CELEBRITY

BIRTHDAY
August 29, 1958
Gary, Indiana, USA
DIED
June 25, 2009 RECENT CREDITS
Are We Done Yet? (FILM) Apr. 4, 2007
13 Going On 30 (FILM) Apr. 23, 2004
Michael Jackson Number Ones (TV) Jan. 2, 2004
The 2003 Radio Music Awards (TV) Oct. 27, 2003
Michael Jackson's Private Home Movi... (TV) Apr. 24, 2003
View all Michael Jackson Credits

BIOGRAPHY:

A star since the age of 12 when The Jackson Five registered four No. 1 hits in 1970, Michael Jackson parlayed his remarkable singing and dancing talents into mega-stardom, the likes of which few entertainers have ever known. By the time he released Thriller in 1982, which quickly became the best-selling album in the history of recorded music, Jackson was the biggest pop icon in the world. Yet at the very height of his fame, allegations of child molestation severely damaged his career, sending the "eccentric" performer into an even more reclusive posture than usual. The son of an abusive father who drove him and his brothers mercilessly to their success, he missed out on a normal childhood, forced not only to convey the composure of an adult in his little boy's body as the front man for the popular group, but also to branch out simultaneously as a solo artist. Jackson was more than equal to the task as his stunning accomplishments attested, but what price did he pay for a lifetime in the spotlight? It was not so farfetched that his penchant for surrounding himself with children was an attempt to vicariously experience the joys of a childhood sacrificed at the altar of the recording industry. But even that was subject to intense scrutiny when he was accused of sexual abuse of a child in 1993 and in 2004; the latter resulting in a media circus trial that ended in his acquittal. Regardless of his status – either as a pop icon or alleged child molester – there was no doubt that Jackson was the subject of endless public fascination. On June 25, 2009, his position as a tragic American icon was solidified when, during rehearsals for a series of comeback concerts in the UK, he collapsed and was rushed to an area L.A. hospital, where he was pronounced dead at age 50. The announcement sent shock waves around the world, as fans mourned the one and only King of Pop.

Born on Aug. 29, 1958 in Gary, IN, Jackson was one of nine siblings who joined his four older brothers in the act his father was presenting at various clubs in the Chicago area. When they first auditioned for Berry Gordy's Motown label, he had not yet reached his 10th birthday, but he was already a seasoned professional, displaying some dazzling footwork on James Brown's "I Got the Feeling" that would have made the Godfather of Soul proud. With Gordy's backing, The Jackson Five exploded into the national consciousness with "I Want You Back", "ABC," "The Love You Save" and “I'll Be There" all occupying the top spot on the Billboardchart before 1970 had run its course. Two years later, Michael enjoyed his first solo No. 1 hit with "Ben," from his second album. Chafing at the artistic restraints applied by Gordy, the brothers left Motown for Epic, changed their name and brought out The Jacksons (1976), containing Michael's first published song, "Blues Away". He made his feature debut in "The Wiz" (1978) at age 20, contributing some brilliant dance work in his role as the Scarecrow."

During the filming of "The Wiz," Jackson renewed an old acquaintance with producer Quincy Jones, and their subsequent collaborations would earn him the title he would claim the rest of his life – the 'King of Pop.' They warmed up with Off the Wall (1979), but really scored with their second effort, Thriller (1982), featuring three No. 1 hits ("The Girl Is Mine," "Billie Jean" and "Beat It"). Winner of seven Grammy Awards, it remains the best-selling album in the history of the recording industry and was still selling well over a million copies a year in 1995, 13 years after its release. In association with it, Jackson starred in John Landis' "Thriller" video, considered the best music video ever made. A teaming with Paul McCartney led to another No. 1 single, "Say, Say, Say" (1983), before he co-wrote (with Lionel Ritchie), "We Are the World" (1985), in an effort to raise the world's consciousness about the plight of famine-stricken nations in Africa. Produced by Jones with an all-star cast, it won the Song of the Year Grammy for 1985.

Jackson starred in the 3-D fantasy short, "Captain EO" (1986), a popular film with children shown at Disney's Epcot Center and Disneyland theme park, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by George Lucas. His last album with Jones, Bad (1987), yielded an unprecedented five No. 1 hits, and – as was the case with Thriller – every track was memorable. He released one more successful album, Dangerous (1991), before excessive media attention regarding his alleged misconduct would turn people against him.

