They've Seen Their Final Curtain Quiz

Answer: William Powell

At the age of 18, William Horatio Powell went to New York and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. His career in Hollywood began in 1922. Between the time of his graduation from the AADA and his first movie, he worked in vaudeville and had a successful Broadway career. William was married three times.

His first wife was Eileen Wilson and they were married from 1915 to 1930. They had one child, a son, named William David Powell (he took his own life in 1968). William H. then married Carole Lombard.

Their marriage lasted only two years, from 1931 to 1933. In 1940, he met Diana Lewis, whom he called "Mousie" and their marriage lasted until his death. They met only three weeks prior to their marriage. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor three times: "The Thin Man" (1934), "My Man Godfrey" (1936) and "Life with Father" (1947).

His last movie was "Mister Roberts" (1955) after which he retired. There were many requests for him to return to making movies.

However, he was content being retired. He died March 5, 1984.

Answer: Nat King Cole

Nat's birth name was Nathaniel Adams Coles. He was born in Montgomery, Alabama. Nat's mother name was Perlina and his brothers were named Eddie, Ike and Freddy. One brother, Eddie Cole, a bass player, joined Nat and they created their first recording in 1936 under Eddie's name.

The "King Cole Swingers" was formed by Nat and they played in many Long Beach bars. Nat married dancer Nadine Robinson in 1937. Their marriage ended in 1948. Six days after his divorce from Nadine became final, Cole married singer Maria Hawkins Ellington.

The date of that marriage was March 28, 1948. They had 5 children (two of whom were adopted). Nat was the first African-American to host a television show. "The Nat King Cole Show" debuted on November 5, 1956.

It was shown on NBC-TV. His mother played the church organ and gave our celebrity lessons. He had three brothers. While living in Chicago, he would sneak out of the house to listen to other musical artists. He began his own career in music in the 1930s while still a teenager.

His professional name was an adaptation of his own name. L-O-V-E was his last album. It was recorded December 1964. Shortly after that recording, Nat entered the hospital for treatment of cancer. He died February 15, 1965.

Answer: Sydney Pollack

Sydney Irwin Pollack was encouraged to move from acting to directing by Burt Lancaster. His first success in television was directing episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "The Fugitive". He won awards for directing and producing; he was nominated for 48 Academy Awards and ended up winning 11 Oscars.

He studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City where he also taught acting later in his life. He originally had planned to be a doctor. However, after graduating from high school at 17, he went to New York City and began studying acting.

In 2006, he won the Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking award. He married Claire Griswold, a former student of his, in 1958 and they remained married until his death. Their children were Rachel, Rebecca, and Steven Pollack. Steven Pollack died in a plane crash.

He studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City where he also taught acting later in his life. Sydney died of stomach cancer on May 26, 2008.

Answer: Danny Thomas

Danny Thomas was born with the name of Amos Alphonsus Muzyad Yakhoob. His stage name of Danny Thomas was a combination of the first two names of his brothers. At the age of 24, he married his sweetheart, Rose Marie Cassaniti. They wed on January 15, 1936. Their three children were named Marlo (of "That Girl" fame), Terre and Tony. Danny died of heart failure February 6, 1991.

Answer: Myrna Loy

Myrna Adele Williams was Myrna's birth name. She was acclaimed for her roles in romantic comedies. She was often cast in exotic roles playing a woman of Asian descent or a vamp. She was born in Montana and was named after a train station her father liked.

She wanted to perform in dramatic roles and was cast in "The Rains Came" in 1939 opposite Tyrone Power. When World War II broke out, she turned her attention away from acting and toward helping with the war effort. She was placed on Hitler's black list due to her being very outspoken against him.

She ran a canteen and worked closely with the Red Cross. She also toured to raise money. She was married and divorced four times and had no children. On December 14, 1993, she underwent surgery and died.

