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Stephen King tells us what scares him (Spoiler alert: elevators!) l GMA

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Stephen Edwin King was born on September 21, 1947, at the Maine General Hospital in Portland. His parents were Nellie Ruth (Pillsbury), who worked as a caregiver at a mental institute, and Donald Edwin King, a merchant seaman. His father was born under the surname "Pollock," but used the last name "King," under which Stephen was born. He has an older brother, David. The Kings were a typical family until one night, when Donald said he was stepping out for cigarettes and was never heard from again. Ruth took over raising the family with help from relatives. They traveled throughout many states over several years, finally moving back to Durham, Maine, in 1958.

Stephen began his actual writing career in January of 1959, when David and Stephen decided to publish their own local newspaper named "Dave's Rag". David bought a mimeograph machine, and they put together a paper they sold for five cents an issue. Stephen attended Lisbon High School, in Lisbon, in 1962. Collaborating with his best friend Chris Chesley in 1963, they published a collection of 18 short stories called "People, Places, and Things--Volume I". King's stories included "Hotel at the End of the Road", "I've Got to Get Away!", "The Dimension Warp", "The Thing at the Bottom of the Well", "The Stranger", "I'm Falling", "The Cursed Expedition", and "The Other Side of the Fog." A year later, King's amateur press, Triad and Gaslight Books, published a two-part book titled "The Star Invaders".

King made his first actual published appearance in 1965 in the magazine Comics Review with his story "I Was a Teenage Grave Robber." The story ran about 6,000 words in length. In 1966 he graduated from high school and took a scholarship to attend the University of Maine. Looking back on his high school days, King recalled that "my high school career was totally undistinguished. I was not at the top of my class, nor at the bottom." Later that summer King began working on a novel called "Getting It On", about some kids who take over a classroom and try unsuccessfully to ward off the National Guard. During his first year at college, King completed his first full-length novel, "The Long Walk." He submitted the novel to Bennett Cerf/Random House only to have it rejected. King took the rejection badly and filed the book away.

He made his first small sale--$35--with the story "The Glass Floor". In June 1970 King graduated from the University of Maine with a Bachelor of Science degree in English and a certificate to teach high school. King's next idea came from the poem by Robert Browning, "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came." He found bright colored green paper in the library and began work on "The Dark Tower" saga, but his chronic shortage of money meant that he was unable to further pursue the novel, and it, too, was filed away. King took a job at a filling station pumping gas for the princely sum of $1.25 an hour. Soon he began to earn money for his writings by submitting his short stories to men's magazines such as Cavalier.

On January 2, 1971, he married Tabitha King (born Tabitha Jane Spruce). In the fall of 1971 King took a teaching job at Hampden Academy, earning $6,400 a year. The Kings then moved to Hermon, a town west of Bangor. Stephen then began work on a short story about a teenage girl named Carietta White. After completing a few pages, he decided it was not a worthy story and crumpled the pages up and tossed them into the trash. Fortunately, Tabitha took the pages out and read them. She encouraged her husband to continue the story, which he did. In January 1973 he submitted "Carrie" to Doubleday. In March Doubleday bought the book. On May 12 the publisher sold the paperback rights for the novel to New American Library for $400,000. His contract called for his getting half of that sum, and he quit his teaching job to pursue writing full time. The rest, as they say, is history.

Since then King has had numerous short stories and novels published and movies made from his work. He has been called the "Master of Horror". His books have been translated into 33 different languages, published in over 35 different countries. There are over 300 million copies of his novels in publication. He continues to live in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, and writes out of his home.

In June 1999 King was severely injured in an accident, he was walking alongside a highway and was hit by a car, that left him in critical condition with injuries to his lung, broken ribs, a broken leg and a severely fractured hip. After three weeks of operations, he was released from the Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Christian Skibinski
Usually sets stories in Maine, particularly (until "Needful Things") in the small town of Castle Rock, which he created.

Most of his lead male characters are writers

Almost always has a cameo in the movies or mini-series based on his novels

Makes references to his previous novels in his books

Horror and fantasy themes

Supernatural events happening to everyday people

Uses single words or phrases as foreshadowing ("Redrum" in The Shining)

Children in his books often are killed such as Gage in "Pet Sematary" and Ray Brauer in "The Body"

Many of his earlier works gave life to inanimate objects, turning them into homicidal monsters.

Often depicts small-town life, particularly in the fictional Castle Rock, as having a dark and dangerous underside to it.

Stories about small town communities facing a supernatural force.

Common theme is characters being isolated or trapped from the outside world.

Families are often portrayed as deeply dysfunctional or broken; fathers tend to be alcoholics and domineering or abusive, while mothers tend to be meek or self-deluded

Characters who have a troubled and even harmful relationship with religion (Margaret White in "Carrie," Father Callahan in "Salem's Lot," Vera Smith in "The Dead Zone," Mrs. Carmody in "The Mist")

Newspapers reported that he has bought the van that hit him on June; he plans to hammer it to pieces on the anniversary of the accident. [September 1999]

King was accidentally hit in the back by a minivan while walking on Route 5 near North Lovell, Maine. He suffered a broken leg, a bruised lung and a head laceration. The driver of the van was distracted by his dog. King was found lying in a depression about 14 feet off the road and appeared to have been thrown by the collision. The van's windshield was broken and the right front corner of the car was crunched in from the impact of striking King. [June 1999]

Revealed that he is suffering from macular degeneration, a currently incurable condition which will most likely lead to blindness. [May 1999]

Estimated annual salary is $40 million. [May 1999]

HBO paid $1.5 million for the rights to the novel "Rose Madder". [October 1996]

Has never censored his own work. The death of Dr. Jimmy Cody in "Salem's Lot" was cut due to the demands of the editor at Doubleday, which King acquiesced to because his career was still in its infancy.

King published seven novels ("Rage", "The Long Walk", "Roadwork", "The Running Man", "Thinner", "The Regulators" and "Blaze") under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.

Portions of King's writings from when he was 9 years old appears in the 1993 book, "First Words", edited by Paul Mandelbaum, available from Algonquin books.

It is falsely rumored that he will not sign autographs because of superstition. Actually, he doesn't sign them because he hates the idolatry of celebrities (he also will not endorse an official fan club for the same reason). He will sign autographs now only at book signings, according to his official website. Another rumor (perhaps started by King) claims that, if sent a book to sign, he will burn it and return the ashes. This is also untrue and was debunked by his official website.

Met his wife Tabitha King while the two were working at the Fogler Library as students at the University of Maine in Orono, Maine.

Used to work for a dry cleaner before publishing his first novel.

His daughter Naomi wed her 54-year-old lesbian partner Thandeka (who is a theological school teacher) in Nashville, Tennessee. [June 2000]

Bryan Smith, the driver of the van that hit King, dies. King said in a statement, "I was very sorry to hear of the passing of Bryan Smith.The death of a 43-year-old man can only be termed untimely.". [September 2000]

Scored in the 1300s on the SAT.

Children: Naomi Rachel (b. 1970), Joseph Hillstrom (b. June 4, 1972) and Owen Phillip (b. February 21, 1977).

Wrote "The Running Man", a 304-page novel, in only ten days.

Owns three radio stations in Maine (one has been named AP Station of the Year more than once) Online at zoneradio.com

Certified by Guinness Superlatives (the "Book of World Records" group) as having the most number of motion picture adaptations by a living author.

In 1992 he and wife Tabitha King gave a donation to build Mansfield Stadium in Bangor, Maine. The only condition Stephen had was that the score board would be placed such that he could see it from his house while working. In August of 2002 he threw the first pitch at the opening of the Senior League Baseball World Series. The Kings were honored for their generosity with an inscribed stone monument shaped like a home plate.

Contributed a short monologue to two versions of the Blue Öyster Cult song "Astronomy" (from the out-of-print "Imaginos" album) on a promotional CD single.

His short story "The Man in the Black Suit" won an O. Henry Award for Best Short Story in 1996.

Underwent surgery to remove scar tissue and fluid from his lungs from a bout of pneumonia. [November 2003]

He is an avid Red Sox fan. Before the Sox won the 2004 World Series, he said he wanted his tombstone epitaph to be a single sock and the line "Not In My Lifetime, Not In Yours, Either."

He is the most successful American writer in history.

Often listens to hard rock music during the time he writes to get inspired. He also plays in a rock band himself.

A recovering alcoholic, King noted in his book "On Writing" that he was drunk virtually the whole time of writing the book "Cujo" and to this day barely remembers writing any of it.

In the 1980s he was battling a cocaine addiction. At one time his wife organized a group of family and friends and confronted him. She dumped onto the floor his trashcan, which included beer cans, cigarette butts, cough and cold medicines and various drug paraphernalia. Her message to him was: "Get help or get out. We love you, but we don't want to witness your suicide." He got help and was able to become clean and sober.

Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". New Revision Series, vol. 134, pages 256-271. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2005.

A huge fan of Ramones, King penned the liner notes to the 2002 Ramones tribute album, "We're A Happy Family.".

Writes reviews of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series for Entertainment Weekly magazine.

The fictional town of Castle Rock is located in Maine. Stand by Me (1986), accidentally set it in Oregon. This is because the original story, "The Body," only mentions that Castle Rock is near Portland, without identifying which state. It is only identified as being in Maine in his other stories. The only clues in "The Body" that it takes place in Maine is the fact that the local radio stations begin with W, which, with only a few exceptions, applies only to stations east of the Mississippi River.

Was such a fan of the film 28 Days Later... (2002) that he bought out an entire showing of the film in New York City.

Son Joseph Hillstrom King is also a novelist. He spent the past several years writing under the pen name Joe Hill, the name of a labor leader who is also his namesake.

Cites Sir William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies as a major influence on him. One of the chapters in that book was "Castle Rock," which later became the name of a fictional town in several of King's stories.

Worked as an English teacher before becoming a professional writer. Many of his characters are also teachers.

In his book "On Writing", he states that as punishment for making fun of Ellen Margitan, the vice principal of Lisbon High, he is sent to the offices of the Lisbon Enterprise to work with the editor, John Gould which he states is not "the" John Gould. In fact, it was "the" John Gould, famous Maine humorist and it was John Gould that helped King develop into a writer that people wanted to read.

He's a huge fan of the hit ABC TV show Lost (2004), which often makes references to his works. He even trusted J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof to adapt the "Dark Tower" series into a film series.

Controversially, King once wrote a complimentary "Blurb" for the back cover of L. Ron Hubbard's book "Fear".

When it was discovered in 1985 that he and Richard Bachman were one and the same, he retired the use of that name. He resurrected Bachman about a decade later, using the name as the author of The Regulators, a companion piece to his own novel Desperation. Since then, he has issued other new novels using the name Bachman, with the dust jackets jokingly claiming the books to have been a posthumous discovery by Bachman's widow. Bachman is said to have died in 1985 from "Cancer of the Pseudonym".

Will allow aspiring film-makers to purchase the film rights to any of his short stories (and only short-stories, not novels) for a dollar. The resulting films are sent directly to him and, if he enjoys them, placed on a shelf marked "Dollar-Babies.".

In 2009 he fulfilled a lifetime ambition, expressed in Salem's Lot, of being interviewed in Playboy Magazine. The Magazine also published a poem by King, entitled "The Bone Church", which featured the immortal line "And balls to your grinning face!".

His characters frequently meet other characters from other Stephen King books. In Tommyknockers, for example, poet Jim Gardner encounters Jack, from The Talisman, on a beach.

The description of the character Ben Mears, in Salem's Lot, is taken from King himself.

As a little boy he had a recurring nightmare in which he entered a room and saw a suicide victim hanging from the ceiling. He later incorporated this scene into an early book, Salem's Lot.

Famously disliked Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (1980), which was adapted from his novel of the same name. King was opposed to the casting of Jack Nicholson who, in his opinion, did not accurately portray the gradual descent into madness that the book had described. He also lamented that many story elements, some of them autobiographical and important to King, had not been included, such as alcoholism and his father issue. King therefore produced a mini series of The Shining (1997) that follows his novel more closely, but is generally regarded as inferior to Kubrick's interpretation.

His novel Misery is about a writer with a recurring character in a long series of books, who is in a serious car accident after finishing the last book in the series. King was himself in the middle of an ongoing series; The Dark Tower; when he was hit by a truck in 1999. Surviving that accident is what ultimately prompted him to finish the series. He has recently decided to write one more book in the series, to be entitled The Wind in the Keyhole, due for a 2012 release. In Misery, the writer also decides to continue writing his series after surviving his encounter with an obsessed fan.

His memoir "On Writing" has been praised by Roger Ebert as the most useful and insightful book about writing since The Elements of Style.

A rumor circulated for years that he did not want to complete his novel "Pet Sematary" as it frightened him to do any writing for it. King or Doubleday (the publisher) may have started the story and while not exactly true it is partially based in fact. King fell into a depression while writing it and had no desire to complete it while feeling the strong melancholy.

Suicides have occurred in three of the houses the King family have lived in.

The first author to have three simultaneous titles on the publishers weekly list: Firestarter, The Dead Zone, and The Shining.

In October 1995, King broke his own record by having four books hit the NY Times bestseller list: Skeleton Crew, Thinner, The Talisman, and The Bachman Books.

All three of his children as well as his wife have followed his footsteps into writing.

Writes three drafts for every book.

His favourite way of relaxing is to take a bath while smoking a cigarette, and listen to a Red Sox game on the radio, propped on the sink. He would also drink a beer during the days when he was an alcoholic.

King played guitar (badly) in a high school band. He would often change the lyrics into something gross (but funny) on the spot.

In later years, movie studios and production companies snapped up the film rights for King novels before the books saw print, e.g. Delores Claiborne.

King writes for 3-4 hours a day. He used to write 2000-3000 words a day, now he can only manage 1000.

King once flew on a plane that ran into turbulence. The oxygen mask came out, and his seat was ripped from the floor and he landed on his side, still strapped in. It was a while before he could get on a plane again.

Against abortion because he likens it to abandonment, something his father did to him when he was a child.

Never answers his own phone.

He will never co-author a book with his wife, because he feels that if they ever did, it would lead to divorce court.

In 1993, King played with the Rock Bottom Remainders to sell-out arenas.

King has a deal with Castle Rock; they can have his work for a dollar, but he gets script approval, he approves the director, cast approval, and he can pull the plug anytime, no matter how much money was spent. He gets 5% of every dollar, so in the case of The Green Mile (1999), he made 25 million dollars.

King gets depressed when people say The Stand is his best book because that was written three decades ago and implies he hasn't written anything as good since.

When King was hit by a van in 1999, he was lucky not to have been killed outright. While in recovery, one of his lungs had collapsed, he had four broken ribs, a gash to the head that needed 20 stitches and his spine was chipped in eight places. His right leg almost had to be amputated but doctors managed to save it. The only thing undamaged in the accident were the lenses in King's glasses; he later replaced the frame.

During King's recovery after being knocked down by a van in 1999, he was appalled when he was hooked up to a morphine drip, what with his former past as a drug addict. He didn't become re-addicted by doctors keeping him below the recommended dose. He could feel the craving bubbling to the surface, but this time experience prepared him to recognize the danger signs. By the time he came home, he had lost 40 pounds. None of the nurses cracked any "Misery" jokes but he said he would have appreciated the dark irony. He could only write for up to an hour and a half every day, so he spent the Winter in Florida; the warm weather would aid his recovery. He still needs to walk with a cane though. After accepting a literary award in 2003, he had a relapse and had to spend another month in hospital. He weighed 160 pounds and nearly died. Tabitha took the opportunity to refurbish his office.

The one thing King is reluctant to write is an autobiography. The nearest he's ever come to that is the CV section of his non-fictional book On Writing.

Has a fear of therapists. He had to conquer that fear during the worst stages of his alcoholism and drug addiction.

