Big Screen/Small Screen Trivia Quiz

Answer: Burt Reynolds

It was Burton Leon Reynolds, himself, who played the role of 'half-breed' blacksmith, Quinton Asper on "Gunsmoke" from 1962 to 1965. Both Burt and "Gunsmoke" seem to have been around since the beginning of time; in fact, "Gunsmoke" began first as a radio program with William Conrad as Marshall Matt Dillon, and moved to TV with James Arness from 1955 to 1975.

Besides Reynolds, the Marshal had two other main sidekicks, i.e., Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver) and Festus Haggen (Ken Curtis). Burt also played Bo 'Bandit' Darville opposite Jackie Gleason and Sally Field (in the pre-"Dukes of Hazzard" days), starred in "Deliverance", "Boogie Nights", modeled for 'Cosmo', and so much more!

Answer: Sarah Michelle Gellar

In 2004, Sarah Michelle Gellar, starred in the horror film "The Grudge" based on a remake of the Japanese movie "Ju-On", about a supernatural curse which claims its victims. In her 'post-Buffy' persona, Gellar also appeared more recently in a 2013 sitcom, "The Crazy Ones". She played Sydney Roberts, daughter and partner of Simon Roberts (Robin Williams), a genius advertising executive agency owner. In real life, Gellar married Freddie Prinze Jr. and the incorrect choices have familial connections as well: Holmes was married to Tom Cruise; Parker married Matthew Broderick, and Bryce Howard is the daughter of Ron Howard.

Answer: Francis Underwood

On the 2013 Netflix show "House of Cards", Kevin Spacey is the manipulative, Machiavellian politician Francis J. Underwood. The role is based on the British character Francis Urquhart, from the novel and TV series of the same name. He is married, has an affair, was a member of the South Carolina State Senate, Democratic Majority Whip of the House of Representatives, newly appointed Vice President of the U.S. and finally, elected President of the United States - all in just two seasons! Spacey also played Verbal Kint in "The Usual Suspects" in 1995.

The incorrect answers are roles played by Michael Kelly, Nathan Darrow and Michel Gill.

Answer: Damages

Most of us are familiar with Glenn Close's portrayal of the homicidal Alex Forrest in the scary movie "Fatal Attraction" in 1995. But, after years of movie roles (including Cruella de Vil), she agreed to play cunning, high-power litigator Patty Hewes in "Damages" (2007-2012).

Not only is Hewes involved in major legal cases, but she has taken on the care of her granddaughter, and is involved in a custody battle with her son, Michael. The wrong choices include other cable shows, i.e., "Royal Pains" with Mark Feuerstein, "Major Crimes" with Mary McDonnell and "Leverage" starring Timothy Hutton.

Answer: Vincent D'Onofrio

In his later years, Vincent D'Onofrio played the brilliant but troubled New York City Detective Robert 'Bobby' Goren from 2001 through 2011. However, in 1987, D'Onofrio could be found in the movie "Adventures in Babysitting" He plays a mechanic named Dawson who becomes savior to Elisabeth Shue and the kids, when one of the children thinks he is the superhero Thor.

This was a great, underrated movie; see it if you can. The other choices are often discussed together when talking about "Frat Pack" actors (post-"rat pack" and "brat pack") which also included Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell and Jack Black.

Answer: What's Love Got to Do with It?

Angela Bassett played Tina Turner in the 1993 film about Anna Mae Bullock, from Nutbush, Tennessee, called "What's Love Got to Do With It?". The movie also starred Laurence Fishburne as the flamboyant and abusive Ike Turner. In her TV role on "American Horror Story", Dupree is a character on "Freak Show" (from 2013) who had ambiguous genitalia at birth, and was brought up as a boy (to five sisters) until puberty, when Desiree grew three breasts. Bassett has also been in films like "Boyz in the Hood" in 1991, "Malcolm X" in 1992 and "Strange Days" in 1995; she received an Emmy Award nomination for Best Actress for portraying Tina Turner.

The wrong choices are songs, not movies.

Answer: Stanley Ipkiss

"In Living Color" (1990-1994) was the product of the mind of Keenan Ivory Wayans, and it has produced more than its share of stars, e.g. Jim Carrey, Jennifer Lopez, Damon Wayans, David Alan Grier. Jim Carrey's Fire Marshal Bill was a hoot. In 1994, Carrey exploded on to the movie scene by playing mild-mannered Stanley Ipkiss who, when he dons a mask, becomes "smokin'"! The incorrect choices are all other Jim Carrey roles, i.e., Lloyd Christmas from "Dumb and Dumber" (1994), Ace Ventura in both "Pet Detective" (1994) and "When Nature Calls" (1995), and Fletcher Reed as "Liar Liar" (1997).

Answer: Elisabeth Shue

In the earlier years of "CSI", Marg Helgenberger played the female lead, Catherine Willows, from the show's pilot episode in October 2000, to 2012. She was 'replaced' after eleven and a half years by Elisabeth Shue who played Finn opposite Ted Danson's D.B. Russell until she was 'killed' early in 2015. Prior to coming to Las Vegas as the CSI Grave Shift Assistant Supervisor, Shue, ironically, starred in the 1995 movie "Leaving Las Vegas".

She was Sera, a beautiful prostitute who forms a relationship with alcoholic screenwriter Ben Sanderson (Nic Cage) who is drinking himself to death in Vegas.

Answer: Morgan Freeman

You may not be old enough to remember Morgan Freeman's performances as 'Easy Reader' on "The Electric Company" in 1977; but, unless you've lived under a rock or on another planet, you will certainly remember Freeman's roles in "Driving Miss Daisy" (1989) or "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994) or "Seven" in 1995. If not, how about his Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actor in "Million Dollar Baby" (2004)? If the answer is still 'no', then you may also have missed Freeman's portrayal of President Beck in the "Armageddon"-like flick "Deep Impact" from 1998.

The wrong choices also played US Presidents: Pullman in "Independence Day", Haysbert in "24", Sellers in "Dr. Strangelove".

Answer: "West Wing"/"Grease"

Stockard Channing (born Susan Williams Antonia Stockard) played the doctor wife and First Lady of United States President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet, PhD. (Martin Sheen) on the Aaron Sorkin drama "The West Wing" from 1999 through 2006. Over twenty years earlier, Channing played the teenage Pink Lady, Betty Rizzo, in "Grease" in 1978. Quite impressive to go from Pink Lady to First Lady in a couple of decades, not to mention going from a drop-out to complete medical school, internship and residency. You go, girl!