Ed Wood

Fought in the Battle of Tarawa with the Marines, where he was wounded. He later said his greatest fear was being killed and having the Marines discover he was wearing a bra and panties under his uniform.

Directed Glen or Glenda, a semi-autobiographical film about cross-dressing starring himself. The movie featured Bela Lugosi, stock footage of stampeding buffalo, and no discernible plot structure.

Made Plan 9 from Outer Space. Bela Lugosi died during production. Wood used a chiropractor as a stand-in who held a cape over his face. Cardboard tombstones. Visible boom mics. It became legendary.

Died broke at 54 of a heart attack in a friend's apartment in Hollywood. He'd spent his last years writing pulp novels and pornographic screenplays. Never knew he'd be called the worst director ever, or that Tim Burton would make a loving biopic about him.