Actor ABCs (The Best Actors Alphabetically) Quiz

Answer: Alan Arkin

Alan Wolf Arkin was born in 1934 in Brooklyn, New York. Arkin graduated from Bennington College in Vermont. Interestingly Alan co-wrote the 1956 hit song by Harry Belafonte, "The Banana Boat Song". He won an Oscar Award in 2001 for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for the movie "Little Miss Sunshine".

The three roles given in the clue were from the movies "Catch-22", "Grosse Point Blank", and "Argo". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando Jr. was born in 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska, and died in 2004 at age 80. Marlon was a high school dropout whose only higher learning experience came at Erwin Piscator's Dramatic Workshop. There he learned what became known as Method Acting.

He won two Oscar Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The first in 1955 for the film "On the Waterfront", and the second in 1973 for "The Godfather". The three roles given in the clue were from the movies "The Wild One", "Apocalypse Now", and "The Freshman".

They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Gary Cooper

Frank James Cooper was born in 1901 in Helena, Montana, and died in 1961 at age 60. After high school graduation Cooper went on to Grinnell College in Iowa. One of his first roles came in a bit part in the 1927 movie "Wings", which won the very first Best Picture award at the Oscars.

He won two Oscar Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role. His first came in 1942 for the film "Sergeant York", and the second in 1953 for "High Noon". The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "Sergeant York", "High Noon", and "Love in the Afternoon".

They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio was born in 1974 in Hollywood, California. Leo's performing skills were recognized at an early age. By age 11 he was doing commercials and appearing in sitcoms. He won an Oscar Award in 2016 for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the film "The Revenant".

The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "Catch Me if You Can", "Blood Diamond" and "The Revenant". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Clint Eastwood

Clinton Eastwood Jr. was born in 1930 in San Francisco, California. Clint attended Los Angeles City College, but dropped out to pursue an acting career. His first consequential role was an eight year stint on the T.V. series "Rawhide". He has won multiple Oscar Awards.

However, they have come in the categories of Best Director and Best Movie (Production). The roles given in the clue are from the movies "Any Which Way but Loose", "Unforgiven" and "Gran Torino". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Henry Fonda

Henry Jaynes Fonda was born in 1905 in Grand Island, Nebraska, and died in 1982 at age 77. Fonda initially went to the University of Minnesota to study journalism. He gave up that goal to join the University Players (a renowned acting troupe out of New York) where he met his lifelong friend Jimmy Stewart.

He won an Oscar Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1982 for the film "On Golden Pond". The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "The Grapes of Wrath", "The Oxbow Incident", and "On Golden Pond".

They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Mel Gibson

Mel Columcile Gerad Gibson was born in 1956 in Peekskill, New York. Mel and his family moved to Australia in his early teens. After high school he enrolled in Australia's prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Arts. He won multiple Oscar Awards in 1995 as director and producer of the film "Braveheart".

The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "Lethal Weapon", "The Patriot", and "We Were Soldiers". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Dustin Hoffman

Dustin Lee Hoffman was born in 1937 in Los Angeles, California. Dustin went to Santa Monica City College , but was dismissed for bad grades. He then joined the Pasadena Playhouse to train in acting, and did so to simply avoid military service. He has won multiple Oscar Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

The awards came in 1980 for the film "Kramer vs. Kramer", and in 1989 for "Rain Man". The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "The Graduate", "Tootsie", and "Rain Man". They are in the same order as the roles listed.

Answer: Jeremy Irons

Jeremy John Irons was born in 1948 in Cowes, Isle of Wight, England. Jeremy's passions growing up were horses and equestrian riding. He considered becoming a large animal veterinarian prior to catching the acting bug. He won an Oscar award in 1991 for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the film "Reversal of Fortune".

The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "Reversal of Fortune", "Franz Kafka", and "The Man in the Iron Mask". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones was born in 1931 in Arkabutia, Mississippi. Mr. Jones began his venture into the acting world by taking drama lessons to simply calm his hyperactive tendencies. It worked, as he has been acting for nearly 50 years. He won a honorary Oscar Award in 2012.

The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "The Great White Hope", "Conan the Barbarian", and "Field of Dreams". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Michael Keaton

Michael John Douglas was born in 1951 in Corapolis, Pennsylvania. Early in his career he changed his surname to Keaton to avoid confusion with fellow actor Michael Douglas. After trying his hand as a stand-up comedian Keaton made his first acting appearance on "Mister Rogers Neighborhood" in 1968.

The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "Night Shift", "Batman", and "Jack Frost". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Burt Lancaster

Burton Stephen Lancaster was born in 1913 in New York City, New York, and died in 1994 at age 80. Burt was a circus performer in his youth where he was a high flying acrobat. He won an Oscar Award in 1961 for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the film "Elmer Gantry".

The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "From Here to Eternity", "The Birdman of Alcatraz", and "Field of Dreams". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Steve McQueen

Terrence Stephen McQueen was born in 1930 in Beech Grove, Indiana, and died in 1980 at age 50. McQueen was a troubled youth who spent all of his teenage years in reform school and the penal system. He never won an Oscar Award, and surprisingly was only nominated once, in 1967, for his role in the movie "The Sand Pebbles".

