Richard Widmark was one of Hollywood's best supporting actors, spanning the heyday of film noir, Westerns, and adventure movies.

You may not recognize his name today, but John Cazale was one of Hollywood's greatest actors. And in his tragically short but illustrious career, Cazale became a propelling inspiration for not one, but two of Hollywood’s hottest stars of all time.

Most television actors are happy if they can turn a hit show into a long and steady career. A select few, however, looked beyond the soundstage and saw even bigger opportunities. Some launched fashion lines, others built media companies, and a few turned smart investments into fortunes that rivaled their acting paychecks. These television stars proved they were just as talented in the boardroom as they were in front of the camera.

Before she became one of television’s most recognizable mothers, Barbara Billingsley was simply Barbara Lillian Combes, a young woman from Los Angeles who worked as a fashion model in New York. Her modeling success eventually opened the door to Hollywood, where MGM signed her to a contract in the mid-1940s and launched her acting career.

Don't be scared of the classic Netflix endless scroll—and stream one of these horror movies instead.

Many little girls dream about playing a sophisticated leading lady on screen. But classic Hollywood actress Rosalind Russell wanted the opposite, and this look at her unusual life might just explain why.