DENZEL WASHINGTON

Denzel Washington
Born: December 28, 1954
Place: Mt. Vernon, NY

When Denzel was fourteen his parents’ marriage took a turn for the worst and he and his older sister were sent away to boarding school so that they would not be exposed to their parent’s eventual divorce.

Denzel earned a B.A. in Drama and Journalism from Fordham University in 1977. After a period of bouncing from major to major and briefly dropping out of school for a semester, Washington worked as a counselor at an overnight summer camp called Camp Sloan YMCA in Lakeville CT.

After participating in a staff talent show for the campers, a colleague suggested he try acting. Returning to Fordham that fall with a renewed purpose and focus, he enrolled at the Lincoln Center campus to study acting. Upon graduation, he was given a scholarship to attend graduate school at the prestigious American Conservatory Theatre where he stayed for one year before deciding to return to New York to begin a professional acting career.

Washington made his professional acting debut in the 1977 made-for-televispon movie Wilma. He made his film debut in the 1981 film Carbon Copy. His big break came when he starred in the popular television hospital drama, St. Elsewhere from 1982 to 1988. He was one of a few actors to appear on the series for its entire six-year run.

In 1989, Washington won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for playing a defiant, self-possessed ex-slave in the film Glory. Washington played one of his most critically acclaimed roles in 1192’s Malcolm X, directed by Spike Lee. His performance as the Black Nationalist leader earned him an Oscar nomination. Both the influential film critic Roger Ebert and the highly acclaimed film director Martin Scorsese called the movie one of the ten best films made during the 1990s.

Malcolm X transformed Washington's career, turning him, practically overnight, into one of Hollywood’s most respected actors.

In 2000, Washington appeared in the crowd-pleasing Disney film, Remember the Titans, which grossed over $100 million at the United States box office. He was nominated and won an Oscar for Best Actor for his next film, the 2001 cop thriller, Training Day, as Det. Alonzo Harris, a rogue LAPD cop with questionable law-enforcement tactics. The role was a much-acclaimed change-of-pace for the actor, who was known for playing many heroic leads. Washington was the second African-American performer ever to win an Academy Award in the category of Best Actor (for Training Day), the first being Sidney Poitier, who happened to receive an Honorary Academy Award the same night that Washington won for Best Actor. Washington holds the record for most Oscar nominations by an actor of African descent; so far he has earned five.

In 1983, Washington married actress Pauletta Pearson (now Pauletta Washington), whom he met on the set of his first screen role, Wilma. The couple have four children: John), who signed a footbal contract with the St. Louis Rams in May 2006 after playing college football at Morehouse; Katia, who is attending Yale University, and twins Olivia and Malcolm (named in honor of Malcolm X). In 1995, the couple renewed their wedding vows in South Africa with Archbishop Desmond Tutu officiating.

Washington and his family visited soldiers at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX. He later made a sizable donation to the Fisher Houses, small hotels that provide rooms for soldiers' families while the soldiers are hospitalized.

Washington will next star as New York subway security chief Zach "Z" Garber in The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, a remake of the 70's thriller, The Taking of Pelham One, Two Three, opposite John Travolta and directed by Tony Scott, opening in July 2009.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS & TRIVIA

Celebrity Birthdays & Trivia

December

28 – Denzel Washington – 54 – Mt. Vernon, NY
28 – Maggie Smith – 74 – Liford Borough, Essex England
29 – Ted Danson – 61 – San Diego, CA
29 – John Voight – 70 – Yonkers, NY
29 – Mary Tyler Moore – 72 – Brooklyn, NY
30 – Tiger Woods – 32 – Cypress, CA
30 – Matt Lauer – 50 – New York City, NY
30 – Meredith Vieira – 54 - East Providence, RI
31 – Anthony Hopkins – 70 – Port Talbot, Wales

January

2 – Cuba Gooding, Jr – 40 – The Bronx, NY
3 – Mel Gibson – 52 – Peekskill, NY



Trivia

ANTHONY HOPKINS

He was influenced and encourage to become an actor by compatriot Richard Burton, whom he met briefly at the age of 15. He is a talented pianist. In 1986, he released a single called “Distant Star”. As of 2007, he resides in the United States. He had moved to the country once before during the 1970s to pursue his film career, but returned to Britain in the late 1980s. However he decided to return to the U.S. following his 1990s success. He became a naturalized citizen on April 12, 2000, and celebrated with a 3,000 mile road trip across the country.

EARTHA KITT

Eartha Kitt a singer, dancer and actress who rose from South Carolina cotton fields to become an international symbol of elegance and sensuality, has died at the age of 81.

Andrew Freedman said Kitt, who was recently treated at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, died Thursday of colon cancer.

Kitt, a self-proclaimed “sex kitten” famous for her catlike purr, was one of America’s most versatile performers, winning two Emmys and nabbing a third nomination. She also was nominated for several Tonys and two Grammys.

JENNIFER ANISTON

Jennifer Aniston's latest film beat out ex-husband Brad Pitt's at the box office, scoring the all-time best Christmas Day opening.

“Marley & Me,” based on the bestselling novel about a loveable but incorrigible Labrador Retriever, opened at all all-time Christmas No. 1 with $14.75 million in ticket sales, according to preliminary box office numbers.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY SPOTLIGHT

Ray Ramano
Born: December 21, 1957
Place: Queens, NY

Romano attended elementary and middle school at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Forest Hills. After transferring from Archbishop Molloy High School, Romano graduated from Hillcrest High School in 1975. He was in the same high school class as Fran Drescher and later appeared on her sitcom The Nanny as an old classmate.

