Little Black Project: Shadowy Surnames Quiz

Answer: Jack Nicholson

Karen Black had a small role as a prostitute in the 1969 cult film "Easy Rider", for which Jack Nicholson received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination. A year later, they co-starred in "Five Easy Pieces", for which she won her first Golden Globe Award for her role as Rayette, Nicholson's girlfriend. They both received 1971 Academy Award nominations for the film, Black for Best Supporting Actress and Nicholson for Best Actor. She won her second Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in 1975 for her role in "The Great Gatsby".

(Question provided by pitegny)

Answer: Arnold Schwarzenegger

"Twins" introduced the character Julius Benedict, a 35 year old well-shaped man raised by philosophers, who discovered he had a twin brother. Looking for his twin, Benedict (role by Schwarzenegger) found the short petty criminal Vincent Benedict (role by Danny De Vito). In view of the respective statures and their moral compasses, it was very hard to see any resemblance between Julius and Vincent, so most other characters dismissed the chance that they were siblings - and even twins. Incidentally, the name 'Schwarzenegger' translates to English as 'Black Ploughman'.

(Question provided by JanIQ)

Answer: Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis was born in Manhattan, New York City to Jewish emigrants from Czechoslovakia and Hungary. The name 'Schwartz' translates to 'black' in English.

During World War II, he joined the joined the US Navy and served in the Pacific submarine force. After the war, he studied acting and soon made his way to Hollywood. Curtis is known for his excellent comic timing in movies like "Some Like It Hot" and "Operation Petticoat".

(Question provided by zorba_scank)

Answer: Dallas

Patrick Duffy is probably best known for playing Bobby Ewing, the younger Ewing son, on "Dallas". Bobby lived in the shadow of his older brother J.R. and was generally known as the nicer of the two, although he also had his moments of temptation and corruption. Duffy also starred alongside Suzanne Somers on the comedy series "Step by Step".

Question provided by Joepetz

Answer: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf

Olga Maria Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was born in Prussia near what is now Poznan, Poland. The daughter of a school Principal who was dismissed for defying the Nazi authorities, she was banned from entering university, and so studied music in Berlin. She sang in Germany and Austria during World War II, and subsequently became an Austrian citizen in order to sing with the Vienna State Opera.

Soon after the war, Schwarzkopf met Walter Legge, a British classical record producer, who became her manager, signing her to sing Lieder for EMI records. They married in 1953. She continued to sing opera and operetta, carving a niche for herself with several key roles, while continuing to sing for the EMI label. On retiring from opera in 1971, she concentrated on lieder. After her husband's death, Schwarzkopf conducted master classes and taught music around the world, including the Juilliard School in New York. She became a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1992.

(Question provided by windrush)

Answer: Jack Black

Jack Black (born 1969) starred in each of these films and is known for his skills in acting, comedy, music and songwriting. Jack's first acting job was in 1982 in a video game commercial before appearing in several prime time TV roles. Black's first lead role was in "High Fidelity" (2000), eventually leading him to his first Golden Globe nomination for his role in "School of Rock" (2003).

Cilla, Lewis and Pippa all count acting amongst their skills and chosen professions.

(Question provided by Lones78)

Answer: Shirley Temple Black

Shirley Temple was born on April 23, 1928. By the time she was five years old she was already a star and a crowd pleaser in a world struggling with the effects of the Great Depression. Shirley continued to make movies until she announced her retirement in 1950, but never with the success that she had as a child. Shirley Temple's second marriage was to Charles Alden Black, a World War II Navy intelligence officer and Silver Star recipient. In the 1960s she became interested in politics and got her start in foreign service in 1967, when Henry Kissinger overheard her talking about South West Africa at a party. Shirley was appointed first female Chief of Protocol of the United States on July 1st 1976.

(Question provided by em1958)

Answer: White

Cilla Black was given the name Priscilla White when she was born in 1943. She gained her stage name following a mistake in a review by a local newspaper. Her singing career began at Liverpool's Cavern Club at around the same time as the Beatles and after signing up with the same management team as the famous band she went on to record two UK number one singles (including 'Anyone Who Had a Heart') and several other top 40 hits.

She branched out into television presenting in 1968 with her own entertainment show 'Cilla', but gained most fame from presenting hit shows like 'Blind Date' and 'Surprise, Surprise' during the 1980s and 1990s. Her show business career spanned over 50 years until her death in 2015 at the age of 72.

(Question provided by Fifiona81)

Answer: German

Roy Black, born in 1943 as Gerhard Höllerich, was one of the most famous German pop singers of the late 1960s and 1970s. His songs were exemplary for the Schlager genre, a kind of soft pop/rock music essentially unique to Germany. Like many Schlager songs, most of his work revolved around love in one way or another. Around 1980, the genre's popularity declined and, accordingly, he published less although he continued to tour. Roy Black died in 1991 of heart failure resulting from a congenital heart anomaly that was diagnosed and surgically corrected only when the heart was already severely damaged.

(Question provided by WesleyCrusher)

Answer: Black Francis

Charles Thompson IV, also known as Black Francis or Black Frank, hails from Boston. His musical career had its roots in 60s rock and roll and also religious music (his mother and stepfather joined the Assemblies of God church).

He formed the Pixies with guitarist Joey Santiago, Bassist Kim Deal and drummer David Lovering in 1986. Although the group disbanded in 1993, they reunited in 2004. Black Francis had a moderately successful solo career, and formed another group called Black Francis and the Catholics. Francis' singing ranges from a gentle melodic solo style to a screaming delivery with the Pixies.

Question supplied by windrush.