Mega Tribune: Joan Crawford

Famous adoptions

Actress Mariska Hargitay's recent adoption news has put celebrity adoption stories back in the headlines. From Brad and Angelina to America's Sweetheart, check out the many celebrities who have heeded the call.

Mariska Hargitay

"Law & Order: SVU" star Mariska Hargitay happily announced the arrival of a bouncing baby girl this month, whom she and husband Peter Hermann adopted domestically.

Trivia: Hargitay suffered a major injury after a fall on the set of her show in 2008.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

The Hollywood superstars have six children, three of whom are adopted: Shiloh, Maddox and Pax. Are they planning on adding to their brood? The kids get to see a lot of the world because their parents are often on set in far-flung locations – Jolie is now directing her first movie in an unlikely place.

Trivia: What did they do on a recent family outing?

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman

When Cruise and Kidman were married – and it was a long marriage by Hollywood standards – they adopted Connor and Isabella. But their parents split and formed new families, and the kids have a say in where they spend their time. Kidman’s comment.

Trivia: Have Isabella and Connor met their newest sibling?

Rosie O’Donnell

O’Donnell, who was known as the “Queen of Nice” for her daytime TV show, is passionate about adoption, and she has adopted three children: Parker, Chelsea and Blake. O’Donnell, who announced that she is gay not long before she quit her show, also was married.

Trivia: What’s the name of her youngest child?

Sheryl Crow

Singer Sheryl Crow is adding another member to her family with the recent announcement of the adoption of her second son, Levi. The Grammy-winning star told fans that Levi James was born on April 30. Crow adopted her first son, Wyatt, in 2007 when he was just two weeks old.

Trivia: In 2006, Crow underwent surgery for what condition?

Elton John

Elton John fell in love with baby Lev, a child in an HIV-positive orphanage in Ukraine. Although his hopes for adoption were dashed, he's not giving up.

Trivia: Elton John's AIDS Foundation hosts an annual Academy Awards viewing party fundraiser.

Father George Clements

Father George Clements received widespread attention when he became the first Roman Catholic priest to adopt a child. Father Clements went on to found an adoption program that currently operates in 32 states.

Trivia: NBC produced a TV movie about Clements.

George Lucas

"Star Wars" creator George Lucas adopted his first child when he was married and adopted two more children as a single dad. Lucas is the founder of an educational foundation, which focuses on project-based learning as well as helping special needs children.

Trivia: Lucas thrilled these executive producers with a congratulatory letter regarding this hit TV show.

Joan Crawford

The eldest adopted daughter of Joan Crawford wrote a book about Crawford's parenting skills. Crawford adopted a total of four children. The agency handling her first adoption was later tied to a black market baby ring.

Trivia: Crawford reputedly had a rather prickly relationship with Bette Davis, her co-star in "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?"

Madonna

Superstar Madonna adopted Malawian-born David Banda in 2006. In 2009, Madonna petitioned to adopt a second child from Malawi. Over the protests of the child's father, she was initially refused, but Madonna won on appeal and Mercy James joined the family in the spring of 2009.

Trivia: Madonna and daughter Lourdes recently launched a new clothing line. Which 'Gossip Girl' is the new face for their brand?

Ben Stein

Through admitted selfishness on his part, Ben Stein never considered becoming a father. After adopting his only child, he wrote a book about fatherhood.

Trivia: Stein has appeared in many television commercials. Did his appearance on this commercial get him fired from this job?

Lionel Richie

Three-year-old Nicole Richie moved in with Lionel Richie and his former wife when Nicole's biological father hit hard times. Richie officially adopted Nicole six years later.

Trivia: Lionel Richie recently announced his plan to make Tuskegee's Lionel Richie Museum the "final destination" for all of his memorabilia and artifacts.

Nicole Richie has two sons with fiancé Joel Madden.

Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl and her husband, Josh Kelley, adopted their first child, a baby with special needs from South Korea. The former "Grey's Anatomy" star says she was inspired by her sister. Heigl says her own reaction to motherhood was stronger than anticipated.

Trivia: Heigl started working when she was just a kid herself. What did she do?

Alex Kingston

Best known for her role as Dr. Elizabeth Corday on the hit show "ER," Alex Kingston experienced two failed adoptions. Does Kingston want to try the adoption route again?

Trivia: Kingston also starred in which ABC television series?

Jamie Lee Curtis

Jamie Lee Curtis and husband Christopher Guest adopted two children, son Tom and daughter Annie. Curtis, an accomplished actor and children's book author, wrote a book about adoption from a child's point of view.

