CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS & TRIVIA

Celebrity Birthdays & Trivia

February

2 – Shakira – 31 – Barranquilla, Columbia
2 – Lisa Marie Presley – 40 – Memphis, TN
2 – Christie Brinkley – 54 – Monroe, MI
2 – Farrah Fawcett – 61 – Corpus Christi, TX
3 – Morgan Fairchild – 58 – Dallas, TX
6 – Natalie Cole – 58 – Los Angeles, CA
6 – Tom Brokaw – 68 – Webster, SD
6 – Mike Farrell – 69 – St. Paul, MN
7 – Ashton Kutcher - 30 – Cedar Rapids, IA
7 – Chris Rock – 43 – Andrews, SC
7 – Garth Brooks – 46 – Tulsa, OK

Trivia

SHAKIRA

In 2000, Shakira started dating Antonio de la Rua the son of then president of Argentina Fernando de la Rua, a romance that made headline news throughout Latin America. In March 2001, he proposed to her. De la Rúa and Shakira remain engaged. She currently lives in The Bahamas.

Shakira is intensely interested in world history. She frequently studies the history and languages of the countries she visits. After her Oral Fixation tour ended in summer 2007, Shakira audited a class in Los Angeles at UCLA, on the History of Western Civilization. She used her middle and last names, Isabel Mebarak, and told the professor she was visiting from Colombia so as to avoid being recognized as a celebrity.

HEATH LEDGER

An agreement has been reached in a lawsuit involving Heath Ledger's $10 million life insurance policy.

The confidential settlement was revealed in court documents filed Wednesday in Los Angeles. Ledger’s attorneys are seeking a closed hearing next month to establish a court guardian to represent the actor’s 3-year-old daughter, Matilda Rose, who is the policy’s beneficiary.

PATRICK SWAYZE

Earlier this week, the National Enquirer reported that the star of A&E’s “The Beast” had stopped receiving chemo treatment for his stage 4 pancreatic cancer. According to Patrick’s rep, the report that the star has ended his treatment run is “not true.”

Earlier this month, “The Beast” star was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, suffering from pneumonia. He was released several days later.

CAPTAIN CHESLEY B. SULLENBERGER III

The pilot responsible for orchestrating the safe landing of US Airways flight 1549 in the Hudson River earlier this month will be honored at Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday, the NFL announced.

Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III, as well as other members of the plane’s flight crew, will be recognized on the field for “helping safely rescue 150 passengers on New York’s Hudson River,” NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said on Thursday.

DAVID ARCHULETA

"American Idol" runner-up David Archuleta has announced his first solo tour, where he’ll be supported by Irish pop-rocker Lesley Roy.

The Utah native will be kicking off the tour in Virginia Beach, Virginia on February 24 and will wrap things up March 21 in Boise, Idaho, with 18 additional stops along the way. He’s touring in support of his self-titled debut album.

MARISKA HARGITAY

Mariska Hargitay has returned to the set of “Law & Order: SVU” for the first time since she suffered a collapsed lung earlier this month.

JOHN TRAVOLTA

A paramedic has been charged in an alleged plot to extort $25 million from John Travolta after his teenage son suffered a seizure and died at the family’s home in the Bahamas.

Magistrate Carolita Bethel says 47-year-old Tarino Lightbourne pleaded not guilty Monday to attempting to extort and conspiracy to extort from the actor. Details of the alleged scheme have still not been made public.

Prosecutor Bernard Turner is objecting to bail. A Bahamian senator also accused of extortion has resigned and vowed to prove her innocence.

DONNY OSMOND

Donny Osmond is about to compete for the coveted "Dancing With The Starss" trophy.

Next season’s celebrity contestants have not been announced by ABC, but during a Monday taping of “The Bonnie Hunt Show” scheduled to air on Tuesday, Donny revealed he would compete on the hit ABC show.

