Faces Behind Characters
"Just one more thing..." That famous line probably triggers a mental image, but can you name the actor who said it? So, now it’s time to see how well you really know these screen legends.
Courtroom Champion
Taking on an undefeated defense attorney on screen, this stoic performer became inseparable from his legal persona, never once losing a televised trial.
The Answer
Raymond Burr. He portrayed Perry Mason in the original series (1957–1966) and later TV movies. Burr made his Broadway debut in 1941 after beginning his profession as an actor at the Pasadena Playhouse in 1937.
Rumpled Sleuth
His glass eye and wrinkled raincoat became iconic, but "just one more thing" cemented this cigar-chomping detective in television history.
The Answer
Peter Falk. Between 1968 and 2003, his acting as Lieutenant Columbo across 69 episodes earned him four Emmy Awards. In 1996, he was ranked No. 21 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list.
NBC Universal Television, Columbo (1971–1978)
Bungling Spy
"Would you believe..." and "Missed it by that much" entered the cultural lexicon thanks to a former Marine who played Agent 86.
The Answer
Don Adams. With trademark catchphrases and physical comedy, he earned three consecutive Emmy Awards playing Maxwell Smart. Before his acting career, Adams served as a Marine and survived the Battle of Guadalcanal during WWII.
General Artists Corporation-GAC-management., Wikimedia Commons
Dodge City Defender
At 6'7" tall, John Wayne personally recommended which actor to play Marshal Matt Dillon in television's longest-running Western.
The Answer
James Arness. For 20 years, this towering actor played the iconic lawman in Gunsmoke (1955–1975). His movie debut was in The Farmer's Daughter (1947), where he played Loretta Young's brother.
Twilight Zone Traveler
Before captaining the Enterprise, this sci-fi figure appeared in the famous "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" episode, frantically warning about a creature on the airplane wing.
The Answer
William Shatner. Originally a Shakespearean stage actor, he achieved global fame as Captain Kirk in Star Trek (1966–1969) and starred in seven subsequent films. He later won two Emmy Awards for his role as Denny Crane in Boston Legal.
Star Trek: Generations (1994), Paramount Pictures
U.N.C.L.E. Agent
During the 1960s spy craze, which actor's portrayal of Russian agent Illya Kuryakin sparked a fashion revolution with his black turtlenecks and Beatles-inspired haircut?
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
The Answer
David McCallum. This Scottish actor and musician found new fame as medical examiner Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard on NCIS. Having attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts before pursuing acting, his scientific training influenced his personality.
Angela George, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Triple-Threat Talent
Starting as a campus theater star at USC, this performer balanced dramatic film roles and Broadway appearances before he died from an aortic dissection.
ABC, 8 Simple Rules (2002–2005)
The Answer
John Ritter. Beyond Three's Company, he voiced the title character in Clifford the Big Red Dog and even starred in over 100 films and shows. He came from Hollywood royalty—his father Tex was a singing cowboy icon, while his son is actor Jason Ritter.
ABC, Three's Company (1977-1984)
Renaissance Entertainer
This multilingual star invented a mechanical stopwatch, founded an acting school, recorded a #1 hit song, and still found time to star in two unforgettable series.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
The Answer
Lorne Greene. In addition to Bonanza, he commanded a battlestar in the sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica. Greene hosted nature documentaries, performed Shakespeare, and received the Order of Canada. During WWII, he broadcast in four languages for the Canadian radio service.
Junkyard Genius
"Elizabeth, I'm coming to join you!" shouted one groundbreaking comedian while clutching his chest as a cantankerous junk dealer in a 1970s sitcom.
Robert Garner Attractions, Wikimedia Commons
The Answer
Redd Foxx. After decades as a boundary-pushing stand-up comic, his work on Sanford and Son helped establish African American shows on mainstream television. Born John Elroy Sanford, he influenced generations of comedians with his adult-oriented material.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Reluctant Superstar
Which Oklahoma-born actor received two military honors in Korea before forming two iconic television characters—a charming gambler and a cynical private investigator?
Warner Brothers Studio, Wikimedia Commons
The Answer
James Garner. Before playing Bret Maverick and Jim Rockford, he received two Purple Hearts in Korea. He performed most of his stunts, raced professionally at Le Mans, and even maintained one of Hollywood's longest marriages of 48 years.
Warner Brothers Television, Wikimedia Commons
Renaissance Man
Which star co-founded the First Artists Production Company, directed Oscar-winning films, and created a nonprofit food brand?
