Angelina Jolie

BIRTHDAY

June 04, 1975

Los Angeles, California, United States

BIOGRAPHY:

From Hollywood wild-child to Academy Award winner to respected U.N. Goodwill Ambassador, actress Angelina Jolie underwent a series of metamorphic transformations over the course of her career. An exceedingly beautiful, strikingly talented performer, Jolie broke onto the scene in the mid-1990s, quickly gaining a reputation for both her on-screen work as well as her outrageous off-camera antics. Interestingly enough, however, within a decade, Jolie shed her reckless image and successfully managed to re-invent herself – not only as an artist, but also as a celebrity humanitarian of the highest order. Only half-chidingly dubbed by Esquire magazine as “the best woman in the world, in terms of her generosity, her dedication and her courage,” Jolie seemed intent on remaking her image on her own terms, even as the tabloids struggled to scandalize it. In the mid-2000s, Jolie’s public profile exploded into another stratosphere when she became romantically linked with the "sexiest man alive," Brad Pitt. After his then scandalous divorce from wife Jennifer Aniston, Pitt and Jolie slowly came out as a couple to the delight of the world’s paparazzi. Now one half of the “most gorgeous couple on earth,” Jolie used her celebrity to bring attention to a number of worthwhile causes – winning the grudging respect of even the most cynical of her critics.

The daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, Angelina Jolie (Voight) was born on Jun. 4, 1975 in Los Angeles, CA. Like her older brother by two years, director James Haven (Voight,) Jolie seemed destined for a career in the arts. At the age of 11, she began studying at the famed Lee Strasberg Theater Institute in NYC. Even before commencing her formal training, Jolie made her screen debut as a tyke in a bit part in the Hal Ashby-directed comedy "Lookin' to Get Out" (filmed in 1980; released 1982). While reviewers savaged the movie (which was co-scripted and co-produced by her father, Jon), its littlest thespian fortunately emerged unscathed. The experience briefly turned young Angelina off of show business – she even briefly considered going into funeral directing for a time – but because it was in her blood, she eventually bounced back.

With two extremely photogenic parents, it came as no surprise that Jolie inherited gorgeous good looks – most striking of all were lush lips which made her a standout from all other young girls. Her comeliness allowed her to segue back into show business, first as a professional model, and later, as an actress in music videos. In addition to appearing in five student films directed by her older brother, Jolie became a member of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Theatre Company, where she honed her craft alongside such veteran players as Holly Hunter, Ed Harris and Amy Madigan. Jolie made her return to the screen playing a heroic human-machine hybrid in the above-average direct-to-video sci-fi actioner, "Cyborg II: Glass Shadows" (1993), but the entry went virtually unnoticed by critics. Luckily, her flashy role as Kate (a.k.a. 'Acid Burn') in the cyber-thriller "Hackers" (1995) garnered her more attention and better notices. Paired with rising young British actor Jonny Lee Miller, Jolie played a teen computer whiz battling an evil genius. “Hackers” fizzled at the box office, but the romantic leads sizzled – both on-screen and off. Jolie and Miller’s chemistry eventually culminated in their wedding in 1996. Though the two would divorce just three years later, Jolie and Miller would remain close friends even after their break-up.

More film work readily followed for Jolie, initially in small-scale character-driven indies. In an indifferently received adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates' novel "Foxfire" (1996), Jolie played a mysterious outsider named Legs Sadovsky – described in Variety as "sort of a female James Dean" – who helps some other teenaged girls stand up for their rights. In Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna's romantic comedy-drama "Love Is All There Is" (1996), Jolie displayed a humorous and innocent light as half of a pair of star-crossed lovers divided by their families' feud. That same year, the actress appeared in the high-minded suspense drama "Without Evidence,” playing a drug-addicted teen, and "Mojave Moon,” opposite Danny Aiello. Next came "Playing God" (1997), in which Jolie capably essayed a woman torn between her gangster boyfriend (Timothy Hutton) and a discredited doctor (David Duchovny) in his employ. While the films remained largely unseen by most moviegoers, Jolie received strong notices for each of these projects.

Unlike many feature stars, Jolie showed no compunction about working on the small screen. Case in point: during the late 1990s, the actress appeared in a handful of exceptional made-for-TV productions that effectively allowed her to strut her stuff on her own terms. In 1997, Jolie received top notices for her co-starring turn alongside Annabeth Gish and Dana Delaney as Texas pioneers in the 1997 CBS historical miniseries, "True Women." Jolie then brought a fiery passion to her portrayal of Cornelia Wallace, the politician's first wife, in the biographical miniseries "George Wallace" (TNT, 1997). But it was her dazzling turn as another real-life figure – the late supermodel Gia Carangi – that catapulted Jolie into the public consciousness. Jolie’s brave, sensitive performance as the drug-addicted, AIDS-stricken title character in HBO's excellent biopic "Gia" (1998) brought the beauty widespread critical acclaim. For her efforts, Jolie was twice Emmy-nominated in the supporting category for "George Wallace" (which she lost to co-star Mare Winningham) and in the leading category for "Gia" (which she ended up losing to Ellen Barkin). Fortunately, Jolie received more-than-adequate consolation for her Emmy losses by picking up two back-to-back Golden Globe Awards for both performances.

