Dolly Parton Biography (1946-)

One of the best-known country singers in the world, Dolly Parton is known for her outsized talent, hair, and bosom. She began writing and performing songs as a girl and made her first record in 1960. She moved to Nashville, and in 1967 released the album Hello, I’m Dolly and landed a job on Porter Wagoner’s syndicated television…

Robert Redford Biography (1937-)

Actor, director, producer, activist and founder of the Sundance Institute. Born Charles Robert Redford on August 18, 1937, in Santa Monica, California. Robert Redford has proved to be one of the great talents in American film. He is equally at home behind the scenes as he is in front of the cameras. In addition to his own career,…

Isabella Rossellini Biography (1952-)

Isabella Rossellini was one of the twin daughters born to actress Ingrid Bergman and director Roberto Rossellini in 1952. After growing up in Italy, she came to America when she was19 and studied at Finch College and the New School for Social Research. She then returned to Rome, where she worked as a translator and TV journalist (not…

Paul Allen Biography (1954-)

Entrepreneur and investor. Born in 1954, in Seattle, Washington. While attending the Lakeside School outside Seattle, 14-year-old Paul Allen met 12-year-old Bill Gates, a fellow student and computer enthusiast. Less than a decade later, in June 1975, Allen and Gates, both college dropouts; Allen from Washington State University founded Microsoft with the intention of designing software for the…

Geri Halliwell Biography (1972-)

The former Ginger Spice, pop singer Geri Halliwell was born August 6, 1972 in London; a onetime topless model and Turkish game show hostess, in March of 1994 she answered an advertisement for an all-girl vocal group, and with fellow applicants Victoria Adams, Melanie Brown and Melanie Chisholm formed the nucleus of what later (with the addition of fifth…

Peggy Fleming Biography (1948-)

Figure skater, Olympic athlete, philanthropist, businessperson. Born Peggy Gale Fleming on July 27, 1948, in San Jose, California. Before Dorothy Hamill and Michelle Kwan, Peggy Fleming was one of the best American figure skaters. She began skating at age nine, and her family made several sacrifices to support the young athlete’s amateur career. When she was 12, her…

Willie Nelson Biography (1933-)

Singer, songwriter, actor, and philanthropist. Born on April 30, 1933, in Abbott, Texas. During his extensive career, Willie Nelson has written more than 2,500 songs and has released close to 300 albums. He is recognized worldwide as an American troubadour and icon, transcended musical genres, and has remained relevant through five decades through his music, his acting, and as…

Heather Mills Biography (1968-)

Public figure, model, philanthropist. Heather Mills was born on January 12, 1968 in Aldershot, Hampshire, England. When she was just nine, Mills’ mother left her and her siblings in the care of her abusive father. After her father went to prison, Mills ended up in London, living with her mother. As a teenager, Mills ran away from home and…

John D Rockefeller Biography (1839 – 1937)

(born July 8, 1839, Richford, New York, U.S.—died May 23, 1937, Ormond Beach, Florida) American industrialist and philanthropist, founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust.

Rockefeller moved with his family to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1853, and six years later he established his first enterprise—a…

Charlize Theron Biography (1975-)

Actress, philanthropist. Born on August 7, 1975, in rural Benoni, South Africa, to co-owners of a road construction company, Charles and Gerda. The Afrikaans-speaking family lived on a working farm outside of Johannesburg, and although Theron’s childhood chores included tending livestock, her passion for dance became evident early on. To foster her artistic leanings, Theron began ballet lessons at…

Muhammad Ali Biography (1942-)

Boxer, philanthropist, social activist. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. Once one of the top American boxers, Muhammad Ali has shown that he is not afraid of any fight—inside or outside the ring. Growing up in the segregated South, Ali experienced firsthand the prejudice and discrimination that African-Americans faced during this…