Can you guess which actors these real 'Jeopardy!' clues are about?

Written by:
November 26, 2020
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Can you guess which actors these real 'Jeopardy!' clues are about?

The movie industry received a body blow in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic shut down theaters and productions for much of the year. In recent months, some theaters have slowly reopened and cameras are rolling again on a limited basis—drive-ins have once again become a popular method for screenings, thanks to their socially distant setups. While it remains to be seen what the film industry will look like after the pandemic, there will surely be many stories to be told.

In absence of new work from your favorite thespians, Stacker scoured through J! Archive, the online archive of "Jeopardy!" clues, to create a quiz of 25 questions about actors. Using primary news sources, movie databases, and entertainment websites, Stacker's quiz includes actors from various generations—comedians, drama actors, and heartthrobs included. Each "Clue" slide includes the clue, category, value, and date the episode aired followed by the answer in traditional "Jeopardy!" format. All clues are from Nov. 2020 or before.

Do you remember where a two-time Academy Award winner and a popular game show host first broke it big portraying characters on a medical staff? How about the Texas slacker who turned into a bestselling author and serious Oscar-winning, leading man? And who can forget the Pro Football Hall of Famers, Canadian stoner, and groundbreaking 1990s talk show host who left their marks on the big screen?

Whether you're an avid fan of "Jeopardy!" or a connoisseur of consuming popcorn with flicks, this quiz is sure to keep you captivated—just like the work of a hero/bad guy combo featured on the list who have found renewed interest thanks to a reboot of their classic 1980s sports film.

Click through to find out how well you'd score on "Jeopardy!" questions about actors, and be sure to check out other Stacker's other "Jeopardy!" quizzes

Clue #1

- Clue: Howie Mandel and Denzel Washington were on staff at this ’80s show set at St. Eligius Hospital.
- Category: Big and Small Screen Classics
- Value: $1600
- Date episode aired: Nov. 1, 2019

Answer #1: What is 'St. Elsewhere'?

Howie Mandel and Denzel Washington’s careers took different paths after “St. Elsewhere,” but both actors have been quite successful. Mandel had a hit cartoon “Bobby’s World” in the 1990s, and then became a popular game show host. Denzel Washington broke big in movies, winning Oscars for roles in “Glory” and “Training Day.” Washington’s son, John David Washington, won acclaim in 2018 for his work in “BlacKkKlansman.”

Clue #2

- Clue: Born in Vancouver, he’s brought his curly hair and rubber face to “Funny People” as well as to “Superbad.”
- Category: Funny People
- Value: $400
- Date episode aired: Feb. 5, 2010

Answer #2: Who is Seth Rogen?

Rogen began doing stand-up comedy as a teenager, and co-wrote a draft of “Superbad” with Evan Goldberg at 13. A frequent Twitter user, Rogen has become vocal in supporting social justice issues, and has long been a proponent of marijuana. Recently, Rogen voiced a character in “The Lion King” remake.

Clue #3

- Clue: One of the first R-rated movies was 1968's "The Split" starring this former Cleveland Browns running back.
- Category: R-rated Movies
- Value: $1600
- Date episode aired: Dec. 6, 2018

Answer #3: Who is Jim Brown?

A Hall of Fame running back and former lacrosse star, Brown retired from sports and became a bona fide movie star. Brown had roles in cult classics like “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka” and “Mars Attacks!” and played a tough cop in Spike Lee’s “He Got Game.”

Clue #4

- Clue: Say this triple-dipper that came near the end of Matthew McConaughey’s Oscar acceptance speech.
- Category: Say It Three Times
- Value: $400
- Date episode aired: Sept. 19, 2008

 

Answer #4: What is "all right, all right, all right"?

In late 2020, McConaughey released his memoir, “Greenlights,” which describes his Texas childhood and rise to movie stardom. McConaughey won an Academy Award for his starring role in “Dallas Buyers Club,” but he first captured hearts in “Dazed and Confused,” playing a stoner/muscle car enthusiast. In “Dazed and Confused,” McConaughey was featured alongside other rising actors like Ben Affleck and Joey Adams.