After this spate of acclaimed television appearances, Jolie found her way back into in films, landing roles that similarly showcased her acting strengths. In 1998, Jolie received special notice for her work in the comedy-drama "Playing By Heart" (1998), as Joan, an outgoing club kid smitten with the sullen Keenan (Ryan Phillippe). Vivid and engaging, Jolie easily held her own among an ensemble cast featuring such luminaries as Gena Rowlands and Sean Connery. The following year, the actress joined John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton in Mike Newell's Big Apple-set comedy about air traffic controllers, "Pushing Tin" (1999). Jolie later got her feet wet in the increasingly crowded crime-drama pond playing a tough rookie cop assisting a quadriplegic detective (Denzel Washington) in "The Bone Collector” (1999), a flawed, but well-acted serial-killer thriller directed by Philip Noyce. Jolie finally rounded out the year by landing the much sought-after co-starring role of the disturbed Lisa Rowe in "Girl, Interrupted.” Based on author Susanna Kaysen's best-selling memoir of her own two-year stay in a psychiatric hospital, Jolie’s showy turn as the sociopathic inmate netted Jolie a Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

But public respect would come neither immediately nor easily for Jolie, even after winning Hollywood’s highest honor. Far more interested in her girl-gone-wild ways, the tabloids tended to dismiss her talents in favor of her more unorthodox personal life. Among the gossip fodder were her exotic tattoos, extensive collection of knives and her past “cutting” experiences, her provocative revelations and her intimations of a profoundly edgy sex life. The tabloids also made much hay out of Jolie’s close relationship with her look-alike brother, James Haven – a bond which raised many eyebrows after Jolie planted a passionate kiss on his lips in plain view of drooling paparazzi. It did not help matters when she declared she was “in love with her brother” upon accepting the Oscar. Media saturation would reach a boiling point, however, in mid 2000, when Jolie became the fifth wife of her “Pushing Tin” co-star – the equally eccentric and significantly older actor Billy Bob Thornton. A match made in tabloid heaven, the couple's constant declarations of love and erotic devotion to each other was capped by the wacky revelation that the two wore vials of one another's blood around each other’s necks and had sex in the car on the way to the “Pushing Tin” premiere.

Her off-screen quirks notwithstanding, the actress continued portraying tough young women on the big screen. In the flashy but unfulfilling car heist thriller "Gone in 60 Seconds" (2000), Jolie crackled in scenes even opposite notorious scene-stealing star, Nicolas Cage. Jolie’s next project was as the flesh-and-blood embodiment of the titular adventuress in "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" (2001). Based on the wildly popular “Tomb Raider” video game franchise, Lara Croft launched an Indiana Jones-style adventure series which failed to impress critics, but racked up a healthy box office take. The film also marked Jolie’s first adult collaboration with her father, Jon Voight, who played her character's father in the film. Shortly after their on-screen pairing, however, Voight made a series of disparaging comments regarding his daughter’s mental emotional stability (or lack thereof) to the American entertainment newsmagazine “Access Hollywood” (Synd., 1996-). Outraged by the insult, Jolie immediately responded by painting Voight as a philandering, self-righteous hypocrite who cheated on her mother. The resulting rift between father-and-daughter would last for several years and several on-camera pleas by Voight to give him another chance.

Meanwhile, back on the career front, Jolie – possibly distracted by her tumultuous personal crises – seemed a bit unfocused in her next two features. Starring opposite Antonio Banderas in the dismal noir-wannabe “Original Sin" (2001), Jolie came off less than committed, despite some steamy – and heavily hyped – erotic sequences. Her follow-up, the dramatic vehicle "Life or Something Like It" (2002) – in which she played a superficial, platinum blonde newscaster forced to examine her existence more closely – also died quickly. Jolie subsequently took a significant hiatus from film, but continued to make headlines in her personal life, divorcing Thornton in 2003 amid rumors of his infidelity (which he denied). It was also rumored that Jolie’s recent adoption of a baby boy from a Cambodian orphanage whom she named Maddox, did not help matters. The couple was allegedly at different points in their life and thus, split.

The actress returned to familiar territory for her comeback screen vehicle, the sequel "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" (2003), a lackluster follow-up to a lackluster first outing. Reflecting their off-screen internecine tensions, Voight, did not reprise his role in this second follow-up. “Cradle of Life” was followed by a turn in the too-righteous political/romantic drama "Beyond Borders" (2003). After this came a dangerous foray into Ashley Judd territory with a starring role in the routine thriller "Taking Lives" (2004), in which Jolie played an FBI profiler caught up in dangerous and erotic intrigue. Signing up for another purely commercial vehicle, the actress adopted another rich accent as she winkingly played the eyepatch-sporting Captain Frankie Cook, the leader of an all-female amphibious attack squadron, in the retro action-adventure "Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow" (2004). Cast opposite Jude Law and fellow Oscar-winner, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jolie joined the CGI-laden action-adventure battling giant robots in an Art Deco, 1930s-era environment. Jolie then lent her voice to the finny femme fatale, Lola, in DreamWorks' CGI-animated underwater underworld opus "A Shark’s Tale" (2004). Finally, Jolie closed out the year with a bizarrely seductive turn as Alexander's mother, Olympias, who raises her son to believe in his impressive destiny, in Oliver Stone's epic historical bomb, "Alexander the Great.”

Jolie's profile as both a movie star and public figure rose to even more epic proportions when she co-starred with the equally lovely actor Brad Pitt in the Doug Liman-helmed actionfest "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (2005). In it, the actors played a bored married couple who are actually rival assassins, each hired to kill the other. Almost from the get-go, spurious rumors abounded of an on-set romance between Jolie and Pitt – innuendo that contributed to Pitt's subsequent split from his high-profile marriage to actress Jennifer Aniston. Though both Pitt and Jolie initially refuted the rumors – the two later took a coyer stance after being photographed together numerous times post-Aniston separation. The intense media and public interest in their possible romance propelled “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” to huge box office receipts, thanks in large part to their palpable on-screen chemistry. Needless to say, the "are they or aren't they?" nature of the Jolie-Pitt coupling captivated star watchers and quickly became the most written-about celebrity story of 2005 – even prompting the coining of the term "Brangelina."

