MariNisia

Malandra Burrows, British actress and singer who is known for her long-running role on the popular soap opera "Emmerdale" from 1985 until 2001, with a brief return in 2005, is 57 today. Burrows has revealed she is suffering from stage three breast cancer after a diagnosis in February. Loretta Swit, American film, stage and television actress of Polish descent who is known for her portrayal of Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan on the television series "M*A*S*H", for which she won two Emmy Awards, is 85 today.

Valdas Adamkus, the independent Lithuanian politician, diplomat and civil engineer who served as the 5th/7th President of Lithuania from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2004 to 2009, is 96 today. Raquel del Rosario, Spanish singer and songwriter, the ex-wife of renowned Spanish Formula One racing driver Fernando Alonso, who was the lead vocalist of the pop group El Sueño de Morfeo (Morpheus' Dream), is 40 today. In 2013, she competed with her band in the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden, representing Spain. Her actual husband is the Spanish filmmaker and photographer Pedro Castro.

Patrick "Pat" Buchanan, the conservative American author, broadcaster, syndicated news columnist, political commentator and politician who was the White House Director of Communications from 1985 to 1987, is 84 today. Buchanan was also an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for President in 1992 and 1996. Dave Stockton, the formidable American professional golfer and master instructor, one of the world's finest putters in the history of the game, who won eleven PGA Tour titles, including two Championships, is 81 today. Stockton also played for the winning U.S. teams in the Ryder Cups of 1971 and 1977.

Barbara Bosson, the solid American film and television actress probably remembered for her role as Fay Furillo, Captain Furillo's estranged wife, in the 1980s television series "Hill Street Blues" from 1981 to 1986, is 83 today. Gary Player, the great South African professional golfer, one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, who won a total of 165 tournaments, including three Masters, three British Opens, and one U.S. Open, is 87 today.

My candidate is Harry Belafonte.

Dan Rather, the acclaimed and prestigious American journalist and news anchor remembered for his coverage on the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, the assassination of President Kennedy, and the Watergate scandal, is 91 today. He was the anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News for twenty-four years, the longest tenure in television history. In the course of his long career, Rather has authored or co-authored seven interesting books, too. Marcel "Marco" van Basten, the elegant and phenomenal Dutch footballer, one of the finest strikers of all time, who played for Ajax Amsterdam and A.C. Milan in the 1980s and early 1990s, is 58 today. He also made 58 appearances for his national team and scored 24 goals. Marco van Basten won three times the Golden Ball (1988, 1989 and 1992), and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1992.

Robert Caro, the acclaimed and remarkable American biographer, known for his prizewinning books of Lyndon B. Johnson and Robert Moses, who won two Pulitzer Prizes in Biography and two National Book Awards, is 87 today. Janel Parrish, American actress best known for her diabolical character of Mona Vanderwaal, who was one of the victims of Alison's cruelty, in the mystery-drama television series "Pretty Little Liars" and its spinoff "Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists", is 34 today.

13+1 = 14

Richard Dreyfuss, American film and television actor especially remembered for several films during the 1970s and 1980s that are now considered classics, "American Graffiti", "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Jaws", among others, is 75 today. Dreyfuss won an Oscar for his portrayal of a struggling actor in Mike Nichols' classic comedy "The Goodbye Girl" (1977). Kate Jackson, American actress, who began modelling at the age of 16, remembered for her leading roles in the popular television series "Charlie's Angels" and "Scarecrow and Mrs. King", is 74 today. Jackson is also a breast cancer survivor and a prominent spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. And... to @Redrumours.

Dennis Franz, the noted American actor who won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award for playing the strong Detective Andy Sipowicz on the television series "NYPD Blue" from 1993 to 2005, is 78 today. He previously appeared as Detective Sal Benedetto and Lt. Norman Buntz on "Hill Street Blues". Dennis Franz served in Vietnam with an airborne unit for 11 months. Charo López, the great and hypnotic Spanish film, stage and television actress, a force of nature who was an erotic myth in the 70s and 80s thanks to a famous scene of a female masturbation in the noted television adaptation of "Los gozos y las sombras", one of the towering works of Spanish narrative of the 20th century, is 79 today.

Lula da Silva, the controversial and popular Brazilian politician and founding member of the Brazilian Workers' Party who was the 35th president of Brazil between 2003 and 2010, is 77 today. He was born to illiterate parents who migrated to industrializing Sao Paulo. Lula da Silva did not learn to read until he was 10 years old and quit school aged 12 to work and help his family. In 2018, he began serving a 12-year prison sentence. But the Supreme Court annulled the case, citing procedural errors. Lula da Silva is also a survivor of throat cancer. Simon Le Bon, the charismatic and phenomenal British lead singer and lyricist of one of the most iconic and popular pop/rock bands of the 1980s, Duran Duran, is 64 today. The successful band sold over 70,000,000 records (albums and singles) worldwide. The best-selling album by Duran Duran is "Arena", which sold over 3,024,000 copies.

Bernadette Chirac

Lauren Tewes, American actress, who made her television debut in mid-1974 in a Lipton Ice Tea commercial, who is known for her performance of Julie McCoy on the ABC television series "The Love Boat", is 69 today. In 1984, she was replaced by Pat Klous, as Julie's younger sister, on "The Love Boat" due to her cocaine addiction. Lauren Tewes is also a cheese expert and sous-chef for a catering company. Keith Urban, New Zealand-born and Australian-raised contemporary/pop rock country music singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who was a member of the country rock trio "The Ranch", is 55 today. The accomplished guitarist has sold more than five million albums, written five number one singles. He is married to Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman. They recently celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary.

I appreciate your comment and I'm thinkin' what you're thinkin', @Gooseberry Crumble. Vera Miles and Marion Ross... I think they'd be a nice couple of hits.

