Famous Person

Activity: Interview a famous persona

Age: 12+
Level Of English: Inter-High
Number of Students: 4 or more
Time: 1 Hour

The English Room Teacher: Yuri Jimenez

Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American movie actress. In 1999, Monroe was ranked
as the sixth greatest female actress of all time by the American Film
Institute. Her birth name was Norma Jean Mortenson and she was born on
June 1st, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. She died from having too many
drugs on the night of August 5, 1962, in Brentwood, California. She was
married to baseball player Joe DiMaggio during 1954. She married Arthur
Miller (a playwright) on July 1st, 1956. They divorced January 21th, 1961.

During her career she used the name Norma Jean Baker and, finally, Marilyn
Monroe. She spent her youth in foster homes and orphanages. Finally a job
as a photographer’s model led to a movie career. Her film debut was
in Scudda-Hoo! Scudda-Hay! in 1948, but her career blossomed in the 1950s,
beginning with bit parts in The Asphalt Jungle (1950), All About Eve (1950),
and a walk-on appearance in O. Henry’s Full House (1952). Her gift for
comedy led to her success in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), How to
Marry a Millionaire (1953), and The Seven Year Itch (1955). Part of her humor
lay in the idea that her gorgeous, blonde character did not seem to
understand why people thought she was beautiful or funny.

Monroe’s on-screen and offscreen lives were scrutinized by a press and

public fascinated by celebrities. Her marriages to baseball star Joe
DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller were widely publicized. She was
sensitive to this lack of privacy but was determined to improve her acting
skill. She studied with the famous acting coach Lee Strasberg in New York
City and returned to Hollywood to star in more complex films, including Bus
Stop (1956), The Prince and the Showgirl (1957), Some Like It Hot (1959),
and The Misfits (1961).

Marilyn Monroe became famous , starring in a number of hit movies during

the 1950s and early 1960s. She also became famous for modeling for
photographers and singing in her musical movies. One time, she sang
"Happy Birthday" to the President of the United States John F. Kennedy. It
turned out to be one of her last appearances.

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Monroe’s career was cut short when she died in Los Angeles from an
overdose of sleeping pills on August 5, 1962. Her sudden death seemed only
to enhance the mystique surrounding her image.

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Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an
American singer, songwriter, and dancer, who was one of the most famous
and successful musicians of all time. He was referred to as the "King of Pop",
and was one of the most influential entertainers in the history of pop music.
He was the best-selling music artist during the year of his death. His
contributions to music, dance, and fashion along with his publicized personal
life made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades.

Jackson started performing with his older brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine,
and Marlon in The Jackson 5 in 1964. In 1971, he started a solo career while
also being a member of The Jackson 5. He made the highest-selling album of
all time, Thriller in 1982, with estimated sales of 66 million copies worldwide.
The video for "Thriller" showed him dancing like a zombie and other dancers
around him were zombies as well. "Thriller", which includes famous songs
like "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" has sold 110 million copies worldwide. The
popularity of these videos helped bring the television channel MTV to fame.
Jackson wrote other well-known songs such as "Bad", "Black or White", "Heal
the World" and "Earth Song". Through music videos and live performances,
he is known for popularizing dance moves such as the robot and
the moonwalk. He won a lot of awards and broke many records. Guinness
World Records says he is the most successful entertainer of all time. Jackson
is also remembered for giving money to charities and pioneering efforts in
charitable fundraising in the entertainment industry. Jackson traveled the
world attending events honoring his humanitarianism, and, in 2000,
the Guinness World Records recognized him for supporting 39 charities,
more than any other entertainer.
Aspects of Jackson's personal life, including his changing appearance,
personal relationships, and behavior, generated controversy.

Jackson lived a well-publicized personal life even though he tried to stay

private. He was often in celebrity and tabloid magazines. Later in his life he
was in magazines because of his personal life more than for his music.

He was married to Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley in 1994,
before divorcing her in 1995 and marrying nurse Debbie Rowe in 1996. Three
months after Rowe and Jackson's marriage she gave birth to a son, Michael
Joseph Jackson Jr. The next year she gave birth to a daughter, Paris-Michael
Katherine Jackson. The couple divorced on October 8, 1999. Prince Michael II
was born on February 21, 2002. He is better known as Blanket.

While preparing for his comeback concert series, This Is It, Jackson died of an
overdose of propofol on June 25, 2009 after having a cardiac arrest.

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Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
On July 7, there was a memorial service for Jackson. It was on television and
2.5-3 billion people watched it. This made it the most watched funeral ever.

Jackson made more money than any other dead celebrity in 2013.

Jackson's earnings have increased following his death. According to a report

by Forbes in 2016, he had been the top-earning dead celebrity each year
since his death, with triple-digit millions per annum ($825 million in 2016).

John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often
called JFK or Jack, was the 35th President of the United States. He was in
office from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the youngest
President elected to the office, at the age of 43. Events during his presidency
included the Bay of Pigs Invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the building of
the Berlin Wall, the Space Race, the Civil Rights Movement, and early stages
of the Vietnam War. He was the youngest President of the United States to
die in office.
Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, on May 29, 1917. He was the
second of nine children of Joseph P. Kennedy (1888–1969). His father was a
businessman and later a U.S. ambassador in the United Kingdom from 1938
until 1940. His mother was Rose Fitzgerald (1890–1995).

Kennedy graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor's

Degree in International Relations. Before World War II began, he tried joining
the U.S. Army, but was rejected because he had back problems; instead, he
joined the Navy. When his PT boat was sunk by a Japanese destroyer in
1943, he seriously injured his back. He still saved his surviving crew, for
which he was later rewarded with a medal for his bravery.
He was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1946 and the U.S. Senate in 1952. He
married Jacqueline Bouvier on September 12, 1953. The couple had four
children; a stillborn daughter (b. 1956), Caroline (b. 1957), John (1960–1999)
and Patrick, who was born prematurely in August 1963 and lived only for two
days.

Kennedy was a member of the United States Democratic Party. He beat

his Republican Party opponent, Richard Nixon, in the 1960 presidential
election. Kennedy was the youngest president ever elected. He was also the
first Roman Catholic President and the first president to win a Pulitzer Prize.
Kennedy was an excellent speaker and inspired a new generation of young

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Americans. In the beginning of his term, he approved the CIA's plan
to invade Cuba.

He also created a plan called the New Frontier. This was a series of
government programs, such as urban renewal, to help poor and working
class people. He created the Peace Corps to help poor countries all over the
world. He agreed to a large tax cut to help the economy. He also called for
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which would
make discrimination and segregation illegal. Kennedy intended to reach
a détente with Cuban Premier, Fidel Castro, and to withdraw all U.S. military
advisers from Vietnam.

Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. He was

being driven through the city in an open-top car, along with John Connally,
the Governor of Texas and their wives. As the car drove into Dealey
Plaza, shots were fired. Kennedy was shot once in the throat and once in the
head. He was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital 4 miles (6.4 km) away. At
1:00 p.m., Kennedy was pronounced dead.
Lee Harvey Oswald, a former U.S. Marine, was the prime suspect in the
murder, and he was arrested on the same day for the murder of
a policeman named J. D. Tippit. Oswald denied shooting anyone and was
killed two days later on November 24 by Jack Ruby.
Kennedy had a state funeral on November 25, three days after his murder,
near to the White House. He was buried in Arlington National
Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Diana, Princess of Wales

Diana, Princess of Wales (born Diana Frances Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31
August 1997), was a member of the British royal family. She was the first
wife of Charles, Prince of Wales—the heir apparent to the British throne—and
mother of Princes William and Harry. Diana's activism and glamour made her
an international icon and earned her enduring popularity as well as
unprecedented public scrutiny, exacerbated by her tumultuous private life.
Diana was born into the British nobility and grew up close to the royal family
on their Sandringham estate.
In 1981, while working as a nursery teacher's assistant, she became
engaged to Prince Charles, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II. Their
wedding took place at St Paul's Cathedral in 1981 and made her Princess of
Wales, a role in which she was enthusiastically received by the public. They
had two sons, William and Harry, who were then second and third in the line
of succession to the British throne. Diana's marriage to Charles suffered due

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to their incompatibility and extramarital affairs. They separated in 1992,
soon after the breakdown of their relationship became public knowledge.
Their marital difficulties became increasingly publicised, and they divorced in
1996.
As Princess of Wales, Diana undertook royal duties on behalf of the Queen
and represented her at functions across the Commonwealth realms. She was
celebrated in the media for her unconventional approach to charity work. Her
patronages initially centred on children and the elderly but she later became
known for her involvement in two particular campaigns, that involving the
social attitudes towards and the acceptance of AIDS patients, and the
campaign promoted through the International Red Cross for the removal of
landmines. She also raised awareness and advocated for ways to help people
affected with cancer and mental illness. The Princess was initially noted for
her shyness, but her charisma and friendliness endeared her to the public
and helped her reputation survive the acrimonious collapse of her marriage.
Considered to be very photogenic, she was a leader of fashion in the 1980s
and 1990s. Diana and Prince Charles divorced on 28 August 1996.
Buckingham Palace stated the Princess of Wales was still a member of the
Royal Family, as she was the mother of the second and third in line to the
throne.