Taking a page from the playbook of the late Audrey Hepburn, Jolie began using her celebrity status to bring attention to such humanitarian causes as the plight of violence-torn nations. As their relationship gradually emerged in the public eye, Pitt began to accompany Jolie on her missions of mercy to third world nations and grow ever more attached to her son, Maddox. Away from the screen, Jolie expressed a dedication and commitment to increasing awareness and aid to counties devastated by internal and external conflicts, disease and third world conditions. In 2001, after the actress made several trips to the war-torn nations of Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Pakistan, Jolie had been appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It was during one of these trips that in 2005, she adopted an infant daughter from an Ethiopian orphanage whom she named Zahara. Later that year, surprising the world at large, Pitt petitioned to adopt the two children as his own. A year later, on May 27, 2006, Jolie and Pitt welcomed their biological firstborn child into the world – a daughter named Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt. Clearly serious about starting a family, in March 2007 – Jolie and Pitt made headlines once again by adopting a fourth child – a three-year-old boy from Vietnam whom they named Pax. And no one was surprised when the couple gave birth to twins Vivienne and Knox in 2008.

Returning to the big screen later that summer, Jolie next starred as Marianne Pearl, the wife of murdered journalist Daniel Pearl, in the gripping drama “A Mighty Heart” (2007). Though Jolie’s casting initially sparked a furor of controversy among minority groups, as Marianne Pearl was of Afro-Cuban/Dutch ancestry, much of the complaints dissipated upon the film’s release. Hailed by many as quite possibly the boldest performance of her career, Jolie’s portrayal of Marianne Pearl was rooted in dignity and reflected a tragic truthfulness free of exploitative sentimentality. Unfortunately, the serious film was released during the summer box office season, rendering it lost amidst all the big-budget special effect movies. Also that year, Jolie became a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, then received the International Rescue Committee’s annual Freedom Award for her contributions to the cause of refugees and human freedom.

Back on the big screen, Jolie starred in the high-action comic book thriller, “Wanted” (2008), playing a supersensory assassin who mentors an office-bound wimp (James McAvoy), turning him into a highly-skilled member of a centuries-old order of hit men. Following a leading voice role as Tigress in the blockbuster animated family comedy, “Kung Fu Panda” (2008), Jolie returned to Oscar-caliber form with “Changeling” (2008), a period thriller inspired by true events directed by Clint Eastwood. Jolie played a distressed mother taking on the Los Angeles Police Department in 1928 when her son mysteriously reappears after having gone missing. Sure that the boy is not her son and in search of answers, she fights a corrupt bureaucracy that tries to publicly declare her unfit and delusional. Jolie’s strong performance earned her nominations at both the Golden Globes and Academy Awards for Best Actress.

Michael Jackson

BIRTHDAY

August 29, 1958

Gary, Indiana, United States

DIED

June 25, 2009

BIOGRAPHY:

A star since the age of 12 when The Jackson Five registered four No. 1 hits in 1970, Michael Jackson parlayed his remarkable singing and dancing talents into mega-stardom, the likes of which few entertainers have ever known. By the time he released Thriller in 1982, which quickly became the best-selling album in the history of recorded music, Jackson was the biggest pop icon in the world. Yet at the very height of his fame, allegations of child molestation severely damaged his career, sending the "eccentric" performer into an even more reclusive posture than usual. The son of an abusive father who drove him and his brothers mercilessly to their success, he missed out on a normal childhood, forced not only to convey the composure of an adult in his little boy's body as the front man for the popular group, but also to branch out simultaneously as a solo artist. Jackson was more than equal to the task as his stunning accomplishments attested, but what price did he pay for a lifetime in the spotlight? It was not so farfetched that his penchant for surrounding himself with children was an attempt to vicariously experience the joys of a childhood sacrificed at the altar of the recording industry. But even that was subject to intense scrutiny when he was accused of sexual abuse of a child in 1993 and in 2004; the latter resulting in a media circus trial that ended in his acquittal. Regardless of his status – either as a pop icon or alleged child molester – there was no doubt that Jackson was the subject of endless public fascination. On June 25, 2009, his position as a tragic American icon was solidified when, during rehearsals for a series of comeback concerts in the UK, he collapsed and was rushed to an area L.A. hospital, where he was pronounced dead at age 50. The announcement sent shock waves around the world, as fans mourned the one and only King of Pop.

Born on Aug. 29, 1958 in Gary, IN, Jackson was one of nine siblings who joined his four older brothers in the act his father was presenting at various clubs in the Chicago area. When they first auditioned for Berry Gordy's Motown label, he had not yet reached his 10th birthday, but he was already a seasoned professional, displaying some dazzling footwork on James Brown's "I Got the Feeling" that would have made the Godfather of Soul proud. With Gordy's backing, The Jackson Five exploded into the national consciousness with "I Want You Back", "ABC," "The Love You Save" and “I'll Be There" all occupying the top spot on the Billboardchart before 1970 had run its course. Two years later, Michael enjoyed his first solo No. 1 hit with "Ben," from his second album. Chafing at the artistic restraints applied by Gordy, the brothers left Motown for Epic, changed their name and brought out The Jacksons (1976), containing Michael's first published song, "Blues Away". He made his feature debut in "The Wiz" (1978) at age 20, contributing some brilliant dance work in his role as the Scarecrow."

