Canadian, Texan, Or Fictional Trivia Quiz

Answer: Fictional

Ernest P. Worrell was the crazy, campy character played by actor/comedian Jim Varney. As the annoying but loveable Ernest, Varney starred in over 3,000 national and regional commercials for products ranging anywhere from Mountain Dew to powertools. By the late 1980's, the Ernest character had become so popular Varney took him to the big screen, starring in several movies including "Ernest Goes to Camp", "Ernest Saves Christmas", and "Ernest Goes To Jail".

Answer: Texan

Willie was born August 19, 1931 in Fabens, Texas. Recognized by most as the most successful jockey in horse racing history, Shoemaker won 8,833 races, including four Kentucky Derbies, five Belmont Stakes, and three Preakness Stakes. The first jockey to win over $100 million in career earnings, Willie retired in 1990 with over $123 million in purses. He died on October 12, 2003 at age 72.

Answer: Fictional

"My name is Matt Foley, and I am a motivational speaker", Chris Farley would say as he burst onto the set of several "Saturday Night Live" sketches. Farley's high energy, along with a loud jacket and ill fitting pants, made Matt Foley one of the shows more popular characters in the 1990's.

The Foley character also provided one of the shows many catch phrases as he continually (and loudly) reminded people, "I live in a van down by the river!"

Answer: Fictional

Jack Torrance was the main character in the Stephen King novel "The Shining". A novelist with writers block, Jack takes a job as the caretaker of a hotel in the Colorado mountains that is closed for the winter. His wife and son come with him for the long stay, which takes a horrible turn when gruesome imagines start to appear. "The Shining" was released as a feature film in 1980 with Jack Nicholson playing the part of Jack Torrance.

In 1997, it was redone as a television mini-series, with Steven Weber taking the role of Torrance.

Answer: Television Star

Felicity was born September 25, 1946 in England in Olton, Warwickshire. The daughter of actor Geoffrey Kendal, Felicity made her acting debut on stage with her father as they toured India performing Shakespeare to audiences that consisted mostly of children.

At the age of 19, Felicity starred in the 1965 film "Shakespeare Wallah", which was loosely based on her family's experience as they toured India. After a few years struggling to build an acting career, Kendal got her big break with the role of Barbara Good on the sitcom "The Good Life", which made her a household name. American audiences may know the show better as "Good Neighbors", the name it aired under on PBS stations in the United States.

Answer: Canadian

Estella was born December 23, 1978 in Peterborough, Ontario. A synchronized swimmer, Estella was only 12 years old when she began training for the Canadian National Team. After she was spotted in a high school fashion show, photos of Estella were sent to a New York modeling agent who quickly got her modeling career started with magazines shoots and commercials.

Despite being the senior national champion in swimming, Warren passed up the chance to participate in the 1996 Olympics to concentrate on her modeling career, apparently a wise choice.

In 2001, Estella took her first step into an acting career, appearing in the films "Perfume", "Driven", "Planet of the Apes", and "Tangled".

Answer: Fictional

Chambers is the main character in the 1934 novel "The Postman Always Rings Twice" by James M. Cain. A hitchhiker working his way through California, Chambers drifts into a roadside restaurant where there is an immediate attraction between him and the owners young wife. Considered by many to be obscene when it was first released, the book was banned in Boston, Massachusetts. "Postman" was released as a movie in 1946, with John Garfield playing the part of Frank Chambers, and remade in 1981 starring Jack Nicholson.

Answer: Canadian

Dr. James Nasmith was born on November 6, 1861 in Almonte, Ontario. A graduate of both McGill University in Montreal and Gross Medical School in Colorado, among others, Nasmith excelled in both academics and athletics while in college. While working for the International Young Men's Christian Training College in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891, the head of physical education ordered Nasmith to find an indoor sport to keep a group of trouble-making young men occupied during the winter.

After unsuccessful attempts to bring games like soccer and lacrosse indoors, Nasmith began to develop a game based on skill rather than speed or strength.

After compiling a list of 13 rules, Nasmith, with the help of a janitor, nailed two peach baskets on opposite ends of the gymnasium.

