10 Words or less on Lengthiness Quiz

Answer: Haystacks

'Haystacks' Calhoun was an American wrestler in the 1950s and 60s. His gimmick (besides his size), was wearing overalls and a horseshoe necklace. He died in 1989 from diabetes, probably caused by his weight. He was 55.

Answer: Gough Whitlam, Australia

Gough Whitlam, born 1916, was Australian Prime Minister from 1972-75, until his government was sensationally dismissed by the Governor-General.
Nelson Mandela, born 1918, was President of South Africa from 1994-99, Helmut Kohl, born 1930, was Chancellor of Germany from 1982-98 and Idi Amin born circa 1925, was the brutal Ugandan President from 1971-79.

Answer: John Lithgow

The 'Big Giant Head' was a mostly unseen character in the strangely funny 'Third Rock from the Sun'; apparently he was the King of the Galaxy! Dick Solomon (Lithgow) was the leader of an inter-galactic mission to study the earth and its inhabitants, usually with hilarious results.

David Hasselhoff starred with a talking car in 'Knight Rider'. He also starred in 'Baywatch' with several bikini-clad beauties. Chevy Chase is a comic actor, probably best known as Clark Griswold in the 'National Lampoon's Vacation' films. Jack Palance seemed to specialise in 'evil' comedy, from 'Shane' to 'City Slickers' and versions of Dracula and Ebenezer Scrooge.

Answer: Marat Safin

Marat Safin was a Russian tennis player before he retired and became a politician. He won a couple of Grand Slams in his career- a US Open and an Australian Open. His sister, Dinara, was also very successful in the sport, but as she is 'only' 5'11", she does not qualify for my quiz.

Joe Louis was a world champion heavyweight boxer, and considered by many to be one of the best boxers ever. Michael Phelps was an American swimmer who won a phenomonal number of Olympic medals, 18 of them being gold! Dick Fosbury revolutionised high jump when he jumped over the bar backwards and headfirst, instead of the tradition scissor action, where the jumper's legs are kept straight. The Fosbury Flop is now the accepted way of jumping.

Answer: Midnight Oil

Garrett was not difficult to find in a crowd, being 6'4" and with a polished bald head. Midnight Oil released several songs highlighting social issues like Aboriginal rights ('Beds are Burning', 'The Dead Heart'), asbestos related disasters ('Blue Sky Mine'), international militarism ('U.S. Forces') and environmental issues ('River Runs Red').

Answer: Christopher Reeve

Reeve was best known for playing the title role in four 'Superman' movies. His accident, where he fell from a horse, left him with a crushed spinal cord, and he was paralysed from the neck down. He later became an advocate for stem-cell reserch, establishing his own foundation for the cause.

Answer: Charlemagne

Charlemagne was also known as Charles I, King of the Franks, and united much of western Europe. Henry VII was more than 500 years later than Charlemagne, ruling from 1312-13. Alexander the Great predated the Holy Roman Empire by more than a thousand years. Nero was Emperor of Rome (a different title altogether) from 54-68AD.

Charlemagne's height was extrapolated from the length of his tibia.

Answer: Tennis

Rusedki won several tournaments, but the closest he came to winning a Major was when he was runner-up to Pat Rafter in the 1997 US Open. After he retired in 2007, he went down the tried and true path of becoming a commentator, joining the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

I think a 6'4" jockey is stretching credibility a bit!

Answer: Spandau Ballet

Hadley and the Kemp brothers founded the band in 1978. They broke up in 1990, but reformed in 2007. They took their rather macabre name from the dancing legs of hanging victims in Spandau prison!

Ziggy Stardust is one of the many alter-egos of David Bowie, and he is nowhere near as tall as Hadley. The lead singer of Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, is also shorter.

Answer: Liam Neeson

He was Oscar-nominated for his performance in the 1992 movie 'Schindler's List'. He was married to Redgrave's daughter, Natasha Richardson, until her accidental death in 2009.

Peter O'Toole was Irish, but not 6'4". He was probably best known as T.E. Lawrence in 'Lawrence of Arabia'. Pierce Brosnan starred in the 'Remington Steele' series in the 1980s, before playing the world's suavest spy, James Bond.

Donald Sutherland is 6'4", but is not Irish- he was born in Canada. He played Hawkeye in the movie version of 'M*A*S*H', and also starred in 'The Dirty Dozen' and 'Kelly's Heroes'.