June 22nd Today in History ----- More Datebooks This Month ----- 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Famous People & Celebrities Born on June 22nd:

• Tracy Pollan
  (1960) - The actress is the wife of Michael J. Fox. When Pollan married Fox in 1988 her net worth went from $100,000 to more than $40 million.
   
• John Dillinger
  (1903) - He hated hard liquor and deplored the violence of other thugs. One of Dillinger's mistresses described him as "...just an ordinary fellow. Of course, he goes out and holds up banks and things, but he's just like any other fellow." When Dillinger heard about the deaths of rivals Bonnie and Clyde he said he was glad because, "They were giving bank robbery a bad name." Dillinger's secret hideout in Mercer, Wisconsin, is now a tourist attraction. The bullet holes where FBI G-men fired into Dillinger's empty bedroom are still visible. It seems Dillinger was tipped off about the FBI raid and left in such a hurry that he forgot his suitcase, a shirt, a toiletry kit and a package of Ex-Lax -- all still on display. Dillinger was later shot by FBI agent Melvin Purvis who, in 1935, became the first person to belch on live radio. Mr. Purvis was appearing on a radio talk show when he accidently belched during a live commercial for Fleischmann's Baking Yeast.
   
• Billy Wilder
  (1906) - The writer and director wanted to become an attorney, but wound up working as a newspaper reporter in Vienna. He eventually landed a job in Berlin at Germany's largest tabloid. Wilder went on to write screenplays for many German films -- until Hitler came into power in 1933. He left Germany and arrived in Hollywood where he immediately began writing classic Hollywood comedies. Flicks: The Fortune Cookie (1966), The Apartment (1960), Some Like It Hot (1959), The Seven Year Itch (1955), Stalag 17 (1953), Sunset Blvd. (1950).
   
• Bill Blass
  (1922) - Fashion designer.
   
• Carson Daly
  (1973) - Host of Last Call with Carson Daly. MTV's Total Request Live. Daly attended Loyola Marymount University where he studied theology. Daly says he spent his college spring breaks with his parents mostly playing golf. Daly says he could never afford to vacation at exotic locations like today's teens, and he's amazed at how today's college freshman and sophomore students manage to pay for it. According to a pre-teen poll by Survey.com, kids like President Bush more than Carson.
   
• Ralph Waite
  (1928) - Played John Boy's daddy on The Waltons. After the death of Sonny Bono in 1998, Waite ran against Sonny's wife in a bid to occupy the congressional seat vacated by Bono. Mrs. Bono won with more than 65 percent of the vote. Waite later complained, "To be very blunt, if she weren't Sonny's widow, I don't think there's any way she'd be taken very seriously as a candidate." Waite states he was born in 1928 not 1929 as reported by some sources.
   
• Dianne Feinstein
  (1933) - The former mayor of San Francisco is now a U.S. senator.
   
• Kris Kristofferson
  (1936) - Before he hit it big, the Rhodes Scholar worked as a janitor for Johnny Cash and would pitch his songs hoping Cash would be interested in one. Eventually, Kristofferson did catch Cash's attention -- by landing a helicopter in his front yard. Kristofferson wrote the song "Me and Bobby McGee," which became Janis Joplin's only No. 1 hit. Other hits written Kristofferson: "For The Good Times," "Help Me Make It Through the Night."
   
• Ed Bradley
  (1941) - In 1975 Bradley replaced Dan Rather on 60 Minutes. Liza Minnelli, a good friend of Bradley, inspired him to pierce his ear. There was initial shock and fear among the 60 Minutes crew when he first wore an earring on the show, but Bradley says Mike Wallace was the only person who ever said anything about the earring.
   
• Brit Hume
  (1943) - Fox News correspondent.
   
• David Lander
  (1947) - Played Squiggy on Laverne and Shirley. In 1999 Lander revealed he has multiple sclerosis. Although he was diagnosed in 1984 with the disease, he hid his unsteadiness by leaning on objects or by claiming he drank too much when he hadn't. Lander is now a scout for the Anaheim Angels baseball club.
   
