Timelines for year 1977

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson


Her first biography was released in 1977 as a joint biography about her and brother Randy Jackson.

Peter Weller

Peter Weller


He and friend Jeff Goldblum have both appeared in films by Woody Allen (Annie Hall and Mighty Aphrodite ) and David Cronenberg (The Fly and Naked Lunch ).

Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson


In 1977 he toured 13 cities as King Arthur in the musical "Camelot".

Bill Murray

Bill Murray


Was considered for the role of Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope .

Ellen Burstyn

Ellen Burstyn


Member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1977

Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott


His first feature film, The Duellists is based on a Joseph Conrad story. In his next film, Alien , the spaceship was known as the Nostromo and its escape ship as the Narcissus. Both are names taken from Conrad stories.

Has worked with three Aragorns. His first theatrical film, The Duellists , featured Sir Robert Stephens, who played Aragorn in the BBC radio adaptation. His breakthrough film, Alien , featured John Hurt, who voiced the character in the Ralph Bakshi animated film The Lord of the Rings . G.I. Jane featured Viggo Mortensen, who played the part in Peter Jackson's live-action adaptation.

Woody Allen

Woody Allen


He directed, wrote and starred in five of the American Film Institute's 100 Funniest Movies: Annie Hall at #4, Manhattan at #46, Take the Money and Run at #66, Bananas at #69 and Sleeper at #80.

Five of his movies brought home his actresses Academy Awards: Annie Hall for Diane Keaton, Hannah and Her Sisters and Bullets Over Broadway both for Dianne Wiest, Mighty Aphrodite for Mira Sorvino and Vicky Cristina Barcelona for Penélope Cruz.

He and Diane Keaton made 8 movies together: Annie Hall , Love and Death , Manhattan , Manhattan Murder Mystery , Radio Days , Play It Again, Sam , Interiors and Sleeper .

Mariette Hartley

Mariette Hartley


Rose in celebrity with her notable Polaroid commercial run with James Garner starting in 1977. She and Garner were so naturally convincing as husband and wife that Mariette had a tee-shirt that proclaimed, "I am not James Garner's wife!" More than 300 commercials were produced.

JoBeth Williams

JoBeth Williams


Her very first television role was on the Boston produced, first run syndicated children's television series; Jabberwocky . The show featured live actors, puppets, musical numbers, and cartoon segments. Williams joined the cast of "Jabberwocky" in season two, replacing Joanne Sopko, the first season hostess. The show ran until 1978.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep


Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1977" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 29.

Liza Minnelli

Liza Minnelli


1977: Hit #104 on the Billboard Singles Charts with "Theme from New York, New York" (United Art. 1014).

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder


Was considered for the part of Janet in a big-screen remake of "Three's Company" opposite Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz, but the project was eventually cancelled.

James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones


Known for his humility, he declined to have his name appear on the credits of both Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope and Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back , claiming that he felt his contribution wasn't significant enough to warrant a credit. He did agree to have his name appear of the credits of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi .

Announced the forty-fifth greatest movie villain of all time by Maxim Magazine's "Fifty Greatest Movie Villains of all Time" list for his character of Darth Vader in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope .

In the original Star Wars trilogy, he and Billy Dee Williams were the only black actors to play major roles. One of Billy Dee Williams's other roles was the title role in Scott Joplin . Scott Joplin's ragtime music was used as the score for The Sting , which features James's father, Robert Earl Jones.

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster


Recorded a number of songs for her film Moi, fleur bleue , including "Je T'Attends Depuis La Nuit Des Temps," "When I Looked at Your Face" and "La Vie C'est Chouette."

Fluent in French by age 14, she spoke her own lines in the 1977 film Moi, fleur bleue and the 2004 film A Very Long Engagement .