With all the glam and camera pointing at them, it is easy to say we know our favorite stars by heart, may it be their entire filmography or personal facts such as their favorite color and food. However, these people are just like normal ones too, and behind the limelight lies a persona we don't usually see onscreen.
Thanks to the internet, we can get a glimpse of what these shining stars are like when the rolling films are off, so buckle up and prepare yourselves!
Weird Al
Weird Al Yankovic is a pop culture icon for creating comedy songs and parody-specific hits. With his prominence, it's unsurprising that various brands would offer him endorsements.
While he can surely get used to the money, Weird Al declined a $5 million worth of beer commercial in the '80s. He turned it down as he believed that many of his fans were still too young, and it was not a good representation if he would endorse the product. This noble act just made him even more iconic!
James Lipton
The late James Lipton established himself as a brilliant writer, lyricist, and actor. Among his many works, he is best remembered as the executive producer, writer, and host of the Bravo cable television series "Inside the Actors Studio."
His brilliance in the entertainment field was not just everything we remember about him, as he opened up about working as a hustler in Paris during the '50s. Lipton explained to Parade that men couldn't get jobs during those times, and he entered the business out of necessity.
Jerry Springer
Jerry Springer is a name connected to so many things; on top of it, all is his tabloid talk show "Jerry Springer," which he hosted from 1991 to 2018. He also launched the "Jerry Springer Podcast" and hosted "America's Got Talent." Not only that, but he also entered the world of politics and served as the Mayor of Cincinnati from 1977 to 1978.
American television considered his tabloid talk show a notorious guilty pleasure as it touched on topics of almost all kinds.
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg has come a long way from working as an aesthetician in a mortuary to becoming a Mark Twain Prize for American Humor recipient. Before all the fame, she was trying to make ends meet and found jobs in various areas. Her career in the funeral home shaped the iconic woman she is today.
Goldberg is one of the few artists who won the EGOT, which includes an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. She is best known for "The Color Purple" and "Ghost."
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford remains the seventh-highest-grossing actor in North America. Not only that, but he also worked hard to become a licensed pilot, which saved him from one of the greatest disasters he faced.
Ford scared the world when he got involved in a plane crash incident on October 1999 when he was piloting the aircraft over the Lake Piru riverbed near Santa Clarita, California. The system was unable to recover power and landed hard. Though the helicopter was severely damaged, neither Ford nor his companion suffered injuries.
Bryan Cranston
After starring in the crime drama series "Breaking Bad," Bryan Cranston became a cultural figure, which earned him multiple Primetime Emmy recognition. Although he is nothing like the immensely troubled character he portrayed, many might not know he was a murder suspect some time ago.
Cranston shared the story of a chef he worked with whom everybody disliked and joked about harming. That chef ended up dead while Cranston was leaving the town to look for a new place. The odd timing put the beloved actor in question.
David Bowie
David Bowie gifted the world with timeless classics, including "Let's Dance" and "Fame." His contribution to the music industry does not just set Bowie apart from others, as he also features a unique eye dilation. He got into a fight with a friend, which resulted in him developing anisocoria.
The condition made his two pupils of unequal size and couldn't react to light similarly, resulting in his one eye bearing a different color. Despite this, Bowie remained among the most influential musicians of the 20th century.
Woody Harrelson
Woody Harrelson has come a long way since he first rose to prominence in the sitcom "Cheers," where he received multiple Primetime Emmy nominations. Yet, stardom has also uncovered his father's history as a hitman who was arrested for murder during the '70s.
In an interview by Barbara Walters, Harrelson expressed his feelings about his father's situation. He believed his father was innocent and was not given a fair trial. Harrelson would visit him in prison until his father passed away in 2007.
Matthew Broderick
Hollywood legend Matthew Broderick gave award-winning performances behind the classics "The Lion King" and "The Producers." The '80s saw big things for him, as it was a time when his career peaked, and he encountered one of the greatest tragedies in his life.
He was touring Ireland with then-partner Jennifer Grey, and while they were traveling on a rainy day, he crossed the wrong lane and hit a vehicle. Sadly, the two women in the opposite car were declared dead. Broderick suffered physical injuries and was faced with charges.
