MariNisia

Robert Benton, the acclaimed film director and phenomenal screenwriter who won 3 Oscar Awards for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for "Kramer vs. Kramer" and Best Original Screenplay for "Places in the Heart", is 90 today. Benton's entry into the film business came as co-writer of the screenplay for the 1967 classic "Bonnie and Clyde". He also wrote the screenplay for "Superman" (1978). Lech Wałęsa, the charismatic Polish founder of the Solidarity trade union in Poland, who was the President of the country between 1990 and 1995 and the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is 79 today. Wałęsa was voted by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th Century. He is also the author of the political book "A Way of Hope, The Struggle and the Triumph and Everything I Do, I Do for my Country".

Mira Sorvino, American film and television actress, the daughter of the famed character actor Paul Sorvino; who won a Golden Globe and an Oscar for her supporting performance in "Mighty Aphrodite", is 55 today. Initially, her father attempted to steer Mira and her two siblings away from the acting profession. Miloš Zeman, Czech politician who was the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from 1998 to 2002, and was the first directly elected President in Czech history in 2013; Václav Havel and Václav Klaus were elected by the Czech Parliament; is 78 today. In 2018, Miloš Zeman was re-elected for a second term.

Gwyneth Paltrow, the famous American actress and singer who gained worldwide recognition after the extraordinary film "Seven", and winner of an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her performance in "Shakespeare in Love", is 50 today. She also won an Emmy Award for her guest role as Holly Holliday on the Fox musical television series "Glee".

Rob Burrow, the phenomenal English rugby league football player, one of the greatest of all time, who spent 16 years, his entire professional career, playing for the Leeds Rhinos, before retiring in 2017, is 40 today. Rob Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in December 2019. Linda Hamilton, American film and television actress, who began her acting career with local children's theatre groups, well-known for appearing in films such as "The Terminator", "Black Moon Rising", "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" and "Dante's Peak", is 66 today. Linda Hamilton is also remembered for her role on the critically acclaimed television series "Beauty and the Beast".

Mark Hamill, American film, stage, television actor and voice artist who was cast in "Star Wars" (1977), the remarkable film which started it all, and his life changed after becoming famous worldwide for his role of Luke Skywalker, is 71 today. Hamill is also a voice-over talent with a repertoire of over 200 voices. Jean Sorel, the sensational French film, stage and television actor who was one of the most handsome leading men of the European cinema in the 1960s and 1970s, is 88 today. He worked in the French, Italian and Spanish cinema with such filmmakers as Visconti and Buñuel. With Luchino Visconti in the extraordinary film "Sandra", as the incestuous brother of Claudia Cardinale. The film won the Golden Lion and the Silver Ribbon at the Festival of Venice. Luis Buñuel directed him in the masterpiece "Belle de Jour". Sorel played the paralyzed husband of Catherine Deneuve.

John Logan, American playwright and screenwriter of films such as "Gladiator", "Hugo", "Rango", "Skyfall", "Spectre", "Star Trek: Nemesis", "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" and "The Aviator", is 61 today. "Penny Dreadful" was the first television series created by John Logan. Kevin Sorbo, American film and television actor who began his career working as a model in Europe and well-known for his portrayal of Hercules in the television series "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys", is 64 today. He also played the starring role in the science-fiction drama series "Andromeda". Sorbo is of Norwegian descent and was raised in a Lutheran family.

Mary Kay Place, the notable American actress, director, screenwriter, singer and songwriter probably remembered for her extraordinary portrayal of country music singer Loretta Haggers in the cult classic television series "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman", is 75 today. She won an Emmy Award for her role. Juan Martín del Potro, Argentine tennis player winner of the U.S. Open in 2009, against Roger Federer, and a bronze medal at the London Olympics, after beating Novak Djokovic, in 2012, is 34 today. He also won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics, in 2016. Del Potro is the only Argentine tennis player to win two Olympic medals.

