May 23: What Happened on This Day in History

Joan Collins (1933)

Joan Collins is a renowned English actress, author, and columnist best known for her role as Alexis Carrington Colby in the award-winning television drama "Dynasty." Her career spans theater, film, and television, and she remains an influential figure in popular culture. [bio]

Douglas Fairbanks (1883)

Douglas Fairbanks was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, best known as one of the most prominent and influential silent film era stars. He became an international symbol of swashbuckling adventure and was famous for leading roles in films such as 'The Mark of Zorro,' 'Robin Hood,' and 'The Thief of Bagdad.' He was also a co-founder of United … [bio]

Drew Carey (1958)

Drew Carey is an American comedian, actor, and television host, best known for hosting 'The Drew Carey Show', the American version of 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?', and 'The Price Is Right'. [bio]

Rosemary Clooney (1928)

Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress, renowned for her smooth vocals and hits during the 1950s. Best known for songs like 'Come On-a My House' and her performance in the classic film 'White Christmas', Clooney left an indelible mark on American pop and jazz music. [bio]

Bob Mortimer (1959)

Bob Mortimer is an English comedian, actor, and writer best known for his work as one half of the comedy duo Vic and Bob, alongside Vic Reeves. He has achieved widespread recognition in British comedy through television, radio, and live performances. [bio]

Betty Garrett (1919)

Betty Garrett was an American actress, singer, and dancer best known for her roles in Hollywood musicals of the 1940s and 1950s, as well as her work in television series such as 'All in the Family' and 'Laverne & Shirley.' [bio]

Johnny Ball (1938)

Johnny Ball is a British television presenter, writer, and mathematician best known for his work in popularizing mathematics and science among children through his television programs from the 1970s to the 1990s. [bio]

Gavin Free (1988)

Gavin Free is an English filmmaker, actor, and internet personality best known for his work with Rooster Teeth and for co-creating the popular YouTube channel 'The Slow Mo Guys.' He has gained significant recognition for pioneering high-speed cinematography and slow-motion video content online. [bio]

Artie Shaw (1910)

Artie Shaw was an influential American clarinetist, composer, bandleader, and author, best known as one of the leading figures of the swing era. Renowned for his virtuosic clarinet playing and innovative approach to big band music, Shaw was a major rival to Benny Goodman and achieved fame with hits like 'Begin the Beguine' and 'Stardust.' [bio]

Wotan Wilke Möhring (1967)

Wotan Wilke Möhring is a German actor and musician, renowned for his versatile roles in German film and television. He is particularly recognized for his performances in acclaimed works such as 'Antibodies', 'Das Experiment', and as a 'Tatort' investigator. [bio]

Roger Moore (2017)

Roger Moore was an English actor, best known for portraying James Bond in seven feature films between 1973 and 1985. His suave demeanor and charm made him an enduring favorite among Bond fans. Moore also had a prolific career in television and film beyond the 007 franchise. [bio]

Anne Meara (2015)

Anne Meara was an American actress, comedian, and writer, best known as one half of the comedy duo Stiller and Meara with her husband, Jerry Stiller. She had a prolific career in television, film, and theater, and was recognized for her sharp wit and comedic timing. [bio]

Sterling Hayden (1986)

Sterling Hayden was an American actor and author, known for his roles in classic films as well as for his adventurous life at sea and service during World War II. [bio]

Joseph Anthony Pass (1994)

Joseph Anthony Pass, known professionally as Joe Pass, was an acclaimed American jazz guitarist recognized for his sophisticated improvisational technique and profound impact on jazz, particularly in the realms of bebop and cool jazz. Celebrated for his solo performances and collaborations with jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson, Pass is widely regarded as one of the finest … [bio]

Moms Mabley (1975)

Moms Mabley was an American stand-up comedian and actress, best known as one of the most successful African American comedians of the vaudeville era and for her influential role as a pioneering woman in comedy. With a career spanning over five decades, she broke numerous barriers for women and Black performers in entertainment. [bio]

George Jessel (1981)

George Jessel was an American actor, singer, songwriter, and film producer, noted for his long career in entertainment and his status as a vaudeville legend. He became widely known as the 'Toastmaster General of the United States' for hosting numerous high-profile events. [bio]

Dorothy Hyson (1996)

Actress (spare a copper sing as we go), is killed at 81.

Nydia Westman (1970)

Actress (going my way young mr bobbins) dies at the age of 68.

John Forbes Nash (2015)

John Forbes Nash was a brilliant American mathematician who made groundbreaking contributions to game theory and won the Nobel Prize in...

Heinrich Himmler (1945)

A key Nazi leader who was one of the primary architects of the Holocaust, serving as Reichsführer of the SS and playing a central role in...