I Like My Stars to be Flexible Quiz

Answer: Barbra Streisand

Each of the lovely ladies in this question have proven remarkably flexible in moving between successful music and acting careers, but Ms. Streisand's remarkable talent and career stand above the rest. Barbra Streisand was born in Brooklyn New York in 1942 and burst onto the international music scene while still in her teens by appearing on "The Tonight Show" in 1961. Ms. Streisand's first album in 1963 won two Grammy Awards. Ms. Streisand has over 50 gold records and over 30 platinum albums, making her one of the most successful music artists ever.

Ms. Streisand started acting at the same time her music career took off. She was nominated for a Tony Award for her first Broadway show "I Can Get It For You Wholesale" in 1963 and again for her starring role in "Funny Girl" in 1965. Streisand went on to earn the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1969 for the film version of "Funny Girl" (tying for the honor with Katharine Hepburn). Barbra won a second Oscar for Best Actress in 1977 for "Evergreen". Ms. Streisand wrote, produced, starred and directed the 1984 hit "Yentl". Despite being Streisand's first turn as a director, "Yentl" earned three Oscar nominations (one win) and Ms. Streisand became the first woman to win a Golden Globe for Best Director.

Answer: Ronald Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the US and a former Governor of the State of California. Reagan was the first American actor to serve as the Chief Executive. Reagan began his career as a radio broadcaster in Iowa, announcing football and baseball games in the early 1930s. Reagan moved to Hollywood and appeared in movies, starting with 1937's "Love is in the Air". For the most part, Reagan was a character and supporting actor. After service in the military during World War II Reagan returned to acting and appeared in, amongst other movies, 1951's "Bedtime for Bonzo". Bonzo was, of course, a chimpanzee.

Reagan, despite acting as an informant for the FBI to "root out" the communists in Hollywood, served as the President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1952-1959. During this time Reagan also became one of the highest paid television actors as host of the "General Electric Theater" and "Death Valley Days". Reagan was elected Governor of the California in 1966 and served two terms before running against then sitting President Gerald Ford in the 1976 Republican Party primary. Ford prevailed, but the split in the party allowed Democrat Jimmy Carter to win the general election. Four years later Reagan swept Carter aside and began the first of his two terms serving as US President, from 1981-1989.

Answer: Citizen Kane

By the time Orson Welles was 25 he had already created his own successful theatre company (Mercury Theatre), caused a nationwide panic with the amazing 1938 radio broadcast of "War of the Worlds" and had secured a contract to produce and direct his first feature film with full editorial control. The movie that Welles, now all of 26, chose to tackle was "Citizen Kane". Kane was written by Welles, veteran screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz and John Houseman. Orson Welles starred, directed and produced "Citizen Kane". The script was a "not so loosely based" story of the tabloid life of famous media mogul William Randolph Hearst. Fear of Hearst coupled with the stark and harsh portrayal of the media mogul in "Citizen Kane" caused a backlash against Welles and the film. Many theater owners were pressured not to show the film or face retaliation from Hearst owned companies.

Despite positive reviews the attempt to damage the box office was successful and "Citizen Kane" was not considered a financial success. At the Oscars, Welles was nominated for Best Actor and Director and the film for Best Picture, but he received only the best original screenplay award. Nevertheless, the film cemented Orson Welles as a flexible superstar who could write, direct and act, as well as perform on stage, radio, television and in feature films. Orson Welles remained a hugely talented star for another five decades before his death in 1985. As a lasting tribute, Wells' classic "Citizen Kane" was voted the number one film in the American Film Institutes 10th Anniversary AFI 100 Years... 100 Movies" list of greatest movies (2007).

