December 13th

Today is the birthday

… of Dick Van Dyke. Rob Petrie is 82. Nine emmy nominations, four wins.

… of Christopher Plummer. Captain Georg von Trapp is 80. More recently Plummer has been in A Beautiful Mind, Syriana and The Lake House. Six films in 2005, a couple more in 2006, four in 2007 and a handful in production.

… of Ferguson Jenkins. The baseball hall-of-famer is 64.

Ferguson Jenkins PlaqueCanada’s first Hall of Fame member, Fergie Jenkins used pinpoint control and effectively changed speeds to win 284 games. Cast in the same mold as finesse artists like Catfish Hunter and Robin Roberts, Jenkins forged an impressive 3.34 ERA despite playing 12 of his 19 seasons in hitters’ ballparks – Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. A diligent workhorse, Jenkins used an easy, uncomplicated motion to reach the 20-win mark seven times and capture the National League Cy Young Award in 1971. (National Baseball Hall of Fame)

… of Wendie Malick. Just shoot her, she’s 57.

… of Ben Bernanke. The chairman of the Federal Reserve is 54. If he lasts as long as Greenspan he’ll still be chairman in 2025.

… of Steve Buscemi. The actor who portrayed the creepy Tony Blundetto (Tony Soprano’s cousin) and the even creepier Carl Showalter in Fargo is 50.

… of Johnny Whitaker. That would be Buffy’s brother Jody on Family Affair. He’s 48.

… of Jamie Foxx. The Oscar-winner is 40.