When asked by Bonnie if he would ever strut his moves on the dance floor, Donny smiled and said, “Well, I guess I am making an announcement. I’ll say I am seriously considering doing it, let’s put it that way.”

MICHAEL JACKSON

Landis’ Levitsky Productions Inc. sued Jackson for unspecified damages in Santa Monica on Jan. 21, days before a Broadway producer announced he had bought the rights to adapt “Thriller” for the stage.

The lawsuit claims Landis is owed 50 percent of profits from “Thriller” projects and alleges Jackson continues to license rights to video games, toys and comic books based on the 14-minute music video and a documentary.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS & TRIVIA

Celebrity Birthdays & Trivia

January

26 – Ellen DeGeneres – 51 – Metairie, LA
28 – Elijah Wood. – 28 – Cedar Rapids, IA
28 – Joey Fatone, Jr – 32 – Brooklyn, NY
28 – Alan Alda – 73 – Bronx, NY
29 – Oprah Winfrey – 55 – Kosciusko, MS
29 – Ann Jilliam – 59 – Cambridge, MA
29 – Tom Selleck – 64 – Detroit, MI
29 – John Forsythe – 91 – Penns Grove, NJ
30 – Phil Collins – 58 – London, England
30 – Vanessa Redgrave – 72 – London, England
30 – Gene Hackman – 78 – San Bernardino, CA
31 – Justin Timberlake – 27 – Memphis, TN
31 – Minnie Driver – 39 – London, England
31 – Carol Channing – 88 – Seattle, WA


Trivia

ALAN ALDA

Alda is of Italian and Irish descent. When Alda was seven years old he contracted polio. To combat the disease, his parents administered a painful treatment regimen developed by Sister Elizabeth Kenny that consisted of applying hot woolen blankets to his limbs and stretching his muscles. This allowed him to recover from most effects of the disease.

In 1956 he received his bachelor’s degree from Fordham College of Fordham University in the Bronx, where he was a student staff member of its FM radio station, WFUV. During his junior year, he studied in Europe, where he acted in a play in Rome and performed with his father on television in Amsterdam. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve and served a six-month tour of duty as a gunnery officer in Korea following the Korean War.

HEATH LEDGER

As expected, Heath Ledger had a supporting-actor nomination for “The Dark Knight” on the one-year anniversary of his death from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. The Batman blockbuster was shut out from other top categories such as best picture and director.

BRAD PITT

The romantic fantasy “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” led Academy Awards contenders Thursday with 13 nominations, among them best picture and acting honors for Brad Pitt and Taraji P. Henson, and a directing slot for David Fincher.

KELLY OSBOURNE

Reports are that Kelly Osbourne has checked herself into a rehab facility.

The singer’s mother, Sharon Osbourne, spoke to Radar Online about her daughter seeking help. “Kelly will tell you herself when she gets out,” the “Rock Of Love: Charm School” star said of the reason she entered rehab. “We just pray that everything’s going to be okay.”

JOHN TRAVOLTA

As John Travolta and Kelly Preston continue to grieve over the loss of their teenage son, Jett, a report from the Bahamas surfaced Thursday claiming that individuals are attempting to blackmail the family for millions.

According to Bahamian news channel ZNS, there is an open investigation into an alleged extortion scheme against the Travoltas.

JAMES EARL JONES

Forest Whitaker will present Screen Actors Gild's 45th Life Achievement Award to James Earl Jones at the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, executive producer and director Jeff Margolis announced Wednesday. He has appeared in countless television, film and stage productions over his 53-year career.

GEORGE CLOONEY

Clooney, who was part of the cast of “ER” when the series debuted on NBC in 1994, is expected to reprise his role as Dr. Doug Ross this week.

According to Radar Online, Clooney’s character will be featured in at least one scene practicing medicine at a hospital in Seattle. He is also set to film a scene in his old haunt at County General.

