Stars in TV and Movie Roles Too Quiz

Answer: Demi Moore

While all the choices above started out in soap operas, it was Demi Moore who played Jackie Templeton, an investigative reporter from New York City who winds up in Port Charles on "General Hospital" from 1982 to 1983. She was Jordan O'Neill in the film "G.I. Jane" (1997) and who could forget her as Erin Grant in 1996's "Striptease" (just about everybody)? She also won acclaim as Hester Prynne in "The Scarlet Letter" in 1995 and JoAnne Galloway in "A Few Good Men" (1992); but I thought those choices would be both too easy and too hard, respectively.

She is also known for her marriages, her divorces and her children.

Answer: Ryan O'Neal

Ryan O'Neal was Rodney Harrington, the scion of Leslie Harrington of "Peyton Place" (1964-1969); "Peyton Place" was TV's first prime time soap opera. It was based on the sensational (at the time) Grace Metalious 1956 novel which was turned into a 1957 movie of the same name. Who could forget Oliver Barrett and Jennie Cavalleri in the (hyper) romantic 1970 film "Love Story", from the novel by Erich Segal? And that phrase..."Love means never having to say you're sorry" (gag). Ryan was also in "Paper Moon" in 1973 with his daughter, Tatum O'Neal, who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role; she was 10 years old at the time.

Answer: "Search for Tomorrow"/"Bull Durham"

While Ms. Sarandon was in the soap opera "Search for Tomorrow", she did have leading roles in all the films mentioned. Actually Susan's first soap opera outing was in 1971 as Patrice Kahlman in "A World Apart", before she assayed the role of Sarah Fairbanks in "Search for Tomorrow" in 1972. I believe her breakout part was as Janet Weiss opposite Barry Bostwick as Brad in the cult film "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (1975). "Let's do the TIME WARP again!" Susan Sarandon (born Susan Tomalin) appeared as Annie Savoy in the baseball film "Bull Durham" in 1988 and won a Best Actress Oscar as Sister Helen Prejean in "Dead Man Walking" (1995).

Answer: Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington has been acting in TV and movies since the late 1970s. He has received a Tony Award, Golden Globes and Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor. From 1982-1988 he played Dr. Philip Chandler in the wonderful, medical drama, "St. Elsewhere".

In 1999 he portrayed the boxer Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter in "The Hurricane". He has appeared in films like "Glory" (1989), "Training Day" (2001) and "American Gangster"; he has been Malcolm X, Steve Biko and the fictional character Easy Rawlins...and so much more.

As for his personal life, he married Pauletta Pearson in 1983 and they have 4 kids.

Answer: Isabel Sanford

I'm afraid I made this one too weezy! In 1967 (as Isabell Sanford) she acted as Tillie, the maid, opposite some of the greatest actors of all time, i.e., Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn (about whom Dorothy Parker once said "She runs the gamut of emotions from A to B.") and the great Sidney Poitier.

She first played Louise Jefferson in the popular sitcom "All in the Family" in the early 1970s and then went on to star with Sherman Hemsley on "The Jeffersons" (1975-1985). Weezy was a stay-at-home mother so it was surprising when she didn't recognize that her son Lionel had changed.

In 1981 Sanford won an Emmy and reprised her role on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" in 1995.

Answer: Det. Lt. Frank Ballinger

The incorrect choices were all movie parts played by Lee Marvin (1924-1987), i.e., Sheleen--Strawn in "Cat Ballou" (1965), Major Reisman in "The Dirty Dozen" (1967) and Col. Alexander in "The Delta Force" (1986). Marvin was Ben Rumson in the musical "Paint Your Wagon" opposite Clint Eastwood in 1969. On TV he was on one of the early 'cop' shows in 1957; he was hard-nosed Detective Frank Ballinger who worked in an elite detective squad (some things never change!) in the Chicago, Illinois Police Department "dedicated to fighting organized crime". On a personal note, Lee Marvin won the very first palimony suit vs his live-in girlfriend, Michelle Triola Marvin in 1977.

Answer: Sarah Jessica Parker

The answer is the original Carrie Bradshaw herself, Sarah Jessica Parker, from "Sex and the City" (1998-2004); but would it surprise you to know that way back in 1982, a much younger SJP was Patty Greene, one of the geeks on the TV show "Square Pegs"? In "The First Wives Club" (1996), Shelly Stewart was the very dislikeable mistress of Morty (Dan Hedaya) who was Brenda's (Bette Midler) ex-husband. Among her other film appearances were: "L.A. Story", "Honeymoon in Vegas" and "Mars Attacks!". Back to "Sex and the City", Sarah Jessica was an executive producer and won two Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series (2001) and Oustanding Lead Actress in 2004.

Answer: Buzz Lightyear

Tim Allen (nee Tim Allen Dick) was on the TV series "Home Improvement" (1991-1999) as Tim 'The Toolman' Taylor on his show-within-a-show "Tool Time". He was a decidedly UNhandyman who screwed up more than fixed up, but somehow managed to stay alive! He has voiced the role of Buzz Lightyear ("To infinity... and beyond!") in "Toy Story" in 1995 as well as "Toy Story 2" (1999) and "Toy Story 3" (2010).

He started out as a stand-up comedian and has been in "The Santa Clause" movies as Scott Calvin/Santa Clause, and "Galaxy Quest" as Jason Nesmith.

In 2011 he went back to TV to star as Mike Baxter in "Last Man Standing".

Answer: Barbara Stanwyck

One of the best actresses to never win an Academy Award (not counting the Honorary Award) in her 60 year career, Barbara Stanwyck (1907-1990) could act the pants off most actors. She was born with the name Ruby Catherine Stevens in Brooklyn, NY and, through circumstance, wound up growing up in a number of foster homes. On "The Big Valley" (1965-1969) she played Victoria Barkley who ruled over the Barkley Ranch; she won a Primetime Emmy as Outstanding Lead Actress for her role in 1966.

She was amazing as the scheming protagonist in "Double Indemnity" (1944).

In 1999, the AFI voted her the 11th greatest female star.

Answer: Conspiracy Theory

"Conspiracy Theory"is a 1997 film starring Mel Gibson as a cab driver with a great many paranoid conspiracy theories; but sometimes people with paranoia are right! As far as James Garner, nee James Bumgarner (1928-2014), he was a handsome guy with a lot of talent. Jim played Bret "Maverick" from 1957-1962; Garner also starred as P.I. Jim Rockford on the TV show "The Rockford Files" from 1974-1980, for which he won an Emmy Award in 1977.

His movies were often light and funny like "Victor Victoria" (1982) (sort of a male "Tootsie") and "Murphy's Romance" in 1985, for which he was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar.