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Quiz about Interesting Facts About the Famous

Interesting Facts About the Famous Quiz

Some general trivia about some famous people. Hope you find it interesting. Good luck.

A multiple-choice quiz by justawful. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
justawful

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
321,293

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
11 / 20

Plays
1410

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. Before Bob Denver got the role, what comedic actor was originally slated to play the title role in the hit series "Gilligan's Island" ?
Hint

Soupy Sales

Tom Smothers

Dom DeLuise

Jerry Van Dyke

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Question 2 of 20

2. Who wrote an autobiography titled "The Good, the Bad, and Me" ? Hint

Clint Eastwood

Lee Van Cleef

Sergio Leone

Eli Wallach

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Question 3 of 20

3. Whatever became of the former member of the Little Rascals known as "Alfalfa"?
Hint

He continued with bit roles in movies and TV until his death in 2007 at age 80.

He was shot and killed at age 31 over a fifty dollar debt.

He retired from show business after the popularity of The Little Rascals declined and became a respected physician to the stars in Los Angeles.

Dejected after the decline of his popularity, he became a recluse and died in virtual poverty in a halfway house in Florida in 1967.

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Question 4 of 20

4. The Joni Mitchell hit song "Free Man In Paris" was written about what major music producer?
Hint

David Geffen

Quincy Jones

Phil Spector

George Martin

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Question 5 of 20

5. The lesser known personality Jessica Skinner became briefly famous in 1982 for what?
Hint

She won what was then the biggest lotto jackpot of all time, three million dollars.

She was born inside the Statue of Liberty.

She was the first female to win a major Nascar race.

She was exposed as the real inspiration for the "Regan" character in the movie "The Exorcist".

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Question 6 of 20

6. What corporation was founded by William Crapo Durant? Hint

Polaroid

American Standard

General Motors

Bethlehem Steel

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Question 7 of 20

7. What was the real name of the horse we all knew as Mr. Ed? Hint

Bamboo Harvester

Native Dancer

Shamrock Green

His real name "was" Mr. Ed.

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Question 8 of 20

8. What were the circumstances surrounding the mysterious disappearance of the wife of former major league pitcher Milt Pappas?
Hint

She accidentally drove her car into a neighbor's pond and wasn't discovered until years later.

She vanished while on a charitable mission in Bangladesh.

She was kidnapped and held for a half million dollar ransom ( which was paid ) but never heard from again.

While attempting a climb of Mt. Everest in the 1970's she disappeared and her body is presumed to still be somewhere on the mountain.

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Question 9 of 20

9. In 1860 eleven year old Grace Bedell wrote a letter to presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln urging him to do something which her letter inspired him to eventually do. What was it?
Hint

Grow a beard

Go to war against the South

Free the slaves

Complete the transcontinental railroad

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Question 10 of 20

10. 68 year old Joe Trombino was a victim of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, but what was also noteworthy about him?
Hint

He was delivering, at the time, a priceless Hebrew manuscript for authentication to an office in the towers.

He was a former Medal of Honor winner.

It was the second time he was a victim of a terrorist organization.

He had informed the F.B.I. months earlier of an impending Al Qaeda attack on the towers.

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Question 11 of 20

11. What former NFL quarterback once played the role of a headhunter on Gilligan's Island?
Hint

Johnny Unitas

Roman Gabriel

Bart Starr

Dick "Night Train" Lane

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Question 12 of 20

12. Singer "Mama" Cass Elliot and drummer Keith Moon died at different times, but each died in the same room of the same home which was owned by what singer?
Hint

Roger Daltrey

Gary Puckett

Johnny Rotten

Harry Nilsson

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Question 13 of 20

13. The stepmother of what actor committed a bizarre suicide in 1932 by jumping off the "H" of the famous Hollywood sign?
Hint

Montgomery Clift

Brian Keith

Oliver Hardy

James Mason

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Question 14 of 20

14. Most closely associated with westerns, what actor had an early role as the "Thing" in Howard Hawks' 1951 science fiction movie "The Thing from Another World"?
Hint

