• March 15, 1999

25 Legends of the Past 25 Years

PEOPLE Presents a Mix and Match of Hollywood's Greatest in Film, TV and Music for It's Anniversary Issue

• 
• 

From PEOPLE Magazine

PEOPLE'S 25 Legends—selected to celebrate our 25th year—are as diverse as the two Fords who make the list: Harrison, the classic box office hero; and Betty; the former First Lady who cracked taboos by talking candidly about her battles with breast cancer and alcohol. Princess Diana was the singular sensation of a generation; Superman's Christopher Reeve suffered a paralyzing injury and went on to give a lesson in grace. PEOPLE readers watched Brooke Shields grow up and let late Muppet creator Jim Henson help raise their children. Bill Cosby who suffered the loss his own son, served as a TV the to fatherhood, and Jerry Seinfeld became, through TV, the Universal Pal. Other totems that belong—but could never be contained—in a time capsule? Tom Cruise's smile; Oprah's candor; Michael Jordan's artistry; and Jodie Foster's uncommon sense. Through it all, many—not all, but many—of the famous kept a sense of proportion. "I told my kids this morning, 'I'm gonna be a legend today,' " says Goldie Hawn. "Of course, they just wanted to know what's for breakfast."