Lists of fun facts, fascinating trivia, and wild, charming, and even heartbreaking stories about some of the most famous people you feel like you already know.

The Life of an Actor

Celebrities

Betty White was a national treasure. Her spunky personality and feisty comebacks have helped her remain a household name for eight decades - and her talents in Hollywood only scratch the surface of the wonder&nbsp;she was.

In her almost century of life, White accomplished some great feats in both her professional and personal life. And learning more about her only made us love her more.&nbsp;

Facts About Betty White We Just Learned That Made Us Love Her Even More

General

Mallory Weiler

Fun and very interesting lists about slang, vocabulary, language, spelling, and even punctuation.

Words, Words, Words

Trending on Ranker

English is incredibly tricky.

Influenced by numerous other languages, English has distinct grammatical features, countless homonyms, and all kinds of anomalies that make it difficult to use correctly. As a result, many&nbsp;common English-language mistakes show up over and over.

When you hear them or see them&nbsp;in writing, these misused words and phrases can bring out some pretty strong reactions.&nbsp;Whether they literally evoke rage or figuratively drive you nuts, there&#39;s an argument to be made for nipping them in the bud.

We&#39;ve gathered just a few of the most&nbsp;commonly misused English words and phrases&nbsp;here - vote up the ones that, for all intents and purposes, irk you the most.&nbsp;

25+ Commonly Misused English Words And Phrases That Literally Make Us Cringe

Melissa Sartore

Lists of fun facts, fascinating trivia, and wild, charming, and even heartbreaking stories about some of the most famous actors of classic film you feel like you already know.

Gonna Make You a Star

Judy Garland was an undeniably sparkling presence on film, from her breakthrough role in <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/wizard-of-oz-facts/philgibbons" target="_blank">The Wizard of Oz</a>&nbsp;to later successes like A Star Is Born. Unfortunately, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/judy-garland-true-story-movie/patrick-thornton" target="_blank">her life was marked by suffering</a>;&nbsp;all of the horrible things that happened to Judy Garland would dominate any faithful biography of the talented&nbsp;but tragic actress.

Stories about Judy Garland detail the dysfunctional parents, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/classic-old-hollywood-studio-system-abuses/anncasano" target="_blank">studio abuses</a>, early exposure to drugs and alcohol, and series of dreadful marriages that became&nbsp;the foundation of an existence that ended in 1969 at the age of 47. But terrible Judy Garland facts would also have to include her own choices and behavior. Garland was certainly the victim of the horrific world of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/reasons-old-hollywood-sucked/evan-lambert" target="_blank">old Hollywood</a>, but she seemed unable to break the cycle of bad relationships and financial ruin that ultimately took over her life and career.

As Dorothy, Judy Garland was able to successfully make it back home, to a house filled with love and stability. Sadly, in the real world, she would never be able to truly make it over the rainbow, as covered in the 2019 <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/judy-cast-actors-real-life/sarah-blumert" target="_blank">Judy biopic</a>.&nbsp;Here are some of the scandalous and heartbreaking aspects of the life of Judy Garland.

Tragic Stories From The Life Of Judy Garland

15 Tragic Stories About The Life of Judy Garland

Phil Gibbons

Not all American tourists are bad. Repeat:&nbsp;not all American tourists are bad.

Many times, what&#39;s&nbsp;seen as insulting or questionable behavior is the result of culture shock or simple ignorance. <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-country-facts/pierce-nahigyan" target="_blank">Exploring new areas</a>, meeting new people, and taking in new experiences can be overwhelming, and Americans, like tourists from around the world, may react poorly.&nbsp;

Americans traveling abroad do have a bit of a reputation, however. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ot15ym/non_americans_of_reddit_what_is_the_weirdest" target="_blank">Redditors offered up</a>&nbsp;examples of why that might be the case. Americans not only <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/things-americans-say-to-non-americans/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">say some weird things</a> to non-Americans, but they also behave in some questionable ways.