During the filming of "The Wiz," Jackson renewed an old acquaintance with producer Quincy Jones, and their subsequent collaborations would earn him the title he would claim the rest of his life – the 'King of Pop.' They warmed up with Off the Wall (1979), but really scored with their second effort, Thriller (1982), featuring three No. 1 hits ("The Girl Is Mine," "Billie Jean" and "Beat It"). Winner of seven Grammy Awards, it remains the best-selling album in the history of the recording industry and was still selling well over a million copies a year in 1995, 13 years after its release. In association with it, Jackson starred in John Landis' "Thriller" video, considered the best music video ever made. A teaming with Paul McCartney led to another No. 1 single, "Say, Say, Say" (1983), before he co-wrote (with Lionel Ritchie), "We Are the World" (1985), in an effort to raise the world's consciousness about the plight of famine-stricken nations in Africa. Produced by Jones with an all-star cast, it won the Song of the Year Grammy for 1985.

Jackson starred in the 3-D fantasy short, "Captain EO" (1986), a popular film with children shown at Disney's Epcot Center and Disneyland theme park, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by George Lucas. His last album with Jones, Bad (1987), yielded an unprecedented five No. 1 hits, and – as was the case with Thriller – every track was memorable. He released one more successful album, Dangerous (1991), before excessive media attention regarding his alleged misconduct would turn people against him.

In 1993, the singer had his first brush with controversy when he was accused of abusing a 13-year-old boy in his entourage. Having become friends the previous year, Jackson was reportedly a virtual member of the boy’s family. But the child – who first revealed the abuse to his father after being put under the influence of Amytal Sodium (a.k.a. “Truth Serum”) – told a psychiatrist, and later police, that Jackson had molested him. When the news broke, Jackson and his family strongly denied that he was a pedophile, while the King of Pop himself suffered a major blow to his popularity. After becoming dependant on drugs to alleviate the stress, he canceled the remainder of his tour and sought treatment overseas. Upon his return to the United States, Jackson was subjected to a 25-minute strip search after it became known that the boy claimed to be able to describe Jackson’s genitals. Not a definitive match, the description had strong similarities. Through it all, Jackson maintained his innocence in public. Eventually, he settled with the accuser’s family out of court for $22 million, while criminal charges were never filed due to lack of evidence after the boy’s father refused to testify.

The heavily-hyped HIStory (1995) sold poorly, failing to recoup its promotional expenses, and he released Blood on the Dance Floor(1997) with little fanfare. Jackson debuted his controversial "Ghosts" video – a narcissistic defense of himself – in selected U.S. cities on Halloween 1996, but quickly withdrew it, though it surfaced again at Cannes the following May. Despite the negative scrutiny, Jackson and his brothers entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

Always charismatic, Jackson transformed himself during the 1980s into an almost other-worldly icon, fond of wearing one glove, sparkling socks, tape on his fingers and military regalia. But the line between the performer and private man became blurred. Excessive cosmetic surgery to substantially alter his looks, public appearances wearing a surgical mask, and a preference for animals and children over adults earned him a reputation as a “Wacko Jacko.” Even fatherhood and two marriages – including a sort-lived, hard-to-comprehend union with Elvis Presley's daughter Lisa Marie (made even more unpalatable by their unconvincing lip-lock at an MTV awards ceremony) and another one to his doctors' receptionist – have failed to dispel the notion that the singer was a freak, of sorts. To fully remove the tarnish from his crown, the King of Pop needed another hit, and if his excessive wealth had not totally estranged him from reality, then this perfection-obsessed artist might have surely delivered the goods again.

Meanwhile, Jackson released the album Invincible in 2001, which, for all intents and purposes, was a commercial flop. It was heavily promoted by Sony and cost a hefty $30 million to produce. The album spawned one moderate hit, "Butterflies," which was remixed with rapper Eve. In 2002, Jackson accused Sony of racism and said the label failed to adequately promote his album. Sony was shocked, saying they spared no expense in touting the album’s release. The accusations only served to further solidify Jackson's reputation as “out of touch" with reality. The weirdness of Jackson's self-created and possibly sordid world definitively overwhelmed both his prodigious talent and respected career in 2002 and 2003. The singer made headlines around the world after dangling his infant son Prince Michael II – with a blanket obscuring the child's face – over the balcony of his Berlin hotel room, prompting criticism of his unorthodox parenting skills and resurrecting the old allegations of child abuse.

Although he admitted his behavior was a mistake, Jackson swiftly escalated his erratic reputation by shocking fans with his public appearance at a civil trial in Santa Maria, CA. Jackson arrived at the courthouse on crutches and with his nose looking as if it were suffering – indeed, caving in – from an overabundance of plastic surgery. Next, an interview by British journalist Martin Bashir, who was granted unprecedented access to Jackson's private world, aired on "20/20" (ABC, 1978- ) newsmagazine and drew 27.1 million viewers, most of whom were shocked by the portrait of the singer's bizarre lifestyle. Jackson filed a complaint with television watchdog groups and claimed that the interview was edited to cast him in an unfavorable light. He subsequently backed out of a much-promoted "60 Minutes" (CBS, 1968- ) interview, instead offering his own privately crafted rebuttal to Bashir's report on the two-hour Fox special, "Michael Jackson, Take Two: The Interview They Wouldn't Show You."

