Business & Money

Known as: A rock guitarist

Then: A movie mogul

The quiet Beatle led an even quieter life after the Beatles dissolved in 1970. By 1979 his once phenomenally strong solo career was flagging somewhat and Harrison's interests lay elsewhere. He founded Handmade Films with Dennis O'Brien in order to back 'Monty Python's Life of Brian' film whose budget was denied by EMI over grounds that it would be blasphemy.

Handmade Films was thus run by a man who loved movies, took risks and had plenty of money. This very important British company produced risky films that may not have otherwise been made, including 'The Long Good Friday', 'Time Bandits' and 'Withnail and I'. Fellow Beatle Ringo Starr also enjoyed a career outside of music as a voiceover artist, beginning with his work on the first two seasons of 'Thomas the Tank Engine' in the 1980s.