Six Degrees of Chaucer
We connect authors, celebrities, actors, etc. to the late great Geoffrey Chaucer. Because we can. And we are bored English majors.
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The Ramones starred in the movie Rock n Roll High School. Clint Howard was Eaglebauer in Rock n Roll High School, and he was the voice of the elephant in the Jungle Book. Phil Harris was the voice of Baloo in the Jungle Book and narrated Rock-A-Doodle, an animated movie based on the children’s book Chanticleer and the Fox. Barbara Cooney wrote the book based on the Nun’s Priest’s Tale. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the Nun’s Priest’s Tale.
Degrees: 6
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Sylvia Plath married Ted Hughes. Ted Hughes wrote a poem entitled “Chaucer” that quoted the General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. Chaucer wrote the General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales.
Degrees: 3
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Minor Threat’s lead vocalist was Ian MacKaye. Ian MacKaye was featured in the documentary “American Hardcore” along with Duff McKagan. Duff McKagan was also featured in the television documentary “Guns N’ Roses: The Story.” Flying Chaucer Production produced the documentary, and was named after good ol’ Geoffrey himself.
Degrees: 5
(Source: files.nyu.edu)
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Alfred Hitchcock directed the T.V. Series “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” in which Torin Thatcher acted. Torin Thatcher was also in the movie “The Deadly Riddle” which based upon Wife of Bath’s Tale from the Canterbury Tales, which was written by Geoffrey Chaucer.
Degrees: 4
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In honor of Poly Styrene:
Poly Styrene was in X-Ray Spex and sung Oh Bondage! Up Yours!, Oh Bondage! Up Yours! was used in the soundtrack of Sid and Nancy, Gary Oldman was Sid in Sid and Nancy and also Gordon in The Dark Knight, Heath Ledger was the Joker in the Dark Knight and was in A Knight’s Tale, A Knight’s Tale was based off of the Knight’s Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer.
Degrees:6
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Ice Cube was in Boyz n the Hood with Laurence Fishburne, who was in the Matrix with Keanu Reeves, who was in the Day the Earth Stood Still directed by Scott Derrick, who is directing the Hyperion Cantos movie, which is based on a series of books by Dan Simmons, which is based off of the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.
Degrees: 6
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Magnum P.I. was a TV show that Miguel Ferrer guest-starred on, Miguel Ferrer also guest-starred on 3 episodes of Tales from the Crypt. Imedla Staunton guest-starred in another episode of Tales from the Crypt, and was The Prioress in a Canterbury Tales miniseries. The Canterbury Tales were written by Geoffrey Chaucer.
Degrees: 5
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Meg Ryan was in the movie “You’ve Got Mail” with actor Steve Zahn, who was also in the movie “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules.” The song “Memory” that is featured on that movie’s soundtrack is written by T.S. Eliot who also wrote and edited the movie “Murder in the Cathedral” which is based upon the life of Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Beckett. The pilgrims are making their trip to visit the shrine of Thomas Beckett in “The Canterbury Tales” written by Geoffrey Chaucer.
Degrees: 5
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Harry Potter is a fictional character in the Harry Potter books, which were made into a series of movies including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, starring Julie Walters as Mrs. Weasley. Julie Walters was in a BBC adaptation of the Canterbury Tales, which were written by Geoffrey Chaucer.
Degrees: 4
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Joseph Gordon-Levitt was in the movie 500 Days of Summer. His character, Tom, loved the band The Smiths. Director Derek Jarman directed a few music videos for The Smiths. He also directed a film called Richard II. In real life, Richard II was the father of John Of Gaunt, who was a personal friend of Geoffrey Chaucer.
Degrees: 6
