Entertainment History
On August 16, 1956, actor Bela Lugosi died at the age of 73. He's best
known for playing Dracula in the movies. In 1974, The Ramones played
their first gig in New York. In 1975, Genesis lead singer Peter Gabriel
announced to the British press that he was leaving the band. He had
actually made the decision months earlier, but decided to wait until
the band had completed its tour obligations. In 1977, Elvis Presley was
found dead at his Graceland mansion in Memphis. Doctors first said he
died of congestive heart failure, but an investigation revealed drugs
may have been a factor. He was 42. In 1983, singer Paul Simon and
actress Carrie Fisher got married. They divorced in 1985. In 1985,
Madonna and actor Sean Penn got married in Malibu, California, as
helicopters with photographers hovered overhead. It was Madonna's 27th
birthday. She filed for divorce in early 1989. In 1986, MTV premiered
the video for "Walk This Way" by Run-DMC featuring Aerosmith. In 1989,
actress Amanda Blake, best known as Miss Kitty on "Gunsmoke," died of
cancer in Sacramento, California. In 2005, Madonna was seriously
injured while riding a horse at her estate in England. She broke her
hand and collarbone and cracked three ribs. Today's Birthdays: Actor
Gary Clarke ("Hondo," 'The Virginian") is 83. Actress Julie Newmar is
83. Actress Anita Gillette is 80. Actress Carole Shelley is 77. Country
singer Billy Joe Shaver is 77. Actor Bob Balaban ("A Mighty Wind,"
'Best In Show") is 71. Actress Lesley Ann Warren is 70. Bassist Joey
Spampinato (NRBQ) is 66. Actor Reginald VelJohnson ("Family Matters")
is 64. TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford is 63. R-and-B singer J.T.
Taylor is 63. Director James Cameron ("Titanic," 'The Terminator") is
62. Actor Jeff Perry ("Scandal," 'Grey's Anatomy") is 61. Guitarist Tim
Farriss of INXS (in-ex-ES') is 59. Actress Laura Innes ("ER") is 59.
Actress Angela Bassett is 58. Singer Madonna is 58. Actor Timothy
Hutton is 56. Actor Steve Carell (kuh-REHL') is 54. Actor Andy Milder
("Weeds") is 48. Country singer Emily Robison of The Dixie Chicks is
44. Actor George Stults ("Seventh Heaven") is 41. Singer Vanessa
Carlton is 36. Actor Cam Gigandet ("Twilight") is 34. Actress Cristin
Milioti ("How I Met Your Mother") is 31. Actor Shawn Pyfrom ("Desperate
Housewives") is 30. Singer Dan Smyers of Dan and Shay is 29. Actor
Cameron Monaghan ("Gotham") is 23. Singer Greyson Chance is 19.
