# People Who Should've Been More Famous Than They Were **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150 "2009-01-13T21:26:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/1 "2009-01-13T21:26:00Z")
Seeing Sandy Dennis’s name on another thread I got to thinking, there are a lot of talented people that should be all rights be a lot more famous than they were based on their talents. Perhaps it was their own fault, through use of drugs, or just the times (someone with a similar style got more of the breaks) or for whatever reason, they achieved some fame but you feel they should’ve got more attention than they did. To me Sandy Dennis is one of these actresses. Three more I can think of are Jo Stafford Ann Sothern Jay Mohr (though he’s still around with his new TV show _Gary Unmarried_ so he might become more famous Any other suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/2 "2009-01-13T21:37:00Z")
This isn’t in the field of entertainment, but one day I watched a documentary on the life and work of African-American scientist [Percy Julian](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Julian) and immediately thought “this guy should definitely be more well known than he is.” Like Jackie Robinson, not only was he extremely talented in his field but he managed to do all sorts of amazing things while in the middle of a race war. That’s pretty f’n spectacular if you ask me. Yet, I’d never heard of him until I saw the documentary. ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/3 "2009-01-13T21:41:26Z")
Daniel Lanois. The man is a musical genius/madman who should be more celebrated than he is. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/4 "2009-01-13T21:42:38Z")
Antonio Meucci, the inventor of the telephone. Check it out [here.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Meucci) Evidently, if he would have had an extra $10, we never might have heard of A. G. Bell. Amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/5 "2009-01-13T22:19:10Z")
The reason Jo Stafford and Ann Sothern aren’t better known is because they didn’t have as big a second career in movies and TV as Doris Day and Lucille Ball. Some I can think of who aren’t better remembered: Judy Holliday, brilliant comic actress who died at the peak of her career. Lesley Ann Warren, her best work was on stage, not seen by enough people. Angela Lansbury, deserves to be remembered for more than Murder She Wrote Erle Stanley Gardner, creator of Perry Mason, who also wrote under more than a half-dozen different pen names Dropping from fame quickly, we have Arthur Godfrey, who once had THREE prime time shows at once, in addition to a daily network radio show. He was the Regis Philbin of his era. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/6 "2009-01-13T22:21:17Z")
Just a couple of days ago I caught a silent film on TV and was very impressed by the performance of the lead actor, who seemed very natural and real (did I mention this was a silent film?). I didn’t recognize his face or name, so I did a little research. I almost wish I hadn’t because what I found out about [James Murray](http://www.geocities.com/murraylar/james.html) wasn’t very cheerful, although it adds some poignancy to **[The Crowd](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0018806/)**. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/7 "2009-01-13T22:26:08Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Like Jackie Robinson, not only was he extremely talented in his field but he managed to do all sorts of amazing things while in the middle of a race war. That’s pretty f’n spectacular if you ask me. Yet, I’d never heard of him until I saw the documentary. How old are you? Jackie Robinson was one of the most famous ball players (among other things) of all time. It’s hard to believe that there are people who never heard of him. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/8 "2009-01-13T22:26:54Z")
He’s not talking about Jackie Robinson. He’s talking about Percy Julian, using a comparison to Jackie Robinson. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/9 "2009-01-13T22:38:50Z")
> [@Indistinguishable](#): > > He’s not talking about Jackie Robinson. He’s talking about Percy Julian, using a comparison to Jackie Robinson. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Night\_so\_be\_it](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b2d939/32.png) [@Night\_so\_be\_it](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Night_so_be_it)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/10 "2009-01-13T22:52:36Z")
Alasdair Gray, one of the greatest authors alive. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/11 "2009-01-13T23:51:25Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Seeing Sandy Dennis’s name on another thread I got to thinking, there are a lot of talented people that should be all rights be a lot more famous than they were based on their talents. > > Perhaps it was their own fault, through use of drugs, or just the times (someone with a similar style got more of the breaks) or for whatever reason, they achieved some fame but you feel they should’ve got more attention than they did. > > To me Sandy Dennis is one of these actresses. (For a second, I read that as Sandy _Denny_ and almost agreed with you.) Sandy _Dennis_ won an Oscar and made the cover of Time magazine as an up-and-coming star sometime around 1967 so I think it’s arguable that she didn’t get a lot of attention at least early in her career. As for why she didn’t maintain that level of fame much longer, I think a lot of it had to do with the perception (perhaps inaccurate and unfair) that she always played whiny neurotic characters who cried too much. Filmgoers found her on-screen persona too annoying. As for others who qualify under this thread topic, as a female singer-songwriter, Laura Nyro hit the scene about two years too soon. As a result, she missed out on the success that Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon had as performers. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/12 "2009-01-14T00:41:58Z")
