Famous People Trivia Questions
2,305 trivia questions with answers, all ages. Multiple-choice trivia with answers, sorted by topic and level. Reveal the answers below, pick one at random, or present them full-screen.
- 1.
What was the nickname of Byron White, the only professional football player ever appointed to the Supreme Court?
- AAmbulance Chaser
- BWhizzer
- CWhitey
- DWhiz Kid
Answer: Whizzer - 2.
Which Queen of France was guillotined in 1793 during the French Revolution of 1789–1799?
- AElisabeth I
- BMargrethe II
- CMarie Antoinette
- DCatherine de Medici
Answer: Marie Antoinette - 3.
Which President was a ferry boat operator in his early years?
- AAbraham Lincoln
- BUlysses S. Grant
- CAndrew Jackson
- DHarry Truman
Answer: Abraham Lincoln - 4.
Which of the following US population groups was LEAST likely to support Roosevelt and the New Deal?
- Aupper middle class whites
- Bpoor whites
- Cfarmers
- DAfrican Americans
Answer: upper middle class whites - 5.
This French actress said that starring in Bernardo Bertolucci's movie Last Tango in Paris was her life's only regret.
- AEva Green
- BMaria Schneider
- CIsabelle Adjani
- DEmmanuelle Béart
Answer: Maria Schneider - 6.
In 1889, what professional education did Mahatma Gandhi receive at University College in London?
- AHe became a psychologist.
- BHe became a theologian.
- CHe became an anthropologist.
- DHe became a barrister.
Answer: He became a barrister. - 7.
In what country was bread invented in the antiquity?
- AMesopotamia
- BChina
- CEgypt
- DIran
Answer: Egypt - 8.
How did Judas Iscariot choose to end his life according to the Gospel of Matthew?
- AHe hanged himself.
- BHe drowned himself.
- CHe jumped from a cliff.
- DHe poisoned himself.
Answer: He hanged himself. - 9.
Which ruler of North Korea took over the rule from his father in 1994?
- AKim Jong-IL
- BIsayas Jin Mswati
- CThan Shwe
- DHu Jin Tao
Answer: Kim Jong-IL - 10.
Which Spanish explorer was the first recorded European to reach the Mississippi River?
- AHernán Cortés
- BPedro Sarmiento de Gamboa
- CVasco da Gama
- DHernando de Soto
Answer: Hernando de Soto - 11.
What multiple Grammy Award-winning singer co-founded the band Wings with Linda Eastman and Denny Laine?
- APaul Stanley
- BPaul Simon
- CPaul McCartney
- DPaul Williams
Answer: Paul McCartney - 12.
With the exception of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel Prizes are presented at an annual ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden. In what capital city ise the Nobel Peace Prize presented?
- AParis, France
- BCopenhagen, Denmark
- CBrussels, Belgium
- DOslo, Norway
Answer: Oslo, Norway - 13.
Who is the author of Woman and Whisky, The Rat Trap, The Better Half, Blithe Spirit, Ill Leave It to You?
- ANoel Coward
- BGeorge Bernard Shaw
- COscar Wilde
- DJohn Webster
Answer: Noel Coward - 14.
Who do these words belong to: Fishes live in the sea, as men do a-land; the great ones eat up the little ones.?
- ARalph Waldo Emerson
- BBlake Williams
- CWinston Churchill
- DWilliam Shakespeare
Answer: William Shakespeare - 15.
I attended Indiana University and was drafted 2nd overall in the 1981 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons. Who am I?
- AJoe Dumars
- BBill Laimbeer
- CLarry Bird
- DIsiah Thomas
Answer: Isiah Thomas - 16.
What actor was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg?
- AJustin Timberlake
- BJesse Eisenberg
- CDaniel Radcliffe
- DMax Minghella
Answer: Jesse Eisenberg - 17.
What family relationship occupied much of the thoughts of Greek philosopher Plato?
- AFather-daughter relationship
- BBrother-sister relationship
- CMother-son relationship
- DFather-son relationship
Answer: Father-son relationship - 18.
Which of the following happened first chronologically?
