On the cusp of history

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Q: Whatever happened to Rosey Grier, the former outstanding NFL player? I know he assisted Robert Kennedy the night he was shot. — I.V., Torrance, Calif.

A: Roosevelt “Rosey” Grier (1932-) is an actor, singer, Christian minister, author and former football player. The New York Giants drafted the defensive lineman out of Penn State in 1955; he was traded in 1962 to the Los Angeles Rams, where he became part of the Fearsome Foursome (along with Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen and Lamar Lundy).

After a career-ending injury in 1967, he became a bodyguard for Ethel Kennedy during the 1968 presidential campaign. He subdued Kennedy’s assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, after the shooting. Grier appeared in several movies and many TV shows. He has written many books and travels the United States as an inspirational speaker. He is also co-founder of several nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping inner-city youths and to developing housing in blighted areas.

Q: Tom Hanks has a son who is an actor. What’s his name? How old is he? — J.O., Redondo Beach, Calif.

A: Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes (Susan Jane Dillingham) were married in 1977 and had two children: Colin Lewes Dillingham, born on Nov. 24, 1977, and Elizabeth Hanks, born in May 1982. Tom and Samantha divorced in 1987; she died of cancer in 2002. Colin later changed his last name to his father’s. Colin Hanks has appeared in more than two-dozen TV shows or movies. He has two films in postproduction scheduled for a 2010 release.

Q: Last night, my 4-year-old daughter asked me, “Who is Bobby?” She insisted I was talking about him that morning. Turns out I was talking about bobby pins. Now I’m curious: Who is bobby? — F.L., Lynn, Mass.

A: Ah, the mind of a 4-year-old; young children are the source of many questions in the column. The “bobby pin” came into wide use as the hairstyle known as the “bob cut” took hold. This trend caught a wave in the 1920s, and bobby pins kept the bobbed hair in place.

Q: Not long ago, you answered a question about a candy bar named Seven Up. You said it was so named because it had seven connected pieces, each with a different center. How did the 7 Up soft drink get its name? — M.W., Flagstaff, Ariz.

A: There are many possibilities. A popular story is that a cattle brand with the No. 7 and the letter u inspired the beverage’s creator. Another explanation claims the soda was so named because the original moniker, Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime, had an unwieldy nature. Or it could have been named after the eponymous card game.

Q: What became of Ariel Sharon, former Israeli prime minister? — J.D., Marco Island, Fla.

A: After a long career of serving his country, Ariel Sharon was elected prime minister in 2001. In late 2005, he suffered what seemed to be a minor stroke. In January 2006, he had a more serious stroke, leaving him in a coma. The 81-year-old remains hospitalized and is not expected to recover from his illness.

Q: How come the TV series “Batman” never came out on DVD? — F.F., Brockton, Mass.

A: The “Batman” series, which aired for three seasons, from January 1966 to March 1968, starred Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin. The three seasons — all 120 episodes — are available on DVD. Check with your local retailer.

Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at AskMrKIA@gmail.com or c/o United Feature Syndicate, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016.

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