Sport Stars in Non-Sport Films Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Althea Gibson was the tennis star of the 1950s and was regarded as the 'Jackie Robinson' of women's tennis as she broke the color barrier. She had a supporting role in John Ford's 1959 epic "Horse Soldiers". Who were the two male leads?

Answer: John Wayne and William Holden

Gibson played Lukey, a militant former slave to her mistress played by Constance Towers. Wayne finds himself responsible for their protection. Holden as Major Henry Kendall often finds himself at odds with Wayne. Gibson went on the Ladies' Professional Golf Tour where had moderate success by not equal to her tennis achievements.

2. Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Chris Elliot and Lee Evans vie for the affections of Cameron Diaz in "There's Something About Mary" (1998). But what National Football League star wins her in the end?

Answer: Brett Favre

Favre, known as a 'gunslinger' or 'risk-taker' on the field, built his reputation with the Green Bay Packers. When his retirement is final, he will hold a host of NFL records. Farve does not appear until the latter parts of the film, deflating Mary's other suitors.

3. What former football star made 31 film and television appearances, whose most remembered movie character is the accident-prone Detective Nordberg in the "Naked Gun" series?

Answer: O.J. Simpson

Remember when O.J. was a good guy who ran over tacklers, leaped over turnstiles, analyzed games, and had a likable public image? O.J.'s second career was films and television. He made 14 big screen appearances; his most comic and memorable were the "Naked Gun" franchise.

4. In "The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult" (1998), what Olympic gymnast is pictured getting out a limo with Weird Al Yankovic to attend the Academy Award presentations?

Answer: Mary Lou Retton

After retiring from gymnastics due to hip dysplasia, she became something of an entrepreneur, active in a number of fields, including a political conservative activist and many commercial endorsements. Mary Lou also appeared as herself in Bill Murray's "Scrooged" (1988).

5. Alex Karras had a controversial career as a line-backer for the Detroit Lions. He took up acting later and appeared in several movies and had a sitcom, "Webster", that ran from 1983 to 1987. But in what movie will he be remembered for punching out his horse?

Answer: Blazing Saddles (1974)

Karras was once suspended from the NFL for alleged gambling. When he returned, the referee asked him to call the traditional coin toss. He refused saying that he was no longer allowed to gamble.

In "Victor/Victoria" he broke against typecasting and played a gay man.

Classic Line: As Mongo in "Blazing Saddles", in response to the sheriff's question: "Don't know. Mongo only pawn in the game of life."

Karras also made ends meet as a professional wrestler.

6. In "The Hangover" (2009), who is the professional boxer the main characters meet as they are trying to reconstruct the previous evening?

Answer: Mike Tyson

Tyson was a phenomena as a young fighter but had frequent brushes with the law. His lack of control showed when he bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield's ear. In "The Hangover" the gang must return a tiger to Mike Tyson they apparently stole the previous night.

7. In "Conan the Destroyer" (1984), this former National Basketball Association star plays a friend to Conan but who eventually betrays him. Conan kills Bombaata in a fight scene. Who played Bombaata?

Answer: Wilt Chamberlain

Chamberlain was 7'1" and was the dominant NBA player for many years. He was named Most Valuable player four times and took part in 13 All-Star games. He once scored a 100 points in one game.

8. Two Olympic swimmers went on later in their careers to play the iconic jungle man, Tarzan, in the 1930s. Johnny Weissmuller was one but who was the other?

Answer: Buster Crabbe

Crabbe won the bronze medal for the 1,500 meter freestyle in 1928 and returned in 1932 to win the gold medal for the 400 meter freestyle. In 1933 he was cast as Tarzan in "Tarzan the Fearless", a serial. It was his only appearance officially as Tarzan but he did make other jungle films.

His most famous role was probably Flash Gordon followed by Buck Rogers. He also did a turn as Billy the Kid.

9. Vinnie Jones captained the Welsh national football team and also Chelsea and Leeds United. After retirement, he turned to acting. What 1998 film about a heist brought him recognition on an international level?

Answer: Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels

Jones as Big Cris is assigned to find some London boys who made a bad bet and now owe �500,000. The only way to pay the debt is to stage a robbery. The film was a success both in the UK and USA.

10. In this film a National Basketball Association star plays Roger Murdock who has fun with the word 'Roger', denies being lazy on defense, eats spoiled food, and dies. Who was the actor and what was the film?

Answer: Kareem Abdul Jabbar in "Airplane!"

Kareem does a straightforward job in his role as co-pilot but does lapse into self-parody when questioned about his athletic skills.

Here is Murdock's classic exchange with Captain Oveur:

"Roger Murdock: Flight 2-0-9'er, you are cleared for take-off.
Captain Oveur: Roger!
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Tower voice: L.A. departure frequency, 123 point 9'er.
Captain Oveur: Roger!
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Victor Basta: Request vector, over.
Captain Oveur: What?
Tower voice: Flight 2-0-9'er cleared for vector 324.
Roger Murdock: We have clearance, Clarence.
Captain Oveur: Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?
Tower voice: Tower's radio clearance, over!
Captain Oveur: That's Clarence Oveur. Over.
Tower voice: Over.
Captain Oveur: Roger.
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Tower voice: Roger, over!
Roger Murdock: What?
Captain Oveur: Huh?
Victor Basta: Who?"

Source: Author Rehaberpro

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor jmorrow before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Sport stars capitalize on their fame by acting in films; here are some athletes that were in films not related to their sport.

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