Luciano Pavarotti

While he definitely ranked among the greatest opera tenors who ever lived, it was Luciano Pavarotti's frequent performances on television that helped make him recognizable even to non-music buffs. Indeed, for roughly four decades, he appeared regularly on televised operas or charity concerts and as a guest on various talk shows. There were three series in particular which his name became closely associated with: "The Metropolitan Opera Presents," "Live from Lincoln Center," and "Great Performances," all of which aired on PBS. His appearances on the first two programs took place from the late '70s to the mid '80s, and included a televised version of "La Bohème" in which he played the main character, Rodolfo.

As for "Great Performances," he headlined several episodes that aired during the '90s, most notably 1998's "Pavarotti & Friends for the Children of Liberia," which featured his 1993 charity concert in New York City's Central Park. While his big-screen acting career was mixed--he received a Razzie nomination for 1982's failed romantic comedy "Yes, Giorgio," but positive notes for a filmed version of "Rigoletto" in the same year--his renditions of classic Italian operas and arias have found their way into plenty of films.