It was the beginning of the sport now known as basketball.

Answer: Texan

Tabitha was born August 19, 1967 in San Antonio, Texas. While still in college, Tabitha was already on the road to a career in television journalism by working at ABC's "World News Tonight" with Peter Jennings, WNBC, and the Cable News Network. After college, she landed a job at MTV as co-host of "The Week in Rock" with Kurt Loder, covering everything from music to politics.

At the age of 25, Tabitha was impressing viewers and presidential candidates alike with her coverage of the 1992 presidential campaign. Later, Soren would contribute to NBC's "Nightly News", "Dateline", and "The Today Show", in addition to her duties at MTV.

Answer: Youngest of Four Children

Mena was born February 9, 1979 in Newport, Rhode Island. The natural redhead has three older brothers, all of which enlisted in the U.S. Army. Mena started her career as a model at the age of 12. After balancing her modeling career with her high school education, Mena broke into acting with a commercial for Rice-a-Roni.

A few small parts in television shows would follow, the most prominent of which was as a teen infected with HIV in an episode of "Chicago Hope". Her part as the object of a serial killers affection in 1997's "Kiss the Girls" gained her critical acclaim, but it was her role as Heather in "American Pie" that threw her into the spotlight.

Answer: Canadian

The son of Irish immigrants, Ned was born July 2, 1855 in Toronto, Ontario. Recognized as Canada's first international sports star, Hanlan began establishing himself in the sport of rowing in the 1870's. In 1876, Ned competed in the United States Centennial Regatta in Philadelphia, where he defeated some of the best oarsmen in North America.

The next year, Hanlan defeated Wallace Ross of New Brunswick for the Canadian Championship, and in 1878 defeated William Elliot for the English Championship. Considered small in a sport where big men excelled, Hanlan was 5'8" tall and weighed 155 pounds, but had little difficulty beating much bigger competitors.

Answer: Texan

Jennifer was born February 21, 1979 in Waco, Texas. By the age of ten, Hewitt was touring with the Texas Show Team as a singer and dancer, but her aspirations to tackle Hollywood called her to California. In 1989, Jennifer became a regular on the Disney Channel series "Kids Incorporated", while also appearing in several commercials.

After the show was canceled in 1991, Jennifer put her dancing skills to use as an L.A. Gear dancer, strutting her stuff in trade shows in Japan and Paris. After landing small parts in several films, Hewitt became a star with her role as Sarah on the FOX drama "Party of Five", and it's spin-off series "Time of Your Life".

She would also make it big in movies such as 1997's "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and 2001's "Heartbreakers".

Answer: Canadian

Margaret was born November 18, 1939 in Ottawa, Ontario. A novelist and poet, Margaret was born in Ottawa, but grew up primarily in Toronto. Her first collection of poetry, titled simply "Selected Poems", was published in 1965. In 1966, she received the Governor General's award with her book of poetry, "The Circle Game". Margaret's first novel, "The Edible Woman", was published in 1972 to raves from critics, including those from "Time" and "Vogue". By 2003, this incredibly popular authors books had been translated into more than twenty different languages.

Answer: Texan

George was born May 18, 1952 in Poteet, Texas. After flirting with success with several bands, including "Rambling Country" and "Ace in the Hole", George set out on his solo career when he signed with MCA Records in 1980. His first album, "Strait Country", went platinum after it's 1981 release, and also provided George's first hit single, "Unwound".

A string of number one hits would follow, including "Fool Hearted Memory" and "You Look So Good In Love". One of the most popular country music artists of all time, George cemented his place in history with 1987's "Ocean Front Property", the first country album to debut at number one on the U.S. charts.

Answer: Television Host

Clive was born December 10, 1952 in Middlesex, England. An actor and writer, Clive is best known as the host of the British improve show "Whose Line is it Anyway?", which ran from 1988-1998. While Clive did his best to control the madness started by improve regulars like Rory Bremner and Colin Mochrie, he was also a fully educated and licensed barrister taking part in the madness of the British legal system.