Their Final Acting Role Trivia Quiz

Answer: Steve McQueen

"The Hunter" was based on the life of a bounty hunter named Ralph Thorson, also known as "Papa". The films examined the bounty hunter's struggle with aging as he tried to maintain his unorthodox methods of capturing wanted fugitives. Buzz Kulik directed the film that was set in various locales in Chicago. McQueen was reunited in the film with a co-star from "The Magnificent Seven", Eli Wallach.

He became afflicted with a stomach cancer and went to Mexico for a controversial treatment. Despite seeking various remedies, McQueen died at the young age of 50 and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean. Interesting fact; Steve was initially offered George Peppard's role in "Breakfast at Tiffany's".

He was forced to decline because he was still shooting the "Wanted, Dead or Alive" TV series. Bronson's final film was "Death Wish V: The Face of Death" in 1994. "Thieves of Fortune" was Van Cleef's final screen appearance in 1989. Coburn's last screen feature was "American Gun" in 2002.

Answer: The Shootist

"The Shootist" teamed John Wayne with Ron Howard and Lauren Bacall. The movie was set at the turn of the century and centered around Wayne's character still being considered one of the top guns and a trophy for other gunfighters. In actuality Wayne had been in remission since having surgery in the sixties, and was not being treated at the time the film was shot. He relapsed during the final year of his life and passed away three years after the film wrapped, ending a film career that began in silent movies. Because of his health issues he was not originally considered for the role and had to advocate strongly to finally get the part.
Interesting fact; The original script called for John Wayne to shoot the antagonist character in the back. He refused, adding that he would not end his film career shooting someone in the back for the first time ever in a film.
"True Grit" was released in 1969. He reprized the role of Rooster Cogburn in the 1975 move of the same name and "Cahill, U S Marshall" was released in 1973.

Answer: Cary Grant

Cary simply retired from films after making "Walk, Don't Run". The film was a romantic story set during the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. Grant's character acted as matchmaker for a young couple sharing his apartment because of the housing shortage during the event. He became a member of the board of directors of the Fabergé company and in his later years toured with a one-man show detailing his life in films. Grant married actress Dyan Cannon and became a father at age 62. They divorced in 1968 and Grant married Barbara Harris in 1981. His death in 1986 ended a career in films beginning in 1932 with the film "This Is the Night".
Interesting fact; Cary Grant was the preferred choice of author Ian Fleming to play James Bond. Connery was selected because of his suave similarities to Grant.
Stewart, Taylor and Newman are all actors who were featured in other Hitchcock movies.

Answer: Family Plot

"The Rainbird Pattern" was the book that "The Family Plot" is based on. There is intrigue and confusion as con men are hired to find a kidnapper. In a departure from his ordinary pattern, Hitchcock was vague about the setting of the film that was shot in various locales in California. He had a reputation for featuring recognizable landmarks in many of his movies. He also maintained his pattern of doing a cameo role by being filmed through a glass door in a government building. At the time of his death in 1980 Hitchcock was working on a film titled "The Short Night".
Interesting fact; Although Hitchcock made a horror film about birds, he was repulsed by egg yolks.
"Torn Curtain" was a 1966 Hitchcock release, "Topaz" came out in 1969 and "Frenzy" was a 1972 Hitchcock film.

Answer: The Harder They Fall

Bogart's character became involved with crooked wrestling/boxing in "The Harder They Fall". His sportswriter character was torn between his allegiance to a fighter he represented and the crooked aspects of wrestling/boxing. Bogart passed away the following year after unsuccessful surgery to repair cancer caused by a lifetime of heavy smoking. He was only 57 years old. Spencer Tracy was scheduled to give the eulogy, but he declined at the last minute because he was too upset, so director John Huston stepped in. Bogie was married to Laurel Bacall at the time of his passing.
Interesting fact; Bogart made the cover of "Time" magazine as he appeared in "Caine Mutiny" at the same time that Henry Fonda was playing the same part on Broadway.
"We're No Angels" was released in 1955, "Beat the Devil" was a 1953 Bogart film and "The Desperate Hours" was released the year before "The Harder They Fall".