The furor died down for several months, but the flames were fanned again in November 2003, just as Jackson's greatest hits package Number Ones was about to hit stores. Santa Barbara police descended on his Neverland Ranch to investigate claims that the musician had molested a 12-year-old boy on the premises. Amid a media furor, Jackson, who was filming a music video in Las Vegas, was required to surrender himself to authorities, prompting video images of the singer in handcuffs. Booked on suspicion of child molestation and released on $3 million bail, he subsequently called the allegations as "outrageous" and "false" and hired celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos to defend him. In the wake of his arrest, CBS indefinitely postponed a primetime Jackson network special that had been scheduled for Nov. 26, while devoted fans staged candlelight vigils protesting his innocence. Meanwhile, plans for finding a full-time performing home in Las Vegas evaporated; the Jackson family and celebrity friends such as Elizabeth Taylor publicly rushed to his defense; and doubts about Jackson's accuser, who previously accused others of child abuse – including own his father – began to surface.

Jackson's compilation album, with the ironically titled new single, "One More Chance," debuted to tepid sales in the United States, where his commercial appeal had dimmed considerably. But Jackson still managed to top other music charts in countries around the world where he was still considered a pop superstar. The stage was set for what promised to be the most sensational celebrity court case since the O.J. Simpson trial, and indeed a circus atmosphere prevailed: celebrities including Jay Leno, Chris Tucker and Macaulay Culkin were called to testify, while the not-so-lily-white past of the accuser's family was aired in court. Among the accusations, Jackson was accused of providing his sleepover guests with alcohol he allegedly called "Jesus Juice," as well as pornography. Throughout the entire sordid affair, Jackson made a spectacle of himself by wearing outrageous outfits into court and indulging in impromptu performances for the fans and gawkers who gathered outside the courthouse for a glimpse of the pop star.

Toward the end of the lengthy trial, however, Jackson appeared more and more haggard, allegedly suffering from ill health. Despite all of the sideshow distractions, in June 2005, jurors in the child-molestation trial found Jackson not guilty on all 10 counts against him, although some of the jurors said publicly their decision was based on reasonable doubt and that not all of them believed Jackson was entirely innocent. His attorneys vowed that Jackson would never again allow the children of others into his bed and make himself vulnerable to further accusations. Immediately on the heels of the verdict, the pop star was also reportedly offered a long term residency and $80 million to perform at the planned casino going up next to Trump International Hotel & Tower in Las Vegas.

Despite his acquittal, Jackson was not out of the tabloid woods yet. In 2006, reports of Jackson’s financial woes became more rampant, with the star being forced to close part of his Neverland Ranch in order to save money. Adding further weight to his financial problems, he was forced to take out two substantial loans, including one for $300 million from Sony in exchange for the media company having the option of buying half of Jackson’s stake in their jointly owned publishing company, leaving the pop star with a 25 percent share. After agreeing to joint custody of his children with ex-wife Debbie Rowe, Jackson solidified his financial standing when he bought the rights to songs by Eminem, Beck and others from Viacom in partnership with Sony. Meanwhile, he released Thriller 25 in celebration of that album’s 25th anniversary, which also contained some new cuts and remixes that reached moderate success, including “The Girl is Mine 2008” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ 2008.”

Now on the verge of rehabilitating his image, Jackson released a compilation album called King of Pop – though not in the United States – while he was scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts at the O2 Arena in London. But the concerts – which would have drawn over one million people – were put on hold when the sudden news broke that Jackson was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital on June 25, 2009. According to various news sources, paramedics found him not breathing after a 911 call to his Bel Air home and had gone into cardiac arrest in the ambulance while en route to the UCLA Medical Center. When initial reports came in, an anonymous source close to the family was quoted as saying that the pop star was in “really bad shape.” His father, who was in Las Vegas at the time, soon confirmed that his son was “not doing well.” Within just a few hours, the sad news came that shocked the world – Jackson had died of a heart attack. He was just 50 years old.

Jenna Jameson

BIRTHDAY

April 09, 1974

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

BIOGRAPHY:

As the self-described “most downloaded person on the Internet,” porn star Jenna Jameson has emerged from college dorm room stardom to become a household name. Contrary to popular belief, Jameson never used her profession as a stepping stone to mainstream acting or as a substitute for a career in entertainment gone bad. With the determination to become the most popular star in the industry, Jameson accomplished just that, becoming so famous that she wound up atop her own merchandising company with carte blanche to appear in any movie of her choosing—or none at all. Despite typifying the porn star cliché—she has been abused and was a drug addict—Jameson’s unabashed biography, How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale, has only complicated rather than simplified the argument that porn either exploits or empowers women.

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jameson lost her showgirl mother to skin cancer when she was 3 years-old. Left to her own designs by her well-meaning, but constantly working dad, Jameson and her brother, Tony, were free to roam and explore new things, like sex and drugs. While a young teen, she lost her virginity to a boy she liked while passed out drunk at a party. She was later gang-raped by several boys from another high school at a time when her family had moved to Montana—an experience Jameson was convinced she was not meant to survive. At 16, she feel in love with a tattoo artist who gave Jameson her trademark double-heart on her bum. After moving in together, she was encouraged to find work as a stripper. Her boyfriend took nude photos while Jameson shopped herself around Vegas for dancing jobs. One club told her to reapply after she had her braces removed—which she did that night with the help of her brother and a pair of needle-nose pliers. The next day she got the job.

