Corpse Calls Trivia Quiz

Answer: Heath Ledger

Heath Ledger died of a drug overdose on January 22, 2008 during filming of "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus". Production was temporarily suspended, with co-writer and director Terry Gilliam making plans to complete the movie using computer generated imagery. Eventually, actors Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Ferrell were cast to replace Ledger in certain scenes, changing Ledger's role into that of a shape-shifter. The movie was released in 2009.

An avid chess player and photographer, Ledger also appeared in "10 Things I Hate About You" (1999), "A Knight's Tale" (2001), "Brokeback Mountain" (2005), and "The Dark Knight" (2008). He won an Oscar for his portrayal of The Joker in "The Dark Knight". His Oscar for Best Supporting Actor was awarded posthumously, and was accepted on his behalf by his parents and his sister.

Answer: Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe died of a drug overdose on August 5, 1962 during the filming of "Something's Got to Give", a remake of the 1940 comedy "My Favorite Wife". When filming began, she already had a reputation of being unreliable, and was fired and then re-hired for this film. The project was abandoned after Monroe's death.

Marilyn Monroe made more than 30 films in her career, including "All About Eve" (1950), "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), "How To Marry A Millionaire" (1953), and "The Misfits" (1961). She won a Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for "Some Like it Hot" (1959). She was named Sexiest Woman of the Century by "People" magazine in 1999, and enjoys legendary status as a Hollywood blonde bombshell.

Answer: Bela Lugosi

Bela Lugosi, the definitive Dracula, died of a heart attack on August 16, 1956 while filming the low budget Ed Wood flick "Plan 9 From Outer Space". Two years after his death, filming resumed on this movie. Rather than reshooting Lugosi's scenes or finding a double for him, Wood gave the role to his wife's chiropractor, who looked nothing like Lugosi, and hid his face behind a cape. The film was released in 1959.

Bela Lugosi played the title role in the 1931 movie "Dracula". His portrayal of Count Dracula, combined with this thick Hungarian accent, made it difficult for him to find work outside of horror movies, though he tried for years to avoid being typecast. He also appeared in Edgar Allan Poe's "Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1932), "The Black Cat" (1934), "Black Friday" (1940), and "The Black Sheep" (1956). Lugosi was one of the charter members of the Screen Actors Guild, and was honored by the U.S. Postal Service with a commemorative postage stamp as part of a series celebrating famous movie monsters in 1997.

Answer: Chris Farley

Chris Farley died on December 18, 1997 of a drug overdose at his Chicago, Illinois apartment, after having completed nearly all the dialogue for the title character in the animated movie "Shrek". DreamWorks Studios recast the role, casting Mike Myers to give voice to the green ogre, and the movie was released in 2001.

Farley, with his loud and energetic comedic style, was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live" from 1990-1995. The movie "Coneheads" (1993), in which he played the love interest of Conehead daughter Connie, began as a 1977 skit on "SNL". You might also have seen him in "Wayne's World" (1992) and "Tommy Boy" (1995). Chris Farley and co-star David Spade won an MTV Movie award in 1996 for Best On-Screen Duo for "Tommy Boy".

Answer: James Dean

James Dean was killed in a car accident on September 30, 1955 during the filming of "Giant", an epic movie about a Texas cattle ranching family. Dean died on a Friday and the movie was back to shooting on Saturday, though filming was later delayed as co-star Elizabeth Taylor was too distraught. Dean's remaining dialogue was dubbed in after his death, and the film was released in 1956.

The epitome of coolness and youthful angst, Dean had a starring role in only three movies - "The Immortalist" (1954), "East of Eden" (1955) and "Rebel Without A Cause" (1955). He was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1966 for his portrayal of Cal Trask in "East of Eden" and again in 1957 as Jett Rink in "Giant".

Answer: Brandon Lee

Brandon Lee died of an accidental gunshot wound on March 31, 1993 while filming "The Crow". A gun with improperly made dummy rounds was used in a scene where thugs were to shoot and kill Lee's character, and a dummy bullet that was previously lodged in the gun's barrel was propelled out, striking Lee in the abdomen with almost the same force as a live round. Lee was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery, but died six hours later. The movie was completed using body doubles and digital imaging, and was released in 1994.

