Who Played Me in "Ironweed"? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jack Nicholson

Nicholson, born on April 22nd, 1937 in New York City, was cast as Francis Phelan. Francis spoke with a couple of his friends with one of them being Pee Wee. Pee Wee asked Francis if he came back to town a short while ago so Francis informed him that was the case. Francis then asked if any of them had seen Helen but unfortunately none of them had run into her as of late. Francis promised that he would catch up with her.

He went to catch his breath on a bench when a friend of his walked up and Francis commented to the friend how nice his shoes were.

The man then told Francis that his doctor diagnosed him with cancer and he gave him six months to live. Nicholson starred in the films "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", "The Shining" and "Something's Gotta Give".

In 1988, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for "Ironweed" but lost to Michael Douglas for "Wall Street". Other Oscar nominees for Best Actor in a Leading Role that year were William Hurt for "Broadcast News", Marcello Mastroianni for "Dark Eyes" and Robin Williams for "Good Morning, Vietnam".

Answer: Nathan Lane

Lane, a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, played Harold Allen. While Francis was riding on a trolley one day, Harold's spirit spoke to Francis and asked him why he killed him. Francis denied having any involvement in Harold's death but Harold's spirit reminded him he threw a stone which cracked his skull.

After Francis made another comment, Harold's spirit assumed that Francis felt no remorse over what happened. Harold accused Francis of abandoning his family for over 20 years. Francis then spoke to Harold about how he dropped his son one night while he had a couple of beers and that this led to his son's death. Harold's spirit shot back at Francis about how he would be unable to justify his causing his son to die.

As Francis yelled at Harold's spirit, the other passengers looked at him as if he had gone mad. Lane was seen in the movies "The Producers" (2005), "The Lemon Sisters" and "Joe Versus the Volcano".

Answer: Meryl Streep

Streep, born in 1949 in Summit, New Jersey, portrayed Helen Archer. Helen was Francis's ex-girlfriend and she encountered him at a get together. When they spoke, she yelled at him about him spending so much money on booze and how he seemed to make everyone around him miserable. Francis told Helen to stop screaming at him but Helen continued to lecture him about his drinking problems.

She claimed that Francis behaved terribly when he got drunk off of wine but drinking whisky made him a "devil". Francis told Helen he had six bucks so she asked him where he got it.

He mentioned to Helen he worked for it all day at the cemetery. Francis and Helen then sat down to have something to eat. Streep had roles in the films "The Devil Wears Prada", "The Manchurian Candidate" (2004) and "Kramer vs. Kramer".

In 1988, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for "Ironweed" but lost to Cher for "Moonstruck". Other Oscar nominees for Best Actress in a Leading Role that year were Glenn Close for "Fatal Attraction", Holly Hunter for "Broadcast News" and Sally Kirkland for "Anna".

Answer: Tom Waits

Waits, born on December 7th, 1949 in Pomona, California, was cast as Rudy. Rudy was Francis and Helen's friend and all three of them discovered a woman named Sandra passed out on the street one night. Rudy leaned over and asked Sandra if she was drunk and her mannerisms led him to conclude she indeed was highly intoxicated. Rudy commented to Francis and Helen that Sandra could not hold her alcohol anymore. Francis asked Rudy if Sandra was a bum or had been a drunk all her life so Rudy answered she was a bum. Rudy helped Francis pick Sandra up so they could take her inside a nearby shelter to prevent her from freezing outside. Waits played characters in the movies "The Outsiders", "Rumble Fish" and "Candy Mountain".

Answer: Fred Gwynne

Gwynne, a native of New York City, was cast as Oscar Reo. Oscar worked as a bartender but he also had a great singing voice. Francis and Helen applauded the way he sang a song when they entered his bar one evening. Oscar thanked both Francis and Helen for their kind remarks and then asked them if they wanted something to drink.

