I Forgot That I Have Alzheimers Quiz

Answer: William Asher

William Asher directed more than 100 episodes of the show "I Love Lucy". When reflecting back on his career he said that he and the creators of the show never expected "I Love Lucy" would be a classic show or that Lucy would become an American icon.

Later he became the producer of "Bewitched" and married "Bewitched" actress, Elizabeth Montgomery. He produced all eight years of the show's run, and it became the highlight of his career. Asher died from complications of Alzheimer's disease at age 90.

Answer: Pauline Philips

The "Dear Abby" advice columns were featured in multiple newspapers and made Pauline Philips an American icon for decades. She was inspired to start the column in 1965, by her fellow columnist and twin sister, Ann Landers. She picked the pen name Abigail Van Buren, after the Old Testament prophetess from the books of "1 Samuel" and "2 Samuel". Her newspaper column featured advice to fans, who sent in letters with different situations. During her career she also became a public speaker and a radio hostess who gained the attention of many celebrities and politicians.

She battled Alzheimer's disease for 11 years, and died at the age of 94.

Answer: Arlene Francis

Arlene Francis was a regular panelist for 25 years on "What's My Line?", a game show featuring panelists who tried to guess the guest's career. It won three Emmys and a Golden Globe award for audience participation. Her other game shows included "Match Game", "Password", and "To Tell the Truth". She was also known on television for her role in "Home", a TV show that focused on topics for women. She was one of the first female TV hosts to host shows that were not musical or theatrical in nature.

She died at her home in California at the age of 93, from a combined battle of Alzheimer's and cancer.

Answer: Charlton Heston

His portrayal as Moses In "The Ten Commandments, earned Heston his first Golden Globe nomination in 1956.

In his announcement of his Alzheimer's diagnosis, Heston remarked, "I can part the Red Sea, but I can't part with you, which is why I won't exclude you from this stage in my life." He brought attention to the disease by choosing to make his health public. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003, one year after his diagnosis.

Celebrities that publicly mourned his death included George W. Bush and Nancy Reagan. His funeral was attended by over 250 Hollywood people including high profile actors and celebrities such as Christian Bale and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Answer: Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth was named as one of the top-25 female motion picture stars of all time, in the AFI American film institute survey. She appeared in 61 films during her career.

Hayworth's life brought awareness for Alzheimer's disease in the 1980s, after being misdiagnosed for several years. She began showing signs of the disease in her late forties. Doctors and co-actors had assumed that her forgetfulness during her performances was due to her alcoholism. As her condition worsened, she experienced several embarrassing incidences in public. She was a popular actress and producers and friends still sought after her for roles in many movies and public appearances. A New York psychiatrist made the diagnosis of Alzheimer's in 1979 after he discovered plaques and tangles in her brain. Hayworth went public two years later and became a passionate promoter for awareness of the disease. She died at age 68.

Answer: Peter Falk

Peter Falk won five Emmy awards in his career, four of which were for his part in the "Columbo" TV series. The Italian detective's trademarks were smoking cigars, paired with his rumpled tan raincoat over his suit. The show's plot was unique because unlike other detective shows, it focused more on how to catch the suspect than discovering who the suspect was.

Falk slipped out of view when media began to cover his erratic behavior after his Alzheimer's diagnosis. His doctor theorized that the dementia related to his Alzheimer's became worse from anesthesia procedures the actor had before his death. Falk was unable to remember who Columbo was near his death, but many actors and actresses credit him with being inspiration for their own careers including Steven Spielberg and Rob Reiner.

Answer: Burgess Meredith

For his role in portraying Rocky's coach in the original movie, Burgess Meredith received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor in 1976. Sylvester Stallone commented on Meredith's death by saying the actor gave the movie its emotional core. During his life, he was a strong advocate for environmental improvements and protested the Vietnam War. Burgess Meredith died of Alzheimer's disease and melanoma in his home in Malibu, California, at the age of 89.

Answer: Gene Wilder

Gene Wilder was an actor, writer, director, song-writer, and producer. "Young Frankenstein", was one of several productions Wilder made with director, Mel Brooks. When Gene Wilder's wife and fellow actress, Gilda Radner, died of ovarian cancer, Gene became heavily involved in promoting cancer awareness.

Because he was loved by millions of children as Willy Wonka, Wilder's family kept his diagnosis a secret, due to his wishes of wanting to remain an icon for children for the remainder of his life. They said he never lost his ability to recognize those closest to him or portray what kids loved about him when they ran into him in public. Gene Wilder died three years after his diagnoses.

Answer: Ronald Reagan

Before he became a politician, Ronald Reagan was a popular actor in the 1940s and participated in film and radio. Many regard "King's Row" as his top film, and it was his favorite acting role. He also earned the nickname The Gipper from playing George Gipper in the film, "Knute Rockne, All American". "Hellcats of the Navy" was the only film where he performed with Nancy Reagan, his wife.

Ronald Reagan became a celebrity and a leader, leading him to the governorship of California in 1967. After three attempts at running for the office, Reagan became President of the United States at age 69, the oldest man to hold office up until that time. He promoted prayer in schools, economics that cut government spending, and individual freedoms. He lead the United States through the Cold War, and eventually influenced the destruction of the Berlin Wall. His leadership influenced both Democratic and Republican parties.

Ronald Reagan informed the United States of his diagnosis through a handwritten letter stating, "I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans who will be afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. At the moment I feel just fine. I intend to live the remainder of the years God gives me on this Earth doing the things I have always done. I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead. Thank you, my friends. May God always bless you."

His last public appearing before his death was the funeral of Richard Nixon.

Answer: James Stewart

James Stewart's distinct vocal draw gave him many starring roles that became film classics, including "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", "You Can't Take It With You", "Vertigo", and "Rope". Nine months before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he left his acting career, when World War 2 came, to defend his country. He retired from the military with the rank of Colonel in the Air Force. "It's a Wonderful Life" was the first film he starred in after his return from the military. His role as George Bailey, was the personal favorite of his career.

James Steward died from complications with Alzheimer's and blood clots in his lung at the age of 89.