Answer: Jesse "The Body" Ventura

Jesse Ventura (birth name James George Janos) has lived a life that proves the adage that truth is stranger than fiction. During the Vietnam War, Ventura served as a member of the Underwater Demolition Team, which eventually became known as the United States Navy SEALs. Upon leaving the Navy in 1975, Ventura spent time in a motorcycle gang before becoming a professional wrestler, using the name Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Ventura eventually became an extremely successful wrestler and earned a share of the World Tag Team Championship in 1980. Ventura retired from wrestling in 1986 and became a full-time actor. Ventura played prominent roles in the highly successful 1987 movies "Predator" and "The Running Man", appearing alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Naturally after being a wrestler and action movie actor, the next logical career move for Ventura was into politics. Ventura was elected mayor of his hometown of Brooklyn Minnesota in 1990. In 1998, in a remarkable upset, Ventura was elected Governor of Minnesota, running as a member of the Reform Party. Ventura's term as Governor was highly contentious and Ventura decided not to run for reelection in 2002. Ventura has written numerous books and is an advocate for greater control over government. Ventura remains highly visible and is a popular guest on television and radio talk shows.

Answer: Whoopi Goldberg

All you need to know about the flexibility of Caryn Johnson, better known as Whoopi Goldberg, can be summed with the acronym EGOT. The EGOT is a select list of entertainers who have earned an Emmy Award, Grammy Award, Oscar and a Tony Award. Goldberg joins such luminaries as Barbara Streisand, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks and Audrey Hepburn in having achieved a career EGOT. Ms. Goldberg's flexibility extends to how she earned her awards as well.

The Oscar stems from an acting role in 1990's "Ghost", the Tony for her producing skill in 2002's revival of "Thoroughly Modern Millie", while the Grammy showcased her stand-up comic expertise. Ms. Goldberg has also excelled as a talk show host winning a 2009 Emmy Award as the host and moderator of the lively and often contentious American daily talk show "The View".

Answer: Fred Dalton Thompson

Fred Dalton Thompson's name is not as recognizable as some stars, but his gravelly Southern US voice, and authoritarian on screen presence will immediately call a picture to mind. Whether you recall Thompson as District Attorney Arthur Branch from 2002-2007 on "Law & Order" or as the besieged airport director in "Die Hard 2", you will recognize Fred Thompson.

What you may not know is that, in a rare "art imitates life" moment, Thompson never set out to be an actor. Fred Thompson was the first person in his family to go to college, eventually getting a law degree from Vanderbilt University in 1967. Thompson worked as an assistant district attorney and prosecuted criminals. From 1973-1974, he worked as a special counsel for the US Senate investigating the Watergate break-in. Thompson, despite being a Republican, was a key Senate aide in the process that ultimately resulted in US President Richard Nixon's resignation.

After Watergate, Thompson practiced law in Tennessee. In the late 1970s, he represented a whistleblower that exposed a corruption scandal that led to the resignation of the Governor of Tennessee. Thompson was asked to play himself in the 1985 movie about the case. From there, Thompson was cast in such high-profile movies as 1987's "No Way Out" and 1990's "The Hunt for Red October". Thompson seemed perfect to play the role of a high ranking military or government official. The people of the State of Tennessee agreed and elected Thompson a Senator in 1994 and again in 1996. Thompson left the Senate in 2003 and immediately returned to acting as well as appearing as a commercial spokesman for several companies. Thompson made a serious run for the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination before eventually bowing out in favor of John McCain.

Answer: Woody Allen

Over time, the public might forget just how flexible and versatile some legendary icons can be. The comedian, musician, actor, writer, director and producer born Allen Stewart Konigsberg, better known as Heywood (Woody) Allen, is a case in point. Allen was a New York teenager in the late 1950s when he started writing jokes for Sid Caesar, "The Tonight Show" and Ed Sullivan. In the early 1960s, Allen took his talents to the stage and became a top draw as a stand-up comedian. In 1966, Allen wrote the successful Broadway play "Don't Drink the Water". During the late 1960s, Allen turned his attention to film, directing 1967's "What's Up Tiger Lily" and playing "Jimmy" Bond in "Casino Royale". The release of 1969's "Take the Money and Run", 1971's "Bananas", 1972's "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex" and 1973's "Sleepers" cemented Allen's stardom in Hollywood.

Allen won the 1977 Academy Award for Best Director for "Annie Hall" and won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar in 1977 ("Annie Hall"), 1987 ("Hannah and Her Sisters") and 2011 ("Midnight in Paris"). In addition, Allen is a noted (if not overly gifted) musician, playing jazz clarinet in festivals and clubs since the 1960s. Allen's adopted name "Woody" is a tribute to his love of jazz and was taken in honor of the Jazz clarinetist Woody Herman.

