On the TV sitcom The Addams Family, it took actress Carolyn Jones two hours every day to put on Morticia’s vampish make-up. She also wore a full-length wig made of black human hair.
Clint Eastwood was 41 years old when he debuted in the role of maverick Det. "Dirty" Harry Calahan in the action film Dirty Harry (1971). Reportedly, the part had been turned down by Paul Newman, John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and Frank Sinatra. Eastwood insisted on performing his own action stunts, including the famous scene where he jumped from a bridge to the roof of a moving school bus.
On Thursday, June 19, 1997, Cats became the longest running show in the history of Broadway. With the 6138th performance Cats passed A Chorus Line which staged the last production in April 1990.
Clint Eastwood's "spaghetti westerns" marked the beginning of a new era in cinematic violence. About fifty people were killed in A Fistful of Dollars (1964).
On TV game shows, a contestant who freezes before the camera is called a "Bambi," in reference to a deer paralyzed by the glare of headlights.
Coincidentally, all Oscar-nominated films for Best Picture in 1998 (at the March 1999 ceremony) took place more than 50 years before the film was released. The Best Picture winner was Shakespeare in Love; the other nominees that year were Saving Private Ryan, Life Is Beautiful, The Thin Red Line, and Elizabeth.
One alternate title that had been considered, but then discarded, for NBC's hit Friends was Insomnia Café.
Combined, the Monkees’ first two albums were Number 1 for 31 consecutive weeks. Their single “I’m a Believer” was the Number 1 record of 1967.
One job that actor Brad Pitt held before he became famous was that of a costumed chicken for El Pollo Loco restaurant.
Comedian Bill Cosby became the spokesperson for Jell-O pudding in 1974. His upbeat, childlike personality worked well with on-screen youngsters, and he later began the "Kids Love Pudding" TV campaign. As of 2000, Cosby was still going strong in his Jell-O brand TV commercials and print ads.
One of the highlight's of television's Roots was the scene-stealing performance of Ben Vereen as Chicken George. Vereen, virtually unknown at the time, earlier made a brief but spectacular performance in Funny Lady (1975), Barbra Streisand's film sequel to her smash hit Funny Girl.
Comedian Robin Williams was jubilant to be offered the plum role of the Joker in the 1989 film Batman. It was the role of a lifetime — every actor's dream. However, some days after verbally agreeing to do the part, Williams was told that Jack Nicholson would be cast instead. In an interview a few years later, Williams was still bitter about losing the role. He gloomily stated, "I think I was used for bait to get Nicholson."
Comedian/actor Billy Crystal portrayed Jodie Dallas, the first openly gay main character on network television on ABC's Soap, which aired from 1977 to 1981.
Comedienne-turned-talk-show-hostess Rosie O’Donnell reportedly took the role in the film Exit to Eden after learning that sex symbol Sharon Stone had turned it down.
Composer Irving Berlin took his tune "Smile and Show Your Dimples," changed the lyrics, and retitled it "Easter Parade."
Contrary to legend, all of the clocks in the movie Pulp Fiction are NOT stuck on 4:20. In fact, the time on the watch when Captain Koons first shows it to Butch is about 10:10, then a closeup shows the watch is set to 12:00.
Only two women directors have been nominated for an Oscar by the Academy for achievement in directing: Lina Wertmuller in 1976 for Seven Beauties and Jane Campion in 1993 for The Piano. To date, no woman has won an Oscar for directing.
Opera stars Nellie Melba and Luisa Tetrazzini are famous for more than singing. They are also known for food that has been named after them. Nellie Melba (peach melba and melba toast) and Luisa Tetrazzini (chicken tetrazzini).
Opera-great Beverly Sills' name at birth was Belle Silverman.
Ordinarily, actor Denzel Washington has a reputation for maintaining a low profile. However, he boldly approached Oliver Stone about playing Sergeant Elias in the movie Platoon (1986), despite the fact that the part was originally written for an American Indian. Stone turned him down, but offered him a smaller role of a black character. Washington politely declined. In the end, Willem Dafoe played Sgt. Elias.
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