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August 7th Today in History
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Famous People & Celebrities Born on August 7th:
- Mata Hari
(1876) - She began her career as a stripper and a prostitute, and bragged that she used her charms as a spy for Germany. When Mata Hari offered to become a double agent for the British, they told her to stick to dancing. She was caught by the French and shot in 1917. The sexy spy told her executioners that she didn't want a blindfold so she could blow a kiss to soldiers in the firing line. Playboy magazine selected Mata Hari as one of "The 100 Sexiest Women of the Century." She came in at No. 99.
- David Duchovny
(1960) - (Pronounced doo-kuv'-nee). Played FBI agent Fox Mulder on the X-Files. Duchovny says of The X-Files: "I never dreamed it would be a hit. When the show took off, I was stunned. Now, I'm stuck with it." He also complains that X-Files fans analyze the show too much -- like the time an internet chat group discussed over and over why co-star Gillian Anderson never adjusts the car seat after the taller Duchovny has been driving. According to Duchovny, "That was probably the last time I ever looked at the internet." He once said he's not only willing to assume the last name of his wife, Tea Leoni, he truly expects folks to call him "Mr. Leoni." Duchovny may be a "Fox" on the X-Files but he was a loser with the ladies in high school. He tells Jump magazine that he was so shy with women that the only time he spoke to his first girlfriend was when she broke up with him. Actor Nicholas Lea, who played Alex Krycek on the X-Files, says despite fan rumors, there wasn't a secret homo-erotic relationship between Krycek and Mulder. Lea admits he and Duchovny are great friends in real life and figures that may have come across on the screen. Duchovny says he's considering donating his red Speedo swimsuit to the Smithsonian so "They can stuff it with two plums and a gherkin and put it on display." He once worked as a delivery boy in Greenwich Village, where he was constantly pelted with eggs, tomatoes and paper cups filled with warm Coke. His first acting job was in a Lowenbrau beer commercial. Duchovny's secret dream is to become a basketball player, but he admits that, while he can shoot, he's too short and can't jump. Duchovny states he was born on August 7 not March 7 as reported by People magazine. Flicks: Connie and Carla (2004), Full Frontal (2002), Zoolander (2001), Evolution (2001).
- Stan Freberg
(1926) - The satirist and advertising genius started out as a radio DJ right before World War II. Freberg was declared "The Father of the Funny Commercial" by Advertising Age magazine and he jokes his next goal is to film the world's first infomercial that won't "...actually sell the product until the last five minutes."
- James Randi
(1928) - The magician and skeptic is also known as "The Amazing Randi." He now spends much of his time debunking psychics and paranormal activity. Randi is the originator of the "Flying Pig Awards," which are handed out every April Fool's Day to those who promote ridiculous ideas concerning the paranormal. Even the City of New York received a Flying Pig for a welfare work project which showed the unemployed how to get jobs as phone psychics. Randi found his true calling after Time magazine asked him to analyze the supposed psychic feats of famed "spoon-bender" Uri Geller. After Randi proved it was possible to fake a bent spoon, Geller's reputation nosedived while Randi became one of the world's best-known skeptics. Although he has a longstanding offer to pay $1 million to anyone who can prove they have paranormal abilities under strict scientific conditions, Randi has yet to pay one cent -- and he predicts he never will.
- B.J. Thomas
(1942) - The "B.J." stands for Billy Joe. He was abused as a child and became a born-again Christian in the late 1970s. The first video ever played on The Nashville Network (March 10, 1984) was Thomas' "Two Car Garage." In addition to four Grammy awards, Thomas has won two "Dove Awards" courtesy of the Gospel Music Association. Thomas hits: "Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" (1975), "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" (1969).
- Garrison Keillor
(1942) - A Prairie Home Companion.
- Wayne Knight
(1955) - Played Newman on Seinfeld. Played Officer Don on 3rd Rock from the Sun.
- Raul Malo
(1965) - Singer with The Mavericks. "Here Comes The Rain."
- Cirroc Lofton
(1977) - Played Jake Sisko on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. In 1996 TV Guide labeled Lofton's Deep Space Nine character as an example of one of the worst dressed characters on TV. Hopefully, the magazine's editors said, polyester blends will become extinct by the 24th century.
Famous and Noteworthy Events on August 7th:
(1942) - The Marines landed on Guadalcanal in the Pacific. Fighting on the island continued until February of 1943 and involved some of the bloodiest battles during the entire war.
(1959) - The first image of Earth seen from outer space was transmitted by the Explorer VI satellite.
(1965) - "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" by Herman's Hermits was the No. 1 song.
(1970) - Christine McVie joined her husband, John McVie, as a member of Fleetwood Mac, becoming the group's first female member. Before joining the band, she was a solo artist who recorded under the name of "Christine Perfect."
(1974) - Faye Dunaway married Peter Wolf, singer and musician with J. Geils Band.
(1985) - Ted Turner bought MGM for $1.5 billion.
(1986) - Tom Selleck married actress Jillie Mack.
MORE HISTORIC BIRTHS & EVENTS IN AUGUST :
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