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Action movie stars are the heroes and heroines who get our adrenaline pumping. Early action stars include Douglas Fairbanks, the swashbuckling adventurer of the 1920s and '30s; John Wayne, the famous gunslinger of the 1940s and '50s; and Sean Connery, who played the debonair spy Bond—James Bond—in the 1960s. By the 1970s, however, a new maverick action star had hit the silver screen, with rogue cops played by Steve McQueen in Bullitt and Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry, as well as the military mercenary Rambo (Sylvester Stallone). By the 1980s, action movies were literally exploding on screen, with big budgets and big stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Terminator) and Bruce Willis (Die Hard), leading to today's action-packed blockbusters. Here's a look at some of Hollywood's most famous action movie stars, who have kicked some major butt on the big screen. 

Browse notable activists such as Pink, Quincy Jones, and Robert Kennedy.

After years of on-screen success, many talented actors decide to take their chances on the other side of the camera—often to even greater acclaim. Here's our collection of performers who have made a new name for themselves as film and television directors.

These adoptive parents are a testament that fame and wealth can't fill the emotional void that little, innocent rugrats can. While some of these famous parents find love and satisfaction through the adoption of one child, others catch—what we like to call—the We Are the World Syndrome, adopting multiple children from across borders. Explore our group of Famous Adoptive Parents and see how they're changing the world—one child at a time.

Explore our collection of Best Supporting Actress Oscar winners, including Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, Penelope Cruz, Octavia Spencer, Juliette Binoche, Marisa Tomei and Whoopi Goldberg. View full biographies, photos and videos, only at Biography.com.

Jay-Z and Beyonce, Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee, Sharon and Ozzy, Branjelina... Check out the folks who make up our collection of celebrity couples and browse our photo gallery for a look at some of the world's most famous twosomes!

Explore our collection of featured famous female American directors, including Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation), Julie Taymor (Across the Universe), Kathryn Bigelow and Nora Ephron. View full biographies, photos and videos, only at Biography.com.

Did you know that onscreen legend Ida Lupino was also one of film's pioneering female directors and producers? Or that visionary French filmmaker Alice Guy-Blaché was among the first to create narrative fiction films and experiment with interracial casting? Female film directors amuse, terrify, delight and inspire us with their talent behind the camera for crafting memorable movies. Some began their career as actors, including former child stars Jodie Foster, Drew Barrymore and Laverne & Shirley star Penny Marshall. Other female directors are just as well-known for writing great scripts, including Nora Ephron, famous for the modern-day romantic classics Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail. Whatever their background, these famous female directors are known for their knack for delivering to the screen just what their audience wants.

Visit Biography.com's Women's History group to explore more biographies, photos and videos of some the world's most fascinating women.

Browse notable film actresses such as Debbie Harry, Lauren Bacall, and Kathy Bates.

From the early days of film, directors have transported audiences from darkened movie theaters to memorable worlds of their own creations. Their artistic visions and technical innovations have made a lasting impression on cinema from early silent films, starring and directed by Charlie Chaplin, to the psychological thrillers of Alfred Hitchcock to the blockbuster hits of Steven Spielberg and so many more. Here is a look at the famous film directors who have made their mark on the big screen.

Browse notable filmakers such as Mel Brooks, Stanley Kubrick, and Sam Mendes.

Meet famous people who were born in June. Russell Brand, Peter Dinklage, Paula Abdul, Johnny Depp, Marilyn Monroe, Alfred Kinsey, Anna Kournikova, Suze Orman, Michael Phelps, Dr. Ruth, and many more folks all share a June birthday.

Left-handed people are a rare breed—only 10 percent of the general population is a lefty. There isn't a definite scientific explanation of why people are left-handed, and although it might be an inconvenience for some, it's actually an advantage in sports. Legendary lefty athletes include baseball player Babe Ruth and basketball star Larry Bird. They're in good company with a wide variety of famous faces from President Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey to composer Wolfgang Mozart and entrepreneur Bill Gates.

Browse notable moms such as Jessica Alba, Tina Fey, and Heidi Klum.

These pouty mouths have become so iconic, that they're almost celebrities on their own. Here are a few of our favorite full-lipped lovelies.

Most people get to know their co-workers well...and sometimes working together can even lead to romance. Just like in the office, many Hollywood stars find romance at work—or rather, on the set. Some of the most famous couples in Hollywood history met while making a film, including Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman, and Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Here's a look at the famous actors and actresses whose chemistry set off sparks on the set.

United Nations Goodwill Ambassadors are prominent individuals who volunteer to highlight important areas of the U.N.'s work. Actors, athletes, authors and musicians use their celebrity to raise awareness of the issues faced by victims of poverty, famine, and violence worldwide. Goodwill ambassadors make widely publicized visits to the world's most troubled locales, and make appeals on behalf of their people. Here are some of the stars who use their famous names to promote causes close to their hearts.