Entertainment History
On February 6, 1943, a Los Angeles jury acquitted actor Errol Flynn of
three counts of statutory rape. In 1970, "Instant Karma" by John Lennon
was released as a single. In 1989, actor Todd Bridges was ordered held
without bond on an attempted murder charge. He pleaded not guilty in
connection with a shooting. In 1990, singer Billy Idol shattered a leg
and broke an arm when his motorcycle hit a car in Los Angeles. Police
said Idol ran a stop sign and wasn't wearing a helmet at the time of
the accident. In 1991, actor Danny Thomas died after suffering a heart
attack at his Los Angeles home. He was 79. He was buried in Memphis,
Tennessee, a few days later. In 1995, rapper Tupac Shakur (TOO'-pak
shah-KOOR') was sentenced to prison on a sexual assault charge. In
1998, singer-guitarist Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys died of
complications from lung cancer in Los Angeles. He was 51. Also in 1998,
singer Falco was killed in a traffic accident in the Dominican
Republic. He was 40. Falco was probably best known for his song "Rock
Me Amadeus. In 2003, ABC aired the British documentary, "Living With
Michael Jackson. Jackson's comments about allowing kids to spend the
night in his bedroom prompted authorities to look into his
relationships with children. Jackson was arrested the following
November on child molestation charges. In 2011, Christina Aguilera
botched the words to the national anthem before the Super Bowl. She
said she got lost in the moment. Today's Birthdays: Actor Rip Torn is
86. Actress Mamie Van Doren is 86. Actor Mike Farrell is 78. NBC news
anchorman Tom Brokaw is 77. Actress Gayle Hunnicutt is 74. Singer
Fabian is 74. Actor Michael Tucker ("L.A. Law") is 73. Actor Jon
Walmsley ("The Waltons") is 61. Actor-director Robert Townsend ("The
Parent 'Hood") is 60. Actress Kathy Najimy ("Veronica's Closet," 'King
of the Hill") is 60. Drummer Simon Phillips of Toto is 60. Actor Barry
Miller ("Saturday Night Fever," 'Fame") is 59. Actress Megan Gallagher
("Millennium") is 57. Country singer Richie McDonald of Lonestar is 55.
Vocalist Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses is 55. Singer Rick Astley is 51.
Bassist Tim Brown of the Boo Radleys is 48. TV host Amy Robach ("Good
Morning America") is 44. Actress Crystal Reed ("Teen Wolf") is 32.
Singer Tinashe (tee-NAH'-shay) is 24.
