Buzz
Since the earliest days of entertainment, we have held our theater and film icons in high regard. Through newspapers, magazines, and the Internet, we are inundated with gossip and details about our celebrities, often leading us to believe we know all there is to know. Yet, there’s often more to these individuals than meets the eye or resonates in a melody.
While it’s not shocking to learn that a musician has designed a guitar or microphone to enhance their craft, or that an actress has created supportive hosiery, many stars have achieved feats far beyond their entertainment careers. A notable number of celebrities have either secured patents or accomplished remarkable feats that remain largely unknown, and here are ten such instances.
10. Hedy Lamarr—Wi-Fi
Hedy Lamarr, an Austrian actress, became a sensation during the Hollywood Golden Age in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Renowned as “the most beautiful woman in the world,” she was far more than just a glamorous figure on screen.
Amid World War II, Lamarr contributed to the development of a torpedo guidance system that laid the foundation for modern Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies. Alongside composer George Anthiel, she patented a “frequency hopping” device in 1942, which was employed during the war to thwart enemy attempts at disrupting radio-guided torpedoes.
Interestingly, neither Lamarr nor Anthiel reaped financial rewards from their revolutionary invention during their lifetimes.
9. Uri Geller—Radiation Shield
Uri Geller, an Israeli-British illusionist, magician, and psychic, gained fame for his ability to bend spoons using “mind power” on live TV. Over his 40-year career as a paranormal entertainer, he has garnered admiration from fans and skepticism from critics. Offstage, there have been persistent rumors suggesting he might be a CIA operative.
A lesser-known achievement of Geller’s is his invention of a radiation shield designed to safeguard cell phone users from potentially harmful radiation. Patented in 1998, this shield encloses the device, offering protection against the long-term effects of radiation from cell phones, walkie-talkies, and similar handheld gadgets.
8. Jamie Lee Curtis—Baby Diaper
Being the daughter of Hollywood icons Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, it’s no surprise that Jamie Lee Curtis carved out her own legendary career. She has starred in numerous movies, including the iconic Halloween series and the comedy A Fish Called Wanda alongside John Cleese.
Despite her hectic acting career, Jamie Lee Curtis managed to delve into the world of invention. In the 1980s, she patented a baby diaper designed to enhance the conventional disposable diaper. Her innovative design combined the diaper with a built-in pocket for disposable wipes, which are often used together.
Although she held the patent, Curtis chose not to license the product for sale until companies started manufacturing eco-friendly, biodegradable alternatives. The patent lapsed in 2007, but in 2016, she filed for a new patent related to disposable diapers, which remains valid until 2036.
7. Johnny Cash—Military Code Operator
Johnny Cash stands as one of the best-selling music artists of all time. The American country and blues singer and guitarist sold over 90 million records globally. His deep baritone voice, famously known as “The Man in Black,” brought him fame with timeless hits like “I Walk the Line” and “Ring of Fire.”
In the 1950s, Johnny Cash served in the US Air Force as part of the 12th Radio Squadron Mobile in Landsberg, Germany. As a military code operator, he monitored Soviet Army transmissions, requiring expertise in Morse code and fluency in Russian. Cash was the first American to intercept communications confirming the death of Soviet premier Joseph Stalin.
6. Brian May—Astrophysicist
Brian May is widely recognized as the lead guitarist and songwriter for the iconic English rock band Queen. His contributions to music include producing and performing on records that have sold hundreds of millions of copies globally, with hits like the legendary anthem “We Will Rock You.”
When Brian May joined Queen in 1971, he was pursuing a degree in astrophysics, focusing on a thesis about “zodiacal dust.” His research explored the light reflection and velocity of dust particles within the solar system.
After a hiatus of over 30 years, Brian May returned to academia and earned his PhD in 2008. Since then, he has balanced his musical career with scientific pursuits. His dual passions converged with the release of his single “New Horizons,” commemorating NASA’s spacecraft flyby of the Kupier belt object Ultima Thule.
5. Tony Bennett—Painter
Tony Bennett, the iconic American singer, rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s with his blend of pop, jazz, and big band music, maintaining his popularity over the decades. His career took off when Bob Hope discovered him during a nightclub performance and invited him to perform at New York’s Paramount Theater.
Bennett produced numerous hit records, with “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” standing out as his most iconic track. At 85, he became the oldest artist to top the Billboard charts with his 2011 album Duets II, which featured a collaboration with Amy Winehouse shortly before her passing.
Tony Bennett is renowned not only for his music but also for his artistic talent. Under his birth name, Anthony Benedetto, he has established himself as a skilled painter. His oil and watercolor works include a piece commissioned for the United Nations’ 50th anniversary. His art is featured in both private and public collections worldwide, including prestigious institutions like the Smithsonian and the National Portrait Gallery.
4. Zeppo Marx—Heart Monitor
Zeppo Marx, known as the silent “straight man” in the Marx Brothers’ slapstick comedies, played the role of balancing his brothers’ outrageous humor. Offstage, he was equally humorous. Few fans realize that after leaving the spotlight, Zeppo pursued his passion for inventing.
In 1969, Zeppo Marx co-invented a cardiac pulse rate monitor, a wrist-worn device that alerted users with sound and vibration if their heart rate exceeded a safe level. He also created the Marman clamp, widely used in aeronautics today.
3. Gary Burghoff—Fishing Equipment
Gary Burghoff, the American actor famous for playing Corporal Walter “Radar” O’Reilly in the 1970s TV series M*A*S*H, is not just the naive character he portrayed. He also has a knack for innovation and invention.
Burghoff holds two patents for “Chum Magic,” a fishing tool designed to lure fish closer to the boat. This device automatically releases chum and uses lights, along with optional artificial seaweed, to attract fish to the hook. He also invented a specialized fishing rod.
Additionally, he patented a device for lifting toilet seats, ideal for those who prefer to avoid touching public toilets.
2. Mark Twain—Bra Straps
Mark Twain, born Samuel Clemens, is often hailed as the “father of American literature.” His timeless works, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, have captivated readers for generations. Beyond his literary achievements, Twain’s financial struggles during the Civil War led him to patent several practical inventions, including the now-ubiquitous bra strap.
In 1871, Twain patented his “Improvement in Attachable and Detachable Straps for Garments,” initially designed to replace suspenders, which he disliked. The patent also covered vests, corsets, and shirts. This elastic strap, featuring buttons, was later adapted for women’s corsetry and modern bras. Twain also patented a self-pasting scrapbook and a trivia game.
1. Barbara Cartland—Gliders
Dame Barbara Cartland is renowned as the prolific English romantic novelist, often associated with her signature pink aesthetic, and as the step-grandmother of Diana, Princess of Wales. Over her career, she authored more than 700 novels, including a staggering 23 in one year, making her one of the most successful and widely read authors of the 20th century. By the time of her death in 2000, her books had sold over 750 million copies in 38 languages.
Beyond her literary accomplishments, Dame Cartland made significant contributions to early aviation, which played a crucial role in Britain’s efforts during World War II’s Normandy campaign.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Cartland was an adventurous glider pilot. Inspired by German glider stunts, she aimed to extend the duration of glider flights. Collaborating with two air force pilots, she constructed her own glider and achieved a remarkable 320-kilometer (200 mi) towed flight in 1931.
Her pioneering work led to the development of long-haul troop-carrying gliders, which were instrumental in transporting troops and supplies into France during the war.
