Amazing Name Changes (2) Trivia Quiz

Answer: Barbara Stanwyck

Barbara Stanwyck was born in Brooklyn in 1907. She was nominated for an Academy Award for best leading actress in 'Double Indemnity' and won an Emmy for her role in the TV series, 'The Big Valley' (1965-1969).

Answer: Fred Astaire

Astaire was born in Omaha in 1899 of German/Austrian parents. He was a noted dancer, choreographer, actor and singer who continued making films until the age of 82. He made many musical/dance films from the 1930s to the 1980s.
His contemporary, Gene Kelly, once said 'the history of dance on film, begins with Astaire'.
Many other contemporary, classical dancers have also mentioned his influence and importance in the field of dance.

Answer: Shelley Winters

Shelley Winters was born in St Louis in 1920, she took her screen surname from her mother's maiden name, Winter.
She was a very prolific actress, appearing in more than 130 films, as well as many roles on stage and TV.
She won Academy Awards for best supporting actress in 'The Diary of Ann Frank' (1959)and 'A Patch of Blue' (1965).

Answer: Ginger Rogers

Ginger Rogers was born in Independence, Missouri, in 1911. She was a first class dancer and actress, appearing in 10 films with Fred Astaire.
It was once said of her that 'She does everything that Astaire does, only backwards and in high heels'!
She won an Academy Award for best actress for her work in 'Kitty Foyle' with James Craig and Dennis Morgan (1940).

Answer: Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas was born in 1916, of Belarus parents. He found life at home 'stifling', being the only son out of seven children!
Although he made many excellent films in several different genres, he always missed out on an Academy Award, until 1996, when he received an Honorary Award for 50 years as 'a creative and moral force in the motion picture community'.

Answer: Jerry Lewis

Jerry Lewis was born in 1926 of Russian Jewish parents. His father was an MC and vaudeville entertainer, his mother a piano player for a radio station.
He is noted for his double act in films with Dean Martin, with whom he made several films.
When this partnership broke up, he became a solo performer and director with such films as 'The Nutty Professor' (1963); he is also a scriptwriter and producer and a staunch, long time supporter and chairman of the national Muscular Dystrophy Association, for which he has raised $2.6 billion with his MDA Telethons over the years.

Answer: Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi was also nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for best actress in 'The Color Purple' (1985), as well as her role in 'Ghost' (1990).
She is one of only a few people who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award.

Answer: Vin Diesel

He is not only noted as an actor, but also as a producer, director and screenwriter, having also founded production companies, Tigon Studios (games), One Race Films and Racetrack Records.
He is also an avid player of 'Dungeons and Dragons'!

Answer: Woody Allen

Allen started out as a comedy writer for such shows as 'The Ed Sullivan Show' and 'The Tonight Show'. He then went on to write plays and film scripts, graduating to directing producing and acting in his own films.
He has won several Academy and Bafta awards over the past four decades.

Answer: Nicolas Cage

Cage is a noted actor, producer and director, appearing in more than 60 films. He is the nephew of noted film director, Francis Ford Coppola, and actress Talia Shire on his paternal side.
He is also cousin to actors Robert Carmine and Jason Schwartzman, directors Roman Coppola and Sofia Coppola and also producer Gian-Carlo Coppola, a prolific family indeed!