Stripping at clubs like Crazy Horse Too led to posing for various magazines, including Penthouse and Hustler. Meanwhile, Jameson had developed an addiction to crystal meth—so crippling was her problem that she moved back in with her dad, who had moved to California, to cleanse her system. Then in 1993, Jameson began making softcore pornography, which soon segued into hardcore—surprisingly, with her father’s blessing. Her first video, “Up and Cummers 11,” was made in 1994. At first she only performed girl-on-girl scenes, but soon made her first film with a man, “Cherry Pie” (1994), in which she played a character called Betty Blueballs. After doing several films with Vivid Video, she signed an exclusive contract with Wicked Pictures, telling founder Steve Ornstein that “the most important thing…[was] to become the biggest star the industry has ever seen.”

Jameson quickly made good on her promise. At 21, she won Best New American Starlet at the Hot D’Or Awards in Cannes—the industry’s version of the Academy Awards. Meanwhile, she sent photos to radio Shock Jock Howard Stern and soon appeared regularly on his morning program. Stern was instrumental in boosting Jameson’s career, casting her—albeit for a brief nude scene—in his autobiography, “Private Parts” (1997). In 1999, Jameson was honored with two lifetime achievement awards: one from Adult Video News, the other from the Hot D’Or Awards. Meanwhile, her personal life began to brighten. After marrying and quickly separating from coworker Rodney Hopkins (a.k.a. Brad Armstrong), she met porn producer Jay Grdina, who proposed to Jameson while she was still technically married. Before the ink had dried on the divorce, Jameson and Grdina married and eventually bought a home in Scottsdale, AZ, where the two formed Club Jenna, a merchandising company that featured movies for download and a variety of products, including bobble head dolls, Got Jenna? T-shirts and a mold of her pelvic region—complete with lubricant and talcum powder.

As her popularity at video stores and online grew, she started crossing over to mainstream entertainment. She hosted episodes of E! Entertainment Television’s “Wild On” and provided household tips on “The Man Show” (Comedy Central, 1994-2004), while making appearances on “Entertainment Tonight” (Syndicated, 1981- ) and “Extra” (Syndicated, 1994- ). She also provided her voice on an episode of “Family Guy” (Fox, 1998- ) and had a recurring role as herself on the short-lived political drama, “Mister Sterling” (NBC, 2003). In 2003, E! Entertainment aired a two-hour “True Hollywood Story” in which she talked about overcoming her inner demons and her rise as the industry’s most powerful porn actress. Meanwhile, she appeared with other industry stars in the documentary, “Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy” (2001), then made her first mainstream feature film as a fictional character in the straight-to-video comedy about a slow-witted gumshoe (Danny Masterson), “Dirt Merchant” (2002). Jameson also crossed-over to the video game realm, providing the voice of the prostitute Candy Suxx in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. She even made a cameo appearance—again as herself—in the Robert DeNiro-Billy Crystal comedy, “Analyze That” (2002).

Throughout her career, Jameson made upwards of fifty films, some of which were big sellers, including her most popular, “Brianna Loves Jenna” (2001), which sold 100,000 copies on video and DVD. Though warning prospective actresses about the perils of the industry, she has debated the merits of porn on society, most notably at the Oxford Union in London and on “The O’Reilly Factor (Fox News, 1996- ) with host Bill O’Reilly. Meanwhile, her popularity soared and her acceptance into the mainstream continued unabated. Her autobiography—ghost written by former New York Times music writer Neil Strauss—was well-reviewed and quickly became a best seller, debuting on the Times’ list at No. 9. Then in 2003, she inked an exclusive deal with Vivid Entertainment: a seven year contract that allowed her to direct and star in 15 videos—an unprecedented amount of control for a porn star. In 2006 Jameson lent her voice to "Samurai Love God," an animated series from Comedy Central delivered directly to mobile-phone users.

Mark Lester

BIRTHDAY
July 11, 1958

Oxford, England, United Kingdom

Robert Pattinson

BIRTHDAY

May 13, 1986

London, England, United Kingdom

BIOGRAPHY:

In the tried and true nature of all movie magic moments, it only took one film to turn Robert Pattinson from featured player to the idol of millions of teenaged girls around the globe. The British actor, who prior to 2008 was best known as the doomed Cedric Diggory in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” (2005), was cast as Edward Cullen, the romantic vampire hero of “Twilight” (2008). The news of the casting sent shockwaves through the young adult community that worshiped the novels by Stephanie Meyer on which the film was based, and who quickly elevated Pattinson to favored pin-up status. The buzz around Pattinson seemed to solidify what the British press had ordained him in 2005 – a “Star of Tomorrow.”

Born Robert Thomas-Pattinson on May 13, 1986 in London, England, he was raised in the suburb of Barnes by his parents, Clare and Robert Pattinson. Acting captured his fancy at an early age and soon supplanted schoolwork as his sole focus. As a teenager, he joined the prestigious Barnes Theatre Club, which gave him an education in classic drama. A casting agent saw him in a production of “Tess of the D’urbervilles” and encouraged him to pursue performing as a career. He made his screen debut in 2004 in a German TV production of the epic fantasy “Ring of the Nibelungs,” which aired in the United States as “Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King” in 2006. Pattinson also landed a minor role as a younger version of James Purefoy’s character in Mira Nair’s adaptation of “Vanity Fair” (2004), but his scenes were left on the cutting room floor.