Are these things problematic? Sometimes. Insensitive?&nbsp;Often. Offensive? Unfortunately.&nbsp;On the whole, the behaviors of Americans overseas may make you laugh, sigh, or want to cry. Vote up the ones that are shocking enough they might just force you to do all three.

30+ Questionable Things Americans Have Done While Visiting Other Countries

From Agatha Christie to Clue, everybody loves a good &quot;whodunit&quot; mystery&nbsp;with a surprise&nbsp;ending. But sometimes, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/little-known-mysteries-with-answers/jason-f-collins" target="_blank">truth is even stranger than fiction</a>. Many of these true crime stories seemed like open-and-shut cases. Too often, though,&nbsp;the public can jump to conclusions, ignoring all other possibilities. When investigators do the same, they set themselves up for major plot twists and sometimes even wrongful convictions.&nbsp;

True crime junkies may have heard of some of these <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/unexplained-mysteries-that-were-solved/setareh-janda" target="_blank">mind-boggling&nbsp;mysteries</a> in the many rabbit holes of the internet, but others have flown completely under the radar. From the disturbing cases, to the ones with happy endings, to the&nbsp;multiple cases&nbsp;involving bubble gum, all of these unbelievable true crime plot twists will leave your head spinning.&nbsp;

12 True Crime Cases With Unexpected Plot Twists

True Crime Cases With Unexpected Plot Twists

Chrissy Rose

Throughout history, fierce historical figures appear in all kinds of situations. Sometimes being fierce means <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/savage-history-quotes/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">exhibiting savagery</a> and physical violence. Often, it&#39;s connected to acts of sacrifice or survival. From survivors of horrible events who just refuse to quit, to individuals who openly and willingly defy authority, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/biggest-badasses-in-history/chase-christy" target="_blank">ferocious folks from history</a> display an aggressiveness that is both impressive and intimidating.

Many men and women from the past qualify as fierce. Here are some of the figures we read about in 2021 whose passion, strength, and undeniable tenacity left us saying &quot;Dang!&quot;

15 Fierce Historical Figures We Learned About In 2021 Who Made Us Say 'Dang!'

The most bananas stories and insane 100% true tales about the lives and behind-the-music antics of your favorite rock stars and legendary bands.

Freakin' Rock Stars

True Stories

Axl Rose stories are the stuff of rock and roll legend. The lead singer of Guns N' Roses has led such a colorful life even his roadies got in on the action, as evidenced by Axl Rose roadie stories circling&nbsp;the globe. Whether he's starting random fights, walking off stage in the middle of concerts, felling winged creatures with shotguns, or showing up hours late for commitments, all the&nbsp;crazy Axl Rose stories you've heard are true, and completely insane.&nbsp;Guns N' Roses shot to stardom during the spandex-and-glitter nightmare carnival of hair metal, in 1987,&nbsp;and offered a dirty, rough, violent antidote to the empty calories of glam sleeze's nonsense confections. Like many bands of the era, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/wild-guns-n-roses-stories/brandon-michaels" target="_blank">they were&nbsp;known for hard partying</a>, their days and nights saturated with alcohol, drugs, women, and excess.Frontman Axl Rose, who was born William Bruce Rose on February 6, 1962 in&nbsp;Lafayette, Indiana,&nbsp;announced himself as a volatile presence&nbsp;as soon as GnR's worldwide dominance began; a new&nbsp;bizarre Axl Rose scandal seemed to emerge every week. The volatility of the band as a whole, and its individual members, added to the excitement of their music and shows.&nbsp;The self-destructive energy&nbsp;Axl channeled into his music led him&nbsp;to the top, and&nbsp;kept him from staying there.The&nbsp;Axl Rose weird stories on this list demonstrate his unpredictable mood swings; several tales of Axl Rose fights pit him against other celebrities. Even true fans may be surprised at these crazy stories about one very wild rock star.