• Todd Rundgren
  (1948) - The musician and producer is also an artist who creates computer-generated paintings. Rundgren says his cyber-drawings are designed to make viewers feel like they're "...dipping their brains in cool water." Rundgren hits: "Hello It's Me" (1973), "We Gotta Get You A Woman" (1970).
   
• Lindsay Wagner
  (1949) - Actress. The Bionic Woman.
   
• Meryl Streep
  (1949) - Streep reportedly abstains from sex while making a film to save her energy for the camera. Former president Bill Clinton once said that if a movie is ever made about his life, he would want Tom Hanks to play him and Streep to play Hillary. While attending high school Streep was a "plain Jane" who wore glasses. After ditching the spectacles and bleaching her hair, she became a cheerleader and was voted Homecoming Queen. Keanu Reeves says Streep is the celebrity he'd most like to kiss. Streep flicks: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004), The Manchurian Candidate (2004), Angels in America (2003), The Hours (2002), Adaptation (2002), Bridges of Madison County, Sophie's Choice (1982), Kramer vs. Kramer (1979); Postcards from the Edge, The River Wild.
   
• Alan Osmond
  (1949) - Formerly with the family singing group, The Osmonds. Alan has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. "MS has changed my life," says Alan. "I dream about the disease. My mind is constantly trying to beat it down." His sister, Marie, and brother, Donny, often call him whenever they hear of some new MS remedy.
   
• Cyndi Lauper
  (1953) - Lauper was expelled from a Catholic girls' school after she asked a sister if nuns had periods just like other women. All sorts of weird things happened when Cyndi started making her 1997 album, Sisters of Avalon. First, there were mysterious black clouds that appeared in the sky whenever her songwriting partner, Jan Pulsford, showed up for recording sessions. The album's progress was also delayed by a tornado. Finally, there was a freak snowstorm that hit New York City the night Cyndi's band appeared on The David Letterman Show to promote the album. Hits: "Time After Time," (1984), "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" (1983) Ms. Lauper states she was born on June 22 not June 20 as reported by some sources.
   
• Freddie Prinze
  (1954) - He starred in the '70s TV series Chico and The Man for three years until took his own life in 1977 by shooting himself in the head. Prinze's family claimed he was under the influence of Quaaludes when he pulled the trigger.
   
• Tim Russ
  (1956) - Russ tried out for the role of Geordi LaForge on Star Trek: The Next Generation. He lost the role to Levar Burton, but he later won the part of Lt. Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager. Russ admits he's somewhat like the Vulcan character he played. He says he's logical and businesslike in real life and prefers to think practically in emotional situations. But Russ admits he's capable of cutting loose and he usually winds up acting like a 10 year old when he visits amusement parks. Shock jock Howard Stern had a musical fight with Russ over his self-titled debut CD. Stern has repeatedly insulted Russ by comparing his soft rock music to cheesy recordings made by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Russ admits Shatner's foray into music hasn't made things easy but says most Trekkies are real music fans who welcome his music with open arms.
   
• Garry Beers
  (1957) - INXS
   
• Jimmy Somerville
  (1961) - Singer with Bronski Beat and Communards. "Never Can Say Goodbye" (1987), "Don't Leave Me This Way" (1986).
   
• Nicholas Lea
  (1962) - Played Alex Krycek on X-Files. Many X-Files fans have wondered if FBI Agent Fox Mulder had some sort of secret homo-erotic relationship with Krycek. Lea says the homosexual rumor can be put to rest because the characters were just rivals -- but he admits he and David Duchovny are great friends in real life and figures that may have come across on the screen. Lea once was the lead singer with an alternative rock band known as "Beau Monde."
   
• Amy Brenneman
  (1964) - Judge Amy on TV's Judging Amy. Amy's mother is a superior court judge and one of the first women to graduate from Harvard.
   
• Steven Page
  (1970) - Musician with Barenaked Ladies. The group took the name "Barenaked Ladies" because, according to guitarist Ed Robertson, "...it sounded like something a kid would say."
   
• Donald Adeosun Faison
  (1974) - Plays Dr. Chris Turk on Scrubs. Played Tracy on Felicity. Flicks: Josie and the Pussycats (2001), Double Whammy (2001).