Before breaking into show business, Romano briefly attended Queens College in Flushing, New York where he had majored in accounting. Romano quit going to Queens College after gaining only fifteen credits in three years. However, he would later return, making it to the Dean's List for three years while studying accounting.

His early comedy career included many outlets such as Comedy Central, where he had been a recurring guest voice on the show Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist. He also was a contestant on Star Search in the stand-up comedy category. Shortly thereafter, he became the star of his own show, Everybody Loves Raymond, that featured a cast and format more suitable to Romano's brand of humor.

In 2001, Romano was named one of E!'s top twenty entertainers of the year. In the same year, he was featured with his brother (a teacher at a school in Long Island) on a New York Police Department recruiting poster. In 2004, he became the highest paid television actor in history for his role of Raymond on CBS’s Everybody Loves Raymond. It was later revealed on E! that he had broken another record by his show having the highest revenue, at $3.9 billion.

Romano married his wife Anna Scarpulla, in 1987. They met while working at a bank. He had asked out two other co-workers before Anna agreed to go on a date with him. Together, they have four children: one daughter Alexandra, and three sons: twins Matthew and Gregory and Joseph Raymond.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS & TRIVIA

Celebrity Birthdays & Trivia

December

21 – Ray Ramano – 50 – Queens, NY
21 – Samuel Jackson – 59 – Washington, DC
21 – Jane Fonda – 70 – New York City, NY
21 – Phil Donahue – Cleveland, OH
22 – Diane Sawyer – Glasgow, Kentucky
22 – Barbara Billingsley – 92 – Los Angeles, CA
24 – Ricky Martin – 36 – San Juan, PR
25 – Sissy Spacek – 58 – Quitman, TX
25 – Barbara Mandrell – 59 – Houston,TX
25 – Jimmy Buffett – 61 – Pascagoula, MS
26 – Cokie Roberts – 64 – New Orleans, LA



Trivia

JIMMY BUFETT

He has been involved in many charity efforts. In 1981 the Save the Manatee Club was founded by Buffett and former Florida governor Bob Graham The Save the Manatee Club is the one of the world's most aggressive, confrontational and leading manatee preservation efforts. In 1989, legislation was passed in Florida that introduced the "Save the Manatee" license plate, and earmarked funding for the Save the Manatee club. One of the two manatees trained to interact with researchers at Mote Marine Laboratory is named Buffett after the singer.

TINA FEY

Tina Fey was voted The Associated Press’ Entertainer of the Year, an annual honor chosen by newspaper editors and broadcast producers across the country. Fey was selected by AP members as the performer who had the greatest impact on culture and entertainment in 2008.

The 38-year-old comedian bested runner-up Robert Downey Jr., whose comeback was capped with the blockbuster smash “Iron Man,” and the third-place vote-getter, Heath Ledger, who posthumously wowed audiences as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.”

ROBERT PATTINSON

Robert Pattinson cut off his trademark tousled locks.

Robert has amassed legions of hardcore fans, known has Twi-Hards, many of whom swoon for his sexy coif.

PARIS HILTON

According to the Los Angeles Times, a burglar took $2 million in jewelry and other items from Paris Hilton's Hollywood Hills home. The burglary took place early Friday morning.

According to the police, a man in a hooded sweatshirt and gloves forced entry through the front door of her house and proceeded to ransack her bedroom.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY SPOTLIGHT

Brad Pitt
Born: December 18, 1963
Place: Shawnee, Oklahoma



Along with his siblings Doug and Julie Neal, he grew up in Springfield, Missouri, where the family moved soon after his birth. Growing up, he was raised as a conservative Southern Baptist, singing in the church choir.

Pitt attended Kickapoo High School, where he excelled; he was a member of the golf, tennis and swimming teams, as well as the Key and Forensics clubs. He also participated in school debates and musicals. Following his graduation, Pitt attended the University of Missouri in 1982, where he belonged to the Sigma Chi fraternity, where he frequently acted in several fraternity shows. He majored in journalism, with a focus on advertising. In 1985, two weeks prior to earning his degree, Pitt left the university and moved to Los Angeles, CA to take acting lessons.

In December 1987, Pitt started out in television guest spots, including a recurring role on the CBS primetime soap opera Dallas playing Randy, the boyfriend of Shalane McCall’s character, Charlie Wade.

In 1988, Pitt received his first film role in The Dark side of the Sun. The movie was shot in Yugoslavia in the summer of 1988. However, with editing nearly complete, war broke out and much of the footage was lost; the film was released nine years later.

Pitt attracted broader public attention from a supporting role in Thelma & Louis, where he played a small-time criminal drifter who befriends Thelma (Geena Davis). His love scene with Davis, which showed Pitt shirtless and wearing a cowboy hat, has been often cited as the moment that defined Pitt as a “sex symbol”.

His performance in Legends of the Fall earned him his first Golden Globe nomination in the category of Best Performance.

Pitt's first leading role in a major film was in Inerview with the Vampire (1994). He starred in the 1995 well-received crime and science fiction films Se7en and Twelve Monkeys, for which he won a Best Performance by an Actor. Pitt achieved fame as a result of his portrayal of Tyler Durden, a straight-shooting but charismatic mastermind individual in Fight Club (1999), and since then has established himself as an A-list actor.

