Name That Celebrity In Three Clues! Quiz

Answer: Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis was born in Idar-Oberstein, Germany on March 19th, 1955. After his father was discharged from military service in 1957, the family moved to Penns Grove, New Jersey. It was here along with Bruce's three siblings that he grew up and went to high school. He first got the acting bug while working in high school stage productions but didn't initially pursue the craft right after graduating. He had various jobs including bartender, security guard and even a private detective. After a two year stint at Montclair State University, he moved to New York City where he made his theater debut in "Heaven and Earth", an off-Broadway production. This led to a role in the Sam Shepard play "Fool for Love" and an appearance in an episode of "Miami Vice".

He subsequently moved to Los Angeles where he landed the role of David Addison in the hugely popular American series "Moonlighting". Co-starring Cybill Shephard, "Moonlighting" was on the air for four years and cemented Willis' reputation as a comedic actor. It was around this time that Bruce's fame exploded. He appeared in a string of popular Seagram Wine Cooler ads and released his album "The Return of Bruno". It was moderately successful and led to the number five hit "Respect Yourself."

His first major film role was in the 1987 Blake Edward comedy "Blind Date" where he acted alongside Kim Basinger and John Larroquette. However, it was the 1988 film "Die Hard" that would catapult him into worldwide recognition. His role as NYPD detective John McClane led to three highly successful sequels and other action films including "The Last Boy Scout" and "Striking Distance". His choice of film hasn't always been big Hollywood fare as evidenced by his appearance in "Pulp Fiction" which went on to win the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. In 1999 he won a People Choice Award as "Favorite Motion Picture Star in a Drama" for his role in the highly acclaimed thriller "The Sixth Sense". In 1987 he married actress Demi Moore and they had three daughters together, Rumer, Scout and Tallulah. After a thirteen year marriage they divorced in 2000.

FUN FACT: An outspoken Republican, Bruce was named the national spokesman for "Children in Foster Care" by President George W. Bush in 2002.

Answer: Alanis Morissette

Alanis Nadine Morissette was born on June 1st, 1974 in Ottawa, Canada along with twin brother Wade. At a very young age, Alanis showed an interest in music and was taught by folk singer Lindsay Morgan who helped her record her first single "Fate Stay With Me" at the age of ten. She became a cast member in the 1986 season of "You Can't Do That On Television" and also appeared on Star Search as Alanis Nadine but lost in the first round.

Her debut album "Alanis" was released only in Canada in 1991 while she was still in high school. It was a dance-pop album that had a number of people saying she was the Debbie Gibson of Canada. It spawned three Canadian top forty hits and led to three Juno Award nominations including a win for Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year. The following year she released a more ballad-laden album entitled "Now Is The Time". While it also spawned three top forty hits, it sold about half the number of copies as her debut and was labeled a failure.

She left Canada and went to Los Angeles where she met songwriter and producer Glen Ballard. The two of them wrote and recorded her third album entitled "Jagged Little Pill". Released by Maverick Records in 1995, the album took off after an L.A. DJ began playing the scathing, explicit single "You Oughta Know". The album produced six more international hits including "Hand In My Pocket", "You Learn", "Head Over Feet" and "Ironic". It sold over 14 million copies in the United States and 30 million copies worldwide. The album garnered her six Juno Awards and three Grammy Awards including Best Album of the Year.

After a year of touring, Alanis became tired of the traveling and the party lifestyle which led to her taking a small break from recording. She went to India which helped inspire her fourth album "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie". While that album was no where as successful as her previous, she received critical praise and even a Juno Award for Best Album. Her single "Thank U" generated some controversy for the video which depicted her nude.

Director Kevin Smith, a big fan of her music, had tried to recruit Alanis to appear in his film "Dogma". With her busy schedule the only part she had time to play was the small role of God. She appears at the end of the film and has no dialogue yet the cameo was much ballyhooed. In 2008 she has participated in an album to support the Dalai Lama and Tibet called "Songs for Tibet" .

