MariNisia

Barbara Babcock, the accomplished American actress, one of the best character actresses of her generation, probably remembered for playing Liz Craig on "Dallas", the sensuous Grace Gardner on "Hill Street Blues", and Dorothy Jennings on "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman", is 86 today. In 2004, Barbara Babcock retired from acting after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Grant Show, the attractive American actor, whose first major work was on the daytime soap opera "Ryan's Hope", who's well known for his portrayal of motorcycle-loving Jake Hanson on the 1990s primetime soap opera "Melrose Place", is 61 today.

Dante Ferretti, the renowned Italian art director, and costume and production designer for films, winner of three Academy Awards for "The Aviator", "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street", and "Hugo", is 80 today. Ferretti, a long-time collaborator of Federico Fellini, Pier Paolo Pasolini and Martin Scorsese, has also won four BAFTA Awards. Tina Sáinz, the excellent and talented Spanish film, stage and television actress, who began her brilliant acting career on stage when she was 16, a versatile actress and a wonderful person who's one of the greatest stage actresses of her generation, is 78 today.

Congratulations, @arghton!  1923 Yuriko, Princess Mikasa / Bob Barker 1924 Joyce Randolph / Sheldon Harnick 1925 Ruth Slenczynska / Marv Levy 1926 Gudrun Ure / Lawrence Turman 1927 Barbara Rush / Harry Belafonte 1928 Line Renaud / Zhu Rongji 1929 Joan Plowright / Don January 1930 Sandra Day O'Connor / Thomas Patten Stafford 1931 Alice Munro / Willie Mays 1932 Elaine May / Joseph Zen

Diane Baker, American character actress, educator, and producer, who started her interesting acting career in the late 1950s, whose first noted film was the masterpiece "The Diary of Anne Frank", an actress with magnificent performances in such big screen successes as "Journey to the Center of the Earth", "Stolen Hours", "The Prize" (maybe her best work), "Marnie", and "The Silence of the Lambs", is 85 today. Richard Morgan Fliehr, known professionally as Ric Flair, the legendary American professional wrestler, the famous "Nature Boy", whose career has earned him a spot as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, is 74 today.

Edward James Olmos, Mexican-American activist, actor, and director, who started his acting career in the late 1960s and the early 1970s, probably remembered for his famous roles as Lieutenant Martin Castillo on the hugely successful television series "Miami Vice", and as the Admiral William Adama on the SYFY television series "Battlestar Galactica", is 76 today. Alain Prost, the intelligent French racing driver, one of the greatest Formula One World Champions with 4 World Titles, 1985, 1986, 1989, and 1993, who began karting at the age of 14, remembered for his competitive rivalry with Ayrton Senna, who was nicknamed 'The Calculator' for his smooth driving style, and 'The Professor' for his cerebral approach to racing, is 68 today.

I'm in a very generous mood today, as you can see.

Hans Herrmann, the impressive and exceptionally versatile motor racing driver, one of the most successful racing drivers of all time and one of the few remaining witnesses of his era, whose motorsports career lasted from 1952 to 1970, best remembered as a fantastic long-distance specialist, who was kidnapped once in the 1990s, and was born in Stuttgart, Germany, is 95 today. Linda Nolan, the famous and phenomenal Irish actress, singer, and television personality, who started her professional singing career in the 1970s, who originally made her name and found fame as part of family singing group "The Nolans", whose solo career began in 1983, a widely recognised face who is no stranger to being on the television, is 64 today.

Thomas Dean "Tommy" Aaron, American former professional golfer, who began playing golf at age 12, widely known as the first native Georgian to win the Masters Tournament, his first and only major championship title, which he captured in 1973, is 86 today. Julie Walters, the exceptional actress, author and comedian, one of Britain's finest actresses of her generation, who started her acting career in the early 1970s, widely known for a large number of hit films, including "Educating Rita" (her notable big screen debut), "Billy Elliot", "Mamma Mia!", and the Harry Potter film franchise, who was born in Smethwick, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, is 73 today.