Pitt has appeared in television commercials designed for the Asian market, advertising such products as Edwin Jeans. He also appeared in a Heineken commercial which aired during the 2005 Super Bowl; it was directed by David Fincher, who directed Pitt in the feature films Se7en and Fight Club.

In 2006, Pitt gathered a group of housing professionals together in the Hurricane Katrina-stricken New Orleans to begin planning a project that Pitt calls Make It Right, with the goal of financing and constructing 150 new houses in New Orleans' Ninth Ward The houses are being designed with an emphasis on sustainability and affordability, with the hope that the project can and will be replicated throughout the city, with the assistance of Global Green USA, a national environmental organization.

Pitt met Friends actress Jennifer Aniston in 1998 and married her during an enclosed wedding ceremony in Malibu on July 29, 2000. In January 2005, Pitt and Aniston announced that they decided to formally separate after seven years together. Two months later, Aniston filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

As Pitt's marriage to Aniston drew to a close, he and actress Angelina Jolie were involved in a well-publicized Hollywood scandal in which Jolie was often painted as the "other woman", largely due to their chemistry during the filming of Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

He and Jolie have three adopted children, Maddox, Pax, and Zahara, as well as three biological children, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne. Since his relationship with Jolie, Pitt has become increasingly involved in social issues, both in the United States and internationally.

Celebrity Birthdays & Trivia

Celebrity Birthdays & Trivia

December

14 – Vanessa Hudgens – 20 – Salinas, CA
14 – Patty Duke – 62 – Elmhurst, NY
15 – Tim Conway – 75 – Willoughby, OH
16 – Benjamin Bratt – 45 – San Francisco, CA
17 – Bill Pullman – 54 – Hornell, NY
18 – Christina Aguilera – 27 – Staten Island, NY
18 – Katie Holmes – 29 – Toledo, OH
18 – Brad Pitt – 44 – Shawnee, OK
18 – Steven Spielberg – 61 – Cincinnati, OH
20 – David Cook – 25 – Blue Springs, MO



Trivia






STEVEN SPIELBERG

Drawing from his own experiences in Scouting, Spielberg helped the Boy Scouts of America develop a merit badge in cinematography. The badge was launched at the 1989 National Scout Jamboree which Spielberg attended, personally counseling many boys in their work on requirements.

That same year, 1989, was the release of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The opening scene shows a teenage Indiana Jones in scout uniform bearing the rank of a Life Scout. Spielberg stated he made Indiana Jones a Boy Scout in honor of his experience in Scouting. For his career accomplishments and service to others, Spielberg was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

MERYL STREEP

The Catholic school drama “Doubt” led contenders Thursday for the Screen Actors Guild Awards with five nominations, including honors for Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis.

Streep has a lead-actress nomination, while Hoffman, Adams and Davis are competing in supporting categories for “Doubt,” a war-of-wills tale between an old-school nun and a progressive priest.

MINDY MCCREADY

Country star Mindy McCready has been hospitalized in Nashville, Tennessee, after cutting her wrists.

The 33-year-old, who spent time in rehab and jail earlier this year, reportedly took pills and cut her wrists late Tuesday evening, while staying at the home of her brother, Timothy McCready.

ARETHA FRANKLIN

Aretha Franklin will sing, Pastor Rick Warren will pray and Yo-Yo Ma will play the cello during President-elect Barack Obama's Inauguration.

Congressional leaders on Wednesday announced the program, which also will feature poet Elizabeth Alexander; the Rev. Joseph Lowery, a veteran civil rights leader; and the U.S. Marine and Navy bands. The Jan. 20 event on the steps of the Capitol is expected to draw as many as four million visitors to see Obama take the noontime oath from Chief Justice John Roberts.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD

The People’s Choice Awards says Carrie Underwood will perform at its 35th annual ceremony next month.

The awards show, airing Jan. 7 on CBS, will be hosted by Queen Latifah at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, organizers said Wednesday.

BARACK OBAMA

President-elect Barack Obama has won another contest: He’s been named Time magazine’s "Person of the Year" for 2008.

The magazine has named Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Gov. Sarah Palin and Chinese director Zhang Yimou as runners-up.

Last year’s winner was Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

"MAMMA MIA! THE MOVIE"

“Mamma Mia! The Movie,” the most successful film musical of all time worldwide, as first day domestic DVD and Blu-ray consumer spend totaled over $30 million. Universal Studios Home Entertainment sold over 2.25 million units of the Golden Globe -nominated blockbuster on December 16.

An unprecedented worldwide box office phenomenon, “Mamma Mia! The Movie” has already been proclaimed the fastest selling DVD of all time in the U.K. after first-day sales reached 1.6 million units, surpassing the previous decade-long record holder Titanic on November 24, 2008 by over a half-million units, or 50 percent of total sales.

PETER FALK

A court document filed by Peter Falk’s daughter says the Emmy-winning actor is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Catherine Falk is seeking a court’s approval for a conservatorship of her 81-year-old father, who she claims no longer recognizes people. A hearing has been scheduled for late January. The petition filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court states Falk lives in Beverly Hills with his wife and recently had hip surgery and requires constant care.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY SPOTLIGHT

Felicity Huffman
Born: December 9, 1962
Place: Bedford, NY

Felicity Huffman’s parents divorced a year after her birth, and she was raised mostly by her mother. She has six sisters and a brother, Moore. She attended The Putney School, a boarding high school in Putney, Vermont and graduated from Interlocken Arts Academy in Michigan. After high school she went on to New York University where she graduated in 1988 from the Tisch School of the Arts, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama.

