Warren Beatty (b. 30 March 1937) is a movie star whose acting chops have brought him great respect (and a cache of significant awards) and whose playboy image made him a Hollywood legend. After first starring in Splendor in the Grass in 1961, Beatty went on to act, produce and direct for more than 50 years—and counting. Some of his biggest films include Bonnie…more»
Tom Braden (b. February 22, 1917; d. April 3, 2009) was most recently known as co-host for the CNN show Crossfire , but his long career also included stints as a CIA operative, newspaper journalist and most notably, as the author of his autobiographical book Eight is Enough , which told of his misadventures as a father of eight children. Joan Ridley Braden started…more»
Sandra Bullock (b. July 26, 1964) is one of the world’s highest paid actresses with several decades in Hollywood under her belt. In the 1990s, her celebrity power grew after starring in films like Speed , The Net and While You Were Sleeping . Since then she has become internationally recognized, starred in critically acclaimed films (such as Crash and The Blind Side ),…more»
If you grew up in the 70s, you'll remember Lynda Carter (b. July 24, 1951), the statuesque and shapely brunette who played the lead role in the TV hit series Wonder Woman . In addition to acting, she is an accomplished singer, dancer and voiceover actor. Carter got her start performing in a high school band and then modeling. In 1973 she won Miss…more»
Top Chef is a reality show based on the highs, lows and heated excitement of culinary competition. The show, which airs on the Bravo network, pits chefs against each other in the kitchen and subjects them to the scrutiny of well-known chefs and foodies. The fact that the competitors all live in the same house during the competition only adds to the drama of…more»
Julia Child (b. August 15, 1912; d. August 13, 2004) was an author, TV host and chef. She developed a passion for French cooking while in Europe with her husband Paul Child, and attended the famous cooking school Cordon Bleu. While in Europe, she wrote Mastering the Art of French Cooking , a cookbook aimed at an American audience, published in 1961. It sparked…more»
Goldie Hawn (November 21, 1945) is an actress who rose to fame as a regular on the 1960s comedy show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In , where she would often dance in a bikini, her body painted wildly. Hawn starred in many films, including Private Benjamin, Shampoo, Foul Play, Death Becomes Her and The First Wives Club . She won an Academy Award for Best…more»
Lena Horne (b. June 30, 1917; d. May 9, 2010) was an African-American singer and performer. She got her start early as a 16-year-old chorus dancer at the famed Cotton Club in Harlem. With a silky voice and a lot of determination, her career blossomed. She became an internationally successful recording artist and performer in the 1940s and 1950s, acted on stage in numerous…more»
Al Jolson (b. May 26, 1886; d. October 23, 1950) was a Jewish, Lithuanian emigrant who became the quintessential American entertainer at the turn of the 20 th century. Starting out as a street performer with his brother, he built a career of singing, acting and comedy. He was a regular on the Vaudeville circuit, performed in Broadway shows like La Belle…more»
Shirley MacLaine (b. April 24, 1934) is an American actor, dancer and household name. As a girl, and through her teenage years, she trained at the Washington School of Ballet. She then followed her performing ambitions to Broadway. She was part of the chorus for a number of hit shows before playing a role in “The Pajama Game,” which caught the eye of a…more»
Christopher Meloni (b. April 2, 1961) is an actor best known for playing the moody blue-eyed detective Elliott Stabler on Law & Order: SVU , for which he received an Emmy nomination in 2006. Prior to this role, Meloni starred as a bisexual convict in the HBO series Oz until it ended in 2003. Like many actors, he worked his way up the ladder…more»
Jim Morrison (b. December 8, 1943; d. July 3, 1971) was the lead singer of the rock band The Doors. To fans he was known as The Lizard King, a self-given title that came from his interest in Native American culture and referred to his alter ego. As an artist and as a man, Morrison was at once rebellious, brilliant and self-destructive. His struggle…more»
The Real World is a reality television series on MTV. The first episode aired way back in 1992, making it the longest running show in MTV history. It has hit on major issues, such as relationships, sexuality, AIDS and politics, and has become a cultural phenomenon. Over 27 seasons, the show pimped out houses in cities like New York, Seattle, Paris, Las Vegas and…more»
Sylvester Stallone (b. July 6, 1946) is an internationally known actor who routinely writes and directs the action films in which he stars. In 1976, he wrote, directed and starred in Rocky, which became a hit, won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1977, and was followed by four sequels. Other major box office hits include First Blood: Rambo (a four-film series) and Cliffhanger…more»
Ben Stein (b. November 25, 1944) is most recognized as the actor who played the drone-voiced economics teacher in Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986). Beyond that infamous cameo, Stein has worn many hats over the years, including lawyer, writer, commentator and economist. These days, he is often seen commentating on cable news shows on issues related to the economy. He was a speech writer…more»
Elizabeth Taylor (b. February 27, 1932; d. March 23, 2011) was a child actress who became one of the most glamorous women in Hollywood history. She was the quintessential movie star and acted in films like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof , Cleopatra and Butterfield 8 , for which she received one of her two Academy Awards for Best Actress. Taylor was as…more»
Fred Thompson (b. August 19, 1942) is ubiquitous in the public sphere: he made a name for himself in politics, in Hollywood, as a radio host, and as a lawyer and newspaper columnist. His first major public role was in 1967 as Republican counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee, which investigated Nixon’s involvement in the Watergate scandal. Then, after playing himself in the movie…more»
Stacie Turner is a top real estate agent in Washington, D.C. and one of the cast members of the short-lived 2010 reality series on the Bravo network, The Real Housewives of D.C. Turner is a graduate of Howard University and Harvard Business School. She is also the founder of Extra-Ordinary Life, a charity that works with foster care children in the D.C. area. During…more»
Jack Valenti (b. September 5, 1921; d. April 26, 2007) was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). He was a stalwart on issues of copyright infringement and is credited with making sweeping changes within the movie and TV industry. Though this was his most famous role, Valenti’s career is so varied that it reads like a…more»
Ali Wentworth (b. January 12, 1965) is a comic, writer and actress who has appeared in such films as Jerry Maguire , The Love Bug and It's Complicated . She's also had numerous television appearances, including stints on Seinfeld and The Oprah Winfrey Show and co-hosting the program Living It Up! With Ali & Jack with Jack Ford. Wentworth is married to ABC News…more»