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Deaths in 2010 (American) Trivia Quiz

During the first three months of 2010 we lost politicians, writers, film industry figures and others. Test out your knowledge of the ten individuals covered in this quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by chessart. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
chessart

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
322,112

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1454

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The author of the popular "A People's History of the United States" died in January, 2010. Who was this writer and history teacher? Hint

Arthur Schlesinger

James Loewen

Howard Zinn

Doris Kearns Goodwin

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Question 2 of 10

2. One of the most famous recluses of the second half of the twentieth century died in January of 2010. Who was this writer, who wrote "A Catcher in the Rye" in 1951 and then went into seclusion? Hint

Holden Caulfield

Ray Kinsella

Terence Mann

J. D. Salinger

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Question 3 of 10

3. The famous film producer David Brown died on February 1, 2010, at the age of 93. He is perhaps best known for producing which hit movie? Hint

Jaws

Ben Hur

Titanic

The Godfather

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Question 4 of 10

4. Pennsylvania congressman Jack Murtha died in February of 2010. He was known as the first ___________ to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. What goes in the blank? Hint

Openly gay man

Native American

Olympic gold medal winner

Vietnam veteran

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Question 5 of 10

5. Former Texas congressman Charlie Wilson died in February of 2010. Wilson was memorably portrayed by Tom Hanks in a 2007 movie called "Charlie Wilson's War". Which war does this title refer to? Hint

the India and Pakistan war over Kashmir

the Afghan Mujahidin's war against the Soviet invaders

Sri Lanka's war against the Tamil Tiger rebels

the Rwandan civil war

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Question 6 of 10

6. Walter Frederick Morrison, inventor of the Frisbee, died in February of 2010 at the age of 90. Morrison came up with the idea for the Frisbee in 1937, and sold it to the Wham-O company in 1955. However, the name "Frisbee" wasn't used until 1957. What did Morrison call his invention at the time of the sale to Wham-O? Hint

Pluto Platter

Fancy Floater

Saturn Sailer

Drifting Dish

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Question 7 of 10

7. The number of living former U.S. Secretaries of State dropped from nine to eight in February when President Reagan's first secretary of state died. Who was this man, who famously declared "I am in control here, in the White House" after President Reagan had been shot in 1981? Hint

John Foster Dulles

James Baker

George Shultz

Alexander Haig

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Question 8 of 10

8. Merlin Olsen died in March of 2010. Olsen had a successful acting career after his retirement from American pro football, starring in "Little House on the Prairie" and "Father Murphy". His original claim to fame was as a member of which famous American football defense? Hint

The Steel Curtain (Pittsburgh Steelers)

The "Fearsome Foursome" (Los Angeles Rams)

The Orange Crush (Denver Broncos)

The Purple People Eaters (Minnesota Vikings)

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Question 9 of 10

9. One of America's foremost environmentalists died in March at the age of 90. Who was this man, who served as Secretary of the Interior during the 1960's under both Presidents Kennedy and Johnson? Hint

Stewart Udall

Wally Hickel

Bruce Babbitt

James Watt

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Question 10 of 10

10. In March film star Corey Haim died at the age of only thirty-eight. Haim, known as a teen idol, had first achieved fame as a result of which 1987 film? Hint

The Lost Boys

American Grafitti

Stand by Me

The Princess Bride

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The author of the popular "A People's History of the United States" died in January, 2010. Who was this writer and history teacher?

Answer: Howard Zinn

Howard Zinn was active in progressive causes right up until his death on January 27, 2010. His book "A People's History of the United States" came out in 1980, and since then it has been used in many history courses throughout the country as an alternative to the standard history books, which Zinn felt did not adequately cover marginalized groups like Native Americans and slaves.

2. One of the most famous recluses of the second half of the twentieth century died in January of 2010. Who was this writer, who wrote "A Catcher in the Rye" in 1951 and then went into seclusion?

Answer: J. D. Salinger

After the success of "A Catcher in the Rye", Salinger moved to New Hampshire and did his best to stay out of the public eye. His last original published work was in 1965. He did write, but his writings were done for himself rather than for publication. Out of respect for Salinger's lifelong desire for privacy, his next of kin announced after his death that there would be no funeral or memorial service.

Holden Caulfield is the name of the disaffected adolescent who is the protagonist in "The Catcher in the Rye". Terence Mann is the character in the film "Field of Dreams" said to be based on Salinger, while Ray Kinsella is the main character in "Field of Dreams".

3. The famous film producer David Brown died on February 1, 2010, at the age of 93. He is perhaps best known for producing which hit movie?

Answer: Jaws

Other movies credited to Brown as producer include "The Sting", "MacArthur", and "A Few Good Men".

Brown is also well known as the husband of Helen Gurley Brown. They married in 1959, and after the success of Helen's 1962 book "Sex and the Single Girl", together they started "Cosmopolitan" magazine in 1965.

4. Pennsylvania congressman Jack Murtha died in February of 2010. He was known as the first ___________ to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. What goes in the blank?

Answer: Vietnam veteran

Although already in his mid-30's, Murtha volunteered for service in Vietnam and served from 1966 to 1967, receiving two Purple Hearts for his service. He was first elected to Congress in 1974, and remained in Congress until his death.

5. Former Texas congressman Charlie Wilson died in February of 2010. Wilson was memorably portrayed by Tom Hanks in a 2007 movie called "Charlie Wilson's War". Which war does this title refer to?

Answer: the Afghan Mujahidin's war against the Soviet invaders

Wilson obtained billions of dollars of covert funding in support of the Afhgan resistance fighters during the 1980's. The effort was ultimately successful when the Soviets completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan on February 15, 1989.

Answer: Pluto Platter

Morrison used the name "Pluto Platter" because of America's fascination at the time with UFO's.

Answer: Alexander Haig

Haig's frequent mangling of the English language made him an unlikely choice to be the nation's top diplomat, and he only lasted for seventeen and a half months in the job before being replaced. Nevertheless, he had a distinguished career prior to that in the military as well as in the Nixon White House.

Answer: The "Fearsome Foursome" (Los Angeles Rams)

Olsen played all fifteen years of his National Football League career with the Rams, missing only two games during his career. He was selected to the Pro Bowl a record fourteen times. He died at the age of 69 of cancer, which he had claimed in a 2009 lawsuit was caused by exposure to asbestos.

Answer: Stewart Udall

Udall was responsible for many environmental laws and policies during his service as Secretary of the Interior, and he continued to write on environmental issues after he left the cabinet in 1969. He was the brother of Mo Udall, 1976 presidential candidate. Stewart's son Tom and Mo's son Mark were elected to the United States Senate in 2008 from New Mexico and Colorado, respectively. Prior to his death Stewart had been the last surviving member of John F. Kennedy's original cabinet.

10. In March film star Corey Haim died at the age of only thirty-eight. Haim, known as a teen idol, had first achieved fame as a result of which 1987 film?

Answer: The Lost Boys

Haim's story is a true tragedy. Finding fame as a teenager, he got involved with drugs and never could kick the habit. His life since 1989 was a revolving door in and out of treatment and in and out of relationships. He went into treatment a total of fifteen times, and dated at least nine well-known actresses.

Source: Author chessart

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Related Quizzes

This quiz is part of series Noteworthy Deaths:

Here are five of my quizzes on famous people who died in a given year. The time period starts with 2002 and goes through 2018.

  1. Deaths in 2002 Tough
  2. Deaths in 2003 Average
  3. Deaths in 2010 (American) Average
  4. Deaths in 2015 Average
  5. Deaths in 2018 Easier