Among the members of the Royal Family throughout history, Diana remains
one of the most popular and still continues to influence the principles of the
Royal Family and its young generation. From her engagement to the Prince
of Wales in 1981 until her death in 1997, Diana was a major presence on the
world stage, often described as the "world's most photographed woman".
She was noted for her compassion, style, charisma, and high-profile charity
work.
In 1997, the Princess was one of the runner-ups for Time Man of the Year. In
1999, Time magazine named Diana one of the 100 Most Important People of
the 20th Century. In 2002, Diana was ranked third on the BBC's poll of the
100 Greatest Britons, outranking the Queen and other British monarchs
Diana's death in a car crash in Paris led to extensive public mourning and
global media attention. Her legacy has had a deep impact on the royal family
and British society.

Frida Kahlo
Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón (July 6, 1907 – July 13, 1954),
usually known as Frida Kahlo, was a Mexican painter. She was known for

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her surreal and very personal works. She was married to Diego Rivera, also a
well-known painter.

Frida was born in Coyoacán, Mexico. She had polio that left
her disabled when she was 6 years old and some people think that she may
have had spina bifida (a birth defect affecting the development of part of
the spine) as well.
She studied medicine and planned to become a doctor. However, at age 18,
she was in a traffic accident that badly injured her. Because of the
severe pain she lived in, she did not continue her medical studies. Frida
began painting, using ideas about things that had happened to her. Her
paintings are often shocking in the way they show pain and the harsh lives of
women, especially her feelings about not being able to have children.
Fifty-five of her 143 paintings are of herself. She was also influenced by
native Mexican culture, shown in bright colors, with a mixture
of realism and symbolism. Diego Rivera, a famous painter whom she later
married, was attracted to her paintings. Her political views were communist.
She died of a pulmonary embolism in Coyoacán.
Kahlo's work is sometimes called "surrealist," and although she organized art
shows several times with European surrealists, she did not like that label.
Her focus on female themes, and the honesty in her painting of them, made
her something of a feminist cult figure in the last decades of the 20th
century. Some of her work is seen at the Frida Kahlo Museum, found in her
birthplace and home in suburban Mexico City.
Frida Kahlo quotes
 "They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn’t. I never painted dreams.
I painted my own reality."
 "I paint flowers so they will not die."
 "At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we
can."
 "Nothing is worth more than laughter."
 "The most important part of the body is the brain. Of my face, I like the
eyebrows and eyes."

Interesting facts about Frida Kahlo

 Frida was born in Mexico, but her father was German.
 Her name, which was originally spelled "Frieda" means "peace" in
German.
 Frida survived both polio and a bus crash.
 She married a man with a name even longer than hers. Her husband's
full name was Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno
Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez.
 She exaggerated her facial hair in her self-portraits.

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  Because of the bright clothing she wore, she was asked by children,
"Where’s the circus?"
 She was born and died in the same house, called "La Casa Azul" (The
Blue House), which is now known as Frida Kahlo Museum.

The English Room Teacher: Yuri Jimenez

Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), also known simply
as Elvis, was an American singer, musician and actor. He is regarded as one
of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century and is often referred
to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".
His energized interpretations of songs and provocative performance style,
combined with a mix of different music influences led him great success.

Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and relocated to Memphis,

Tennessee with his family when he was 13 years old.
His music career began in Memphis in 1954, recording at Sun Records with
producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African-American
music to a wider audience. Presley, on rhythm acoustic guitar, and
accompanied by lead guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, was a
pioneer of rockabilly music, a fusion of country music and rhythm and blues.
In 1955, drummer D. J. Fontana joined to complete the lineup of Presley's
classic quartet and RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged
by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage him for more than two decades.
Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was released in January 1956
and became a number-one hit in the United States. With a series of
successful network television appearances and chart-topping records, he
became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll.
In November 1956, Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender.
Drafted into military service in 1958, Presley relaunched his recording career
two years later with some of his most commercially successful work. He held
few concerts, however, and guided by Parker, proceeded to devote much of
the 1960s to making Hollywood films and soundtrack albums, most of them
weren't that great.