Huffman is known for her roles in Desperate Housewives and Transamerica. Huffman won an Emmy for her work on Desperate Housewives (Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series), as well as two 2005 Screen Actors Guild Awards (Best Actress - Comedy Series and part of Best Ensemble - Comedy Series). Huffman's performance in the film Transamerica was praised by many critics and garnered her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress as well as nominations for the Best Actress (Screen Actors Guild) and Best Actress (Academy Awards). Huffman is now a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science.

Huffman is also the co-author of the self-help book, A Practical Handbook for the Boyfriend.
On June 23, 2008, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced Huffman and her husband William H. Macy will each receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the upcoming year.

Feleicy is married to actor William H Macy, with whom she has two daughters Sofia Grace and Georgia Grace. They married on September 6, 1997.

In 2005, Huffman revealed that she had suffered from both anorexia and bulimia in her late teens and twenties. At the height of her bulimia she would purge up to six times a day. Her weight dropped to 98 lbs, her periods stopped, and she was too weak to go jogging. However, with therapy and upon meeting Macy she managed to overcome those conditions. She is still known for her self-deprecating humor and her belief that she is "not pretty."

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS & TRIVIA

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS



December


8 – Teri Hatcher – 44 – Palo Alto, CA
8 – Kim Basinger – 55 – Athens, GA
9 – Felicity Huffman – 46 – Bedford, NY
9 – Donny Osmond – 51 – Ogden, UT
11 – Teri Garr – 64 – Lakewood, OH
12 – Dionne Warwick – 68 – East Orange, MJ
12 – Bob Barker – 85 – Darrington, WA
13 – Jamie Foxx – 40 – Terrell, TX
13 – Dick VanDyke – 82 – West Plains, MO



TRIVIA








DICK VAN DYKE

As an a cappella enthusiast, Van Dyke has sung in a group called "The Vantastix" since September, 2000. The Quarted has performed several times in Los Angeles as well as on Larry King Live, The First Annual TV Land Awards, and sung the National Anthem at three Los Angeles Lakers games including a nationally televised NBA Finals performance on NBC. Van Dyke was made an honorary member of the Barbershop Harmony Society in 1999.

HUGH JACKMAN

Hugh Jackman will hots the 2009 Oscars. This will be Jackman’s first time as Oscar host. He previously hosted the Tony Awards in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

The “Australia” star, who was recently selected as “Sexiest Man Alive,” by People magazine will emcee the event on February 22, 2009.

Jackman has yet to receive an Oscar nomination, however, he was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2001, when he starred opposite Meg Ryan in “Kate & Leopold.”

STEVIE WONDER

Stevie Wonder is in talks to become the first blind contestant on "Dancing with the Stars," the legend confirmed.

Wonder, 58, who signed to Motown as a pre-teen, said nothing is set in stone yet, but the dialogue to get him to show off his fancy footwork in the ballroom is open.

USHER

R&B star Usher's wife, Tameka, gave birth to the couple’s second child on Wednesday.

Usher and Tameka Raymond welcomed their second son, Naviyd Ely Raymond, on December 10th at 2:33 AM, weighing 5lbs, 13 oz.

JAY LENO

On Monday evening, news broke that Jay Leno, who will vacate the “Tonight Show” seat in spring of 2009 when Conan O’Brien takes over. Leno will host a new variety show at 10 p.m. on weeknights.

Leno's deal at NBC keeps him from jumping to another network and competing with O'Brien. It will also save NBC money, as variety shows are cheaper to produce than dramas.

OPRAH WINFREY

Opray Winfrey just revealed she regained 40 pounds and now weighs 200 lbs.

In January's "O" magazine, Winfrey, 54, details her recent struggles with an out-of-balance thyroid and how the condition made her develope "a fear of working out."

TOM ARNOLD

In his new film, “Gardens of the Night,” Tom Arnold tackles the role of a child molester. But in real life, Tom said he was the victim of sexual molestation when he was a young child.

According to Tom, the abuse lasted until he was 7. By then, the man was 22. Now more than 40 years removed from the abuse, Tom still finds it tough to talk about.

ANNE HECHE

The actress is expecting a child with her boyfriend and former “Men In Trees” co-star James Tupper. Anne and James met on the set of “Men In Trees."

Anne has a son, 6-year-old Homer, from her previous relationship with ex-husband Coley Laffoon.

O. J. Simpson

O. J. Simpson has been sentenced to at least 15 years in prison for a Las Vegas hotel armed robbery.


Simpson stood stone-faced Friday when Judge Jackie Glass quickly rattled off his punishment after he pleaded with her that he didn’t mean to steal from anybody when he tried to retrieve memorabilia.


Glass ruled before sentencing that Simpson cannot be freed on bail pending possible appeal.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY SPOTLIGHT

Bette Midler
Born: December 1, 1945
Place: Honolulu, HI



She was named after the actress Bette Davis. Davis pronounced her first name in two syllables, and Midler uses one.

She was raised in nearby Aiea attended Radford High School in Honolulu. She was voted in Hoss Election 1961 "Most Talkative" and in her Senior Year (Class of 1963) "Most Dramatic". She majored in drama at the University of Hawaii (though she only attended for three semesters), and earned money in the film Hawaii (released in 1966) as an extra, playing a seasick passenger.

