Skeletons in the Closet Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mladen George Sekulovich

Malden's father was Serbian and his mother was Czech. He was 22 years old when he changed his last name by switching the letters "l" and "a" in his first name. Then he used the the first name of his grandfather as his own. He won the Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for his part in the movie "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951).

His other notable films are "On the Waterfront", "Baby Doll", "One-Eyed Jacks", and "Patton".

Answer: Shirley MacLean Beaty

She won her Oscar for her part in "Terms of Endearment" (1983). Her brother is actor Warren Beatty. Her mother's maiden name is MacLean. Shirley was named after Shirley Temple and is an accomplished actress, singer, dancer, and author. She has great interest in spiritualism and reincarnation. "Don't call me Shirley!" unless you believe in past lives.

Answer: Volodymyr Palahniuk

According to Wikipedia, his first name at birth was Volodymyr. His parents were Ukrainian immigrants and Volodymyr is a city in the Ukraine. He Americanized his last name. He called himself Jack Brazzo when he became a professinal fighter and used the name Walter when he first began acting.

He always vehemently denied being Russian. He won the Academy Award for this role in "City Slickers" (1991).

Answer: Milton Supman

Soup Bone was his family nickname. His father was a Jewish immigrant from Hungary. Soon, his nickname got shortened to Soupy. When he went into showbiz, he named himself Soupy Hines. Hines was too close to Heinz (soups) so he decided on Sales (vaudville comedian Chic Sale). Aaron Chwatt became Red Buttons. Nathan Birnbaum became George Burns.

Answer: Elmore Rual Torn Jr.

He acquired the name Rip from family tradition of calling the boys by that nickname. In childhood, he was also called Skippy. His first cousin is Oscar winner Sissy Spacek. He was married to actress Geraldine Page until her death. His country estate in Texas was called Torn Page. His great films are "Pork Chop Hill", "Men in Black", and "Cross Creek".

Answer: Louis Burton Lindley Jr.

He became a well-known rodeo clown but found that occupation to be slim pickings, meaning there was little money to be had. So he went to acting and called himelf Slim Pickens. Some of his prominent movies are "Dr. Strangelove", "Blazing Saddles", and "One-Eyed Jacks".

Answer: Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland

Her older sister is Oscar winner Olivia de Havilland ("Gone With the Wind"). These sisters have not gotten along since childhood. Joan first used the name Joan Burfield in acting because her mother refused to let her use the family name. Fontaine is the stage name of her mother.

She won her Oscar for "Suspicion" (1941). Lillian Augusta Ruse is the maiden name of her mother. Lucille Fay LeSueur is the birth name of Oscar winner Joan Crawford.

Answer: Theodore Childress Wills

He was born Theodore Childress Wills. He was the voice of Francis the Talking Mule in the movies. Some of his films are "The Alamo", "Giant", and "Rio Grande".

Answer: Ermes Effron Borgnino

His Italian immigrant parents changed the family name to Borgnine when Ernest was two years old. He won an Oscar for "Marty" (1955). He was married to actress Katy Jurado and singer Ethel Merman (at different times, of course). Some of his other films are "Bad Day at Black Rock", "The Wild Bunch", and "The Vikings".

Answer: James Stewart

He was born James Lablanche Stewart. He was a popular British actor, a romantic leading man type. When he became an actor, he changed his name to avoid being confused with American actor James Stewart. He used his Scottish grandmother's last name of Granger as his last name.

He was at one time married to actress Jean Simmons. Some of this memorable films are "North to Alaska", "Scaramouche", and "Beau Brummel".