It was on this date, July 3, 1947, that Pulitzer Prize-winning American author and columnist Dave Barry—author of numerous books of humor and parody, as well as comedic novels—was born David McAlister Barry in Armonk, New York. The son of a minister and an alumnus of a Quaker-affiliated college, Barry avoided military service in the […]

It was on this date, June 23, 1964, that third-generation TV writer and Buffy the Vampire Slayer series creator Joss Whedon was born. He grew up in Manhattan, attended film school, and got his break as a writer for the “Roseanne” TV series. But in 1997 he hit big with the popular TV series, “Buffy […]

It was on this date, June 17, 1943, that American singer-songwriter and producer Barry Manilow was born. Best known for such recordings as “Mandy,” “Can't Smile Without You,” “Could It Be Magic” (which samples Frédéric Chopin's Prelude in C Minor), “I Write the Songs” (which he didn’t write) and “Copacabana,” Manilow has sold more than […]

It was on this date, June 11, 1959, that the English actor, comedian, and writer, best known as star of the television show “House, MD,” Hugh Laurie was born. He was active in the 1980s and 1990s as half of a comedy duo, Fry and Laurie, performing with longtime friend and fellow atheist Stephen Fry. […]

It was on this date, June 4, 1975, that American actress, film director, and screenwriter Angelina Jolie was born. Daughter of Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight (Midnight Cowboy, 1969; Deliverance, 1972; The Odessa File, 1974; Coming Home, 1978), Jolie won herself an Oscar for her supporting role in Girl, Interrupted (1999), as well as Golden Globes […]

It was on his date, May 27, 1971, that English actor Paul Bettany was born. He first came to the attention of American audiences when he appeared in Brian Helgeland's 2001 film A Knight's Tale. His later films include A Beautiful Mind (2001), Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003), Dogville (2003), […]

It was on this date, May 20, 1958, that talk radio host, political analyst and son of 40th President Ronald Reagan, Ron Reagan Jr. was born. Born in Los Angeles to his father’s second wife, Nancy Reagan née Davis, and reared in Sacramento during his father’s terms as Governor (1967-1975), at age 12 he declared […]

It was on this date, April 4, 1964, that American actor and stand-up comedian David Cross was born. Known chiefly for his HBO sketch comedy series “Mr. Show,” and his role as Tobias Fünke in the Fox sitcom “Arrested Development,” Cross was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and after an unsettling childhood began performing stand-up comedy […]

It was on this date, December 18, 1963, that American actor and film producer Brad Pitt was born. A leading man nominated for five Academy Awards and five Golden Globes, and winning one of the latter, Pitt is noted for commercial film successes in Troy (2004) and Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) and Academy Award-nominated […]

It was on this date, October 18, 1927, that American actor George C. Scott, winner of four Oscar nominations, was born George Campbell Scott in Wise, VA. Generally considered an actor’s actor, and known for his distinctive raspy voice, Scott was nominated for Broadway’s Tony Award five times and created memorable film characters in Anatomy […]