Name:
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr.Born:
December 24, 1905, in Houston, Texas.Died:
April 5, 1976.Family:
Howard Hughes was born to parents Howard Robard Hughes, Sr. and Allene Gano Hughes. He was married to socialite Ella Rice from 1925 to 1929, and to actress Jean Peters from 1957 to 1970. He famously dated Hollywood actresses as well, including Katherine Hepburn.Education:
Hughes attended a private school in Boston, and then the Thacher School in California, but he never graduated from high school. He later sat in on classes at Cal Tech and then enrolled at Rice University. He dropped out of Rice, however, shortly after inheriting his family's estate and tool company.Career:
Howard Hughes was a billionaire and business tycoon, and his career included many diverse ventures. He made several movies during the 1920's and 1930's, including Two Arabian Nights, Hell's Angels, Scarface and The Outlaw. Hughes formed his own aircraft company as well, designing aircrafts, contracting with the US military and personally setting speed records in aviation.OCD:
Howard Hughes reportedly had a lifelong fear of germs. This phobia may have been learned or inherited from his mother, who was also preoccupied with germs and illness. As Hughes aged, his symptoms intensified into OCD. He became increasingly reclusive and developed elaborate rituals aimed at preventing his exposure to germs. Hughes instructed his staff on washing their hands repetitively and covering their hands with paper towels before serving him food. Hughes' career and declining mental health was portrayed in the 2004 movie The Aviator.Sources: