Famous people / 100 QUESTIONS

Famous People Quiz

Put your knowledge of notable names to the test in this famous people quiz. The five rounds mix actors, public figures and people known for their achievements or cultural impact. Answer 100 questions across the sets, with four difficulty bands in each round and no timer.

Set 1 of 5

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Start at question 1. Play all 20, from Easy to Very hard.

Changing the set or starting level begins a fresh round. Your first answer counts; correct answers appear in green.

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What’s in this famous people quiz?

Each of the five sets contains 20 questions, with five questions at each difficulty. Choose Easy for the full round, Medium for 15 questions, Hard for 10 or Very hard for five.

Topics in the mix

Actors and entertainment personalities
Public figures and notable names
Biographical facts and achievements

Hosting a quiz? Open the question and answer list below, choose a set and print separate player and answer sheets. Read the quiz-night instructions.

Famous People Quiz questions and answers · quizmaster view

Spoilers ahead. Pick a set for your quiz night, then read the questions aloud or print separate question and answer sheets. One point per correct answer.

Question set

Set 1 · Famous people

Easy
Gwyneth Paltrow has a daughter named...?
Answer: Apple
Easy
By which name is Ramon Estevez better known as?
Answer: Martin Sheen
Easy
Named after a character he played in a 1969 film, what is the name of the ski resort in Utah that Robert Redford bought in 1968?
Answer: Sundance
Easy
Which of these Radiohead songs, featured on Pablo Honey is covered by performer Richard Cheese?
Answer: Creep
Easy
What is generally considered to be William Shakespeare's birth date?
Answer: April 23rd, 1564
Medium
Which of these actresses was born in Florence, Italy?
Answer: Rose McGowan
Medium
What actor did Demi Moore marry in 2005?
Answer: Ashton Kutcher
Medium
Which U.S. president had his jaw removed?
Answer: Grover Cleveland
Medium
Who was the only American-born member of Monty Python?
Answer: Terry Gilliam
Medium
Which of these was the tallest U.S. President?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln
Hard
In which of these TV shows did the chef Gordon Ramsay not appear?
Answer: Auction Hunters
Hard
What is the real name of "moot", founder of the imageboard 4chan?
Answer: Christopher Poole
Hard
What comedian said, Television: A medium. So called because its neither rare nor well done.?
Answer: Ernie Kovacs
Hard
What was the last Black Sabbath studio album with Ozzy Osbourne as lead singer?
Answer: Never Say Die!
Hard
What is the name of the penguin character voiced by Brittany Murphy in the 2006 animated movie Happy Feet?
Answer: Gloria
Very hard
Which one of these pairs actor- character he has played is wrong?
Answer: Samuel Jackson- Xander Cage
Very hard
What year did radio icon Howard Stern start a job at radio station WNBC?
Answer: 1982
Very hard
What actor won the 1996 Golden Globe Award for his role of an FBI Special Agent in a TV series?
Answer: David Duchovny
Very hard
In which Clint Eastwood directed film would you find the characters Ira Hayes and John Doc Bradley?
Answer: Flags of Our Fathers
Very hard
In which year did Ariel Sharon return to the Israel Defence Forces after his retirement?
Answer: 1973

Set 2 · Famous people

Easy
Which ruler introduced the metric system in much of Europe?
Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte of France
Easy
How many siblings did Malcolm X have?
Answer: 10
Easy
What is Andy Griffiths middle name?
Answer: Samuel
Easy
What was Jacqueline Kennedys maiden name?
Answer: Bouvier
Easy
What is the color of Brad Pitts eyes?
Answer: blue
Medium
What American scientist invented the computer mouse?
Answer: Douglas Engelbart
Medium
Who portrayed Luke Skywalker in George Lucas original Star Wars trilogy?
Answer: Mark Hamill
Medium
The Great Wall Marathon along the Great Wall of China is annually held in what month?
Answer: May
Medium
What is Doug Walker's YouTube name?
Answer: The Nostalgia Critic
Medium
In 1953 Malcolm X went to what city to study to become a minister?
Answer: Chicago
Hard
What term is applied to pirate flags which often featured skeletons, daggers, cutlasses, skulls and crossbones?
Answer: Jolly Roger
Hard
Who did Renée Zellweger marry in 2005 only to annul the marriage seven months later?
Answer: Kenny Chesney
Hard
Which of Henry VIIIs chancellors had an international reputation as a great Renaissance Humanist?
Answer: Sir Thomas More
Hard
During the Christmas season in Newfoundland, homes are visited by a band of masked strangers. What are they called?
Answer: Mummers
Hard
In what 2000 movie did LeAnn Rimes appear as herself, singing her song Cant Fight the Moonlight?
Answer: Coyote Ugly
Very hard
Three of these alternative names belong to US Presidents who have been even presidents (for instance, 12th President, 10th President). Which is the odd one?
Answer: Old Buck
Very hard
What is the name of the 2002 TV movie in which William H. Macy played the role of the door-to-door salesman Bill Porter?
Answer: Door to Door
Very hard
Which of these Radiohead songs from OK Computer is featured in the movie William Shakespeares Romeo+Juliet ?
Answer: Exit Music (For a Film)
Very hard
Broderick Crawford won an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1949 by playing the character of Willie Stark in which movie?
Answer: All The Kings Men
Very hard
While married to Prince Charles, Diana, Princess of Wales, had an affair with James Hewitt. What was his profession?
Answer: Her riding instructor

Set 3 · Famous people

Easy
Of what origin is the popular surname OBrien?
Answer: Irish
Easy
What was Joseph Bonannos nickname?
Answer: Joe Bananas
Easy
What is the middle name of John Stamos?
Answer: Phillip
Easy
Which one is not one of Toms sisters?
Answer: Mary Lee
Easy
What is the unusual name of Mark Ruffalos wife?
Answer: Sunrise
Medium
Where did Cuban political leader Fidel Castro meet Ernesto Che Guevara for the first time?
Answer: Mexico
Medium
Who says that only fools rush in in Elviss Cant Help Falling In Love?
Answer: Wise men
Medium
What character did actor Christopher Walken portray in the 1992 movie Batman Returns?
Answer: Max Shreck
Medium
What is the meaning of the very popular male name David and its derivative, Dave?
Answer: Beloved
Medium
Adam Yauch, one of the founding members of the Beastie Boys, plays which of the following instruments?
Answer: Bass
Hard
What 1950 movie featuring Marilyn Monroe set a long-running record by receiving fourteen Academy Award nominations?
Answer: All About Eve
Hard
What does the chimpanzee Esther accidentally create in the 1952 comedy movie Monkey Business, starring Marilyn Monroe?
Answer: Youth potion
Hard
Which of these was physically the heaviest US President weighing over 300 pounds?
Answer: William Howard Taft
Hard
On a BBC poll, Mr. T was voted as one of the most influential Americans in history. Where did he rank on that poll?
Answer: 4
Hard
Where was the failed attack on the Cuban army, led by Fidel Castro in 1953?
Answer: Moncada Barracks
Very hard
While at University, Stephen Fry joined an amateur theatrical group where he met his comedy partner Hugh Laurie. What was the name of the theatrical group?
Answer: Footlights
Very hard
What film director is not correctly matched with the movie he directed?
Answer: All of them are correctly matched.
Very hard
Danish dance-pop band Aqua was once famous for its members insanely unusual hairdos. What member of the band did lead vocalist Lene Nystrom marry in 2001?
Answer: None of them
Very hard
Lohan signed a recording contract with Casablanca Records in 2004, and her debut album was released on 7th of December of the same year. What was the name of the album?
Answer: Speak
Very hard
In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail on his first voyage in search of the Indies with which three ships?
Answer: Santa Maria, Pinta and Niña