Clue #5

- Clue: Appropriately, this martial arts master’s voice is heard in “Kung Fu Panda” as the monkey.
- Category: Actors and Actresses
- Value: $600
- Date episode aired: Feb. 11, 2010

Answer #5: Who is Jackie Chan?

Chan had already been a star in Asia thanks to his martial arts prowess, but he finally broke through in North America with 1995's "Rumble in the Bronx." Chan reached mainstream fame with his roles in the "Rush Hour" series and received an honorary Oscar in 2016. Not bad for an actor who has a hole in his head and tons of broken bones thanks to decades of physical stunts.

Clue #6

- Clue: Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves brought the sexy to this surfing/bank heist movie.
- Category: People Sexiest Man Alive Movie Team-ups
- Value: $1000
- Date episode aired: July 2, 2019

Answer #6: What is 'Point Break'?

A 2015 remake of “Point Break” largely flopped, but Reeves remains an A-list star with his work in the “John Wick” series, as a romantic casanova in films like “Always Be My Maybe,” and in reprising other popular roles. Swayze, who died in 2009, is revered for his roles in “Ghost” and “Dirty Dancing.” 

Clue #7

- Clue: In 2000’s “Hamlet,” Ethan Hawke soliloquizes in one of this chain’s video stores.
- Category: Product Placement
- Value: $200
- Date episode aired: May 15, 2001

Answer #7: What is Blockbuster?

As of early 2020, there was still at least one remaining Blockbuster Video store in operation, where you could probably scoop up other Ethan Hawke flicks like “Before Sunrise” and “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.” Hawke, who now calls New York City home, is a noted fan of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets.

Clue #8

- Clue: Ice Cube gave rise to a catchphrase with the dismissive "Bye, Felicia," in this 1995 comedy.
- Category: One-word Film Titles
- Value: $1000 (Daily Double)
- Date episode aired: Oct. 11, 2016

Answer #8: What is 'Friday'?

“Friday” was quite the “meme-able” movie, thanks to various facial expressions and catchphrases from Ice Cube, Chris Tucker, and crew. Ice Cube previously proved his acting chops in “Boyz n the Hood,” and later starred in “21 Jump Street,” and “Barbershop.” In the lead-up to the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Ice Cube received criticism for planning to work with the Trump administration—a stark contrast in ideology from the rapper’s younger days when he rhymed, “F*** the Police.”

Clue #9

- Clue: Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi, and Adam Sandler were these title guys in a 1994 movie, just like a colorful candy.
- Category: Candied Camera
- Value: $2000
- Date episode aired: Jan. 12, 2011

Answer #9: What is 'Airheads'?

“Airheads” is about band members so desperate to get signed that they take radio station workers hostage. Adam Sandler is the only accomplished musician among the fictional trio, called The Lone Rangers, having produced several comedy albums. Sandler and Steve Buscemi also worked together on films “Billy Madison” and “Big Daddy.”

Clue #10

- Clue: Samuel L. Jackson played the uncle of this comedian in a sketch from the 1987 concert film “Raw.”
- Category: Comedy: You Didn’t Have To Be There
- Value: $1200
- Date episode aired: Sept. 16, 2019

Answer #10: Who is Eddie Murphy?

Eddie Murphy's uncanny brand of comedy led to starring roles in films like "Coming to America," "Harlem Nights," and "The Nutty Professor." Murphy is also working on a fourth installment of his "Beverly Hills Cop" series.

Clue #11

- Clue: “This Is 40” features the not-always-happily married Debbie and Pete, played by Leslie Mann and him.
- Category: Movie Couples
- Value: $1200
- Date episode aired: May 22, 2013

Answer #11: Who is Paul Rudd?

Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann are frequent faces in Judd Apatow films. Mann and Apatow are married. Rudd first gained notoriety in comedies like “Clueless” and “Wet Hot American Summer,” then became an action movie star as Ant-Man.

Clue #12

- Clue: This actor, not Peter Boyle, is the title character in “Young Frankenstein.”
- Category: Young Man or Woman
- Value: $2000
- Date episode aired: Nov. 6, 2020

Answer #12: Who is Gene Wilder?

Gene Wilder was a comedic trailblazer, known for his immaculate timing in works like “Blazing Saddles.” Wilder often collaborated with comedy heavyweights like Mel Brooks and Richard Pryor, but also played the titular character in the 1971 film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” Wilder died in 2016 due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

Clue #13

- Clue: 1989's "Harlem Nights" featured this former talk show host as the "Crying Man."
- Category: You Make Me Cry
- Value: $2000
- Date episode aired: Dec. 13, 2001

Answer #13: Who is Arsenio Hall?

Arsenio Hall and Eddie Murphy teamed up in “Harlem Nights” and “Coming to America.” Hall, a popular talk show host in the 1990s, rebooted “The Arsenio Hall Show” in 2013, but it was canceled after one season.

Clue #14

- Clue: “I don't even like the theater!” said this 67-year-old sourpuss comedian about his 2015 bow in his own play “Fish in the Dark.”
- Category: Broadway Debuts
- Value: $1200
- Date episode aired: April 13, 2015 4/13/15

Answer #14: Who is Larry David?

As the co-creator of “Seinfeld” and lead of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” it’s been said that Larry David has had a pretty, pretty, pretty good career. However, David can’t say the same for many players on his beloved New York Jets, who started the 2020 NFL season with an 0-9 record for the first time in franchise history. David is handling quarantine as best as he can, entertaining a legion of fans along the way.

Clue #15

- Clue: Osmosis Jones, Mooseblood, Marty the Zebra.
- Category: Stars By Movie Roles
- Value: $1200
- Date episode aired: Oct. 19, 2009

Answer #15: Who is Chris Rock?

Chris Rock has lent his voice to many big screen characters, written his own TV shows, and starred and directed in several films. Recently, Rock earned rave reviews for his role in the TV drama "Fargo," and has been an outspoken advocate for wearing masks during the coronavirus pandemic. Rock began by acting in notable works like "Krush Groove," "Miami Vice," and "Saturday Night Live."

Clue #16

- Clue: Ritchie Valens in “La Bamba.”
- Category: Actors in Biopics
- Value: $800
- Date episode aired: Jan. 22, 2014

Answer #16: Who is Lou Diamond Phillips?

Phillips was a popular young actor in the 1980s, also starring in “Young Guns” and “Stand and Deliver.” He’s continued to find steady work in TV on shows like “Blue Bloods.”

Clue #17

- Clue: As Edward Scissorhands, he was a real cut-up.
- Category: Movie Stars
- Value: $200
- Date episode aired: March 21, 2017

Answer #17: Who is Johnny Depp?

Johnny Depp became a teen heartthrob thanks to roles on TV’s “21 Jump Street” and in movies like “Cry Baby.” After showing his thespian skills in Tim Burton’s “Edward Scissorhands,” Depp went on to star in more serious films like “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” and “Donnie Brasco.” Like another actor on this list, Depp played Willy Wonka, but is perhaps best known for his character of Jack Sparrow in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film series.

Clue #18

- Clue: Ralph Macchio and William Zabka can be seen on YouTube Premium in "Cobra Kai," a continuation of this movie series.
- Category: Entertainment
- Value: $600
- Date episode aired: June 10, 2019

Answer #18: What is 'The Karate Kid'?

After their success in “The Karate Kid,” Ralph Macchio was seen in films like “My Cousin Vinny” and “Beer League” while William Zabka moved behind the camera. They reunited for No More Kings’ music video “Sweep the Leg” and soon the band was back together. “Cobra Kai” has become one of the top streamed series since its release.

Clue #19

- Clue: Performances like his 1979 “Live in Concert” film made Rolling Stone list him as the greatest stand-up comedian of all time.
- Category: GOATS (Greatest of All Time)
- Value: $1200
- Date episode aired: Jan. 18, 2020

Answer #19: Who is Richard Pryor?