Congratulations, @Summer in Transylvania! 1923 Yuriko, Princess Mikasa / Bob Barker 1924 Joyce Randolph / Sheldon Harnick 1925 Ruth Slenczynska / Marv Levy 1926 Gudrun Ure / Lawrence Turman 1927 Barbara Rush / Harry Belafonte 1928 Line Renaud / Zhu Rongji 1929 Joan Plowright / Don January 1930 Sandra Day O'Connor / Thomas Patten Stafford 1931 Alice Munro / Willie Mays 1932 Elaine May / Joseph Zen

Kelsey Grammer, the extraordinary American actor, who began his versatile acting career in the early 1980s, well known for his long-running role as Dr. Frasier Crane on the successful sitcoms "Cheers" and "Frasier", and as the voice of the evil Sideshow Bob, Bart's great enemy, on the show "The Simpsons", is 68 today. Mimi Kuzyk, the splendid Canadian actress, primarily a television actress with appearances in numerous telefilms and television series, who began her professional acting career in the mid-1970s, best known for her notable role as Detective Patsy Mayo on NBC's police drama "Hill Street Blues", is 71 today.

Brenda Blethyn, the excellent film, stage, and television actress, who made her television debut in 1980, whose first film was "The Witches" (1990), who won a BAFTA for her role in "Secrets & Lies" (1996), and was born in Ramsgate, Kent, is 77 today. Sandy Duncan, the phenomenal American actress, comedian, dancer, singer, and voice artist, who began her versatile career at age 12, whose first television work was in the soap opera "Search for Tomorrow", well known for her excellent performance in the Broadway revival of "Peter Pan", and whose first credited film role was in Disney's "The Million Dollar Duck" (1971), is 77 today.

Kathleen Beller, American actress, primarily a television actress, who began her acting career appearing in commercials as a child and adolescent, best known for her role as Kirby Anders, the daughter of Blake Carrington's majordomo, Joseph Anders, on the prime time soap opera "Dynasty", is 67 today. Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel, known professionally as Seal, the splendid R&B and soul singer and songwriter of Brazilian and Nigerian ancestry, widely known for his numerous hits, who has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, and was born in Paddington, London, is 60 today.

Len Deighton, the excellent author, one of the top spy novelists of his time, who began his career in the early 1960s, writer of "The Ipcress File" (his first spy novel, published in 1962), "Funeral in Berlin", "An Expensive Place to Die", "Bomber", and many other books, who was born in Marylebone, a popular district of London due to its proximity to some of London's most famous streets, is 94 today. Cybill Shepherd, the attractive American actress, ex-model, and singer, best known for extraordinary films of the 1970s, including "The Last Picture Show" (her film debut), "The Heartbreak Kid", "Daisy Miller", and "Taxi Driver", who won over a new legion of admirers with the successful television series "Moonlighting", is 73 today.

Congratulations, @Gooseberry Crumble. You're in great shape and you don't want to miss a minute, this is your year.

Dame Patricia Routledge, the marvellous and phenomenal actress, broadcaster, comedian, and singer, who began her versatile acting career in the early 1950s, who made her Broadway debut in 1966, a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company for many years, who's probably best known for playing Hyacinth Bucket in "Keeping Up Appearances", who was born in Tranmere, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, is 94 today. Rene Russo, the experienced American actress and ex-model, who was discovered by John Crosby, a famous manager, at a concert when she was 17, and began her career as a memorable fashion model, appearing on the covers of Cosmopolitan and Vogue, whose filmography includes "In the Line of Fire", "Outbreak", "Tin Cup", "Ransom", "The Thomas Crown Affair", and "Nightcrawler", to name a few, is 69 today.

William Katt, American film, stage, and television actor, musician, and voice artist, the son of actor Bill Williams and actress Barbara Hale, who first became known for playing Tommy Ross in Brian De Palma's "Carrie" (1976), and remembered for his funny and best-known work as the star on the television series "The Greatest American Hero", created by Stephen J. Cannell, is 72 today. Andrew Arthur "Andy" Taylor, the excellent guitarist, record producer, singer and songwriter, widely known as a former member of both Duran Duran and The Power Station, who was born in Cullercoats, North Tyneside, situated on the coast between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay, is 62 today.

Claire Bloom, the acclaimed and photogenic film, radio, stage and television actress, who made her professional debut on the BBC radio when she was 15, who took her first curtain call with the Oxford Repertory Theatre in 1946, whose first film was the drama "The Blind Goddess" in 1948, who was chosen by Charles Chaplin to appear in his film "Limelight" (1952), and was born in the North London suburb of Finchley, is 92 today. Matt Groening, the excellent American animator, cartoonist, producer, and screenwriter, one of animation's most successful artists with a personal drawing style, well known for the comic strip "Life in Hell", and the television series "The Simpsons", "Futurama" and "Disenchantment", is 69 today.