29 Absolutely Ridiculous Stories of Axl Rose's Hard Partying Days With Guns N' Roses

29 Insane Axl Rose Stories That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe

Erin McCann

Actor Trivia

Chuck Norris may have earned his own custom line of jokes regarding his supposed superhuman qualities, but legends about Bruce Lee have been kicking butt for much longer. And considering the Bruce Lee real story proves many of his legendary feats have a solid base in reality, consider that another knockout for Lee. Although rumors about playing ping pong with nunchucks and snatching rice out of the air using chopsticks may not be true, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/little-known-bruce-lee-facts/philgibbons" target="_blank">Bruce Lee facts</a> include an astonishing record of physical feats, endurance, and stories about his amazing achievements.

When his legends blended into the Bruce Lee true story, epic myths about a near-superhuman man emerged. His devotion to training both his mind and body led him to master power and strength that seem wild to everyone else. Lee&#39;s study of philosophy also helped grow his myth, as people consistently attribute wise quotes and sage advice to the<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-martial-art-movies/all-genre-movies-lists" target="_blank"> martial arts</a> master. When he passed at age 32, he was just becoming a star in the US, having already gained a huge amount of popularity overseas. Perhaps because his life was so short and the world never got to see him as an old man saddled with age like the rest of humanity, legends about Lee remain strong. He will always be young and strong in fans&#39; eyes, and the legends he created will remain unchallenged by time. Could Lee really send a man flying with only a one inch movement of his fist or knock someone out in a matter of seconds? While the legends say yes, the truth may surprise you.

Bruce Lee Stories That Show How Man Became Legend

Possibly True Bruce Lee Stories That Show How Man Became Myth

Lists about life for soldiers and civilians alike during the Second Great War, which raged around the world from 1939-1945.

WWII

There was no shortage of horrors during the Second World War. The event that gave the world concentration camps also gave us the Rape of Nanking, the firebombing of Dresden, and the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These nightmarish scenarios generally occurred when one group had power over another&nbsp;and used that power to murder indiscriminately.

However, the frontlines themselves weren&#39;t exactly a picnic. As <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/world-war-2-pictures/ashley-reign" target="_blank">pictures of the war</a> show us, the rank-and-file soldiers on every side faced conditions that most of us can&#39;t even imagine. Forced marches were commonplace, and life on the frontlines was a constant nightmare that left many men broken in more than just the physical sense. And then there was the fighting.

The battles of World War II were often apocalyptically brutal thanks to improvements in artillery, tanks, and other weapons of war. There were many bloody skirmishes during the conflict, but perhaps none as terrible as the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/battle-of-stalingrad-left-mountains-of-dead/kellie-kreiss" target="_blank">Battle of Stalingrad</a>. This infamous battle could be more accurately called a siege. It <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad" target="_blank">took place from </a>August 23, 1942, to&nbsp;February 2, 1943 - a total of five months, one week, and three days. In terms of the number of soldiers involved, it was the largest single encounter in WWII, and proved to be a turning point in the Eastern Front. The German military massively overextended itself in an ultimately fruitless attempt to capture Stalingrad. Had it succeeded, the world would look very different today.

Historians have attempted to understand the insanity of Stalingrad through facts and figures, but perhaps the only voices that can really capture the experience are those that lived through it.

Firsthand Accounts Of What The Battle Of Stalingrad Was Really Like

What Was The Battle Of Stalingrad Like According To Firsthand Accounts?

