Died in the 1970s Trivia

1. This British actor is famous for (among others), films such as "A Man for All Seasons" (1966) and "The Sting" (1973). He is probably best remembered for playing a fisherman.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 18

Answer: Robert Shaw

His father committed suicide when he was 12 years old. After making "The Sting" and "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" (1974), he had re-established himself with American audiences and was unsure about his next film, "a movie about this big fish" he is reported as saying. He had never heard of the director (Steven Spielberg) and didn't like the title ("Jaws"). It was of course the biggest film ever at the time and the first to make over $100 million worldwide. He died on 27 August, 1978.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 14

Answer: Jack Benny

His inept violin playing was actually for effect as he was in fact an accomplished player. A school football team in Waukegan, Illinois, his hometown, are known as the "39ers" in honour of his insistence of always being thirty-nine. After his death on 26 December, 1974 he left instructions for a rose to be delivered to his wife every day until she died.

From Quiz Decade of Death: the 70s

Answer: Janis Joplin & Joplin

Janis Joplin died in October 1970 from an overdose of heroin. Her greatest hit was "Me and Bobby McGee". [ Jim Morrison passed away one year later in July 1971 ]

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 12

Answer: Dan Blocker

He weighed 14 lbs at birth in 1928. By the age of 12 he was already 6 feet tall and over 200 lbs in weight. Dan played Hoss Cartwright on "Bonanza" which was the #1 show on American TV 1964-5 until 1966-7 and was in the top 5 for 9 years. Dan started the Bonanza Steak House chain in 1963. He died of a pulmonary embolism on 13 May, 1972 aged just forty-three.

From Quiz Decade of Death: the 70s

Answer: Louis Armstrong

The correct answer is Louis Armstrong, also known as Satchmo. 'What A Wonderful World' may be his greatest hit. Duke Ellington died in 1974. Miles Davis' death occured in 1991. Dizzy Gillespie died in 1993.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust : 28

Answer: Gary Gilmore

Prior to his execution, there had been a ten-year moratorium on executions in the U.S. Gilmore actually requested that he be shot and tried to commit suicide when the first stay of his execution was granted and again a month later. His last words were apparently "Let's do it". The sporting goods company Nike ran a "Just Do It" advertising campaign which according to Dan Wieden, the advertising executive responsible for the campaign, was based on these last words. Since then there have been over 1,300 further executions in America. Spenkelink, Bishop and Coppola are 2nd-4th in that list.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 18

Answer: Edgar Bergen

There were 3 versions of the Charlie McCarthy dummy. Magician David Copperfield owns one, bought at auction for $110,000. The other two are in museums, (the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago). His daughter is of course Candice Bergen. He died on 30 September 1978.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 9

Answer: Gladys Cooper

Gladys played the mother of Henry Higgins in "My Fair Lady", a role she had played on TV only a year earlier. In the film version, there is a portrait of a lady above the fireplace in Henry Higgins house. It is actually a portrait of Gladys, painted in 1922. She died 17 November 1971.

From Quiz Decade of Death: the 70s

Answer: Harry Truman

Harry Truman who became president during WWII when Franklin D. Roosevelt died in 1945. Dwight Eisenhower died in 1969. Lyndon B. Johnson or LBJ, passed away in 1973. 1972 also saw the death of J. Edgar Hoover.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 18

Answer: Keith Moon

He became addicted to alcohol in the 1970s and passed out several times while on tour with The Who and had to spend time in hospital. He returned to London in 1978 and died of an overdose of the drug Heminevrin which is intended to curb alcohol abuse. He died on 7 September 1978 in the same London flat as Mama Cass Elliott four years earlier.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 9

Answer: Harold Lloyd

He lost the thumb and forefinger of his right hand in 1919, when a prop bomb exploded. He wore a glove and a prosthetic device to hide it thereafter. He is one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It is said that his 'glasses' character was the inspiration for Clark Kent, Superman's secret identity, as he looked very different when he took them off. He died on 8 March 1971.

From Quiz Decade of Death: the 70s

Answer: Pablo Picasso & Tolkien

Picasso was known for his cubism, his most famous work is 'Guernica', which can be admired in Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid. Tolkien is the writer of 'Lord of the Rings'. Samuel Barber was the composer of 'Adagio for Strings' and died in 1981. Painter and designer Piet Mondriaan died in 1944.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust : 28

Answer: Francis Gary Powers

Soviet intelligence had been aware of the U2 spy-planes flying over their territory for several years but had not been able to do anything about them because of the great height at which they flew. In 1962, this changed and Powers was shot down. He parachuted to the ground and was captured. The US issued a statement about a 'weather plane' pilot being missing. Powers had been unable to set off the plane's self destruct system and it had crashed almost intact. All its secret equipment therefore fell into the hands of the Soviets. Powers was exchanged for a KGB spy some months later. He was killed in a helicopter crash on 1st August 1977.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 18

Answer: Jack L. Warner

By 1973 he was becoming a little confused and even lost his way in the building housing his own office and retired. In 1974, he suffered a stroke which left him blind. Over the next few years he lost the ability to speak and withdrew into himself. He died on 9 September, 1978.

