-Civil rights activist and comedian Dick Gregory, shown in a 1997 photo, was honored Monday, Oct. 9, 2000, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. Gregory in the 1960s was an overweight, chain-smoking standup act who helped open doors for black entertainers. But after achieving success, he shifted gears and used his talents to help causes he believed in. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)