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher is a star to remember for many reasons. She portrayed Princess Leia in the original "Star Wars" films, and her performance made the character iconic until now. She advocated for various causes, such as women's and animal rights.
Her active persona is also remembered after she sent a cow tongue to a producer after her friend, Heather Ross, admitted that the producer had harassed her. Fisher and Ross never named the producer, but speculations about the issue continued circulating.
Lisa Presley
Lisa Presley is the daughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley. As such, she was introduced into the limelight early, and her relationship with Danny Keough was publicized. They married in 1988, shared two children, and divorced in 1994.
Lisa went on to find love until she married for the fourth time with Michael Lockwood. During her wedding with Lockwood, Keough served as the best man. In an interview with The Commercial Appeal, she shared that although they are romantically separated, Keough will always be his best friend.
Michael J. Fox
His role as Alex P. Keaton on the NBC sitcom "Family Ties" put Michael J. Fox into prominence, and now he is among Hollywood's most respectable actors. Yet, that opportunity didn't come without minor inconveniences.
Gary David Goldberg, the show's creator and showrunner shared in an interview with The Television Academy that the network executive, Brandon Tartikoff disagreed with Fox's height and looks and wanted him to be re-casted. Thankfully, Goldberg refused to do so, and Tartikoff eventually agreed to do the show, making Fox a superstar.
Rick Moranis
"Ghostbusters" perfectly combined humor, science, fiction, and technological effects. One factor that made the show unforgettable was Rick Moranis, who played the role of Louis Tully.
While the show continues to receive admiration and plans for a reboot, they recently discovered that Moranis improvised a lot of scenes and lines in the front. This includes Tully's backstory and the funny scene where he revealed information about a couple who arrived at his party. Director Ivan Reitman credited Moranis for making a huge effect despite only portraying a supporting character.
Liam Neeson
Liam Neeson ranked seventh on The Irish Times' list of Ireland's 50 Greatest Film Actors. This is no surprise after starring in some of the biggest films like "Schindler's List" and "The A-Team." Way before he pursued acting, Neeson was once a teacher.
During his teacher training, a student attacked him with a knife, and his initial response was to punch the student, which resulted in him quitting the job. Despite this, Neeson has been open about his admiration for teachers and has no regrets about being a superstar.
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis proved that she is more than just a scream queen in horror films. She invented a modified diaper design that features a moisture-proof pocket for wipes. It was a smart and timely move since baby supplies were in demand in the market at that time.
She was granted a U.S. patent number in 1988 and encouraged businesses to sell biodegradable diapers. Although her product never reached the ground, this idea remains genius. Nevertheless, she went on to star in more "Halloween" films.
Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time, with multiple accolades, including the Kennedy Center Honor. While enjoying the spotlight at the height of his career, shocking news brought by Time Magazine shook his core.
The publication discovered that June, who he believed was his sister, was his biological mother, and Ethel, who he thought was his mother, was his grandmother. Nicholson admitted to Rolling Stone that he was impressed with his family's ability to keep the secret.
Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy looked up to Richard Pryor while he was still establishing his career. However, Pryor allegedly bet $100K that he could not sing. Murphy took this comment by heart and later released three studio albums, one of which was "How Could It Be," which received a successful release.
His acting career blossomed further as he joined the comedy show "Saturday Night Live" and the film "Dr. Dolittle." His prominence earned him a Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and multiple Grammy and Emmy recognition.
Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone had humble beginnings as a struggling actor for a couple of years. During the early '70s, he was trying to make ends meet and came to a point where he had to sell his pet dog, Butkus, so he could have money for food.
Thankfully, he experienced great success upon the release of the "Rocky" film series in which he starred and wrote. The project received commercial and critical success, and thankfully, Stallone was able to buy his dog back for $3K.
Nicolas Cage and Lisa Presley
Nicolas Cage and Lisa Presley are two of Hollywood's most publicized personalities; interestingly, they once found love in each other. They married in 2002 and legally separated in 2004. Despite that, the pair remained in good riddance with each other and shared this hilarious yet expensive story.