From Quiz Decade of Death: the 70s

Answer: 1927

He flew in The Spirit of St. Louis. He was active in WWII and died on Hawaii.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust : 28

Answer: Julius Marx

Julius was better known as 'Groucho'. Leonard was 'Chico', Adolph was 'Harpo', Herbert was 'Zeppo' and the fifth Marx brother was Milton ('Gummo'). Groucho is famous for amusing quotes such as "Marriage is a wonderful institution. But who wants to live in an institution?" He died on 19 August 1977.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 18

Answer: Hubert Humphrey

He was Mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota (1943-48) and then a Senator from Minnesota (1948-64). After his defeat in the 1968 Presidential election he returned to the Senate from 1971 until his death on 13 January 1978.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 14

Answer: Tex Ritter

Tex was the father of John Ritter the actor. His name was actually Woodward Ritter. He got that from the surname of the doctor who helped at his birth. He became known as "Tex" later. He died on 2 January, 1974.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 9

Answer: Louis Armstrong

He was known as 'Satchmo' or 'Satchelmouth' and was a star back in the 1920's but his biggest hits came late in life. "Hello Dolly" was a huge hit in 1964 and "What a Wonderful World" topped the UK charts in 1968. "We Have All the Time in the World" was the theme to the James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969). He died 6 July, 1971.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 14

Answer: Duke Ellington

He has appeared on both stamps and coins. On 16 July 2008, he appeared on a 42 cent USA stamp celebrating Vintage Black Cinema. In 2009, the District of Columbia issued a 25 cent commemorative coin as part of the USA's Statehood Quarters series. He is shown seated next to a piano, and the name "DUKE ELLINGTON" is engraved in the area above the piano keys. He died on 24 May, 1974.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 12

Answer: Jackie Robinson

He excelled in all sports and at UCLA, he became the first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports. They were baseball, basketball, football and track. He joined the army but was courtmartialed - and acquitted. The 1950 film was of course "The Jackie Robinson Story". He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962 and died on 24 October, 1972.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust : 28

Answer: Steve Biko

Biko was arrested on 18 August 1977 under the Terrorism Act No 83 of 1967 and questioned for 22 hours. He was tortured and beaten unconscious resulting in a coma. He had severe head injuries. It wasn't until 11 September 1977 that he was taken to a prison with hospital facilities, still naked and manacled. He died the following day. A British journalist, Donald Woods, exposed what had happened to his friend and was forced to flee the country. He wrote a book about Steve entitled "Biko" which was later turned into the film "Cry Freedom" (1987).

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 18

Answer: Ronnie Peterson

His car was involved in a shunt shortly after the start of the race and fully fuelled, went into the barriers where it exploded and bounced back into the middle of the track. He was pulled from the burning wreckage with severe leg injuries but amazingly, only minor burns. He was taken to hospital where it was found he had three fractures to one leg and seven to the other. He was operated on, but overnight he developed an embolism and died on 11 September, 1978.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust : 28

Answer: Elvis Presley

Elvis was actually a twin. His brother Jesse died at birth, 35 minutes before Elvis was born. He is a direct descendant of Abraham Lincoln's great-great grandfather, Isaiah Harrison. Elvis died on 16 August 1977 and he was placed in the family crypt. Eleven days later an attempt was made to steal his body. Three men were charged with trespassing and released on bond. The Memphis Adjustment board gave permission for the re-interment of Elvis and his mother Gladys to the Meditation Garden at Graceland on 2 October 1977.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 16

Answer: L. S. Lowry

In 1968, the band Status Quo released a song in tribute to him entitled "Pictures of Matchstick Men" and in 1978 Brian and Michael reached #1 in the UK with their song "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs". Lowry died on 23 February, 1976.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 14

Answer: Georges Pompidou

All four of those named were French Presidents. Pompidou was President June 1969-April 1974, d'Estaing from May 1974 until May 1981, Mitterand from May 1981 until May 1995 and Chirac from May 1995 until May 2007. He died on 2 April, 1974.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 9

Answer: Jimi Hendrix

Jimi was honourably discharged from the U.S. army after breaking his ankle in a parachute jump. He played "The Star Spangled Banner" at Woodstock in August 1969 and footage of that performance has become a study piece. He died in London 18 September 1970 from a barbiturate overdose.

From Quiz Decade of Death: the 70s

Answer: The Who

Keith Moon was drummer in The Who and died from an overdose of pills.

From Quiz Another One Bites the Dust: 16

Answer: Busby Berkeley

In 1935, he was involved in a car accident in which two people were killed and five seriously injured. Berkeley himself suffered only minor injuries and found himself charged with second degree murder. Two trials ended with hung juries and he was acquitted at a third trial. He died on 14 March, 1976.

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