Christa McAuliffe became the most famous teacher in the U.S. as she prepared to reach for the stars aboard the space shuttle Challenger

Jerry Reed, the musician behind hits such as "Guitar Man," "A Thing Called Love," and "East Bound and Down," was also the actor who brought gruff charm and swag

John Phillips was known otherwise as Papa John, leader of the iconic '60s folkies the Mamas and the Papas

Bob Denver was an icon of 1960s television, thanks to his role as hapless sailor Gilligan on the classic sitcom "Gilligan's Island." We remember Denver's life t

James Coburn won an Academy Award for his performance as Glen Whitehouse in "Affliction." We remember Coburn's life today as well as the lives of other notable

We remember famous people who died this day, August 30, in history, including silver screen tough guy Charles Bronson

Country music star Conway Twitty had an amazing career, with a record-setting 55 No. 1 hit singles over a span of decades

Diana, Princess of Wales, was widely admired, in her native England and abroad

We remember Michael Jackson's life today as well as the lives of other notable people who were born this day in history

Gene Wilder was a comic acting genius. We remember Wilder's life today as well as the lives of other notable people who died this day in history

Paul McCartney said, "If anyone was the Fifth Beatle, it was Brian." We remember his life today as well as the lives of other notable people who died this day i

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 and l

Louis Prima is known for his timeless songs and larger than life personality

Layne Staley helped create the sound of the 1990s as lead singer for grunge superstars Alice in Chains

We remember comedian and actress Danitra Vance and other notable people who died this day in history

Coco Chanel did no less than change the way the women of the world dress, offering a sporty, casual look that a generation of corseted women was eager to embrac

Singer-songwriter Scott McKenzie captured the gentle, hopeful air of the 1960s youth culture with his hit song "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers in Your H

Elvis Presley, or the King to his fans, transformed popular culture in post-World War II America with his voice, charm, and gyrating hips

Julia Child was one of the first great television chefs, opening up a world of TV cuisine that continues to grow today

Alice Ghostley spent decades entertaining TV viewers in a variety of roles

Singer-songwriter Buck Owens scored 21 No

Robin Williams was one of the most popular funnymen of the past 40 years

Whitney Houston spent her childhood singing in church and nightclubs with her mother

Emmett Till's death was a major catalyst for the civil rights movement

Lyndon B. Johnson took over the presidency of the United States at a tragic time, stepping up from the vice presidency when President John F

Leonard Bernstein was one of the most famous figures in classical music of the 20th century, directing the New York Philharmonic and conducting a series of accl

After an unconventional early upbringing, River Phoenix became a child actor, appearing in a number of movies and television shows before becoming a star at 15

Nick Ashford was one-half of the unstoppable musical duo Ashford & Simpson, the talented writers behind hits "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Ain't Nothing

Phil Lynott led the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy to stardom in the 1970s on the strength of hits including "The Boys Are Back in Town" and "Jailbreak." We remembe

Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx and his brothers were comedy superstars, starting out performing in vaudeville shows before starring in classic films like "Duck Sou

Pearl Bailey, the Tony and Emmy award-winning actress and singer, starred in projects as diverse as "St

Singer Eydie Gormé was known best as one-half of a husband-and-wife duo: Steve and Eydie

Alfred Hitchcock directed more than 50 feature films throughout his storied career

Lauren Bacall was one of the great stars of film noir, a talented beauty with an unforgettably sultry voice

Jimmy Dean may be the only person in the Country Music Hall of Fame who also appeared in a James Bond film and made a fortune selling sausage

Bernie Mac made us laugh, whether he was performing stand-up comedy, starring in his own sitcom, or making memorable appearances in movies

Character actress Nancy Kulp was known best for her role on one of the legendary TV sitcoms of the 1960s

Laura Branigan's powerful voice was a staple of early 1980s radio

He wrote the bestselling "People's History of the United States." We remember Howard Zinn's life today as well as the lives of other notable people who wer

Rudolph Valentino, also known as the Latin Lover, was one of Hollywood's earliest sex symbols

We remember cartoonist Stéphane Charbonnier, aka Charb, and other notable people born this day in history

We remember legendary comedian Jerry Lewis, whose rubber-faced antics propelled a career in movies, television, and stand-up that spanned eight decades, as

Patrick Swayze was a classically trained dancer, and he danced his way into lots of hearts in "Dirty Dancing." We remember Swayze's life today as well as the li

Mae West is known best today for her sultry, sexy look and her clever double-entendres

Will Rogers, known affectionately as Oklahoma's Favorite Son, was a leading comedic voice during the Progressive Era in the early 20th century

Lisa Robin Kelly was known best for playing Laurie Forman, Eric's sister, on "That '70s Show." We remember Kelly's life today as well as the lives of other nota

Mickey Mantle was a New York Yankees legend, playing center field and first base for the team from 1951 through 1968

Alex Haley was known best for the one novel he completed: "Roots: The Saga of an American Family." We remember Haley's life today as well as the lives of other

Isaac Hayes' soulful, funk-infused music won him an Oscar for the theme from "Shaft," making him the third African-American to win an Academy Award