- AOctober 1492
- BThe Madeira Islands were discovered in the Atlantic ocean.
- CChristopher Columbus discovered America.
- DVasco Nunez de Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean.
Answer: The Madeira Islands were discovered in the Atlantic ocean. - 19.
This socialite and fashion designer married businessman Todd Andrew Meister in 2004.
- AAerin Lauder
- BNicky Hilton
- CDylan Lauren
- DParis Hilton
Answer: Nicky Hilton - 20.
What actress is not correctly matched with the character she portrayed?
- AElizabeth Taylor - Maggie the Cat (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof)
- BElizabeth Montgomery - Baby Jane Hudson (What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?)
- CElizabet Shue - Elizabeth (Hide and Seek)
- DElizabeth Hurley - Sara (Serving Sara)
Answer: Elizabeth Montgomery - Baby Jane Hudson (What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?) - 21.
What were the carrack and caravel, whose development in the 15th century in Portugal enabled more widespread exploration of the world?
- Atypes of compasses
- Bnew types of fuel
- Cmore detailed maps
- Dtypes of ships
Answer: types of ships - 22.
Notes from a Small Island is a travel book by an American Bill Bryson, describing a European island. Which one?
- AIbiza
- BMalta
- CGreat Britain
- DIreland
Answer: Great Britain - 23.
What British colonial regiment did Idi Amin join in 1946?
- ARoyal Gurkha Regiment
- BThe Lighthorsemen
- CKings African Rifles
- DThe Hussars
Answer: Kings African Rifles - 24.
How did Mata Hari die?
- AShe was poisoned.
- BShe committed suicide.
- CShe was executed by firing squad.
- DShe was hanged.
Answer: She was executed by firing squad. - 25.
The Secret Sharer, The Return, Heart of Darkness, The Lagoon are short stories written by this Polish-born author.
- AJoseph Conrad
- BStephen Benet
- CSir Arthur Conan Doyle
- DAmbroise Bierce
Answer: Joseph Conrad - 26.
Which one of these murderers was once employed by contractor and serial killer John Gacy?
- AAndrew Kokoraleis
- BRobin Gecht
- CThomas Kokoraleis
- DEdward Spreitzer
Answer: Robin Gecht - 27.
Which Emperor created Imperial China?
- AKublai Khan
- BQin Shi Huang
- CDowager Cixi
- DZhu Yuanzhang
Answer: Qin Shi Huang - 28.
This German chemist was the first to develop stable, medically useful forms of heroin and aspirin.
- AKarl Ferdinand Braun
- BEugen Baumann
- CFelix Hoffmann
- DMoritz von Jacobi
Answer: Felix Hoffmann - 29.
Which of these words was coined by Sir Thomas More, who is regarded as one of the most influential Renaissance humanist scholars?
- AUtopia
- BPsychoanalysis
- CAlter ego
- DSuperman
Answer: Utopia - 30.
According to the Canonical Gospels, how did Saint John the Baptist die?
- AHe was hanged.
- BHe was beheaded.
- CHe drowned.
- DHe was crucified.
Answer: He was beheaded. - 31.
Who was President during the Suez crisis, after a long career in the U.S. Army?
- ARichard Milhous Nixon
- BLyndon Baines Johnson
- CDwight David Eisenhower
- DHarry Shippe Truman
Answer: Dwight David Eisenhower - 32.
What was the title of the TV series in which Pamela Anderson starred from 1998 to 2002?
- AR.I.P.
- BV.I.P.
- CFBI
- DM.V.P.
Answer: V.I.P. - 33.
Who said, A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.
- AJay Leno
- BGroucho Marx
- CRed Skelton
- DSteve Martin
Answer: Steve Martin - 34.
This lawyer, who graduated from Stanford Law School and served on the Arizona Court of Appeals, was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court.
- ASandra Day OConnor
- BHarriet Miers
- CKimba Woods
- DRuth Bader Ginsburg
Answer: Sandra Day OConnor - 35.
Which American author, born in 1955, wrote the bestselling books A Time to Kill, The Pelican Brief, The Client, The Runaway Jury and The Firm?
