They Call me Flamboyant! Trivia Quiz

Answer: His parents nicknamed him 'gornisht' - Yiddish for nothing

When Zero was called before the House UnAmerican Activities Committee, he gave them an act that they would remember. According to Frank Wilkinson's account "It began with the committee's counsel immediately launching his attack. 'Mr. Mostel, are you or are you not a Communist?' Zero leaped out of his chair behind the counsel's table, knocking the microphones to the floor, and reached for the throat of the HUAC's attorney while shouting, 'That man called me a Communist! Get him out of here! He asked me if I'm a Communist! Get him out of here!'"

Zero Mostel made five movies in 1951 as directors and producers were eager to hire him before he was blacklisted. He made no further screen appeareances until 1959, when he did his most productive work. Later in his career he accepted a number of roles for the income they provided.

Answer: Richard Simmons

Richard Simmons was very overweight in his youth and was close to 270 pounds. Through his own determination he lost about 125 of that. He opened a gym in Hollywood that catered to show business people which led him to television appearences promoting exercise, diet, and himself.

His series of VCRs set to rock and roll music were a success and eventually were converted to DVDs. He has been an advocate for New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Answer: Donald Trump

The media often just referred to him as "The Donald". It is not a rags to riches story of his life; it is more like riches to more riches. He was born to a wealthy real estate mogul, Fred Trump. He attended a private military academy, Fordham University, and Wharton School of Business. At one time he considered entering the film business but found that real estate was more financially rewarding than show business.

Answer: Michael Jackson

Michael, being the youngest, grew into his role as part of the Jackson Five. He began his solo career in 1971. His images include one white glove, military- style costumes, and the famous moonwalk dance. His album "Thriller" launched a upgraded video concept and became the best selling music album of his time.

His preoccupation with Neverland and Peter Pan-like lifestyle landed him in court on charges of child abuse. It did not help his cause when he showed up at court in pajamas. After his death in 2009, his estate earned more profit than when he was alive.

Answer: Jim and Tammy Bakker

At the height of the PTL and Heritage USA fiasco, the Bakkers were attracting a million dollars a week in contributions. But according to one source "Conspicuous consumption to an unusual level for a non-profit organization, they epitomized the excesses of the 1980s: the greed, the love of glitz, and the shamelessness.

In their case it was so pure as to almost amount to a kind of innocence." Their daily television show was used for their promotions.

Answer: Ayatollah

Inside Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini was a revered leader and was, for all its worth, a uniting force for Iran. However, the Western World found him dangerous and rigid. Khomeini has been criticized by many in Western countries and elsewhere for human rights violations of Iranians, he has been accused of pursuing a mass campaign against political opponents, and as a Shia he was aggressive against both Sunni Muslims and Bahai's, not to mention Salman Rushdie.

At his death the films of his funeral were fascinating. According to one report "Despite the hundred-degree heat, crushing mobs created an impassable sea of black for miles as they wailed, chanted and rhythmically beat themselves in anguish ... As the hours passed, fire trucks had to be brought in to spray water on the crowd to provide relief from the heat, while helicopters were flown in to ferry the eight killed and more than four hundred injured" A reported three million people took part in some phase of his funeral.

Answer: Liberace

Although he had concert piano skills, Liberace said that his goal was "to put on a show". He began modestly working at venues in his native Wisconsin, ventured into television, and briefly in films. His style was flamboyant, to say the least. He particularly directed his act to older ladies in his audience.

There were always allegations regarding his sexual orientation and he was quick to sue when they arose. His credibility was called into question in 1982 when his lover, Scott Thorson, sued him for palimony. Liberace died in 1987 of AIDS related complications.

Answer: Don King

You can always find King in a crowd by his hair combed straight up. At boxing matches he is seen in the ring with a big smile and holding an American flag. His promotion can make or break a boxer's career.

The first man he killed was ruled 'self-defence' even though the man was shot in the back; the second was reduced to 'nonnegligent manslaughter' for which he served four years. Among the well known boxers he has promoted include Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Julio César Chávez, Ricardo Mayorga, Andrew Golota, Félix Trinidad, Roy Jones, Jr. and Marco Antonio Barrera.

King has had connections to George W. Bush and John Gotti. Mike Tyson summed up his association with King this way: "King is a wretched, slimy, reptilian (expletive). This is supposed to be my 'black brother' right? He's just a bad man, a real bad man. He would kill his own mother for a dollar. He's ruthless, he's deplorable, he's greedy, and he doesn't know how to love anybody."

Answer: Benito Mussolini

Originally a socialist, he was expelled because of the party's pacifist stance on World War One, he went on to form the Fascist Party. In 1922 he came to power in Italy and began piece-by-piece to dismantle democratic processes. He had visions of Italy becoming a colonial power that lead to his invasion of Ethiopia. World War Two found him losing control and he was expelled from his own party in 1943. In 1945 he was captured and shot. His body was hung upside down from a hook at a gas station so all could come and view his body.

Italy has few tender moments about Mussolini except that the trains ran on time.

Answer: Gilley, Lewis, Swaggart

Mickey Gilley entered the music scene after seeing the success of his cousin Jerry Lee Lewis. His greatest hits were "Room Full of Roses,"and "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time" . At one time he owned "Gilley's Place" considered the "world's biggest honky tonk". He is a member of the Country/Western Hall of Fame and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Jerry Lee Lewis would deserve a seat in the Hall of Fame if only for two recordings: "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Great Balls of Fire", His career was marred by some poor judgement but he always seemed to bounce back.

Jimmy Swaggart was a minister of the Assembly of God Church but he succumbed to the very vices he preached against. The scandals cost him worldwide recognition. He finally ended up with an unaffiliated ministry, tiny compared to his height of fame. He can play the piano and sing as well as his cousins and could deliver spellbinding sermons.