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A dark secret is prevailing over Hollywood. Corey Feldman, Alison Arngrim and Miley Crus have all stepped up to reveal the secret. Revelations have revealed child sex abuse cases in Hollywood. Police are cracking down on the pedophiles. For actors like Corey Feldman, this is barely scratching the surface. In the 1980s, 90s, 2000s and still today, pedophiles surround child stars and force them into sexual acts in return for fame. This article intends to reveal the list of the notorious ones.

1. Victor Salva:

This man is a Hollywood Director, best known for his film Jeepers Creepers. In 1988, he made a movie starring a 12 year old boy. At the end of the film, he traded the boy’s fame for oral sex. He was charged for his crimes and served time in jail for 15 months. Now he is back on the streets directing new films.

2. Roman Polanski:

This Oscar winning director of the Pianist faced extradition charges to the United States for fleeing the country pending sex charges. He was found guilty of rape involving a 13 year old girl. The man fled to France shortly after being found guilty in 1978 and has been evading the law ever since. In 2009, he was arrested in Switzerland and faced deportation. Sadly, they freed him, refusing to honour the US’s wishes to extradite him.

3. Jay-Z:

Yes one big shocker it is. This rapper has also been accused of being a pedophile. Judiciary Report stipulated that the rapper has a history of misogyny, assault and financial fraud. He allegedly began his own record label with drug money. Rumours went out of control once he signed a 17 year old, Rihanna. Reports have shown the two having candle light dinners in New York and spending alone time for hours a day.

4. R Kelly:

The R&B singer, R Kelly was charged with possessing child pornography. He also filmed himself having sex with a girl who was as young as 13 year at the time. This was right after he handed the girl the cash to have sex with him. Despite the trial (where he was found not guilt), people still do follow his music. He even recently sang at Whitney Houston’s funeral.

5. Gabriel Williams:

A former scientology supervisor in Hollywood was also convicted of being a pedophile. In 2005, a staffer at the scientology cult discussed how she was sexually assaulted 100 times between the age of 16 and 17 by Williams, who she was forced to live with. The woman sued Williams and received a large settlement. This is despite the fact that the church has not yet admitted to any wrongdoing.

It’s raining sequels in Hollywood! They say it is not good to gild a lily but in some cases, it is a great thing. Here is a look at my pick of the Top 10 Best Hollywood Sequels Ever Made.

1. The Dark Knight

Drum Roll! How can it not be The Dark Knight? Christopher Nolan the genius gave us a brilliant start with Batman Begins but this movie takes the legend of Batman to a whole new, unimaginable level. Heath Ledger as the Joker, Christian Bale as a tormented Batman and amazing direction and stunts makes this my pick for the best sequel of all times.

2. The Godfather Part II

This 1974 gangster movie needs absolutely no introduction. The winner of six Oscars including Best Picture, The Godfather raised the levels of movie making forever. The rise of the powerful Corleone made for riveting movie watching and we’ve been hooked ever since.

3. Rocky II

Firmly establishing Sylvester Stallone as an action here, Rocky II reintroduced us to our love affair with the beloved Rocky Balboa. His journey to success and the impact it had on his life and relationships made for compelling viewing as we walked along this path with him.

4. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

George Lucas had already created a cult series in the Star Wars saga and he added to that status with this movie that became one of the most highly rated films of all time. It earned over $500 million worldwide and the world has not stopped talking about this space opera classic ever since.

5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day

You might remember this film more for T-100, the cool CGI villain, played by Robert Patrick than for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s heroics. But the movie also speaks of the sheer courage in the line of fire of Sarah Connor whose fear audiences everywhere connected to and whose bravery they applauded.

In the U.S., the average divorce comes after eight years of marriage. That’s 24 times longer than Renee Zellweger and Kenny Chesney lasted; 40 times longer than Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries; and 1272 times longer than Britney Spears and Jason Alexander.

Hollywood marriages hardly last a year, nevertheless 8 years. Many celebrities have been married more times than we can think of or imagine. Let’s take a look at those whose marriages did not last more than 1 year.

1. Britney Spears & Jason Allen Alexander (55 hours):

The couple was married for 55 hours before they called it quits. They cite Britney Spears’ lack of judgement at the time as reason for annulment.

Both once had been friends “with benefits” — even when she was dating Justin Timberlake. CHEATER!

He reported to ABC where there was an instance when Britney and Alexander. Both were drunk and out of the blue Spears ask him to marry her.

Whatever their state of intoxication, Alexander said he was also riding a wave of emotion. The marriage was annulled because Spears failed to understand the meaning of marriage.

2. Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries (72 Days):

The American socialite/New Jersey Nets basketball star couple got engaged in May of 2011. They were married on August 20, 2011. 72 days later, Kardashian filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

A source close to the pair alleged that Kardashian was never really into marrying her husband, but went along with the wedding as a publicity stunt. Probably this was an attempt to boost rating for her Reality TV show.

The shocking claims were made by a spokesperson for E!, who broadcasted the wedding special, said the showbiz channel were holding emergency meetings following Kim’s announcement of impending divorce.

3. Pamela Anderson & Rick Salomon (10 weeks):

The couple applied for a marriage license in Las Vegas on September 29, 2007. They were married on October 9th of the same year. By December 4, Anderson was already filing for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

4. Drew Barrymore & Jeremy Thomas (19 days):

She is a prominent actress and he is a bar owner, who was 15 years her senior. In 1994, they attempted to tie the knots, which they did on March 20th. They were divorced by April 28 of the same year.

5. Nicholas Cage & Lisa Marie Presley (3 months):

The couple wed in August of 2002. They separated for divorce in December of the same year. Presley made a statement later on saying they should not have been married in the first place.

If looks could kill, these hottest guys in Hollywood would be guilty as sin. They have everything from charm to good looks to the way they model themselves and their image for those who look up to them. Sit back as I take you through the top 10 Hottest Guys in Hollywood.

1. Justin Bieber:

Bieber was born on March 1, 1994 in London, Ontario, Canada. Throughout his childhood year, he was very interested in hockey, soccer and chess, as much as he kept his musical ambitions to himself. Coming from a low-income family, he was raised solely by his single mother. In 2008, Scooter Braun (current manager) found youtube videos of Bieber. He arranged for Bieber to meet with Usher and to sign up with the record label, Raymond Braun Media Group. Youtube videos as well as Bieber’s bowl cut hair made him popular amongst teenagers. It was a new cultural phenomena that teenage girls adored. He now does tours around the world and is often featured in Teen Magazines such as Tiger Beat. Just the debut single, “One Time” was charted within the top 30 in over ten countries.

2. Taylor Lautner

When the name Taylor Lautner comes to mind, Twilight, model, actor and martial artist pops into fans’ heads. Born February 11, 1992, Lautner rose to become a sex icon and symbol in the late 2000s. His physique and muscular proportion were part of his preparation for the role of Jacob Black in the Twilight movie series’. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Lautner is one of the hottest guy celebrities in Hollywood. He ranked 2nd in Glamour’s “The 50 Sexiest Men of 2010″ list and 4th in People’s “Most Amazing Bodies” list.

3. Brody Jenner:

Born August 21, 1983 to Bruce Jenner (Olympic decathlete) and Linda Thompson, Brody Jenner also tops the hottest males in Hollwoood. He has starred in various television series’ such as Princes of Malibu and has appeared on reality shows such as The Hills and Bromance. Recently, Jenner has modeled for Guess’ clothing, Agent Provocateur underwear and for Cosmogirl. Ranking # 30 in Fox News’ Hot Dudes under 30 and # 10 in Teen magazine’s teen list of 50 Hottest Guys in Hollywood, this socialite has definitely won the hearts of his fans.

4. Scotty McCreery

Born October 9, 1993 in Garner, North Carolina, Scotty McCreery is one of the hottest males in Hollwood as well. When he was younger, he would love to impersonate Elvis and play the guitar. It was only in the sophomore year that McCreery began to sing bass. This deep bass and sexy country voice sparks the hearts of American Idol judges and fans around him. According to FMReality.com, McCreery produces the country’s greatest hits with a mature, seasoned veteran voice that most adults would die to have. Currently he is in the top 5 finalists wishing to become the next American Idol.

5. Nick Jonas:

Born September 16, 1992 to a sign language teacher and singer/songwriter, Nick Jonas deserves to be placed on the list of top 10 hottest males. In 2005, he formed a band called the Jonas Brothers with his two brothers. He continues his career starring in various reality shows such as Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream and Jonas LA and series’ such as Hanna Montana. He not only charts at # 22 on Glamour Magazine’s 50 sexiest men of 2010, but acts as a role model to those who have type 1 diabetes. He started a charity foundation called Change for the Children Foundation to raise awareness and money for the disease.

It is said that the cast and crew of a film carries a film, no matter how outstanding the script is. These Hollywood actors definitely understood that and made these movies what they are today.

1. Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks was brilliant in Big. His acting was effortless and perfect and when asked about it, he said that all he did was tap into a child’s mind. Needless to say, he should have won an Oscar- make that several Oscars!