Answer: The First Deadly Sin

"The First Deadly Sin" also featured Brenda Vaccaro and James Whitmore in a thriller about a serial killer being sought by Sinatra's character. At the same time he was grappling with his wife's terminal illness. By the time the movie was completed Frank was in his mid-sixties and retired from films. "The First Deadly Sin" was the third film produced by Frank's production company, Artanis.
Interesting fact; At the time Sinatra got the role in "From Here to Eternity" his career was waning. The producer had five other actors slated for consideration, but Frank personally made his case to Columbia head Harry Cohn and got the part. Having read the book thoroughly paid off for Sinatra. He earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
"The Detective" and "Lady in Cement" were 1968 Sinatra films. "Dirty Dingus MaGee" was made in 1970, and marked the beginning of a ten-year break Sinatra took from starring in films before doing "The First Deadly Sin". He passed away 18 years later from a heart attack leaving a legacy of acting that began in the mid-forties with "Step Lively" and "Anchors Aweigh".

Answer: Giant

Alan Ladd was originally considered for the role of Jett Rink in "Giant". Grace Kelly was also offered the leading role that went to Elizabeth Taylor when Kelly didn't take the role. Because James Dean had been involved in a fatal accident before the film was completed, actor Nick Adams was selected to do the final voice-over work for Dean's roles. Adams went on to star in the television Western, "The Rebel". "Giant" depicted the impact that sudden wealth from oil had on a ranch family.
Interesting fact; James Dean and Nick Adams had worked together in "Rebel Without a Cause". Adams played the role of Moose.
"Sailor Beware" was a comedy starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis that featured Dean in a brief speaking role as a boxing trainer. "Rebel Without A Cause" brought Dean's acting talents to a national audience and he followed up with "East of Eden".

Answer: The Misfits

"The Misfits" was written by Marilyn's former husband, Arthur Miller. The movie was about two drifters who meet and become involved in rustling horses. The film featured various locations in Nevada. Marilyn was given the lead in "Something's Got to Give" after "The Misfits", but passed away before it was completed. Dean Martin had approval of the leading lady. When he declined to complete the movie casting a substitute for Marilyn, the project was shelved. Gable died of a heart attack within two weeks of wrapping on the film. The film met with critical acclaim but originally failed to make a big impact at the box office.
Interesting fact; Clark Gable was Marilyn Monroe's movie idol as a teenager.
"Let's Make Love" was a 1960 film with Marilyn Monroe, Yves Montand, Tony Randall. Gable made "Let's Make Love" the same year with Sophia Loren.

Answer: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" also starred Sidney Poitier as the suitor of Tracy and Hepburn's daughter, played by Katharine Houghton. It also featured up-and-coming actress Isabel Sanford as their maid, Tillie. She would go on to play Louise Jefferson in the television series "The Jeffersons". Although he was nominated for Best Actor, Tracy did not receive a posthumous Oscar. Stanley Kramer directed the film that was controversial for the time because it forced a family to deal with bi-racial issues when their daughter became engaged to Poitier's character.
Interesting fact; "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" would not have been made if Katharine Hepburn had not put up an escrow fund allowing the studio to recoup their losses if Tracy was unable to complete the film.
"The Last Hurrah" was a 1958 Spencer Tracy movie directed by John Ford. Tracy played a judge in 1961's "Judgment at Nuremberg". "Love Affair" was released in 1994 and was Hepburn's final film appearance.

Answer: Nothing in Common

"Nothing In Common" was Jackie's final big screen acting role. He was fighting early stages of liver and colon cancer that was likely caused from his six pack a day cigarette habit. He passed away within a year of making the film. The film was not initially a box-office success but it steadily drew an audience over time when Tom Hanks became a major film star. The movie dealt with the impact that a divorce had on a family after almost 40 years of marriage. Although originally alienated due to the divorce, the movie centered around the gradual reconciliation of the father and son as Gleason's character aged.
Interesting fact; Actor Todd Waring played Tom Hanks' role in a short lived 1987 television series based on the movie "Nothing in Common". Waring would go on to play Tom's role in a sequel to the movie "Splash" titled "Splash, Too" the following year.
In 1982 "The Toy" featured Jackie opposite Richard Pryor. Jackie also starred in the 1983 release "The Sting II" and the 1977 film "Mr. Billion".