FUN FACT: As a teenager Alanis was the opening act for rapper Vanilla Ice. Can you imagine that? Yikes!

Answer: Shelley Fabares

Shelley Fabares was born as Michele Ann Marie Fabares on January 19th, 1944 in Santa Monica, California. Shelley's first role was that of Mary Stone on "The Donna Reed Show". She played the polite teenage daughter of Donna Reed and Carl Betz. The highly successful American sitcom made Shelley a star and while the show ran from 1958 to 1966, Shelley left in 1963 to embark on her movie career.

When the producers of the sitcom told Shelley she would record a song that would be written into an episode of the show, she was terrified. She was convinced she wasn't a singer but was too nice to refuse. She was sure after she cut some demos and they heard her voice that they would drop the idea. One of those songs was entitled "Johnny Angel". It was featured on the episode "Donna's Prima Donna" which first aired on February 1st, 1962. The song raced up the chart and hit number one on April 7th, 1962 where it reigned for two weeks. It spent 15 weeks on the Hot 100, thirteen weeks in the top 40 and nine weeks in the top ten. In the yearend survey for 1962, Billboard named "Johnny Angel" the sixth biggest hit of the year. Her only other hit was the follow-up "Johnny Loves Me" which peaked at number 21.

Her first movie role opposite Elvis Presley was in "Girl Happy" in 1965. She played Valerie Frank who goes to Ft. Lauderdale on spring break chaperoned by Rusty Wells (Elvis) and his band. In 1966 she appeared as Cynthia Foxhugh in the 1966 musical film "Spinout" where Elvis plays a part-time race car driver. Their last film together was the 1967 movie "Clambake" where she played Dianne Carter a golddigging playgirl.

In her later years she played Christine Armstrong Fox on the hit sitcom "Coach" (1989-1997) and Francine Webster on the acclaimed show "One Day At A Time" (1981-1984). She married record producer Lou Adler in 1964 before divorcing him in 1980. In 1984 she got remarried to actor Mike Farrell probably best known for his role as B.J. Hunnicutt on "M*A*S*H".

FUN FACT: Shelley Fabares is the niece of actress Nanette Fabray who starred opposite Fred Astaire in "The Band Wagon" but also became famous later as TV mothers to Mary Richards on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" and Ann Romano on "One Day At A Time".

Answer: John Travolta

John Joseph Travolta came into the world on February 18th, 1954 in Englewood, New Jersey. The son of a tire salesman and an actress/singer, John found bit parts in the New York City stage world after graduating high school. He moved to Los Angeles where he appeared on TV as a messenger in the soap "The Edge of Night" and as a fall victim on the medical drama "Emergency!" In 1975 he landed his first regular role on TV as Vinnie Barbarino on "Welcome Back, Kotter". His role as the Italian-American lothario of the Sweathogs made him a teen sensation. The show enjoyed tremendous popularity, particularly in its first two seasons, and became well-known for its catchphrases including the "What? Where? Why?" response of Travolta's character whenever he pretended to be unaware of something.

His teen appeal led to the release of his first single, "Let Her In", a ballad that reached the top ten in 1976. After a small role in the Sissy Spacek movie "Carrie", John became a superstar with his roles in two of the most successful movies of the 1970s: "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease". His duet with Olivia Newton-John in the musical "Grease" entitled "You're The One That I Want" reached number one in the U.S. and Britain. He also sang with her on the top five hit "Summer Nights" which went gold.