They were fighting on a yacht when Presley immediately threw her engagement ring into the ocean. It was believed to be a $65K six-carat yellow diamond ring, and Cage hired professional scuba divers to search for it on the coast of California.
Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer established herself as among Hollywood's most bankable stars, best remembered for successful projects like "The Witches of Eastwick" and "Batman Returns." Outside of the entertainment field, she admitted that she was once part of a breatharianism cult.
The group believed that humans could live without food or water and only need sunlight for nourishment. In a talk with The Telegraph, Pfeiffer opened up that she was manipulated into the cult and was put on a diet nobody can adhere to.
Alec Guinness
Sir Alec Guinness is among the most respected personalities, and one of his most unforgettable portrayals was Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original "Star Wars" trilogy. While the film and his character obtained a great following, Guinness was neither a big fan of his role nor the story.
In an interview with the Parkinson Talk show, he explained that science fiction was not his genre, and although he wanted to change some parts of the dialogue, he kept reading the script and got stuck in it.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a man of many things – he was an actor, producer, businessman, politician, and former bodybuilder. Despite these subsequent achievements, his journey was not without difficulty.
In his autobiography "Total Recall," he opened up about a time in his life when his parents would beat him because they assumed he was gay. This was because Schwarzenegger would paste pictures of male bodybuilders in his room due to his aspirations of becoming one, while men his age would typically paste female photos.
David Bowie
David Bowie juggled acting and singing, releasing hits like "Space Oddity" and portraying roles such as in "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me." However, throughout his career, he proved that he was more than just that because once, in 1998, he invented his internet service provider.
The ISP was called "BowieNet," which offered global high-speed Internet service and would require people to pay $10 a month. The invention lasted until 2012, and people nowadays couldn't do anything but wonder what it's like to be a member.
George Michael
George Michael remains one of the best-selling musicians of all time, and his achievement in songwriting, vocal performance, and visual presentation was something to behold. One moment that got Michael into the headlines was his performance of "Somebody to Love" during "The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert."
His execution was widely regarded as one of the best, and it started rumors that he was considered to replace Freddie Mercury of Queen. The two legends surely have distinct brilliance, and it would be nice to see them rock together sometime somewhere.
Michael Jackson
King of Pop Michael Jackson is undoubtedly one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. His contributions to the world made him a highly publicized person in popular culture. As such, the whole world stopped when Jackson passed away on June 25, 2009.
Wikipedia, Twitter, and AOL are three websites that crashed simultaneously upon the news of his death. Jackson was only 50 years old when he bid farewell, and many people could not believe what had happened; they all flocked to the Internet to confirm.
Madonna
Queen of Pop Madonna has gifted the world her versatility in songwriting, vocal power, music production, and presentation with timeless classics like "La Isla Bonita" and "Like a Prayer." She has been named one of the most well-documented figures of the modern age, leading to these surprising facts.
According to a Boston celebrity genealogist Chris Child, Lady Gaga and Madonna are distant cousins. Not only that, but it is also believed that she is related to Mark Wahlberg, Gwen Stefani, and Celine Dion. Well, with all the talent oozing, it's believable!
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is known for many films, one of which is the 1983 American science fiction techno-thriller film "WarGames." The story revolves around a high school student who unwittingly hacked into a military supercomputer in hopes of playing an unreleased computer game while impressing a girl.
The movie received wide critical and commercial success upon its release, with over $125 million worldwide gross and three Academy Awards nominations. The film tackled the issue of war, technology, and the future that has developed how people view technology.
Mark Wahlberg
Before Mark Wahlberg became the multi-awarded actor that he is today, he was part of the original lineup of the American boy band "New Kids on the Block." However, he left before any recordings could be made, was replaced by Joey Melintyre, and pursued a solo career.
True enough, Wahlberg carved success in Hollywood, with critical and commercial success in big-budget movies such as "Planet of the Apes" and "The Fighter." Whether he chose singing or acting, one thing's for sure; he is a man of many talents!
Queen
Queen defined variations of the rock genre and birthed the classics "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions." They made themselves a legend and remained one of the best-selling music artists in history. Yet behind these collective victories are also individual geniuses.