Richard Pryor released a slew of comedy albums in the 1970s, making him one of America’s preeminent funnymen. That led to movie roles in a variety of genres. Pryor made appearances in “Uptown Saturday Night,” “The Muppet Movie,” and “Brewster’s Millions.”

Clue #20

- Clue: On this Adult Swim series, Nate Corddry was Dr. Jason Mantzoukas, and Jason Mantzoukas was Mole Man.
- Category: Big and Small Screen Doctors
- Value: $1000
- Date episode aired: July 12, 2017

Answer #20: What is Children's Hospital?

Nate Corddry is best known for his TV work on shows like "The Daily Show," and is the brother of Rob Corddry, who currently stars on "Ballers" with The Rock. Jason Mantzoukas starred in the 2018 film "The Long Dumb Road" and became a fan favorite for his vulgar character work on "The League" and "Big Mouth." Mantzoukas, who co-hosts the "How Did This Get Made?" podcast, regularly discusses his allergy to eggs.

Clue #21

- Clue: This twice-married actor is 7/9 of the way home to having a full “Field of Dreams” baseball team of his kids.
- Category: Got a Wife and Kids
- Value: $600
- Date episode aired: March 16, 2017

Answer #21: Who is Kevin Costner?

Kevin Costner also starred in baseball movies “Bull Durham” and “For Love of the Game,” and was a supporter of Texas Longhorns baseball. Costner is also a fan of NASCAR, and recently appeared in the films “Draft Day” and “Hidden Figures.” Costner, long exclusive to the big screen, now appears on the TV series “Yellowstone.”

Clue #22

- Clue: In “The Upside,” a remake of a French film, Kevin Hart cares for a quadriplegic man played by this actor.
- Category: 2019 Movies
- Value: $1000
- Date episode aired: Sept. 20, 2019

Answer #22: Who is Bryan Cranston?

Bryan Cranston is best known for playing Walter White on “Breaking Bad,” but before that seminal role, he cameoed on “Seinfeld” as a joking, Jewish dentist. Kevin Hart remains one of Hollywood’s most visible actors, and can currently be seen in his “Die Hart” series. Of course, when Hart is not acting, he’s usually busting the chops of friend and occasional co-star The Rock.

Clue #23

- Clue: Yo, absolutely, the first feature this actor directed was "Paradise Alley" in 1978.
- Category: The Thespian Directs
- Value: $1600
- Date episode aired: Nov. 4, 2013

Answer #23: Who is Sylvester Stallone?

Sylvester Stallone also directed the films “Rambo” and “The Expendables.” Along with acting, Stallone has worked as a screenwriter—“Rocky” is arguably his most famous script. He reprised his role as Rocky Balboa in 2015’s “Creed,” working with Michael B. Jordan.

Clue #24

- Clue: Danny DeVito was considered for the title role of “Uncle Buck,” but this man got the part
- Category: John Hughes Movies
- Value: $800
- Date episode aired: Feb. 4, 2014

Answer #24: Who is John Candy?

John Candy, a native of Ontario, Canada, burst onto the comedy scene with “SCTV.” He would go on to Hollywood fame thanks to performances in “Splash,” “Summer Rental,” and “Spaceballs.” Candy then went on to lead roles in “Uncle Buck,” ”Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” and “Cool Runnings” before he died in 1994 of a suspected heart attack.

Clue #25

- Clue: A movie Wolverine and a movie Batman, they both play magicians in “The Prestige.”
- Category: Movie Magic
- Value: $800
- Date episode aired: July 16, 2018

Answer #25: Who are Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale?

Aside from starring as Wolverine in recent "X-Men" films, Hugh Jackman is noted for his roles in "Les Misérables," and "Van Helsing." Christian Bale won an Academy Award portraying boxing trainer Dicky Ecklund in "The Fighter," and also has suited up as a comic book hero on the silver screen, portraying Batman in the "Dark Knight" series.

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