Ten Strange or Obscure Celebrity Tidbits Quiz

Answer: Jane Wyman

A Missouri native, actress Jane Wyman was a multi-talented entertainer who got her start singing on the radio. At the age of 23, she became the first wife of future American president, Ronald Reagan. She won her first Academy Award for playing a deaf-mute rape victim in the 1948 movie "Johnny Belinda", becoming the first person in the sound era to win this award without speaking a single line of dialogue.

She performed for over 50 years on television and the movies. When she died at the age of 90, she was interred in the Forest Lawn Cemetery wearing a nun's habit, as a sign of her religious devotion.

Answer: Truman Capote

Author Harper Lee had an older brother whose best friend was their young neighbor Truman Capote. Both were the inspiration for the characters of Jem and Dill in her novel "To Kill a Mockingbird". Capote was from a broken home and was taken care of by an elderly relative while he was young.

The character of Miss Rachel is based on this spinster aunt who helped raise Capote. Their friendship lasted most of their lives. As an adult Harper Lee helped research the facts behind Capote's hit novel "In Cold Blood".

Answer: Jimmy Stewart

Considered by many to be one of Hollywood's greatest actors, James "Jimmy" Maitland Stewart was also a respected and highly ranked officer in the U.S. Air Force, reaching the rank of Brigadier General. He served in both the Vietnam War and World War II. Stewart was already a star when he voluntarily entered the service during World War II.

A modest man, he attempted to keep his military service in the background. Many closest to him claimed he was haunted by his war experiences, as were most of the men who served in World War II. During his lifetime he was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Croix de Guerre and an Academy Award.

He was a true American hero who did not let fame and fortune deter him from doing his duty.

Answer: James Doohan

Canadian actor James Montgomery Doohan is best known for his portrayal of Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott in the 1960's television program "Star Trek". During the Invasion of Normandy in World War II, he was shot four times in the leg, once in the chest, and once in the finger.

His life was saved when a silver cigarette case, given to him by his brother, helped stop a bullet. This battle also led to the amputation of one of his fingers which was cleverly covered up throughout his roles in various "Star Trek" movies as well as the original series.

He was also known for his fearless and daring flying skills which led some people to call him the "craziest pilot in the Canadian Air Force".

Answer: He had a parasitic twin removed.

Andy Garcia was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1956. At birth he had a large tennis ball-sized growth on his upper chest. It was a rare parasitic twin. It was removed immediately, leaving an unusual scar. It is for this reason that the actor does not appear without his shirt, or if needed, a body double is used.

A parasitic twin occurs when one of a pair of identical twins ceases to develop while still in the separation stage. One twin continues to develop normaly while the other becomes a parasitic growth that depends on the host for life.

In the past, those with this condition often toured with circus freak shows, today they are usually removed at birth or shortly thereafter.

Answer: Kris Kristofferson

All of these choices are very talented men, but the only one who fits this profile is Kris Kristofferson. A popular country singer and song writer, his music has been performed by many famous singers. He won a Rhodes Scholarship enabling him to graduate from Oxford University in 1960 with a degree in English Literature.

After leaving Oxford he joined the U.S. Army and served as a helicopter pilot. After leaving the service he was offered a teaching position at West Point. There are many country music fans who are very happy that he turned down this offer, choosing to pursue a career as a singer/songwriter.

Answer: She became a Catholic nun.

Known in the latter part of her life as Rev. Mother Dolores, Hart abandoned a successful Hollywood to career to become a Benedictine nun at the age of 24. At the time she got her calling to the religious life, her career was climbing and she was engaged to be married. Her fiancé came to see her once a year until his death in 2011. During her Hollywood career she acted with other famous actors including Montgomery Clift, Robert Wagner and George Hamilton, as well as Elvis.
During her career she was often compared to Grace Kelly in deportment and looks.

Answer: He went to college on a gymnastics scholarship.

As a young man, American actor Richard Gere went to the University of Massachusetts Amherst on a gymnastics scholarship. A skilled athlete, he also excelled at snow skiing and lacrosse. His musical talents were featured in the movie "Pretty Woman" (1990) in which he performs a piano solo that he, himself, wrote. For many years Gere was a practicing Buddhist, and in 1993 was banned from the Oscars after he made comments, during the program, condemning China of acts against humanity.

Answer: False

After his portrayal of James Bond, actor Daniel Craig was offered a new Aston Martin every year for life. He was also offered access to their test track any time the faux agent wishes to use it. While Craig has stated that he will probably not avail himself of the offer, he is still quite flattered.

He reportedly has said that he has nowhere to park the car near his home in London. This is an offer that might make country life look even more inviting.

Answer: True

Scottish actor Sean Connery was known for his masculine good looks as well as his acting skills. He portrayed the character James Bond in seven different movies and wore a hairpiece in everyone of them. The fact that he started balding shortly after leaving school did not limit his roles, his popularity, or his reputation as a sex symbol.

A lesser known tidbit about Connery is that during martial arts training for the movie "Never Say Never Again" (1983), his wrist was broken by his instructor. The name of the instructor was future Hollywood actor, Steven Seagal.