Steve Allen created a television institution when he became the first host of "The Tonight Show" in 1954

Humphrey Bogart may be remembered best for a line in the movie "Casablanca," "Play it again, Sam." Bogie was a cultural icon, appearing in other classic films i

Oscar Peterson was called the Maharajah of the Keyboard by Duke Ellington, but simply O.P. by his friends

Curtis Mayfield provided the soundtrack to the civil rights movement

It would be awfully hard to replace the great Walter Matthau in a role he seemed to be made for, but Jack Klugman made Oscar Madison his own onstage and on the

Corey Haim was one of the top teen idols of the 1980s, thanks to his boyish good looks, charmingly crooked smile, and, of course, his strong acting talent

James Brown was the Godfather of Soul, one of the most influential musicians in the history of popular music

The camera loved Ava Gardner

Joe Cocker was one of the most distinctive performers of the rock era, electrifying audiences with his gravelly voice and wild dancing

Maurice and Robin Gibb were fraternal twins and two-thirds of one of the most successful pop groups of all time, the Bee Gees

Brittany Murphy believed from a young age that she was destined to be a star, and she devoted her life to performing

Edith Piaf was one of France's greatest international stars. The cabaret singer is widely recognized as France's national chanteuse

Paul Butterfield learned to sing the blues as a teenager in Chicago by hanging out at the city's well-known blues haunts

Ray Price had one of the best voices in the history of country music. We remember Price as well as other  notable people who died this day in history

Peter O'Toole was nominated a record eight times for an Academy Award and never won, making him the most nominated actor never to have received the coveted stat

It is never too late to follow your passion. Grandma Moses, born Anna Mary Robertson in 1860, was living proof of that notion

One of the greatest stars of the 20th century, Frank Sinatra charmed us for decades with his talents

Otis Redding was the King of Soul, a vocal powerhouse who had an enormous influence on the soul sounds of the 1960s

Mexican-American singer-songwriter Jenni Rivera won hearts with her music

Eli Wallach was one of the greatest character actors ever to appear on stage and screen, with over 90 film credits including classics such as "The Magnificent S

Roy Orbison, also known as the Big O, added a uniquely dark and mysterious voice to the early days of rock 'n' roll

When Gwendolyn Brooks was still in high school, her mother drove her to meet the poet Langston Hughes, an important figure in the Harlem Renaissance, who encour

Albert King was a major influence in the world of blues guitar playing

John Spencer was known best for his Emmy-winning performance on "The West Wing" as White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, which he played until his death of a

Comedian Chris Farley knew how to make people laugh

Jennifer Jones won an Oscar for her portrayal of Christian mystic Bernadette Soubirous in 1943's "The Song of Bernadette." Today we remember Jones and other cel

Actress Joan Fontaine appeared in dozens of movies and television shows, receiving received many accolades for her work

Patty Duke may be remembered best for playing the teenage twins on the classic sitcom "The Patty Duke Show." We remember Duke's life today as well as the lives

Ella Baker was one of the great civil rights leaders of the 20th century

Bettie Page was the Queen of Pinups, one of the most unusual models of all time

Michael Clarke Duncan dreamed of acting from an early age, but he was compelled to defer his plans to support his family and ailing mother

Jim Morrison was an icon of counterculture, one of the most famous rebels of all time

The morning of Dec

Nelson Mandela was a hero to many as he fought for racial equality in South Africa

Frank Zappa rarely followed trends, making music that was hard to categorize as rock, jazz, classical, or anything else

Andy Williams was a phenomenon, a singing sensation with 17 gold and three platinum albums to bear testament to just how much his fans loved him

Florence Griffith Joyner was the fastest woman on Earth – and of all time

Hope Lange found stardom in her performance as Selena Cross in "Peyton Place," earning her first Oscar and Golden Globe nominations and making a name for hersel

Betty Grable was one of the biggest stars of the golden age of Hollywood, and her triple-threat skill at acting, singing, and dancing made her perfect for music

Justin Mentell was a young actor in Hollywood who was just starting to break out

Disc jockey Alan Freed was one of the first in the country to promote the mix of blues, country, and rhythm and blues music

Peter Boyle made audiences laugh throughout his Emmy-winning acting career. Today we remember him and other notable people who died this day in history

Big Mama Thornton sang the blues as few others before or since. We remember her life today as well as the lives of other notable people who were born this

Redd Foxx was one of the kings of stand-up comedy in the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, recording more than 50 comedy albums and becoming one of the first black comedia

John Lennon changed the world when he met a few other lads from Liverpool, England, and asked them to join his band

Randy Rhoads was a co-founder of the band Quiet Riot when he was a teenager. After leaving Quiet Riot, he became the lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne's band

Who has delighted the children of the world more than Walt Disney

Drummer Dennis Wilson is known best as one of the founders of the Beach Boys along with his older brother Brian and his younger brother Carl