DN's First Common Bond Trivia Quiz

Answer: LeVar Burton

LeVar was born Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Jr. on February 16, 1957, in Landstuhl, West Germany. He graduated from the University of Southern California School of Theatre, and went on to star in such television shows and movies as "Almos' a Man," "Dummy," "One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story," and "Star Trek: The Next Generation." However, LeVar is probably most noted for starring as Kunta Kinte on the popular and much loved television mini-series "Roots." In 1983, he became the host of the educational television series "Reading Rainbow," which helps teach children how to read.

In 1992, LeVar married Stephanie Cozart, and together they have a daughter Michaela, who was born in 1995.

Answer: Lorne Greene

Lorne Greene was born on February 12, 1915 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada to Daniel and Dora Greene. His father was a shoemaker specializing in orthopedic boots and shoes to prescription. As a small boy he was very close to his father and often helped his father with the making of the boots and shoes.

His love for acting came about when he was in school and his French teacher cast him in a school play as one of two deaf characters...it was then that Lorne knew he wanted to act.

In the mid-1950's he went England and appeared in a television series called "Sailor of Fortune," as a former intelligence officer in the United States Marines. It did not take him long to realize that the series was not going to last and he quickly jumped ship.

In 1959, producer David Dortort told Lloyd Shearer that he had saw an actor in an episode of "Wagon Train," and thought that he would be the 'perfect' actor to portray the character of Ben Cartwright for an upcoming series which was to be called "Bonanza." Shearer looked into what Dortort had said and he readily agreed. Greene was asked to read the script for Dortort and Shearer, and as he read they realized that he was Ben Cartwright. Lorne signed the contract that same day. The character of Ben Cartwright, Patriarch of the Ponderosa was originally supposed to be a bible-fearing, religion dominated character, but after a few layouts with the script, Greene stated that with that attitude the character personality of Ben Cartwright would not go anywhere anytime soon...Greene, Shearer and Dortort had a conference and Greene suggested that they make Ben Cartwright "a loving father who commands respect through the force of his own personality, a good man, a strong man, a decent man." They also reduced the age of the character from sixty-five to forty-four years of age, which was the age of the actor himself. His character was to age as he himself did.

Although, Greene is a legend on the stage, radio, and film he is most noted for his portrayal of Ben Cartwright. "Bonanza" ran on television from 1959 to 1973.

In 1940, he married Rita Hands. Their two children, Belinda Susan and Charles, who are twins were born in 1945. Greene also received one of Canada's most prestigious awards when he was nominated and received Canada's Man of the Year in 1965.

Answer: Ben Vereen

Ben Vereen was born on October 10, 1946, in Miami, Florida. As a small boy he was what most considered a "show-off" and loved to be the center of attention. His parents encouraged him to go for his dreams of being an actor. When he was seventeen, he attended New York's High School of the Performing Arts and Emerson College.

He had his official first stage bow in New York during the "Prodigal Son." Not long after his performance in the "Prodigal Son," he was cast with the touring company of "Sweet Charity."

In the late 1980's Vereen attempted to take his own life by standing in the middle of a highway...as he felt very depressed and forlorn over the death of his son, and he did not want to live any longer. Eventually, the talented actor and dancer overcame his grief and started acting once again.

Answer: Robert Reed

Robert Reed was born John Robert Rietz in Higland Park, Illinois on October 19, 1932. As a small boy he realized that he had a great love for all things artistic, and very much wanted to be a star in the theatre. When he was twenty-one he attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, he never graduated from the University because he transferred to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England at the Royal Academy is where he learned how to create certain effects on stage...and this is what he truly enjoyed about acting.

In 1957, he married Marilyn Rosenberg, the couple had one daughter, who was born in 1958. Reed and Marilyn divorced in 1959, stating irreconcilable differences.

Reed, however, is probably best known for his portrayal of Michael Brady in the classic hit television series "The Brady Bunch." Robert Reed passed away on May 12, 1992 in Pasadena, CA, due to complications caused from AIDS.

Answer: Madge Sinclair

Madge Sinclair was born on April 28, 1938, in Kingston, Jamaica. As a child she was inquisitive and wanted to know everything and try everything. She fell in love at a very young age and got married and had two small boys. Madge went back to school, so that she could become a teacher. She taught children in her hometown of Kingston until she was thirty years old. It was then that she decided that she wanted explore the world of acting, so just before her thirty-first birthday, she left her sons with their father and traveled to New York.

In New York, Madge learned that the color of her skin stopped her from most acting jobs, but she found work as a model, and was very good at it. Her first public acting happened in 1972, when she participated in a Shakespearean Festival and at Joseph Papp's Public Theatre. However, her first real taste of the big screen came in 1974, when she appeared in the film "Conrack" as Mrs. Scott.

She also appeared in the long running hit television series "Trapper John, M.D." from 1980 to 1986, as Nurse Ernestine Shoop. She also appeared in 1998's box office hit "Coming to America," which starred Eddie Murphy, as Queen Aoleon. Madge was a remarkable and dedicated actress, she always gave so much of herself to the characters she portrayed. Sadly, on December 20, 1995, she lost her battle with leukemia.

However, she left behind a legacy to her fans, that the best thing one can do in life is to pursue their dreams.

Answer: Chuck Connors

Chuck Connors was born on April 10, 1921, in Brooklyn, New York. Before becoming an actor he played semi-professional sports. Connors played basketball with the Boston Celtics and then went onto play baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers and with the Chicago Cubs. However, he was considered more of a comedian than a serious player because when it was his turn at a go around for the bases, he used to perform cartwheels. At one such baseball outing, while performing his infamous cartwheels he was spotted by a Hollywood director, who arranged for Connors to play a one-line bit as a highway patrolman in the 1952 movie, "Pat and Mike," starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. Finding that he enjoyed acting, he immediately gave up baseball to pursue acting.

