The United Service Organization was founded in 1941, as a way to provide morale to service members through entertainment. Hollywood was happy to promote its patriotism (and its stars), and sent entertainers to combat zones, often in danger, to perform for the troops. From Marilyn Monroe to Stephen Colbert, many of the biggest names in showbiz have put on shows for the American service members around the world. Check out these famous USO entertainers.
Vampires prey off living creatures, stalking unsuspecting humans, sucking their blood and often turning them into vampires. Not alive but not quite dead, vampires are fictional creatures who have haunted and fascinated human populations for centuries. The notion of the fanged, transylvanian Count Dracula was first popularized in Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula, but the character has seen many iterations over the years. Today's TV shows and movies portray vampires as sexy, mysterious and even sympathetic characters with meaningful relationships to humans. Here is a group of some of the most famous blood-suckers of TV and film.
These celebs are always in the limelight so a healthy diet is a must—hence, they’ve gone vegan! While some have jumped on the bandwagon, others have made it a part of their lifestyles. From Bill Clinton to Jane Lynch, see which other celebs are getting healthy all while saving the animals with their more animal conscious diet.
Michael Jackson is one, so is Stephen King and Greta Garbo. Some say typical traits of Virgoans are helpful, critical, shy, and meticulous. Meet some famous people who share the astrological sign Virgo.
It's hard to face weight gain—but it's even harder to face it when the whole world is commenting on your expanding waistline. Here are a group of stars who got in shape despite the scrutiny of the press. Their efforts serve as an inspiration to the millions out there trying to live a healthier lifestyle.
This group features some of our most beloved child stars. From the adorable kids of E.T., to the infamous 80s 'Brat Pack,' these young performers captured our hearts with their unforgettable characters. While many have flourished into some of the most successful actors in the business, others have faded out of the spotlight. Here we look at the group of stars who wowed us with their young talent, and remain as some of our favorite characters of all time. Plus, it's fun to see who they were then, and who they are now... check out our Where Are They Now photo gallery!
Despite their high economic standing, these white collar criminals, arrested for a variety of crimes, proved not to be above the law. View Biography.com's White Collar Criminals group for more on Charles Ponzi, Raj Rajaratnam, Bernard Ebbers, Jeffrey Skilling, Kenneth Lay, Ivan Boesky, Bernard Madoff and many more.
The Wild West holds a special place in American history—Western films depict it as a place where the rules didn't apply, and where scores were settled with gun slinging and shootouts. The colorful characters who made up the old West were men, women, cowboys, Indians, sheriffs just plain outlaws. Though we've come to have a more nuanced understanding of the good and the bad of the old West, we can still learn from the stories of the people who made it and who wrote about what it was.
Hundreds of millions of people worldwide tuned in to watch the April 29, 2011, fairytale wedding of the future King of England to a commoner. A royal wedding frenzy was set off the previous November, when the engagement of Prince William to long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton was announced. The couple met as students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and their eight year courtship, unusually long for a royal, earned Kate the nickname "Waity Katy" in the tabloids. The couple honeymooned in the Seychelles, and admirers around the world await the announcement of a royal pregnancy.
Women have been known historically as the "gentler sex," but these ladies put that fallacy to rest once and for all. Their rage, desperation, or drive for vengeance has pushed them over the edge, landing them in the headlines for their deadly outbursts.
The DIY aspect of punk rock made it easier for a woman such as Siouxsie Sioux, Deborah Harry, Marianne Faithfull and Kim Deal to find a place in music. "That was the beuty of the punk thing," Chrissie Hynde later said. "[Sexual] discrimination didn't exist in that scene."
With rhythm coursing through their veins and larger-than-life voices that could move mountains, female music artists have held their own and have often become trailblazers in the worlds of jazz, soul, rock, punk, pop, country, and the like.
Explore our Women Who Rock Group and set your sights on artists like: disco queen Donna Summer; rocker Janis Joplin, Joan Jett and Stevie Nicks; 'The Voice' Whitney Houston; princesses of pop Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Beyonce; and country crooners Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift. They may just rock your world.
Visit Biography.com's Women's History group to explore more biographies, photos and videos of some the world's most fascinating women.
Women haven't always had an easy time achieving greatness but, even in the face of daunting odds, they still manage to rise to the top. Women have led countries and commanded armies and, as women took their place in society in the 20th century, they broke ground in every field. Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman to sit on the Supreme Court bench, and Sally Ride was the first woman in outer space. Dorothy Dandridge shined as the first African-American woman nominated for an Academy Award. These women, and many others, paved the way for the women of their day, and of the future.
Plus, check out our Women's History interactive timeline, find Women's History study guides and more at BIO Classroom!
Women and men have continued the call for full-fledged women’s rights in a number of venues, including voting access, fair treatment in the workplace and reproductive and sexual freedom. Find out more about this eclectic and electric group of global activists who include Shirin Ebadi, Coretta Scott King, Asra Nomani and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
Visit Biography.com's Women's History group to explore more biographies, photos and videos of some the world's most fascinating women.
Woodstock, the legendary 1969 music festival, changed the history of rock and roll. For three days on a 600-acre dairy farm in the Castkills of New York, 32 performers put on one of the biggest rock shows of all time in front of 500,000 fans. Here are some of the famous musicians who were part of Woodstock history.
Browse notable zoologists such as Alfred Kinsey, Jack Hanna, and Dian Fossey.