Quinn Armstrong

Celebrity Trivia

Jay Leno has long been considered an everyman, albeit an everyman with millions of dollars in the bank and a fleet of cars hidden in a Burbank aircraft hangar. Stories about <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/young-jay-leno-pictures/cari-fortier" target="_blank">Jay Leno</a> and his insatiable desire to host&nbsp;The Tonight Show are legendary in comedy circles, and&nbsp;despite being written about at length in Bill Carter’s books The Late Shift&nbsp;and The War for Late Night,&nbsp;many people aren’t aware of Leno’s do-anything-to-win attitude. Leno pulled maneuvers that sound like something out of an <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-nbc-dramas/ranker-tv" target="_blank">NBC drama</a> rather than the behind-the-scenes antics of a talk show. You may know Leno and Letterman had a falling out over who would host The Tonight Show in 1992, but what suggests Jay Leno is a jerk are the stories of how he rose to prominence as the voice of Middle America in the early '90s. Even though Leno claims to be an unassuming guy who just ended up in show business,&nbsp;he reportedly employed underhanded tactics&nbsp;to create <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/sexist-late-night-interviews/rebecca-shortall" target="_blank">a toxic atmosphere</a> in which he thrived. Long before <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-late-night-shows/ranker-tv" target="_blank">Late Night </a>Wars of '92 began, people were sure David Letterman was the next in line to host The Tonight Show. Not only was Letterman hosting The Late Show&nbsp;-&nbsp;the program that followed Johnny Carson's show at 11:30 pm -&nbsp;but he openly glorified the gig. In a 1989 interview with Time, Letterman was already fielding questions about taking over for the beloved host. When asked if he would take over for Carson when he retired, Letterman answered, &quot;I guess, of course, I would. But I think ultimately I would be happy <a href="http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,956906-4,00.html" target="_blank">just to be considered</a>.&quot;If only Letterman knew how wrong he was, and if only he knew he -&nbsp;and the hosting gig -&nbsp;was in Jay Leno's crosshairs.

The History Behind How Jay Leno Became The Most Hated Man In Show Business

The Shameless, Disgusting History Behind How Jay Leno Became The Most Hated Man In Show Business

Jacob Shelton

Music History

Stevie Nicks became a household name alongside Fleetwood Mac bandmates Lindsey Buckingham, Christine and John McVie, and&nbsp;Mick Fleetwood&nbsp;shortly after the 1977 release of Rumours. Though the notoriously fluid <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/fleetwood-mac-lineup-drama-history/sean-kelly" target="_blank">Fleetwood Mac</a>&nbsp;had released&nbsp;several albums prior to&nbsp;Rumours, the soft rock record&nbsp;is responsible for placing the band in the mainstream consciousness. However, it is also responsible for multiple affairs between <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/true-stories-behind-fleetwood-mac-rumours-album/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">Fleetwood Mac members</a>, tumultuous separations, and heartbreak.&nbsp;

Stories from <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/stevie-nicks-loves-and-hookups/celebrityhookups" target="_blank">Stevie Nicks&#39;s love life</a> are threaded throughout Rumours -&nbsp;&quot;Dreams&quot; is about her longtime partner Lindsey Buckingham - but her love affairs of the late &#39;70s were just the beginning of a series of romantic escapades. Aside from her&nbsp;laudable career, Nicks has endured incredible grief and heartache, as well as fairytale-level passion.

Nearly everyone&nbsp;who has dated Stevie Nicks speaks fondly of her,&nbsp;including the Eagles&#39; Don Henley and Joe Walsh - the latter of whom Nicks maintains was the love of her life. Even <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=4L9F_dtB7OYC&amp;printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&amp;q=nicks&amp;f=false" target="_blank">Mick Fleetwood</a>, who thinks of Nicks as a sort of platonic soulmate, considers her and Buckingham to be&nbsp;eternally connected.&nbsp;

For her part, Nicks told&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/stevie-nicks-a-rock-goddess-looks-back-179984/" target="_blank">Rolling Stone</a>&nbsp;that she would be happy never marrying, as she&#39;s already &quot;had a lot of great relationships&quot; and her &quot;life today is great&quot; because of her friends and music.&nbsp;

Fascinating Stories From Stevie Nicks’s Love Life

Bailey Brown

Royalty

Princess Anne, the only <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/life-of-sarah-ferguson-duchess-of-york/cleo-egnal?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">daughter of Queen Elizabeth</a> II and Prince Philip, may not receive as much scrutiny from the general public as her older brother Prince Charles or nephews Prince William and Prince Harry, but she&#39;s still had an eventful life. From making the British Olympic team as an equestrian, to nearly being&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/attempted-kidnapping-of-princess-anne/cleo-egnal" target="_blank">kidnapped</a>&nbsp;just weeks after her wedding, to being nominated for a Nobel Prize, the Princess Royal has packed a lot of living into her&nbsp;years.&nbsp;

Blunt and often sharp-tongued, and with little use for pretense,&nbsp;she is considered one of the most popular members of the British royal family in the eyes of the general public&nbsp;and has&nbsp;earned the informal title of being the hardest-working royal. And she managed to carry out her royal duties while providing her children with a fairly normal childhood (well, as normal as one can have as a member of the British royal family),&nbsp;keeping them more or less out of the spotlight.