Has a fear of flying. He once suffered an injury on an airplane when it flew into turbulence, which no doubt exacerbated his fear.

Hates being famous. He's also uncomfortable in large crowds.

Since the publication of Carrie in 1974, his books have never been out of print; a rare feat for an author.

Repeated the first grade because of frequent absences.

On the night King's mother died, his son had a terrible choking fit at home. He's had a fear of choking ever since. His mother's death drove him further into drink.

Because The Shining came from a very personal place, King managed to write the book very quickly. The subject matter hit so close to King that he took time out from it to work on his next novel, The Stand.

King invented the pseudonym Richard Bachman to see if he could market books without the attachment of his more famous name.

King used to listen to rock and roll when drafting a novel; now he doesn't need to.

Not long after 9/11, someone left a package on King's doorstep. The bomb squad were called in and incinerated it. It turns out it was King's novel, It.

King has a library made up of 17,000 books; he's read them all except for any new additions.

A big fan of detective stories.

The first American to win the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Booksellers Association.

When touring with the Rock Bottom Remainders, they needed extra security because of King's presence.

Before he wrote Carrie (his first published novel), King wrote a few practice novels first under his pseudonym Richard Bachman. He called them "trunk novels".

Regularly listens to audiobooks, because he believes no book exists until its done in audio.

King owns two neighboring houses in Bangor. He wanted to build an underground tunnel with a trolley you could ride between them. When asked why, he replied, "because I can".

Read many stories about people being buried alive.

He'd like to direct a film now that he's totally sober.

Would like to write a novel about the thing that scares him the most, spiders.

Hit the No 1 bestseller list 36 times, and is still disappointed when he doesn't.

King suffers from insomnia and later wrote a book about it.

Does some of his book tours on motorbike.

The one question King hates to be asked more than any other by the fans is "Where do you get your ideas?".

By 1987, the King family lived in a 24-room restored Victorian mansion.

King is critical of people who write about Maine and didn't grow up there.

Bryan Smith, the van driver who hit King in 1999, had a history of driving offenses and his license had been suspended three times by the time of the accident. He was indicted for aggravated assault and driving to endanger. He later died of a drug overdose.

Has a fear of the number 13, which is called triskaidekaphobia.

Prefers to be called Steve.

Had the idea for the Dark Tower series before he was an established author.

Suffers from high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums. These spared him from being drafted into Vietnam.

King's first novel Getting It On was sent to an editor and then sent back for revisions four times. In the end it was still rejected, but it taught him much about the editing process. His second attempt The Long Walk failed as well. It wasn't until his third novel, Carrie, that he finally got a book published.

People will often camp outside King's house to get a view of the great author. A man named Erik Keene broke in April 20, 1991 at 6:00am. He threatened Tabitha with a bomb, claiming King stole the idea for Misery from Keene's aunt. She ran to a neighbour and called the police. They found Keene in the attic and the bomb was a dud. He was arrested and sentenced to 18 months in jail before he was extradited to Texas for a parole violation. The King's increased security by extending a wrought-iron fence around the yard gates with access codes as well as CCTV.

King is down to three cigarettes a day. He's kicked alcohol, cocaine, painkillers, but he's still addicted to work and goes into similar withdrawal when he's not working.

Has declared that this will be his last year of writing novels. His books will be published for the next few years, but he has vowed to quit the job in numerous publications on numerous occasions. [2002]

Teaches a course as part of the Writers in Paradise Winter Term at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida. [January 2006]

Has denied rumors of retirement saying that "The Dark Tower" series made him want to retire but he loves writing and cannot retire. Is preparing to release a new novel "The Colorado Kid" in October 2005. [March 2005]

Writing a column for the back page of Entertainment Weekly magazine called "The Pop of King". [July 2003]

The recipient of the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for distinguished contribution to American letters.

King writes his fear of flying into some of his stories, Eg The Langoliers.

When writing Doctor Sleep, King had to be reminded of things from The Shining he'd forgotten.

King novels are criticized for having a lot of swearing. This is commented on ironically by King himself in Misery and The Tommyknockers.

King has never understood why people find The Shining (1980) so scary.

King wrote the dedication to Doctor Sleep in Bangor, Maine where he lives.

King has written very few sequels in his career.

When King wrote The Shining, the lead character was struggling with alcoholism just as King was at the time. But King didn't know about AA so Jack Torrance didn't go, but when King wrote the book as a miniseries, he did go.

Claimed that he realized he was an alcoholic when he began to save bottles for recycling. The piles of empty bottles made clear how much he drank regularly.

His ancestry includes English, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and distant Scottish, Welsh, Dutch, and French.

One of the only times he has scared himself with his own writing is when Patrick Hockstetter of "It" gets trapped in a refrigerator with leeches.

He has has said that "Lisey's Story" is his favorite of his own novels. Also counts "Misery," "The Stand," "The Body" (Stand By Me) and "Survivor Type" among his favorites.

Has the distinct privilege of being blocked by Donald Trump on his Twitter account [2017].

Started writing "Misery" in a London Hotel, using a desk that used to belong to Rudyard Kipling, at which Kipling died.

One compiler noted that Stephen King had saved news stories about "Walk Ins"(Suggesting some writers may experience Involuntary "Channeled" Writing).

Preston Max Allen and his musical, "Carrie 2: The Rage (An Unauthorized Musical Parody)," at the Underscore Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois, was nominated for a 2018 Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for New Musical.

He is life long die hard fan of the Boston red sox.

Stephen King's 10 Writing Tips:

1. If you don't succeed, get a bigger nail...

This is a fancy way of saying you need to keep at it. Don't put all your hopes and dreams into one thing, write many.

2. Write six pages a day...

For a novelist, that's not too much. For a screenwriter, I think we can adapt that to writing one to two pages a day. The point is, always be honing your craft.

3. Go where the story leads you...

Sometimes the best-laid plans don't go your way. Let the story guide you and take your characters where they need to be. Sometimes it can surprise you.

4. The good ideas will stay with you...

What are the lingering stories you know you need to get out in the world? The ones that make your heart beat fast? Those are the ones you should be writing.

5. First you read and copy other writers, then little by little, you develop your own style...

It's okay to imitate in the beginning. Learn how someone describes things on the page or the way they introduce characters. You will find your own voice through practice and repetition.

6. Writing is self-hypnosis, you need to have a routine...

Are you a morning or night writer? Do you have a certain time of day you've set aside to help yourself grow? Make sure you do it daily so you don't have rust to shake off.

7. Start with short stories and let them develop into novels or screenplays...

We like to say you should practice by writing outlines or treatments. Really develop the kinds of stories and beats you like, and then build from there. You can get to scripts later, just learn structure first.

8. Learn to write for different mediums...

There are a lot of writing jobs out there, so don't limit yourself to just film or TV or video games. Be open to exploring lots of different options and you'll have more shots at booking lots of different jobs.

9. Look for ideas that you would really enjoy writing for longer period...

In film, we always say that you should chase an idea you think you'd be okay writing for three to five years, because that's how long the process of writing, shooting, and editing can be. So think about the stories that matter and that last.

10. Get immersed in your writing process until the outside world is gone...

So much of writing is getting in the zone, shutting things out, and chasing a dream. Allow yourself to sink in and enjoy the process so much you want to return day in and out.

Born on exactly the same date as Nick Castle, the original Michael Myers of "Halloween" fame.

The number 237 occurs at some point in all his films based on his books. $2.37 is the amount the boys pool together in Stand by Me, Red's cell number in Shawshank Redemption is 237 and is the number of the haunted room in The Shining .

I've killed enough of the world's trees.

I'm a salami writer. I try to write good salami, but salami is salami.

Each life makes its own imitation of immortality.

When asked, "How do you write?", I invariably answer, "One word at a time".

I recognize terror as the finest emotion and so I will try to terrorize the reader. But if I find that I cannot terrify, I will try to horrify, and if I find that I cannot horrify, I'll go for the gross-out. I'm not proud.

I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries.

For every six crappy poems you read, you'll actually find one or two good ones. And that, believe me, is a very acceptable ratio of trash to treasure.

People want to know why I do this, why I write such gross stuff. I like to tell them I have the heart of a small boy... and I keep it in a jar on my desk.

[asked why he hasn't personally directed more movies] Just watch Maximum Overdrive (1986).

[on playing the role of Jordy Verrill in Creepshow (1982)] If I had written it for myself, I would have put in at least one sex scene!

If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write.

Like anything else that happens on its own, the act of writing is beyond currency. Money is great stuff to have, but when it comes to the act of creation, the best thing is not to think of money too much. It constipates the whole process.

I love the movies, and when I go to see a movie that's been made from one of my books, I know that it isn't going to be exactly like my novel because a lot of other people have interpreted it. But I also know it has an idea that I'll like because that idea occurred to me, and I spent a year, or a year and a half of my life working on it.

I know writers who claim not to read their notices, or not to be hurt by the bad ones if they do, and I actually believe two of these individuals. I'm one of the other kind - I obsess over the possibility of bad reviews and brood over them when they come. But they don't get me down for long; I just kill a few children and old ladies, and then I'm right as a trivet again.

If you wrote something for which someone sent you a check, if you cashed the check and it didn't bounce, and if you then paid the light bill with the money, I consider you talented.

Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.

I've had a deal for years with Castle Rock Entertainment that goes back to Stand by Me (1986). I have told them that you can have my work for a buck. What I want from you is script approval, director approval, cast approval, and I want to have the authority to push the stop button at any point regardless of how much money you [the production company] have invested, because none of the money you have put in has gone into my pocket. What I get on the back end, if things work out, is 5% from dollar one.

Books and movies are like apples and oranges. They both are fruit but taste completely different.

[on directing Maximum Overdrive (1986)] I didn't get the job because I went to film school. I got the job because I'm Stephen King. If you become famous enough, they'll let you hang yourself in Times Square with live TV coverage.

[on film adaptations of his work] I don't feel any urge to control after I sign a piece of paper. I say, "See you later. You have what you need and I have what I want. As long as the check doesn't bounce, you and I are quits."

[from his acceptance speech for the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, 2003] I salute the National Book Foundation Board, who took a huge risk in giving this award to a man many people see as a rich hack.

I know a few writers who claim not to read reviews, and I actually believe one of these individuals. I am the opposite: I anticipate bad reviews and brood over them when they come. But then I just kill a few children and old ladies and I'm right as a trivet again.

I didn't believe there was justification for going into the war in Iraq. And it just seemed at the time, that in the wake of 9/11, the [ George W. Bush] Administration was like this angry kid walking down the street who couldn't find whoever sucker-punched him, and so turned around and punched the first likely suspect. Sometimes the sublimely wrong people can be in power at a time when you really need the right people.

When Robert Bloch died, the only thing that anybody really remembered about him was that he wrote Psycho (1960), which became the famous Alfred Hitchcock movie. And whenever I'm introduced, I'm the guy that wrote "The Stand". When my name comes up in the blogs these days, it's usually in relation to H1N1: "He was the guy who thought about the flu!"

You can still reconcile the idea that things are not necessarily going to go well without falling back on platitudes like "God has a plan" and "This is for the greater good."

I'm in the supermarket one day with my cart, and there's this woman, about 95. She says, 'I know who you are. You write those stories, those awful horror stories . . . I don't like that. I like uplifting movies like that 'Shawshank Redemption'. So I said, 'I wrote that.' And she said, 'No, you didn't.' And that was it. Talk about surreal. I went to myself, for a minute, 'It's not very much like my other stuff. Maybe I didn't write it!'

(About seeing Carrie (1976) for the first time) In the row in front of us there were two huge African-American men. Two-hundred and fifty pounders at least. They're screaming like children. They're grabbing each other around the neck and one of them says to the other one, "That's it, that's it. She ain't never gonna be right". And I looked at my wife and I said this movie's gonna be huge.

Harry Potter is about confronting fears, finding inner strength, and doing what is right in the face of adversity. Twilight is how important it is to have a boyfriend.

I was addicted for most of the 80s. Its not a terribly long time to be an addict, but it lasted longer than WW2.

Having kids allows you to finish off your own childhood, but from a more mature perspective.

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Never write a book whose manuscript is bigger than your own head.

You have to be a little nuts to be a writer because you have to imagine world's that aren't there.

A short story is like a stick of dynamite with a tiny fuse; you light and that's the end.

[his novel, The Stand] My "Lord of the Rings" of the American landscape.

[on cocaine] One snort, and it owned me body and soul.

Writing is the only thing I'm good at. I could never do another job.

Book tours are like a pillow fight with all the pillows treated with low-grade poison gas.

As a kid, I didn't talk much, I wrote. I'm not used to externalizing my thoughts other than on paper, which is typical of writers.

One of the reasons that I live in Bangor is because if somebody wants to get to me, they have to be really dedicated.

I'm the Big Mac of authors.

[on his past career as a teacher] Teaching school is like having jumper cables hooked to your ears, draining all the juice out of you.

You should do sex, never write about it.

People ask me when are you going to write something serious, but that's a question that hurts. That's like walking up to a Black man and asking how it feels to be a nigger.

[writing outside the horror genre] Writing on a non-supernatural level is like learning to talk after you've had a stroke.

[his religious beliefs] I've always believed in God. I also think that the capacity to believe is the sort of thing that either comes as part of your equipment, or at some point in your life when you're in a position where you actually need help from a power greater than yourself. You simply make an agreement to believe in God because it will make your life easier and richer to believe than not to believe. So I choose to believe.

[on his fear of the number 13] The number 13 never fails to trace that old icy finger up and down my spine. When I'm writing, I'll never stop work if the page number is 13 or a multiple of 13; I'll just keep on typing till I get to a safe number. I always take the last two steps on my back stairs as one, making 13 into 12. There were after all 13 steps on the English gallows up until 1900 or so. When I'm reading, I won't stop on page 94, 193, or 382, since the sums of these numbers add up to 13.

All those addictive substances are part of the bad side of what we do. Writing is an addiction for me. Even when its not going well, if I don't do it, the fact that I'm not doing it nags at me.

I have nightmares when I'm not working. What doesn't come out on the page just comes out some other way.

My brains used to work better. I wrote something last week and I looked at it the other day and thought it familiar, so I went back 100 pages and found I had duplicated myself. Paging Dr Alzheimer.

I'm the hood ornament of the Remainders.

Good work gets better when its read aloud, and bad work is mercilessly exposed. Its like shining a strong light on facial structure. Even good makeup won't hide bad writing.

Give away a dime for every dollar you make, because if you don't, the government's gonna take it.

There's always a market for shit. Just look at Jeffrey Archer. He writes like old people fuck.

I'm never sure why people are interested in my life when there are more interesting people in the world.

The appeal of horror has always been consistent. People like to slow down and look at the accident. That's the bottom line.

The day that I deny my identity, the day I'm not who I say I am, is the day I quit the business forever. Close up shop, turn off the word processor, and never write another word. Because if the price of what you do is a loss of your identity, its time to stop.

My writing is more effective now I'm sober, and I feel more creative. I went through a period where I felt a bit flat, like a cup of Seltzer water where all the bubbles have departed. But now I feel like myself again, only with wrinkles.

The worst advice I've ever received is don't listen to the critics. I think you should, because sometimes they're telling you something is broken that you can fix. None of us like critics, but if they're saying something's a piece of shit, they're right.

I'm afraid of everything.

I have a permanent address in the people's republic of paranoia.

[on his fear of flying] The flight you have to be afraid of is the flight where there's nobody on who's afraid of flying.

[why he likes having peripheral vision] The part I want to keep, as a man and as a writer, is what I see out of the corners.

[about retiring] You know how when you're on the turnpike on a hot day, and you always seem to see water at the horizon? That's my year off, right there! Whenever I get there, its always a little further along.

[about On Writing] Its like the town whore trying to teach women how to behave.