The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "The Great Escape", "Papillon", and "Tom Horn". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Paul Newman

Paul Leonard Newman was born in 1925 in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and died in 2008 at age 83. Newman was kicked out of Ohio University for denting the college president's car with a beer keg. He won three Oscar Awards. Two of them were honorary, and the third was for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the film "The Color of Money".

The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "The Hustler", "Hud", and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Laurence Olivier

Laurence Kerr Olivier was born in 1907 in Dorking, Sussex, England, and died in 1989 at age 82. Laurence was married to fellow screen legend, Vivien Leigh, for nearly 20 years. He won two Oscar Awards. He won for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1949 for the film "Hamlet", and the second was a honorary award bestowed in 1979.

The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "Spartacus", "Marathon Man", and "The Boys From Brazil". They are the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Al Pacino

Alfredo James Pacino was born in 1940 in Manhattan, New York. Pacino has said he was a very unmotivated student in high school. If not for the haven he found in the drama department he would have dropped out. He won an Oscar Award in 1993 for the film "Scent of a Woman" for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

The roles given in the clue are from the movies "Serpico", "Scent of a Woman", and "The Devil's Advocate". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Anthony Quinn

Antonio Rudolofo Quinn Oaxaca was born in 1915 in Chihuahua, Mexico, and died in 2001 at age 86. Quinn was both a Golden Glove boxer in his youth, and also studied architecture under Frank Lloyd Wright. He won two Oscar Awards. One was for Best Actor in a Supporting role in 1953 for the film "Viva Zapata".

The second came in 1957 for Best Actor in a Leading role for the movie "Lust for Life". The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "The Greek Tycoon", "Zorba the Greek", and "Lust for Life".

They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Robert Redford

Charles Robert Redford was born in 1936 in Santa, Monica, California. Redford went to the University of Colorado on a baseball scholarship, but was kicked off the team for drunkenness. He has won multiple Oscar Awards. In his directorial debut he won for Best Director in 1980 for the film "Ordinary People".

In 2002 he won a honorary award. The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "The Sting", "Brubaker", and "The Natural". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: James Stewart

James Maitland Stewart was born in 1908 in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and died in 1997 at age 89. Jimmy went to Princeton University and, after graduation joined the University Players acting troupe. There he met lifelong friend Henry Fonda. He won two Oscar awards.

The first award came in 1941 for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the film "The Philadelphia Story". The second was a honorary award in 1985. The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", "It's a Wonderful Life", and "Rear Window".

They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Spencer Tracy

Spencer Bonaventure Tracy was born in 1900 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and died in 1967 at age 67. Spencer and fellow thespian, Pat O'Brien, both quit high school together to enlist in the navy for World War One. He won back-to back Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1938 and 1939.

Theses awards came in the films "Captains Courageous" and "Boys Town". The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "Adam's Rib", "The Old Man and the Sea", and "Inherit the Wind". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Peter Ustinov

Peter Alexander Freiherr Von Ustinov was born in 1921 in London, England, and died in 2004 at age 82. Ustinov was fluent in Russian, French, Italian, German, and English. He won two Oscar Awards, and both awards were for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

The first was in 1961 for the film "Spartacus", and the second in 1965 for the movie "Topkapi". The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "Spartacus", "Death on the Nile", and "The Sundowners". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Jon Voight

Jonathon Vincent Voight was born in 1938 in Yonkers, New York. Jon went to The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C., and graduated with a degree in Art in 1960. He won the Oscar Award in 1979 for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the film "Coming Home".

The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "Midnight Cowboy", "Varsity Blues", and "National Treasure". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Denzel Washington

Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. was born in Mount Vernon, New York. Denzel went to Fordham University, but dropped out and moved to San Francisco to enroll in the American Conservatory Theater in hopes of having a career in acting. He won multiple Oscar awards. One came in 1990 for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for the film "Glory", and the other in 2002 for Best Actor in a Leading Role for "Training Day".

The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "He Got Game", "John Q", and "American Gangster".

They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Burt Young

Richard Morea was born in 1940 in New York City, New York. He chose Burt Young as his stage name for artistic purposes. Known primarily for his role of Paulie Pennino in the "Rocky" franchise of movies he, ironically, was an aspiring amateur boxer in his youth.

The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "Convoy", "Rocky", and "The Pope of Greenwich Village". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.

Answer: Billy Zane

William George Zane was born in 1966 in Chicago, Illinois. Interestingly, he went to the same high school in Chicago as fellow thespians Daryl Hannah and Jennifer Beals. Zane was originally cast as Johnny Castle in the movie "Dirty Dancing" until it was found that he had no dancing skills. Patrick Swayze then got the part.

The three roles given in the clue are from the movies "Titanic", "The Phantom", and "Dead Calm". They are in the same order as the roles are listed.