One of Connors' first roles that had any substance was that of a hillbilly in the hit television series "Superman," in the episode "Flight of the North."

Due to his roguish looks and harsh voice he was usually cast as a bad guy/gangster type. However, in 1958, he became a 'good guy' when he was cast as Lucas McCain in the hit television series "Rifleman."

Connors proved himself to be a multi-talented actor and had a presence that would not be forgotten. Sadly, on November 10, 1992, he succumbed to lung cancer and passed away.

Answer: Cicely Tyson

Cicely was born on December 19, 1933, in New York City, New York. Her parents were deeply religious and moved from the Caribbean island of Nevis so that they would be able to give their children a better life. She desperately tried to acquire acting roles, but the color of her skin held her back. However, this did not deter her and she set a course to achieve her dreams. She was, for all intent purposes, discovered by a fashion editor at "Ebony" magazine, who believed the beautiful Tyson would be a stunning model, and that she was. She quickly rose to the top of the modeling industry.

Not one to give up on her dreams, she continued to try out for acting parts and in 1957, she was cast in small parts in several off-Broadway productions. In 1968, she was cast as Portia in "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter," which starred Alan Arkin as John Singer. In 1973, she was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in "Sounder." In 1974, she was nominated for and received two Emmy awards for her portrayal of Miss Jane Pittman, a former slave, it was an award that she was much deserving of.

Tyson also appeared in the television mini-series "Roots" as Binte Kinte, Kunta's mother.

Answer: Sandy Duncan

She was born on February 20, 1946, in Henderson, Texas. As a young girl growing up in her small rural community, she was considered an 'oddball' because she wanted to be an actress, she was constantly teased and tormented by the other children. However, none of this stopped her from pursuing her dreams. When she graduated Lon Morris College, she set her course and headed straight for New York.

Her big break came when she portrayed the character of Katie Dooley in the 1971 box office sleeper, "$1,000,000 Duck." Her performance of Katie Dooley caused CBS programming chief Fred Silverman to seek out a situation comedy for her. He chose the series based on the 1957 film with the same name "Funny Face." Actress Melba Moore was originally to be cast in Duncan's place, but Silverman had his own ideas, and Moore was out and Duncan was in. However, all did not go as planned because on the set, Duncan began to have severe headaches, which was discovered were caused by a large tumor behind her optic nerve. She underwent surgery to remove the tumor. The doctors managed to save the eye itself, however, because the tumor was cancerous, she would no longer have vision in her left eye.

In 1972, "Funny Face" was revamped into the "Sandy Duncan Show." Due to network in-fighting, and a bad time slot, the show was cancelled.

She also appeared in the weekly television series "The Hogan Family," as Sandy Hogan.

Answer: Moses Gunn

Moses was born on October 2, 1929, in St. Louis, Missouri. This amazing African-American actor was an Obie-winning stage actor and he co-founded The Negro Ensemble Company in the 1960's. He also took advantage of Joe Papp's character portrayal choices for such plays as "Measure for Measure", "Romeo and Juliet," "Titus Andronicus", and "Othello."

Gunn is probably most noted for his brief, but most memorable performance as Booker T. Washington in the 1981 film "Ragtime," starring James Cagney; which earned him an NAACP Image Award. In 1977, he was nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal of chieftain Kintango in the miniseries "Roots."

On December 16, 1993, Gunn passed away due to complications that stemmed from a severe asthma attack.

Answer: Roots

The common bond that links all of the actresses and actors together is the 1977 television mini-series "Roots," which is based on the lineage of author Alex Haley and his family's history during enslavement and freedom.

LeVar Burton, portrayed Kunta Kinte for the fist two and a half episodes of the mini-series, his character was then portrayed by John Amos.

Lorne Greene, portrayed Massa John Reynolds. The character of Reynolds purchased Kunta when he arrived from the slave ship, The Lord Ligonier. It was Reynolds that gave Kunta the name Toby.

Ben Vereen, portrayed Chicken George. Chicken George was the son of Kizzy, Kunta and Belle's daughter. He was known as the best cock trainer, a trade he learned from Massa Tom Moore's slave, Uncle Mingo.

Robert Reed, portrayed Dr. William Reynolds. His character saved Kunta's life, by making a trade with his brother, John Reynolds. When Kunta escaped, John Reynolds sent slave catchers after him and they cut off part of his foot. Dr. William Reynolds purchased Toby (Kunta) from his brother.

Madge Sinclair, portrayed the character of Belle. Her character marries Kunta by 'jumping the broom.' They have a daughter, whom Kunta names Kizzy.

Chuck Connors, portrays the character of Massa Tom Moore. His character purchases Kizzy from Dr. William Reynolds, after Kizzy broke one of Dr. Reynolds' rules by writing a traveling pass for her boyfriend Noah so he could escape. Kizzy learned how to read and write from Dr.Reynolds' niece, Missy Anne.

Cicely Tyson, portrayed the character of Binta Kinte. Her character was seen in only the first two-hour episode of this epic mini-series.

Sandy Duncan, portrayed the character of Missy Anne, daughter of Massa John Reynolds. She used to visit her uncle, Dr. William Reynolds, and it was she who taught Kizzy how to read and write. She even told Kizzy that she would protect her, and that she wanted her as her own personal salve.

Moses Gunn, portrayed the character of tribal chieftain Kintango in Kunta's homeland of Africa in his village of Juffure.

All movie and television information came from www.imdb.com and all biographical information came from www.msnentertainment.com

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