In 1993, the singer had his first brush with controversy when he was accused of abusing a 13-year-old boy in his entourage. Having become friends the previous year, Jackson was reportedly a virtual member of the boy’s family. But the child – who first revealed the abuse to his father after being put under the influence of Amytal Sodium (a.k.a. “Truth Serum”) – told a psychiatrist, and later police, that Jackson had molested him. When the news broke, Jackson and his family strongly denied that he was a pedophile, while the King of Pop himself suffered a major blow to his popularity. After becoming dependant on drugs to alleviate the stress, he canceled the remainder of his tour and sought treatment overseas. Upon his return to the United States, Jackson was subjected to a 25-minute strip search after it became known that the boy claimed to be able to describe Jackson’s genitals. Not a definitive match, the description had strong similarities. Through it all, Jackson maintained his innocence in public. Eventually, he settled with the accuser’s family out of court for $22 million, while criminal charges were never filed due to lack of evidence after the boy’s father refused to testify.

The heavily-hyped HIStory (1995) sold poorly, failing to recoup its promotional expenses, and he released Blood on the Dance Floor(1997) with little fanfare. Jackson debuted his controversial "Ghosts" video – a narcissistic defense of himself – in selected U.S. cities on Halloween 1996, but quickly withdrew it, though it surfaced again at Cannes the following May. Despite the negative scrutiny, Jackson and his brothers entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

Always charismatic, Jackson transformed himself during the 1980s into an almost other-worldly icon, fond of wearing one glove, sparkling socks, tape on his fingers and military regalia. But the line between the performer and private man became blurred. Excessive cosmetic surgery to substantially alter his looks, public appearances wearing a surgical mask, and a preference for animals and children over adults earned him a reputation as a “Wacko Jacko.” Even fatherhood and two marriages – including a sort-lived, hard-to-comprehend union with Elvis Presley's daughter Lisa Marie (made even more unpalatable by their unconvincing lip-lock at an MTV awards ceremony) and another one to his doctors' receptionist – have failed to dispel the notion that the singer was a freak, of sorts. To fully remove the tarnish from his crown, the King of Pop needed another hit, and if his excessive wealth had not totally estranged him from reality, then this perfection-obsessed artist might have surely delivered the goods again.

Meanwhile, Jackson released the album Invincible in 2001, which, for all intents and purposes, was a commercial flop. It was heavily promoted by Sony and cost a hefty $30 million to produce. The album spawned one moderate hit, "Butterflies," which was remixed with rapper Eve. In 2002, Jackson accused Sony of racism and said the label failed to adequately promote his album. Sony was shocked, saying they spared no expense in touting the album’s release. The accusations only served to further solidify Jackson's reputation as “out of touch" with reality. The weirdness of Jackson's self-created and possibly sordid world definitively overwhelmed both his prodigious talent and respected career in 2002 and 2003. The singer made headlines around the world after dangling his infant son Prince Michael II – with a blanket obscuring the child's face – over the balcony of his Berlin hotel room, prompting criticism of his unorthodox parenting skills and resurrecting the old allegations of child abuse.

Meanwhile, Jackson released the album Invincible in 2001, which, for all intents and purposes, was a commercial flop. It was heavily promoted by Sony and cost a hefty $30 million to produce. The album spawned one moderate hit, "Butterflies," which was remixed with rapper Eve. In 2002, Jackson accused Sony of racism and said the label failed to adequately promote his album. Sony was shocked, saying they spared no expense in touting the album’s release. The accusations only served to further solidify Jackson's reputation as “out of touch" with reality. The weirdness of Jackson's self-created and possibly sordid world definitively overwhelmed both his prodigious talent and respected career in 2002 and 2003. The singer made headlines around the world after dangling his infant son Prince Michael II – with a blanket obscuring the child's face – over the balcony of his Berlin hotel room, prompting criticism of his unorthodox parenting skills and resurrecting the old allegations of child abuse.

Although he admitted his behavior was a mistake, Jackson swiftly escalated his erratic reputation by shocking fans with his public appearance at a civil trial in Santa Maria, CA. Jackson arrived at the courthouse on crutches and with his nose looking as if it were suffering – indeed, caving in – from an overabundance of plastic surgery. Next, an interview by British journalist Martin Bashir, who was granted unprecedented access to Jackson's private world, aired on "20/20" (ABC, 1978- ) newsmagazine and drew 27.1 million viewers, most of whom were shocked by the portrait of the singer's bizarre lifestyle. Jackson filed a complaint with television watchdog groups and claimed that the interview was edited to cast him in an unfavorable light. He subsequently backed out of a much-promoted "60 Minutes" (CBS, 1968- ) interview, instead offering his own privately crafted rebuttal to Bashir's report on the two-hour Fox special, "Michael Jackson, Take Two: The Interview They Wouldn't Show You."

