Happy birthday, actor extraordinaire Michael York!

Michael York, born March 27, 1942 in Buckinghamshire, England, has had a lengthy and stellar acting career, including some daring roles. He has appeared as D'Artagnan in several musketeers films as well as the Austin Powers movies.  He first appeared in Accident in 1967, but it was his role as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet in 1968 that proved to be his break-out performance.  He starred with Angela Lansbury as a bisexual man in Something for Everyone.

He then went on to star as D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers and its sequel, The Four Musketeers. He appeared in Murder on the Orient Express in 1974. 

In 2001, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance in The Lot.

I think it is tragic that such an accomplished, versatile actor has not been nominated for more awards, especially an Oscar.  He truly is remarkable and seems under-rated.  He's one of my favorites.

Leonard Nimoy born 1931

Leonard Nimoy, born March 26, 1931 in Boston, Massachusetts, is best known for his portrayal of the Vulcan Mr. Spock in the Star Trek cinematic universe.  He played the character in the original series, the first five movies featuring the cast from the original series, and then appearances in some of the spin-off series and movies. He also directed, including Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.  

He made his Hollywood debut at 20, in Queen for a Day in a bit part.  He appeared briefly in the sci-fi classic Them!.

He was nominated for four Primetime Emmys, three of which were for his role as Spock. On January 16, 1985, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He passed away in February 2015 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

"Apollo 13" wins two Academy Awards 1996

Ron Howard's space masterpiece Apollo 13 was nominated for a whopping 9 Academy Awards, but went home with two at the 68th annual ceremony held March 25, 1996.  It won Best Film Editing for Mike Hill and Daniel P. Hanley, and Best Sound for Rick Dior, Steve Pederson, Scott Millan, and David MacMillan.

It received nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Ed Harris, Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published, Best Original Dramatic Score, Best Art Direction, and Best Visual Effects.  Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Gary Sinise did not get nominated for their performances in Apollo 13.  The movie was based on the book Lost Moon by Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger.

Pocahontas went two-for-two that night, winning Best Original Musical or Comedy Score and Best Original Song for Colors of the Wind; Music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. 

"Oklahoma!" wins two Academy Awards 1956

The movie adaption of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical Oklahoma! won two Academy Awards at the 28th annual ceremony on March 21, 1956.  It won the awards for Best Sound Recording for Fred Hynes, and Best Scoring of a Musical Picture for Robert Russell Bennett, Jay Blackton, and Adolph Deutsch.

This was the first of five Academy Awards for Hynes, who would win awards for South Pacific and The Sound of Music. It was the only Oscar for Bennett and Blackton, but the first of three for Deutsch.

It was also nominated for Best Cinematography, Color and Best Film Editing, did not win either.  It was one of five movies to win two or more Oscars that evening!

Happy birthday, Star Trek actress Sonequa Martin-Green!

Sonequa Martin-Green, born March 21, 1985 in Russellville, Alabama, is currently appearing as Commander Michael Burnham on the series Star Trek: Discovery.  She previously appeared in the zombie series The Walking Dead.  She has won acting awards for both roles, including two Saturn Awards for her work on Star Trek: Discovery.

"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" wins Best Original Song 1948

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah, a song from Disney's Song of the South, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 20th annual ceremony, held March 20, 1948.  The song was written by Allie Wrubel (music) and Ray Gilbert (lyrics). James Baskett, who performed the song on screen, won an Honorary Academy Award for his able and heart-warming characterization of Uncle Remus.  That makes him the first African American man to win an Academy Award for acting.

Song of the South was also nominated for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture, but lost to Mother Wore Tights.

Rosetta, first spacecraft to land on a comet, launched 2004

Rosetta, launched March 2, 2004 by the European Space Agency, is the first spacecraft to orbit a comet and then deploy a lander. It reached comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in August 2014 and entered actual orbit in September.  The Philae lander detached from Rosetta in November and landed, bouncing twice before coming to a rest.

As the comet traveled further from the sun, light reaching the solar panels decreased.  A decision was made to end the mission by impacting Rosetta onto the comet surface. The impact maneuver began on September 29, 2016 and was completed the next day.