Emma Bell b. 1986 (The Walking Dead, Arrow, Elektra Luxx, Supernatural, Dollhouse)
Milla Jovovich b. 1975 (The Fifth Element, Resident Evil, Ultraviolet)
Giovanni Ribisi b. 1974 (Avatar, Ted, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, The X-Files)
Marissa Ribisi b. 1974 (Pleasantville)
Sarah Paulson b. 1974 (Serenity, American Horror Story, American Gothic)
Rian Johnson b. 1973 (director, Looper)
Claire Forlani b. 1971 (Nightmares & Dreamscapes, Mystery Men, Meet Joe Black)
Laurie Holden b. 1969 (The Walking Dead, Fantastic Four, The X Files)
Bill Pullman b. 1953 (Independence Day, Torchwood, Alien Autopsy, Titan A.E., Spaceballs)
Barry Livingston b. 1953 (The Sara Connor Chronicles, Tremors 3, Sliders, Lois & Clark, Masters of the Universe)
Joel Brooks b. 1949 (The Twilight Zone, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Lois & Clark, Babylon 5: The River of Souls, The Big Bang Theory)
Wes Studi b. 1947 (Avatar, Mystery Men, Ice Planet)
Ernie Hudson b. 1945 (Torchwood, Heroes, Stargate SG-1, Ghostbusters, Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone)
Bernard Hill b. 1944 (Lord of the Rings, The Scorpion King)
Richard Long b. 1927 died 21 December 1974 (Twilight Zone, House on Haunted Hill)
Today's birthday list taught me three things of which I was not previously aware.
1. I did not know Giovanni Ribisi had a twin sister.
2. I wasn't aware that Barry Livingston, who played Barry Martin on Ozzie and Harriet and Ernie on My Three Sons, has had such a long, successful career as a character actor.
3. I might have known it at one time, but I had completely forgotten that Richard Long, a very good looking actor who was a regular on several 1960s TV series including 77 Sunset Strip, The Big Valley and Nanny and the Professor, had died so young.
While none of the actors on the list are quite household names, some do have iconic roles in genre and my completely non-random choice this year for the Picture Slot was Milla Jovovich, chosen for her fabulous babe-osity. Next year, I think it will be Ernie Hudson's turn.
Many happy returns of the day to all the living on our list and to the late Richard Long, thanks for all the memories.
Movies released
Tron Legacy released, 2010
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King released, 2003
Predictor: H.G. Wells in The Shape of Things to Come, published 1933
Prediction: [As] soon as the bankrupt railways ceased to operate there, America became detached and local autonomy much greater. The authority of the federal government shrank to Washington, very much as the Eastern Empire shrank to Byzantium, but Washington had none of the vitality of Byzantium, and was already a merely historical capital long before the revival of tourism towards 2000.
Reality: Umm... no. I'm willing to stipulate that Washington has certain "tourist trap" aspects, but it's still the seat of power for our nation and now is The Leader if the Free World in terms of the size of the economy and military. That was not true quite yet in 1933, so Wells takes a big swing and a miss on how important America would be in the second half of the 20th Century.
Looking ahead one day... INTO THE FUTURE!
Another visit with our Wednesday regular T. Baron Russell, making much more optimistic guesses about the 20th Century from his vantage point in 1905.
Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!
ol' H.G. was kind of a downer, wasn't he?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Shape of Things to Come was stunningly downbeat, but he was an old man when he wrote it. Other stories from when he was younger also get a little grim. His main competition in his day is Jules Verne, nearly 40 years his senior and much better at rip-roaring adventure.
DeleteThere are some writers of similar genre that form a mutual admiration society. Not Verne and Wells by a damn sight.