Hugh O'Brian

Clu Gulager

James Arness

Dan Blocker

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Question 15 of 20

15. In 2000 the daughter and the ex-wife of what guitarist were murdered by a trio of criminals?
Hint

Jimmy Page

Jeff Beck

Elvin Bishop

Jose Feliciano

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Question 16 of 20

16. In 2006 a man tried to sell a convincing fake Oscar from 1951 on Ebay for $30,000. Whose Oscar did he claim it to be?
Hint

Karl Malden

Joanne Woodward

Gregory Peck

Ernest Borgnine

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Question 17 of 20

17. Which two actors were born on the very same day, June 1, 1926?
Hint

Doris Day and Robert Young

Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney

Andy Griffith and Marilyn Monroe

Elizabeth Taylor and John Wayne

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Question 18 of 20

18. What actor died of a heart attack on set in 1991 while the cast and crew thought he was faking it?
Hint

Redd Foxx

Yul Brynner

James Garner

Walter Matthau

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Question 19 of 20

19. What comedian won seven and a half million dollars in a 1997 medical malpractice lawsuit when doctors were repairing a blocked artery, but operated on the wrong artery?
Hint

Kevin James

Robin Williams

Dana Carvey

Jeff Garlin

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Question 20 of 20

20. In the 1976 premier of The Muppet Show, what "leggy" dancer was the first
guest star?
Hint

Cyd Charisse

Bill "Bojangles" Robinson

Ann-Margret

Juliet Prowse

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Before Bob Denver got the role, what comedic actor was originally slated to play the title role in the hit series "Gilligan's Island" ?

Answer: Jerry Van Dyke

In an unfortunate career choice, Jerry Van Dyke turned down the role of Gilligan and instead chose the lead role in the ill fated series "My Mother The Car".

2. Who wrote an autobiography titled "The Good, the Bad, and Me" ?

Answer: Eli Wallach

Eli Wallach was always uncomfortable with the label of "The Ugly" when he played the character Tuco in Sergio Leone's "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" (1967), but in an acting career that spanned many decades it may be his most remembered role.

3. Whatever became of the former member of the Little Rascals known as "Alfalfa"?

Answer: He was shot and killed at age 31 over a fifty dollar debt.

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer was never a popular figure with his producers, directors or co-stars. After The Little Rascals he tried his hand at several other endeavors with little success. He had many enemies and was eventually killed in a minor dispute.

4. The Joni Mitchell hit song "Free Man In Paris" was written about what major music producer?

Answer: David Geffen

Mitchell wrote the song while on a trip to France with her friend David Geffen in the 1970s. On the flight he was telling her about the pressure he felt about the decisions he had to make. He longed for the earlier days when :
"There was nobody calling me up for favors and no one's future to decide. You know I'd go back there tomorrow but for the work I'm taking on. Stoking the star-making machinery behind the popular song."

5. The lesser known personality Jessica Skinner became briefly famous in 1982 for what?

Answer: She was born inside the Statue of Liberty.

Her pregnant mother was on the stairs when she went into labor. She gave birth before reaching the bottom of the Statue. Jessica was the first person to actually be born inside the Statue.

6. What corporation was founded by William Crapo Durant?

Answer: General Motors

Durant sold carriages in the late 1800s. By the early 1900s he had moved up to selling cars, when he became president of Buick. He soon acquired Oldsmobile and Cadillac and soon thereafter started Chevrolet.

7. What was the real name of the horse we all knew as Mr. Ed?

Answer: Bamboo Harvester

Although Mr. Ed was listed in the credits as being played by "himself", the talking palomino only used it as his stage name.

8. What were the circumstances surrounding the mysterious disappearance of the wife of former major league pitcher Milt Pappas?

Answer: She accidentally drove her car into a neighbor's pond and wasn't discovered until years later.