MERYL STREEP

It was a record 15th nomination for Meryl Streep, nominated for best-actess in "Doubt", who already had more Oscar nominations than any other actor.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Barack Hussein Obama is now the nation’s 44th president and first black chief executive. Even before he took the oath of office, Obama assumed the country’s highest office by mandate of the U.S. Constitution.

The 20th Amendment specifies that the terms of office of the president and vice president “shall end at noon on the 20th day of January … and the terms of their successors shall then begin.”

JENNIFER HUDSON

William Balfour entered his plea Tuesday at Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago.

Balfour is the estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia Hudson. He’s accused of killing their mother, brother and Julia Hudson’s 7-year-old son in October. Balfour is being held without bail. He is next due in court Jan. 27.

MUHAMMAD ALI

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali, celebrating his 67th birthday, was the guest of honor at a party for 1,400 that included other celebrities, lawmakers and native Kentuckians.

Ali will be sitting on the platform Tuesday when Barach Obama is sworn in as the nation’s first black president.

Muhammad Ali carried the dreams of a generation during his prime as an athlete, and later as a humanitarian.

KELLY OSBOURNE

Kelly Osbourne was arrested earlier this year for allegedly slapping a reporter in a London nightclub last summer, according to People.

“I can confirm that a 24-year-old woman attended a central London police station by appointment at 3 PM on January 2,” the Scotland Yard official said. “She was arrested for common assault relating to an alleged incident in Soho in the early hours of August 29, 2008.”
Authorities also said the woman was released on bail and is scheduled to return to the central London police station in March.

KATIE HOLMES

Katie Holmes just wrapped up a successful Broadway run in “All My Sons,” but according to the New York Post, her first star turn on the Great White Way may not be her last.

Katie reportedly attended an invitation-only ready of “Finding Neverland,” the musical based on the 2004 film depicting the life of “Peter Pan” creator J.M. Barrie. She played the role of Barrie’s wife, a role a source told the Post “isn’t big, but has a few nice moments” – including some singing.

ANNE HECHE

Anne Heche’s next child will be a boy. Anne, 39, was at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, to promote her latest film, “Spread,” in which she co-stars alongside Ashton Kutcher.

Anne and boyfriend James Tupper announced her pregnancy in December. The star has a 6-year-old son with ex-husband Coleman Laffoon.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS & TRIVIA

Celebrity Birthdays & Trivia

January

18 – Kevin Costner – 53 – Lynwood, CA
19 – Desi Arnaz, Jr. – 55 – Los Angeles, CA
19 – Wendy Moniz – 39 – Kansas City, MO
19 – Paul McCrane – 47 – Philadelphia, PA
19 – Dolly Parton – 62 – Sevierville, TN
20 – Rainn Wilson – 42 – Seattle, WA
21 – Geena Davis – 52 – Wareham, MA
23 – Tiffany-Amber Thiessen – 34 – Long Beach, CA
24 – Neil Diamond - 67 – New York City, NY

Trivia









KEVIN COSTNER

Kevin Costner became interested in acting while in college, and on graduation married Cindy Silva. The couple honeymooned in Puerto Vallarta and on the return plane journey had a chance encounter with actor and fellow passenger Richard Burton, who had purchased all the seats around him for solitude. Burton agreed to speak to Costner after he finished his book. Costner, who had been taking acting classes, but had not told his wife about his desire to be an actor, watched Burton closely and approached when Burton gestured him to. Costner told Burton that he would prefer that his life was not filled with the type of drama that had followed Burton and asked if he would have to tolerate that if he became an actor. Burton replied, "You have green eyes. I have green eyes. I think you'll be fine." After landing, Burtons limousine pulled up to the curb where Costner and Cindy were waiting for a taxi, where Burton wished Costner luck. Costner would never see Burton again, but credits Burton with partially contributing to his career.

JENNIFER HUDSON

Jennifer Hudson will sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in what will be her first performance since her family was tragically murdered last October.

