Look who's turning 65 this month
Find out which celebrities are turning 65 this month!
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| Image Source: Wikipedia |
December 9 - Mario Cantone, actor, comedian, and singer
Broadway star Mario Cantone grew up doing impressions–his first personal hit was his impression of Julia Child in a junior high school talent show. In 1995, Cantone debuted on Broadway in memorable fashion when he replaced none other than Nathan Lane in the Tony-winning Love! Valor! Compassion!.
He became widely recognized in the hit television series Sex and the City (1998-2004) for his role as Anthony Marentino, Charlotte’s flamboyant wedding planner. Cantone’s character became a fan favorite, and he was recently tapped for the series reboot, And Just Like That… (2021-present). From 2006-8, he played Terri Romano in Men in Trees. You might also recognize Cantone, or his voice, from dozens of other TV and film appearances, from Chappelle's Show to Better Things.
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| Image Source: Wikipedia |
December 13 - Johnny Whitaker, childhood actor
Readers probably know Johnny Whitaker best as the young star of the sitcom Family Affair (1966-1971), where he played the charming and resourceful red-haired orphan Jody Donovan.
In 1965, even before Family Affair, young Johnny was the first actor to play Scotty Baldwin on General Hospital. The role of Scotty would be played by half a dozen actors over the years and become the longest-running character (in real time) on the famous soap opera. As a kid, Whitaker also portrayed a classic American character in the musical Tom Sawyer (1973), and he appeared in episodes of Bewitched and Bonanza.
As an adult, Whitaker mostly left acting and has worked over the years as a computer consultant and talent manager.
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| Image Source: Wikipedia |
December 29 - Paula Poundstone, comedian and commentator
As a comedian, Paula Poundstone loves irony, which must be why she named her podcast Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone. Listeners have loved the self-described “absolutely ludicrous variety show” for more than 325 episodes now. And audiences have listened to and laughed with Paula Poundstone since the 80s, when she became a regular on shows like The Tonight Show. Robin Williams, an early fan, helped her career get off the ground.
In 1990, Poundstone became the first woman to perform at the prestigious HBO Comedy Special, and her groundbreaking comedy album, Bitter, Sweet, was nominated for a Grammy Award. Over the years, she’s been a regular voice and face on TV, appearing on The Simpsons and Whose Line Is It Anyway? She’s also a recurring panelist on the weekly NPR quiz show Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me!.
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| Image Source: Wikipedia |
December 31 - Val Kilmer, actor
LA native Val Kilmer gained fame in the 1980s with roles in films like Top Gun (1986) as Tom "Iceman" Kazanski, and The Doors (1991), where he portrayed musician Jim Morrison. Before playing Morrison, Kilmer spent a year attending Doors tribute concerts and dressing like the famous musician. His dedication resulted in Morrison’s bandmates claiming they could hardly distinguish Kilmer’s voice from Morrison’s.
Kilmer rose to 1990s-leading-man status with performances in Tombstone (1993) as the charismatic Doc Holliday, plus roles in Batman Forever (1995) and Heat (1995). He was one of the best-paid actors of the 90s, too; the films he’s appeared in have grossed over $3.5 billion worldwide.
In 2017, Kilmer publicly disclosed that a prolonged fight with throat cancer had led to intensive treatment that affected his voice and acting abilities. A documentary about his career and health struggles, Val, premiered to excellent reviews at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021. The next year, Kilmer reprised his “Iceman” role in Top Gun: Maverick.
Thanks, Val Kilmer, for helping “Famous & 65” close out 2024, the first year of America’s “Peak 65” wave. The wave is projected to continue through 2027, so keep tuning in next year for many more celebrity 65th-birthday tributes!
