You know the saying, “You only live once?” Barbara Payton was the very embodiment of that saying, and you only need to take one look at her wild life to see that it’s true. This beautiful actress had an animal magnetism that powerful players in Hollywood could not resist, and she used it to her advantage. Tragically, addiction and circumstance cut her life short. While she lived, though, Payton made every moment count—even if it destroyed her in the end.

In the 1970s, variety shows were essential viewing, and they could feature live moments that audiences never saw coming in a million years. Often these moments were a delightful surprise, while others...haven't aged particularly well. But either way, in the 1970s, live television was always unpredictable—and that's what made it so great.

Cassandra Peterson rose to fame for her horror hostess role of Elvira. Her real life was every bit as terrifying—and titillating—as the films she presented to audiences.

Patrick Stewart spent decades playing some of Hollywood's wisest and most commanding characters, but his own life was anything but straightforward. Behind his distinguished voice and unmistakable presence was a man who survived a frightening childhood, struggled with relationships, and eventually learned to embrace his surprisingly mischievous side. Following his death on October 28, 2026, at the age of 86, the remarkable story of the man behind Captain Picard deserves another look.

Mercedes McCambridge became the most acclaimed voice actor of her time before moving on to a successful Hollywood career. But while she looked back on a long life of improbable accomplishments, the unspeakable happened.

Some television shows disappear after their final episode, but Lonesome Dove has never quite ridden off into the sunset. The beloved 1989 CBS miniseries starred Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones in one of television's most unforgettable Western adventures. Now Netflix is developing a new adaptation of Larry McMurtry's classic novel, introducing another generation to the cowboys who captured America's imagination nearly four decades ago.