Trivia: What did Curtis say about troubled actress Lindsay Lohan?

Sandra Bullock

Oscar winner Sandra Bullock brought home Louis Bardo in January and kept the adoption a secret. Ten days after the Oscars, Bullock and husband Jesse James separated.

Trivia: Does Bullock share custody with her ex?

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Famous people's final words

Famous people's final words should be, well, famous. But since most people don't know which words will be their last, those final utterances can be revealing, touching or just odd. We've rounded up the reported last words of some memorable people, from George Washington to Bob Marley to Princess Diana.

Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah

Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Claim to fame: December 25, 1876 – September 11, 1948) was a 20th century Father of the Nation uaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah's achievement as the lawyer, politician, statesman founder of Pakistan, dominates everything else he did in his long and crowded public life spanning some 42 years.

Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

George Washington

Claim to fame: He led troops in the American Revolution.He later became the first president of the United States. Here are his first words in office in 1789.
Last words: (historians disagree between these three):
* "It is well, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go."
* "I am just going. Have me decently buried; and don't let my body be put into the vault in less than three days after I am dead. Do you understand?
* "'Tis well, 'Tis well."
(d. Dec. 14, 1799)

President Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

Claim to fame: America's Civil War president and stirring orator. Lincoln also wrote this document, which officially freed slaves in the South.
Last words: "They won't think anything about it," (after Mary Todd Lincoln asked him what the patrons of Ford's Theater might think of two old people holding hands)
(d. April 15, 1865)

President John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy

Claim to fame: The 35th and youngest-elected American president was also considered an inspiring speaker
Last words: "If someone is going to kill me, they will kill me," (on arriving in Dallas in 1963).
(d. Nov. 22, 1963)

Joan Crawford

Claim to fame: Actress known for glamour and over-the-top self-promotion. Crawford became infamous known as a mean mom -- at least according to this author. The book became a bigger-than-life movie and sparked a campy quote that lives on.
Last words: "Damn it ... Don't you dare ask God to help me." (Who did she say them to?)

(d. May 10, 1977)

Elvis Presley

Claim to fame: "The King" was arguably the most popular singer of his time.He also was a movie star.He became a superstar
Last words: "I hope I haven't bored you," (ending his last press conference).
Other reports say his last words were: "Okay, I won't" (last words spoken to this woman, who told him on the way to the bathroom not to "fall asleep in there.")
(d. Aug. 16, 1977)

James Dean

Claim to fame: Iconic, ill-fated talented actor who will forever be known as the face of rebellious youth in the 1950s. Here he is in his few movies - "East of Eden," "Rebel Without a Cause"
Last words: "That guy's got to stop ... he'll see us."
(d. Sept. 30, 1955)

Marilyn Monroe

Claim to fame: Sex symbol and Hollywood movie icon of the 1950s. Conventional wisdom said she had affairs with this man and his brother.
Last words: "Say goodbye to Pat (who?), say goodbye to Jack (see previous sentence) and say goodbye to yourself, because you're a nice guy." (Who did she say that to?)
(d. Aug. 4, 1962)

Tammy Faye Messner

Claim to fame: You may remember her as Tammy Faye Bakker, teary co-host of The PTL Club. Her ex-husband was a preacher, but he ended up in prison.
Last words: "I'm in the hands of Jesus."
(d. July 20, 2007)

Tim Russert

Claim to fame: Highly-regarded TV journalist, longtime moderator of NBC's "Meet The Press." One of his first jobs was as a worker for a fiery Democratic Senator. He gained fame penning a book about his dad -
Last words: "What's happening?" (What did he mean?) spoken as a greeting to a colleague)

Frank Sinatra

Claim to fame: Idolized singer of the 1940s, successful actor of the '50s and member of this celebrity gang.
Last words: "I'm losing." Other sources say, "I'm losing it." (according to his daughter)
(d. May 14, 1998)

Barry White

Claim to fame: Versatile, multi-award-winning R&B artist, master of soulful, smooth pop music in the 1970s..
Last words: "Leave me alone. I'm fine."
(d. July 4, 2003)

Edgar Allan Poe

Claim to fame: One of America's most famous writers of the 19th century, known for tales steeped in darkness, mystery and death.
Last words: "Lord, help my poor soul."
(d. Oct. 7, 1849)

Virginia Woolf

Claim to fame: One of the last century's most important authors, feminists and essayists; wrote classic "A Room of One's Own."
Last words: "I feel certain that I'm going mad again. I feel we can't go thru another of those terrible times. And I shan't recover this time. I begin to hear voices."
(d. March 28, 1941)

