Ask Mr. Know It All

Q. Is Minnesota Fats, the pool hustler, still alive?

A.L., Altoona, Pa.

A. Rudolf Wanderone Jr. was a pool player known as Minnesota Fats, after the character in the 1961 movie “The Hustler,” which he claimed was based on him. During the filming of the movie, World Champion Willie Mosconi served as a technical adviser. During an interview, he stated the character of Minnesota Fats was based on Wanderone. Wanderone quickly picked up on this and parlayed it into an excellent future, including writing a book and performing in exhibitions. The author of the novel “The Hustler,” Walter Tevis, denied this claim for the rest of his life.

Wanderone died Jan. 18, 1996, at age 82, the day before his 83rd birthday.

Q. Who is the creator of Uncle Sam?

R.E., Yazoo City, Miss.

A. Uncle Sam is based on two earlier iconic figures, Brother Jonathan and Yankee Doodle. Sam’s creation is usually attributed to a Troy, N.Y., businessman, Sam Wilson, during the War of 1812. The meat he supplied to the government was stamped “U.S.” — to stand for United States — but many soldiers said the meat came from “Uncle Sam.” The name soon became synonymous with the United States.

While working with Harper Publishing Company in New York City in the 1870s, Thomas Nast popularized the modern image of Uncle Sam. Nast is considered to be one of the greatest American political cartoonists. Along with the image of Uncle Sam, he is credited with creating the popular image of Santa Claus and the Democrat and Republican symbols of a donkey and an elephant.

Q. This year, Easter was April 20. What is the earliest and latest it can fall?

I.S., Laughlin, Nev.

A. The earliest Easter was March 22, 1818; the latest Easter was April 25, 1943. The Council of Nicaea established Easter dating protocol, called computus, in 325 A.D.

Q. What can you tell me about Rory Feek? He is in the group Joey+Rory. What happened to his first wife? They had children, I think; what happened to them?

J.A.K., Branch, Ark.

A. Rory Lee Feek is a country singer and songwriter. He and his wife, Joey Martin Feek, make up the duo Joey+Rory. There is next to no information available about Feek’s former wife. According to reports I read, he raised his daughters as a single dad. Joey Feek gave birth to the couple’s first child, Indiana, on Feb. 17, 2014.

Joey+Rory came in third place on the 2008 CMT show “Can You Duet.” The pair won the Academy of Country Music Awards top new vocal duo in 2010.

Q. Who is the voice of Ms. Brown in the M&M commercials?

T.B., Bartonville, Ill.

A. Ms. Brown is voiced by Vanessa Williams, the television, film, Broadway and music superstar.

Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at AskMrKIA@gmail.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

2014 Gary Clothier