Special Sub-Topic: The Final Roles of Movie Stars Click Here To Play: The Final Roles of Movie Stars

John Bernard Books, an aging gunfighter dying from cancer, looking to go out with a bang:

John Wayne. In 'art imitates life', Wayne's character in 1976's 'The Shootist' mirrored his own situation in real life. He died June 11, 1979 at age 77.

He had no name...his role was a widower who died unnoticed and was resurrected as a ghoul.

Bela Lugosi. Lugosi died August 16, 1956, during principal shooting of Ed Wood's sci-fi bomb, 'Plan 9 From Outer Space', widely regarded as one of the worst films ever made. The rest of his scenes were covered by a much taller stand-in with a cape over his face. Lugosi was buried in his Dracula cape, which reportedly lead friend Peter Lorre to ask Vincent Price, 'Are we supposed to drive a stake through his heart or what?'

Hap, an angel who guides a recently deceased firefighter into heaven.

Audrey Hepburn. The former Andrey Kathleen Ruston, Audrey Hepburn played opposite Richard Dreyfus in the romantic 'Always' in 1989. Hepburn died on January 20, 1993 in Switzerland.

Proximo, a trainer of gladiators awaiting the call to the big time- the Roman Coliseum:

Oliver Reed. Reed died May 2, 1999 during filming in Malta for 'Gladiator', opposite Russell Crowe. Reportedly, Reed suffered a heart attack in a bar after downing three bottles of rum and beating five sailors in arm-wrestling...a man's man to the last.

His final role was as a mob kingpin known only as 'God':

Groucho Marx. Groucho starred as 'God' opposite Jackie Gleason in the comedy 'Skidoo' in 1968. His death, at age 86 on August 19, 1977, was overshadowed by the passing of Elvis Presley three days earlier.

Real-life bounty hunter Ralph 'Papa' Thorson:

Steve McQueen. McQueen last role was in 'The Hunter' in 1980. Later that year, on November 7, McQueen died in Mexico, aged 50.

Billy Lo, a martial-arts master who survives an unsuccessful murder attempt against him:

Bruce Lee. 'Game Of Death' was released five years after Bruce Lee's mysterious death on July 20, 1973. The official cause was listed as a brain edema. Son Brandon was the victim of an errant prop pistol on the set of 'The Crow' 20 years later.

Sir William Rutland, forced to share an apartment with a younger couple in the midst of a housing shortage during the Olympics:

Cary Grant. Grant starred in 'Walk, Don't Run' two years after the 1964 Tokyo Olympics where the movie was based. Grant died on November 29, 1986 at age 82.

An unnamed kindly old inventor who dies before finishing his latest creation, leaving the creation with cutting implements where his hands should be:

Vincent Price. One of the undisputed masters of horror and suspense, Price's role in Tim Burton's 'Edward Scissorhands' occurred three years before his death on October 25, 1993 at age 82. Burton was a long-time fan of Price's work and had directed an animated short, 'Vincent', based on a youth who wanted to be like his idol.

Earl Keese, an ordinary working man who is saddled with a highly offbeat new neighbor:

John Belushi. Belushi starred opposite Dan Aykroyd in 'Neighbors' in 1981, shortly before his death on March 5, 1982 from a drug overdose. He has also released the romantic comedy 'Continental Divide' earlier in '81. Farley's final role was in 'Dirty Work' and Hartman's final role was in 'Small Soldiers', both released in 1998. Kinison's only film appearance was in 1986's 'Back To School', opposite Rodney Dangerfield.

Roslyn Taber, a Nevada divorcee who winds up with a mismatched bunch of cowboys:

Marilyn Monroe. Monroe's role was in 'The Misfits' in 1961. She died August 5, 1962 of a sedative overdose at age 36.

From the above movie, Roslyn met Gay Langland, an old cowboy out of touch with his family:

Clark Gable. 'The Misfits' was not only Marilyn's last film, this also was the final film of the 'King of Hollywood'. Clark Gable died at age 59 on November 16, 1960, shortly before the birth of his only child.

Mary Treadwell, a former film star on a Mexican ship headed for pre-Nazi Germany:

Vivien Leigh. Leigh, famous as Scarlet O'Hara in the classic, 'Gone With The Wind', starred opposite Lee Marvin in the 1965 film, 'Ship Of Fools'. She died at the age of 53 on July 7, 1967.

Tracy Lord, a recent divorcee awaiting marriage to another, but unable to completely forget her first husband:

Grace Kelly. Kelly's role in the 1956 musical 'High Society', a remake of 'The Philadelphia Story', turned out to be her final acting performance. Grace had recently met and married Prince Rainier III of Monaco and gave up her career. On September 14, 1982, Grace was killed in an automobile accident, in Monaco, at age 52.

One of a duo of troubadours telling, and singing, the saga of western outlaw Catherine 'Cat' Ballou:

Nat 'King' Cole. Cole's singing partner in 1965's 'Cat Ballou' was Broadway legend Stubby Kaye. Shortly after filming concluded, Cole died on February 15, 1965.

Eddie Willis, a has-been sportswriter hired as a publicist for a young boxer who has been taken by a crooked manager.

Humphrey Bogart. Bogart's role was for 'The Harder They Fall' in 1956. He died early the next year, January 14, 1957.

The final roles of three of the following actors was as a voice to an animated figure. Which one was not?

Gary Cooper. Cooper's last role was in the live-action 'The Naked Edge' in 1961. Stewart's last role was the voice of Sheriff Wyatt Burp in 'An American Tail: Fievel Goes West' in 1991, six years before his death. Varney, of the 'Ernest' series of comedies, reprised his role as Slinky Dog for 'Toy Story 2' and even has a cameo in Disney's 'Atlantis, recorded shortly before his death February 10, 2000 at age 50. Mulligan, famous as George Custer in 'Little Big Man, as well as for his roles in the TV series' 'Soap' and 'Empty Nest', was the voice of Einstein, a member of 'Oliver And Company' in 1988. Mulligan died at age 67 on Sept. 26, 2000.

Karin Borg Blake, a ski instructor who follows a playwright disguised as her twin sister, Katherine Borg:

Greta Garbo. Garbo portrayed the duo role in the comedy, 'Two-Faced Woman' in 1941. Shortly after, she abandoned Hollywood for her now-famous reclusive existence in New York. Garbo died at the age of 84 in 1990.

Dr. Brockton, an anthropologist who stumbles onto an ape-man who might be the legendary 'Missing Link':

Joan Crawford. Crawford's role was for the rather forgettable sci-fi flop, 'Trog' in 1970. Reportedly, she was so shocked at her appearance in the dailies that she left Hollywood after completion of the movie. Crawford died on May 7, 1977 at age 69.

Sol Roth, an elderly man in a hot, crowded, futuristic city, trying to end his days as peaceful as possible:

Edward G. Robinson. The 'Great Edward G.', Robinson died at age 79 on January 26, 1973, shortly after completion of the sci-fi thriller, 'Soylent Green' opposite Charleton Heston.