Here is more about the Princess Royal, who, as of this writing, is 14th in line to inherit the British throne.

Facts About Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth II’s Overlooked Daughter

TGWrites

The 30th anniversary celebration of the Woodstock music festival <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/when-the-red-hot-chili-peppers-played-fire-at-woodstock-99-the-timing-of-it-wasnt-so-great-194105669.html" target="_blank">took place</a> in Rome, NY, from July 22-25, 1999. But what was originally conceived as a modern homage to the landmark hippie-fueled musical lovefest of the 1960s ended up mutating into a disaster marked by aggression and mayhem.&nbsp;By the end, Woodstock &#39;99 was being referred to as &quot;The Woodstock &#39;99 Riots.&quot;

What caused Woodstock &#39;99 to become such <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/worst-years-in-music-history/christopher-shultz?page=3" target="_blank">a low point</a> in music history? The <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/19-worst-things-about-woodstock-99-176052/" target="_blank">major culprits</a> were oppressive summer heat, jacked-up prices, violent party crashers, and a lack of logistical oversight. When <a href="https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2009/07/a_look_back_at_woodstock_99.html" target="_blank">more than 220,000 people</a> arrived to Oneida County that weekend, no one - especially the festival&#39;s organizers - were prepared for what was about to happen.

There&#39;s also the music. While there was a diverse lineup - <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/1426630/james-brown-set-to-funk-up-woodstock-99/" target="_blank">ranging</a> from classic artists like James Brown and Willie Nelson to electronic acts like Fatboy Slim - much of the media pointed fingers at emerging nu-metal acts like Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Kid Rock for riling up an already aggressive horde of concertgoers. By the final night, thousands of attendees were <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/style/article/Woodstock-99-The-day-the-music-died-3073934.php" target="_blank">rioting</a>, feeding massive&nbsp;fires, and tearing stages apart.

By the end of the weekend, there was extensive havoc, mounds of trash and refuse, thousands of injuries and assaults, and even <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/516294/woodstock-99-death-toll-rises-to-three/" target="_blank">two lives lost</a>&nbsp;from heat exhaustion. This list digs deep into how Woodstock &#39;99 veered so off course.

Behind The Scenes Of How Woodstock '99 Went Off The Rails

Woodstock '99: Behind The Scenes Of How It Went Off The Rails

Megan Summers

Visiting a new place can be exciting. It can also be filled with mystery and strange things. The same is true if you&#39;re simply meeting someone <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-country-facts/pierce-nahigyan" target="_blank">from a different country</a> for the first time, or learning about another culture from a book or in the classroom. Add to that numerous preconceived ideas and stereotypes that exist, and the unknowns about other people and places really add up.

When faced with these misunderstandings, misconceptions, and simple unknowns, people can say some really bizzare and dumb things.&nbsp;Non-Americans on Reddit can attest to this. One thread&nbsp;full of <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/oa6ktu/nonamericans_of_reddit_whats_the_weirdest_thing/" target="_blank">the weirdest</a> - and interesting - things Americans have said to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-american-things/rosa-pasquarella" target="_blank">non-Americans</a> was pretty eye-opening.

