Mickey Mouse (1928- ) One of America’s most recognizable movie stars, Mickey Mouse made his screen debut in the fi rst sound cartoon, Steamboat Willie. The cartoonist Walt Disney had conceived Mickey, the mouse that laid the foundation for an entertainment empire, on a cross-country train. Mickey’s antics quickly proved popular all over the world in hundreds of cartoons and the animated feature fi lm Fantasia. The irascible Donald Duck and the bumbling Goofy came later, but Mickey was the fi rst in a long line from Disney.

Tiger Woods (1975- ) Eldrick (Tiger) Woods, widely acknowledged as the greatest professional golfer in recent years, is the son of a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, and his wife, a native of Thailand. He was nicknamed “Tiger” as a child after a Vietnamese soldier and friend of his late father. Woods played in his fi rst professional tournament at 16. With his second Masters tournament victory in 2001, he became the fi rst golfer ever to hold all four professional major championships at the same time.
 
Steven Jobs (1955- ) The chief executive of Apple Computers and Pixar Animation Studios grew up in California and attended college only briefl y. With his friend, Steve Wozniak, he founded Apple Computers in 1976. In 1986 Jobs left the company and struck out on his own, but Apple bought his new company in 1996. With the success of Apple’s iPod portable music player, and smash movie hits from Pixar Studios like Toy Story, his place in history as an innovative businessman is certain.

Wynton Marsalis (1961- ) The most famous jazz musician of his generation, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis grew up in New Orleans. He moved to New York City to attend the Juilliard School of Music in 1978 and began playing gigs in the city. Next, he toured with drummer Art Blakey’s seminal small group. Now, as director of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Marsalis travels the world playing and composing. “Marsalis,” writes critic Stanley Crouch, “truly loves to communicate the essences of music to his fellow musicians and his audiences.”

Michelle Kwan (1980- ) Perhaps no other fi gure skater is better known than fi ve-time World Figure Skating Champion and nine-time U.S. national champion Michelle Kwan. The California native (her parents are Chinese by birth) has been skating since age fi ve. Kwan’s daring leaps and fl owing artistry in short and long programs have won devoted fans. However, one title continues to elude her, the Olympic gold medal. Although she holds bronze and silver medals, injuries forced her to withdraw from the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.