When asked why am I so prolific, I say it's because I'm not dead or divorced.

[Neil] Gaiman is simply put, a treasure-house of story, and we're lucky to have him.

Making people believe the unbelievable is no trick; it's work... Belief and reader absorption come in the details: An overturned tricycle in the gutter of an abandoned neighborhood can stand for everything.

Once you get to a certain age you've got to try expanding your field. You've got to try new things, and if you don't you tend to get conservative. I always say you dig yourself a rut and then you furnish it.

I can't think of any books right now that would be comparable to The Exorcist (1973).

I believe everyone is mentally ill. All people angrily screw up their faces like children or talk to themselves when they think nobody's looking.

Any one who thought high school was the best time of their life is totally fucked up.

I get my ideas from everywhere. But what all of my ideas boil down to is seeing maybe one thing, but in a lot of cases it's seeing two things and having them come together in some new and interesting way, and then adding the question 'What if?' 'What if' is always the key question.

I'm writing but I'm writing at a much slower pace than previously and I think that if I come up with something really, really good, I would be perfectly willing to publish it because that still feels like the final act of the creative process, publishing it so people can read it and you can get feedback and people can talk about it with each other and with you, the writer, but the force of my invention has slowed down a lot over the years and that's as it should be. I'm not a kid of 25 anymore and I'm not a young middle-aged man of 35 anymore-I have grandchildren and I have a lot of things to do besides writing and that in and of itself is a wonderful thing but writing is still a big, important part of my life and of everyday.

[on why he became a writer] The answer to that is fairly simple - there was nothing else I was made to do. I was made to write stories and I love to write stories. That's why I do it. I really can't imagine doing anything else and I can't imagine not doing what I do.

If you are not careful and diligent about defending the right of your children to read, there won't be much left, especially at the junior-high level where kids really begin to develop a lively life of the mind, but books about heroic boys who come off the bench to hit home runs in the bottom of the ninth and shy girls with good personalities who finally get that big prom date with the boy of their dreams. Is this what you want for your kids, keeping in mind that controversy and surprise -- sometimes even shock -- are often the whetstone on which young minds are sharpened?

Why can't a story just be a story?

Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us - and sometimes they win.

If you look too closely you might see something you don't like.

The Shining is one of those novels people always mention (along with Salem's Lot, Pet Semetary, and It) when they talk about which of my books really scared the bejesus out of them.

[Doctor Sleep, his sequel to The Shining] The true history of the Torrance family.

[alcoholics trying to get by without AA] White-knuckle sobriety.

I like to think I'm still pretty good at what I do, but nothing can live up to the memory of a good scare, and I mean nothing, especially if administered to one who is young and impressionable.

[Tennessee in the Civil War] The right side.

A lot of people did serve in the Civil War.

[not wanting to be a slave] Its good. Something to be proud of.

It's interesting to me to know that I have Southern roots. I had no idea. No idea of that.

[finding out Tennessee was a huge slave state] I didn't know that.

[while writing Doctor Sleep] I didn't know what was gonna happen. I never know.

I have a short leash when people ask where I come from.

I'll never be able to play like Keith Richards, but I always did my best. I always had a blast.

I grew up interested in nightmares, scary stories and things that go bump in the night.

I've always been curious about what my past was.

[slaves] They didn't like it on a moral basis.

[when discovering his roots] Thankyou.

[discovering your roots] I'm set back on my heels by this whole process. Like having a stage and turning on different lights so you see things you never saw before. It's a lot to contemplate.

[after learning new things about his heritage] Wow.

[after a DNA test] I'm 99% European, baby!

Information always leads to more questions, where you say to yourself yes but I want to know.

[the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918] It could almost be out of a horror novel that I wrote.

[his children Owen, Joe and Rachel] They're good kids.

[his real surname Pollock] Doesn't have the same ring to it.

I always thought to myself you look like an Irishman and you've got the Irish imagination. I've always had that appreciation for fairies and ogres and boggarts.

[from his dedication in his novel Doctor Sleep] My wife also read Doctor Sleep and helped to make it better. I love you, Tabitha. Thanks to you guys and girls who read my stuff, too. May you have long days and pleasant nights. Let me close with a word of caution: when you're on the turnpikes and freeways of America, watch out for those Winnebagos and Bounders. You never know who might be inside. Or what.

People change. The man who wrote Doctor Sleep is very different from the well-meaning alcoholic who wrote The Shining, but both remain interested in the same thing: telling a kickass story. I enjoyed finding Danny Torrance again and following his adventures. I hope you did too. If that's the case, Constant Reader, we're all good.

Frontispiece to "On Writing": Honesty is the Best Policy - Benjamin Franklin. Liars Prosper - Anonymous.

You can take my gun, but you will have to prise my book from my cold, dead hands.

Art is meant to be a support system for life, and not the other way around.

Sometimes human places create inhuman monsters.

[observation, 2017] The news is real. The President is fake.

[on being approached by dying fans about how Dark Tower might end] I would have given both of these folks what they wanted - a summary of Roland's further adventures - if I could have done, but alas, I couldn't... To know, I have to write. I once had an outline, but I lost it along the way.

A reader complained about the antagonist kicking a dog to death in "The Dead Zone". So I started with the obvious. The dog wasn't real...

[Buick 8] Curiosity killed the Cat, satisfaction brought it back.

One of the things I try to do in the books is play fair with all the characters and try to respect them and love them. What I really love to do, and I think I've had some success for this, is for readers to feel like they know all the characters. That they're getting a feel of roundness in the characters, the good stuff. I want you to care about the people. The good people I want you to fall in love with...The bad people, I want you to see why they are bad.

[14 May 2022] Vladimir Putin assumed the was dealing with a lapdog. What he got was a wolverine. Slava Ukraini!

[13 March 2022; on Russia-Ukraine war] This is Vladimir Putin's war. Women and children are dying at his hands. It's vital that the Russian people understand this is happening. It's vital to break down the wall of disinformation. If you can get through: #PutinLies.

[10 September 2022] The Ukrainians are kicking some ass today. Slava Ukraini!

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Stephen Edwin King was born on September 21, 1947, at the Maine General Hospital in Portland. His parents were Nellie Ruth (Pillsbury), who worked as a caregiver at a mental institute, and Donald Edwin King, a merchant seaman. His father was born under the surname "Pollock," but used the last name "King," under which Stephen was born.

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The following is an excerpt of The Institute by Stephen King. The novel follows a group of kids with special talents who encounter unimaginable evils - and find their lives put in serious danger. You can also listen to the excerpt below, courtesy of Simon & Schuster Audio, as read by the audiobook's narrator Santino Fontana. The Institute is now available for purchase.

**

Half an hour after Tim Jamieson's Delta flight was scheduled to leave Tampa for the bright lights and tall buildings of New York, it was still parked at the gate. When a Delta agent and a blond woman with a security badge hanging around her neck entered the cabin, there were unhappy, premonitory murmurings from the packed residents of economy class.

"May I have your attention, please!" the Delta guy called.

"How long's the delay gonna be?" someone asked. "Don't sugarcoat it."

"The delay should be short, and the captain wants to assure you all that your flight will arrive approximately on time. We have a federal officer who needs to board, however, so we'll need someone to give up his or her seat."

A collective groan went up, and Tim saw several people unlimber their cell phones in case of trouble. There had been trouble in these situations before.

"Delta Air Lines is authorized to offer a free ticket to New York on the next outbound flight, which will be tomorrow morning at 6:45 AM-"

Another groan went up. Someone said, "Just shoot me."

The functionary continued, undeterred. "You'll be given a hotel voucher for tonight, plus four hundred dollars. It's a good deal, folks. Who wants it?"

He had no takers. The security blond said nothing, only surveyed the crowded economy class cabin with all-seeing but somehow lifeless eyes.

"Eight hundred," the Delta guy said. "Plus the hotel voucher and the complimentary ticket."

"Guy sounds like a quiz show host," grunted a man in the row ahead of Tim's.

There were still no takers.

"Fourteen hundred?"

And still none. Tim found this interesting but not entirely surprising. It wasn't just because a 6:45 flight meant getting up before God, either. Most of his fellow economy class passengers were family groups headed home after visiting various Florida attractions, couples sporting beachy-keen sunburns, and beefy, red-faced, pissed-off-looking guys who probably had business in the Big Apple worth considerably more than fourteen hundred bucks.

Someone far in the back called, "Throw in a Mustang convertible and a trip to Aruba for two, and you can have both our seats!" This sally provoked laughter. It didn't sound terribly friendly.

The gate agent looked at the blond with the badge, but if he hoped for help there, he got none. She just continued her survey, nothing moving but her eyes. He sighed and said, "Sixteen hundred."

Tim Jamieson suddenly decided he wanted to get the fuck off this plane and hitchhike north. Although such an idea had never so much as crossed his mind before this moment, he found he could imagine himself doing it, and with absolute clarity. There he was, standing on Highway 301 somewhere in the middle of Hernando County with his thumb out. It was hot, the lovebugs were swarming, there was a billboard advertising some slip-and-fall attorney, "Take It On the Run" by REO Speedwagon was blaring from a boombox sitting on the concrete-block step of a nearby trailer where a shirtless man was washing his car, and eventually some Farmer John would come along and give him a ride in a pickup truck with stake sides, melons in the back, and a magnetic Jesus on the dashboard. The best part wouldn't even be the cash money in his pocket. The best part would be standing out there by himself, miles from this sardine can with its warring smells of perfume, sweat, and hair spray.

The second-best part, however, would be squeezing the government tit for a few dollars more.

He stood up to his perfectly normal height (five-ten and a fraction), pushed his glasses up on his nose, and raised his hand. "Make it two thousand, sir, plus a cash refund of my ticket, and the seat is yours."

2

The voucher turned out to be for a cheesedog hotel located near the end of Tampa International's most heavily used runway. Tim fell asleep to the sound of airplanes, awoke to more of the same, and went down to ingest a hardboiled egg and two rubber pancakes from the complimentary breakfast buffet. Although far from a gourmet treat, Tim ate heartily, then went back to his room to wait for nine o'clock, when the banks opened.

He cashed his windfall with no trouble, because the bank knew he was coming and the check had been approved in advance; he had no intention of waiting around in the cheesedog hotel for it to clear. He took his two thousand in fifties and twenties, folded it into his left front pocket, reclaimed his duffle bag from the bank's security guard, and called an Uber to take him to Ellenton. There he paid the driver, strolled to the nearest 301-N sign, and stuck out his thumb. Fifteen minutes later he was picked up by an old guy in a Case gimme cap. There were no melons in the back of his pickup, and no stake sides, but otherwise it pretty much conformed to his vision of the previous night.

"Where you headed, friend?" the old guy asked.

"Well," Tim said, "New York, eventually. I guess."

The old guy spat a ribbon of tobacco juice out the window. "Now why would any man in his right mind want to go there?" He pronounced it raht mahnd.

"I don't know," Tim said, although he did; an old service buddy had told him there was plenty of private security work in the Big Apple, including some for companies that would give more weight to his experience than to the Rube Goldberg fuckup that had ended his career in Florida policing. "I'm just hoping to get to Georgia tonight. Maybe I'll like that better."

"Now you're talking," the old guy said. "Georgia ain't bad, specially if you like peaches. They gi' me the backdoor trots. You don't mind some music, do you?"

"Not at all."

"Got to warn you, I play it loud. I'm a little on the deef side."

"I'm just happy to be riding."

It was Waylon Jennings instead of REO Speedwagon, but that was okay with Tim. Waylon was followed by Shooter Jennings and Marty Stuart. The two men in the mud-streaked Dodge Ram listened and watched the highway roll. Seventy miles up the line, the old guy pulled over, gave Tim a tip of his Case cap, and wished him a real fahn day.

Tim didn't make Georgia that night-he spent it in another cheesedog motel next to a roadside stand selling orange juice-but he got there the following day. In the town of Brunswick (where a certain kind of tasty stew had been invented), he took two weeks' work in a recycling plant, doing it with no more forethought than he had put into deciding to give up his seat on the Delta flight out of Tampa. He didn't need the money, but it seemed to Tim that he needed the time. He was in transition, and that didn't happen overnight. Also, there was a bowling alley with a Denny's right next door. Hard to beat a combo like that.

**
From THE INSTITUTE by Stephen King. Copyright c 2019 by Stephen King. Reprinted by permission of Scribner, a Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Related content:

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Stephen King's 'The Institute' is out now. Read this juicy excerpt first

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The following is an excerpt of The Institute by Stephen King. The novel follows a group of kids with special talents who encounter unimaginable evils - and find their lives put in serious danger. You can also listen to the excerpt below, courtesy of Simon & Schuster Audio, as read by the audiobook's narrator Santino Fontana.

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StoryboardThat Classroom Signup Instructions - Class 7 B

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Tupac Shakur, in full Tupac Amaru Shakur, original name Lesane Parish Crooks, bynames 2Pac and Makaveli, (born June 16, 1971, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.-died September 13, 1996, Las Vegas, Nevada), American rapper and actor who was one of the leading names in 1990s gangsta rap.

Lesane Crooks was born to Afeni Shakur (née Alice Faye Williams), a member of the Black Panther Party, and she renamed him Tupac Amaru Shakur-after Peruvian revolutionary Túpac Amaru II-when he was a year old. He spent much of his childhood on the move with his family, which in 1986 settled in Baltimore, Maryland, where Shakur attended the elite Baltimore School for the Arts. He distinguished himself as a student, both creatively and academically, but his family relocated to Marin City, California, before he could graduate. There Shakur took to the streets, selling drugs and becoming involved in the gang culture that would one day provide material for his rap lyrics. In 1990 he joined Digital Underground, an Oakland-based rap group that had scored a Billboard Top 40 hit with the novelty single "The Humpty Dance." Shakur performed on two Digital Underground albums in 1991, This Is an EP Release and Sons of the P, before his solo debut, 2Pacalypse Now, later that year.

2Pacalypse Now was a radical break from the dance party sound of Digital Underground, and its tone and content were much closer to the works of Public Enemy and West Coast gangsta rappers N.W.A. The lack of a clear single on the album limited its radio appeal, but it sold well, especially after U.S. Vice Pres. Dan Quayle criticized the song "Soulja's Story" during the 1992 presidential campaign. That same year Shakur joined the ranks of other rappers-turned-actors, such as Ice Cube and Ice-T, when he was cast in the motion picture Juice, an urban crime drama. The following year he appeared in Poetic Justice, opposite Janet Jackson, and he released his second album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. The album did not stray far from the activist lyricism of his debut, but singles such as "Holler If Ya Hear Me" and "Keep Ya Head Up" made it much more radio-friendly.

With increased fame and success came greater scrutiny of Shakur's gangsta lifestyle. A string of arrests culminated with a conviction for sexual assault in 1994; he was incarcerated when his third album, Me Against the World, was released in 1995. Shakur was paroled after serving eight months in prison, and he signed with Suge Knight's Death Row Records for his next release. That album, All Eyez on Me (1996), was a two-disc paean to the "thug life" that Shakur embodied. It debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and sold more than five million copies within its first year of release. Quick to capitalize on his most recent success, Shakur returned to Hollywood, where he starred in Bullet (1996) and Gridlock'd (1997).

On the evening of September 7, 1996, Shakur was leaving a Las Vegas casino, where he had just attended a prizefight featuring heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, when he was shot by an unknown assailant. The incident, believed by many to be the result of an ongoing rivalry between the East Coast and West Coast rap communities, shocked the entertainment world. Shakur died six days later. In spite of his relatively short recording career, Shakur left an enduring legacy within the hip-hop community. His popularity was undiminished after his death, and a long succession of posthumous releases (many of them were simply repackaged or remixed existing material, and most were of middling quality) ensured that "new" 2Pac albums continued to appear well into the 21st century. Shakur was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

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Tupac Shakur, the influential rapper and actor, used his raw talent to address social issues and became an enduring symbol of artistic expression in hip-hop culture.

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“Dear Mama” is the song that made it OK to admit: even if they kill people and sell drugs, deep down, thugs are all sensitive mama’s boys. It was the third hip-hop act ever (after

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Donald Trump is a businessman who became the 45th president of the United States. Kids learn about his biography and life story.

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Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 - 24 November 1991) was a British singer and songwriter, who achieved worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. Regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and four- octave vocal range. Mercury defied the conventions of a rock frontman with his theatrical style, influencing the artistic direction of Queen.

Born in 1946 in Zanzibar to Parsi-Indian parents, Mercury attended English-style boarding schools in India from the age of eight and returned to Zanzibar after secondary school. In 1964, his family fled the Zanzibar Revolution, moving to Middlesex, England. Having studied and written music for years, he formed Queen in 1970 with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. Mercury wrote numerous hits for Queen, including "Killer Queen", " Bohemian Rhapsody", "Somebody to Love", " We Are the Champions", "Don't Stop Me Now" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love". His charismatic stage performances often saw him interact with the audience, as displayed at the 1985 Live Aid concert. He also led a solo career and was a producer and guest musician for other artists.

Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987. He continued to record with Queen, and posthumously featured on their final album, Made in Heaven (1995). He announced his diagnosis the day before his death, from complications from the disease, in 1991 at the age of 45. In 1992, a concert in tribute to him was held at Wembley Stadium, in benefit of AIDS awareness. His career with Queen was dramatised in the 2018 biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.

The family had moved to Zanzibar so that Bomi could continue his job as a cashier at the British Colonial Office. As Parsis, the Bulsaras practised Zoroastrianism. Mercury was born with four extra incisors, to which he attributed his enhanced vocal range. As Zanzibar was a British protectorate until 1963, Mercury was born a British subject, and on 2 June 1969 was registered a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies after the family had emigrated to England.

Following graduation, Mercury joined a series of bands and sold second-hand Edwardian clothes and scarves in Kensington Market in London with Roger Taylor. Taylor recalls, "Back then, I didn't really know him as a singer-he was just my mate. My crazy mate! If there was fun to be had, Freddie and I were usually involved." He also held a job as a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport. Other friends from the time remember him as a quiet and shy young man with a great interest in music. In 1969, he joined Liverpool-based band Ibex, later renamed Wreckage, which played "very Hendrix-style, heavy blues". He briefly lived in a flat above the Dovedale Towers, a pub on Penny Lane in Liverpool's Mossley Hill district. When this band failed to take off, he joined an Oxford-based band, Sour Milk Sea, but by early 1970 this group had broken up as well.

Shortly before the release of Queen's self-titled first album, Mercury designed the band's logo, known as the "Queen crest". The logo combines the zodiac signs of the four band members: two lions for Deacon and Taylor (sign Leo), a crab for May ( Cancer), and two fairies for Mercury ( Virgo). The lions embrace a stylised letter Q, the crab rests atop the letter with flames rising directly above it, and the fairies are each sheltering below a lion. A crown is shown inside the Q, and the whole logo is over-shadowed by an enormous phoenix. The Queen crest bears a passing resemblance to the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom, particularly with the lion supporters.

Although Mercury's speaking voice naturally fell in the baritone range, he delivered most songs in the tenor range. His known vocal range extended from bass low F (F ₂) to soprano high F (F ₆). He could belt up to tenor high F (F ₅). Biographer David Bret described his voice as "escalating within a few bars from a deep, throaty rock-growl to tender, vibrant tenor, then on to a high-pitched, perfect coloratura, pure and crystalline in the upper reaches". Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé, with whom Mercury recorded an album, expressed her opinion that "the difference between Freddie and almost all the other rock stars was that he was selling the voice".

The Who lead singer Roger Daltrey described Mercury as "the best virtuoso rock 'n' roll singer of all time. He could sing anything in any style. He could change his style from line to line and, God, that's an art. And he was brilliant at it." Discussing what type of person he wanted to play the lead role in his musical Jesus Christ Superstar, Andrew Lloyd Webber said: "He has to be of enormous charisma, but he also has to be a genuine, genuine rock tenor. That's what it is. Really think Freddie Mercury, I mean that's the kind of range we're talking about."

A research team undertook a study in 2016 to understand the appeal behind Mercury's voice. Led by Professor Christian Herbst, the team identified his notably faster vibrato and use of subharmonics as unique characteristics of Mercury's voice, particularly in comparison to opera singers. The research team studied vocal samples from 23 commercially available Queen recordings, his solo work, and a series of interviews of the late artist. They also used an endoscopic video camera to study a rock singer brought in to imitate Mercury's singing voice.

Songwriting

Mercury wrote 10 of the 17 songs on Queen's Greatest Hits album: " Bohemian Rhapsody", " Seven Seas of Rhye", "Killer Queen", "Somebody to Love", "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy", " We Are the Champions", "Bicycle Race", "Don't Stop Me Now", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", and "Play the Game". In 2003 Mercury was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame with the rest of Queen, and in 2005 all four band members were awarded an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors.

The most notable aspect of his songwriting involved the wide range of genres that he used, which included, among other styles, rockabilly, progressive rock, heavy metal, gospel, and disco. As he explained in a 1986 interview, "I hate doing the same thing again and again and again. I like to see what's happening now in music, film and theatre and incorporate all of those things." Compared to many popular songwriters, Mercury also tended to write musically complex material. For example, "Bohemian Rhapsody" is non-cyclical in structure and comprises dozens of chords. He also wrote six songs from which deal with multiple key changes and complex material. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", on the other hand, contains only a few chords. Although Mercury often wrote very intricate harmonies, he claimed that he could barely read music. He composed most of his songs on the piano and used a wide variety of key signatures.

Live performer

Mercury was noted for his live performances, which were often delivered to stadium audiences around the world. He displayed a highly theatrical style that often evoked a great deal of participation from the crowd. A writer for The Spectator described him as "a performer out to tease, shock and ultimately charm his audience with various extravagant versions of himself." David Bowie, who performed at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert and recorded the song "Under Pressure" with Queen, praised Mercury's performance style, saying: "Of all the more theatrical rock performers, Freddie took it further than the rest ... he took it over the edge. And of course, I always admired a man who wears tights. I only saw him in concert once and as they say, he was definitely a man who could hold an audience in the palm of his hand." Queen guitarist Brian May wrote that Mercury could make "the last person at the back of the furthest stand in a stadium feel that he was connected". Mercury's main prop on stage was a broken microphone stand; after accidentally snapping it off the heavy base during an early performance, he realised it could be used in endless ways.

Throughout his career, Mercury performed an estimated 700 concerts in countries around the world with Queen. A notable aspect of Queen concerts was the large scale involved. He once explained, "We're the Cecil B. DeMille of rock and roll, always wanting to do things bigger and better." The band was the first ever to play in South American stadiums, breaking worldwide records for concert attendance in the Morumbi Stadium in São Paulo in 1981. In 1986, Queen also played behind the Iron Curtain when they performed to a crowd of 80,000 in Budapest, in what was one of the biggest rock concerts ever held in Eastern Europe. Mercury's final live performance with Queen took place on 9 August 1986 at Knebworth Park in England and drew an attendance estimated as high as 200,000. A week prior to Knebworth, May recalled Mercury saying "I'm not going to be doing this forever. This is probably the last time." With the British national anthem " God Save the Queen" playing at the end of the concert, Mercury's final act on stage saw him draped in a robe, holding a golden crown aloft, bidding farewell to the crowd.

Instrumentalist

As a young boy in India, Mercury received formal piano training up to the age of nine. Later on, while living in London, he learned guitar. Much of the music he liked was guitar-oriented: his favourite artists at the time were the Who, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, and Led Zeppelin. He was often self-deprecating about his skills on both instruments. However, Brian May states Mercury "had a wonderful touch on the piano. He could play what came from inside him like nobody else - incredible rhythm, incredible passion and feeling." Keyboardist Rick Wakeman praised Mercury's playing style, saying he "discovered [the piano] for himself" and successfully composed a number of Queen songs on the instrument. From the early 1980s Mercury began extensively using guest keyboardists. Most notably, he enlisted Fred Mandel (a Canadian musician who also worked for Pink Floyd, Elton John, and Supertramp) for his first solo project. From 1982 Mercury collaborated with Morgan Fisher (who performed with Queen in concert during the Hot Space leg), and from 1985 onward Mercury collaborated with Mike Moran (in the studio) and Spike Edney (in concert).

Solo career

As well as his work with Queen, Mercury put out two solo albums and several singles. Although his solo work was not as commercially successful as most Queen albums, the two off-Queen albums and several of the singles debuted in the top 10 of the UK Music Charts. His first solo effort goes back to 1972 under the pseudonym Larry Lurex, when Trident Studios' house engineer Robin Geoffrey Cable was working in a musical project, at the time when Queen were recording their debut album; Cable enlisted Mercury to perform lead vocals on the songs "I Can Hear Music" and "Goin' Back", both were released together as a single in 1973. Eleven years later, Mercury contributed to the soundtrack for the restoration of the 1927 Fritz Lang film Metropolis. The song "Love Kills" was written for the film by Giorgio Moroder in collaboration with Mercury, and produced by Moroder and Mack; in 1984 it debuted at the number 10 position in the UK Singles Chart.

Mercury's two full albums outside the band were Mr. Bad Guy (1985) and Barcelona (1988). His first album, Mr. Bad Guy, debuted in the top ten of the UK Album Charts. In 1993, a remix of "Living on My Own", a single from the album, posthumously reached number one on the UK Singles Charts. The song also garnered Mercury a posthumous Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. AllMusic critic Eduardo Rivadavia describes Mr. Bad Guy as "outstanding from start to finish" and expressed his view that Mercury "did a commendable job of stretching into uncharted territory". In particular, the album is heavily synthesiser-driven; that is not characteristic of previous Queen albums.

His second album, Barcelona, recorded with Spanish soprano vocalist Montserrat Caballé, combines elements of popular music and opera. Many critics were uncertain what to make of the album; one referred to it as "the most bizarre CD of the year". The album was a commercial success, and the album's title track debuted at No. 8 in the UK and was also a hit in Spain. The title track received massive airplay as the official anthem of the 1992 Summer Olympics (held in Barcelona one year after Mercury's death). Caballé sang it live at the opening of the Olympics with Mercury's part played on a screen, and again before the start of the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich in Barcelona.

In addition to the two solo albums, Mercury released several singles, including his own version of the hit "The Great Pretender" by the Platters, which debuted at No. 5 in the UK in 1987. In September 2006 a compilation album featuring Mercury's solo work was released in the UK in honour of what would have been his 60th birthday. The album debuted in the UK top 10. In 2012, Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender, a documentary film directed by Rhys Thomas on Mercury's attempts to forge a solo career, premiered on BBC One.

In 1981-1983 Mercury recorded several tracks with Michael Jackson, including a demo of "State of Shock", "Victory", and "There Must Be More to Life Than This". None of these collaborations were officially released at the time, although bootleg recordings exist. Jackson went on to record the single "State of Shock" with Mick Jagger for the Jacksons' album Victory. Mercury included the solo version of "There Must Be More To Life Than This" on his Mr. Bad Guy album. "There Must Be More to Life Than This" was eventually reworked by Queen and released on their compilation album Queen Forever in 2014. In addition to working with Michael Jackson, Mercury and Roger Taylor sang on the title track for Billy Squier's 1982 studio release, Emotions in Motion and later contributed to two tracks on Squier's 1986 release, Enough Is Enough, providing vocals on "Love is the Hero" and musical arrangements on "Lady With a Tenor Sax". In 2020, Mercury's music video for "Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow" was nominated for Best Animation at the Berlin Music Video Awards. Woodlock studio is behind the animation.

Personal life

Relationships

In the early 1970s, Mercury had a long-term relationship with Mary Austin, whom he met through guitarist Brian May. Austin, born in Fulham, London, met Mercury in 1969 when she was 19 and he was 24 years old, a year before Queen had formed. He lived with Austin for several years in West Kensington, London. In December 1976, they separated. Mercury moved out of the flat they shared, and bought Austin a place of her own nearby his new address of 12 Stafford Terrace, Kensington.

Mercury and Austin remained friends through the years; Mercury often referred to her as his only true friend. In a 1985 interview, he said of Austin: "All my lovers asked me why they couldn't replace Mary, but it's simply impossible. The only friend I've got is Mary, and I don't want anybody else. To me, she was my common-law wife. To me, it was a marriage. We believe in each other, that's enough for me." Mercury's final home, Garden Lodge, a 28-room Georgian mansion in Kensington set in a quarter-acre manicured garden surrounded by a high brick wall, was picked out by Austin. Austin married the painting artist Piers Cameron; they have two children. Mercury was the godfather of her older son, Richard. In his will, Mercury left his London home to Austin having told her, "You would have been my wife, and it would have been yours anyway."

During the early-to-mid-1980s, he was reportedly involved with Barbara Valentin, an Austrian actress, who is featured in the video for "It's a Hard Life". In another article, he said Valentin was "just a friend"; Mercury was dating German restaurateur Winfried "Winnie" Kirchberger during this time. Mercury lived at Kirchberger's apartment and thanked him "for board and lodging" in the liner notes of his 1985 album Mr. Bad Guy. He wore a silver wedding band given to him by Kirchberger. A close friend described him as Mercury's "great love" in Germany.

By 1985, he began another long-term relationship with Irish-born hairdresser Jim Hutton (1949-2010), whom he referred to as his husband. Mercury described their relationship as one built on solace and understanding, and said that he "honestly couldn't ask for better". Hutton, who tested HIV-positive in 1990, lived with Mercury for the last seven years of his life, nursed him during his illness, and was present at his bedside when he died. Mercury wore a gold wedding band, given to him by Hutton in 1986, until the end of his life. He was cremated with it on. Hutton later relocated from London to the bungalow he and Mercury had built for themselves in Ireland.

Friendship with Kenny Everett

Radio disc jockey Kenny Everett met Mercury in 1974, when he invited the singer onto his Capital London breakfast show. As two of Britain's most flamboyant, outrageous and popular entertainers, they shared much in common and became close friends. In 1975, Mercury visited Everett, bringing with him an advance copy of the single " Bohemian Rhapsody". Despite doubting that any station would play the six-minute track, Everett placed the song on the turntable, and, after hearing it, exclaimed: "Forget it, it's going to be number one for centuries". Although Capital Radio had not officially accepted the song, Everett talked incessantly about a record he possessed but could not play. He then frequently proceeded to play the track with the excuse: "Oops, my finger must've slipped." On one occasion, Everett aired the song fourteen times over a single weekend. Capital's switchboard was overwhelmed with callers inquiring when the song would be released.

During the 1970s, Everett became advisor and mentor to Mercury and Mercury served as Everett's confidant. By 1985, they had fallen out, and their friendship was further strained when Everett was outed in the autobiography of his ex-wife Lee Everett Alkin. In 1989, with their health failing, Mercury and Everett were reconciled.

Personality

Although he cultivated a flamboyant stage personality, Mercury was shy and retiring when not performing, particularly around people he did not know well, and granted very few interviews. He once said of himself: "When I'm performing I'm an extrovert, yet inside I'm a completely different man." On this contrast to "his larger-than-life stage persona", BBC music broadcaster Bob Harris adds he was "lovely, bright, sensitive, and quite vulnerable." While on stage, Mercury basked in the love from his audience.