Set 4 · Famous people

Easy
What American rapper and producer has a son named Messiah YaMajesty?
Answer: T.I.
Easy
When was actor Dane Cook born?
Answer: March 18 1972
Easy
The following lyrics are from which song by Carbon Leaf?
Answer: One Day
Easy
Who is the head of the Danish state?
Answer: The monarch
Easy
When was U.S. president James Buchanan in office?
Answer: 1857 - 1861
Medium
Which of these comedians is not a part of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour?
Answer: Dane Cook
Medium
What fictional character was James Bond first married to?
Answer: Teresa Tracy Draco
Medium
What character did Keanu Reeves portray in The Matrix movie series?
Answer: Thomas Anderson
Medium
When did James Brown become one of the charter members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Answer: 1986
Medium
How much weight did Chris Pratt lose for his role as Star-Lord in "Guardians of the Galaxy"?
Answer: 60 lbs
Hard
What is the name of Tom Hanks first-born child, a son who followed the steps of his parents and turned to acting?
Answer: Colin
Hard
What exponent of the Arts and Crafts movement stated, There is no failure except in not trying.?
Answer: Elbert Hubbard
Hard
American entrepreneur Paul Allen, known as one of the wealthiest people in the world, is a co-founder of what corporation?
Answer: Microsoft
Hard
Which was the Marx Brothers first feature length movie that was not based on a Broadway show?
Answer: Monkey Business
Hard
Which Canadian Prime Ministers was born on October 18, 1919 in Montréal, Quebec?
Answer: Pierre Elliott Trudeau
Very hard
“Yeah, blindfolds, just like pin the tail on us. Were the donkey.” is a quote from an American lead vocalist and musician of a heavy metal band. Who is he?
Answer: Vince Neil
Very hard
Bob Hope headlined over 60 tours for the USO overseas, helping support the US troops. What does USO stand for?
Answer: United Services Organization
Very hard
In which situation was musician John Lennon assassinated?
Answer: Attempting to enter the Dakota Apartments building
Very hard
Which of these statements most accurately describes how Saddam Hussein come to power?
Answer: Saddam compelled the ailing al-Bakr to resign
Very hard
Mostly known as a hero, Vlad Dracula was born in a noble family. His surname comes from the order to which his father belonged. What was its name?
Answer: The Order of the Dragon

Set 5 · Famous people

Easy
What body organ did Jack Black have removed?
Answer: Gall Bladder
Easy
Rocky Top is the official song of what US state?
Answer: Tennessee
Easy
What is the name of Jack Black and Tanya Hadens first child?
Answer: Samuel
Easy
What was the name of the first political party of Prime Minister Sharon?
Answer: Likud
Easy
What was the first animated movie in which Cameron Diaz voiced a character?
Answer: Shrek
Medium
Which US President was fined $20 for speeding with his horse and carriage?
Answer: Ulysses Grant
Medium
What renowned film director did actor Vincent DOnofrio play in 1994s film, Ed Wood?
Answer: Orson Welles
Medium
What U.S. President faced impeachment in 1868 for steadfastly opposing Radicals in Congress?
Answer: Andrew Johnson
Medium
What was the first movie in which Andy Griffith starred?
Answer: A Face in the Crowd
Medium
For which film did Frank Sinatra get his Oscar?
Answer: From Here to Eternity
Hard
In what year did Boris Karloffs Frankenstein monster appear on postage stamps?
Answer: 1998
Hard
What was Pamela Andersons occupation in Vancouver, Canada, where she moved after graduating from high school?
Answer: Fitness instructor
Hard
What famous American musician, known for his trademark scarves, was born Steven Victor Tallarico in New York, NY in 1948?
Answer: Steven Tyler
Hard
Who is the author of Woman and Whisky, The Rat Trap, The Better Half, Blithe Spirit, Ill Leave It to You?
Answer: Noel Coward
Hard
In what 1998 comedy movie did Natasha Richardson star as the mother of twin girls played by Lindsay Lohan?
Answer: The Parent Trap
Very hard
Everyone was discussing their time in Congress. Which two could not agree on the benefits of certain policies in reference to their individual states?
Answer: Franklin Pierce Martin Van Buren
Very hard
Which statement is true about Don Rickles service in World War II?
Answer: He served in the US Navy from graduation through 1946.
Very hard
Why did the USA declare an embargo on all trade to and from Cuba on October 27, 1962?
Answer: American spy planes found Russian-made missiles in Cuba.
Very hard
“He felt now that he was not simply close to her, but that he did not know where he ended and she began.” is an excerpt from a novel by which great 19-century writer?
Answer: Leo Tolstoy
Very hard
What was the religion of famous singer "Freddie Mercury"?
Answer: Zoroastrianism

Questions adapted from Open Trivia Database and OpenTriviaQA, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected, filtered and arranged into fixed rounds. Sources & editorial notes.

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