Unhappy Birthday Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman, most remembered for her role of Ilsa Lund in "Casablanca" (1942) won three Oscars, two Emmys and a Tony for Best Actress. Her role in "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1943), scored Bergman her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. In 1975 she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Greta Ohlsson in "Murder on the Orient Express".

While her role of Ilsa Lund, who has an affair with Humphrey Bogart when still married to another man, endeared her to the public, the real life version was not so well received. During her marriage to Peter Lindstrom, Bergman began an affair with Italian director Roberto Rossellini and bore his child. She was ostracised by television chat shows despite her continued popularity with the public.
Marilyn Monroe (June 1, 1926 - August 5, 1962), Joan Crawford (March 23, 1905 - May 10, 1977) and Grace Kelly (Nov 12, 1929 - September 14, 1982) were all outstanding actresses, but none of them died on their birthdays.

Answer: N.P. Willis

Nathaniel Parker Willis (January 20, 1806-1867) was an American poet, author and editor who worked alongside other notable writers Edgar Allen Poe and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He was also, at one time, the employer of former slave and future writer Harriet Jacobs. His play "Tortesa, the Usurer" was described by Poe as "by far the best play from the pen of an American author". He acquired a reputation as a dandy for the attention he paid to his appearance and dress. He was often depicted wearing a beaver hat, a tightly closed coat and carrying a cane.

Edgar Allen Poe (January 19, 1809 - October 7, 1849) was an American poet, writer and critic whose most famous poem was "The Raven" which he published in 1845.

e. e. cummings (Oct 14, 1894 - Sept 3, 1962) was an American poet, painter, author and playright who won numerous awards for his poetry. His most well-known novels include "The Enormous Room" (1922) and "Tulips and Chimneys" (1923).

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Feb 27, 1807 - March 24, 1882) should need no introduction. He was the first person to translate Dante's "The Divine Comedy" into English, which he published in 1867. He also published the novel "Evangeline" (1847) and the poem "Paul Revere's Ride" (1869).

Answer: Elizabeth of York

Elizabeth of York was the first child born to Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville. She married Henry VII in 1486 after he successfully wrested the crown from Richard III on the battlefield. Mother of seven children, including the future Henry VIII, she died of postpartum infection on her 37th birthday (11th February 1503).

Anne Boleyn, Marie Antoinette and Mary, Queen of Scots were all monarchs or consorts who lost their heads.

Anne Bolelyn, (birth date unknown, either 1501 or 1507), second wife of Henry VIII of England, was beheaded on May 15, 1536 for treason, incest and adultery, although it is widely thought that her failure to produce a son was the reason Henry wanted to be rid of her.

Marie Antoinette, (Nov 2, 1755 - Oct 16, 1793), wife of King Louis XVI of France, was caught up in the French Revolution of 1789-1799. Louis was subsequently deposed and the Royal family imprisoned. Marie was executed by guillotine in October 1793, nine months after Louis lost his head.

Mary, Queen of Scots (December 8, 1542 - February 8, 1587) was the Scottish Queen Regnant from December 1542 until July 1567. After an uprising, Mary was imprisoned and forced to abdicate in favour of her son, James VI. She fled to England where she sought the protection of her first cousin once removed, Queen Elizabeth I. However, earlier moves to claim the English throne in her own right made Mary a threat to Elizabeth. She was imprisoned for 19 years and executed on charges of treason on February 8, 1587.

Answer: Jean Piccard

Born in Switzerland on January 28, 1884, Jean Piccard died in Minneapolis on his 79th birthday in 1973. Creator of the high altitude hot air balloon and co-creator (with his wife Jeanette) of the plastic balloon, Piccard also toyed with cellophane balloons and cluster balloons. He was also thought to be the first person to use pyrotechnics (TNT) to help launch and control balloon ballast. In 1952, he suggested that man could fly to Mars in a hot air balloon.

During the '80s, "Star Trek" developer Gene Roddenberry created the character of Jean-Luc Picard, and it is thought the character was styled on Jean Piccard.

James Kirkwood Jr was an American author and playwright who won a Pulitzer Prize for the Broadway hit "A Chorus Line" (1976). It has not been suggested that Captain James T. Kirk from "Star Trek" was modelled on him.