When asked by Melody Maker in 1981 if rock stars should use their power to try to shape the world for the better, Mercury responded, "Leave that to the politicians. Certain people can do that kind of thing, but very few. John Lennon was one. Because of his status, he could do that kind of preaching and affect people's thoughts. But to do this you have to have a certain amount of intellect and magic together, and the John Lennons are few and far between. People with mere talent, like me, have not got the ability or power." Mercury dedicated a song to the former member of The Beatles. The song, "Life Is Real (Song for Lennon)", is included in the 1982 album Hot Space. Mercury did occasionally express his concerns about the state of the world in his lyrics. His most notable "message" songs are "Under Pressure", "Is This the World We Created...?" (a song which Mercury and May performed at Live Aid, and also featured in Greenpeace - The Album), "There Must Be More to Life Than This", "The Miracle" (a song May called "one of Freddie's most beautiful creations") and "Innuendo".

Mercury cared for at least ten cats throughout his life, including: Tom, Jerry, Oscar, Tiffany, Dorothy, Delilah, Goliath, Miko, Romeo, and Lily. He was against the inbreeding of cats for specific features and all except for Tiffany and Lily, both given as gifts, were adopted from the Blue Cross. Mercury "placed as much importance on these beloved animals as on any human life", and showed his adoration by having the artist Ann Ortman paint portraits of each of them. Mercury wrote a song for Delilah, "his favourite cat of all", which appeared on the Queen album Innuendo. Mercury dedicated his liner notes in his 1985 solo album Mr. Bad Guy to Jerry and his other cats. It reads, "This album is dedicated to my cat Jerry-also Tom, Oscar, and Tiffany and all the cat lovers across the universe-screw everybody else!"

In 1987, Mercury celebrated his 41st birthday at the Pikes Hotel, Ibiza, Spain, several months after discovering that he had contracted HIV. Mercury sought much comfort at the retreat and was a close friend of the owner, Anthony Pike, who described Mercury as "the most beautiful person I've ever met in my life. So entertaining and generous." According to biographer Lesley-Ann Jones, Mercury "felt very much at home there. He played some tennis, lounged by the pool, and ventured out to the odd gay club or bar at night." The birthday party, held on 5 September 1987, has been described as "the most incredible example of excess the Mediterranean island had ever seen", and was attended by some 700 people. A cake in the shape of Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Família was provided for the party. The original cake collapsed and was replaced with a two-metre-long sponge cake decorated with the notes from Mercury's song "Barcelona". The bill, which included 232 broken glasses, was presented to Queen's manager, Jim Beach. Before his death, Mercury had told Beach, "You can do what you want with my music, but don't make me boring."

Illness and death

Mercury exhibited HIV/AIDS symptoms as early as 1982. Authors Matt Richards and Mark Langthorne have stated in their biographical book about Mercury, Somebody to Love: The Life, Death, and Legacy of Freddie Mercury, that Mercury secretly visited a doctor in New York City to get a white lesion on his tongue checked (which might have been hairy leukoplakia, one of the first signs of an infection) a few weeks before Queen's final American appearance with Mercury on Saturday Night Live on 25 September 1982. They also stated that he had associated with someone who was recently infected with HIV on the same day of their final US appearance, when he began to exhibit more symptoms.

In October 1986, the British press reported that Mercury had his blood tested for HIV/AIDS at a Harley Street clinic. According to his partner, Jim Hutton, Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS in late April 1987. Around that time, Mercury claimed in an interview to have tested negative for HIV.

The British press pursued the rumours over the next few years, fuelled by Mercury's increasingly gaunt appearance, Queen's absence from touring, and reports from his former lovers to tabloid journals. By 1990, rumours about Mercury's health were rife. At the 1990 Brit Awards held at the Dominion Theatre, London, on 18 February, Mercury made his final appearance on stage, when he joined the rest of Queen to collect the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music.

Mercury and his inner circle of colleagues and friends continually denied the stories. It has been suggested that Mercury could have helped AIDS awareness by speaking earlier about his illness. Mercury kept his condition private to protect those closest to him; May later confirmed that Mercury had informed the band of his illness much earlier. Filmed in May 1991, the music video for "These Are the Days of Our Lives" features a very thin Mercury in his final scenes in front of the camera. Director of the video Rudi Dolezal comments, "AIDS was never a topic. We never discussed it. He didn't want to talk about it. Most of the people didn't even 100 percent know if he had it, apart from the band and a few people in the inner circle. He always said, 'I don't want to put any burden on other people by telling them my tragedy.'" The rest of the band were ready to record when Mercury felt able to come into the studio, for an hour or two at a time. May said of Mercury: "He just kept saying. 'Write me more. Write me stuff. I want to just sing this and do it and when I am gone you can finish it off.' He had no fear, really." Justin Shirley-Smith, the assistant engineer for those last sessions, said: "This is hard to explain to people, but it wasn't sad, it was very happy. He [Freddie] was one of the funniest people I ever encountered. I was laughing most of the time, with him. Freddie was saying [of his illness] 'I'm not going to think about it, I'm going to do this.'"

After the conclusion of his work with Queen in June 1991, Mercury retired to his home in Kensington, West London. His former partner, Mary Austin, was a particular comfort in his final years, and in the last few weeks made regular visits to look after him. Near the end of his life, Mercury began to lose his sight, and declined so that he was unable to leave his bed. Mercury chose to hasten his death by refusing medication and took only painkillers.

Main page: Death of Freddie Mercury

On the evening of 24 November 1991, about 24 hours after issuing the statement, Mercury died at the age of 45 at his home in Kensington. The cause of death was bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS. His close friend Dave Clark of the Dave Clark Five was at the bedside vigil when Mercury died. Austin phoned Mercury's parents and sister to break the news, which reached newspaper and television crews in the early hours of 25 November.

Mercury's funeral service was conducted on 27 November 1991 by a Zoroastrian priest at West London Crematorium, where he is commemorated by a plinth under his birth name. In attendance at Mercury's service were his family and 35 of his close friends, including Elton John and the members of Queen. His coffin was carried into the chapel to the sounds of "Take My Hand, Precious Lord"/" You've Got a Friend" by Aretha Franklin. In accordance with Mercury's wishes, Mary Austin took possession of his cremated remains and buried them in an undisclosed location. The whereabouts of his ashes are believed to be known only to Austin, who has said that she will never reveal them.

Mercury spent and donated to charity much of his wealth during his lifetime, with his estate valued around £8 million at the time of his death. He bequeathed his home, Garden Lodge, and the adjoining Mews, as well as a 50% of all privately owned shares, to Mary Austin. His sister, Kashmira Cooke, received 25%, as did his parents, Bomi and Jer Bulsara, which Cooke acquired upon their deaths. He willed £500,000 to Joe Fannelli; £500,000 to Jim Hutton; £500,000 to Peter Freestone; and £100,000 to Terry Giddings. Mercury, who never drove a car because he had no licence, was often chauffeured around London in his Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow from 1979 until his death. The car was passed to his sister Kashmira who made it available for display at public events, including the West End premiere of the musical We Will Rock You in 2002, before it was auctioned off at the NEC in Birmingham in 2013 for £74,600.

Following his death, the outer walls of Garden Lodge in Logan Place became a shrine to Mercury, with mourners paying tribute by covering the walls in graffiti messages. Three years later Time Out magazine reported that "the wall outside the house has become London's biggest rock 'n' roll shrine". Fans continued to visit to pay their respects with letters appearing on the walls until 2017, when Austin had the wall cleared. Hutton was involved in a 2000 biography of Mercury, Freddie Mercury, the Untold Story, and also gave an interview for in September 2006 for what would have been Mercury's 60th birthday.

Continued popularity

The extent to which Mercury's death may have enhanced Queen's popularity is not clear. In the United States, where Queen's popularity had lagged in the 1980s, sales of Queen albums went up dramatically in 1992, the year following his death. In 1992, one American critic noted, "What cynics call the 'dead star' factor had come into play-Queen is in the middle of a major resurgence." The movie Wayne's World, which featured "Bohemian Rhapsody", also came out in 1992. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Queen had sold 34.5 million albums in the United States by 2004, about half of which had been sold since Mercury's death in 1991.

Estimates of Queen's total worldwide record sales to date have been set as high as 300 million. In the United Kingdom, Queen have now spent more collective weeks on the UK Album Charts than any other musical act (including the Beatles), and Queen's Greatest Hits is the best-selling album of all time in the United Kingdom. Two of Mercury's songs, " We Are the Champions" and " Bohemian Rhapsody", have also each been voted as the greatest song of all time in major polls by Sony Ericsson and Guinness World Records. Both songs have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame; "Bohemian Rhapsody" in 2004 and "We Are the Champions" in 2009. In October 2007 the video for "Bohemian Rhapsody" was voted the greatest of all time by readers of Q magazine.

Posthumous Queen album

In November 1995, Mercury appeared posthumously on Queen's final studio album Made in Heaven. The album featured Mercury's previously unreleased final recordings from 1991, as well as outtakes from previous years and reworked versions of solo works by the other members. The album cover features the Freddie Mercury statue that overlooks Lake Geneva superimposed with Mercury's Duck House lake cabin that he had rented. This is where he had written and recorded his last songs at Mountain Studios. The sleeve of the album contains the words, "Dedicated to the immortal spirit of Freddie Mercury."

Featuring tracks such as "Too Much Love Will Kill You" and "Heaven for Everyone", the album also contains the song "Mother Love", the last vocal recording Mercury made before his death, which he completed using a drum machine, over which May, Taylor, and Deacon later added the instrumental track. After completing the penultimate verse, Mercury had told the band he "wasn't feeling that great" and stated, "I will finish it when I come back next time". He never made it back into the studio, so May later recorded the final verse of the song.

A statue in Montreux, Switzerland, by sculptor Irena Sedlecká, was erected as a tribute to Mercury. It stands almost 10 feet (3.0 metres) high overlooking Lake Geneva and was unveiled on 25 November 1996 by Mercury's father and Montserrat Caballé, with bandmates Brian May and Roger Taylor also in attendance. Beginning in 2003 fans from around the world have gathered in Switzerland annually to pay tribute to the singer as part of the "Freddie Mercury Montreux Memorial Day" on the first weekend of September.

A statue of Mercury stood over the entrance to the Dominion Theatre in London's West End from May 2002 to May 2014 for Queen and Ben Elton's musical We Will Rock You. A tribute to Queen was on display at the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas throughout 2009 on its video canopy. In December 2009 a large model of Mercury wearing tartan was put on display in Edinburgh as publicity for the run of We Will Rock You. Sculptures of Mercury often feature him wearing a military jacket with his fist in the air. In 2018, GQ magazine called Mercury's yellow military jacket from his 1986 concerts his best known look, while CNN called it "an iconic moment in fashion."

Tribute was paid to Queen and Mercury at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The band's performance of "We Will Rock You" with Jessie J was opened with a video of Mercury's "call and response" routine from 1986's Wembley Stadium performance, with the 2012 crowd at the Olympic Stadium responding appropriately. The frog genus Mercurana, discovered in 2013 in Kerala, India, was named as a tribute because Mercury's "vibrant music inspires the authors". The site of the discovery is very near to where Mercury spent most of his childhood. In 2013, a newly discovered species of damselfly from Brazil was named Heteragrion freddiemercuryi, honouring the "superb and gifted musician and songwriter whose wonderful voice and talent still entertain millions" - one of four similar damselflies named after the Queen bandmates, in tribute to Queen's 40th anniversary.

On 1 September 2016, an English Heritage blue plaque was unveiled at Mercury's home in 22 Gladstone Avenue in Feltham, west London by his sister, Kashmira Cooke, and Brian May. Attending the ceremony, Karen Bradley, the UK Secretary of State for Culture, called Mercury "one of Britain's most influential musicians", and added he "is a global icon whose music touched the lives of millions of people around the world". On 24 February 2020 a street in Feltham was renamed Freddie Mercury Close during a ceremony attended by his sister Kashmira. On 5 September 2016, the 70th anniversary of Mercury's birth, asteroid 17473 Freddiemercury was named after him. Issuing the certificate of designation to the "charismatic singer", Joel Parker of the Southwest Research Institute added: "Freddie Mercury sang, 'I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky' - and now that is even more true than ever before." In an April 2019 interview, British rock concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith referred to Mercury as "one of our most treasured talents".

In August 2019, Mercury was one of the honorees inducted in the Rainbow Honor Walk, a walk of fame in San Francisco's Castro neighbourhood noting LGBTQ people who have "made significant contributions in their fields". Freddie Mercury Alley is a 107-yard-long (98 m) alley next to the British embassy in the Ujazdów district in Warsaw, Poland, which is dedicated to Mercury, and was unveiled on 22 November 2019. Until the Freddie Mercury Close in Feltham was dedicated, Warsaw was the only city in Europe with a street dedicated to the singer. In January 2020, Queen became the first band to join Queen Elizabeth II on a British coin. Issued by the Royal Mint, the commemorative £5 coin features the instruments of all four band members, including Mercury's Bechstein grand piano and his mic and stand. In April 2022, a life-size statue of Mercury was unveiled in South Korea's resort island of Jeju.

Mercury has featured in international advertising to represent the UK. In 2001, a parody of Mercury, along with prints of other British music icons consisting of The Beatles, Elton John, Spice Girls, and The Rolling Stones, appeared in the Eurostar national advertising campaign in France for the Paris to London route. In September 2017 the airline Norwegian painted the tail fin of two of its aircraft with a portrait of Mercury to mark what would have been his 71st birthday. Mercury is one of the company's six "British tail fin heroes", alongside England's 1966 FIFA World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore, children's author Roald Dahl, novelist Jane Austen, pioneering pilot Amy Johnson, and aviation entrepreneur Sir Freddie Laker.

Importance in AIDS history

As the first major rock star to die of AIDS-related complications, Mercury's death represented an important event in the history of the disease. In April 1992, the remaining members of Queen founded The Mercury Phoenix Trust and organised The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness, to celebrate the life and legacy of Mercury and raise money for AIDS research, which took place on 20 April 1992. The Mercury Phoenix Trust has since raised millions of pounds for various AIDS charities. The tribute concert, which took place at London's Wembley Stadium for an audience of 72,000, featured a wide variety of guests including Robert Plant (of Led Zeppelin), Roger Daltrey (of the Who), Extreme, Elton John, Metallica, David Bowie, Annie Lennox, Tony Iommi (of Black Sabbath), Guns N' Roses, Elizabeth Taylor, George Michael, Def Leppard, Seal and Liza Minnelli, with U2 also appearing via satellite. Elizabeth Taylor spoke of Mercury as "an extraordinary rock star who rushed across our cultural landscape like a comet shooting across the sky". The concert was broadcast live to 76 countries and had an estimated viewing audience of 1 billion people. The Freddie For A Day fundraiser on behalf of the Mercury Phoenix Trust takes place every year in London, with supporters of the charity including Monty Python comedian Eric Idle, and Mel B of the Spice Girls.

The documentary, Freddie Mercury: The Final Act, aired on BBC Two in 2021 and The CW in the US in April 2022. It covered Mercury's last days, how his bandmates and friends put together the Tribute Concert at Wembley, and interviewed medical professionals, people who tested HIV positive, and others who knew someone who died of AIDS. At the 50th International Emmy Awards in 2022 it won the International Emmy Award for Best Arts Programming.

Appearances in lists of influential individuals

Several popularity polls conducted over the past decade indicate that Mercury's reputation may have been enhanced since his death. For instance, in a 2002 vote to determine who the UK public considers the greatest British people in history, Mercury was ranked 58 in the list of the 100 Greatest Britons, broadcast by the BBC. He was further listed at the 52nd spot in a 2007 Japanese national survey of the 100 most influential heroes. Although he had been criticised by gay activists for hiding his HIV status, author Paul Russell included Mercury in his book The Gay 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Gay Men and Lesbians, Past and Present. In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked Mercury 18 on its list of the Top 100 Singers Of All Time. Mercury was voted the greatest male singer in MTV's 22 Greatest Voices in Music. In 2011 a Rolling Stone readers' pick placed Mercury in second place of the magazine's Best Lead Singers of All Time. In 2015, Billboard magazine placed him second on their list of the 25 Best Rock Frontmen (and Women) of All Time. In 2016, LA Weekly ranked him first on the list of 20 greatest singers of all time, in any genre.

