Julia Roberts Facts & Figures

Born in Smyrna, Georgia

Sister of Eric Roberts and aunt of Emma Roberts.

Made her film debut in Satisfaction (1988) aka Girls Of Summer.

Worked with director Steven Soderbergh on four films; Erin Brockovich (2000), Ocean's Eleven (2001), Full Frontal (2002) and Ocean's Twelve (2004).

Won a best actress Oscar for Erin Brockovich.


Her highest paycheck to date was 25 million for Mona Lisa Smile (2003).

Julia turned down roles in The Marrying Man (1991), Basic Instinct (1992), Indecent Proposal (1993), Sleepless In Seattle (1993), Sliver (1993), While You Were Sleeping (1995),  Batman & Robin (1997) and Intolerable Cruelty (2003).

Made guest appearances on TV shows Miami Vice (1988), Friends (1996) and Law & Order (1999).

Past Romantic Partners include Dylan McDermott, Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, Lyle Lovett (Married 1993 - 1995), Matthew Perry and Benjamin Bratt.

Her five biggest box office hits are: Ocean's Eleven (2002), Pretty Woman (1990), The Runaway Bride (1999), My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) and Erin Brockovich (2000).

Played Movie Actresses in four films: The Player (1992), Notting Hill (1999), America's Sweethearts (2001) and Full Frontal (2002).

Famous Actors Who Changed Their Name

John Wayne - Marion Morrison: Billed early in his career as Duke Morrison, he was given the name John Wayne by Fox Studios and director Raoul Walsh. John Wayne didn't participate in the choosing of his famous screen name.

Edward G. Robinson - Emanuel Goldenberg: Born in Romanian and grew up in New York, he changed his name to Edward G. Robinson after becoming interested in acting. The G. stood for Goldenberg.

Cary Grant - Archie Leach: Born in Bristol England to a lower class family, Leach transformed himself into Hollywood movie star Cary Grant. The name was based on the initials C. G., inspired by actors Clark Gable and Gary Cooper.


Veronica Lake - Constance Ockelman: Billed early in her career as Constance Keane (Keane being her step father's name). Film producer Arthur Hornblow re-named her Veronica Lake (because of her blue eyes).

Marilyn Monroe - Norma Jeane Mortenson: Changed her professional name to Marilyn Monroe in 1946 but did not legally change it for another ten years.

Dean Martin - Dino Crocetti: Started out his career calling himself Dino Martini but later changed it to Dean Martin after singing for bandleader Sammy Watkins.

Chevy Chase - Cornelius Chase: Chevy was a nickname given to him by his grandmother. There is also a town in Maryland named Chevy Chase.

Nicolas Cage - Nicolas Coppola: Nicolas was born into a show biz family. His Grandfather was composer Carmen Coppola, his uncle is film director Francis Ford Coppola and his cousin is film director Sofia Coppola. To set himself apart from his famous family, he chose the last name Cage, taken from comic book super hero Luke Cage.

Mr. T - Laurence Tureaud: He created the persona of Mr. T while working as a bouncer. This led to an appearance on TV's Games People Play in a toughest bouncer competition. He was seen by Sylvester Stallone who offered him a part in the movie Rocky III.

Michael Keaton - Michael Douglas: Born with the same name as an established movie star, Michael looked for inspiration from another movie star, Diane Keaton, for a new last name.

Charlie Sheen - Carlos Estevez:  Charlie adopted his father Martin Sheen's screen name. Martin, a Catholic, took the last name from archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.

Great Songs About Cars

Little Deuce Coupe - The Beach Boys (1963): This song was originally released as the B-side to Surfer Girl. It is one of many tracks about cars that the band recorded; Fun Fun Fun, Little Honda, 409 etc.

Low Rider - War (1974): Released off the Why Can't We Be Friends album, this track reached #7 on the billboard singles chart. Over the years it has been featured on many films and TV shows including both The Simpsons and Family Guy.


I'm In Love With My Car - Queen (1975): This song is written and song by drummer Roger Taylor. Along with Radio Ga Ga, it is his most famous recording with the band.

Long May You Run - The Stills Young Band (1976): Neil Young wrote this song about his Buick Roadmaster Hearse. He performed the song during the closing ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Mercury Blues - David Lindley (1981): A cover of a song written in 1949, there are many versions but David Lindley's is the most famous.

Red Barchetta - Rush (1981): This song from the Moving Pictures album is about a boy and his uncle restoring an "illegal" motor car and outracing the authorities, who are in flying cars (I'd rather have a flying car). Barchetta is an Italian word for a two seater convertible.

Little Red Corvette - Prince (1983): This track from the album 1999 is actually about a woman, not a car. Prince feels it's the woman who's "...movin' much too fast".

Panama - Van Halen (1984): Panama is the nickname of David Lee Roth's car. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen would record music onto a cassette, give it to Dave, and Dave would have someone chauffeur him around L.A. playing the cassette while he wrote lyrics.