2. Al Pacino

Al Pacino plays the character of a homosexual man in Dog Day Afternoon who robs a bank because he is not financially stable enough to sponsor partner’s sex affirmation surgery. The plot of the film is hilarious and this actor knows exactly what to do in order to make a film stand out. The audience is supposed to think of him as a hero and not a villain and the best part is that this goal was achieved!

3. Sir Peter O’Toole

It has been said that Sir Peter O’Toole’s performance in Venus was one of his best. The plot revolves around an aging man, namely him, who falls in love with Venus, an underage but undeniable beautiful teenage girl.

4. Peter Sellers

Peter Sellers has achieved the impossible in Dr. Strangelove – he plays four roles and interestingly, they are all very different from each other. He manages to change his colors like a chameleon as and when the director commands him to do so.

5. Sir Paul Scofield

His performance in A Man for All Seasons was nothing if not flawless in every way. His character was extremely knowledgeable when it came to Jesus and the Bible and needless to say, he knew almost everything about the religion.

1. Lisa Ann Russell and Mark-Paul Gosselaar

Their’s was a sad breakup, after nearly 14 years of marriage. According to popular sources, their marriage ‘wasn’t working out’. They had supported each other through important events in each other’s life. Both Hollywood actors, they have 2 children together.

Commenced Dating – 1995

Separated – 2 June, 2010

Married – 26 August, 1996

2. Larry King and Shawn Southwick

King is a Talk show host, while Southwick is an actress. They have 2 children together. In his divorce filing, the TV host is seeking shared custody of their two sons. Rumours surfaced that the reason for the couple`s split was an alleged affair between King and his wife`s sister.

Commenced Dating – 1997

Separated – 13 April, 2010

Married – 5 September, 1997

3. Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy

Considered among Hollywood’s happiest couples, Jim Carrey and Jenny’s breakup came as a surprise to most people. In their 5 years together they shared a special bond, with each other and their respective children.

Commenced Dating – 2005

Separated – 5 April, 2010

4. Ryan Phillippe and Abbey Cornish

The on-again, off-again pair, Ryan Phillippe and Abbey Cornish — who were seeing each other when Phillippe split from Reese Witherspoon, 31, last October  still have a ton of chemistry. Cornish, 25, has been bonding with Phillippe’s kids. The actress, Abbey Cornish, was spotted removing her belongings from the house she shared with actor Phillippe. The split follows months of paparazzi speculation that Phillippe had been regularly hitting the nightclubs and being linked to other women.

Commenced Dating – 2006

Separated – 21 February, 2010

5. Vincent Martella and Alyson Stoner

Vincent is playing the lead role of `Phineas` on Disney`s new hit animated series, ‘Phineas and Ferb’, and is now Emmy nominated. He is shooting the fourth season of ‘Everybody Hates Chris’.

Stoner is known for her roles in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Camp Rock.

Commenced Dating – 15 January, 2009

Separated – 1 February, 2010

Hook ups and Break-ups have always been an important part of Hollywood gossip. With partners changing at the drop of a hat, here is our list of the top 10 Hollywood couples of 2010.

1. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

You simply cannot ignore ‘Brangelina’ when you speak Hollywood. Dashing and handsome Brad Pitt and sexy and demure Angelina together make a pair to reckon with. Together they have made around $40 million together in 2010. They have also adopted six adorable children and are dedicated parents. They also head the Jolie-Pitt foundation, donating millions of dollars towards humanitarian causes, making them one of the most dynamic couples of 2010.

2. David Beckham and Victoria Beckham

David Beckham and Victoria Beckham entered the Hollywood celebrity circuit when he joined the LA Galaxy in 2007. David is reportedly the highest paid soccer player in the world and Victoria is an established style icon with her own denim brand. Various rumors of affairs have rocked their 12 relationship. However, they have risen above it all and stuck together. They are also very keen on having more children.

3. Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles

Together since 2002 and married in 2008 Jay-Z and Beyonce are one of the highest grossing musicians of 2010. With earnings of $87 million she is ranked second on Forbes Celebrity 100. Jay-Z is not only a singer but an established entrepreneur owning clothing lines, part-ownership in New Jersey Nets NBA team. Both, Jay-Z and Beyonce have great voices gaining immense popularity among masses. Their record sales and endorsements have grossed them $ 150 million together in 2010.

4. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

More popularly known as ‘TomKat’ they are a ‘super couple’ in Hollywood. From Tom’s infamous declaration on Oprah’s couch of his love to their various public appearances, TomKat have never shied away from media glare. They were married in 2008 in a highly publicized scientology ceremony, only a year after being together. They have a daughter, Suri who is also portrayed as a fashion kid.

5. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith

One of the best actors in Hollywood with movies like I am Legend, In Pursuit of Happyness, Men In Black etc. Will Smith is also a rapper. Jada Pinkett Smith has dabbled in acting, singing, writing with not much success. Will Smith has 1.2 million Google searches and Jada has 225,000 making one of the most popular couples in Hollywood. Together since 1997 they have two sons – Jaden and Willow.

6. Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher

After her split with Bruce Willis, Demi Moore’s relationship with Ashton Kutcher who is 15 years junior has been one of the most surprising relationships till date. The couple wed in 2005 after dating for two years. They also plan to have kids together. Ashton’s cute and innocent looks and Demi’s new avatar after her revamp in Charlie’s Angels have made them one of the most popular couples in Hollywood.

7. Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis

Johnny Depp is the highest paid actor today and has earned $ 75 million in 2010. This versatile actor has an amazing repertoire of films and his unconventional looks and eyes have won the hearts of women world over. In her own right, Vanessa Paradis is a successful singer, actress and model in France. She is also the face of Miu Miu. The couple is together since 1998 and has two children; however they have still not tied the knot.

8. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart

They have not yet admitted to the media that they are together they are one of the most searched celebrities in 2010. Their romance reportedly blossomed during the filming of the Twilight series. They are also featured in Forbes Celebrities 100 list with earnings of $ 30 million together. This couple has fan followings largely among the youth.

9. Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen

Newly single Gisele Bundchen met Tom Brady in 2006 and have been together ever since. The couple married in 2010 in an intimate ceremony in Santa Monica, California. On Google they have a combined search of 750,000 hits, thus ranking them amongst the top celebrity couples list. The model and athlete pair together has made around $70 million through modeling shoots, endorsements and sporting events.

10. Micheal Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones

Here is a couple who knows that love has no bounds. Michael Douglas is senior to Catherine Zeta Jones by 25 years and are together since 12 years. They wed in 2000 shortly after the birth of their son Dylan Michael. Catherine is the face of Elizabeth Arden and her classic beauty is absolutely flawless.

Movies are never complete without its stunts performed either by the actors themselves or their doubles. Making a stunt successful involves hours of hard work and expense from the entire crew of the film in production. Here is looking back at the some of the best stunts in Hollywood history.

1. Crane Jump; Casino Royale (2006)

Daniel Craig’s death-defying acrobatics performed in the opening scenes of Casino Royale is one of the best stunts in 007’s movie history. In the scene James Bond chases a suspect down the streets and buildings and finally on top of a 200 foot crane.  It showed of the agility and fitness of the actors involved in the scene. This scene also won the stunt team the ‘Best High Work’ in the prestigious World Stunt Awards.

2. Boat Chase, The World is not Enough (1999)

In this chase James Bond leaps his boat into a 360 spin to wreck the gun placement in the villains’ boat. The 14 to 15 minute chase has been voted one of the most exciting boat chases of all time. This scene took seven weeks to shoot, as the speed limit of boats at 9 MPH on the river Thames had to be factored in. This scene was not supposed to be included in the movies opening sequence, however, after it was shot the reactions and shot looked very real and hence was edited and added.

3. Jump Stunt from car to Bus; Speed (1994)

In this sequence cop Jack tavern jumps from a moving Jaguar onto the speeding bus. He rips the door of the Jaguar to leap into the bus, though he loses balance and his feet drag on the ground. Keanu Reeves performed this stunt himself in spite of director Jan de Bont calling for a body double.

4. Hijack Stunt; Cliffhanger (1993)

The stunt performed by stuntman Simon Crane, had corrupt treasury agent Richard Travers hijack a plane carrying $ 100 million. After recovering the money he slides down a cable to Eric Qualens’ Learjet. This stunt cost $ 1 million to execute. Apparently the film’s budget was insufficient to complete this stunt, so Sylvester Stallone cut his salary by that amount to allow the stunt to be finished.

5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

The stunt where the Terminator is chased by his arch-villain T-100 in a helicopter is another dangerous stunt performed. The helicopter chased the truck under an overpass and crashes on the freeway.  To make the stunt look real the pilot flies the helicopter up to the underpass but flies away in the last second.