Kevin McFadden, an author who wrote "The Last Vampire" series (1994-1996) under the pseudonym Christopher Pike, was likewise not thought to be the inspiration for the character Christopher Pike.

Corey Leonardo McCoy, a serial killer from Florida, was clearly not the model for Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy!

Answer: Edna Mae Oliver

Edna May Oliver (November 9, 1883-November 9, 1942) was an American actress in the 1930s, best known for portraying sharp-tongued spinsters. While she was a descendant of former President John Quincy Adams, Oliver's casting in British productions of "Pride and Prejudice" (1940), "David Copperfield" (1935) and "Romeo and Juliet" (1940) led to the belief that she herself was British.

Julie Christie (born 1941) is a British Academy award-winning actress, most noted for her roles in "Darling" (1965) and "Dr Zhivago" (1965).

Judy Holliday (June 21, 1921-June 7, 1965) was an American actress most remembered for her Broadway roles in "Born Yesterday" (1946) and "Bells are Ringing" (1956), both roles she reprised for the film versions. Holliday died of breast cancer in 1965, aged 43.

Marie Dressler (November 9, 1868-July 28, 1943) was a Canadian actress most well known for her role in "Bill and Min" (1932) for which she received a Best Actress Academy Award. She died in 1934 aged 65.

Answer: Sir Thomas Browne

Sir Thomas Browne graduated from Broadgates Hall, Oxford in 1629 and spent the rest of his life in the medical profession. His autobiography "Religio Medici" was completed in 1635, and it was published without his consent in 1642/1643. A few years later he relented and allowed the treatise to be republished.

Lord Byron (January 22, 1788-April 9, 1824) was a well-known English poet and a leading figure in the "Romanticism" era of writing. Lord Byron was notorious for his string of affairs (and illegitimate children) with ladies of the gentry,and died in 1824 of a fever contracted in Greece.

Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) is best known for his London diaries written throughout the 1660s. He was not knighted, however.

Sir Walter Scott (15 August 1771 - 21 September 1832) was a famed Scottish novelist and poet whose works include "Ivanhoe" (1819), "Rob Roy" (1817) and "The Bride of Lammermore" (1819). A monument in his honour stands in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh.

Answer: England

Henry Wilfred "Bunny" Austin (August 26, 1906-2000) played tennis for the U.K. during the 1930s, and partnered Fred Perry to win the Davis Cup title for three consecutive years from 1933-35. Although he reached the finals at Wimbledon (twice) and the French Open, he was unable to secure the titles. Bunny suffered a serious fall in 1995, and was cared for in a nursing home until his death on his 94th birthday in 2000.

He was inducted into the Tennis International Hall of Fame in 1997.

Answer: Portugal

As the younger son of King John III, Henry (Henrique) was not expected to take the throne, and instead devoted his life to the Church where he rose to the rank of Cardinal. He assumed the monarchy in 1578, becoming King Henry I of Portugal, after his grandnephew King Sebastian died on the battlefield.

The church however, refused to release him from his vows and he died at age 68 without naming a successor.

Answer: John Banner

Jewish born John Banner (January 28, 1910-1973) played the role of kindly Nazi Sergeant Schultz in the comedy series "Hogan's Heroes" from 1965 to 1971. While his character knew the prisoners were planning mayhem, he preferred a peaceful life during the war, and so pretended ignorance. His famous catchcry "I know nothing!" is still remembered today.

Bob Crane played the hero Colonel Robert Hogan, the senior POW who had a way with the ladies in the television series.

Werner Klemperer was marvellous (my opinion only- no correspondence will be entered into) as the bumbling Colonel Wilhelm Klink, Commandant of the prison camp, Stalag 13.

Robert Carey portrayed Corporal Louis LeBeau, a French chef who used his food to bribe not only Sergeant Schultz, but also the prison camp's dogs.

Answer: William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (April 1564 - April 23, 1616) was born in 1564, and while there is no official record of his birth date, he was baptised on April 26, 1564. He died on April 23rd and was interred April 26, 1616. Many believe it is poetically fitting that the records show he was born on April 23, 1564, three days before his Baptism.

Shakespeare produced much of his work: plays, sonnets and poems between 1589 and 1613. His work gained popularity in the 19th century, and remains popular for performances and scholarly study.