February 18

Today is the birthday

… of Oscar winner George Kennedy. Dragline is 90. Kennedy won the best supporting actor Oscar for that role in Cool Hand Luke.

… of Toni Morrison, “who in novels characterized by visionary force and poetic import, gives life to an essential aspect of American reality.” That’s what they said when she won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. She’s 84 today.

… of the woman who broke up the Beatles. She’s 82 today. That’s Yoko Ono.

… of Juice Newton. She’s 63.

… of Vinnie Barbarino. He’s 61 today. So are Vincent Vega, Chili Palmer, Michael, Buford ‘Bud’ Uan Davis, Tod Lubitch, Danny Zuko and Tony Manero. And so is John Travolta.

… of the world’s foremost letter turner. Vanna White is 58 today.

… of one-time Oscar nominee Matt Dillon, 51.

… of Andre Romelle Young. Dr. Dre is 50.

… of Molly Ringwald. She’s 47.

Wallace Stegner was born on this date in 1909.

Enzo Ferrari was born on February 18, 1898. I only mention him so I can post the car porn (above).

Louis Comfort Tiffany was born on February 18, 1848.

Mr. Tiffany’s paintings in oils and water-colors were chiefly of Oriental scenes. He also executed decorative work and is best known for his work in glass. He devised new formulas for decorative designs in this medium know as “Tiffany Favrile glass.” It was produced by the Tiffany Studios, of which he was president and art director.

Mr. Tiffany also was vice president and director of Tiffany & Co., jewelers, and vice president and director of Tiffany & Co. Safe Deposit Company.

From his 1933 New York Times obituary

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published February 18, 1885.