6. Police Story (1985)

This movie is full of dangerous and real-life stunts performed by Jackie Chan. Stunts such as Jackie Chan hanging onto a double decker bus window through an umbrella handle, the mall fight in which Jackie Chan and his stunt team members perform tumbles, flips and jumps through escalators, windows, stairs etc were very difficult to co-ordinate and make it look natural. The finale scene where Jackie Chan jumps and slides down a mall post covered with lights before smashing into a wooden canopy. All these scenes make Police Story a must watch movie for stunt lovers.

7. Truck Chase Stunt; Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

This truck chase stunt was performed as homage to a similar stunt performed in John Ford’s Stagecoach (1939) and is considered as one of the most exciting stunts performed. Stuntman Terry Leonard tried to execute it a year earlier for a movie but failed. In this stunt Indiana Jones is dragged under and then out behind a moving truck and climbs up and throws off all the German soldiers. This stunt took eight weeks to complete.

8. Ski Jump; The Spy who Loved Me (1977)

A favorite James Bond stunt, the opening sequence featured James Bond jumping down a parachute and skiing down a snow covered mountain dodging bullets was shot at Asgard Peak, Baffin Island, Canada. This stunt could’ve gone horribly wrong as a disengaged ski prevented the chute from opening as the stuntman was falling. However, things fell in place and the shot passed uncut and complete.

9. Chariot Race, Ben-Hur (1959)

This incredible dangerous sequence was directed by the then legendary stuntman Yakima Canutt. In the scene, during the chariot race Ben-Hur’s chariot jumps over a crashed chariot and he is thrown off to the front of his chariot; while barely holding on, he manages to climb back onto the chariot. The body double just suffered a minor cut on his chin in this performance.

10. House-fall; Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928)

A dangerous stunt performed at that time. This involved Buster Keaton standing in front of the house and the wall of the house collapses around him. He however remains standing, unhurt and stone-faced.

We see a lot of great talent around us. But sometimes, the media can be cruel and can get people in trouble. The public will get to know others through the media for their personal troubles rather for their great talent. Here are just 10 men that have been a part of scandals in the media, and were gotten to know for the absolute wrong reasons.

1. Charlie Sheen

He is the son of well known actor, Martin Sheen, and the brother of actor and director, Emilio Estevez. Though Sheen has had a rising acting career, his personal life went downhill early on. First, there was the time he accidentally shot Kelly Preston, who was his girlfriend at the time. Then came drugs and several rehab stints over the years. His latest troubles came when he was fired from his hit television series, “Two and a Half Men”. The world saw him crumble with his erotic behavior, and feared his death. But Sheen overcame his troubles, and is coming back to acting slowly and smoothly. Sheen was replaced by Ashton Kutcher for the lead role in the series.

2. Ashton Kutcher

He seemed to have everything in his hands, a stable acting career and a marriage that seemed to be glowing. But Ashton Kutcher proved that looks can be deceiving after all. Kutcher started dating Demi Moore in 2003, after his relationship with the late Brittany Murphy was over. The world was shocked and waited for the relationship to crumble, as Moore was 15 years Kutcher’s senior and had three daughters from her previous marriage to Bruce Willis. The couple got married in 2005, and was filled with PDA, and sweet notes to each other on twitter. They became the “it” Hollywood couple. The fairy tale was over in September 2011, when Kutcher cheated on Moore with a 22 year old woman on their 6 year wedding anniversary. Demi Moore announced she was separating from Kutcher that November, and he was seen hitting the club scene right after. Despite that, Kutcher maintains a close relationship with Moore’s 3 daughters.

3. Arnold Schwarznegger

Arnold Schwarznegger was an action hero in the 1980s and 1990s, with movies like “The Terminator”. His trademark line is “I’ll be back”, which is still popular to this day. In 2004, he became the Governor of California. But what made us love him was his long lasting marriage to Maria Shriver. We saw him as “the cool, strong guy in the movies, but a much softer side when he was with his wife and four children. In 2011, it was reported that during their 25 year union, Schwarznegger had an affair with a housekeeper, and that he fathered a son with her. The couple separated and when Oprah celebrated the end of her 25 year run of her talk show, Shriver made a speech and said that Oprah “never lied to her.” Despite all the drama, the former couple has maintained a friendly relationship for the sake of their children.

4. Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston seemed to have the perfect marriage, but as the saying goes, “nothing lasts forever.” In 2004, Pitt began filming “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”, with Angeline Jolie. Reports began surfacing that the two were having an affair, but they were denied by both parties, and Pitt claimed he was happily married to Aniston, despite pictures that were published of him and Jolie holding hands. In January 2005, Pitt and Aniston announced their separation, and in the months that followed, Pitt’s relationship with Jolie was confirmed. After all these years, the media is still going on talking about how Angelina Jolie stole Pitt from Aniston. It is a never ending love triangle which has been forgotten by all three parties. Pitt and Jolie are still going strong . They have six children together and announced they were engaged in 2012. Aniston has had several high profile relationships, including with Vince Vaughn and John Mayer. She is now in a relationship with Justin Theroux, and has stated that she is happy for her ex-husband on his engagement.

5. Tiger Woods

We have many men who cheated on their significant others on this list. But this man is a special case, no doubt. Tiger Woods is a professional golfer and married Elin Nordegren in 2004. They had 2 children together, Sam and Charlie. Their marriage was going great. But things changed in 2009, when Tiger was involved in a vehicle accident at the family home. Woods admitted to being unfaithful to his wife, not only with one woman, but with several women. The couple tried to save the marriage, but it proved difficult as they divorced n August 2010.

While many people enter and leave this world with little notice, there are those among us whose death—especially if untimely—captures headlines and our hearts. Hollywood deaths are not only top news but can, in some cases, create an industry of itself dedicated to keeping alive the memory of those we deem worthy of our affections. So who are these people? How has there death changed our worldview and the way we see things? Why are their deaths so tragic?: Let’s find out in this exclusive top 10 list of untimely Hollywood tragedies.

1. Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was not born with this name. Her real name was Norma Jean. She had a very difficult childhood not knowing her father, and her mother developing psychiatric problems and eventually being placed in a mental institution. Norma Jean was placed in foster care and an orphanage home. A family friend and her husband took care of Norma Jean for a few years, but could not afford to continue to take care of her when they moved to the East Coast for a job opportunity.

To avoid living in foster care, Norma Jean married her boyfriend, Jimmy Dougherty. While Dougherty was working as marine in the South Pacific, Norma Jean worked in a factory where she was discovered by a photographer. That was how she became a model, and her next dream was to become an actress.

In 1946, Norma Jean signed her first movie contact and divorced her husband as she was concentrating more on her career rather than her marriage. That was when she changed her name to Marilyn Monroe and dyed her hair blonde, being a natural brunette. However, the success did not come until the 1950s. Monroe was typecast as “the dumb blonde”. She was tired of the stereotype, and moved to New York to study acting. She returned to star in a movie in 1956, in the dramatic comedy “Bus Stop”.

The 1950s seemed to be golden for Marilyn Monroe, but the 1960s went downhill for her. Monroe was dismissed from the filming of “Something’s Got To Give” because of too many missed work days. Monroe claimed it was because of an illness. Her last two completed films were box office disappointments, and she had several failed relationships and marriages. One affair to recall is with John F. Kennedy, and her marriage with John DiMaggio, which lasted only nine months.

Marilyn Monroe was found dead on August 5, 1962, at the mere age of 36. She was found dead in her room, where an empty bottle of sleeping pills were found by her bed. It was also speculated that Monroe was murdered, but her death was ruled as drug overdose.

2. Heath Ledger

Heath Ledger was born in Perth, Australia. Perth, according to Ledger, is the most “isolated city in the world”. Ledger never liked what other boys enjoyed doing, such as sports. Instead, Ledger had great interests in Chess and acting. Having acted in several school plays, Ledger developed a dream of being a professional role. First, he had stints in the Australian soap opera, “Home and Away.” Then came a role of playing a gay character. Next was a starring role in “Roar”, where he met his girlfriend, Liza Zang, who was 18 years his senior.

Ledger and Zang moved to the U.S together to find acting jobs. Ledger got his first major American Film role in “10 Things I Hate About You”, a teen comedy where he plays the boy who always gets the girl. The movie was a success, and Ledger found himself typecast for these sorts of roles. Ledger did not want to be in a teen movie anymore and waited for an opportunity to play Mel Gibson’s son in “The Patriot.” Ledger then was offered the part of Spider Man, but he declined to play a small part in “Monster’s Ball”.

Ledger’s next big role was “Brokeback Mountain” playing a homosexual cowboy. His girlfriend at the time, Naomi Watts, encouraged him to accept the role, saying it was “an opportunity of a lifetime”. It was there that he met Michelle Williams. They began a relationship and had a daughter together, Matilda, born in 2005.

But then Ledger was offered the part of the Joker in “The Dark Knight”. That’s when all the troubles began. Ledger’s part was so intense, and he was always a perfectionist. To get into character, Ledger stayed in a hotel room for six weeks in complete solitude. Ledger became stressed and couldn’t sleep. On January 22, 2008, Heath Ledger died of accidental drug overdose. He took 6 different sets of pills at once that were not dangerous, but if taken at the same time, they are lethal. A year later, Ledger won an Oscar for his supporting role as the Joker. His parents and sister accepted the award on his behalf proudly.

3. Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson might as well be the most successful artists of our generation. He started out as a member of the band, Jackson 5, which included his brothers. He also has a sister, Janet, who is also a successful artist. Both Michael and Janet were open throughout their careers they were very close. They even collaborated on the song “Scream” together.

When Jackson 5 faded, Michael had an even more successful solo career with songs such as “Thriller”, “Beat it”, “Bad”, and “Black or White”. In 1984, Jackson won a record of eight Grammys. That same year, Jackson was invited to the White House by then president Ronald Reagan to award him for his charity work. This helped fans overcome the drug and alcohol abuse that overshadowed Jackson after an incident during filming of a Pepsi commercial when his head went on fire that same year. In 1988, Jackson wrote his first Autobiography, Moonwalker. He touched on subjects like his appearance and the abuse he suffered from his father during his childhood. In 1988, Elizabeth Taylor declared Michael Jackson to be “The King of Pop.”

In the mid-80s, Jackson’s skin started to change. Tabloids stated that it was due to plastic surgeries, but Jackson stated that it was due to a disease that he had called Vitiligo. By the 1990s, Jackson was completely white. In 1993, Michael Jackson was interviewed by Oprah on one of the most anticipated episodes of her show. This was his second interview since 1979. While being interviewed, Jackson talked about his surgeries, his abuse, and loneliness. The interview had an audience of 90 million in the U.S alone.

In the summer of 1993, Jackson was accused of sexually abusing a child, Jordan Chandler. Chandler described Jackson’s body parts in great detail. However, no charges were filed, and Jackson paid $22 million in settlement. Michael Jackson never truly recovered of that part of his life. At the time, Jackson was with Lisa Marie Presley. She stood by him and was a support system for him. The two got married in May 1994. The couple divorced in 1996, though they spent four more years of on and off dating. In 1995, Jackson married his second wife, Debbie Rowe. Together they had two children together, Prince and Paris. The couple divorced in 1999, and Jackson got full custody of the children. Jackson had a third child in 2002 named Blanket through a surrogate mother.

In 2001, Michael Jackson released the album, “Invincible”, and his first in six years. It did not do as well as his other albums, but still managed to get $3 million in sales revenue. Later that year, Jackson performed at a concert dedicated to him for the 30th anniversary of his career. The concert also included performances by artists such as Whitney Huston and Britney Spears. It aired on September 10, 2001

In 2003, Jackson was accused of sexual child abuse for a second time after the documentary, “Living with Michael Jackson” aired. In one scene, Jackson was seen holding hands with a young boy, and discussing sleeping arrangements. Jackson was arrested in November 2003, and was charged with seven counts of child molestation and two other counts in relation to the 13 year old boy shown in the film. The trial began in 2005 and went on for 5 months. In June, Jackson was acquitted of all counts.

In 2009 Jackson was planning a comeback tour, which would be his last. It was named “This Is It.” However, before he could even start performing, Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009. He was 50 years old.

4. Elvis Presley

Elvis was the most popular American icon of the 20th century, known as “The King of Rock N Roll” or simply as “The King”. He began his singing career in 1954, working with Sun Records owner Sam Phillips. Elvis got his contract deal with RCA victor by Colonel Tom Parker, who managed Elvis for two decades. Elvis’s first sing, “Heartbreak Hotel” was released in 1956, and it became a number 1 hit. Another hit of Elvis was “Hound Dog”. In the 50s Elvis would always be filmed from the waist up due to his “sexy” moves, which were inappropriate at the time. He also made numerous television appearances to perform his songs. His performances made Elvis a star. Elvis also made his film acting debut in “Love Me Tender”.

While being on military duties in 1958, Elvis took a hiatus from music, but returned to the scene two years later. During that time, his mother passed away. Much of the 1960s was devoted to film making and several soundtrack albums. But in 1968, after seven years away from music, Elvis made his comeback performance that led to several extended tours. The first concert was broadcast by Elvis in 1973 via satellite. Also in 1968, Elvis welcomed his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, with wife, Priscilla Presley. Lisa Marie was born exactly 9 months after the couple made it official.

Priscilla and Elvis became very distant during the 1970s. In 1979, Elvis had an affair with Joyce Bova, which resulted in a pregnancy and an abortion. Priscilla and Elvis separated in September 1972. Five months later, Elvis began a relationship with Linda Thompson.