The questions and comments posed by Americans may make you laugh, cry, or cringe, but a lot&nbsp;of them will simply leave you shaking your head in disbelief.&nbsp;

25+ Weird Things Americans Have Actually Said To Non-Americans

Weird Things Americans Say To Non-Americans

Historical Figures

Napoleon Bonaparte is well known today as one of the greatest conquerors&nbsp;of the past, but he may even be more well known for his rumored short height. His alleged stunted stature&nbsp;even spurred the &quot;Napoleon complex&quot;&nbsp;that is said to afflict those who also suffer from being shorter than the average and aren&#39;t too happy about it. But what if this <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/napoleon-bonaparte-facts/lisa-waugh" target="_blank">Napoleon fun fact</a>&nbsp;isn&#39;t actually true? In reality, a lot of interesting Napoleon facts we think we know have been altered,&nbsp;misremembered, or transformed by history. The truth may actually make him even more interesting!&nbsp;

Vote up the facts about Napoleon Bonaparte people just learned that you&#39;re excited to know now.

Facts We Just Learned About Napoleon Bonaparte That Made Us Say 'Really?'

Napoleon Bonaparte Facts We Just Learned That Made Us Say 'Really?'

Lists about the history and quirks of America's highest office.

The American Presidency

Politics

The health of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-u-s-presidents-from-best-to-worst">US Presidents</a> is a well-kept secret, especially while they&rsquo;re in office.&nbsp;The public is on a need-to-know basis, and, generally speaking, the government doesn&#39;t&nbsp;think the public needs to know at all &ndash; especially when it comes to presidents&#39; illnesses.&nbsp;From George Washington to Teddy Roosevelt to Barack Obama, presidents have suffered from various ailments before, during, and after holding their positions. Considering how unwell some of these guys were, it&#39;s amazing they accomplished anything at all during their <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/us-president-first-100-days/stephanroget" target="_blank">first 100 days in office</a>.

Some presidents were pretty healthy from a young age;&nbsp;others were sickly during their whole lives, and others were plagued with maladies on and off &ndash;&nbsp;no actual instances of plague, though, luckily. However, some of these presidential ailments might just surprise you.

Every U.S. President &amp; Every Medical Problem They've Ever Had

Person

All The Medical Ailments Of Every US President

Weird History lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories

Weird History lists on Ranker

Weird History lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of Weird History lists and rankings.

Weird, spooky, and tragic stories of people who passed in odd ways or on strange days.

Unusual Demises

History

There were some strange deaths that have occurred during the 20th century and these are the most bizarre ways that people passed in the 1900s. The following list includes some the most unusual ways of passing imaginable. There are plenty of strange ways to perish, but these might be the strangest&nbsp;of all&nbsp;&mdash;&nbsp;unique and extremely rare circumstances that you can think of.

What are the most bizarre ways famous people have died in the last century? Do you know someone who swallowed a toothpick at a party and then perished because of peritonitis? Did you know about an actress who passed when she fell down a chimney, thinking it was a balcony? If not, read this list of all the unusual deaths of 20th century people who died in strange ways.

Unusual Deaths: Bizarre Deaths Of The 20th Century

Bizarre Deaths | List of Unusual Ways To Die

Notable Famous Deaths

Before tickets even went on sale, every major motion picture employed dozens of people and cost thousands, if not millions, of dollars. Here is how some of them screwed it all up.

Famous Film Fails

Real accidents happen on the sets of big budget movies, but most of them don&#39;t cost the cast or crew their lives. Film productions follow a number of regulations to keep performers and crew members safe, but while shooting scenes of manufactured peril, performers sometimes put themselves in situations where the slightest miscalculation can quickly become deadly. Some occurred on <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-most-nausea-inducing-great-films/randolph" target="_blank">nausea-inducing sets</a>; others happened in seemingly commonplace situations.

What are some examples of people dying on movie sets? People have lost their lives on films as early as 1928&#39;s Noah&#39;s Ark. Here are some of the worst cases where mistakes and misfortune have collided to produce fatal consequences.

12 Film Sets On Which People Were Actually Killed

Film

Deaths on Movie Sets | List of Fatal Accidents During Film Productions

Matt Blackwood

Looking closer at the 15th and 16th centuries in Europe, a period during which artists, architects, politicians, scientists, and writers embraced humanism, bringing their society from the Middle Ages to the modern era.

The Renaissance

List of odd deaths that happened during the Renaissance, including some of the rumors and legends behind them. This list includes stories of people dying from laughter, a ruler who died due to shyness about using the restroom, and a man who was beaten to death with his own artificial limb. "The Renaissance" is a term used to refer to a broad cultural movement that swept across Europe from the 14th through the 17th century, as well as the period in European History that divides the Late Middle Ages from the beginnings of the modern era. Through the term is most typically used to refer to the Renaissance in Italy - which includes a number of the most famous writers, thinkers, and artists of the period - the Renaissance itself spread to a number of European nations, including Scandinavia, The Netherlands, England, France, Hungary, and Russia.Need more? Check out the most unusual murders of other eras such as the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/unusual-deaths-bizarre-deaths-during-the-middle-ages/notable-famous-deaths">odd deaths during the Middle Ages</a> and the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/unusual-deaths-bizarre-deaths-of-the-21st-century/notable-famous-deaths">bizarre deaths from the 21st century.</a>

The 9 Strangest Deaths of the Renaissance And Early Modern Eras

Renaissance Deaths | List of Strange Renaissance Era Killings

A look at major events that happened a long time ago and the people who played the biggest roles in shaping the world as we know it.

Historical Facts & Figures

Some of the most prolific&nbsp;figures in history got off in ways that would have been considered untoward in their time.&nbsp;

Nowadays, many&nbsp;of the&nbsp;behaviors described here are seen as normal, or at least, somewhat so. But back in the day, some of these writers, revolutionaries, philosophers, and the like kept their sexuality&nbsp;and kinks a secret, only to be discovered decades after their passing by scholars and curious readers.

Perhaps if these legends were alive now, they would wave their flags proudly and let the world know what turns them on. Or not, and that&#39;s fine too; after all, it&#39;s nobody&#39;s business what you&#39;re into.

10 Historically Important Figures With Extra Colorful Personal Lives

The Most Historically Important Perverts Of All Time

Beau Iverson

Weird History

George Washington

Abraham Lincoln

Benjamin Franklin

Barack Obama

George W. Bush

Donald Trump

Jesus Christ

Leonardo da Vinci

Albert Einstein

Isaac Newton

Marie Curie

Are you already an expert in everything America? Great! No need to read about these fascinating facts and important events that have shaped the U.S. as we know it today.

US History You Should Know

Government

List of the most important leaders in U.S. history. Love 'em or hate 'em, these leaders shaped American history from its founding through today. Men and women who have truly defined America through their work and leadership, even if it did not mean serving political office, are ranked here on this master list of leaders. Pioneers who changed the landscape, from the Civil Rights Movement, to Women's Suffrage, to the atom bomb, appear on this list of American leaders who changed the world.The most important American presidents are ranked here, like Harry S. Truman and George Washington to name a few, along with First Ladies like Eleanor Roosevelt. Industry leaders like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller cannot be overlooked, nor can leaders who were not in the U.S. government itself, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Susan B. Anthony. Leadership takes many forms throughout American history, and famous American leaders pervade all of history, but this list gives props to those who were the most influential. Vote up the most important U.S. leaders below, or if the United States is too small for you, make sure to peruse this list of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-important-leaders-in-world-history">The Most Important Leaders in World History</a>.

John F. Kennedy

The Most Important Leaders in U.S. History

Most Important Leaders in US History | List of American Leaders

Mel Judson

List of the Greatest Minds of All Time, throughout history. This list represents the most influential thinkers across various disciplines, ranked in a way that represents the power of their ideas and their impact on the world. The wisest men and women include <a href="/list/top-philosophers-ever-/jedralski">top philosophers,</a> physicists, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/notable-poet_s)/reference">famous poets</a>, thinkers, teachers, physiologists, artists, inventors, engineers, <a href="/list/the-most-irreplaceable-ceos-in-the-world/ready-to-startup">the most irreplaceable CEOs in the world</a>, economists and politicians and those whose talents span across many fields of study.This list takes a historic perspective, so the greatest thinkers who are included on this list come from many different eras. The greatest minds of the 21st century may be quite different from great geniuses from the distant past, but each person should be judged within the context of the time that they were living. For example, inventing a new type of telephone in 2013 would not qualify one as &quot;the most brilliant mind of all time,&quot; but in 1876 when Alexander Graham Bell first patented the telephone, it was an act of genius not seen before. See Also: <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-most-influential-people-of-all-time">The Most Influential People of All Time.</a>

The Greatest Minds of All Time

Greatest Minds of All Time |  List of Genius Thinkers in History 

Walter Graves

This is a list of the most <a href="/list/important-historical-figures-not-taught-in-school/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">influential people</a> of all of human history. This means that the individuals on this list have had a significant effect on how regular people live their lives today and have had a large impact on how modern society works. The names on this list include iconic religious figures, recognizable scientists and inventors, and some of the most powerful&nbsp;<a href="/crowdranked-list/the-most-important-leaders-in-world-history" target="_blank">important leaders in world history</a>. Vote for your top choices and re-rank this list your way.&nbsp;

What makes an individual worthy of a spot on a list of the most influential people ever? Certainly, some of the <a href="/list/greatest-minds-of-all-time/walter-graves" target="_blank">greatest minds of all time</a> deserve to be ranked highly. Examples include Leonardo da Vinci, Sir Isaac Newton, and certainly <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-historical-figure-facts-09252020/mallory-weiler" target="_blank">Albert Einstein</a>. Each one of these incredible and inspirational&nbsp;people used the power of their minds to change the world. Not surprisingly, several names on this list are also among the most <a href="/crowdranked-list/famous-role-models-we_d-like-to-meet-in-person" target="_blank">famous role models we&#39;d like to meet in person</a>.

Featuring historical figures, interesting men, and impactful people, this list of the world&#39;s most legendary figures have had all kinds of effects on the biggest and historic events.

And modern-era figures also deserve to be listed here. Can anyone argue that Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg aren&#39;t among the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-most-influential-contemporary-americans" target="_blank">most influential contemporary Americans</a>? It&#39;s time to add your opinions on who you believe are the most&nbsp;influential&nbsp;people&nbsp;in&nbsp;history, with your votes and your rankings.

William Shakespeare

The Legacy Of Martin Luther King, Jr. 

The Most Influential People of All Time

Ranker Community

Everything you didn't know about the so-called leaders of the free world, from their favorite foods to their pets' names.

U.S. Presidents

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The worst U.S. presidents of all time, measured by their negative impact on the nation, its citizens health and happiness, and its future prosperity. (In some cases -&nbsp;such as the popular selections of Warren G. Harding and Richard Nixon -&nbsp;the negative view of the president and his administration is due to various scandals and perceived corruption within its ranks. Nixon remains the only president to step down from the office amid&nbsp;threats of impeachment.)

Much of a president&#39;s job -&nbsp;including serving as the figurative head of the American state and setting the nation&#39;s general legislative and diplomatic agenda -&nbsp;is sort of intangible and hard to evaluate in strict &quot;good vs. bad&quot; terms. This makes any list of the &quot;best&quot; or &quot;worst&quot; US presidents essentially subjective, and though there were administrations with a significant series of positive or negative outcomes, it&#39;s rarely clear just how much these had to do with the person in office and how many were simply due to accidents of fate or circumstance. Nonetheless, in particularly extraordinary cases -&nbsp;such as the administration of Abraham Lincoln, which kept the nation intact during the Civil War crisis, or the administration of Andrew Johnson immediately after that threatened the entire success of the Reconstruction project -&nbsp;it is clear which presidents did an overall good or bad job.

So who were the worst presidents of all time? We&#39;re ranking them here, based on your votes! When you&#39;ve had enough political negativity, be sure to check out Ranker&#39;s ultimate uplifting presidential list: <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-u-s-presidents-from-best-to-worst" target="_blank">The Best US Presidents</a>.