Timelines for year 1976
Michael McKean
Began his career in Pittsburgh while a student at Carnegie Mellon University. David L. Lander was a fellow student at CMU and their partnership grew after graduation as part of the comedy group The Credibility Gap with comedian Harry Shearer in Los Angeles. McKean and Lander's breakthrough came in 1976 when they were cast as Lenny and Squiggy on "Laverne & Shirley" . The twosome were hired as apprentice writers and day players.
Scarlett Johansson
Has an older half-brother (Christian Johansson), an older sister (Vanessa Johansson, an older brother (Adrian Johansson, born 1976) and a twin brother (Hunter Johansson).
Sting
Children: Joseph Sumner (b. 23 November 1976) and Fuschia Sumner (b. 17 April 1982) by Frances Tomelty; Mickey Sumner (b. 19 January 1984), Jake Sumner (b. 24 May 1985), Coco Sumner (b. 30 July 1990) and Giacomo Sumner (b. 17 December 1995) by Trudie Styler.
Macaulay Culkin
Brother of Shane Culkin (b. 1976), Dakota Culkin , Kieran Culkin (b. 1982), Quinn Culkin (b. 1984), Christian Culkin (b. 1987) and Rory Culkin (b. 1989).
Sissy Spacek
Sissy's Best Actress Oscar nomination for Carrie is notable in that performances in horror films are rarely recognized by the academy.
During her audition for Carrie , she wore a dress that her mother forced her to wear to a party when she was in the seventh grade.
Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1976" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 28.
Her performance as Carrie White in Carrie is ranked #63 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
Frank Oz
"The Muppet Show" character "Fozzie Bear" is actually not named after Frank Oz, as is widely believed. "Fozzie Bear" is named after "The Muppet Show" builder Faz Fazakas.
One of his first performing duties for "The Muppet Show" was performing Rowlf's right hand on "The Jimmy Dean Show" .
Michael Jackson
Originally intended to begin his solo career when he turned eighteen in 1976, but financial problems forced him to remain with the Jackson Five, renaming themselves The Jacksons for legals reasons, until 1979.
Roy Rogers
Inducted (with his wife Dale Evans) into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1976.
Dan Aykroyd
Is a big fan of The Beach Boys and his first piece of writing was a sketch that appeared in the 1976 documentary The Beach Boys: It's OK (TV).
Michael Landon
Wrote and directed two movies that were semi-autobiographical: The Loneliest Runner (TV) and Sam's Son .
Rose Byrne
Father: Robin, mother: Jane, brother: George, born 1976, sisters: Alice, born 1973 and Lucy, born 1972.
Charlton Heston
Turned down the lead in The Omen . The role then went to Gregory Peck.
He was considered, along with English actor Ronnie Barker, for the role of Claudius in the British series "I, Claudius" , but the role went to the less famous Derek Jacobi instead.
Robert De Niro
He based the movement of his character Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver on that of a crab. He thought the character was indirect and tended to shift from side to side.
His performance as Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver is ranked #42 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time .