Elvis and Priscilla divorce took a toll on Elvis. He started being unwell, and started using drugs. He overdosed on drugs twice. Keyboardist Tony Brown remembers the singer’s arrival at a University of Maryland concert: “He fell out of the limousine, to his knees. People jumped to help, and he pushed them away like, ‘Don’t help me.’ He walked on stage and held onto the mike for the first thirty minutes like it was a post. Everybody’s looking at each other like, is the tour gonna happen?” Guitarist John Wilkinson recalled, “He was all gut. He was slurring. It was obvious he was drugged. It was obvious there was something terribly wrong with his body. It was so bad the words to the songs were barely intelligible. … I remember crying. He could barely get through the introductions”. Wilkinson recounted that a few nights later in Detroit, “I watched him in his dressing room, just draped over a chair, unable to move. So often I thought, ‘Boss, why don’t you just cancel this tour and take a year off…?’ I mentioned something once in a guarded moment. He patted me on the back and said, ‘It’ll be all right. Don’t you worry about it.’

Between 1973 and 1976, Elvis recorded material that was enough to put on six albums. But his health declined more and more that it was surprising to everyone he survived that long. Journalist Tony Scherman writes that by early 1977, “Elvis Presley had become a grotesque caricature of his sleek, energetic former self. Hugely overweight, his mind dulled by the pharmacopoeia he daily ingested, he was barely able to pull himself through his abbreviated concerts.”

Sadly, Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977. He was found in the bathroom, and died of drug overdose. His daughter was 9 years old at the time. He was 44.

5. Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain was the lead singer of the well known band, Nirvana. He formed the band alongside Krist Novoselic. When he was only 7 years old, Cobain’s parents divorced, and it affected him greatly only for the worst. In a 1993, interview Cobain said, “I remember feeling ashamed, for some reason. I was ashamed of my parents. I couldn’t face some of my friends at school anymore, because I desperately wanted to have the classic, you know, typical family. Mother, father. I wanted that security, so I resented my parents for quite a few years because of that.”

Kurt’s father promised not to get married after the divorce, however, much to Kurt’s dismay, he remarried when he met Jenny Westeby. Kurt moved to a new household with his sister, his father, stepmother, and step siblings. Kurt liked Jenny because she gave him the motherly attention he desired until she and Kurt’s father had a baby boy. Kurt’s mother began dating a man who was abusive and Cobain was a witness to one incident, which resulted in a hospitalization.

Kurt began bullying a boy at school, which forced him to go to a therapist. In 1979, Kurt’s mother granted full custody to Kurt’s father. Cobain’s teenage years proved difficult for his father, and Kurt lived with relatives and friends.

Cobain always had an interest in art, and when he was assigned work in art class, Cobain drew a posing of Michael Jackson. Cobain also found peace in music and began to attend rock concerts regularly. In 1986, Cobain moved out of his house, and formed a relationship with Tracy Marander. The couple lived a very on and off life. Their relationship was strained due to Cobain’s touring and Tracey having to support the couple by working in a cafeteria. An argument that they once had inspired Cobain to write the song, “About a Girl”.

Cobain formed the group “Nirvana” along with Krist Novoselic, and Chad Channing would later join them. Channing was featured in Nirvana’s 1989 album “Bleach”, but after not liking Channing’s sound, Cobain replaced Channing with Dave Grohl. In 1991, Nirvana released their album,” Nevermind”, which sold over 25 million albums.

While Nirvana was at the top of the charts, Cobain found love in 1990 with Courtney Love. The couple married in 1992 when they discovered they were going to have a baby together. Their daughter, Frances Bean Cobain was born on August 18, 1992.

Kurt Cobain had a long history of depression, as well as a undiagnosed disease, chronic stomach condition. His first experience with drugs came at the age of 13, and continued using during adult life. Cobain was also prone to alcoholism and solvent abuse. Cobain’s cousin Beverly, a nurse, claimed Cobain was diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder as a child, and bipolar disorder as an adult. She also brought attention to the history of suicide, mental illness and alcoholism in the Cobain family, noting two of her uncles who had committed suicide with guns. His addiction to drugs worsened, and one point overdosed while performing on stage. Rather than calling for an ambulance, Love injected Cobain with Narcan to bring him out of his unconscious state.

Cobain’s addiction with drugs took a toll when he was found dead on April 8, 1994. It was reported that he was dead for 3 days prior to being found. His death was ruled a suicide, and a note was left by Cobain saying Goodbye to his fans, his wife and young daughter. He was only 27.