Born On This Day: J. K. Rowling turns 47 today A British novelist, best known as the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series. The Potter books have gained worldwide attention, won multiple awards, sold more than 400 million copies to become the best-selling book series in history and been the basis for a popular series of films, in which Rowling had overall approval on the scripts as well as maintaining creative control by serving as a producer on the final installment. Rowling conceived the idea for the series on a train trip from Manchester to London.

In Memoriam: Denis Diderot died 228 years ago today A French philosopher, art critic, and writer. He was a prominent person during the Enlightenment and is best known for serving as co-founder and chief editor of and contributor to the Encyclopédie. Diderot also contributed to literature, notably with Jacques le fataliste et son maître (Jacques the Fatalist and his Master), which emulated Laurence Sterne in challenging conventions regarding novels and their structure and content, while also examining philosophical ideas about free will.

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Born On This Day: Arnold Schwarzenegger turns 65 today The 38th and current governor of the US State of California. He is also known as a famous Bodybuilder, actor and businessman. In 1968 at the age of 21, Schwarzenegger moved to the United States even though he spoke very little English. He would continue to weight train and lift competitively to eventually gain his first Mr. Olympia title in New York in 1970. Schwarzenegger became active as an actor in 1970 with his debut in Hercules in New York.

In Memoriam: Ingmar Bergman died 5 years ago today A Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Described by Woody Allen as "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera," he is recognized as one of the most accomplished and influential film directors of all time. He directed over sixty films and documentaries for cinematic release and for television, most of which he also wrote. He also directed over one hundred and seventy plays.

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Born On This Day: Geddy Lee turns 59 today A Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush. Lee joined what would become Rush in September 1968, at the request of his childhood friend Alex Lifeson, replacing original bassist and frontman Jeff Jones. An award-winning musician, Lee's style, technique, and skill on the bass guitar have inspired many rock musicians.

In Memoriam: Philip I died 904 years ago today Philip I, called the Amorous, was King of the Franks from 1060 to his death. His reign, like that of most of the early Direct Capetians, was extraordinarily long for the time. The monarchy began a modest recovery from the low it reached in the reign of his father and he added to the royal demesne the Vexin and Bourges. Philip was the son of Henry I and Anne of Kiev.

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Born On This Day: Jim Davis  turns 67 today An American cartoonist, best known as the creator of the comic strip Garfield. He has also worked on other strips: Tumbleweeds, Gnorm Gnat, U.S. Acres (aka Orson's Farm) and a strip about Mr. Potato Head. Davis has written (or co-written) all of the Emmy Award-winning or nominated Garfield TV specials and was one of the producers behind the Garfield & Friends TV show which aired on CBS in 1988.

In Memoriam: Johann Sebastian Bach  died 262 years ago today A German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist of the Baroque Period. He enriched many established German styles through his skill in counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and the adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from abroad, particularly from Italy and France. Bach wrote much music, which was revered for its intellectual depth, technical command, and artistic beauty.

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Born On This Day: Jerry Van Dyke turns 81 today An American comedian and actor. He is the younger brother of comedian and actor Dick Van Dyke, and made his acting debut on The Dick Van Dyke Show as Rob Petrie's brother, Stacey. Later in his career, he was one of the stars in the TV sitcom Coach.

In Memoriam: Bob Hope died 9 years ago today An English-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel.

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Born On This Day: Mick Jagger turns 69 today An English musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known as the lead vocalist and a founder member of The Rolling Stones. Jagger's career has spanned over fifty years. In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Rolling Stones.

In Memoriam: Eva Perón died 60 years ago today María Eva Duarte de Perón was the second wife of President Juan Perón (1895–1974) and served as the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952. She is usually referred to as Eva Perón, or by the affectionate Spanish language diminutive Evita.

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Born On This Day: Matt LeBlanc turns 45 today An American actor, best known for his role as Joey Tribbiani on the NBC sitcoms Friends and its spin-off Joey. In 2011, LeBlanc began starring as a fictional version of himself in Episodes, a television series created by Friends co-creator David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik.

In Memoriam: Frank O'Hara died 46 years ago today An American writer, poet and art critic. He was a member of the New York School of poetry. The Collected Poems of Frank O'Hara edited by Donald Allen (Knopf, 1971), the first of several posthumous collections, shared the 1972 National Book Award for Poetry.

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Born On This Day: Michael Richards turns 63 today An American actor, comedian, writer and television producer, best known for his portrayal of the eccentric Cosmo Kramer on the television sitcom Seinfeld. Throughout the show's run, he received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series three times.

In Memoriam: Peter Sellers died 32 years ago today A British comedian, singer and actor who was perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther series of films. He is also notable for his appearences in the BBC Radio comedy series The Goon Show and for his many comic songs which he performed frequently during his 50-year career.

