50 facts about Michael Jackson that made him a legend

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-06-27 17:06

- Lisa Marie Presley's former brother-in-law and his wife were the witnesses at her Dominican Republic wedding to Jackson in 1994.

- Jackson shares the record for the most Grammy Awards won in one year with Carlos Santana and Norah Jones - they each won eight.

- Jackson co-wrote charity anthem We Are The World with Lionel Richie.

- Jackson was godfather to Nicole Richie, Bee Gees star Barry Gibb's son Michael.

- Jackson and brother Tito were best men at Liza Minnelli and David Gest's wedding.

- Jackson's performance during the 1993 SuperBowl half-time show drew the largest TV audience in American history.

- The directors of Jackson's videos have included Martin Scorsese, John Singleton and John Landis.

- In 1999 Jackson paid $1.5 million for the 1939 Best Picture Oscar, which was presented to producer David O. Selznick for Gone With The Wind.

- Jackson appeared on a postage stamp in the Virgin Islands in the mid-1980s after locals voted him the superstar they'd most like to honor.

- An extensive 1997 survey declared Jackson was the Most Famous Person in the World.

- Jackson helped plan neighbor Gregory Peck's funeral.

- Jackson once described close friend Elizabeth Taylor as "a warm cuddly blanket that I love to snuggle up to and cover myself with".

- Jackson provided a voiceover on The Simpsons - but it remained a secret for 12 years. He voiced a character in a mental institution in the Stark Raving Dad episode, which aired in 1991, but, because of a contractual problem, Jackson had to be credited as John Jay Smith. His contribution to the classic cartoon series remained a rumor among fans until The Simpsons creator Matt Groening.confirmed it really was Jackson when the episode was released on DVD in 2003.

- Jackson shares the same birthday as U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain. Other celebrities who share Jackson's birthday include moviemakers Sir Richard Attenborough and William Friedkin, and actresses Rebecca DeMornay and Carla Gugino.

- Jackson's comeback plans were scuppered by an online poll a year ago - before he announced plans to take over the 02 Arena in London for 50 shows - 71 per cent of 59,000 people voting on website PopEater.com answered `Not a chance' to the question 'Can the King of Pop make a comeback?

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