Helen asked Oscar for a beer so he poured her a glass. Oscar commented that he believed he knew both Francis and Helen so Francis said Oscar was correct. Oscar laughed about how Francis and Helen managed to get him drunk one time in New York City. Francis then introduced Oscar to both his friends, Pee Wee and Rudy. Francis encouraged Oscar to have a drink but Oscar commented that he no longer drank alcohol. Gwynne guest starred on the TV series "Brenner" and "Studio One in Hollywood".

He is best known for his portrayal of Herman Munster on the hit primetime series "The Munsters".

Answer: Laura Esterman

Esterman, born in 1945 in New York City, portrayed Nora Lawlor in "Ironweed". Nora spoke to Helen while she was reading a book at the library and mentioned how it had been 20 years since she last saw her. Helen took a few seconds to jog her memory on how she knew Nora and then asked her how she was doing. Nora described how she heard Helen on the radio numerous times until she lost track.

She wanted to know what Helen had been doing so Helen told her she went on a concert tour as a pianist. Helen informed Nora she had been living abroad in what seemed like everywhere in Europe. Nora commented how Helen seemed to be living a fascinating life.

Helen however snapped at Nora so a staffer at the library asked her to leave. Esterman guest starred on the TV shows "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit", "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" and "Law and Order".

Answer: Margaret Whitton

Whitton, born on November 30th, 1950 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, played Katrina Dougherty. Katrina was seen in a flashback Francis had when he was a young kid. In the flashback, Katrina stepped out of her home naked so Francis asked her if she was all right. Katrina mentioned she was heading downtown so Francis told her she should be clothed. Katrina looked at him befuddled once he told her to put on some clothes. Katrina then looked over her body and realized she had actually stepped outside completely nude.

The shock of the moment led her to lose her grip on the umbrella in her hand. Whitton had guest starring stints on the TV series "Cutters", "Spenser: For Hire" and "Miami Vice".

Answer: Carroll Baker

Baker landed the role of Annie Phelan in "Ironweed". Francis went to visit Annie one day and she was shocked to see him since it had been so many years. Annie commented how surprised she was to finally come face to face with him again. Francis told Annie that he got her a turkey to eat so he handed it to her since his hands were freezing. Annie told Francis to come on in and hang out while she cooked the turkey.

Inside the house, Annie advised Francis to have a seat while she threw the bird in the oven. Annie said she would ask Danny to get some cranberries so Francis asked her who Danny was. Annie responded that Danny was Peg's son who was in the fourth grade. Francis mentioned to Annie that he visited the grave of his deceased son the other day to "talk" to him so Annie stated he likely was glad to "hear" from his father. Francis then asked Annie to talk to him about Bill. Baker had guest starring stints on the TV shows "Roswell", "The Lyon's Den" and "Chicago Hope".

Answer: Michael O'Keefe

O'Keefe was cast as Billy Phelan. Billy was Francis's son and was shocked to see him at Annie's house. When Francis went upstairs to talk to him, he asked Billy if he liked turkey since that was what Annie was cooking. Billy laughed since it seemed as if everyone loved turkey. Billy informed Francis he could borrow his razor if he wanted to shave in the bathroom. Annie took that comment as Billy telling Francis what to do and she told him she did not want to hear him talk that way. O'Keefe had guest starring stints on the TV series "Brothers and Sisters", "Ghost Whisperer" and "Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show".

Answer: Diane Venora

Venora, a native of Hartford, Connecticut, played Margaret "Peg" Phelan. Francis went to see Margaret while she was washing the dishes and he asked her how she was doing. Margaret let it be known she was not pleased to see Francis at her home. Billy then told Margaret to give Francis a break since he just arrived so she told him he never gave her or him a break. Margaret informed Francis he should not have expected her to forgive him just by popping up out of the blue. Margaret yelled at Francis and demanded to know why he was there. Francis told her he simply wanted to visit and Margaret continued to complain about Francis so Billy yelled at her to be quiet. Venora starred in the films "The Young Girl and the Monsoon", "Romeo + Juliet" (1996) and "Megiddo: The Omega Code 2".