Highs and lows of Michael Jackson

Pop star Michael Jackson was phenomenally talented. But for all the highs in his life — fans, Grammys, money and accolades — he also experienced serious lows before his untimely death at 50. Here, a look at some of the most famous (and infamous) Michael Jackson moments.

A family act
Hailing from humble Gary, Indiana, the Jackson 5, led by 11-year-old Michael, became nothing less than a pop phenomenon in the 1970s. Their first four singles were all No. 1 hits.  Here, they perform "I Want You Back" — with a hint of Michael's signature dance moves already on display— on their "Goin Back to Indiana" special, which includes an intro from Bill Cosby.

Moonwalks and white gloves
Michael Jackson's 1983 appearance at "Motown 25" cemented his status as a pop icon. He sang Billie Jean and debuted both his glittered glove — left hand only — and the moonwalk. The singer's fashion style and signature dance moves were soon copied by kids across America and the globe.

"Thriller" thrills
The 1983 video of "Thriller," which runs nearly 14 minutes, has been hailed by many as a masterpiece. Directed by filmmaker John Landis, the video helped the album of the same name become one of the best-selling of all time. Watch the original here or see one of the famous remakes, performed by inmates in a Filipino prison.

Infamous Pepsi ad
In 1984, Michael Jackson suffered serious burns to his head after his hair caught on fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial. Sparks from fireworks that were going off behind the singer caused the freak accident. The singer recovered from second-degree burns, and the series of commercials that he filmed with his brothers became instant hits.

Bubbles and hyperbaric chambers
No one could get enough of Jackson's antics, ultimately leading to the nickname, "Wacko Jacko." A reporter from The National Enquirer said Jackson's publicist gave them the infamous photo of the star lying in a hyperbaric chamber, with the condition that they had to use the word "bizarre" to describe it. And then there was Bubbles, Jackson's pet chimpanzee. The chimp slept in Jackson's bedroom and could even moonwalk. Bubbles became a media darling during numerous photo ops, and here, accompanying the singer on a trip to Japan.

Kiss seen 'round the world
The King of Pop's marriage to the King of Rock 'n Roll's only daughter stunned the world. But Michael Jackson's awkward kiss with Lisa Marie Presley at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards was even more shocking. Jackson's on-stage proclamation, "and just think, nobody thought this would last," turned out to be somewhat prescient: The couple divorced two years later.

Baby-dangling incident
In one of Jackson's most notorious moments, he dangled his youngest child, Prince Michael Jackson II, who he called Blanket, over the balcony of a Berlin hotel to show him to screaming fans below. In what became a trademark for the Jackson children, the baby's face was covered with a towel. The 2002 incident further damaged the singer's reputation as some advocates called for the children to be removed from his care.

"Living With Michael Jackson"
Journalist Martin Bashir's 2003 TV special, "Living With Michael Jackson" proved to be a turning point in the singer's life. Jackson granted Bashir unprecedented access — and eight months to film. Strange footage of Jackson climbing trees and going on lavish spending sprees in Las Vegas were overshadowed by the shocking admission that he allowed children to sleep in his bed. The video led to an investigation and criminal charges, for which Jackson was ultimately acquitted. Jackson said of the interview: "Today I feel more betrayed than perhaps ever before."

Pajama-clad court appearance
By 2005, it had become routine to see Jackson walking around with his face covered and carrying an umbrella. But his strange appearance at a Santa Barbara courthouse to face molestation charges was perhaps the most unsettling. Jackson showed up late to court, wearing pajamas and appearing extremely frail. Fans surrounding him chanted "Innocent!" and "Fight, Michael, fight!"

-Sarah Parsons

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