Happy birthday, actor extraordinaire John Leguizamo!

 

John Leguizamo, born July 22, 1960 in Bogota, Columbia, began his career as an extra in Madonna's Borderline video in 1984.  His breakout performance was his role as Chi-Chi in To Wong Fu, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, which garnered him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.  Since then, he has shown his immense talent for a variety of genres.  He has voiced Sid the Sloth in the animated Ice Age franchise, appeared as Scrooge in comedy-horror Violent Night, and most recently, The Odyssey.

He has been nominated for four Primetime Emmys and won the Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program in 1999 for his performance in John Leguizamo: Freak. He was nominated for two Tony Awards in 1998 for Freak.

He frequently appears as a host for The Daily Show.

John Leguizamo Speaks

"Stormy Weather" released 1943

Stormy Weather, the comedy musical featuring Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, the Nicholas Brothers, Fats Waller, and Bill Robinson, was released into theaters July 21, 1943.  Lean Horne's iconic performance of the title song is performed about an hour into the film.  Fats Waller performs Ain't Misbehavin'. Cab Calloway and his orchestra performed Jumpin' Jive while the Nicholas Brothers danced. 

Stormy Weather was selected by the Library of Congress for the National Film Registry in 2001.

Lena Horne sings Stormy Weather 

"Hairspray" released 2007

 

Adam Shankman's adaptation (or remake) of the Broadway musical Hairspray was released to wide release in US July 20, 2007. The Broadway musical was adapted from John Water's original cult classic Hairspray, released in 1988.

The 2007 release starred John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, James Marsden, and Allison Janney. It opened to positive reviews and set a record for the biggest box office opening for a musical until Mama Mia! in 2008.

Shankman's version won numerous awards and was nominated for three Golden Globes and a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album.

Hairspray trailer

Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawai'ian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Harry Harris, J. first Asian American to command USPACOM

 

Harry Harris Jr., born August 4, 1956 in Yokosuka, Japan, is the first Asian American to lead the US Pacific Command. His mother was Japanesse and his father was a US Navy Machinist's mate, aboard the USS Lexington.  He graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1978.

Harris was nominated by President Barack Obama to command the USPACOM on September 22, 2014.  The Senate confirmed his appointment on December 11, making him the first Asian American to achieve this position.

Adm. Harry Harris J. nominated to lead PACOM

Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawai'ian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Major Taylor Dinh, highest ranking Asian-American in OKC PD

In 2022, Taylor Dinh, a Vietnamese American, was promoted to Major, becoming the highest ranking Asian American in the Oklahoma City Police Department.  I can't find much about him on the internet, but congratulations!

Dinh's Story

Happy birthday, Michael Fassbender!

Michael Fassbender, born April 2, 1977 in Heidelberg, Germany, has portrayed X-Men super-villain Magneto in four movies: X-Men: First Class; X-Men: Days of Future Past; X-Men: Apocalypse; and X-Men: Dark Phoenix. He has also appeared in the Alien franchise for which he received a Saturn nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Fassbender has been nominated for two Academy Awards for his performances in Steve Jobs and 12 Years a Slave. He has won 79 awards with a total of 161 nominations.

Michael Fassbender as Magneto

Happy birthday, Vicki Lawrence!

 

Vicki Lawrence, born March 26, 1949 in Inglewood, California, is a singer, dancer, and comedian who appeared on the Carol Burnett Show.  She also starred in the spin-off series Mama's Family. 

In 1973, she released an album which spawned the #1 hit song, The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia. She hosted the talk show Vicki! from 1992-1994. 

She won a Primetime Emmy in 1976 for Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Variety or Music for her work on the Carol Burnett Show.

Vicki Lawrence bloopers