Before joining the group, Taylor studied dentistry and biology; Deacon holds a bachelor's degree in electronic engineering, May has a Ph.D. in physics and astronomy, and Mercury studied art. While they could have pursued solo endeavors, they became one to bless the world with music.
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton has enjoyed a career spanning over fifty decades, and she must have probably written songs of almost all kinds. One track that made noise was the 1973 song "Jolene," which got people developing various theories about its story.
In 2008, Parton shared with NPR that she got the song's name from a beautiful little girl lining up for her autograph. On the other note, she also drew further inspiration from her life story, recalling when a red-haired bank teller was getting close to her husband, Carl Dean.
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford is regarded as a cultural icon in Hollywood today, and it all started when he played Han Solo in the space opera film, "Star Wars." Allegedly, he only received about $10K for his role in the first movie.
While that may be questionable for a star like Ford, it was because he was still not well-known then, and they were unsure if the film would be a hit. Thankfully, it did and skyrocketed his career, leading him to become the seventh highest-grossing actor in North America.
Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda might have starred in the most award-winning projects like "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" but she also took the world by storm when she released her first exercise video in 1982 titled "Jane Fonda's Workout." It became the highest-selling videotape of its time and sold over 17 million copies.
Her influence in the fitness scene extends to her fashion sense. In 2016, she auctioned off a huge wardrobe selection, including the iconic striped leopard, which reportedly sold for around $2K.
Top Gun
"Top Gun" was a massive success, with a global gross of $357 million. Its success led to a sequel, "Top Gun: Maverick," released in 2022, which surpassed the original film commercially and critically. It amassed a worldwide gross of $1.493 billion, the second-highest-grossing film of 2022.
However, the process of doing so was not without difficulties. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer shared in The Hollywood Reporter that almost every actor threw up while flying an aircraft. This was because the production, including lead Tom Cruise, intended to do everything for real.
Robin Williams
The late Robin Williams made himself one of the greatest comedians of all time, and producers and fans loved his improvisational skills in the variety of characters he portrayed. His Oscar-nominated roles include "Dead Poets Society" and "The Fisher King."
It is also believed that the roles of the Joker and Riddler were once offered to him. However, circumstances made it not happen, and the character was finally brought to life by Jack Nicholson. Despite that, Williams left an entertainment legacy filled with laughter and brilliance.
Kevin Bacon
Award-winning actor Kevin Bacon rose to prominence after performing in the musical-drama film "Footloose." While that project skyrocketed his career to stardom, he revealed that he bribes wedding Djs not to play "Footloose."
Bacon told host Conan O'Brien that he would usually go to the jockey, hand him $20, and politely ask him not to play that song. Explaining further, he said it is embarrassing to be the center of attention at a wedding where in reality, it should be the bride and groom.
OJ Simpson
OJ Simpson is an American football player and actor. His time with the National Football League made him one of the greatest running backs of all time. Among all other issues concerning Simpson, one fun fact was that he was considered to play the lead role in "The Terminator."
It was director James Cameron who stopped Simpson's casting, stating that it could offend audiences to have an African American play a role that intended to murder a white woman. The character later goes to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin is credited for defining hard rock and heavy metal. Rolling Stone even named them "unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history." Yet, their journey was not without allegations and challenges.
The rock band Spirit has a song called "Taurus," and they accused Led Zeppelin of stealing its opening riff to put it in their breakthrough song "Stairway To Heaven." This allegation started a long-standing copyright battle in which the U.S. court decided in favor of Led Zeppelin.
Jack Nicholson
It's hard to forget how Jack Nicholson gave us Oscar-nominated performances in "Easy Rider" and "The Last Detail." He has tried to keep his private life lowkey, but it is still known that he has six children. One of these is Tessa Gourin, who admitted that they aren't close, and he hasn't publicly acknowledged her as his daughter.
On the other side, Nicholson's other daughter, Honey Puffy, once entered the acting scene but later led a private life, with rumors circulating that they actually share a close father-daughter relationship.