Portrayal on stage

On 24 November 1997, a monodrama about Freddie Mercury's life, titled Mercury: The Afterlife and Times of a Rock God, opened in New York City. It presented Mercury in the hereafter: examining his life, seeking redemption and searching for his true self. The play was written and directed by Charles Messina and the part of Mercury was played by Khalid Gonçalves (né Paul Gonçalves) and then later, Amir Darvish. Billy Squier opened one of the shows with an acoustic performance of a song he had written about Mercury titled "I Have Watched You Fly".

In 2016 a musical titled Royal Vauxhall premiered at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in Vauxhall, London. Written by Desmond O'Connor, the musical told the alleged tales of the nights that Mercury, Kenny Everett and Princess Diana spent out at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in London in the 1980s. Following several successful runs in London, the musical was taken to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2016 starring Tom Giles as Mercury.

Portrayal in film and television

The 2018 biographical film Bohemian Rhapsody was, at its release, the highest-grossing musical biographical film of all time. Mercury was portrayed by Rami Malek, who received the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor, for his performance. While the film received mixed reviews and contained historical inaccuracies, it won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Drama.

Mercury appeared as a supporting character in the BBC television drama Best Possible Taste: The Kenny Everett Story, first broadcast in October 2012. He was portrayed by actor James Floyd. He was played by actor John Blunt in The Freddie Mercury Story: Who Wants to Live Forever, first broadcast in the UK on Channel 5 in November 2016.

In 2018, David Avery portrayed Mercury in the Urban Myths comedy series in an episode focusing on the antics backstage at Live Aid, and Kayvan Novak portrayed Mercury in an episode titled "The Sex Pistols vs. Bill Grundy". He was also portrayed by Eric McCormack (as the character Will Truman) on Will & Grace in the October 2018 episode titled "Tex and the City".

Discography

In Spanish: Freddie Mercury para niños

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Freddie Mercury Transformation - From Baby To 45 Years Old

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Queen - I Want It All (Official Video Remastered)

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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (born August 4, 1981), formely known as Meghan Markle, is a member of the British Royal Family and former actress, model and humanitarian. Since 2011, she played Rachel Zane in the legal drama series Suits. She had the role of Amy Jessup in the Fox science fiction-drama Fringe.

Markle was born in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in the View Park-Windsor Hills and Hollywood neighborhoods of Los Angeles County. Her father is of a Dutch and Irish background and her mother is African American. She was married to producer Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013.

Markle began dating Prince Harry of Wales in June 2016. They became engaged in November 2017.

In preparation for the wedding, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, baptised Meghan Markle and confirmed her into the Church of England on March 6, 2018. The couple married at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018; becoming Duchess of Sussex.

On May 6, 2019, the Duchess gave birth to a boy - Archie Mountbatten-Windsor - who is seventh in line to the throne.

Markle was born on August 4, 1981, in Los Angeles. Of her parents she has said, "my dad is Caucasian and my mom is African-American ... I have come to embrace [this and] say who I am, to share where I'm from, to voice my pride in being a strong, confident, mixed-race woman." Her mother, Doria Ragland, has a master's degree in social work from the University of Southern California and works as a psychotherapist and yoga instructor. Her father, of Dutch and Irish descent, is Emmy award-winning lighting director Thomas W. Markle, whose profession resulted in his young daughter often visiting the set of Married ... with Children.

Markle grew up in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles where, from age five, she was educated at private schools; first at Hollywood Little Red Schoolhouse and later at Immaculate Heart High School, an all-girl, private Catholic school in Los Angeles. She graduated in 2003 from Northwestern University, near Chicago, where she took theater studies before completing her bachelor's degree in theater and international studies; coursework included an internship at the U.S. embassy in Buenos Aires.

To support herself between early acting jobs, Markle worked as a freelance calligrapher and took on several contract acting and modeling jobs including a stint as a 'briefcase girl' on Deal or No Deal. In 2002, Markle appeared in an episode of the daytime soap opera, General Hospital. She appeared in Fox's series Fringe as Junior Agent Amy Jessup in the first two episodes of its second season. Since July 2011 she has played the paralegal Rachel Zane, on the USA Network show Suits. Markle has appeared in two 2010 films, Get Him to the Greek and Remember Me, and one 2011 film, Horrible Bosses. She appeared in the short film The Candidate (seen on the KQED public television show ImageMakers: the Company of Men) as a secretary in 2012. She has also appeared in episodes of Century City, Cuts, Love, Inc., The War at Home, 90210, Knight Rider, Without a Trace, The Apostles, CSI: NY, The League and Castle.

Markle was founder and editor-in-chief of lifestyle website The Tig. which closed in April 2017. In November 2016 Markle and Canadian clothing company Reitmans released a line of women's fashion workwear. In 2016, Markle became a global ambassador for World Vision Canada, traveling to Rwanda for the Clean Water Campaign. She has also worked with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women as an Advocate. Markle was a counsellor for international charity One Young World, speaking at the 2014 annual summit in Dublin on the topics of gender equality and modern-day slavery. She also attended the 2016 summit in Ottawa.

Personal life

Markle is a self-proclaimed foodie, which was incorporated into her Suits character Rachel Zane. Markle is friends with a number of celebrities including Serena Williams, Jessica Mulroney, and Ben Mulroney.

Markle was in a relationship with actor and producer Trevor Engelson between 2004 and 2013, marrying on September 10, 2011 and divorcing in August 2013. Since June 2016, she has been in a relationship with Prince Harry.

On November 8, 2016, an official statement was released from the Royal Family's communications secretary addressing the "wave of abuse and harassment" directed toward Markle that followed the announcement of her relationship with Prince Harry. The statement spoke to the sexism, racism and defamatory stories directed at Markle and urged the press to "pause and reflect" before driving these storylines.

In September 2017, during an interview with Vanity Fair, Markle spoke in public for the first time about her love for Prince Harry saying, "We're two people who are really happy and in love. We were very quietly dating for about six months before it became news, and I was working during that whole time, and the only thing that changed was people's perception." Later that month, they made their first public appearances together at an official royal engagement - the wheelchair tennis event, and the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in Toronto.

On May 6, 2019, the Duchess gave birth to a boy - Archie Mountbatten-Windsor - who is seventh in line to the throne.

Engagement and marriage to Prince Harry

Markle's engagement to Prince Harry was announced on November 27, 2017. By then, she had met Queen Elizabeth II, Harry's paternal grandmother, several times.

In preparation for the wedding, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, baptised Markle and confirmed her into the Church of England on March 6, 2018. The private ceremony, performed with water from the River Jordan, took place in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace. The marriage ceremony took place on May 19, 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. After becoming engaged, Markle began the years-long process of becoming a British citizen. After the wedding, the couple will live at Nottingham Cottage in London, on the grounds of Kensington Palace.

Research compiled in 1997 by historians including Markle's great-uncle, Mike Markle, revealed that her paternal great-great-great-grandmother was New Hampshire landowner Mary Hussey Smith (1823-1908), a direct descendant of nobleman John Hussey, 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford, who was beheaded in 1537 at the order of King Henry VIII. Through Lord Hussey, Markle is a descendant of King John. Markle is also a descendant of Captain Christopher Hussey, Esquire (d.1686) who was appointed in 1679 by King Charles II to govern the Royal Province of Hampton, New Hampshire. He was a Founding Father of Nantucket.

Markle is a distant relation of Prince Harry. Their common ancestors are Elizabeth Bowes (1505- c.1572) and her husband, Richard Bowes, son of Sir Ralph Bowes of Streatlam Castle and High Sheriff of County Durham - ancestors of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (née Bowes-Lyon).

Markle's maternal great-great-great grandfather was a slave on the Georgia plantations before being emancipated with the abolition of slavery in 1865.

Related Pages

Images for kids

Markle and sportsmen Brian Urlacher and Doug Fister address the audience during a USO show at Naval Station Rota, Spain, December 6, 2014.

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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex Facts for Kids

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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (born August 4, 1981), formely known as Meghan Markle, is a member of the British Royal Family and former actress, model and humanitarian. Since 2011, she played Rachel Zane in the legal drama series Suits. She had the role of Amy Jessup in the Fox science fiction-drama Fringe.

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When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle fell in love | Interview - The Royal Wedding - BBC

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From her thoughts on feminism, racial identity and enjoying life to the fullest, we explore the actress' most motivational quotes.

The past year has been somewhat of a rollercoaster for Suits actress, Meghan Markle. And no, we don't mean because of her high profile relationship with Prince Harry.

In the past 12 months, the Californian beauty has penned emotional essays for ELLE UK about her biracial identity and the responsibility of fame, continued filming for her role as Rachel Zane in the hit US TV drama Suits, has spoken at several talks to inspire women to cultivate their career ambitions and became Google's most googled actress in 2016.

In light of her successful year in entertainment, charity work and international campaigns, we look back at the star's most inspirational quotes to date:

"Reflecting on where I came from helps me to appreciate and balance what I have now."( ELLE UK, 2016)

"You don't have to play dress up to be a feminist. You are a feminist exactly the way you are." (Create &amp; Cultivate, 2016)

"I've never wanted to be a lady who lunches; I've always wanted to be a woman who works. And this type of work feeds my soul." ( ELLE, 2016)

"There is a myth that those who do humanitarian work have a saviour mentality, but the relationship is reciprocal." ( ELLE UK, 2015)

"You can be a woman who wants to look good and still stand up for the equality of women." (Create &amp; Cultivate, 2016)

"Don't try to win the part, just win the room." (Create &amp; Cultivate, 2016)

"When I get ready to go out, it's half hour and we're out of the door. I don't want to waste time getting ready: I want to go and have fun." ( Esquire, 2016)

"If you go for a stroll, have a picnic or lunch with a glass of wine-it doesn't get better than that." ( Esquire, 2016)

"If my name is going to be on something, I'm going to have my say." ( Toronto Sun, 2016)

"Being a feminist and being feminine are not mutually exclusive." (Create &amp; Cultivate, 2016)

"Don't give it give minutes if you're not going to give it five years." (Create &amp; Cultivate, 2016)

"Women need a seat at the table, they need an invitation to be seated there, and in some cases, where this is not available, they need to create their own table. We need a global understanding that we cannot implement change effectively without women's political participation." (International Women's Day, 2015.)

"To say who I am, to share where I'm from, to voice my pride in being a strong, confident mixed-race woman." ( ELLE UK, 2015)

"I always want off-the-beaten-path, Anthony Bourdain-inspired travel." ( Marie Claire, 2013)

"Be grateful for the little things. That's how you enjoy it." (Create &amp; Cultivate, 2016)

"Women make up more than half of the world's population and potential, so it is neither just nor practical for their voices, for OUR voices, to go unheard at the highest levels of decision-making." (International Women's Day, 2015.)

"With fame comes opportunity, but it also includes responsibility-to advocate and share, to focus less on glass slippers and more on pushing through glass ceilings. And, if I'm lucky enough, to inspire." ( ELLE UK, 2016)

undefined: Katie O'Malley

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From her thoughts on feminism, racial identity and enjoying life to the fullest, we explore the actress' most motivational quotes. The past year has been somewhat of a rollercoaster for Suits actress, Meghan Markle. And no, we don't mean because of her high profile relationship with Prince Harry.

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Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson (born 15 April 1990) is an English actress and model. She is most known for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movie series alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint.

She is also well known for her leading role in Beauty and the Beast. Watson became the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in July 2014. She is also an activist for gender equality.

Watson has received a selection of accolades, including a Young Artist Award and three MTV Movie Awards. She has been ranked among the world's highest-paid actresses by

Early life and education

Emma Watson was born on 15 April 1990 in Paris, to English parents Chris Watson and Jacqueline Luesby. She lived in Maisons-Laffitte near Paris until the age of five. Her parents divorced when she was young, and Watson moved to England to live with her mother in Oxfordshire while spending weekends at her father's house in London. After moving to Oxford with her mother and brother, she attended the Dragon School, remaining there until 2003. From age six, she wanted to become an actress, and trained at the Oxford branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts, a part-time theatre school where she studied singing, dancing, and acting.

Watson graduated from Brown University with a bachelor's degree in English literature in May 2014.

Acting career

Watson rose to stardom after landing her first professional acting role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series. Casting agents found Watson through her Oxford theatre teacher, and producers were impressed by her confidence.

The film broke records for opening-day sales and opening-weekend takings and was the highest-grossing film of 2001. Watson was nominated for five awards for her performance in Philosopher's Stone, winning the Young Artist Award for Leading Young Actress. A year later, Watson reprised her role as Hermione in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

As the fame of the actress and the series continued to rise, Watson and her Harry Potter co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint left imprints of their hands, feet and wands in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on 9 July 2007. That month, Watson's work on the Harry Potter series was said to have earned her more than £10 million, and she acknowledged she would never have to work for money again.

Watson's first non- Potter role was the 2007 BBC film Ballet Shoes, an adaptation of the novel of the same title by Noel Streatfeild. The film's director, Sandra Goldbacher, commented that Watson was "perfect" for the starring role of aspiring actress Pauline Fossil: "She has a piercing, delicate aura that makes you want to gaze and gaze at her." Ballet Shoes was broadcast in the UK on Boxing Day to 5.7 million viewers, to mixed reviews.

Watson joined the cast of the satirical crime film The Bling Ring on February 29, 2012, The Sofia Coppola-directed film is based on the real-life Bling Ring robberies, with Watson playing a fictionalised version of Alexis Neiers, a television personality who was one of seven teenagers involved in the robberies. The film was released in 2013. While the film mostly received mixed reviews, critics gave almost unanimous praise for Watson's performance. That same year, Watson was honoured by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, winning British Artist of the Year. She dedicated the prize to Millie, her pet hamster who died as Watson was filming Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Watson also starred as Belle in the live-action musical romantic fantasy Beauty and the Beast (2017). The film grossed over $1.2 billion at the worldwide box office and emerged as the second-highest-grossing film of 2017 and the 17th-highest-grossing film of all time. Her reported fee was $3 million upfront with profit participation, bringing her salary up to $15 million.

In 2019, Watson starred as Meg March in Greta Gerwig's adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel Little Women, co-starring with Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, and Meryl Streep. The film was critically acclaimed and grossed over $218 million against its $40 million budget.

In 2021, Watson revealed in an interview that a reason why she had not acted in almost five years was because she "wasn't very happy" with the profession and that she felt "a bit caged". However, she went on to say that she will "absolutely" return to acting while also saying, "But I'm happy to sit and wait for the next right thing. I love what I do. It's finding a way to do it where I don't have to fracture myself into different faces and people. And I just don't want to switch into robot mode any more."

Fashion career

As Watson has grown older, she has become more interested in fashion. She says that she thinks fashion is like art, which she studied in school. In 2005, Watson began her modelling career with a photo shoot for Teen Vogue, which made her the youngest person to cover the magazine.

In September 2008, she told a blogger, "I've been focusing on art a lot, and fashion's a great extension of that."

Watson worked as a creative adviser for People Tree, a fair trade fashion brand, to create a spring line of clothing, which was released in February 2010.

Watson has been described as "an early adopter of sustainable fashion" and is noted for dressing ethically on the red carpet.

In January 2020, she partnered with consignment website ThredUP to launch a "Fashion Footprint Calculator", which allows website visitors to calculate the carbon impact of their wardrobes and ways to reduce it.

In June 2020, Watson was appointed the youngest member of the board of directors of Kering, the owner of various fashion brands such as Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent.

