November 4th is the birthday

… of a bunch of characters. Character-actors, that is.

Doris Roberts is 76. She was Raymond’s mom.

Loretta Swit is 69. She was Major Houlihan.

Art Carney was born on this date in 1918. He’s most famous for playing Ed Norton opposite Jackie Gleason’s Ralph Kramden but he won the Oscar for best actor for Harry and Tonto. Carney died in 2003.

Martin Balsam was born on this date in 1914. Balsam was also a character actor. NewMexiKen’s favorite Balsam roles: Juror #1 in 12 Angry Men, Henry Mendez in Hombre, Mr. Green in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, and his Oscar-winning Arnold Burns (best supporting actor) in A Thousand Clowns. Balsam died in 1996.

It’s also the birthday of Ralph Macchio. The Karate Kid is 45 today.

And Matthew McConaughey is 37.

The First Lady of the United States, Laura Bush, is 60 today.

And Walter Cronkite is 90.