Actor John Saxon born 1936

 

John Saxon, born August 5, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York, had a long, prolific career, appearing in some of the most popular and iconic movies.  He first appeared in two uncredited roles in 1954.  In 1958, he appeared with Angela Lansbury in The Reluctant Debutante. The same year, he won a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer for his work in This Happy Feeling. He appeared in Enter the Dragon in 1973 and the next year, he starred in the cult classic Black Christmas, which help start the slasher genre.

Saxon worked on numerous movie and television projects until 1984, when he appeared in another slasher classic, Nightmare on Elm Street, which has become a lasting franchise. He appeared in the second sequel Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.  He continued acting until 2017.

 Saxon passed away in July 2020 from pneumonia. 

 John Saxon in Enter the Dragon

Yoshifumi Tajima, Godzilla actor, born 1918

Yoshifumi Tajima, born August 4, 1918 in Kobe, Japan, appeared in many Godzilla and Toho Company films.  His first kaiju film was Rodan in 1956. He went on to star in Mothra (1961), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), Ghidora, the Three-headed Monster (1964), Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965), Destroy All Monsters (1968), and The Return of Godzilla (1984).

He passed away in 2009.

 Yoshifumi Tajima

Babylon 5 episode "A Voice in the Wilderness, Part 2" airs 1994

The second part of one of my favorite Babylon 5 episodes A Voice in the Wilderness aired August 3, 1994. In the first part, Epsilon III, the planet below the space station, woke up and Babylon 5 officers go to investigate.  Soon, other races lay claim to Epsilon III and threaten to attack the station.  

I really miss this show!

Babylon 5: A Voice in the Wilderness, Part 2 clip 

"Sharknado 4: The Fourth Awakens" premieres 2016

Sharknado 4: The Fourth Awakens, the sequel to the sequel to the sequel to Sharknado, premiered on the SyFy Channel July 31, 2016.  Ian Ziering and Tara Reid reprise their roles for the fourth time. In this movie, the sharknado strikes Las Vegas.

It stars David Hasselhoff, Tommy Davidson, Cheryl Tiegs, Al Roker (again), Garey Busey, Susan Anton, Wayne Newton, Dog the Bounty Hunter, and plenty of beefcake Chippendales dancers.

Sharknado 4 was nominated for a BloodGuts UK Horror Award for Best Prequel/Sequel/Remake

Sharknado 4 trailer 

"Sharknado 2: The Second One" premieres 2014

Sharknado 2: The Second One, the long-awaited sequel to Sharknado, premiered on the Syfy Channel July 30, 2014. This time the apocalyptic storm strikes New York City.  It starred Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, and Vivica A. Fox (who has a birthday today!). It featured cameos by Judd Hirsch, Billy Ray Cyrus, Robert Hays, Matt Lauer, Al Roker, Michael Strahan, and the Naked Cowboy.

It referenced other movies such as Airplane! and Star Wars, and the Twilight Zone episode Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.

Sharknado 2 trailer 

Happy birthday, Laurence Fishburne!

Actor-extraordinaire and one of my favorites, Laurence Fishburne, born July 30, 1961 in Augusta, Georgia, is an Emmy awarded actor, and has been nominated for an Oscar. When he was twelved, he was cast in a recurring role on One Life to Live, which lasted three seasons.  He made his film debut in Cornbread, Earl and Me in 1975.  He was cast in Apocalypse Now in 1979.

He appeared as Cowboy Curtis on Pee-wee's Playhouse, and appeared in guest roles on M*A*S*H, Trapper John, and Miami Vice. His breakout role came in Boyz n the Hood, and gained an Oscar nomination for his performance in What's Love Got to Do With It? in 1993 with Angela Bassett.

He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his work in The Tuskegee Airmen in 1995. He won a Saturn Award in 2015 for Best Supporting Actor on Television for his work in Hannibal, and won a second in 2025 for the Lance Reddick Legacy Award.

Fishburne's Primetime Emmy Awards are for Outstanding guest Actor in a Drama Series in 1993 for Tribeca, Outstanding Made for Television Movie for Miss Evers' Boys in 1997, and Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for #Freerayshawn. 

Laurence Fishburne in "The Matrix" 

Happy birthday, astronaut Bob Behnken!

Robert Louis Behnken, born July 28, 1970 in St. Ann, Missouri, has been to space three times.  He earned a BS in mechanical engineering and phusics from Washington University in St. Louis.  Then he earned an MS and PhD in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology.

He entered the Air Force and after graduating he flew the F-15 and F-16.

His first trip into space aboard Endeavour (STS-123) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in March 2008. He spent almost 16 days in space.

Behnken's second trip was also aboard Endeavour (STS-130) as mission specialist to the ISS in February 2010. He spent almost 14 days in space.

His third and final trip was aboard Crew Dragon Endeavour Demo-2 as Joint operations commander to the ISS in May 2020. He remained on the space station as part of Expedition 63 before returning to Earth in August 2020. He spent 63 days in space. 

Who is Bob Behnken?