Hudson, who had released her self-titled debut album shortly before the killings, is also scheduled to sing at the Grammys’ MusiCares event in Los Angeles a few days later. She is nominated for four awards at the Feb. 8 Grammy Awards.

MARISKA HARGITAY

Mariska Hargitay is suffering from a collapsed lung, according to a rep for the “Law & Order: SVU” star. Despite the injury, “she will appear in all episodes for the rest of the season of ‘Law &Order: SVU,’” her rep added.

HOWIE MANDEL

Despite online reports that Howie Mandel might have suffered a heart attack in Toronto, “Deal or No Deal” host Howie Mandel is fine.

Reports indicate that Howie was in the hospital being monitored for an irregular heartbeat. He is out of the hospital and plans to return to work Wednesday.

FERGIE & JOSH DUHAMEL

Fergie, the 33-year-old Black Eyed Peas singer, wed the 36-year-old “Las Vegas” actor, Josh Duhamel on Saturday. They followed up their Saturday Malibu wedding by jetting off to their honeymoon.

The couple was spotted Sunday afternoon at Los Angeles International Airport embarking on their romantic trip around 2 PM local time.

HEATH LEDGER

The late Heath Ledger was honored on Sunday night, as the actor won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for his role in “The Dark Knight.”

Director Christopher Nolan accepted the award on Ledger’s behalf.

CLINT EASTWOOD

Clint Eastwood has had the best movie opening of his long and esteemed career. His “Gran Torino” hit the box office with $29 million in ticket sales in its first weekend of wide release, according to studio estimates Sunday.

It’s Eastwood’s best opening ever, topping the $18 million his “Space Cowboys” made in 2000.

Eastwood, 78, has said that this may be his last starring performance.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY SPOTLIGHT

Robert Duval
Born: January 5, 1931
Place: San Diego, CA

Duvall grew up in a military family, living for a time in Annapolis, Maryland near the United States Navel Academy.

He served in the United States Army from 19 August 1953 to 20 August 1954, leaving as Private First Class. While stationed at Fort Gordon in Georgia, Duvall acted in an amateur production of the comedy “Room Service" in nearby Augusta.

After leaving the Army, Duvall studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre in New York under Sanford Meisner. While working to become an actor, he worked as a Manhattan post office clerk.

Duvall is friends with actors Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman whom he knew during their years as struggling actors. At one point, Duvall roomed with Hoffman while they were looking for work.

Duvall's screen debut was as Boo Radley in the critically acclaimed To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). Duvall later played the notorious malefactor Ned Pepper in True Grit (1969), but his breakout role was that of Tom Hagen in The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974), the former film earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He received another Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in A Civil Action and for his role as Lt. Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Now (1979). He also received a nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role in The Great Santini as Lt. Col. "Bull" Meechum who was loosely based on world famous Marine Aviator, Colonel Donald Conroy. He won Oscar's Best Actor in Tender Mercies (1983).

He directed the critically acclaimed The Apostle, about a preacher on the run from the law, and Assassination Tango (2002). He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 18, 2003.

Duvall has been married four times. He speaks fluent Spanish and maintains a farm in The Plains in Virginia. He is an avid Tango dancer and soccer fan.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS & TRIVIA

Celebrity Birthdays & Trivia

JANUARY
5 – Diane Keaton – 63 – Los Angeles, CA
5 – Robert Duvall – 78 – San Diego, CA
7 – Nicolas Cage – 45 – Long Beach, CA
7 – Katie Couric – 52 – Arlington, VA
7 – David Caruso – 53 – Forest Hills, NY
8 – R. Kelly – 42 – Chicago, IL
9 – Crystal Gayle – 57 – Paintsville, KY
9 – Dave Matthews – 41 – Johannesburg, South Africa
10 – George Foreman - 59 – Marshall, TX
10 – Rod Stewart – 63 – London, England

Trivia















NICHOLAS CAGE

Nicholas Cage’s father, August Coppola, is a professor of literature, while Cage's mother, Joy Vogelsang, is a dancer and choreographer. His paternal grandparents are Carmine Coppola, a composer, and Italia Pennino, an actress. Through his father, Cage is the nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola and actress Talia Shire. In order to avoid the appearance of nepotism as the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola, he changed his name from Nicholas Coppola to Nicolas Cage early in his career. The assumed surname is inspired by Marvel Comics character Luke Cage, a streetwise superhero.