- AJohn D. Fitzgerald
- BJohn Grisham
- CJohn Updike
- DJonathan Swift
Answer: John Grisham - 36.
French artist Paul Cezanne is often credited with forming the bridge between Impressionism and this art movement.
- ACubism
- BRomanticism
- CNeoclassicism
- DDadaism
Answer: Cubism - 37.
Only one of these makes kidnapping resemble a typical hostage situation. Which one?
- AThe criminals are barricaded in an unknown area
- BCommunication is one-way - the kidnappers tell authorities what to do
- CThe criminals keep their hostages at a secret location
- DKidnappers usual goals are money, attention, some cause, etc.
Answer: Kidnappers usual goals are money, attention, some cause, etc. - 38.
Which of these men was responsible for the invention of fiberglass?
- ABryce W. Harding
- BT. Butler Henshaw
- CR. Games Slayter
- DLeo Busacaglia
Answer: R. Games Slayter - 39.
Which of these women was not among the possible victims of Jack the Ripper?
- APearly Poll Connelly
- BMary Ann Nichols
- CCatherine Eddowes
- DMary Kelly
Answer: Pearly Poll Connelly - 40.
What was the main food source for the Abenaki tribe of North America in the past?
- ACrops
- BCattle
- CFish
- DGame
Answer: Crops - 41.
Which statement is not true about Marcus Aurelius, who ruled the Roman Empire from 161 to 180?
- AHe was killed by his son Commodus.
- BHe was a prominent Stoic philosopher.
- CHe wrote Meditations.
- DHe was adopted by Roman Emperor Antonius Pious and succeeded him in 161.
Answer: He was killed by his son Commodus. - 42.
Queen Juliana of the Netherlands gave birth to how many daughters?
- AThree
- BNone
- CTwo
- DFour
Answer: Four - 43.
When did Gerald Ford take the oath of office?
- ADecember 1974
- BOctober 1976
- CJanuary 1975
- DAugust 1974
Answer: August 1974 - 44.
This promising new star died in 1988. She starred in several television shows and movies in her short career. She was the voice of Ducky in The Land Before Time and the voice of Anne-Marie in All Dogs Go to Heaven. She also played Michael (Brody) and Carla's daughter in Jaws: The Revenge.
- AHeather O'Rourke
- BJudith Barsi
- CDana Plato
- DHelen Shaver
Answer: Judith Barsi - 45.
This president was in office from 1789 - 1797. He was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia on February 22, 1732 and died of a throat infection on December 14, 1799.
- AGeorge Washington
- BJames Madison
- CThomas Jefferson
- DJohn Adams
Answer: George Washington - 46.
Which of these ladies has been called the Russian Paris Hilton?
- AAnna Pavlova
- BAnna Anisimova
- CAlexandra Kollontai
- DEkaterina Maximova
Answer: Anna Anisimova - 47.
What American actor, director and producer of Italian and black ancestry was born Mark Sinclair Vincent in 1967?
- AVincent Price
- BVince Vaughn
- CVal Kilmer
- DVin Diesel
Answer: Vin Diesel - 48.
This woman invented a method for cleaning and curing the Indian corn crops.
- ASybilla Masters
- BAnna Keichline
- CElaine Jameson
- DElisha Graves Otis
Answer: Sybilla Masters - 49.
Which ruler introduced the metric system in much of Europe?
- AFranz Joseph of Austria-Hungary
- BWladyslaw II Jagiello of Poland and Lithuania
- CElisabeth I of England
- DNapoleon Bonaparte of France
Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte of France - 50.
Who was Kim Jong-ils father?
- APark Chung Hee
- BSyngman Rhee
- CKim il Sung
- DSun Hae Rok
Answer: Kim il Sung
How to use these trivia questions
- Warm-up. Open a lesson or meeting with 3–5 questions — enough to wake the room, short enough to keep the agenda.
- Review game. Pick 10 questions on the topic you just taught and play them in teams; discuss every wrong answer.
- Quiz night. Mix two or three topics, read each question twice, and give 20 seconds before revealing the answer.
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