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Born On This Day: Daniel Radcliffe turns 22 today An English actor who rose to prominence playing the title character in the Harry Potter film series. Radcliffe made his acting debut at age ten in BBC One's 1999 television movie David Copperfield, followed by his film debut in 2001's The Tailor of Panama. At age eleven he was cast as the title character in the first Harry Potter film, and he starred in the series for ten years until the release of the eighth and final film in July 2011.

In Memoriam: Amy Winehouse died 1 years ago today An English singer and songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B;, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize. Her 2006 follow-up album, Back to Black, led to six Grammy Award nominations and five wins, tying the then record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night.

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Born On This Day: Alex Trebek turns 72 today A Canadian American television personality. He has been the host of the syndicated game show Jeopardy! since 1984, and prior to that, he hosted such other game shows as Pitfall and High Rollers. He has made appearances in numerous television series, usually portraying himself. A native of Canada, he became a naturalized United States citizen in 1998.

In Memoriam: Estelle Getty died 4 years ago today An American actress, who appeared in film, television, and theatre. She is best known for her role as Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls from 1985 to 1992, which won her an Emmy and a Golden Globe, on The Golden Palace from 1992 to 1993 and on Empty Nest from 1993 to 1995. In her later years, after retiring from acting, she battled Lewy body dementia.

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Born On This Day: Robin Williams turns 61 today An American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork & Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film Good Will Hunting. He has also won two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globes, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and five Grammy Awards.

In Memoriam: Robert Burns died 216 years ago today A Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and a "light" Scots dialect, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these his political or civil commentary is often at its most blunt.

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Born On This Day: Carlos Santana turns 65 today A Mexican and American rock guitarist. He became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band which pioneered rock, Latin music and jazz fusion. The band's sound featured his melodic, blues-based guitar lines set against Latin and African rhythms featuring percussion instruments such as timbales and congas not heard in rock music.

In Memoriam: Bruce Lee died 39 years ago today A Chinese American Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement. He is widely considered by many commentators, critics, media and other martial artists to be the most influential martial artist and pop culture icon of the 20th Century.

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Born On This Day: Brian May turns 65 today An English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist, songwriter and occasional singer of the rock band Queen. As a guitarist he uses his home-built guitar, "Red Special", and has composed hits such as "Tie Your Mother Down", "I Want It All", "We Will Rock You", "Fat Bottomed Girls" and "Who Wants to Live Forever".

In Memoriam: Aung San died 65 years ago today An Burmese revolutionary, nationalist, and founder of the modern Burmese army (Tatmadaw), and considered to be the Father of (modern-day) Burma. He was a founder of the Communist Party of Burma and was instrumental in bringing about Burma's independence from British colonial rule in Burma, but was assassinated six months before independence.

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Born On This Day: Nelson Mandela turns 94 today A South African politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, the first ever to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before being elected President, Mandela was a militant anti-apartheid activist, and the leader and co-founder of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life imprisonment.

In Memoriam: Machine Gun Kelly died 58 years ago today An American gangster during the prohibition era. His nickname came from his favorite weapon, a Thompson submachine gun. His most famous crime was the kidnapping of oil tycoon and businessman Charles Urschel in July 1933 for which he, and his gang, earned a $200,000 ransom. Unfortunately, their victim had collected and left considerable evidence that assisted the FBI investigation that led to Kelly's arrest in Memphis, Tennessee on Sept 26, 1933.

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Born On This Day: Phyllis Diller turns 95 today An American actress and comedian. She created a stage persona of a wild-haired, eccentrically dressed housewife who makes self-deprecating jokes about her age and appearance, her terrible cooking, and a husband named "Fang", while pretending to smoke from a long cigarette holder. Diller's signature is her unusual laugh.

In Memoriam: John Coltrane died 45 years ago today An American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz. He organized at least fifty recording sessions as a leader during his recording career, and appeared as a sideman on many other albums.

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Born On This Day: Will Ferrell turns 45 today An American comedian, actor and writer. Ferrell first established himself as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Stranger than Fiction, Blades of Glory and The Other Guys.

In Memoriam: John F. Kennedy Jr. died 11 years ago An American socialite, magazine publisher, lawyer, and pilot. The elder son of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy, Kennedy died in a plane crash along with his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and his sister-in-law Lauren Bessette, on July 16, 1999.

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Born On This Day: Forest Whitaker turns 51 today An American actor, producer, and director. He has earned a reputation for intensive character study work for films such as Bird and Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, and for his recurring role as ex-LAPD Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh on the gritty, award-winning television series, The Shield. Whitaker won an Academy Award for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the 2006 film The Last King of Scotland.

In Memoriam: John J. Pershing died 64 years ago today A general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. Pershing is the only person to be promoted in his own lifetime to the highest rank ever held in the United States Army—General of the Armies (a retroactive Congressional edict passed in 1976 promoted George Washington to the same rank but with higher seniority). Pershing holds the first United States officer service number (O-1).