In 1965, she relocated to New York City after using the money she got for playing an extra, and landed her first professional onstage role in Tom Eyen’s Off-Off-Broadway plays in 1965, Miss Nefertiti Regrets and Cinderella Revisited, a children's play by day and an adult show by night. From 1966 to 1969 she played the role of Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway; during this period her sister Judith, visiting New York to see her perform, was killed by a taxi cab.

In 1970, Midler began singing in the Continental Baths, a gay bathyouse in the city, where she became close to her piano accompanist, Barry Manilow, who produced her first major album, The Divine Miss M, in 1973.

In 1985, she was a performer on USA for Africa’s fund-raising single We Are the World, and participated at the 'Live Aid' event at JFK stadium in Philadelphia.

That same year, she signed a multi-picture deal with Touchstone Pictures. She was subsequently cast by director Paul Mazursky in Down and Out in Beverly Hills, beginning a successful comedic acting career. She followed that up with Ruthless People (1986), Outrageous Fortune (1987), and Big Business (1988). She also scored a hit with the 1988 tearjerker Beaches, costarring Barbara Hereshey. She lent her voice to the animated character Georgette, a snobbish poodle, in Disney's Oliver & Company (1989). In 1990, she costarred with Woody Allen (sporting a ponytail) in Scenes from a Mall, again for Mazursky. She earned another Academy Award nomination as Best Actress for 1991's For the Boys costarring with James Caan and directed by Mark Rydell, who had also directed The Rose. She reportedly turned down the lead role in 1992's Sister Act.

Her other films include Hocus Pocus (1993), The First Wives Club (1996), and The Stepford Wives. Her television work includes an Emmy-nominated version of the stage musical Gypsy and a guest appearance as herself in Fran Drescher’s “The Nanny".

Midler won an Emmy Award in 1992 for her memorable performance on the final episode of The Tonight Show in May of that year, during which she sang an emotion-laden "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)" to Johnny Carson.

Bette Midler has a Vegas show titled "Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On" at The Colosseum at Ceasars Palace. The show has approximately 100 shows for a two year run. Bette is reportedly being paid $40 million per year for her 200 a year shows, amounting in $120 million. The show debuted on February 20, 2008.

In 1995, Midler founded the New York Restoration Project, a non-profit organization with the goal of revitalizing neglected neighborhood parks in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods of New York City.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS & TRIVIA

Celebrity Birthdays & Trivia

December

1 – Bette Midler – 63 – Honolulu, HA
1 – Woody Allen – 73 – Brooklyn, NY
2 – Britney Spears – 27 – McComb, MI
2 – Lucy Liu – 40 – Queens, NY
3 – Ozzy Osbourne – 60 – Aston, ENGLAND
3 – Andy Williams – 81 – Wall Lake, IA
3 – Julieanne Moore – 48 – Fayettevill, NC
4 – Jay-Z – 39 – Brooklyn, NY
4 – Marisa Tomei – 44 – Brooklyn, NY
5 – Frankie Muniz – 22 – Woodridge, NJ
5 – Johnny Rzeznik – 42 – Buffalo, NY
6 – Lindsay Price – 31 – Arcadia, CA

Trivia

BRITNEY SPEARS

In early 2001, Spears signed a multi-million dollar promotional deal with Pepsi that included television commercials, point-of-purchase promotions, and Internet ties between Spears and the company. Britney Spears has earned over US$370 million from her many, multi-million dollar advertisement and endorsement deals all around the World.

IVANA TRUMP

Ivana Trump has issued a statement confirming reports of marital discord with Italian entrepreneur Rossano Rubicondi.

Trump, who married Rubicondi in April, says she filed a legal separation agreement three months ago. Trump says she kept quiet about it because she didn’t want to ruin Rubicondi’s chances as a contestant on the Italian edition of the reality TV show “Survivor.”
Rubicondi is Trump’s fourth husband.

BRITNEY SPEARS

Britney Spears celebrated her 27th birthday doing what her fans love to see her do most, performing.

The pop star continued her comeback with an appearance on “Good Morning America” Tuesday morning at the Big Apple Circus tent at New York’s Lincoln Center.

Britney, who was dressed as a ringmaster, made a grand entrance on a circus wagon with jugglers, clowns and performers in animal costumes accompanying her, before performing her hit single, “Womanizer.”

The pop star’s festive appearance coincides with the release of her sixth studio album, “Circus.”

MICHAEL PHELPS

Michael Phelps achieved another unprecedented feat - the first swimmer honored as Sports Illustrated’s sportsman of the year.

Phelps broke Mark Spitz’s iconic record with eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in August and became the winningest Olympian ever with his 14 career victories.

The 23-year-old Phelps follows a more traditional winner, NFL quarterback Brett Favre. Sports Illustrated Group editor Terry McDonell called the selection of Phelps “the easiest choice I have made.”

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY SPOTLIGHT

Anna Mae Bullock – Tina Turner
Born: November 26, 1939
Place: Nutbush, TN



Anna Mae Bullock was born as the younger of two girls in Nutbush, an unincorporated area in Haywood County, TN, on November 26, 1939.

Bullock attended Summer High School in St. Louis. Around this time, Bullock's sister was taking her to several nightclubs in the city. At Club Imperial one night, Bullock met Mississippi-born rhythm and blues musician Ike Turner and later asked him if she could sing for him. Ike was initially skeptical, but after much persistence on Bullock's part, Ike Turner eventually decided to let her perform for him. Thus, Bullock became an occasional vocalist in Ike's shows at the age of 18. Going by the name, "Little Ann", Bullock was also the spotlight of a soul revue led by Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm band.