Pablo Picasso

Claim to fame: Renowned artist, sculptor, founder of this art form, some consider him the 20th century's most famous artist.
Last words: "Drink to me!" Other reports say "Drink to me. Drink to my health. You know I can't drink any more."
(d. April 8, 1973)

Frida Kahlo

Claim to fame: Acclaimed Mexican artist, self-proclaimed Communist, creator of unique brand of folk art - among them vividly colored self-portraits.
Last words: "I hope the exit is joyful and hope never to return."
(d. July 13, 1954)

Marvin Gaye

Claim to fame: Motown music's smooth hit-maker, instrumental in growth and quality of diverse styles of popular music in the 1960s and '70s.
Last words: "Mother, I'm going to get my things and get out of this house. Father hates me and I'm never coming back."
(d. April 1, 1984)

John Lennon

Claim to fame: A founding member of The Beatles, went on to solo singing fame; controversial and vocal opponent of this war.

Last words: "Yes, I am," (while sitting in a police car on the way to a hospital, after officers asked him if he were John Lennon)
(d. Dec. 8, 1980)

Bob Marley

Claim to fame: Singer/songwriter/musician, considered the father of Jamaican reggae music and ambassador of this spiritual movement.

Last words: "Money can't buy life." (to one of his sons)
(d. May 11, 1981)

Malcolm X

Malcom X

Claim to fame: Activist, speaker and one of the nation's most influential - and controversial -- black leaders. He was also a member of this religious group.
Last words: "Cool it, brothers." Other reports say "Now, now, brothers, break it up, be cool, be calm." Still others say "Brothers, Brothers, please! This is a house of peace."
(d. Feb. 21, 1965)

Robert F. Kennedy

Claim to fame: Adviser and then attorney general to his brother and president John F. Kennedy, he ran for the presidency in 1968 (watch videos of his speeches).

Last words: "Is everyone else all right?" (whispered to his wife).
(d. June 5, 1968)

Martin Luther King Jr.

Claim to fame: Pastor, Nobel winner, acclaimed speaker , human-rights activist, champion of African-American civil rights, instrumental in success of this act passing. Read the speech he gave the day before he died.

Last words: "Make sure you play 'Take My Hand, Precious Lord.' Play it real pretty," (some disagree on the exact wording of this comment to musician Ben Branch, who was to perform at an event that evening).
(d. April 4, 1968)

Mother Teresa

Claim to fame: Humble, humanitarian Catholic nun who gave aid and hope to sick, orphaned and dying poor of India for more than 45 years.
Last words: "Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you."
(d. Sept. 5, 1997)

Pope John Paul II

Claim to fame: Polish native and beloved Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church; ( influential world leader
Last words: "Amen"
(d. April 2, 2005)

Babe Ruth

Claim to fame: Historic home-run king of American baseball, "the Bambino" was sports hero of 1920s.

Last words: "I'm going over the valley."
(d. Aug. 16, 1948)

Joe DiMaggio

Claim to fame: Joltin' Joe, considered one of the greatest baseball players in history.
Last words: "I finally get to see Marilyn" (referring to his ex-wife).
(d. March 8, 1999)

Saddam Hussein

Claim to fame: Iron-fisted dictator of Iraq for more than two decades; regime overthrown by U.S. military forces in 2003.
Last words: "I swear there is no God but Allah and Muhammad . . . "
(d. Dec. 30, 2006)

Al Capone

Claim to fame: Notorious Chicago gangster/mob boss who committed numerous crimes, including smuggling liquor in this era.
Last words: "You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can get with a kind word alone."
(d. Jan. 25, 1947)

Indira Gandhi

Claim to fame: Only female prime minister of India, she served for 15 years, working to bring progress to her country.
Last words: "I don't mind if my life goes in the service of the nation. If I die today every drop of my blood will invigorate the nation."
(d. Oct. 31, 1984)

Winston Churchill

Claim to fame: Considered one of history's greatest wartime leaders and statesmen as Britain's Prime Minister during World War II.
Last words: "I'm bored with it all."
(d. Jan. 24, 1965)

Diana Spencer

Claim to fame: Popular first wife of Prince Charles of Wales, a pretty princess who became the unceasing focus of global media. She was also a humanitarian.

Last words: "My God. What's happened?"
(d. Aug. 31, 1997)

Alex the African grey parrot

Claim to fame: The subject of a 30-year scientific experiment to study the intelligence of parrots.
Last words: "You be good. See you tomorrow. I love you."

Mega Tribune

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Famous adoptions

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Famous People's Final Words