While he is, indeed, famous, Stephen Fry doesn’t get a tenth of the recognition he has deserved. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/13 "2009-01-14T03:45:19Z")
I was just reading an article today about General [Edward King](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_P._King). He was the commander of the forces that defended Bataan during WWII. He fought very well but was in an unwinnable situation and had to eventually surrender. But he’s been forgotten - most people just remember Jonathan Wainwright. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/14 "2009-01-14T07:39:21Z")
[Norman Borlaug](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Borlaug). > [@](#): > > Borlaug is one of five people in history to have won the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. > > During the mid-20th century, Borlaug led the introduction of these high-yielding varieties combined with modern agricultural production techniques to Mexico, Pakistan, and India. As a result, Mexico became a net exporter of wheat by 1963. Between 1965 and 1970, wheat yields nearly doubled in Pakistan and India, greatly improving the food security in those nations. These collective increases in yield have been labeled the Green Revolution, and **Borlaug is often credited with saving over a billion people from starvation**.[3] He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 in recognition of his contributions to world peace through increasing food supply. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/15 "2009-01-14T08:56:48Z")
> [@KSO](#): > > Daniel Lanois. The man is a musical genius/madman who should be more celebrated than he is. Lanois is pretty well known in Canada as an artist, but most of his Big Important work is as a producer (Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, etc.), so it’s not surprising that he’s more well-known to musicians than to the public. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/16 "2009-01-14T09:07:44Z")
Franz Marc, for me the best painter ever. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/17 "2009-01-14T10:19:40Z")
> [@brickbacon](#): > > [Norman Borlaug](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Borlaug). History will revile Borlaug as the man who stretched out the world’s suffering by centuries, mark my words. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/18 "2009-01-14T12:14:07Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > This isn’t in the field of entertainment, but one day I watched a documentary on the life and work of African-American scientist [Percy Julian](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Julian) and immediately thought “this guy should definitely be more well known than he is.” > > Like Jackie Robinson, not only was he extremely talented in his field but he managed to do all sorts of amazing things while in the middle of a race war. That’s pretty f’n spectacular if you ask me. Yet, I’d never heard of him until I saw the documentary. Thanks for posting that, I’m embarrassed to say I’d not heard of Julian - I’m a chemist and thought I was familiar with the early steroid / pill story. You can take you pick of scientists, really, who aren’t as famous as maybe they should be. There is little recognition in the mainstream media for even the mightiest scientists. I guess that’s another thread. A few SF authors who don’t seem to get as much attention as they might: David Zindell wrote the best first novel I’ve read in SF - _Neverness_. There was a thread on here recently about Neal Stephenson’s latest book _Anathem_, which is awesome. \*Neverness \*is very similar in theme, and better. He then went on to write stuff that was, to be fair, not quite in the same league. It’s still a cut above most SF though, and I never seem to see his name bandied about on here or elsewhere. Interesting fact is that Zindell attended a writing course taught by Gene Wolfe, and you can see the influence of the Master in Neverness (Is Gene Wolfe as famous as he should be? Probably, these days). Paul Park is another SF writer who, like Zindell, wrote a spell-binding debut novel(s). _The Starbridge chronicles_ were hugely ambitious, and consequently flawed in places, but still very very impressive. His subsequent books have been critically acclaimed, but I get the impression that he is under the radar of most SF fans. ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/19 "2009-01-14T12:32:23Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > History will revile Borlaug as the man who stretched out the world’s suffering by centuries, mark my words. I know I’ve heard this sentiment before, but I can’t recall what the specific charge is. Could you fill me in? ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150/20 "2009-01-14T13:47:53Z")
Klaus Nomi- New Wave musician, died of AIDS James BeauSeigneur- author of the best Rapture novels ever- THE CHRIST CLONE Trilogy. Upstaged by LaHaye & Jenkins’ LEFT BEHIND series. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-shouldve-been-more-famous-than-they-were/481150.md?page=2)