In August 2022, Watson became the face of Prada Beauty's new fragrance Paradoxe. She starred in, directed, wrote and narrated the short film for the fragrance's promotional campaign.

Activism and advocacy

Watson is an outspoken feminist. She has promoted education for girls, travelling to Bangladesh and Zambia to do so. In July 2014, she was appointed a UN Women Goodwill ambassador.

In January 2016, Watson started a feminist Goodreads book club: Our Shared Shelf. The goal of the club is to share feminist ideas and encourage discussion on the topic. One book is selected per month and is discussed in the last week of that month. Our Shared Shelf ceased updates in January 2020, but continues to be open as a discussion board for recommendations.

In July 2020, she partnered with Lodge and the WOW Foundation to spearhead a project reimagining the London Underground Map, renaming the 270 stops to spotlight women and non-binary people who have shaped the city's history.

Watson is an activist for environmental justice and climate change mitigation.

Personal life

Emma Watson has one brother, Alex, as well as one stepbrother, Toby, and two stepsisters, Lucy and Nina.

Recognition and accolades

Throughout her career, Watson has received several awards and nominations, including a Young Artist Award for her portrayal of Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001). Additionally, she received nominations for three Critics' Choice Movie Awards, four Empire Awards, 14 MTV Movie & TV Awards (winning three), six People's Choice Awards (winning two), 12 Teen Choice Awards (winning eight).

Watson's efforts in activism and philanthropy, most notably her support of women's rights and her role in launching the UN Women campaign HeForShe, has received widespread media recognition and acclaim. She has received several recognitions for her style, from the Teen Choice Awards and British Fashion Awards.

Interesting facts about Emma Watson

Watson had never acted professionally prior to the Harry Potter series.

She took a gap year after finishing secondary school to film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Parts 1 &

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallowsgrossed more than $1.3 billion worldwide and proved to be Watson's most commercially successful film to date.

In 2013, Watson became certified to teach yoga and meditation.

She also lent her name to a clothing line for the sustainable brand People Tree.

She has said she speaks some French, though "not as well" as she used to.

In November 2014, Watson designed a Paddington Bear statue, one of fifty located around London prior to the release of the film Paddington, which was auctioned to raise funds for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

She was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2015.

In 2013, Madame Tussauds in London unveiled a wax statue of Watson.

In 2019, Swedish researchers from Lund University analyzed the carbon footprints of ten celebrities including Watson's. Watson's carbon footprint was the lowest of the celebrities analyzed.

Watson has cited Gloria Steinem and Maya Angelou as influences.

Filmography

Television

Music videos

In Spanish: Emma Watson para niños

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An interview with her on Jimmy Kimmel's show

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An interview with her on Jimmy Kimmel's show

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10 reasons why Emma Watson is a role model

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10 reasons why Emma Watson is a role model

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SEATTLE - Since landing the role of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series, Emma Watson has blossomed into one of the world's favorite actresses. Known for her brains and beauty, Watson has a degree from Brown University and an impressive list of films under her belt, but this star also has an enormous heart. Here are 10 reasons why Emma Watson is a role model and exceptional activist.

She is a Global Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations

Watson was named a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador in the summer of 2014. Her work has been focused on female empowerment and promoting education equality globally. One of the main jobs of a Goodwill Ambassador for U.N. Women is to bring awareness to important issues that impact women around the globe. Watson works alongside other famous actresses, including Nicole Kidman and Anne Hathaway.

She beatboxes for women's rights

In 2016, Watson and Lin-Manuel Miranda put together a rap in honor of International Women's Day. Lin-Manuel Miranda rapped and Watson did her best to beatbox in the background. Although she was bright red by the end, she was happy to bring publicity to global gender equality.

She supports J.K. Rowling's charity Lumos

Lumos, founded by J.K. Rowling, the author of the famous Harry Potter series, is a nonprofit organization that works to relocate orphans around the world from orphanages to families. Lumos aims to eradicate the use of orphanages by 2050. Emma Watson actively supports Lumos, posting about the organization on social media and appearing with Rowling at fundraisers.

She designs fair trade fashion

The fashion industry is a huge polluter, disposing of chemicals that hurt the environment. To help combat this, Watson helped People Tree, a fair trade fashion brand, design a line of eco-friendly clothing.

She works to end child marriage

In 2016, Watson traveled to Malawi, a country in Africa, to meet with the chiefs and young girls who had been married as children. Thirty-three percent of girls in third world countries will be married before they turn 18, and child marriage contributes to the cycle of poverty and makes it difficult for these girls to receive an education. As an ambassador for U.N. Women, part of Watson's role is advocating for countries to outlaw child marriage.

She asks her fans to donate to charity instead of sending her gifts

Like many other celebrities, including fellow activist actress Zendaya, Emma Watson often asks her fans to donate to organizations like UNICEF instead of sending her birthday or holiday gifts. She also regularly donates items to be auctioned off for charities like Wild Trout Trust and Mission Nutrition.

She is the face of He For She

One of Watson's biggest accomplishments is spearheading U.N. Women's He For She campaign. Launched in 2014, He For She urges everyone to pursue a feminism that firmly rejects man-hating. She has given many incredible speeches in front of the United Nations that identify gender equality as an issue both men and women should care about and encourage wealthy men to be advocates for women everywhere.

She encourages literacy and a love of learning

Watson started a book club focused on female empowerment in 2016. The club is called Our Shared Shelf and is open to anyone on Goodreads. She also has been known to leave books in public places to encourage people to read. In November 2016, she left Maya Angelou's Mom & Me & Mom in the London Underground.

She fights against sexual harassment

Earlier this year, hundreds of celebrities signed a letter calling on women to rise up and fight against sexual harassment. Watson signed this letter, along with Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley and many other stars. In February, Emma Watson donated $1.4 million to the Justice and Equality Fund, which works against workplace harassment and discrimination.

She inspires others

Emma Watson is a role model for Malala Yousafzai, a survivor of Taliban violence and the youngest person to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize. After watching Watson's moving speech to the United Nations, Yousafzai decided to begin identifying as a feminist.

For all of these reasons and more, Emma Watson is a role model not just for young girls, but for everyone. Her care for other people and passion for justice truly make the world a better place.
- Julia McCartney

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10 Reasons Why Emma Watson Is a Role Model - BORGEN

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Emma Watson is a role model for Malala Yousafzai, a survivor of Taliban violence and the youngest person to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize. After watching Watson's moving speech to the United Nations, Yousafzai decided to begin identifying as a feminist.

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Kids learn about the biography of Queen Elizabeth II, longest ruling monarch in the history of the United Kingdom.

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Fresberg Cartoon – Learning & History for Students

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Who is Queen Elizabeth II? | Fun Facts for Kids | Educational Videos: US History for Students

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At 93 years old, Queen Elizabeth II, has outlasted many world leaders.

She has reigned for more than 65 years and is the longest-serving British monarch ever, breaking the record set by Queen Victoria, her great-great-grandmother, in 2015.

To celebrate her milestone birthday, we gathered nine of her most memorable quotes of advice and wisdom.

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9 quotes from Queen Elizabeth II on love, family, and the monarchy

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At 93 years old, Queen Elizabeth II, has outlasted many world leaders. She has reigned for more than 65 years and is the longest-serving British monarch ever, breaking the record set by Queen Victoria, her great-great-grandmother, in 2015. To celebrate her milestone birthday, we gathered nine of her most memorable quotes of advice and wisdom.

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Dwayne Douglas Johnson (born May 2, 1972), also known by his ring name The Rock, is an American actor and former professional wrestler. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.

Johnson was born in Hayward, California on May 2, 1972. His parents are Ata Johnson (née Maivia; born 1948) and former professional wrestler Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles; 1944-2020). Johnson's father was a Black Nova Scotian with a small amount of Irish ancestry. His mother is Samoan.

Johnson lived briefly in Grey Lynn in Auckland, New Zealand with his mother's family, where he played rugby and attended Richmond Road Primary School before returning to the U.S.

Johnson attended Montclaire Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina before moving to Hamden, Connecticut, where he attended Shepherd Glen Elementary School and then Hamden Middle School. Johnson attended President William McKinley High School in Honolulu and then Glencliff High School and McGavock High School, both in Nashville, and then Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township in the Lehigh Valley, where he graduated in 1990.

At Freedom High School in the Lehigh Valley, Johnson was drawn into a culture of conflict and was described as a "a troubled teenager". Before the age of 17, he was arrested multiple times for fighting, theft, and check fraud and was suspended two weeks for fighting.

Sport as a game-changer

Freedom High School football coach Jody Cwik saw athletic potential in Johnson, and recruited him to join Freedom's football team. Johnson played defensive tackle. The experience proved the beginning of a personal transformation for Johnson.

In addition to playing football at Freedom High School, Johnson also was a member of the school's track and field and wrestling teams. Like the school's football team, its track and field and wrestling teams competed in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference (EPC), a high school athletic conference known for being among the nation's best. Johnson quickly found himself facing some of the nation's most accomplished high school wrestlers.

College football recruiters ranked Johnson as one of the top ten high school defensive tackles in the nation. He opted to accept a full athletic scholarship offer from the University of Miami, whose football program was then one of the best in the nation.

College years

As a college freshman, he was a member of the University of Miami's 1991 national championship team, but largely spent his four college football years at the University of Miami in backup roles behind elite players

Johnson aspired to play professional football but went undrafted in the 1995 NFL Draft. Following his graduation from the University of Miami that year, he signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. However, he was cut from the team in his first season.

Taking up wrestling

Almost all his family was in wrestling. His father and Tony Atlas were the first black tag team champions in WWE history, in 1983. His mother is the adopted daughter of Peter Maivia, who was also a professional wrestler. Johnson's maternal grandmother Lia was the one of the first female pro wrestling promoters, taking over Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling after her husband's death in 1982 and managing it until 1988.

In 1996, Johnson's father Rocky, a longtime professional wrestler, assisted in helping him secure a contract with the WWF. Johnson quickly rose to global prominence.

Johnson made his WWF debut as Rocky Maivia, a combination of his father and grandfather's ring names. He did not want to take this ring name but was persuaded by Vince McMahon and Jim Ross. Later, he was given the nickname "The Blue Chipper". In 1997, he began to refer to himself in the third person as The Rock.

Johnson left WWE in 2004 and returned in 2011 as a part-time performer until 2013, making sporadic appearances until retiring in 2019.

Dwayne Johnson's WWE Titles:

He is a 10-time world champion

a two-time Intercontinental Champion,

a five-time Tag Team Champion,

the 2000 Royal Rumble winner,

and WWE's sixth Triple Crown champion.

Johnson headlined the most-bought professional wrestling pay-per-view (WrestleMania XXVIII) and was featured among the most watched episodes of WWE's flagship television series ( Raw and SmackDown).

Acting career and filmography

Johnson's first film appearance was in The Mummy Returns (2001). The following year he played his first leading role as the titular character in the sword and sorcery action fantasy film The Scorpion King (2002).

He has since starred in family films, action movies, adventures and comedies. His filmography includes:

In 2012, Johnson founded his production company Seven Bucks Productions. Johnson is also pursing a singing career.

Personal life

Johnson first met fellow University of Miami student Dany Garcia in the early 1990s. The couple married on May 3, 1997. She is a businesswoman, IFBB professional bodybuilder, and producer. Their daughter, Simone, was born on August 14, 2001. On June 1, 2007, Johnson and Garcia announced they were separating amicably, and their divorce was finalized in May 2008.

In 2007, Johnson began dating Lauren Hashian, the daughter of Boston drummer Sib Hashian. They first met in 2006 while Johnson was filming The Game Plan. They were married on August 18, 2019, in Hawaii. They have two daughters: Jasmine (born December 17, 2015) and Tiana (born April 17, 2018). Johnson and Hashian live in Los Angeles, have a farm in Virginia, and a home in Southwest Ranches, Florida.

In February 2020, WWE announced that Johnson's daughter Simone began training at the WWE Performance Center, making her the first fourth-generation WWE wrestler. On May 16, Johnson announced she had signed a contract with WWE, and in May 2022 announced that her ring name would be Ava Raine, and has since been appearing on the NXT brand.

Interesting facts about Dwayne Johnson

He is one of the world's highest-grossing and highest-paid actors. His films have grossed over $3.5 billion in North America and over $10.5 billion worldwide.

Johnson wrestled for the WWF for eight years prior to pursuing an acting career.

In 2000, Johnson published his autobiography, titled The Rock Says..., which he co-wrote with Joe Layden. It debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list and remained on the list for several weeks.

Through his maternal grandfather Maivia, Johnson is a non-blood relative to the Anoa'i wrestling family.

In recognition of his service to the Samoan people, and because he is a descendant of Samoan chiefs, Johnson was given the noble title of Seiuli (meaning the son of Malietoa [Alo o Malietoa]) by Malietoa Tanumafili II during his visit there on August 9, 2004.

In 2009, he gained Canadian citizenship through his father's birth and citizenship there.

In 2006, Johnson founded the Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation, a charity working with at-risk and terminally ill children.

In 2008, Johnson inducted his father and grandfather into the WWE Hall of Fame.

The University of Miami renamed the Hurricanes' locker room in Johnson's honor.

Johnson produced and starred in the HBO comedy-drama series Ballers (2015-2019), and the autobiographical sitcom Young Rock (2021).

In 2000, Johnson released his autobiography, The Rock Says, which was a New York Times bestseller.

In 2012, he co-founded the entertainment production company Seven Bucks Productions, and is co-owner of the XFL, a professional American football league.

In 2016 and 2019, Time named Johnson one of the world's most influential people.

In 2016, Johnson started his YouTube channel.

In 2016 he voiced Maui in the Disney animated film (2016).

In 2021, his biographical comedy-drama series Young Rock began airing on NBC.

He got a partial Samoan pe'a tattoo on his left side in 2003. In 2017, he had the small "Brahma bull" tattoo on his right arm covered with a larger half-sleeve tattoo of a bull's skull.

Johnson is a fan of the rapper Tech N9ne. He featured on a song titled "Face Off" on the rapper's 2021 album Asin9ne.

He has confessed that he can eat two large pizzas and a tray of brownies in one sitting.

Dwayne Johnson quotes

"The single most powerful thing I can be is to be myself."

"Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come."

"Life is anything but predictable."

"With drive and a bit of talent, you can move mountains. I know. I've done it."

"I'm always asked, 'What's the secret to success?' But there are no secrets. Be humble. Be hungry. And always be the hardest worker in the room."

"Around every corner, always protect the engine that powers you."

Discography

As lead artist

As featured artist

Championships and accomplishments

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

Match of the Year (1999) vs. Mankind in an "I Quit" match at Royal Rumble

Match of the Year (2002) vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania X8

Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1999, 2000)

Wrestler of the Year (2000)

Ranked No. 2 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2000

United States Wrestling Association
USWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Bart Sawyer

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Best Box Office Draw (2000, 2011, 2012)

Best Gimmick (1999)

Best on Interviews (1999, 2000)

Most Charismatic (1999-2002, 2011, 2012)

Most Improved (1998)

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2007)

WWE/World Wrestling Entertainment/Federation

WWE Championship (8 times)

WCW Championship (2 times)

WWF Intercontinental Championship (2 times)

WWF Tag Team Championship (5 times) - with Mankind (3), The Undertaker (1), and Chris Jericho (1)

Royal Rumble (2000)

Sixth Triple Crown Champion

Deadly Games WWF Championship Tournament (1998)

Slammy Award (9 times)

Best Actor (2014)

Game Changer of the Year (2011) - with John Cena

Guess Who's Back or: Return of the Year (2011)

LOL! Moment of the Year (2012, 2013) - insulting John Cena using the history of Boston, Massachusetts, Rock Concert on the 20th anniversary episode of Raw

Match of the Year (2013) - vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 29

New Sensation (1997)

"Tell Me You Didn't Just Say That" Insult of the Year (2014) - insulting Rusev and Lana

"This is Awesome" Moment of the Year (2015) - with Ronda Rousey

Awards and honors

Images for kids

The Rock taunting an opponent at ringside at WWF Raw, October 2001

The Rock doing his signature pose before wrestling Hulk Hogan (bottom right) at WrestleMania X8, March 2002

The Rock and John Cena (left) on Raw, agreeing to a match at WrestleMania XXVIII one year in advance

The Rock revealing the brand new WWE Championship design on WWE Raw, February 2013

The Rock (right) confronts Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania XXX, April 2014.

In Spanish: Dwayne Johnson para niños

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Funny interview plus training with Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart

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Funny interview plus training with Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart

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Very funny Interview Dwayne Johnson & Kevin Hart CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE  Gym earning muscles BAYWATCH

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Trailer of Johnson's film "Hobbs & Shaw"

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Trailer of Johnson's film "Hobbs & Shaw"

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Hobbs & Shaw (2019) - Official Trailer 2 | Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Jason Statham

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Fearless Motivation - Motivational Videos & Music

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Image: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

If you don't love Dwayne Johnson, and a little bit of Rock motivation, quite frankly you are on the wrong site! PLEASE LEAVE NOW...
Seriously, The Rock is an inspiration to millions, he is successful, the hardest worker in any room, absolutely hilarious, a beast of a human figure and best of all extremely humble.

Dwayne Johnson has proved himself a success in the arena and on the silver screen. He has achieved a level of success as a wrestler and entertainer that no one else has been able to match. Professional wrestling gave him the love and admiration of the world and he took it one step further by proving his abilities in acting by playing diverse roles, each of which were truly great performances. Here are 10 inspirational quotes by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

Top Motivational Quotes by Dwayne Johnson:

1. "Success isn't always about 'Greatness', it's about consistency. Consistent, hard work gains success. Greatness will come."

Quotes By Dwayne Johnson | The Rock

2. "Blood, Sweat and Respect. First Two You Give, Last One You Earn"

Quotes By Dwayne Johnson | The Rock

3. "When You Walk Up To Opportunity's Door: Don't Knock It. Kick That Bitch In, Smile and Introduce Yourself"

Quotes By Dwayne Johnson | The Rock

4. "1995. $7 Bucks In My Pocket. I Knew Two Things: I'm Broke As Hell and One Day I Won't Be"

Quotes By Dwayne Johnson | The Rock

5. "I Like To Use The Hard Times in The Past, To Motivate Me Today"

Quotes By Dwayne Johnson | The Rock

6."I'll never, ever be full. I'll always be hungry. Obviously, I'm not talking about food. Growing up, I had nothing for such a long time. Someone told me a long time ago, and I've never forgotten it, 'Once you've ever been hungry, really, really hungry, then you'll never, ever be full."

Quotes By Dwayne Johnson | The Rock

7. "The Road To Success and Greatness Is Always Paved With Consistent Hard Work. Outwork Your Competitors, Be Authentic And Above All Else. Chase Your Greatness"

Quotes By Dwayne Johnson | The Rock

8. "Let Actions Do Your Talkin For You, (Unless You're Telling A Good Dirty Joke)"

Quotes By Dwayne Johnson | The Rock

9. "With Drive And A Bit Of Talent, You Can Move Mountains"

Quotes By Dwayne Johnson | The Rock

10. "Success at anything will always come down to this: Focus & Effort, and we control both."

Quotes By Dwayne Johnson | The Rock #10

Dwayne Johnson is the ultimate example of what is possible when you are the hardest worker in the room, when you believe in yourself and remain humble. Much love to The Rock for showing us the way.

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These Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Quotes Will Inspire You Today!

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Image: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com If you don't love Dwayne Johnson, and a little bit of Rock motivation, quite frankly you are on the wrong site! PLEASE LEAVE NOW... Seriously, The Rock is an inspiration to millions, he is successful, the hardest worker in any room, absolutely hilarious, a beast of a human figure and best of all extremely humble.

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Kids learn about the biography of Michael Jackson including his childhood, the Jackson 5, going solo, the best selling album Thriller, and fame.

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Michael Jackson - Black Or White (Official Video - Shortened Version)

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Michael Jackson - Black or White Songtext

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Black or White Songtext von Michael Jackson mit Lyrics, deutscher Übersetzung, Musik-Videos und Liedtexten kostenlos auf Songtexte.com

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Back to Biographies
J.K. Rowling is an author most known for the Harry Potter series of books. This series of fantasy books has been widely read by much of the world and has a huge fan base, especially among kids. There has also been a very successful Harry Potter movie series based on the books.

Where did J.K. Rowling grow up?

J.K. Rowling was born Joanne Rowling in Yate, England on July 31, 1965. As a child she liked to play with her younger sister Diane, who she called Di. They would play all sorts of make believe games. Joanne would also write fantasy storied and then read them to Di to entertain her. Growing up in England, she went to school and studied hard. She did well in school, a lot like the character Hermione from her books.

How did she come up with Harry Potter?

The idea for Harry Potter came to Rowling while riding on the train to London from Manchester in 1990. The train had been delayed and she came up with the idea for a story which took place in a secret school of wizardry and had a young boy wizard as the main hero. The main characters and ideas branched off from there and she was soon writing the first book.

While writing the first book several major events took place in Rowling's life that impacted the story and characters she was writing about. First her mother died. This direct experience allowed her to transfer the deep sorrow she felt to Harry and the loss of his parents in the story. Also, she got married, moved to Portugal, and had a kid. Despite all these major changes, Rowling continued to write and finally finished the book in 1995.

List of J.K. Rowling Books

The main books in the Harry Potter Series are:

Book 1: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997)

Book 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998)

Book 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999)

Book 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000)

Book 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)

Book 6: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)

Book 7: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)

Other books:

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001)

Quidditch Through the Ages (2001)

The Tales of Beedle the Bard 2008)

Harry Potter prequel (2008)

Fun Facts about J.K. Rowling

Her real name is Joanne Rowling (no middle name), however her publishers thought she should have a different pen name for her books. Now that she's married she sometimes goes by her married name Joanne Murray.

The first Harry Potter book was turned down by 12 publishers before it was finally picked up.

Over 400 million of her books have been sold.

Back toBiographies

Other Kids Books author biographies:

Avi

Meg Cabot

Beverly Cleary

Andrew Clements

Roald Dahl

Kate DiCamillo

Margaret Peterson Haddix

Jeff Kinney

Gordon Korman

Gary Paulsen

Mary Pope Osborne

Rick Riordan

J K Rowling

Dr. Seuss

Lemony Snicket

Jerry Spinelli

Donald J. Sobol

Gertrude Chandler Warner

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Kids learn about J. K. Rowling's biography. Author of the Harry Potter series of children's books.

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J.K. Rowling Talks Harry Potter and More | TODAY

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Trailer of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

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Trailer of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Teaser Trailer [HD]

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J.K. Rowling is best known for creating a literary empire from her Harry Potter series. From being a poor, single mother writing her original concept on a napkin in a coffee show - to imagining some of the most popular and recognizable characters & stories the world has ever seen. Even after getting rejected by dozens of publishers, Rowling persisted. She is a prime example of how working hard, patience, following your passions can lead to massive success. Rowling continues to be an advocate for world literacy, freedom, and following your dreams.

Here are 37 of J.K. Rowling's Best Quotes:

1. "If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." - J.K. Rowling

2. "I was set free because my greatest fear had been realized, and I still had a daughter who I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became a solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life." - J.K. Rowling

3. "The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and must therefore be treated with great caution." - J.K. Rowling

4. "Failure is not fun. It can be awful. But living so cautiously that you never fail is worse." - J.K. Rowling

5. "Talent and intelligence never yet inoculated anyone against the caprice of the fates." - J.K. Rowling

6. "You are the true master of death, because the true master does not seek to run away from Death. He accepts that he must die, and understands that there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying." - J.K. Rowling

7. "It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be." - J.K. Rowling

8. "It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." - J.K. Rowling

9. "You sort of start thinking anything is possible if you've got enough nerve." - J.K. Rowling

10. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends" - J.K. Rowling

11. "If someone asked for my recipe for happiness, step one would be finding out what you love doing the most in the world and step two would be finding someone to pay you to do it." - J.K. Rowling

12. "We can choose. Things go largely like you want them to go. You control your own life. Your own will is extremely powerful." - J.K. Rowling

13. "Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike." - J.K. Rowling

14. "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." - J.K. Rowling

15. "We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are." - J.K. Rowling

16. "People find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right." - J.K. Rowling

17. "Failure means a stripping away of the inessential." - J.K. Rowling

18. "Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." - J.K. Rowling

19. "As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters." - J.K. Rowling

20. "To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure." - J.K. Rowling

21. "Never be ashamed! There's some who'll hold it against you, but they're not worth bothering with." - J.K. Rowling

22. "Is 'fat' really the worse thing a human being can be? Is 'fat' worse than 'vindictive', 'jealous', 'shallow', 'vain', 'boring', or 'cruel'? Not to me." - J.K. Rowling

23. "Whatever money you might have, self-worth really lies in finding out what you do best." - J.K. Rowling

24. "You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity." - J.K. Rowling

25. "We have to choose between what is right, and what is easy." - J.K. Rowling

26. "Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself." - J.K. Rowling

27. "The most important thing is to read as much as you can, life I did. It will give you an understanding of what makes good writing and it will enlarge your vocabulary." - J.K. Rowling

28. "We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all of the power we need inside ourselves already." - J.K. Rowling

29. "Failure is so important. We speak about success all the time. It is the ability to resist failure or use failure that often leads to greater success. I've met people who don't want to try for fear of failing." - J.K. Rowling

30. "You've got to work. It's about structure. Its about discipline. It's all these deadly things that your schoolteacher told you you needed...you need it." - J.K. Rowling

31. "I think you have a moral responsibility when you've been given far more than you need, to do wise things with it and give intelligently." - J.K. Rowling

32. "What's coming will come and we'll just have to meet it when it does." - J.K. Rowling

33. " It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default." - J.K. Rowling

34. "I would like to be remembered as someone who did the best she could with the talent she had." - J.K. Rowling

35. "Life is difficult, and complicated, and beyond anyone's total control, and the humility to know that will enable you to survive is vicissitudes." - J.K. Rowling

36. "The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive." - J.K. Rowling

37. "The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed." - J.K. Rowling

Which quote inspired you the most? Comment below!

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J.K. Rowling is best known for creating a literary empire from her Harry Potter series. From being a poor, single mother writing her original concept on a napkin in a coffee show - to imagining some of the most popular and recognizable characters & stories the world has ever seen.

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Albert Einstein: Genius Inventor and Scientist

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Kids learn about Albert Einstein’s biography. A great scientist and inventor. A true genius.

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Time is Relative - The Twin Baby Experiment

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"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day.

-"Old Man's Advice to Youth: 'Never Lose a Holy Curiosity.'" LIFE Magazine (2 May 1955) p. 64"
― Albert Einstein

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Albert Einstein Quotes (Author of Relativity)

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1177 quotes from Albert Einstein: 'Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.', 'There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.', and 'I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination.

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Was voted "most annoying German in 2006" by the viewers of TV network ProSieben (27 December 2006).

Was a candidate in the first season of Star Search (2003) (category "Junior"). But in the quarter-final he was defeated by Oliver Bruton.

Trilingual: German, English, and French.

His parents divorced when he and his brother were 7 years old.

His step-father owns a music school called, "Rock's cool".

Favorite musicians are Nena, Green Day, Coldplay, Keane and Placebo.

Translated all his German songs to English for his band's English album.

His mother is a freelance tailor.

He is 10 minutes younger than twin brother, Tom Kaulitz.

He and his brother, Tom, do not have middle names.

His first concert he ever attended was Nena.

Is best friends with his twin brother.

Had to undergo surgery to remove the cyst in one of his vocal chords. (March 2008).

One of his favorite television programs is Prison Break.

His good friend is Andreas, who is also the president of Tokio Hotel's fan club.

When Tom and I were young we had many liberties. We could stay up and go out later than kids in our age. But I never misused it. I never came back home drunk and threw up at my mother's feet. - 2005, from an interview for the first biography book about 'Tokio Hotel'

If I could do this for the rest of my life, if I could make my living with writing and composing songs - that would be ... the best thing ever.

The first thing I notice about a girl, is her hands. I like girls with nice hands. ... And she must be spontaneous as well.

On love and his ideal girl: I love it when a girl has a great look, nice nails and a beautiful skin. And then, especially, that they are positive and playful. I don't like one night stands. I truly believe in true love, a love that you only find once in a lifetime...if you have the chance. Because I think that many people never find it, which is very sad... I've already met girls, I've already fallen in love. I know what it's like to have a flash for someone and the butterflies on your belly, but I still haven't found love with a big L.

I won't let anyone stand between me and my brother.

I can't - we can't - live without each other. We are always together. We are like one person and like soul mates. We don't have to talk. (about his twin brother)

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Was voted "most annoying German in 2006" by the viewers of TV network ProSieben (27 December 2006). Was a candidate in the first season of Star Search (2003) (category "Junior"). But in the quarter-final he was defeated by Oliver Bruton. Trilingual: German, English, and French.

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Tokio Hotel interview - Bill and Tom Kaulitz

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Kids learn about the biography of Muhammad Ali. Also known as Cassius Clay, he was one of the world's greatest heavyweight boxers and an Olympic gold medal winner.

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Muhammed Ali’s fights

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Top 10 Muhammad Ali Best Knockouts HD #ElTerribleProduction

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Muhammad Ali, considered to be the greatest heavyweight boxer, died late Friday night in a Phoenix-area hospital at 74 years old.

Here is a list of some of his best quotes (in no particular order):

1. "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands can't hit what his eyes can't see. Now you see me, now you don't. George thinks he will, but I know he won't.

2. "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth."

3. "I'm young; I'm handsome; I'm fast. I can't possibly be beat."

4. "Don't count the days; make the days count."

5. "If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it-then I can achieve it." Jesse Jackson said this as early as 1983, according to the Associated Press, and Ali used it in his 2004 book.

6. "It's hard to be humble when you're as great as I am."

7. "It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe."

8. "If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize."

9. "Braggin' is when a person says something and can't do it. I do what I say."

10. "I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was."

11. "Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even."

12. "I'm so mean, I make medicine sick."

13. "I should be a postage stamp. That's the only way I'll ever get licked."

14. "Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing."

15. "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."

16. "A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life."

17. "If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you."

18. "I shook up the world. Me! Whee!"
Appreciation: Muhammad Ali was a champion in and out of the boxing ring
19. "I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'"

20. "At home I am a nice guy: but I don't want the world to know. Humble people, I've found, don't get very far."

21. "A man who has no imagination has no wings."

22. "He's (Sonny Liston) too ugly to be the world champ. The world champ should be pretty like me!"

23. "I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots. I'm in a world of my own."

24. "I've wrestled with alligators. I've tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightning. And throw thunder in jail."

25. "Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong."

26. "It's not bragging if you can back it up."

27. "I'm the most recognized and loved man that ever lived cuz there weren't no satellites when Jesus and Moses were around, so people far away in the villages didn't know about them."

28. "It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up."

29. "I'm not the greatest, I'm the double greatest."

30. "Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you're going to be right."

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Muhammad Ali, considered to be the greatest heavyweight boxer, died late Friday night in a Phoenix-area hospital at 74 years old. Here is a list of some of his best quotes (in no particular order): 1. "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands can't hit what his eyes can't see.

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First Time Meghan Markle Sings 'God Save The Queen' Infront Of Queen Elizabeth ll - YouTube

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First Time Meghan Markle Sings 'God Save The Queen' Infront Of Queen Elizabeth ll - YouTube

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