Marion Ross, American film, stage and television supporting actress who is remembered for her role as Marion Cunningham on the ABC television sitcom "Happy Days" from 1974 to 1984, is 94 today. By the time she turned 13, Ross had decided to change the spelling of her first name from "Marian" to "Marion". Marion Ross was also the voice of Grandma SquarePants on the animated television series "SpongeBob SquarePants". In 2018, Marion Ross announced her retirement from acting.

The political situation is not the best right now, but don't lose hope yet. Your country is a great country. Soon the sun will shine after the storm, @Sean.

F. Murray Abraham, American film, stage and television character actor who won an Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for his splendid portrayal of Antonio Salieri in "Amadeus", is 83 today. Abraham was raised in El Paso, Texas, near the Mexican border, and he was a gang member during his early teens. Martin Campbell, New Zealand film and television director and producer who is the director of such films as "Criminal Law", "The Legend of Zorro", "No Escape", "GoldenEye", "The Mask of Zorro", "Vertical Limit", "Beyond Borders" and "Casino Royale", is 79 today. He moved to London during his early years and initially began a career as a cameraman.

Ned Rorem, the excellent American composer and prolific prose writer, who won a Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1976 recognizing his suite "Air Music: Ten Etudes of Orchestra", is 99 today. He is best known for his art songs, of which he has written over 500. Ned Rorem, a genius of American classical music, is also a pioneer of the gay rights movement.

Brian Boitano, the extraordinary American figure skater, who began to skate at age 8, who gained world recognition when he was the first skater to complete all six different triple jumps in a World Championship, is 59 today. The notable skater has won 23 international gold medals, two World titles, two Pro/Am titles, 16 professional titles, four U.S. National titles and an Olympic Gold Medal. Catherine Deneuve, the noted French actress, one of the greatest European actresses of her generation, who gained international prominence with her roles in the films "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" and "Belle de Jour", is 79 today.

Everett McGill, American character actor who made his debut film appearance in the war film "Yanks" in 1979, and probably best known for his role as Big Ed Hurley in the giant success and popular television series "Twin Peaks", is 77 today. He retired from acting in 1999, but returned in the 2017 "Twin Peaks" revival. Joyce Randolph, American actress who rose to fame when she played the role of Trixie Norton in the 1950s television series "The Honeymooners", is 98 today. Randolph is the only surviving cast member of one of the most beloved television shows of all time.

@Wormfarmer... Antonio Inoki was a hit here, too. He was a duo for @BabyBlue and @msc: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11268895/Japanese-wrestler-turned-politician-Antonio-Inoki-dies-aged-79.html

Tom Schulman, the notable American screenwriter who won the Academy Award for his screenplay for the excellent and famous film "Dead Poets Society", is 72 (some sources say 71) today. Schulman's work was based on his time at the Montgomery Bell Academy and the unforgettable character of John Keating was inspired by one of his teachers. Tom Schulman decided to adapt this script to literature due to the great educational values transmitted. Schulman is also the screenwriter of "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids", "Medicine Man" and "What About Bob?". Thomas Newman, the extraordinary and versatile American composer and conductor, the son of Alfred Newman who won the Academy Award for Best Original Score nine times, who made his debut as a film composer in 1984 with "Reckless", is 67 today. Thomas Newman already has a successful career behind him, he has scored numerous famous films including "Fried Green Tomatoes", "Up Close & Personal", "The Shawshank Redemption", "The Horse Whisperer", "American Beauty", "The Green Mile", "Road to Perdition", "Finding Nemo", "Little Women", "The Help", "The Iron Lady", "Skyfall", "Bridge of Spies", "Spectre" and "1917". Despite his enormous talent, Thomas Newman is the most nominated living composer to have never won an Oscar.

Tony Lo Bianco, American film, stage and television character actor specialized in playing Italian gangsters and probably known for his roles in the critically acclaimed films "The French Connection" and "The Honeymoon Killers", is 86 today. George Fenton, the prodigious British composer on major American and British films who began to write scores for television and found fame with his collaborative score for "Gandhi", is 72 (some sources say 73) today. His film credits include "The Company of Wolves", "Cry Freedom", "Dangerous Liaisons", "Memphis Belle", "The Fisher King", "Final Analysis", "Hero", "Groundhog Day", "Shadowlands", "You've Got Mail" and so many more. George Fenton has won 28 awards for music composition including Baftas, Emmys and a Classic Brit Award.

Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, known to friends and supporters as "Doña Violeta", Nicaraguan politician who served as President of Nicaragua from 1990 to 1997, is 93 today. Howard Shore, the accomplished Canadian composer and conductor famous for his film scores and winner of three Academy Awards for his work on the trilogy of "The Lord of the Rings", is 76 today. He has composed the scores for over 80 films, including "The Fly", "Dead Ringers", "The Silence of the Lambs", "Philadelphia", "Ed Wood", "Gangs of New York", "The Aviator", "The Departed", "Hugo" and the trilogies of "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit". Howard Shore has also won three Golden Globe Awards and four Grammy Awards.

Ernie Els, the phenomenal South African professional golfer, one of the best of his generation, who is known as "The Big Easy", due to his physical stature, is 53 today. He holds the record for the most consecutive weeks inside the Top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking (758 weeks). Ernie Els was inducted into the South African Golf Hall of Fame in 2009 and the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011. George Wendt, American actor and comedian who rose to fame for his known role of Norm Peterson in the massively successful sitcom "Cheers", is 74 today. He also reprised his popular character in "Frasier", "St. Elsewhere", "The Simpsons", "The Tortellis" and "Wings". George Wendt is also well-known for his appearances on "Saturday Night Live".