The 80s brought a relative let down with a string of less than stellar box office and critical hits including the sequel "Stayin' Alive" and the Jamie Lee Curtis vehicle "Perfect". It was his appearance in the 1994 blockbuster "Pulp Fiction" that revitalized his career. Playing hitman Vincent Vega opposite Uma Thurman's Mia Wallace, John earned an Academy Award nomination and soon became one of Hollywood's leading men again. His varied work since then has included "Michael", "Primary Colors", "Hairspray" and "Wild Hogs". He married actress Kelly Preston in 1991, fathering two children, Jett and Ella Bleu. One of his great loves is flying airplanes for which he owns five. He is also a great devotee to Scientology and even appeared in the 2000 movie "Battlefield Earth" based on a work by founder L. Ron Hubbard.

FUN FACT: At 24 years old, he was the third youngest person to be nominated for an Oscar (1978 ceremony): Best Actor in a Leading Role
for "Saturday Night Fever" (1977).

Answer: Jessica Simpson

Jessica Ann Simpson was born on July 10th, 1980 in Abilene, Texas. As the child of a minister, she honed her talent singing at her Baptist church. She recorded a gospel music album while in high school and toured the Christian music markets. It was after signing with Columbia Records that her singing career really took off. Her first single, "I Wanna Love You Forever" went all the way to number three on the pop charts. The album it came from, "Sweet Kisses", was certified double platinum and produced two other notable singles, "I Think I'm In Love With You" and "Where You Are".

While on tour with 98 Degrees, she met singer Nick Lachey whom she dated for three years before they married on October 26th, 2002. It was the recording of their lives as newlyweds that brought them to another level of fame. In the summer of 2003, MTV debuted their reality show "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica" and it quickly became a pop culture sensation. One memorable moment had Jessica asking Nick if the Chicken of the Sea tuna she was eating was chicken or tuna. Sadly, after much media speculation, Jessica and Nick announced their divorce in 2005.

With this newfound fame, Jessica landed the iconic role of Daisy Duke in the film adaptation of the popular TV series "The Dukes of Hazzard". The movie was quite successful in the United States raking in over 100 million dollars in theater receipts alone. She also appeared on the film's soundtrack with a remake of Nancy Sinatra's number one tune "These Boots Are Made For Walking". The record was a success in its own right climbing to number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.

She followed up the success of "The Dukes of Hazzard" with the progressively less successful "Employee of the Month" and "Blonde Ambition". Her music career in 2008 branched into country with her number one country album "Do You Know" and its first hit single "Come On Over". Jessica is a target for tabloid magazines. Her romance with singer John Mayer and subsequently with football quarterback Tony Romo have been highly publicized.

FUN FACT: When she was twelve, Jessica auditioned for the revival of "The Mickey Mouse Club" but didn't make the cut.

Answer: Dean Martin

Dean Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7th, 1917 in Steubenville, Ohio. A high school dropout, Dean worked in speakeasies and illegal casinos to get by in his early years. He even boxed under the name "Kid Crochet" though he only won one match out of twelve. He began his music career singing in bands and on his own in various clubs in the early 40's.

It wasn't until he met Jerry Lewis that his career would take off. It was making the rounds as Martin and Lewis in New York nightclubs that turned them into overnight successes. They brought their act to Hollywood and debuted on screen in the 1949 film "My Friend Irma". This began a succession of films with Martin playing the straight man for Lewis' madcap antics leading to the label the "organ grinder and the monkey". Tired of being underrated as the talentless straight man, Martin broke up the act in 1956 to pursue a solo career.

Initially, the public didn't embrace him as a solo act. His first film post-Lewis "Ten Thousand Bedrooms" bombed. He climbed back with the Brando epic "The Young Lions" and the Howard Hawks' classic "Rio Bravo". His singing career persisted into the 1960's despite the arrival of rock 'n roll. His 1964 number one hit "Everybody Loves Somebody" even knocked the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" from the top spot.

Dean debuted his musical-comedy variety program "The Dean Martin Show" in 1965. His ribald humor mixed with his put-on drunken playboy image made for a light impromptu hour of entertainment. While he continued his show well into the 1970's, he became well known in Las Vegas for his sold out shows and his TV show spawned the celebrity roasts that have remained popular. Dean spent many of his later years on tour with fellow rat packers Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra. On Christmas morning of 1995, Dean died of acute respiratory failure following a two year battle with lung cancer.