Immediately after returning from the South African set of “Nibelungs,” he was awarded the role of Cedric Diggory in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” for director Mike Newell. Diggory, the hero of rival wizard school Hufflepuff, was Harry’s opponent on both the Quidditch field and in romance, as he trumped Harry’s two wins at the TriWizard Tournament by squiring the young hero’s beloved, Cho Chang, to the Yule Ball. Diggory’s moment in the sun was short-lived, as both he and Harry faced down the sinister Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). The villain’s henchman, Peter Pettigrew, dispatched Diggory, who was mourned by the entire school. The press, in its raves over Newell’s film adaptation, singled out Pattinson for his charismatic performance, and some went as far as to name him a “future Jude Law.” The Times Online also bestowed the “Star of Tomorrow” award upon him.

Pattinson’s sudden popularity afforded him some choice roles post-“Potter.” He was top-billed as a shell-shocked World War II airman in the supernatural thriller “The Haunted Airman” for BBC Four, and later played a nerdy student with a crush on his teacher (Catherine Tate) in the highly rated drama, “The Bad Mother’s Handbook” (2007) for ITV. That same year, he returned briefly to the wizard world with a flashback cameo as Diggory in “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.”

The year 2008 saw Pattinson return to features with “How To Be,” which earned him critical acclaim for his portrayal of a depressed young man who attempts to wrest some control over his spiraling life. Pattinson also tackled the role of legendary surrealist Salvador Dali in the arthouse effort, “Little Ashes,” which explored the friendship between Dali, filmmaker Luis Bunuel and poet Federico Garcia Lorca, as well as the unusual romance that developed between the former and the latter. However, both were overshadowed by the high-powered spotlight that shone on Pattinson after he was cast as Edward Cullen in Catherine Hardwicke’s adaptation of “Twilight.” A century-old vampire trapped in the body of a 17-year-old, Cullen falls madly in love with a human girl, Isabella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and later runs afoul of a malevolent fellow bloodsucker with designs on his new girlfriend. Massively popular with teenage girls, the news of Pattinson being cast as Edward was met with almost equal excitement as the reaction to the book-to-film adaptation in the first place. Internet fan sites quickly sprung up to celebrate him and debate his crushworthy status in great detail, including everything from his unique hairdo to his handsome profile.

Kristen Stewart

BIRTHDAY

April 09, 1990

Los Angeles, California, United States

BIOGRAPHY:

An exceptionally poised young film actress with a knack for challenging roles as troubled adolescents, Kristen Stewart got her big break playing Jodie Foster’s daughter in David Fincher’s hot-wired thriller, “Panic Room” (2002). As the teen’s profile rose over the following years, Stewart consistently impressed audiences and critics alike with her realistic performances and her choice of projects – which echoed Foster’s early career by straying far from family fare and jumping right into demanding adult dramas with aplomb.

Born April 9, 1990, Stewart was raised in Los Angeles, where her father worked as a stage manager, producer and director on numerous Fox television shows and her mother was a scriptwriter. Her performance in a grade school Christmas play caught the eye of a talent agent in the audience, so at the age of eight, Stewart began auditioning for film and television roles. She landed a bit role in the Disney Channel TV production, “The Thirteenth Year” (1999) and snared a more substantial part two years later in Rose Troche’s challenging independent drama “The Safety of Objects” (2001), in which she played the tomboyish daughter of troubled single mom Patricia Clarkson. Stewart found herself at the center of a major Hollywood production in 2002 when she was cast as the juvenile lead in David Fincher’s “Panic Room.” Despite the presence of such veteran actors as Jodie Foster – to whom the youngster bore a remarkable resemblance – Stewart held her own and delivered an assured performance that led some critics to compare her skills to Foster’s early style.

In 2003, Stewart signed on to play the daughter of Dennis Quaid and Sharon Stone in another suspenseful project, Mike Figgis’ “Cold Creek Manor” (2003). However, it fared poorly with audiences. Her first leading role came with “Catch That Kid” (2004), a breezy, teen-friendly caper, with Stewart as a young mountain-climbing aficionado who orchestrates a high-tech bank robbery to pay for an operation for her gravely ill father. A minor hit with ‘tweens, it allowed Stewart a chance to show a lighter side of her acting talents and finally showcase herself to family audiences. The same year, she appeared in the psychological drama “Undertow,” which despite a cast led by Jamie Bell, Josh Lucas and Dermot Mulroney, received almost no theatrical play.

“Speak” (Showtime, 2005), based on the best-selling novel by Laurie Halse Anderson, gave Stewart the opportunity to play both dark and light in the same project. She portrayed a high school freshman who stops almost all verbal communication after being raped by an upperclassman, but retains a vivid and often sardonic running commentary in her head. She handled the complexities of the character with her customary skill and segued into Jon Favreau’s underrated space fantasy “Zathura” (2005), which, despite requiring her to remain in a state of suspended animation for part of the film, gave her a showcase for her comic skills. In 2006, Stewart starred in the Canadian feature “Fierce People,” a drama by actor-director Griffin Dunne, about a troubled masseuse (Diane Lane) who arranges for a better life for her teenage son and herself, with unfortunate results.

Stewart had a starring role in the moderately successful supernatural film “The Messengers” (2007), and her career began to soar with no less than 10 film releases in the subsequent two years. She starred opposite Meg Ryan and Adrian Brody in the comic drama “In the Land of Women” (2007), and gave a bold performance as a teenage commune dweller who falls for an idealistic young drifter (Emile Hirsch) in Sean Penn’s “Into the Wild” (2007), one of the top critics’ picks of the year. In Mary Stuart Masterson’s well-received directorial debut “The Cake Eaters” (2007), Stewart gave an excellent performance as a young woman with a debilitating disease, and in the Hollywood satire “What Just Happened?” (2008), she was memorable as the rebellious teenage daughter of a stressed-out studio executive (Robert De Niro).

