Imaginary Friends Trivia Quiz

Answer: He could stop time

Elwood explained Harvey's ability this way: "Did I tell you he could stop clocks? Well, you've heard the expression 'His face would stop a clock'? Well, Harvey can look at your clock and stop it. And you can go anywhere you like - with anyone you like - and stay as long as you like. And when you get back, not one minute will have ticked by... You see, science has overcome time and space. Well, Harvey has overcome not only time and space - but any objections."

The movie revolved around Elwood's sister's attempt to get him committed to a mental health institution because of his insistence on the existence of Harvey. Elwood was played by Jimmy Stewart and the sister was played by Josephine Hull. Hull won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and Stewart was nominated for Best Actor.

Answer: Calvin and Hobbes

To everyone else Hobbes was just a stuffed toy tiger, but to Calvin he was a living, breathing friend. So was Hobbes just a figment of Calvin's imagination? The strip's creator Bill Watterson explained Hobbes this way: "Some reporter was writing a story on imaginary friends and they asked me for a comment, and I didn't do it because I really have absolutely no knowledge about imaginary friends. It would seem to me, though, that when you make up a friend for yourself, you would have somebody to agree with you, not to argue with you. So Hobbes is more real than I suspect any kid would dream up."

Calvin was named after John Calvin, the 16th century French Reformation theologian, and Hobbes was named after Thomas Hobbes, the 17th century liberal philosopher famous for his social contract theory. The juxtaposition between the two names and the two men was not an accident and in many ways set the tone for what the strip would become.

Answer: A part of Danny brought out by his psychic abilities

The movie does not make the connection between Danny and Tony as clear as the novel does. Danny has psychic abilities known as the 'shining'. These abilities allow him to read people's minds and speak telepathically with other people who have the same abilities. He could also see the past, present, and future through Tony, who appeared to be an imaginary friend. Later it is revealed that Tony is actually a future incarnation of Danny. He got his name Tony from Danny's middle name Anthony. It is explained thus:
1) "'Danny ... you're in a place down in your own mind. The place where I am. I'm a part of you, Danny.'"
2) "Tony was like looking into a magic mirror and seeing himself in ten years"
3) "Tony ... the Daniel Anthony Torrance that would someday be."

Answer: James Patterson

Although James Patterson is best known for his Alex Cross series of crime novels, he has also written the Michael Bennett and Women's Murder Club series as well as other nonfiction and even romance novels.

"Sundays at Tiffany's" is one of these romance novels that was co-written with Gabrielle Charbonnet and tells the story of Jane Margaux, a soon to be ten year-old girl who spends Sundays at Tiffany's with her imaginary friend Michael. But after her tenth birthday he leaves her as is the tradition. The story follows their reunion when Jane becomes an adult.

Answer: Eric McCormack

Eric McCormack played the brilliant yet troubled psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Pierce who works with the FBI to solve some of their tougher cases. Because of his schizophrenia many times he sees imaginary people who help him solve the crime then disappear. He also has an imaginary best friend and adviser who is always with him named Natalie Vincent. At the end of Season One it was revealed Natalie was based on a real person with whom Dr. Pierce had become infatuated at the beginning of his illness named Dr. Caroline Newsome.

McCormack played Will Truman on "Will and Grace" from 1998 to 2006.

Answer: Nora Ephron

Nora Ephron wrote "Imaginary Friends" and Marvin Hamlisch and Craig Carnelia provided songs for the play. It was not well received by critics, although Carnelia was nominated for his lyrics for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics. It closed its run after only 76 performances. The play was a fictional meeting between Lillian Hellman and Mary McCarthy in hell after their deaths where they resumed the rivalry they carried on in life.

Ephron is best known for her movie work including the two mentioned in the question and also, "Silkwood" (1983) and "Julie & Julia" (2009), her last film. She also co-wrote the award winning play "Love, Loss, and What I Wore" with her sister Delia.

Answer: Phoebe Cates

Phoebe Cates played Elizabeth "Lizzie" Cronin in "Drop Dead Fred", an unassertive, repressed woman who is reunited with her childhood imaginary friend Fred, played by Rik Mayall. Fred helps Lizzie find her backbone again by helping her learn to stand up to her domineering mother before he leaves her life for good. The film also featured Carrie Fisher, Ron Eldard, Tim Matheson, and Bridget Fonda.

Cates burst onto the scene with her role in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", then went on to star in other teen movies. She retired in the mid 90s to raise her family.

Answer: Donnie Darko

"Donnie Darko" is a time travel, alternate universe, doomsday movie that follows the story of Donnie as he deals with visions of impending doom when Frank tells him the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds. Frank is an homage to Jimmy Stewart's Harvey.

The movie follows Donnie as he deals with this news and its consequences. The film also starred Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Noah Wyle, Jena Malone, and Mary McDonnell. Although it did poorly at the box office when first released, it has since become a favorite of critics and gained a large cult following.

Answer: Cecelia Ahern

"If You Could See Me Now" by Cecelia Ahern was first published in 2005 and was her third novel. The book tells the story of Elizabeth Egan, who is forced to take care of her younger sister, Saoirse, when they were abandoned by their mother. She then is forced to take care of Saoirse's son, Luke, because Saoirse is irresponsible. Luke has an imaginary friend Ivan but Ivan can only be seen by people who need him. Eventually Elizabeth can see him and he falls in love with her.

But once Elizabeth no longer needs him she can no longer see him and their love is doomed.

Answer: Aloysius Snuffleupagus

Aloysius Snuffleupagus was only visible to Big Bird when he first appeared on "Sesame Street" in 1971. Over time Big Bird showed him to the kids but the adults never saw him until the premiere of the 17th season in November 1985, 15 years after his first appearance. Over those first 15 years the adults would get very impatient with Big Bird for blaming things on Mr. Snuffleupagus. Mr. Snuffleupagus also has a baby sister Alice Snuffleupagus who was introduced on the show in 1988.