In 1960, when a singer scheduled to record the song, “A Fool in Love”, didn't appear, Bullock stepped in and recorded the vocals instead. "A Fool in Love" was a huge R&B hit reaching #2 crossing over to the top 30 of the US pop chart. Ike changed Bullock's name to Tina Turner and that of his band to The Ike & Tina Turner Revue. In 1962, the two married in Tijuana, Mexico.

Turner raised four sons. As times and musical styles changed, Tina developed a unique stage persona as a singer-dancer-performer which thrilled audiences of the group's live concerts. Tina and the Revue's backup singers, The Ikettes, wove intricate and electrifying dance routines into their performances and influenced many other artists including Mick Jagger.

By the mid-1970s, Tina's personal life and marriage began to deteriorate. Ike's drug use led to increasingly erratic and physically abusive behavior. Their act was losing speed largely due to Ike's refusal to accept outside management of their recording or touring as well as the cost of maintaining a rather voracious alleged cocaine habit. Touring dates began to decline and record sales were low.

After a violent argument before an appearance in Dallas over the Fourth of July weekend in 1976, Tina abruptly left Ike, fleeing with nothing more than thirty-six cents and a gas-station credit card. She spent the next few months hiding from Ike while staying with various friends.

Her divorce was finalized in 1978 after sixteen years of marriage. She later accused Ike of years of severe spousal abuse and rampant drug addiction in her autobiography I, Tina.

In 1984, Turner staged what has been widely considered the most "amazing comeback in rock music history." In May, Capitol released the single “What’s Love Got To Do With It” in the U.S. to promote the upcoming album. Two weeks after its release, the song was on the play lists of over 100 radio stations. Eventually the single became a worldwide smash and in September, the song reached number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming the first single for Turner's to do so ever, it also remains her only number-one American hit.

In 1991, Ike & Tina Turner was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

On February 10, 2008, at age 68, Turner performed together with Beyoncé at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards that was broadcast live on CBS. It was Turner's first major public performance since her record-breaking Twenty-Four Seven Tour just over seven years earlier.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY SPOTLIGHT

Celebrity Birthdays & Trivia

November

23 – Miley Cyrus – 16 – Nashville, TN
24 – Kathleen Heigl – 30 – Washington, DC
25 – John Larroquette – 61 – New Orleans, LA
26 – Tina Turner – 69 – Nutbush, TN
27 – Jaleel White – 31 – Pasadena, CA
27 – Carline Kennedy – 50 – New York, NY
28 – Ed Harris – 57 – Tenafly, NJ
29 – Howie Mandel – 52 – Toronto, CA
29 – Chuck Mangione – 67 – Rochester, NY



Trivia

JALEEL WHITE

White got his start on TV commercials at age three with Kellogg’s after his preschool teacher persuaded his reluctant parents to take him to auditions. He landed his first television role as Flip Wilson and Gladys Knight’s son on the CBS series Charlie and Company. He next appeared on another CBS comedy series, The Jeffersons. At the age of 12, White originated his most famous role, Steve Urkel, on Family Matters.

KANYE WEST

Kanye West picked up his first American Music Awards and delivered a flawless performance of his new single "Heartless."

West was a double winner, collecting trophies for favorite male rap/hip hop artist and favorite rap/hip hop album for his CD, "Graduation."

ROBERT PATTINSON

The vampire romance “Twilight” has drained the box office in its opening weekend with ticket sales totaling $70.5 million.


Drawing from its huge fan base of teenage girls, who fell for Stephenie Meyer’s novel of forbidden love between brooding vampire Edward Cullen and bookish high schooler Bella Swan, “Twilight” made a whopping $20,636 per theater, according to Sunday morning estimates.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY SPOTLIGHT

Jodie Foster
Born: November 19, 1962
Place: Los Angeles, CA



Foster attended a French-speaking prep school, the Lycee Francais de Los Angeles, and graduated in 1980 as the valedictorian. As a teenager, Foster frequently stayed and worked in France, and still speaks the language, dubbing herself in French-language versions of most of her films. She then attended Yale University. Foster earned a B.A. in literature and graduated magna cum luade in 1985. She was scheduled to graduate in 1984 but the shooting of then-President Ronald Regan by John Hinckley, Jr., in which Hinckley's fascination with Foster created unwanted adverse publicity for her, caused her to take a year-long leave of absence from Yale.

Foster made nearly 50 film and television appearances before she attended college. Although Foster's first acting appearance was at three years old, her first significant role came in 1976 as an underage prostitute in Taxi Driver, for which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She won an Oscar for Best Actress in 1988 for playing a rape survivor in The Accused. In 1991, she starred in The Silence of the Lambs as Clarice Starling, a gifted FBI trainee, assisting in a hunt for a serial killer. This performance received international acclaim and her second Oscar for Best Actress. Her films and roles have spanned a wide variety of genres, including thrillers, crime, romance, comedy, children’s films and science fiction.

Foster says she has only met her father three times in her entire life and that their meetings have been very awkward. She has two older sisters, Lucinda "Cindy" Foster, Constance "Connie" Foster, and one older brother, Lucius "Buddy" Foster. During the filming of both Taxi Driver and The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane, Connie was her stand-in. Buddy Foster had his own career for several years appearing in regular spots on television shows such as Hondo and Mayberry, R.F.D. Foster and her brother have been estranged for many years.