Kevin Keegan, the extraordinary and famous footballer, one of the greatest players in English football history, and manager, who started his playing career at Scunthorpe in 1968, before Bill Shankly signed him for Liverpool, who was born in Armthorpe, Yorkshire, England, is 72 today. Mayra Gómez Kemp, the marvellous and well-respected Cuban-Spanish actress, singer and television presenter, a consummate professional who's one of the biggest legends on Spanish television of all time, who participated in the Spanish production of the excellent musical "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", a member of the successful group "Acuario", making her mark as an exceptional television presenter, is 75 today. In 2009, Mayra Gómez Kemp had an aggressive tongue cancer that limited her ability to speak clearly. After her battle, Mayra has gone through the process of learning to speak again. Mayra Gómez Kemp is a throat cancer survivor, too.

Stockard Channing, the brilliant American film, stage and television actress, who began her acting career on stage, who made her big screen debut with an uncredited role in Arthur Hiller's "The Hospital" (1971), and widely known for playing Betty Rizzo in the hit musical film "Grease" (1978), and First Lady Abbey Bartlet on NBC's exceptional drama "The West Wing", is 79 today. Mena Suvari, American activist, actress, fashion designer, model (for Lancôme cosmetics or magazines such as Vogue), and producer, whose first major film roles were in "American Beauty", and "American Pie" (both released in 1999), is 44 today.

Maud Adams, the elegant actress and ex-model who travelled the world working for Eileen Ford, whose film career started with an uncredited work in the film "The Boys in the Band" (1970), widely known for her performance as Andrea Anders in "The Man with the Golden Gun" (1974), and as the title role in "Octopussy" (1983), her second appearance in a James Bond film, who was born in Luleå, Sweden, is 78 today. Josh Brolin, the famed film and television actor, who discovered his interest in acting during his high school years, whose first big screen work was as Brand Walsh in the hit film "The Goonies", who was born in Santa Monica, California, is 55 today.

Tina Louise, the phenomenal American film, stage and television actress, who began her sensational career on stage during the mid-1950s, whose first film was "God's Little Acre" (1958), and widely known for her role as the sexy Ginger Grant on the popular sitcom "Gilligan's Island", is 89 today. Dennis Skinner, the astute and renowned Labour Party politician, the famed 'Beast of Bolsover', one of the best-known politicians of his generation, remembered for his acerbic style, who was born in Clay Cross, Derbyshire, England, is 91 today.

I think Burt Bacharach would have been a good choice for you, @Bibliogryphon. Joss Ackland, your candidate with the same year of birth than Bacharach, is a duplicate pick. I'm sorry... Unfortunately, I found out too late:

Leontyne Price, the excellent and phenomenal soprano, one of the greatest operatic singers of the twentieth century, remembered for her splendid career at the Metropolitan Opera, winner of two Emmys and numerous Grammys, who was born in Laurel, Mississippi, is 96 today. Robert Wagner, the legendary American film, stage and television actor, a sensational professional with an impressive list of stupendous films and hundreds of television appearances, who began his prolific film career with an uncredited role in William A. Wellman's "The Happy Years" (1950), is 93 today.

Mia Farrow, the famous American actress, the daughter of the director John Farrow and the actress Maureen O'Sullivan, well known for great films, such as "Rosemary's Baby", "The Great Gatsby", and "Hannah and Her Sisters", is 78 today. Rose Leslie, the attractive Scottish actress, who started her television acting career in 2008, whose first credited film appearance was in the drama "Now Is Good" (2012), and best known for her performances as Gwen Dawson in "Downton Abbey", Ygritte in HBO's worldwide smash hit "Game of Thrones", and Maia Rindell on the legal drama "The Good Fight", is 36 today.

Henry Czerny, Canadian film, stage, and television actor, who started his career on stage, whose first breakout work was in the Canadian television film "The Boys of St. Vincent", for which he won several awards, widely known for his supporting roles in films, such as "Clear and Present Danger", "Mission: Impossible", "The Exorcism of Emily Rose", and as Conrad Grayson on the ABC primetime drama "Revenge", is 64 today. John Grisham, the stupendous American novelist of numerous bestsellers, which have been translated into nearly fifty languages, such as "A Time to Kill", "The Firm", "The Pelican Brief", and "The Runaway Jury", all of which were turned into hit films, is 68 today.