Who's Playing Who? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rami Malek

Rami Malek played Queen lead vocalist Freddie Mercury (1946-1991) in "Bohemian Rhapsody" (2018). The name for the movie, "Bohemian Rhapsody", is taken from the 1975 hit song from the album "A Night at the Opera". The film depicts the time period leading up to Queen's performance at Live Aid in 1985. Freddie (Farrokh Bulsara) died of AIDS at the age of 45. Malek won a Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of the flamboyant singer.

Answer: Angela Bassett

"What's Love Got to Do with It" (1993) is the story of Anna Mae Bullock, better known as Tina Turner. Angela Bassett plays the singer who first began singing in a church choir in Nutberg, Tennessee. Anna moved to St. Louis where she met Ike Turner, changed her name and became part of the famous duo until Ike's continued abuse forced her to go out on her own. Angela Bassett won a Golden Globe for Best Actress (Comedy or Musical) for her portrayal of the talented and indomitable Miss Turner.

Answer: Tom Cruise

"Born on the Fourth of July" (1989) is a film from director Oliver Stone. It tells the story of a teenager, Ron Kovic (Tom Cruise), who enlisted in the Marines in the 1960s. He was sent to Vietnam where he killed another soldier by accident and, on a second tour, wound up getting wounded in a battle and becoming permanently paralyzed.

In the end, he learned that "war is hell" and becomes an anti-war activist. The movie won a Golden Globe Award for Best Picture.

Answer: Cate Blanchett

Martin Scorsese's movie "The Aviator" (2004) depicts the life of billionaire business magnate Howard Hughes (1905-1976). Hughes was a pilot, engineer and Hollywood director of big budget films. He was also a lover of some of Tinseltown's leading ladies.

While he was a pioneer in aviation, he was also plagued by mental illness. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes, with Cate Blanchett winning a Best Supporting Actress Oscar as Katharine Hepburn.

Answer: Benedict Cumberbatch

British actor Benedict Cumberbatch plays real life cryptographer Alan Turing (1912-1954) in "The Imitation Game" (2014). It is a drama set during World War II where British intelligence hired mathematicians to help crack Enigma, the Nazi code. Turing and his associates built a machine to decipher the code.

When they succeeded, they were hailed as heroes; that is, until 1952 when Turing's sexual orientation was discovered and he was put in prison.

Answer: Sandra Bullock

"The Blind Side" (2009) tells the story of homeless, black teenager, Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), who was taken in by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock). Tuohy was a white woman who lived with her husband, two sons and daughter in an upscale neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee. Leigh Anne became his legal guardian, providing him with the necessities which allowed him to fulfill his potential. Michael wound up becoming an offensive tackle for NFL teams including the Baltimore Ravens.

Answer: Jesse Eisenberg

The story of how Facebook was born is recounted in "The Social Network" (2010). Jesse Eisenberg plays the role of Mark Zuckerberg who worked on the concept of social networking while he was an undergraduate at Harvard University. He developed Facebook which went global and made him the youngest billionaire of the time.

But with the fame and fortune came personal and legal problems. The film won a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture.

Answer: Marion Cotillard

The movie "La Vie en Rose" (2007) is about the life of singer Edith Piaf (1915-1963), played by Marion Cotillard. The film title comes from the song of the same name, i.e., Piaf's signature song. Nicknamed "The Little Sparrow", Edith was brought up in a brothel but was able to use her great talent to rise above the poverty and achieve fame.

However, loss and drug addiction followed her to an early grave. Cotillard was awarded a Best Actress Oscar for her performance.

Answer: Bradley Cooper

"American Sniper" (2014), directed by Clint Eastwood, is the story of U.S. Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle (1974-2013). Kyle, played by Bradley Cooper, served four tours in Iraq where his primary mission was to protect his fellow soldiers. His marksmanship saved many men, and earned him a Silver Star Medal and four Bronze Stars for courage and meritorious service. Sadly, when he returned home, the horrors of war followed him.

Answer: Salma Hayek

Selma Hayek played Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) in the 2002 film "Frida". Kahlo became famous for her folk art style and her self-portraits. She overcame polio as a child, only to be involved in a car accident at eighteen which resulted in a crippling injury. The movie, set in Mexico City, depicted her progressive ideas, illicit affairs and her turbulent relationship and marriage to Diego Rivera. Hayek was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal.

Answer: Val Kilmer

Oliver Stone directed "The Doors", a 1991 movie about the groups' controversial singer-songwriter Jim Morrison (1943-1971). Morrison, played by Val Kilmer, was the lead vocalist for the rock band The Doors. After a "psychedelic experience" from an LSD trip in the desert, Jim, Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger and John Densmore began performing in Los Angeles, where they became a hit. Jim fell victim to substance abuse and the occult, and became a member of the "27 Club".

Answer: Taraji P. Henson

"Hidden Figures" (2016) is a film about the little known women of color in NASA in the 1960s. These women were responsible for helping to launch astronaut John Glenn successfully into orbit, and restoring faith in America's space program. Taraji P. Henson played Katherine Johnson, with Octavia Spenser as Dorothy Vaughn and Janelle Monae as Mary Jackson.

The movie won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Answer: Kevin Kline

The life and career of songwriter Cole Porter (1891-1964) is depicted in "De-Lovely", a 2004 film. It began with Porter staging a musical when he began to reminisce about his personal and professional life. Included were his thoughts about his wife, Linda, his extra-marital and homosexual affairs, and his despondence in later life. Kevin Kline portrayed the songwriter perfectly.

As an aside, Cary Grant also played Porter in the 1946 film "Night and Day".

Answer: Melissa McCarthy

You may recognize Melissa McCarthy from the TV comedy "Mike and Molly", but she is brilliant in her dramatic portrayal of writer Lee Israel (1929-2014) in "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" (2018). The film showed us a once successful writer of articles and biographies about famous people, who turned to alcohol and, later, to forging literary documents to sustain herself. McCarthy was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role.

Answer: Gary Busey

"The Buddy Holly Story" (1978) is an early biopic about Rock and Roll star Buddy Holly (1936-1959). Buddy Holly and the Crickets had their first hit record in 1957 with "That'll Be the Day", and their popularity grew from there. Sadly, on February 2, 1959, Buddy and fellow singers Richie Valens and The Big Bopper were killed in a plane crash on "the day the music died". Gary Busey ably portrayed the singer whose life was cut short far too soon.