Mireille Enos, American film, stage and television actress best recognized for her starring role as officer Sarah Linden in the crime drama television series "The Killing", is 47 today. Captain Mark Phillips, British equestrian who was the first husband of Anne, Princess Royal, and a member of the team that won the gold medal at the 1972 Olympics, is 74 today.

Jerry Bruckheimer, the successful American film and television producer behind blockbusters such as "Armageddon", "Beverly Hills Cop", "Con Air", "Pirates of the Caribbean", "The Rock" and "Top Gun", is 79 today. He began a partnership with Don Simpson and the two were named Producers of the Year in 1985 and 1988. Simpson died from an overdose of 21 drugs in 1996. He was only 52 years old. Jerry Bruckheimer continued to produce films alone. Some of his best known television series are "Cold Case", "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Without a Trace". Christian Serratos, American film and television actress of Italian and Mexican descent, who gained great popularity for portraying the character of Rosita Espinosa in AMC's "The Walking Dead" television series, is 32 today. She first appeared in season 4 and Rosita was upped to series regular in season 5.

José Eulogio Gárate, Argentine-born Spanish footballer who played as a striker for the great Atlético Madrid of the late 1960s and early 1970s and was nicknamed "The Knight of Football" for his sporting elegance and fair play, is 78 today. During his time at Atlético, Gárate played 241 games and scored 135 goals. Manuel Zelaya, popularly known as Mel, Honduran businessman, politician and rancher who served as the President of Honduras from 27 January 2006 until 28 June 2009, is 70 today. On June 28, 2009, Zelaya was deposed in a military coup.

Jeremy Irons, the elegant and versatile British actor who began his remarkable career with the Royal Shakespeare Company and won an Oscar for his only nomination as suspected murderer Claus von Bülow in Barbet Schroeder's "Reversal of Fortune", is 74 today. In 1969, after receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, he began his career on stage. Other notable films have included "The French Lieutenant's Woman", "The Mission", "Swann in Love" and "Dead Ringers". Jeremy Irons also won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for the historical miniseries "Elizabeth I".

Michael Douglas has a clone:

Gailard Sartain, American supporting actor, often playing characters with roots in the South, known for his work in films, including "Blaze", "Trouble in Mind", "Mississippi Burning" (as a racist sheriff), "Fried Green Tomatoes" and "Ali", is 76 today. Gailard Sartain is also an accomplished illustrator and painter. Frankie Avalon, American actor and singer of Italian descent who was a teen idol and made a series of beach films with Annette Funicello such as "Beach Blanket Bingo", "Beach Party", "Bikini Beach" and "Muscle Beach Party", is 82 today. In 1978, he made an appearance in the musical film "Grease". Frankie Avalon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

Patricia "Pat" Crowley, American film, stage and television actress known for her performances in films such as "The Wheeler Dealers", "Hollywood or Bust", "Key Witness", "The Square Jungle" and "There's Always Tomorrow", is 89 today. She is primarily a television actress. Crowley is also remembered for her role in the television sitcom "Please Don't Eat the Daisies" from 1965 to 1967. Lieutenant General Thomas Patten Stafford, American former NASA astronaut who was the Commander of Apollo 10 in 1969, the second manned mission to orbit the Moon, is 92 today. He was the first general officer to fly in space. Stafford is an honorary board member of the humanitarian organization, Wings of Hope.

Juan Mariné is director of photography and a film restorer. He is not a film director.

Michael Haneke is my clear favourite for the title.

George Chakiris, American actor, dancer and singer who won a Golden Globe and the Oscar for his famous performance as Bernardo, leader of the Sharks, in the 1961 film version of "West Side Story", is 90 today. Chakiris played the role of Riff in the original London stage production. His father was Stephen Chakiris and his mother Zoe Anastasiadou, immigrants from Greece. Jennifer Tilly, American-Canadian actress most famous for her distinctive voice, the film "Bullets over Broadway" and her performance of the serial killer Tiffany Valentine in the Chucky film franchise, is 64 today. Her father was Chinese and her mother was Finnish and Irish. She is the older sister of actress Meg Tilly. Jennifer Tilly is also a professional poker player.