Milt Pappas had the dubious distinction of being involved in one of the worst trades in baseball history when the Reds traded future hall of famer Frank Robinson for the Oriole pitcher. His wife in later years had an alcohol problem and is believed to have been drinking and mistook a neighbor's driveway for her own. The car plummeted over an embankment and was submerged in the pond. The car, with her body inside, wasn't found until five years later.

9. In 1860 eleven year old Grace Bedell wrote a letter to presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln urging him to do something which her letter inspired him to eventually do. What was it?

Answer: Grow a beard

In her letter she said that his face was too thin and hinted that he would get more votes if he had facial hair.

10. 68 year old Joe Trombino was a victim of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, but what was also noteworthy about him?

Answer: It was the second time he was a victim of a terrorist organization.

A Brink's guard, in 1981 he barely survived a shooting during a robbery in which three other guards were killed, carried out by the Weather Underground.

11. What former NFL quarterback once played the role of a headhunter on Gilligan's Island?

Answer: Roman Gabriel

Gabriel played 11 seasons with the L.A. Rams, won the 1969 Most Valuable Player award in the NFL, and was considered the first of the "large" quarterbacks.

12. Singer "Mama" Cass Elliot and drummer Keith Moon died at different times, but each died in the same room of the same home which was owned by what singer?

Answer: Harry Nilsson

Nilsson often loaned out his London flat to his entertainer friends while he was away. After the second tragedy at his home he sold it to Keith Moon's band-mate Peter Townshend.

13. The stepmother of what actor committed a bizarre suicide in 1932 by jumping off the "H" of the famous Hollywood sign?

Answer: Brian Keith

Keith is probably most identified with his role as the single dad on the T.V. series Family Affair. His stepmother, Peg Entwistle, was a former Broadway actress. Keith himself committed suicide in 1997 two months after his daughter Daisy had also committed suicide.

14. Most closely associated with westerns, what actor had an early role as the "Thing" in Howard Hawks' 1951 science fiction movie "The Thing from Another World"?

Answer: James Arness

James Arness ( originally Aurness ) was a decorated WW2 hero, and went on to play Marshall Matt Dillon for years in the successful series Gunsmoke.

15. In 2000 the daughter and the ex-wife of what guitarist were murdered by a trio of criminals?

Answer: Elvin Bishop

Elvin Bishop is probably best remembered for his hit song "Fooled Around and Fell In Love". Bishop's daughter Selina and her mother were caught up in a bizarre extortion scheme in which Selina may have actually taken part.

16. In 2006 a man tried to sell a convincing fake Oscar from 1951 on Ebay for $30,000. Whose Oscar did he claim it to be?

Answer: Karl Malden

The man claimed he had found the Oscar in a dumpster as a child and had owned it for 27 years. When officials called the 94 year old Karl Malden and asked if his Oscar was missing he replied "No, I'm sitting next to it right now." Malden won the 1951 award for Best Supporting Actor for the movie "A Streetcar Named Desire".

17. Which two actors were born on the very same day, June 1, 1926?

Answer: Andy Griffith and Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe died in 1962, while Andy Griffith had a decades long acting career. To my knowledge they never appeared together in T.V. or film.

18. What actor died of a heart attack on set in 1991 while the cast and crew thought he was faking it?

Answer: Redd Foxx

Foxx was so famous for his "fake" heart attack routine from his "Sanford and Son" days that when the real thing happened, his co-star Della Reese and the crew of "The Royal Family" believed it was a joke.

19. What comedian won seven and a half million dollars in a 1997 medical malpractice lawsuit when doctors were repairing a blocked artery, but operated on the wrong artery?

Answer: Dana Carvey

Beset by medical problems ever since, Carvey claimed in an interview that he donated all the money to charity.

20. In the 1976 premier of The Muppet Show, what "leggy" dancer was the first guest star?

Answer: Juliet Prowse

The Muppet Show was a British spin-off of the hugely successful American series Sesame St. Launched in 1976 it still featured many of Jim Henson's original Muppets.

Source: Author justawful

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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