ANA ORTIZ

Ana Ortiz, who plays Betty Suarez’s older sister on "Ugly Betty", Hilda, is pregnant.

The baby will be the first for Ana and her husband, Noah Lebenzon, guitarist for the band Half Life.

LEONARDO DICAPRIO

Kate Winslet will join Leonardo DiCaprio on the red carpet.

Leo and Kate are nominated in the Best Actor and Actress categories in the drama “Revolutionary Road.” The film is up for a number of awards, including Best Picture. Leo and Kate first shared the screen in 1997’s “Titanic,” starting a friendship that’s lasted through the years.

ALYSSA MILANO

Alyssa Milano is engaged. The actress is engaged to CAA agent David Bugliari.

The couple, who has dated for over a year, got engaged on December 18th.

The former child-star, who rose to fame opposite Tony Danza and Judith Light on “Who’s The Boss,” recently had a recurring role on NBC's “My Name Is Earl.”

JENNIFER GARNER

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are proud parents to a healthy baby girl.

This marks the second child for the couple, who also has a 3-year-old daughter, Violet. Ben and Jen, both 36, married in June 2005.

CRAIG FERGUSON

“Late Late Show” host Craig Ferguson announced he got married during his holiday break. The 46-year-old funnyman married his longtime girlfriend Megan Wallace Cunningham, an art dealer.

This marks Craig’s third marriage. He has a 7-year-old son, Milo, from his second marriage.

TIM ALLEN

Tim, 55, and wife Jane Hajduk are expecting their first child together. The couple was married in October 2006 in Colorado.

This will mark the second child for the former “Home Improvement” comedian, who has a 19-year-old daughter, Katherine, with his first wife, Laura Diebel.

JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT

Jennifer Love Hewitt and fiance Ross McCall have broken up! The couple got engaged in November 2007. Jennifer, 29, and Ross, a 32-year-old Scottish actor, dated for two years before getting engaged.

PATRICIA ARQUETTE

Patricia Arquette has filed for divorce from husband Thomas Jane.

Arquette, filed papers in Los Angeles Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences in the split. The actress is seeking sole custody of their daughter, Harlow, 5. The couple married in May 2006.

REBECCA ROMIJN

Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell welcomed twin girls into their family just before the New Year.

Romijn gave birth on December 28th to two healthy daughters, Dolly Rebecca Rose and Charlie Tamara Tulip.

JOHN TRAVOLTA

John Travolta's son, 16-year-old Jett, has died after suffering a seizure at a hotel in the Bahamas. Jett Travolta had a history of seizures and was found unconscious Friday in a bathroom.

John and family were expected to host a private memorial service Thursday at their gated-community home in central Florida.

Doctors in the Bahamas performed an autopsy Monday but did not release results. A Bahamas undertaker said the teen’s death certificate listed “seizure” as the cause of death. The body was cremated Monday and flown to the U.S. the same night.

KELLY RUTHERFORD

Actress Kelly Rutherford has filed for divorce from her husband while pregnant with the couple’s second child. Rutherford is splitting from German businessman Daniel Giersch due to “irreconcilable differences.”

The couple has a two-year-old son, Hermes, and is expecting a second child in June.

HEATHER LOCKLEAR

Heather Locklear's driving under the influence case has been dismissed after the actress pled to a lesser offense.

The matter was heard early Friday morning in a Santa Barbara courthouse, where Locklear’s attorney, Blair Berk, pled no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving.