "Billy Madison", and starred in "Tommy Boy", as well as "Black Sheep".

He died tragically of a drug overdose in 1997 at the very young age of 33. In "Black Sheep" he played Mike Donnelly, whose bumbling but well-meaning efforts to campaign for his brother Al (Tim Matheson), who is running for Governor, cause nothing but havoc. That is, until he uncovers voter fraud and and saves the day!

Answer: Ron Howard

Ron Howard started out in show business playing Sheriff Taylor's son Opie on "The Andy Griffith Show". He went on to play Richie Cunningham on the popular sitcom "Happy Days". He has since gone on to become one of Hollywood's greatest directors. He helmed such great films as "Night Shift", "Splash", "Cocoon", "Back Draft" and "Apollo 13".

He continues to put out high quality films, most recently "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in 2018. In "The Shootist" he played Gillom Rogers, the son of a widow who rents a room in her boarding house to famous dying gunfighter J.B. Books (John Wayne). Gillom is reluctant at first to befriend Books, until he learns who he is and becomes thrilled by the fact that such a notorious man is staying in his house.

The pair eventually become good friends.

Answer: John Wayne

John Wayne was one of the biggest movie stars of all-time. His rough and tough no-nonsense demeaner makes each of his films a joy to watch. He started out in "B" westerns in the 1930s and became an instant star after appearing in John Ford's 1939 classic "Stage Coach". Known mostly for westerns, he also made war movies such as "Sands of Iwo Jima" and "The Green Berets".

His westerns are all classics, from "The Searchers" to "Rio Bravo" to "True Grit" to "Big Jake", in which he plays Jacob McCandles, a rancher who, with the help of his two sons an an Indian friend, heads out to rescue his kidnapped grandson.

This is my personal favorite from The Duke! Sadly, he passed away on June 11, 1979 at the age of 72

Answer: Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase was one of the original "Not Ready For Primetime Players" on "Saturday Night Live". He left the show mid-way through the second season in 1976. He was the first anchor of "Weekend Update". He also played the "Land Shark" in a recurring skit.

He was the one who almost always did the cold open, ending with a pratfall and announcing, "Live from New York, It's Saturday Night!" He went on to a successful career in movies, including "Foul Play", "Seems Like Old Times", "Fletch", and of course his best role as the nerdy, but loveable Clark W. Griswold in the "Vacation" movies.

In the first one, "National Lampoon's Vacation", he takes his family cross-country to visit "Wally World" with disastrous results. A very funny man. He suffered near-fatal heart failure in 2023.

Answer: Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton's first movie role was in Ron Howard's "Night Shift" in 1982. He followed this up with a string of successful films including "Mr. Mom", "Beetlejuice" and "Batman". Fun fact: he was born Michael Douglas, but when he first started out, he changed his stage name to Keaton, after actress Diane Keaton, to avoid being confused with the other, more well-known Michael Douglas.

He is still active as of 2024. In "Johnny Dangerously" he played the title character in a spoof of classic gangster films of the 1930s.

The movie starts off with him relating a story to a troubled youth about his past. He was just a kid when he drew the attention of mob boss Jocko Dundee, who wanted him to help in a robbery. He resists, but later gives in because his mom needs an operation.

This is a silly, funny movie.

Answer: Sally Field

Sally Field is one of Hollywood's most acclaimed actresses. She has starred in many great films including "Norma Rae", "Absence of Malice", "Steel Magnolias", "Kiss Me Goodbye", "Forrest Gump" and, last but not least, the hilarious "Smoky and the Bandit".

She is still active as of 2024. In "Places in the Heart", she played Edna Spalding, a woman who becomes a widow with two children when her husband is killed. The movie is set in depression-era Texas in the small town of Waxahachie. In order to try and make ends meet, she takes in a blind boarder and a black handy-man. Together they plant and harvest cotton in order to make the mortgage payment to save her home.

It's a very beautiful and touching film.

Answer: Bill Paxton

Bill Paxton starred in many great movies throughout his career, including "Titanic", "Twister", "True Lies", "Aliens", "Tombstone" and "Next of Kin". Sadly, he passed away on February 25, 2017 at the age of 61. In "Apollo 13" he played real-life astronaut Fred Haise, the Lunar Module Pilot aboard the ill-fated spacecraft.

The movie tells the true story of the failed mission, and the extraordinary efforts by the crew and those back on Earth to rescue these brave men. Everything in this movie seems so realistic, thanks to the superb special effects, the great acting, and Ron Howard's masterful directing. Great, great movie!

Answer: Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks has made some of the most hilarious movies of all-time, including "Blazing Saddles", "Young Frankenstein", "High Anxiety", "Space Balls", "Robin Hood Men in Tights", and of course this little gem, "History of the World, Part 1". He not only wrote, produced and directed it, he also played five roles: Moses, Comicus, Torquemada, King Louis XVI, and one that I can't mention here.

The movie starts in the stone-age, moves quickly to God giving Moses the "15...oy! these 10, 10 Commandments for all to obey!" It then moves to ancient Rome where we find Comicus getting a stand-up gig at The Palace.

Then it's off to the Spanish Inquisition in Busby-Berkley style. Then on to the French Revolution to meet the King and the Count DeMoney, "That's DeMonay!" Hilarious flick! Mel is still active as of 2024.