The camera loved Ava Gardner. When she had her first screen test, she had no idea how to act, and her southern drawl made her incomprehensible to the director

John Belushi was one of the legends of comedy, thanks to his seemingly never-ending energy and imagination

Sam Cooke was the King of Soul, a pioneer of the genre who inspired many greats who came after him

Etta James provided the soundtrack for decades of wedding receptions and anniversary parties when she recorded her definitive version of the tender love song "A

Ernie Kovacs was more than just a funnyman; he also was a television innovator and an influence on decades of comedians and TV shows

Heath Ledger began his acting career with guest spots on Australian soaps, but he transitioned quickly to the big screen and to some of the biggest films o

Kay Yow was the head coach of the North Carolina State women's basketball team from 1975 until she died of breast cancer in 2009. We remember her life toda

Johnny Carson started entertaining audiences at 14 with magic tricks as the Great Carsoni

British comedian and actor Benny Hill delighted television audiences on "The Benny Hill Show" for 36 years

Singer and actress Peggy Lee is remembered best for her cover version of Little Willie John's song "Fever." We remember Lee's life today as well as the lives of

Janis Joplin's big voice catapulted her to stardom in the 1960s with electrifying songs including "Piece of My Heart," "Me and Bobby McGee," and "Ball 'n

Cary Grant was one of the greatest movie stars of all time, a giant of Hollywood's golden age

Actor Richard Crenna had a long career in the movies and on television

What will be Barack Obama's greatest legacy? Here are a few highlights from his predecessors

Alan Rickman may best be remembered for the variety of roles he played in films

Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most revered figures in American history. We pay tribute to the man, his ideals, and his accomplishments

Agatha Christie's novels have sold over 2 billion copies, making her the best-selling author of all time, according to the "Guinness Book of World Records." We

The Swedish-born Anita Ekberg was a popular sex symbol of the 1950s and '60s

David Bowie's death affected so many people around the world. The legendary musician was an icon for more than 40 years

Richard Nixon became the 37th president of the United States. He also became the first president to resign from office – as a result of the Watergate scandal

Nikola Tesla revolutionized the way we use electricity, telephones, and radio waves – all without ever successfully graduating from university

Syd Barrett was a pioneer of psychedelic rock

Comedian and actor George Burns lived a showbiz life

Hedy Lamarr is remembered best as a Hollywood star, but did you know she is also a member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame

Glenn Frey will long be remembered as a member of the legendary rock band the Eagles. Frey formed the band in 1970 with Don Henley

Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Clay) was arguably the greatest boxer in history

Carole Lombard was one of Hollywood's top stars in the 1930s – and for a time, she was the highest paid of all actors

Harry Nilsson's voice was unmistakable, with a clarity and range rarely found in pop music

Andy Rooney was one of the world's favorite curmudgeons

Teddy Pendergrass rose to fame as an R&B singer in the 1970s with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

Smokin' Joe" Frazier was one of the greatest boxers of all time, defeated by only two opponents in his 11-year professional career

Clarence Clemons was responsible for some of the best saxophone solos in popular music for decades

Jim Croce was one of the best-loved singer-songwriters of the early 1970s, writing songs that captured the American imagination

Andrae Crouch was also known as the Father of Modern Gospel Music to contemporary Christian and gospel music professionals

Author Zora Neale Hurston's novels and stories were very nearly forgotten after her death, but we can thank her fellow author Alice Walker for sparking a renewe

Sonny Bono shot to stardom as the shorter half of the Sonny and Cher music and comedy team

Decades after her death, Audrey Hepburn remains an icon of unparalleled style, beauty, and talent

Johnny Carson was the King of Late Night. We pay tribute to the man who kept America laughing for nearly 30 years

The singer, dancer and actress Aaliyah was just 14 when she recorded her debut album, "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number," a smash hit that went double platinum an

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

Charles Nelson Reilly was an icon of game shows during their heyday in the 1970s and '80s

Because Lin-Manuel Miranda couldn't fit all the awesome into the musical

Peter Cook, the British comedian and satirist, helped establish anti-establishment comedy in the U.K., an irony he most likely enjoyed

Elvis Presley, or the King to his fans, transformed popular culture in post-World War II America

Dizzy Gillespie was one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all time