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Born On This Day: Jane Lynch turns 52 today An American actress, comedienne, and singer. She obtained a Golden Globe Award, Emmy Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, People's Choice Award, and Satellite Award. She gained fame in Christopher Guest's improv mockumentary pictures such as Best in Show and is currently known for playing the role of Sue Sylvester in the Fox musical comedy series Glee for which she has won both the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.

In Memoriam: Harry Brearley died 28 years ago today Usually credited with the invention of "rustless steel" (later to be called "stainless steel") in the anglophone world. His life had humble beginnings as the son of a steel melter. He left school at the age of twelve to enter his first employment as a labourer in one of the city's steelworks, being transferred soon afterwards to the post of general assistant in the company's chemical laboratory. For several years, in addition to his laboratory work, he studied at home and later in formal evening classes, to specialize in steel production techniques and associated chemical analysis methods.

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Born On This Day: Patrick Stewart turns 72 today An English film, television and stage actor. He is most widely known for his television and film roles, such as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and its successor films, Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men film series, and as the voice of Avery Bullock in American Dad!.

In Memoriam: George Steinbrenner died 2 years ago An American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series titles and 11 pennants.

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Born On This Day: Bill Cosby turns 75 today An American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the situation comedy The Bill Cosby Show. He was one of the major characters on the children's television series The Electric Company for its first two seasons, and created the educational cartoon comedy series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, about a group of young friends growing up in the city. Cosby has also acted in a number of films.

In Memoriam: Alexander Hamilton died 208 years ago A Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury. As Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton was the primary author of the economic policies of the George Washington Administration, especially the funding of the state debts by the Federal government, the establishment of a national bank, a system of tariffs, and friendly trade relations with Britain. He became the leader of the Federalist Party, created largely in support of his views, and was opposed by the Democratic-Republican Party.

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Born On This Day: Lil' Kim turns 37 today An American rapper. As a teenager, Kim would rap for fun, when word got to The Notorious B.I.G. that she could rhyme, he made Jones perform a freestyle for him on the spot. Impressed with her, he took her in and she began her music career in 1995 with the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.

In Memoriam: Ed Mirvish died 5 years ago today A Canadian businessman, philanthropist and theatrical impresario who lived in Toronto, Ontario. He is known for his flagship business, Honest Ed's, a landmark discount store in downtown Toronto, and as a patron of the arts, instrumental in revitalizing the theatre scene in Toronto.

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Born On This Day: Jessica Simpson turns 32 today An American recording artist, actress, television personality and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies and commercials, launched a line of hair and beauty products and designed fragrances, shoes and handbags for women. She has devoted time to philanthropic efforts including Operation Smile and a USO-hosted tour for troops stationed overseas.

In Memoriam: Mel Blanc died 23 years ago today An American voice actor and comedian. Although he began his nearly six-decade-long career performing in radio commercials, Blanc is best remembered for his work with Warner Bros. as the voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, Sylvester the Cat, Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, Marvin the Martian, Pepé Le Pew, Speedy Gonzales, the Tasmanian Devil, and many of the other characters from the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies theatrical cartoons.

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Born On This Day: Tom Hanks turns 56 today An American film actor, writer and film producer. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies before achieving success as a dramatic actor portraying several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title role in Forrest Gump, Commander James A. Lovell in Apollo 13, Captain John H. Miller in Saving Private Ryan, Michael Sullivan in Road to Perdition, and Sheriff Woody in Disney/Pixar's Toy Story.

In Memoriam: Amedeo Avogadro died 156 years ago Lorenzo Romano Amedeo Carlo Avogadro di Quaregna e di Cerreto, Count of Quaregna and Cerreto was an Italian savant. Noted for his contributions to molecular theory, including what is known as Avogadro's law. In tribute to him, the number of elementary entities (atoms, molecules, ions or other particles) in 1 mole of a substance, 6.02214179(30)×10, is known as the Avogadro constant.

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Born On This Day: Kevin Bacon turns 54 today An American film and theater actor whose notable roles include Animal House, Diner, Footloose, Wild Things, A Few Good Men, JFK, Apollo 13, Hollow Man, Mystic River, Friday the 13th, Tremors, Death Sentence, Frost/Nixon, and X-Men: First Class. Bacon has won Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards, was nominated for an Emmy Award, and was named as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.

In Memoriam: Betty Ford died 1 years ago today The First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977 during the presidency of her husband Gerald Ford. As First Lady, she was active in social policy and created precedents as a politically active presidential wife. Throughout her husband's term in office, she maintained high approval ratings despite opposition from some conservative Republicans who objected to her more moderate and liberal positions on social issues.

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Born On This Day: Ringo Starr turns 72 today An English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for the Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, but joined the Beatles in August 1962, taking the place of Pete Best. In addition to his drumming, Starr is featured on lead vocals on a number of successful songs.

In Memoriam: Conan Doyle died 82 years ago today A Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger. He was a prolific writer whose other works include science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction and historical novels.

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