Answer: Carole Lombard

Jane Alice Peters (Carole's birth name) was killed in a plane crash on January 16, 1942 when she was only 33. Her mother was also on the plane. There were no survivors. She had two brothers. Her film debut was at the age of 12 and she was cast in her first movie as a tomboy.

The movie was "A Perfect Crime" and was made in 1921. During the 1930s, she was the highest-paid star and earned more than five times the salary of the president. Carole was considered to be a great hostess. For one party, she redecorated her home as a hospital operating room and had everyone show up in medical attire. Bed pans were used as plates.

Her last party was given at a amusement park and she invited practically everyone she had ever met. After that, her parties were more intimate. Carole Lombard was married to William Powell on June 26, 1931.

They divorced in 1933. Clark Gable and she were married on March 29, 1939, shortly after Gable divorced Ria Langham. Her Fort Wayne home was designated as a historic landmark and a bridge over the St. Mary's River was named the Carole Lombard Memorial Bridge.

Answer: Amelia Earhart

Amelia Mary Earhart had a sister named Grace who was Amelia's dutiful follower. Their upbringing was unconventional as their mother, Amy, did not wish to mold her children into "nice little girls". Amelia was characterized as a tomboy as she loved to climb trees and engage in "rough and tumble" play.

She wrote of her flying experiences and was instrumental in forming an organization for female pilots called "The Ninety-Nines". She was reported missing on July 2, 1937 during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe. During World War I, she volunteered at Spadina Military Hospital handing out prescribed medication and preparing meals for patients with special diets. George Putnam and she were married on February 7, 1931. On January 11, 1935, Amelia was the first person to fly from Hawaii to California.

Her final trip was in 1937 and there was much speculation as to what happened when Amelia and Fred Noonan, an American flight navigator, sea captain and aviation pioneer, disappeared. Amelia was declared dead on January 5, 1939 and Fred was declared dead on June 20, 1938.

Answer: Roddy McDowall

Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude "Roddy" McDowall died on October 3, 1998 of lung cancer. His career spanned both movies and television. He was also involved in the theater. He was a skilled photographer and he published five books of his photographs. He played a main character in "Planet of the Apes".

He was active in film restoration. "Cleopatra" was one movie he was involved in restoring. One of the last contributions to movies was when he provided the voice of Mr. Soil in the movie "Ants". For several years, Roddy served in many capacities for the organization that provides the Oscars, the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The year he died, he was elected as the President of the Academy Foundation.

Answer: James Dean

James Byron Dean died on September 30, 1955 when his car, a Porsche 550 Spyder, was cut in front of by another driver. This resulted in both cars hitting almost head on. It was said the other driver was attempting to turn onto a state highway and did not see Dean or the Porsche.

The other driver escaped with a gashed forehead and a bloodied nose. Dean's passenger, Rolf Wütherich, had a broken jaw and other injuries and was thrown from the car. James died by the time he arrived at the hospital. When he was young, his father sent him to live with relatives and he was raised as a Quaker.

After graduating from high school, he entered college and majored in pre-law. When he changed his major to drama, his father and he became estranged. James was interested in the theater, car racing and bull fighting.

His first television appearance was a commercial for Pepsi. His first four movies were uncredited roles. It wasn't until "East of Eden", in 1955, that his name appeared in the movie credits.

He made two more movies prior to his death. They were "Rebel Without a Cause", also in 1955, and "Giant" made in 1956.

Answer: Heath Ledger

Heath Andrew Ledger died January 22, 2008. When Daniel Day-Lewis learned of Heath's death, he dedicated his Screen Actors Guild Award to Ledger. Heath had a daughter with Michelle Williams. They named her Matilda Rose. In spite of there being a dispute over Heath's will, it was claimed there were two of them, Heath's family bequeathed everything to Matilda Rose.

He was an avid chess player and won a chess championship at the age of 10. He graduated from school at the age of 16 and decided to pursue an acting career.

Heath was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor of 2008 and he won the Academy Award for his portrayal of "Joker" in "The Dark Knight". It was given to his family.