Foster is intensely private about certain aspects of her personal life, notably her sexual orientation, which has been the subject of speculation. For years, Russell Crowe accompanied her to premieres and award ceremonies, but they never commented on the rumor that they were romantically involved.

Foster has two sons: Charles Foster and Christopher "Kit" Foster. Foster gave birth to both children, but has not revealed the identity of the children's father(s) or the specifics of their conception.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS & TRIVIA

Celebrity Birthdays & Trivia

November

17 – Danny DeVito – 64 – Neptune, NJ
17 – Gordon Lightfoot – 70 – Orillia, Ontario CA
18 – Owen Wilson – 40 – Dallas, TX
18 – Sinbad – 52 – Benton Harbor, MI
18 – Linda Evans – 65 – Hartford, CT
19 – Jodie Foster – 46 – Los Angeles, CA
19 – Meg Ryan – 47 – Fairfield, CT
19 – Ted Turner – 70 – Cincinnati, OH
19 – Larry King – 75 – Brooklyn, NY
20 – Cody Linley – 19 – Rhodaburg, TX
20 – Bo Derek – 52 – Long Beach, CA
20 – Dick Smothers – 69 – New York City, NY
21 – Goldie Hawn – 62 – Washington, DC
22 – Jamie Lee Curtis – 49 – Los Angeles, CA




Trivia

MEG RYAN



At age 18, Meg Ryan booked her first television commercial, doing chin-ups and giggling to promote “Tickle” deodorant. After a role in the Rich and Famous, Ryan played “Betsy Stewart” in the daytime drama As The World Turns, from 1982-1984; she was featured in a popular romantic story arc.

CODY LINLEY

Cody Linley, the 18-year-old "Hannah Montana" actor, and his professional partner, Julianne Hough, were eliminated Tuesday from ABC's popular "Dancing with the Stars" competition.

The three remaining contestants model, actress Brooke Burke, singer Lance Bass and former NFL star Warren Sapp will compete for the show's mirror ball trophy next week.

PRINCE

A perfume company is claiming Prince and his music publisher failed to honor a contract to help market a fragrance named for the album "3121."

The breach-of-contract lawsuit was filed on Monday by Revelatoins Perfume and Cosmetics, Inc. in New York. The company says it licensed Prince's name, likeness and the album title "3121" to market its fragrance. Revelations says it spent $2.5 million and agreed to pay Universal half of net profits from sales of the perfume. It claims Universal and Prince haven't participated in various promotions since the fragrance launch in July 2007.

MICHAEL JACKSON

Michael Jackson might be too sick to travel to London to testify in a suit claiming he owes an Arab Sheik $7 million, the pop star's attorney said Tuessday. Jackson is seeking to give his testimony by video link from the United States.

MILEY CYRUS

The "Hannah Montana" star, who is alive and well, was the victim of an Internet hoax over the weekend when someone hacked into her YouTube account and posted a video alleging she'd been killed by a drunken driver.

Miley was interviewed by The Associated Press at the Los Angeles junket for the Disney animated film"Bolt" on Sunday night. She voices a 12-year-old TV actress in the movie, which hits the theaters Nov. 21st.

NICOLE KIDMAN

It was hot and dusty during filming in one of the world’s most remote locations. But Nicole Kidman says the prospect of a smooch with Hugh Jackman eased the troubles of working on the Outback romance, “Australia.” Kidman’s prim British aristocrat character falls in love with Jackman’s rugged cattleman in World War II-era Australia.

With a budget reportedly of $120 million or more, which would make it the most expensive ever made in Australia, the new film carries high stakes for its largely homegrown team, including director Baz Luhrmann, Kidman and Jackman.

ROBERT PATTINSON

Absolute teen hysteria took over Westwood Village Monday night as "Twilight's" immortal leading man, Robert Pattinson, descended on the red carpet for the movie's premiere.

Pattinson plays sexy vampire Edward Cullen in the "Twilight's" movie (out Nov. 21).

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY SPOTLIGHT

Whoopi Goldberg
Born: November 13, 1955
Place: New York City, NY

Whoopi Goldberg’s birth name is Caryn Elaine Johnson. Her name is derived from the toy whoopee cushion. She said, “If you get a little gassy, you’ve go to let it go. So people used to say to me, ‘You’re like a whoopee cushion.’ And that’s where the name came from.” She chose the last name of Goldberg from her Jewish ancestors' surname.

She performed on Broadway during Oct 1984 - March 1985 where she did a self titled one woman show. Steven Spielberg attended one of these performances and was about to direct the 1985 movie “The Color Purple” so he offered her a lead role. Since then she has been in many movies with the most notable being “Ghost” where she played a psychic. She won the 1990 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress which made her the first African-American female to win that award in nearly 50 years.

She was the center square on the TV game show “Hollywood Squares” from 1998-2002. From August 2006-March 2008, she hosted a syndicated morning radio program.
She became a moderator on the TV show “The View” in Sept. 2007.