The Answer
Paul Newman. Beyond acting, he was a professional race car driver, philanthropist, and political activist. He was involved with First Artists Production Company, which he co-founded in 1969 with Barbra Streisand and Sidney Poitier.
Cultural Pioneer
In 1965, this Philadelphia-born comedian became the first black hero to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
The Answer
Bill Cosby. Before his legal troubles, he integrated television with I Spy and developed the animated Fat Albert. Cosby was the main star of The Cosby Show, which was a highly successful show that ran from 1984 to 1992.
Carsey-Werner, The Cosby Show (1984-92)
Method Acting Legend
He studied under Lee Strasberg and refused the Oscar for The Godfather to protest Hollywood's treatment of Native Americans.
Paramount , The Godfather (1972)
The Answer
Marlon Brando. Beyond On the Waterfront and Apocalypse Now, he served as a civil rights activist who walked with Martin Luther King Jr. and supported Native American causes. His purchase of a Tahitian island showed his desire to escape Hollywood's pressures.
Cinematic Chameleon
From a Marine drill instructor to an alien hunter, this actor was rejected by the prestigious Pasadena Playhouse.
The Answer
Gene Hackman. Before his breakthrough at age 37, he worked as a radio operator, doorman, and furniture mover. Despite no formal training, he won two Oscars, four Golden Globes, and published several novels after retiring from acting in 2004.
Singing Lawman
Which former comedy monologist rejected his early typecasting by playing a media manipulator villain and a crafty defense attorney?
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
The Answer
Andy Griffith. This man gained fame with his comedic monologue "What It Was, Was Football," in the 1950s. He is most famous for playing the character of Sheriff Andy Taylor in The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968) and later as Ben Matlock in Matlock (1986–1995).
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)
From Broadway To Mayberry
He created an iconic deputy character despite never firing his gun. Holds a distinctive high-pitched voice and was part of The Steve Allen Show.
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
The Answer
Don Knotts. Originally a ventriloquist and Broadway performer, he won five Emmy Awards for Deputy Barney Fife. His big break came with the Broadway and film versions of No Time for Sergeants alongside Andy Griffith.
Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Boxing Prodigy
Born into poverty, this Italian-American went from an amateur boxer with a partially paralyzed face to one of Hollywood's beloved action heroes.
Rocky II (1979), Chartoff-Winkler Productions
The Answer
Sylvester Stallone. Before Rocky, he was homeless and sold his dog for around $50 (later buying it back). He's one of the few actors to receive Oscar nominations for the same character across decades and has written over 30 screenplays.
Heartbreak Kid
This individual dropped out of college and repaired motorcycles. Most recently, he starred in Bullet Train (2022).
BULLET TRAIN - Official Trailer (HD) by Sony Pictures Entertainment
The Answer
Brad Pitt. Initially uncredited in films, he did exceptionally well in the industry. Pitt co-founded Plan B Entertainment, which has produced several award-winning pictures, including The Departed (2006) and 12 Years a Slave (2013).
Regency Enterprises,12 Years A Slave
Monster Diaries
The British immigrant was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild. Frankenstein (1931) made him famous.
The Answer
Boris Karloff. Born William Henry Pratt in England, he struggled for years in Hollywood until Frankenstein made him famous at age 44. Despite his monster roles, he was known as one of the kindest men in Hollywood and narrated How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Reluctant Action Star
As an Austrian bodybuilding champion with minimal English skills and a nearly unpronounceable surname, he turned to American politics at the highest state level.
The Answer
Arnold Schwarzenegger. After winning Mr. Universe at 20, he earned a business degree and became a millionaire through real estate. The star demonstrated his comedic skills in films titled Twins (1988) and Kindergarten Cop (1990).
Dancing Detective
It started in vaudeville at age two for this well-known American singer, actor, and comedian, often called the “King of Cool”.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
The Answer
Dean Martin. Apart from acting, he recorded 40+ albums, hosted television shows for 19 years, and performed with the Rat Pack. He became a member of the Rat Pack with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., appearing in Ocean's 11.
Ocean's 11 (1960), Warner Bros.
Martial Arts Pioneer
An action superstar who developed his own fighting philosophy and starred in The Big Boss (1971).
The Big Boss (1971), Golden Harvest Company
The Answer
Bruce Lee. He began acting as a child and appeared in over 20 films by the time he was 18. Lee started training in martial arts at the age of 13 under Yip Man, where he learned Wing Chun.
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