The furor died down for several months, but the flames were fanned again in November 2003, just as Jackson's greatest hits package Number Ones was about to hit stores. Santa Barbara police descended on his Neverland Ranch to investigate claims that the musician had molested a 12-year-old boy on the premises. Amid a media furor, Jackson, who was filming a music video in Las Vegas, was required to surrender himself to authorities, prompting video images of the singer in handcuffs. Booked on suspicion of child molestation and released on $3 million bail, he subsequently called the allegations as "outrageous" and "false" and hired celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos to defend him. In the wake of his arrest, CBS indefinitely postponed a primetime Jackson network special that had been scheduled for Nov. 26, while devoted fans staged candlelight vigils protesting his innocence. Meanwhile, plans for finding a full-time performing home in Las Vegas evaporated; the Jackson family and celebrity friends such as Elizabeth Taylor publicly rushed to his defense; and doubts about Jackson's accuser, who previously accused others of child abuse – including own his father – began to surface.

Jackson's compilation album, with the ironically titled new single, "One More Chance," debuted to tepid sales in the United States, where his commercial appeal had dimmed considerably. But Jackson still managed to top other music charts in countries around the world where he was still considered a pop superstar. The stage was set for what promised to be the most sensational celebrity court case since the O.J. Simpson trial, and indeed a circus atmosphere prevailed: celebrities including Jay Leno, Chris Tucker and Macaulay Culkin were called to testify, while the not-so-lily-white past of the accuser's family was aired in court. Among the accusations, Jackson was accused of providing his sleepover guests with alcohol he allegedly called "Jesus Juice," as well as pornography. Throughout the entire sordid affair, Jackson made a spectacle of himself by wearing outrageous outfits into court and indulging in impromptu performances for the fans and gawkers who gathered outside the courthouse for a glimpse of the pop star.

Toward the end of the lengthy trial, however, Jackson appeared more and more haggard, allegedly suffering from ill health. Despite all of the sideshow distractions, in June 2005, jurors in the child-molestation trial found Jackson not guilty on all 10 counts against him, although some of the jurors said publicly their decision was based on reasonable doubt and that not all of them believed Jackson was entirely innocent. His attorneys vowed that Jackson would never again allow the children of others into his bed and make himself vulnerable to further accusations. Immediately on the heels of the verdict, the pop star was also reportedly offered a long term residency and $80 million to perform at the planned casino going up next to Trump International Hotel & Tower in Las Vegas.

Despite his acquittal, Jackson was not out of the tabloid woods yet. In 2006, reports of Jackson’s financial woes became more rampant, with the star being forced to close part of his Neverland Ranch in order to save money. Adding further weight to his financial problems, he was forced to take out two substantial loans, including one for $300 million from Sony in exchange for the media company having the option of buying half of Jackson’s stake in their jointly owned publishing company, leaving the pop star with a 25 percent share. After agreeing to joint custody of his children with ex-wife Debbie Rowe, Jackson solidified his financial standing when he bought the rights to songs by Eminem, Beck and others from Viacom in partnership with Sony. Meanwhile, he released Thriller 25 in celebration of that album’s 25th anniversary, which also contained some new cuts and remixes that reached moderate success, including “The Girl is Mine 2008” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ 2008.”

Now on the verge of rehabilitating his image, Jackson released a compilation album called King of Pop – though not in the United States – while he was scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts at the O2 Arena in London. But the concerts – which would have drawn over one million people – were put on hold when the sudden news broke that Jackson was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital on June 25, 2009. According to various news sources, paramedics found him not breathing after a 911 call to his Bel Air home and had gone into cardiac arrest in the ambulance while en route to the UCLA Medical Center. When initial reports came in, an anonymous source close to the family was quoted as saying that the pop star was in “really bad shape.” His father, who was in Las Vegas at the time, soon confirmed that his son was “not doing well.” Within just a few hours, the sad news came that shocked the world – Jackson had died of a heart attack. He was just 50 years old.

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