Brain Berries

When regular people write wills, it’s usually to give all their stuff to the family and friends, but famous people have their own little quirks. Some of them left instructions so specific that you can practically hear them narrating the whole thing from beyond the grave.

Hotel magnate Leona Helmsley ensured that her swee...

Luke Perry had the kind of face Hollywood loves to turn into a legend: intense eyes, effortless charm, and an unmistakable rebellious streak. When he became a household name through Beverly Hills, 90210, comparisons with James Dean followed almost immediately. For audiences, the resemblance seemed flattering. For Perry, it carried an uncomfortable reminder of how quickly fame...

Hollywood has always been obsessed with appearances. From perfectly coordinated red-carpet outfits to carefully staged photographs, celebrity couples often seem expected to fit a particular image. One surprisingly persistent convention is that the man should be taller than his partner. Fortunately, plenty of famous couples have demonstrated just how outdated that expectation ...

Movie chemistry can be wonderfully deceptive. Two actors may look like lifelong friends—or convincing enemies—on screen while barely tolerating each other once the cameras stop rolling. Hollywood history is filled with stories of costars arguing over professionalism, personality clashes, difficult working conditions, and behavior that one person simply could not accept.

Family feuds are painful enough in private. When someone is famous, however, years of resentment can spill into interviews, memoirs, courtrooms, and social media for millions of strangers to examine. Some celebrities have been rejected by parents; others made the difficult decision to cut relatives out themselves. A few eventually reconciled, while other relationships remain ...