FUN FACT: Dean has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame-one each for recordings, movies and television.

Answer: Janet Jackson

Janet Damita Jo Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana on May 16th, 1966. As the younger sister of the Jacksons, she appeared on their variety show at the age of ten. The following year she landed the role of Penny Woods, an abused young girl taken in by Willona, on the hit sitcom "Good Times". She followed this with recurring roles on "A New Kind of Family" and "Fame". In 1981 she joined the sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" as the girlfriend of Willis Jackson in the role of Charlene Duprey.

Following a minor success with her R & B album "Dream Street", Janet teamed up with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to work on her album "Control". Released in February of 1986, it reached number one on the Billboard pop album chart and produced five top five singles-"What Have You Done For Me Lately", "Nasty", "When I Think Of You", "Control" and "Let's Wait Awhile". Her next album "Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814" continued her superstar appeal with seven top five singles including the four number ones "Miss You Much", "Escapade", "Black Cat" and "Love Will Never Do Without You". She topped the pop singles chart four more times with such hits as "Together Again" and "Doesn't Really Matter" and every album since "Control" has at least reached the top two on Billboard's album chart.

In 1993 she starred in her first feature film as Justice in the John Singleton film "Poetic Justice". While the film received mixed reviews, she received good notice and her song "Again" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. She also appeared alongside Eddie Murphy in 2000's "The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" which took in over 120 million dollars at the box office in the United States alone. Janet has been married twice. Her one year marriage to James Debarge ended in an annulment in 1985. She was married to Rene Elizondo for nine years before divorcing in 2000.

FUN FACT: Janet was featured with her brother Michael Jackson in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1995 when their video "Scream" was listed as the most expensive video ever made at a cost of seven million dollars.

Answer: Eddie Murphy

Edward Regan Murphy was born in Brooklyn, New York on April 3rd, 1961. Raised on Long Island, N.Y., Eddie was inspired to become a comedian by the works of Richard Pryor whose comedic stylings have drawn many comparisons. After starting as a stand-up comic in comedy clubs, Murphy pleaded his case to become a cast member on "Saturday Night Live" with the show's talent coordinator. The producers decided to take a chance on him and he first appeared on the show in 1980. Over the next three years, he helped revitalize a show on the hinge of cancellation with his various celebrity imitations including Stevie Wonder and James Brown. He also took popular characters from American culture and gave them a new spin. "Gumby" was a stop motion clay animation character who since the 1950s regaled children with his innocent adventures. As a life-size version in a large purple foam suit, Eddie re-imagined the character as a surly, egomaniacal former TV star who when not given his due respect would utter the line "I'm Gumby, dammit!". This along with his rendition of the Little Rascal's Buckwheat and Mr. Robinson of Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood quickly became classics.

Eddie Murphy hit the big screen playing Reggie Hammond in the 1982 movie "48 Hrs." He followed up this surprise hit with the successful "Trading Places" and the box office failure "Best Defense". It was in 1984 that Eddie became a worldwide superstar with the mega hit "Beverly Hills Cop" which grossed over 200 million dollars in the United States. He has followed this with two sequels and over a score of comedies which have helped him become one of the world's highest grossing movie stars. A chameleon of sorts, Eddie has relished playing multiple characters in the same film including "The Nutty Professor", "Coming To America" and "Norbit". His career took a dramatic turn when he appeared in the 2006 film "Dreamgirls" as R & B singer James "Thunder" Early which garnered him an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor.

