Ronnie Van Zant was a founding member and lead singer of the rock n' roll band Lynyrd Skynyrd. In his 29 brief years of life, he managed to fall in love twice, write a few rock classics, and win more than a few bar fights. Sadly, for Van Zant and his fans, it all ended in flames…just as he predicted.

The life story of Rita Hayworth is a tragedy of epic proportions. Beauty, talent, fame, intelligence: She had it all. And yet she remained unhappy and unloved until the day she passed. The men in her life often used and damaged her, and ultimately her failed relationships broke her spirit.

Connie Francis had a life full of surprises: Some of them were fascinating, while others were bone-shaking. She knew how to sing and write, but she didn’t know how to cope with the unique issues of being an international superstar.

While the hero archetype has always been around in film, the 1980s introduced a whole new class of Hollywood macho men, one of the most iconic of which was Sylvester Stallone. Whether he played a boxer, a veteran, or a law enforcement officer, Stallone was integral to ushering in the era of classic action stars. However, behind the scenes, he may have personified the worst parts of this masculine stereotype.

Shelley Duvall was the 1970s actress that audiences came to know and love for her distinctive look and odd, eccentric characters. Her most famous role as Wendy Torrance in The Shining however, might have pushed her right over the edge. But there’s no question about it: The wide-eyed girl was born to be a star. Albeit, a quirky one.

From acting to dancing—singing to activism—Shirley MacLaine has done it all and then some. With a career that spans over eight decades, her struggles and triumphs pepper her unapologetic life. Even now, her wild eccentricities and controversial comments keep making headlines.