Answer: Sammy Davis Jr.

Who can take the world and wrap it a bow? The line is from the "Candyman" a song that originally appeared in the 1971 movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", but was made famous in a 1972 cover version by Sammy Davis Jr. The lyrics best describe the incredible talent and flexibility exhibited by Samuel George Davis, Jr. Mr. Davis was a singer with more than 48 albums to his credit and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002. Davis was a tremendous dancer who performed tap and jazz across the globe. Davis was an actor who appeared in dozens of films, television shows and theater productions. Davis won an Emmy in 1990 for his "Sammy Davis Jr 60th Anniversary Special".

Sammy Davis Jr. was also at the forefront of civil rights and the breaking of race barriers in 1950's and 1960's America. Davis, an African-American, was longtime friends with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin and became part of their legendary Rat Pack of performers and revelers. Davis survived a severe car accident in 1954, costing him his right eye. The experience led Davis to convert to Judaism, which opened him up to both racial discrimination and anti-Semitism. Davis dated actress Kim Novak for a time and eventually married Mary Britt in 1960. Both women were white and the resulting furor brought Davis death threats and intense criticism. However, Sammy's effervescent smile, towering talent, and charitable spirit always triumphed over the small-minded narrow social customs of the era. For his humanitarian and leadership Davis was inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame in 2008.

Answer: Glenda Jackson

The talent to be flexible and succeed across a spectrum of endeavors should not be confused with the willingness to be pliable or yielding. The career of actress and UK Member of Parliament Glenda Jackson is a case in point. Glenda Jackson is unwilling to provide less than a total commitment to any activity she undertakes. An exacting and passionate actress, Ms. Jackson won Academy Awards for her performance in 1971's "Women in Love" and 1981's "A Touch of Class". In 1971, Jackson won two Emmy's for her performance as Queen Elizabeth I in the heralded mini-series "Elizabeth R". Jackson's lead performance in the 1975 film version of Henrik Ibsen's "Hedda Gabbler" earned her a nomination for Best Actress and the 2006 Ibsen Centennial Commemorative Award from the Government of Norway.

Despite her impressive acting credentials, Ms. Jackson stopped performing and committed all her energy to politics. Jackson was elected to the UK Parliament in 1992, winning reelection in 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2010. Ms. Jackson is a staunch liberal and a long standing member of Britain's Labour Party. Ms. Jackson was initially drawn to politics because of her opposition to the Conservative leadership of Margaret Thatcher and has remained a harsh critic of Thatcherism. While initially an ally of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Jackson was a vocal backbencher critic of Blair and his more centrist policies.

Answer: Bodybuilding

Perhaps no movie star turned politician's rise to greatness is more unlikely than Arnold Schwarzenegger's. Arnold was born in Thal, Austria, a small village near the city of Graz. Arnold's father was a former Nazi party member and German Army SS soldier. As a teenager, Arnold trained as a weightlifter and bodybuilder and made his first splash on the international scene as the 1967 Mr. Universe. At 20, Arnold was the youngest winner of this prestigious bodybuilding championship. Schwarzenegger repeated his feat winning the 1968-1971 Mr. Universe Championships and then moved onto the Mr. Olympia title, which he held from 1971-1975 and again in 1980. Despite having a thick Austrian accent, Arnold moved to the US, determined to dominate the movie business. From 1982 to the early 1990s Schwarzenegger starred in an ever increasing slate of top-grossing action films including 1982's "Conan the Barbarian", 1984's "The Terminator" and 1987's "Predator". Schwarzenegger's popularity continued almost unabated in the 1990s and, by industry estimates, his movies have made over $4.3 billion in worldwide grosses.

Schwarzenegger used his popularity to promote increased fitness and nutrition in his adopted country of the US. He was named to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition from 1990-1993. He became part of prestigious Kennedy dynasty when he married Marie Shriver (niece of both JFK and RFK) in 1986. To culminate his astounding rise to success and ultimate flexibility, Arnold was elected the 38th Governor of California serving from 2003-2011 before returning to acting.