Trivia

Has a stunning amount in common with Yoko Ono, John Lennon's widow. Both women were raised in extremely wealthy environments. Both shunned relying on this wealth and attempted to make it on their own (McCartney as a photographer, Ono as an actress and artist), only to later be accused of marrying their husbands for their money despite their families' wealth. Both attended Sarah Lawrence College (at different times) and left without finishing degrees. Both married a frontman for the Beatles, and these weddings took place eight days apart in March 1969 (the McCartneys were first). Both women were pregnant at their weddings (Ono later suffered a miscarriage, McCartney later gave birth to Mary McCartney). Both had a daughter from a previous marriage. Both had mentally unstable former husbands (Ono's later kidnapped their daughter and took her to a fundamentalist Christian commune; McCartney's committed suicide in 2000). Both were accused of playing a major role in the Beatles' breakup. Both suffered personal attacks by fans and by the press. Both suffered attacks on their musical talent (particularly vocal) by fans and the press. Both were older than their husbands. Both were activists.

Actually found John Lennon the most appealing of the Beatles, when they first came on the scene, but liked Paul better in person after they'd met. (She and John got along adequately in private, but took occasional barbs at each other and their spouses, in the media.)

Her oldest daughter Heather McCartney was adopted by her second husband Paul McCartney in 1969.

Oscar and Grammy nominee for co-writing the theme song of Live and Let Die (1973) with her husband.

Took a lot of flak for her ability (or lack thereof) on keyboards; she played along with husband Paul McCartney's bands because he wanted her there, as with John Lennon's making Yoko Ono his musical partner. A late starter, taught mostly by Paul, Linda knew her limitations on keyboards; before going back on the road in the 1990s, she took a winter off to build up her chops. Nonetheless, in her own words, "there's high-schoolers who could do better".

Diagnoised with breast cancer in December 1995. She lost her battle with the disease on April 17, 1998 at the McCartney Family Ranch in Tucson, Arizona. Her husband Paul McCartney and their four children were at her bedside.

Grandmother of 6 grandsons and 2 granddaughters: Arthur (born April 7, 1999), Elliot (born August 1, 2002), Miller (born February 25, 2005), Bailey (born December 8, 2006), Beckett (born January 8, 2008), Sam (born August 1, 2008), Riley (born November 23, 2010) and Sid (born September 4, 2011).

She was in the audience for the 1965 Beatles' concert at Shea Stadium (known as Linda Eastman).

After her death, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) created the Linda McCartney Memorial Award in her honor.

Occasionally hinted that she was related to the Eastmans of Eastman-Kodak fame, but her photography career was coincidental. Her father Lee Eastman and brother John Eastman were New York show-business attorneys... and her father changed the family name from its original Epstein. (This wasn't lost for a moment on John Lennon or Allen Klein, who marvelled at the exchange of the late Brian Epstein for another would-be manager of the same name.)

Her mother Louise died in a plane crash when she was 20 years old.

A dedicated vegetarian who founded her own successful range of frozen veggie food in the early 1990s.

Her line of vegetarian foods made her independently wealthy, in the years before her death.

In the early 1960s, singers Jan Berry and Dean Torrence, aka Jan and Dean, had a hit song with "Linda". The song was actually written in 1944 by Jack Lawrence, and was about a friend's two-year-old daughter. Linda--who at the time was Linda Eastman--was that daughter.

A top photographer whose pictures of rock stars in the 1960s led to her meeting her future husband, Paul McCartney (Sir Paul from 1997).

For her photographic pursuits, Linda's choice of camera was the Nikon Photomic SLR "F" series.

Three children with Paul McCartney: photographer Mary McCartney (Donald), top fashion designer Stella McCartney and musician/sculptor James McCartney.

Divorced her first husband and biological father of daughter Heather McCartney, John Melvin See Jr., after he wanted to move to Africa and take his family with him.

Daughter from her first marriage, pottery designer Heather McCartney.

Mother of fashion designer Stella McCartney, who for five years was the head designer for the French haute couture house of Chloe and now designs for her own highly successful label.

Grandmother of five boys and one girl, all born after her death: Mary McCartney's three sons Arthur Alistair Donald (b. 3 April 1999) and Elliot Donald (b. 1 August 2002), and Sam Aboud (b. 11 August 2008) and Stella McCartney's two sons Miller Alasdhair James Willis (b. 25 Feburary 2005), and Beckett Robert Lee (b. 8 January 2008), and daughter Bailey Linda Olwyn Willis (b. 8 December 2006).

Along with Paul McCartney and Denny Laine, performed with the group Wings through the 1970s.

Was a devoted animal rights activist and vegetarian.

She was the only photographer invited to an outing with The Rolling Stones, and she boasted Eric Clapton as a sometime babysitter for daughter Heather McCartney.

Born in New York City but raised primarly in Scarsdale, New York.

Attended Sarah Lawrence College for a short time, a few years after Yoko Ono.

Is portrayed by Elizabeth Mitchell in The Linda McCartney Story (2000).

First female photographer to shoot a cover for Jan Wenner's Rolling Stone magazine with her portrait of Eric Clapton for the May 1968 issue.

Flirted with girl-group singing with school friends in the late 1950s, but didn't make anything of it.

The 200th episode of The Simpsons (1989), "Trash of the Titans", was dedicated to her memory.

Dated Warren Beatty.

Attended the University of Arizona where she met her first husband John Melvin See Jr. She was studying art history.

Has three siblings John, Laura and Louise.

Mother-in-law of producer Alistair Donald and publisher Alasdhair Willis.