Eddie has also dabbled in making music. At the peak of his early career, Eddie released his debut album entitled "How Could It Be". It was produced by soul superstar Rick James who only four years earlier had his own hit pop and R & B single "Superfreak". The first single called "Party All The Time" was a surprise pop radio and sales hit, reaching number two in the U.S. in December of 1985 and remaining there for three weeks. In Billboard's yearend countdown for 1986, the song was ranked as one of the ten biggest hits of the year. Time hasn't been kind to the song as VH-1 in 2004 ranked it at number seven on their "50 Worst Songs of All-Time" list.

FUN FACT: In 1982, when "48 Hrs." co-star Nick Nolte became too sick to host on "Saturday Night Live", Eddie took over hosting responsibilities becoming the first cast member to host while still a regular cast member.

Answer: Brandy

Brandy Rayana Norwood was born in McComb, Mississippi on February 11th, 1979. Brandy is from a family of musicians. Her father is a former R & B singer and her cousins include bluesman Bo Diddley and rapper Snoop Dogg. Brandy moved to California in 1981 and began performing onstage with Diddley at the age of six. In 1994 she signed with Atlantic Records and her first single "I Wanna Be Down" reached the top ten and spent four weeks on top of the R & B chart. She was even nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best New Artist" but lost to Hootie and the Blowfish.

A string of pop and R & B hits followed including "Baby", "Brokenhearted" and "Sittin' Up In My Room" which all went at least gold. Her biggest hit as of 2008 was her duet with Monica called "The Boy Is Mine". The song featured the two singers fighting over which of them a boy really loves and played on media speculation that the two singers disliked each other in real life. It was a double platinum selling smash, spending 13 weeks at number one on the pop charts in 1998 and eight weeks atop the R & B chart.

In 1996 Brandy debuted as the title character on the show "Moesha". She played the teenage daughter to Frank Marshall, a car salesman, who married the vice-principal at Moesha's school. The show ran on the UPN for six seasons and 127 episodes before being cancelled for low ratings. She made her big screen debut in 1998 as Karla Wilson in the sequel to "I Know What You Did Last Summer". The movie was a moderate success at the box office and, despite a critical panning, she captured an MTV Movie Award nomination for "Best Breakthrough Female Performance".

FUN FACT: Her younger brother Ray J is a hip-hop artist in his own right with hits including "One Wish" and the 2008 smash "Sexy Can I".

Answer: David Naughton

David Naughton was born in Hartford, Connecticut on February 13th, 1951. Raised by parents who were both teachers, David attended the prestigious Ivy League school, the University of Pennsylvania, and did graduate work at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. He made his professional stage debut in a production of "Hamlet" in New York's Lincoln Center.

In 1979 he got his television break when he won the lead in his own sitcom called "Makin' It" where he played a Jersey guy who hung out at the local disco. Unfortunately, the series only ran eight episodes from February 1st to March 16th, 1979 before being cancelled. Strangely two weeks after the series ended, the show's theme song "Makin' It" sung by David debuted on the Hot 100 at number 89. The song slowly caught fire and on July 21st hit number five and stayed there for two weeks. During its 24 week run on the Hot 100, it spent six weeks in the top ten and sixteen weeks in the top forty. It was ranked as the 14th biggest hit of 1979 according to Billboard's yearend survey.

His big break in film occurred in the very popular "An American Werewolf In London" in 1981. Playing American backpacker David Kessler, he is mauled by a werewolf while walking on a moonlit night in the Yorkshire moors and in turn becomes one himself. The movie was directed by John Landis who later went on to make Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video. The amazingly realistic prosthetics used during the werewolf transformation led the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to create a new award for Best Makeup which "An American Werewolf In London" was the first to win. Despite making over thirty million dollars at the U.S. box office, David's film career fizzled.

He went back to television this time as Jack Kincaid on the popular sitcom "My Sister Sam" which lasted for two seasons. He's also made guest appearances on "Touched By An Angel", "Melrose Place", "V.I.P." and "JAG" and continues to do both voice and acting work.

FUN FACT: David starred in a series of popular "Be A Pepper" commercials for the soft drink Dr. Pepper.