In the fall of 2008, Stewart co-starred in the highly anticipated film adaptation of “Twilight,” Catherine Hardwicke’s acclaimed novel about a teenage girl who falls in love with a handsome vampire. Finally featured in a youth-oriented mainstream release, Stewart earned legions of new fans through her work in the goth love story. The 18-year-old began to segue into young adult roles with the independent film offerings “Adventureland” (2008), a comedy about employees of an amusement park, and the domestic drama “Welcome to the Rileys,” starring James Gandolfini.

Megan Fox

BIRTHDAY

May 16, 1986

Oak Ridge, Tennessee, United States

BIOGRAPHY:

A statuesque actress who flaunted a “bad girl” attitude both on and off the screen, Megan Fox was one of the more popular performers of the new millennium, thanks to major roles as spunky girlfriends and love interests in features like “Transformers” (2007) and numerous, provocative layouts in men’s magazines. After a successful stint as a model, she eventually graduated to television with recurring roles on “Hope and Faith” (ABC, 2003-06). But it was her breakout role via Michael Bay’s summer blockbuster “Transformers” which helped position her as the “new Angelina Jolie.” She certainly had the attitude, looks and tattoos for it. The media blitz helped her graduate to leading lady status with significant tough and sexy roles in a number of features, including the inevitable “Transformers” sequel, “Jennifer’s Body” (2009) for Oscar winner Diablo Cody, and “Jonah Hex” (2010), among others – all of which virtually assured her status as one of the most popular and publicized members of 21st century Young Hollywood.

Born Megan Denise Fox in Rockwood, TN on May 16, 1986, she was the daughter of a former tourism director for Roane County, and though a self-confessed tomboy, began exploring acting and dance at the age of five. After relocating to St. Petersburg, FL, she continued her training throughout high school, and soon added modeling to her list of endeavors. A string of wins at the 1999 American Modeling and Talent Convention convinced her to launch her acting career, so she wasted no time moving to Los Angeles while only 16. Fox made her screen debut as a bratty heiress in the Olsen Twins feature “Holiday in the Sun” (2001), where she was billed under her full name in the closing credits.

Television was her exclusive domain for the next few years, most notably on a Swedish-produced soap opera, “Ocean Ave.” (Syndicated, 2002-03). But she returned to films with a supporting role as Lindsay Lohan’s chief rival in the bubbly comedy “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen” (2004). Not realizing movie stardom was right around the corner, she revisited television as the ditzy but sweet-natured daughter of Faith Ford on the sitcom “Hope and Faith” (ABC, 2003-06). The recurring role earned her a Young Artists Award nomination in 2005.

In 2007, Fox was suddenly catapulted to stardom as the female lead of the Steven Spielberg-produced “Transformers,” based on the popular toy line and animated television series of the early 1980s. Cast opposite fellow newcomer Shia LaBeouf, Fox played yet another in her long line of popular girls, although this one offered some character wrinkles in the form of extensive automotive knowledge, which later came in handy during the film’s climactic battle. Director Michael Bay sought to blunt Fox’s fragile screen persona by requiring her to gain ten pounds of muscle prior to shooting, and bolstered the physical exhaustion required of her character by continually announcing long night shoots. The approach – though draconian – appeared to work. Critics found her a believable action heroine, and she netted several pop movie award nominations, including a 2008 nod from the MTV Movie Awards for Breakthrough Performance.

“Transformers’” key audience – young adult males – was also taking notice of Fox, though not for her acting ability. The buzz surrounding her appearance in the film led to a barrage of photo shoots for male-oriented magazines like Maxim, GQ and FHM – the latter of which named her the “Sexiest Woman in the World” in 2008 – and all of which devoted numerous pages to Fox in various states of undress, highlighting her growing collection of tattoos. The inevitable comparisons to another raven-haired actress with full, pouty lips, tattoos and a wild side were inevitable. In fact, such were the comparisons to Angelina Jolie, Fox was rumored as the replacement for the globe-trotting actress in the “Tomb Raider” film franchise, though reports from 20th Century Fox would dismiss the claim. Her comments in interviews – like her revelation that she had pursued a relationship with a female stripper while still in her teens – certainly helped to fan the publicity fire building around her, as did provocative paparazzi shots with her longtime boyfriend, “Beverly Hills, 90210” (Fox, 1990-2000) actor Brian Austin Green.

However, Fox’s return to acting after the explosive response to “Transformers” was somewhat anticlimactic. “How to Lose Friends and Alienate People” (2008), based on the best-selling memoir of Toby Young’s tenure at Vanity Fair, cast Fox as a model and lust object for Young’s stand-in (Simon Pegg). The film opened to strong box office in England, but disappeared quickly after a brief stint in North American theaters. Still, Fox’s strong presence in the media kept interest on a steady boil, and her participation in several high profile projects quickly raised the temperature. “Transformers: Rise of the Fallen” (2009) was the most obvious of these, but other action-oriented features seemed to indicate that Fox and her handlers were seeking to push her away from the glossy roles of her past. “Jonah Hex,” based on the cult Marvel Comics series, cast her as a gun-toting mistress of the Old West, while “Fathom” (2010) another feature inspired by a graphic novel, cast her as a young amnesiac recruited by the American military for her underwater abilities. The feature also served as her debut in the producer’s chair. Meanwhile, the Diablo Cody-penned “Jennifer’s Body” offered her another about-face as the title character, a cruel cheerleader who begins picking off the local boys in her small town after becoming possessed by a blood-drinking demon.