Mental Floss

CELEBRITIES

The idiosyncratic director behind films as diverse as ‘Aguirre, the Wrath of God’ and ‘Grizzly Man’ knows how to hypnotize chickens—and has no need for drugs.

Erin McCarthy
Hulk Hogan.

Hulk Hogan was one of the biggest names in the history of professional wrestling. Learn more about the man behind Hulkamania with these facts about his life.

Scott Beggs








Jayne Mansfield on the set of ‘The Girl Can’t Help It.’

The bottle-blonde bombshell studied five languages, played the violin and the piano, and reportedly had an IQ in the 160s. Here’s what else you need to know about actress Jayne Mansfield.

Rebecca Pahle

Nathan Fielder, creator of HBO’s ‘The Rehearsal,’ also owns a successful outdoor apparel brand with terrible customer service.

Jake Rossen






A museum visitor photographs a painting by modernist artist Georgia O'Keeffe.

Georgia O’Keeffe’s enchanting floral still life paintings are now a deeply ingrained part of American culture—so much so that they often eclipse her other colorful accomplishments.

Kristy Puchko








Actor and author Gene Hackman.

Here are some bon mots the actor and author said over the years, on everything from how he chose his projects to the joys of writing.

Erin McCarthy


Tom Hanks in ‘Forrest Gump.’

From the box office bomb he loved to the job he got by kicking Fonzie through a window, Hanks’s filmography is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re gonna get.

Jason Tabrys