Lee also played the leading role in "Rapid Fire" (1992), "Legacy of Rage" (1996) and the straight to video movie "Laser Mission" (1989). He struggled to escape his famous father's shadow, and wanted to be a real actor rather than always playing a martial arts hero.

Brandon Lee's father, actor and martial artist Bruce Lee, died during a dialogue replacement session for the movie "Enter the Dragon" in 1973.

Answer: Tyrone Power

Tyrone Power died of a massive heart attack on November 15, 1958 while on location in Madrid, Spain, filming "Solomon and Sheba". He was filming a duel scene with George Sanders when, after several takes, he dropped his sword and complained of pain in his left arm, saying he couldn't continue. Production was halted while different scenarios were discussed on how to complete the movie. Yul Brenner was chosen to play the part of Solomon, and the movie was released in 1959.

During a career that spanned three decades, the startlingly handsome Power appeared in at least 24 movies, cementing his place in history as a swashbuckling romantic star. He was third in a line of four performers of the same name, with the Tyrone Powers' dynasty going back to his great-grandfather in the eighteenth century. In the 1930s, he became one of the leading stars of 20th Century Fox Studios, appearing in such films as "The Mark of Zorro" (1940), "A Yank in the R.A.F." (1941), "The Black Rose" (1950), and "Witness for the Prosecution" (1957).

Answer: Paul Walker

Paul Walker died in a violent car crash on November 30, 2013 in Santa Clarita, California. Filming of "Furious 7" (also called "Fast & Furious 7") was halted on December 4 so the film could be reworked due to Walker's death. Filming resumed in April 2015, with Walker's brothers Caleb and Cody as stand-ins. The film was released in 2015, with filmmakers choosing to have Walker's character, Brian O'Conner, retire rather than die in the movie.

In addition to his role as Brian O'Connor in six "Fast & Furious" movies, you might also have seen Paul Walker in "Pleasantville" (1998), "Varsity Blues" (1999), "She's All That" (1999), and "Flags of Our Fathers" (2006). He was also a professional race car driver, practiced various forms of martial arts, and traveled extensively. Paul Walker was named one of the 50 most beautiful persons in the world by "People" magazine in 2001.

Answer: Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood drowned on November 29, 1981 while on a weekend boat trip to Santa Catalina Island, California with her husband, Robert Wagner, and "Brainstorm" co-star, Christopher Walken. Woods' part was almost completely filmed at the time of her death, and with some re-writes and a stand-in for closing scenes, the film was released in 1983.

Natalie Wood began her acting career as a young child, receiving her first credit as a five year old in "Tomorrow is Forever" (1946). She went on to play the adorable Susan Walker, who learns to believe in Santa Claus in the 1947 film "Miracle on 34th Street". As an adult, she starred as Maria in 1961s "West Side Story", as Wilma Dean Loomis in 1961s "Splendor in the Grass", and she starred alongside James Dean as Judy in 1955s "Rebel Without a Cause".

Answer: Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow died on June 7, 1937 from kidney failure while filming "Saratoga". Filming was scheduled to begin in March of 1937, but was delayed due to Harlow being hospitalized with sepsis following a wisdom tooth extraction. Harlow recovered, and shooting began on April 22. On May 20, 1937, Harlow complained of illness, with abdominal pain, fatigue, nausea, and fluid retention. Nine days later, she felt bad enough to stop filming, and did not return to the set until early June. On June 6, she collapsed on set and was taken to the hospital, where she slipped into a coma and died the following day. Filming was 90% complete, and the last scenes were shot using stand-ins.

"Saratoga" was released on July 23, 1937, and became MGM's most successful film of the year and the highest grossing film of the year and of Harlow's career.

The original Hollywood blonde bombshell, Jean Harlow was the first motion picture actress to grace the cover of "Life" magazine in May 1937. Before her untimely death, she appeared in several movies, including "The Public Enemy" (1931), "Red Dust" (1932), "Dinner at Eight" (1933), and "Libeled Lady" (1936).