Whoppi is one out of thirteen people who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, An Oscar, a Tony Award and a Daytime Emmy Award. She also has won 2 Golden Globe Awards and 2 Saturn Awards.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS & TRIVIA

Celebrity Birthdays & Trivia

November

9 – Nick Lachey – 35 – Cincinnati, OH
9 – Vanessa Minnillo – 28 – Angeles City, Philippines
10 – Ellen Pompeo – 39 – Everett, MA
10 – MacKenzie Phillips – 49 – Alexandria, VA
11 – Leonardo DiCaprio – 34 – Los Angeles, CA
11 – Calista Flockhart – 44 – Freeport, IL
11 – Demi Moore – 46 – Roswell, NM
12 – Ryan Gosling – 28 – London, ON, Canada
12 – David Schwimmer – 42 – Astoria, NY
13 – Whoopi Goldberg – 52 – New York City, NY
14 – Prince Charles – 59 – London, England
15 – Frida Lyngstad – 62 – Bjokasen, Ballangen, Norway

Trivia



CALISTA FLOCKHART




Calista Flockhart and Jane Krakowski met in college at Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey. Years later they worked together on the 1997-2002 TV show “Ally McBeal”. While attending Rutgers, Calista was allowed to perform on the main stage which normally was reserved for juniors and seniors. She graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1988. From 1989-1997, she lived in New York City where she worked as a waitress and aerobics instructor although she did receive work in television and on Broadway during this time period.

In 1997, she auditioned for the starring role in David E. Kelly’s FOX TV series “Ally McBeal”. She earned a Golden Globe Award and appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, June 1998, as the issue discussed the evolution of feminism. Her natural thin figure generated controversy as she was regarded as dangerously thin.

She is the current national spokesperson for Peace Over Violence. She continues to appear on the ABC drama series “Brothers and Sisters” which began in 2006.

ARETHA FRANKLIN

In a recent poll conducted by Rolling Stone magazine, Aretha Franklin was voted the greatest singer in rock era. Ray Charles came in 2nd and Elvis Presley 3rd. Rounding out the top five were Sam Cooke in 4th place and John Lennon in 5th. The poll survey was of 179 musicians, producers, Rolling Stone editors and other music-industry insiders.

LINDSAY LOHAN

In an interview with “Access Hollywood”, Lindsay Lohan was describing her Election Day experience stating, “It was really exciting. It’s an amazing feeling. It’s our first colored president.” Yet, some are defending Lindsay saying the word she uses is unintelligible.


Lindsay opens up about her relationship with DJ Samantha Ronson in the December issue of Harper’s Bazaar magazine. In the interview she says, “I think it’s pretty obvious who I’m seeing. I think it’s no shock to anyone that it’s been going on for quite some time….she’s a wonderful person and I love her very much.” She also comments that she could have bought a house with the amount of money she spent staying at the Chateau Marmont Hotel for two years. The magazine hits newsstands on Nov. 18.

JENNIFER ANISTON

Jennifer Aniston will guest star on the NBC TV show “30 Rock” and “Oprah” on Thursday, 11/13. In the December issue of the magazine, Vogue, she made a comment about how Angelina Jolie was “really uncool” for hooking up with Brad Pitt while they were still married. She told Oprah that the Vogue interviewer asked her a question that she tried to answer as honestly as she could. She also shares with Oprah “I have been unbelievably lucky in love. It just might not look that way it’s supposed to look at this point.”

SHANIA TWAIN

Shania Twain made an appearance at the 42nd Annual Country Music Awards. This was her first public appearance since the separation from her husband, Robert “Mutt” Lange in May. She presented the award for entertainer of the year to Kenny Chesney. She won the same award at the CMA in 2004.

BRITNEY SPEARS

Britney Spears 2 year old son, Jayden, had to be rushed to the hospital on Sunday, 11/9, due to allergic reaction to something he ingested. They are not sure of what caused the reaction. Britney is in Kentwood, LA visiting family with her two sons.

Kevin Federline is not going to ask family court for an investigation into his son’s health scare under Britney’s watch. It is rumored that her and Kevin Federline are romantically involved again.

ADAM SANDLER

Adam and his wife, Jackie, welcomed their second daughter, Sunny Madeline, on Nov. 2. On his web site Adam states, “Everyone is healthy and happy.” His first daughter, Sadie, was born in May 2006. Jackie and Adam were married in 2003.

EVAN RACHEL WOOD

After her split with Marilyn Mason, it is rumored she is dating Mickey Rourke. She has denied the rumor stating, “Spread the word – I’m not dating Mickey Rourke. Everybody thinks we’re dating and we are not.”

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY SPOTLIGHT

Sally Field
Born: November 6, 1946
Place: Pasadena, CA

Sally Field was a cheerleader in high school. One of her classmates was Cindy Williams from the TV show “Laverne and Shirley”.

Her television career began with the role of a surfer girl on “Gidget” from 1965-1966. Yet, she became better known for her role as Sister Bertrille in “The Flying Nun” which ran from 1967-1970. Sally released a music album while staring in “The Flying Nun” on Colgems Records in 1967. The single “Felicidad” was on the Billboard Hot 100 during 1967.

The 1976 television film “Sybil” her portrayal of a young woman with multiple personality syndrome won her an Emmy Award in 1977. In 1977, she stared with Burt Reynolds, Jackie Gleason and Jerry Reed in “Smokey and the Bandit”. Then in 1979, she established her dramatic actress status with the movie “Norma Rae”. She won an Academy Award and Golden Globe for her performance as a union organizer in “Norma Rae”. Her next Academy Award was for her role in “Places of the Heart” which is remembered due to her acceptance speech comments including, “You like me, you really like me!” She also had supporting roles in the films “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Forrest Gump”.

She returned to television in 2000-2001 with a reoccurring role on the show “ER”. In 2001, she won an Emmy Award for that show performance. Lately, she can be seen on the ABC drama “Brothers & Sisters”. She is also the spokeswomen for Roche Laboratories’ postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment medication, Boniva.