Great Characters and the Actors Who Played Them Quiz

Answer: Christian Bale

Christian Bale played Laurie in the 1994 version of "Little Women" alongside Winona Ryder. He was Jim Hawkins alongside Charlton Heston (Long John Silver) in "Treasure Island". His turn as the caped crusader started in 2005 in Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins", the first in the "Dark Knight" trilogy; he reprised the role in 2008's "The Dark Knight" and again in "The Dark Knight Rises" in 2012.

His first major role was in Spielberg's 1987 film "Empire of the Sun" when he was only 13. The other listed actors also took a turn as Batman.

Answer: Marlon Brando

Brando famously played The Godfather in the 1972 film, an offer he couldn't refuse. His films are peppered with quotable quotes. He had earlier played in two films of classic American theater - "A Streetcar Named Desire" ("STELLA!!!!") and "On the Waterfront" ("I coulda been a contender") where his role was dockworker Terry Malloy. One of his later films was "Apocalypse Now", loosely based on Conrad's "Heart of Darkness"; in that film his role was the increasingly mad Colonel Kurtz ("the horror, the horror").

The other listed actors also had memorable careers and all appeared in the "Godfather" franchise.

Answer: Charlie Allnut

The actor in question is Humphrey Bogart, who played suave but tormented Rick Blaine in "Casablanca". Charlie Allnut is the skipper of The African Queen, where he is pressured by Katharine Hepburn (as missionary Rose Sayer) to use the ship to torpedo a German gunboat. Bogart was Commander Queeg in the 1954 film "The Caine Mutiny", based on a Herman Wouk novel. Captain Bligh and Fletcher Christian are characters in "The Mutiny on the Bounty", which is based on a historical tale - they were portrayed famously on film by Charles Laughton and Clark Gable in the 1935 film and by Trevor Howard and Marlon Brando in the 1962 version.

Answer: Volunteers

The actor is Tom Hanks, of course. He and Rita Wilson both appeared in "Volunteers", which was released in 1985. They married in 1988 and have two sons, one of whom portrayed the younger years of Otto in the movie "A Man Called Otto", which Wilson produced after seeing the Swedish version of the film. Wilson also appeared with Hanks in "Sleepless in Seattle", but that film was released after they were already married (1993). Wilson has appeared in many movies and television programs.

She was instrumental in bringing "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding" into production. Ms. Wilson is also well-known for philanthropic activities, especially related to funding for women's cancer projects.

Answer: Hairspray

Travolta's Tony Manero from "Saturday Night Fever" wearing a white leisure suit, dancing to the BeeGees, is forever enshrined as a visual of the disco era. As the angel Michael he gets all of the women in the honkytonk dancing, much to the chagrin of the male patrons.

In "Hairspray" he took on the role of Edna Turnblad, originated by the divine Divine (Harris Glenn Milstead) whose star turn cemented the character's portrayal by men in drag. The other movies listed involve cross dressing by Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman and Julie Andrews.

Answer: Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker has had a long and varied career. In addition to Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland", Charlie Parker in "Bird" and Cecil Gaines in "Lee Daniels' The Butler" he has appeared in the "Star Wars" universe as Saw Gerrera and in the Marvel universe as Zuri, who installs T'Challa as king in "Black Panther".

In addition to multiple film roles, Whitaker has produced and directed films. He also has appeared on Broadway, and was executive producer of music soundtracks for some of his movies.

A UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, he is active in efforts to support peace throughout the world.

Answer: Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington has won Academy, Tony and Golden Globe awards. He has been nominated for both Grammy and Emmy awards, so almost an EGOT winner. Washington's Tony award was for his work on Broadway in August Wilson's play "Fences". He later directed the movie version, reprising his role as Troy Maxson. "St. Elsewhere" was a medical drama that ran for six seasons, 1982-1988. "The Hurricane" relates the story of Rubin Carter, a promising boxer whose career was derailed by a wrongful conviction on a triple murder charge. Steve Biko was a South African anti-apartheid activist who died in police custody, "Cry Freedom" is the 1987 film that relates his story. Spike Lee directed the 1992 movie "Malcolm X" about the American civil rights activist.

Answer: Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Hepburn had a long and storied career, including a fair bit of gossip surrounding her relationship with Spencer Tracy. She often played strong, unmarried women. Susan Vance was a character in the screwball comedy, "Bringing Up Baby". She was Jo March in the 1933 version of "Little Women" early in her career. Two of the incorrect answers, Elizabeth Taylor and June Allyson, appeared in the 1949 version, with Allyson assuming the role of Jo and Taylor as Amy.

Hepburn was Eleanor of Aquitaine in "The Lion in Winter".

Hepburn had a brief but impassioned relationship with Howard Hughes, as seen in the film "The Aviator".

Answer: Florence Foster Jenkins

Meryl Streep has had over 20 Academy Award nominations, taking home the statuette (except the time she left it in the ladies' room) several times. She has also been nominated for Grammys, Emmys and Tonys, demonstrating her enormous range. All of the listed projects included Streep, but it was the biopic of Florence Foster Jenkins that saw her portraying a misguided opera singer determined to have public performances despite her distinct lack of talent. For this role, Streep won the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress in a Comedy and was nominated for a Award, Golden Globe, SAG, BAFTA and Academy Award.

Answer: Olivia de Havilland

Bette Davis was the victim of a scheming ingenue in "All About Eve", in which she delivered the iconic seatbelt line. Olivia de Havilland took on the role of the devious Miriam Deering in "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte", which was released in 1964. Of note, Joan Crawford was originally slated to take on that role but the substitution was made at the last minute - Davis reportedly leaked the news to the press. Crawford did costar in 1962's "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" as paraplegic sister Blanche, tormented by former child star Baby Jane Hudson. Both of the movies are filled with plot twists. Mary Astor and Agnes Moorehead both appeared with Davis and de Havilland in "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte".