Category: people

Heir to a tobacco fortune who made another fortune as an investment banker, Cullman gave away hundreds of millions to, among many other organizations, the New York Public Library, the Museum of Modern Art, public television station WNET, and the American Museum of Natural History. And he publicly encouraged his fellow moguls to give away as much as he did. The New York Times

“On College Bowl, two teams of four college students answered questions on science, history, philosophy, music, literature and other subjects. It combined elements of a team sport, high-speed oral examination and a football game. … Mr. Earle took over the show in 1962, when the original host, Allen Ludden, left to launch a new game show, Password, … and was the show’s host from 1962 until it left the air in 1970.” – The Washington Post

Re the return of Tales of the City for a Netflix generation, she says, “I hope that it does what the arts do, which is it makes you feel less alone.” And re the show Ozarks, which films in Georgia: “I don’t want to ever stop working in Georgia. But if this law goes forward … I think we’ll have to leave. Because if you don’t stand up for this, then what do you stand up for? What does it take?” – The New York Times

Phil Kennicott: “The best thing about Ron Howard’s polished new documentary, “Pavarotti,” is its compassion for the man, who emerges frail but not hollow, merely human and not the pathetic clown he so often seemed in his last decade.” – Washington Post

A self-taught cook who was discovered by Craig Claiborne when he ate at her husband’s Miami Beach restaurant in the 1970s, she wrote or co-wrote more than 20 cookbooks, the most recent of which was published in April, and won three James Beard Awards. – The Washington Post

“[Malcolm John] Rebennack, in his younger years, was gangsta to a degree that would likely shock Lil Wayne. But over the course of a remarkable life and career, he evolved. From addiction to three decades of sobriety. From sordid escapades as a dealer and pimp to Disney soundtracks and the model for sleepy-eyed, jive-talking Muppet musician Dr. Teeth. From hometown outcast to one of its most outspoken advocates and beloved characters.” – The New Orleans Advocate

In addition to a five-decade career an an actor, director, producer, and teacher (among her students at Circle in the Square were Kevin Bacon, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Lady Gaga), she created The Players’ Guide: A Pictorial Directory for the Legitimate Theater, the first-ever organized and bound listing for casting directors of Equity actors, complete with photos and résumés. – The New York Times

Contentious or not, Wilson’s books have mostly addressed one theme: that we must know natural history and evolutionary theory to fully understand humanity’s future on the planet. In his 1986 manifesto Biophilia, for example, he suggested that humans have an innate biological need to be in nature and to “affiliate with other forms of life.” – Wired

Forbes says the husband of singer Beyonce has succeeded because he built brands rather than just endorsed them. In its rankings, Forbes rejected claims that rapper and producer Dr Dre had reached billionaire status. – BBC