Sean Connery was born Thomas Sean Connery on August 25, 1930, in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland. As a schoolboy, Sean worked as a milkman in Edinburgh. After leaving school, he joined the Royal Navy. This was followed by a variety of jobs, including: lifeguard, artist's model, bricklayer, and bodybuilder. He was also placed third in the 1953 Mr. Universe competition (junior class).
He began his film career in the 1950s with small roles in British films and television, then rose to international fame as the first actor to portray James Bond, starring in seven Bond films between 1962 and 1983. He also earned acclaim for roles in 'The Untouchables', for which he won an Academy Award, as well as 'Highlander', 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' and 'The Hunt for Red October'.
Sean died on October 31, 2020, at the age of 90, in Nassau, Bahamas. He had been suffering from dementia in his final years and passed away peacefully in his sleep.
2. Television
Answer: Nicholas Parsons
Nicholas Parsons was born on 10 October 1923 in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. He initially trained as an engineer at the University of Glasgow. After World War II, he became a full-time actor.
He had a remarkable career spanning over seven decades, becoming one of Britain's most well-liked entertainers. He was best known as the host of BBC Radio 4's 'Just a Minute', which he chaired from 1967 until 2019. Earlier in his career, he gained fame as the straight man to comedian Arthur Haynes and hosted the ITV game show 'Sale of the Century' in the 1970s and '80s.
Nicholas passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on 28 January 2020 at the age of 96, following a short illness, at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire.
3. Literature
Answer: John le Carre
John le Carré was born David John Moore Cornwell, on 19 October 1931 in Poole, Dorset, England. He was educated at Sherborne School, then studied German literature at the University of Bern and Lincoln College, Oxford, graduating with a first-class degree in modern languages. He briefly taught at Eton before joining MI5 and later MI6, Britain's domestic and foreign intelligence services. His espionage experience during the Cold War laid the foundation for his spy fiction.
He was a master of the spy novel. His novel, 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold' (1963), redefined espionage fiction with its bleak realism. He followed it with classics like 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy', 'Smiley's People', and 'The Constant Gardener'.
John died on 12 December 2020 at the age of 89 in Cornwall, England, after a short battle with pneumonia.
4. Sport
Answer: Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona was born on 30 October 1960 in Lanús, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. He grew up in Villa Fiorito, a poor suburb of Buenos Aires, as one of eight children in a working-class family. From an early age, Maradona showed extraordinary football talent, playing with a local team called Estrella Roja before joining Argentinos Juniors' youth academy at age 9. By 16, he was playing professionally, and at 17, he made his debut for the Argentine national team.
Regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, he played for clubs like Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, and Napoli, where he became a legend. He led Argentina to win the 1986 World Cup, scoring the famous 'Hand of God' goal and the brilliant solo goal against England.
Maradona passed away on 25 November 2020 at the age of 60 in Tigre, Argentina, after suffering a heart attack. He had been recovering from brain surgery earlier that month.
5. Politics
Answer: Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev was born on 2 March 1931 in the village of Privolnoye, in the Stavropol region of southern Russia, then part of the Soviet Union. He was born into a peasant family; his father was a combine harvester operator on a collective farm. As a teenager, he worked alongside his father operating farm machinery. In 1950, he enrolled at Moscow State University, studying law. He joined the Communist Party in 1952 and began rising through its ranks, starting with youth and regional leadership roles in Stavropol.
In 1985, Gorbachev rose to power as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and quickly became known for his reformist agenda. He introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), aiming to modernise the Soviet economy and promote transparency. His policies helped ease Cold War tensions and led to landmark arms reduction agreements with the United States.
Mikhail passed away on 30 August 2022 in Moscow, Russia, at the age of 91, after a long illness, according to the hospital where he had been receiving treatment.
6. Theatre
Answer: Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim was born on March 22, 1930, in New York City, USA. After moving with his mother to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, he became close to Broadway lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, who became a mentor and father figure to him, strongly influencing his path into musical theatre.