Pink Cadillac - Bruce Springsteen (1984): Originally released in 1984 as the B-side to the single Dancing In The Dark. A few years later Natalie Cole would score a hit with her version. It was also the title of a Clint Eastwood film.

Dragula - Rob Zombie (1998): Dragula is the name of the car from the TV show The Munsters.

The Last Ten Films Of Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe made her film debut in 1947 in the film Dangerous Years. She would spend the next six years paying her dues as a second tier actress in such films as The Asphalt Jungle (1950) and All About Eve (1950). All this changed in 1953, when she starred in the box office hits Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How To Marry A Millionaire (not to mention appearing in the first issue of Playboy magazine). From then on she was a superstar; a top billed actress and a style icon to millions of women. This period, 1953 until her death in 1962, she only made ten films. Here is a quick look at the films starring Marilyn Monroe the superstar:

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953): Two singers take a boat cruise to Paris. Co-starring Jane Russell, this is the movie where Marilyn sings Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend.

How To Marry A Millionaire (1953): Three women on the prowl for millionaire husbands. Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall are the other two women. Second from last film appearance of William Powell.

River Of No Return (1954): Western featuring Marilyn rafting down a river with Robert Mitchum.

There's No Business Like Show Business (1954): All-star musical also starring Ethel Merman, Donald O'Connor and Mitzi Gaynor.

The Seven Year Itch (1955): Middle aged husband and father is tempted by a beautiful woman while his family is away. This film has the iconic scene of Marilyn having her dress blown up by a steam vent.

Bus Stop (1956): Romance between a rodeo cowboy and a singer.

The Prince And The Showgirl (1957): Laurence Olivier co-stars as a prince who romances...well, a showgirl. The recent movie My Week With Marilyn (starring Michelle Williams) is set during the making of this film.

Some Like It Hot (1959): Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis dress as women to hide from mobsters.

Let's Make Love (1960): Marilyn's last comedy musical, co-starring Yves Montand.

The Misfits (1961): Last movie for both Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable.

Ten Strange Tom Cruise Facts

Real Name: Thomas Cruise Mapother IV

His family lived for a time in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and attended the same high school as singer Bryan Adams and comedian Tom Green.

Before starting his movie career Tom considered becoming a Catholic monk, he even attended a Franciscan seminary.

Tom's first wife Mimi Rogers (1986 - 1990) introduced him to Scientology.

Tom has been married three times. All three of his wives have been taller than him and each one is 11 years young than the last. He divorced each wife when they turned 33.

Believes that Scientology cured his dyslexia.

Tom is one of the highest ranking members in the church of Scientology, possibly as his as third.

Wears braces on his teeth which he removes when he films movies.

Tom turned down roles in the movies Rumble Fish (1983), Footloose (1984), Cry Baby (1990), Bonfire Of The Vanities (1990), Ghost (1990), The Doors (1991), Speed (1994), Wall Street (1987), Donnie Brasco (1997), The Matrix (1999),  Alexander (2004), I Am Legend (2007),  The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008) and Iron Man (2008).

Tom has also been romantically connected to Cher, Penelope Cruz, Jennifer Lopez and Sofia Vergara.

Best Michael Jackson Songs

Superstar Michael Jackson had many hit songs (13 number ones on Billboard singles chart) these are possibly his biggest and most defining:


1. Beat It (1982): With it's sizzling Eddie Van Halen guitar solo, this track helped Jackson cross over from R&B to mainstream rock / pop. The video features Michael in his iconic red leather jacket.


2. Billie Jean (1982): Michael mania really takes off with this track, the second single off the Thriller and the album's first number one.

3. Thriller (1982): The video was directed by John Landis (An American Werewolf In London, Coming To America) and featured monster make up by Rick Baker (also An American Werewolf In London). Horror actor Vincent Price makes a guest appearance on the single.

4. Smooth Criminal (1987): The seventh single off the album Bad. It was also featured in the movie Moonwalker (1988).

5. Say Say Say (1983): The first single off the Thriller was the duet with Paul McCartney The Girl Is Mine. The follow up collaboration between the two was Say Say Say, released off Paul's Pipes Of Peace Album.

6. Bad (1987): The title track off Michael's long awaited follow up album to Thriller. The video was directed by Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull).

7. Black Or White (1991): The first single off Dangerous. The video was also directed by John Landis, and co stars Macaulay Culkin and George Wendt (Norm from TV's Cheers).

8. Rock With You (1979): From the album Off The Wall

9. Man In The Mirror (1987): One of Jackson's most emotional songs. This song was co written by Siedah Garrett, who also duets with him on I Just Can't Stop Loving You. The video is very powerful to watch and features many famous people including Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa, Gandhi and John Lennon.

10. Don't Stop Til You Get Enough (1979): The first single from the album Off The Wall and Michael's first Number one since Ben (1972).