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields has been modeling since she was a child and had her breakthrough in the acting scene for the leading role in "Pretty Baby." One unforgettable advertisement she did was the one for Calvin Klein, which featured a tight pair of jeans. The commercial sparked controversies and affected marketing.
Since the famous campaign, brand retailers were said to supply sofas for customers to lie down on. Yet, debates concerning the suggestive content made some television networks ban the advertisement from airing.
Kurt Russell
A-list actor Kurt Russell had a significant participation in what was known as the Phoenix Lights, a widespread sighting event that took place in 1997. That night, a group of unusual objects was seen flying across Arizona and Nevada skies.
In an interview with BBC, Russell, who has an FAA-licensed pilot, shared that he was flying his son when they saw six lights over the airport in a uniform V-shape. He then reported the incident, and since then, it has become one of the best-known UFO incidents.
Diana Nyad
Diana Nyad is a woman of many things—she is an author, journalist, motivational speaker, and long-distance swimmer. She has swum around Manhattan, The Bahamas, and Florida. In 2013, she made history as the first person to complete the 110 miles from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage.
Of course, with accomplishments came significant difficulties as she experienced sunburn, swollen lips and tongue, and mouth abrasions. Despite that, everything was worth it, and her achievement received widespread praise and media coverage.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The fantasy film "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" was a pop icon and is considered one of the best children's movies. Interestingly, the film wouldn't push through without the support of Quaker Oats, who funded the project.
The company was eyeing to create a candy business. It funded the film to market its new products uniquely, the Willy Wonka Peanut Butter Oompas and Willy Wonka Super Skrunch bars. Thankfully, the film was a big success, and a 2005 remake starring Johnny Depp was titled "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
Steve Jobs
Before Steve Jobs founded Apple and became one of the most brilliant and wealthy people today, he worked as a technician at the game company Atari. Rumors spread that he had bad blood with his former company, and one reason he chose the name Apple was for it to be put in the phone book list before Atari.
Jobs never confirmed the rumors, and whether it is true or not, it doesn't change the fact that he is often credited for pioneering the personal computer revolution.
Sissy Spacek
Sissy Spacek gained international recognition shortly after she portrayed the title character, "Carrie," which landed her an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination. The film remains one of the most recognizable horror movies, and the process of curating it contains surprising facts.
As reported by Tribeca News, Spacek isolated herself from the rest of the cast in preparation for the character. The iconic prom scene took two weeks to shoot, and while filming it, Spacek had to sleep in bloody clothes for three days.
Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone is an unforgettable name, yet his journey to the limelight was not all glitz and glamour. He arrived in New York hoping for better opportunities but spent a few years entering various jobs to make ends meet. One of which was becoming an adult film star.
After some supporting characters in films, he made his way to mainstream upon releasing the "Rocky" film series for which he starred and wrote the screenplays. The rest was history, and he is now one of the most respectable icons in Hollywood.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk is the second-wealthiest person on Forbes' real-time billionaire list. While his career has been rising, a few controversies have been attached to his name; one concerns his father, Errol Musk.
Errol hit the headlines when news about his romantic relationship with his stepdaughter blew up. He was first wedded to Maye Haldeman, with whom he had three children, including Elon. Then, he married Heide Bezuidenhout for 18 years, with whom he had stepchildren, including Jana Bezuidenhout. Long after Errol and Heide separated, he fathered two children with Jana.
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton is a legend in many ways; she is a singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist. And now everyone was thrilled to discover that she served as a producer too!
In an interview with "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," actress Sarah Michelle Gellar spilled that Parton secretly produced the supernatural drama series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Surprisingly, Parton co-owned Sandollar Productions with Sandy Gallin, who was credited on the show from 1997 to 2003. Now we couldn't help but wonder what else she could do.
Michael Jackson and Madonna
Michael Jackson and Madonna are two of the names that remain legendary even for years to come. This is why everyone was buzzed when Madonna admitted to James Corden in a Carpool Karaoke segment from "The Late Late Show" that the two icons shared a kiss in the past.
It turns out that their friendship goes way back to the '80s when they shared a manager. They appeared at some events together, and Madonna has always remembered the late Jackson, even after his passing.