He began by writing lyrics for 'West Side Story' and 'Gypsy', then went on to create musicals like 'Company', 'Sweeney Todd', 'Into the Woods', and 'Sunday in the Park with George'. His stories explored human emotion, relationships, and moral ambiguity. His work earned numerous awards and inspired generations of composers and lyricists.
Stephen died on 26 November 2021 at the age of 91 in Roxbury, Connecticut, USA. His death followed a sudden illness, just days after celebrating Thanksgiving with friends.
7. Music
Answer: Little Richard
Little Richard was born as Richard Wayne Penniman on December 5, 1932, in Macon, Georgia, USA. He was one of twelve children in a deeply religious family. His father was a church deacon and brick mason and his mother was a devout Baptist. Richard grew up singing gospel music in church and was influenced by Pentecostal preachers and gospel performers. He faced challenges early on, including being kicked out of his home as a teenager due to his sexuality. His musical talent emerged young, as he learned to play piano and began performing in local venues before launching his recording career in the late 1940s.
He was a pioneer of Rock and Roll, known for his energetic performances and flamboyant style and rose to fame in the 1950s with hits like 'Tutti Frutti', 'Long Tall Sally' and 'Good Golly, Miss Molly'. His energetic piano playing and powerful voice inspired artists like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Prince.
Richard died on May 9, 2020, at the age of 87 in Tullahoma, Tennessee, USA, from bone cancer. His passing marked the end of an era for Rock and Roll, as he was one of its founding fathers.
8. Religion
Answer: Thich Nhat Hanh
Thích Nhất Hạnh was born on 11 October 1926 in Huế, in central Vietnam, during the era of French Indochina. His birth name was Nguyễn Xuân Bảo. At age 16, he entered the Tu Hieu Temple near Huế as a novice monk, beginning his lifelong journey in Zen Buddhism. Deeply influenced by the suffering he witnessed during the wars in Vietnam, he became a pioneer of Engaged Buddhism. His early writings and teachings emphasised mindfulness, compassion, and peace.
He was a globally respected Zen master who wrote over 100 books on meditation and mindfulness, taught around the world, and led retreats that welcomed people of all backgrounds. Despite years of exile from Vietnam, he remained a powerful voice for reconciliation and nonviolence.
Thích Nhất Hạnh died on 22 January 2022 at the age of 95 in Huế, Vietnam, at the Từ Hiếu Temple where he had first become a monk. He had returned there in 2018 after suffering a stroke.
9. Science
Answer: James Lovelock
James Lovelock was born on 26 July 1919 in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, England. He studied chemistry at the University of Manchester, graduating in 1941, and later earned a PhD in medicine from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1948. His early career included research on disinfection and air purification, and he worked with the Medical Research Council in London. In the 1950s, he spent time at Harvard and Yale as part of a Rockefeller Fellowship, expanding his scientific work in medicine and biophysics.
A scientist and inventor he was best known for proposing the Gaia hypothesis, which suggests that Earth functions as a self-regulating system. He worked with NASA in the 1960s to develop instruments for detecting life on Mars and invented the electron capture detector, which helped identify pollutants like CFCs.
James died on 26 July 2022, his 103rd birthday, at his home in Dorset, England. He passed away surrounded by family after complications from a fall.
10. Cuisine
Answer: Michel Roux
Michel Roux was born on 19 April 1941 in Charolles, a town in the Saône-et-Loire region of France. He grew up between Paris and Saône-et-Loire, spending time in his grandfather's delicatessen, which sparked his interest in food. At age 14, he followed his older brother, Albert Roux, into the culinary world, training as a pastry chef. He began his career working at the French Embassy in London, and later cooked privately in Versailles before returning to the UK in 1967.
He was a celebrated French chef who helped revolutionise French cuisine. Alongside his brother Albert, he opened Le Gavroche in London in 1967, the first UK restaurant to earn three Michelin stars. He later founded The Waterside Inn, which held three stars for over 30 years. He was known for his mastery of classic French techniques, especially in pastry.
Michel died on 11 March 2020 at the age of 78 in Bray, Berkshire, England. He passed away peacefully at home after suffering from a long illness.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ponycargirl before going online.
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