In 1968, following a seven-year break from live performances, he returned to

the stage in the acclaimed television comeback special Elvis, which led to an
extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours.
In 1973, Presley gave the first concert by a solo artist to be broadcast around
the world, Aloha from Hawaii. Years of prescription drug abuse severely
compromised his health, and he died suddenly in 1977 at
his Graceland estate at the age of 42.
He won three Grammy Awards, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement
Award at age 36, and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame,
including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Presley holds several records; the most RIAA certified gold and platinum
albums, the most albums charted on the Billboard 200, and the most
number-one albums by a solo artist on the UK Albums Chart and the most
number-one singles by any act on the UK Singles Chart.

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In 2018, Presley was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of
Freedom.
He died on August 16, 1977 from a heart attack. He hadn't been well in his
later years due to being overweight and having too many prescription drugs.
Presley's funeral was held at Graceland on Thursday, August 18. About
80,000 people lined the processional route to Forest Hill Cemetery, where
Presley was buried next to his mother.

Anne Frank
Annelies Marie Frank (12 June 1929 in Frankfurt am Main – February 1945
in Bergen-Belsen) is one of the most famous Jewish people who died in the
Holocaust. Her diary is seen as a classic in war literature, and is one of the
most widely read books today. Several plays and movies have been made
about it.
Anne was born in the city Frankfurt am Main in Weimar Germany. She lived
most of her life in or around Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. She was
officially seen as a German until 1941. This was when she lost her nationality
because of the anti-Semitic rules of Nazi Germany. She became famous
around the world after her death when her diary was printed. In it she
described her experiences hiding during the Nazi German occupation of the
Netherlands in World War II.

The Frank family moved from Germany to Holland's capital, Amsterdam in

1933. This was the same year that the Nazis grew powerful in Germany. By
the beginning of 1940, because of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands,
the Frank family was trapped in Amsterdam. Persecution of Jewish people
increased in July 1942, and the family decided to hide. They hid in some
secret rooms of her father Otto Frank's office building.

After two years, they were betrayed and taken to concentration camps. Anne
and her sister, Margot, were later taken to the Bergen-Belsen concentration
camp. There, they both died from typhus in February 1945.
Otto Frank was the only person in his family who survived. He went back to
Amsterdam after the war and found that Anne's diary had been saved. He
helped print a version of it in 1947. It was translated from Dutch and first
printed in English in 1952 as The Diary of a Young Girl. It has been translated
into many languages. The diary had been given to Anne on her
13th birthday. In it she wrote of her life from 12 June 1942 until 1 August
1944. she was only 15 years old when she died.

A few months before the Franks went into hiding, Anne was given a diary, for
her birthday. She called her diary "Kitty" and wrote in it about all the things
that were happening to her and to her family. Anne was only a young girl,
but she knew how to write beautifully. She wrote about all the things that

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young girls think about - how she was getting along with her friends and
parents, boys (pretty much Peter), her life and emotions. After a while, Anne
had one strong ambition, she aspired to be a writer. She hoped to write a
book that everyone would read.

A total of 78 families lived hiding in the same building which was a total of
700 people.

After 2 years a thief had come and took not much, but after about two and a
half years in hiding, not long before the end of the war, the thief was caught
and, in exchange of not going to jail or death, he told the Nazis that a Jewish
family - the Franks - were in hiding. Nazi soldiers came into the Frank's
secret hiding place. They sent the Franks and the others to a concentration
camp. Miep Gies found Anne's diary and put it into a drawer. She wanted to
keep it safe until after the war. She hoped that Anne would return, and she
would be able give her her diary back to her.

However, that was not to be. Anne's father, Otto Frank, lived through the war
and came back to Amsterdam. He hoped that his family had survived too -
but they had not. Of all the family, only he survived. His wife was killed at
Auschwitz. Anne and her older sister, Margot, died at Bergen-
Belsen concentration camp from typhus, a disease - only a month before the
camp was freed by the Allied forces. When he got out, he found Anne's diary
and published it.

Famous Person
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Family Information:

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