Tommy Lee Jones, the incredibly versatile American actor and film director who has starred in many famous films during his great career and won an Oscar for his notable performance as Samuel Gerard in "The Fugitive", is 76 today. Tommy Lee Jones and Al Gore were roommates for four years during their time at Harvard in the late '60s. Henry Silva, the proliferant American film, stage and television character actor who has played a wide variety of criminals, mobsters and robbers in films including "The Bravados", "Johnny Cool", "Sharky's Machine", "Code of Silence" and "Above the Law", is 94 today. He also played a communist agent in the original "The Manchurian Candidate".

Walter Koenig, American film and television character actor who rose to fame for his celebrated performance as Ensign Pavel Chekov in "Star Trek: The Original Series", is 86 today. He also wrote the fantasy novel "Buck Alice" and the comic book "Raver". Melissa Leo, American film and television actress who won the Golden Globe and an Oscar for her impressive portrayal of the domineering mother of an aspiring boxer in "The Fighter", is 62 today. On the small screen, her most notable role was as the Detective (later Sergeant) Kay Howard on the NBC series "Homicide: Life on the Street".

King Leslie Phillips Targaryen.

Don't worry... I think it means we have good taste.

Barbara Bain, American film, stage and television actress who won three consecutive Emmy Awards for her leading role as agent Cinnamon Carter in the 1960s television series "Mission: Impossible", is 91 today. She is also best known for her performance as Dr. Helena Russell in the television series "Space: 1999". Jacqueline Bisset, the attractive British film actress who first came to prominence performing Steve McQueen's love interest in the remarkable cop thriller "Bullit", is 78 today. She is also best known for films such as "Airport", "Class", "Murder on the Orient Express" and many others.

@Captain Hemlock, my apologies for the confusion. I should have been more clear. Yes... he is not the American football coach/player. My John Madden is the film director known for directing "Shakespeare in Love" or "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel". @Sean, I'm sorry, I should have paid more attention.

Silvia Pinal, the distinguished and remarkable Mexican film, stage and television actress, one of the most famous of all time, with notable works in the films of Luis Buñuel, such as "Simon of the Desert" and "Viridiana", is 91 today. Silvia Pinal is one of the last surviving legends of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. Rachel Ward, British-born Australian film, stage and television actress well-known for her starring role opposite Richard Chamberlain in "The Thorn Birds", one of the most popular television mini-series of all time, is 65 today. Rachel Ward is the great-granddaughter of William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley, who was Governor-General of Australia.

@Sean, thank you for hosting this entertaining pool. My Picks: 1) Alan Menken 2) Anna Wintour 3) Annie Leibovitz 4) Arsène Wenger 5) Barry Van Dyke 6) Bonnie Tyler 7) Cheryl Ladd 8) Colleen Atwood 9) Diana Ross 10) Diane Keaton 11) Don Johnson 12) Emmylou Harris 13) Fabio Capello 14) Fanny Ardant 15) Flavio Briatore 16) Glenn Close 17) Gustavo Santaolalla 18) Hillary Clinton 19) Jacqueline Bisset 20) James Newton Howard 21) Jane Birkin 22) Jean-Michel Jarre 23) Jean Reno 24) Jeremy Irons 25) Jill Biden 26) Joe Mantegna 27) John Madden 28) John Sayles 29) Kathryn Bigelow 30) Kevin Kline 31) Laura Bush 32) Lauren Shuler Donner 33) Leslie Moonves 34) Patti LaBelle 35) Paul Auster 36) Pedro Almodóvar 37) Phylicia Rashad 38) Princess Michael of Kent 39) Priscilla Presley 40) Randall Wallace 41) Ray Wise 42) Romina Power 43) Ron Perlman 44) Rubén Blades 45) Sigourney Weaver 46) Sinéad Cusack 47) Stephanie Beacham 48) Stephen King 49) Tommy Hilfiger 50) Wolfgang Puck