Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 23:
Actor Ronnie Schell ("Gomer Pyle, USMC") is 93.
Emperor Akihito of Japan is 91.
Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) is 84.
Actor-comedian Harry Shearer ("This Is Spinal Tap", "The Simpsons") is 81.
Actress Susan Lucci ("All My Children") is 78.
Luther Grosvenor, lead guitarist with Spooky Tooth, is 78.
Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham is 76.
Singer-musician Adrian Belew (King Crimson, Tom Tom Club) is 75.
Johnny Contardo of Sha Na Na is 73.
Guitarist Dave Murray of Iron Maiden is 68.
Actress Joan Severance is 66.
Singer Terry Weeks is 61.
Singer Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam is 60.
Olympic champion speed skater Catriona Le May Doan is 54.
Jazz trumpeter Irvin Mayfield is 47.
Actress Estella Warren is 46.
Singer Esthero is 46.
Actress Elvy Yost is 37.
Actress Anna Maria Perez de Tagle ("Hannah Montana," ''Camp Rock") is 34.
Actor Spencer Daniels ("Mom") is 32.
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Also born on this date (death in parentheses):
In 1865, Canadian publisher Joseph E. Atkinson. (May 8, 1948)
In 1908, famed Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh. (July 13, 2002)
In 1911, actor James Gregory. (Sept. 16, 2002)
In 1917, Canadian poet Miriam Waddington. (March 3, 2004)
In 1918, former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt. (Nov. 10, 2015)
In 1921, actor Gerald S. O'Loughlin. (July 31, 2015)
In 1923, writer-producer-director Leonard Stern. (June 7, 2011)
In 1929, jazz trumpeter Chet Baker. (May 13, 1988)
In 1929, broadcaster and former CBC chairman Patrick Watson. (July 4, 2022)
In 1929, Canadian soprano Clarice Carson. (May 2, 2015)
In 1935, Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Paul Hornung. (Nov.13, 2020)
In 1935, singer Esther Phillips. (Aug. 7, 1984)
In 1935, British rocker Johnny Kidd. (Oct. 7, 1966)
In 1936, actor James Stacy ("Lancer"). (Sept. 9, 2016)
In 1936, actor Frederic Forrest ("Lonesome Dove"). (June 23, 2023)
In 1940, singer Eugene Record (The Chi-Lites). (July 22, 2005)
In 1941, drummer Ron Bushy of Iron Butterfly. (Aug. 29, 2021)
In 1941, folk singer and songwriter Tim Hardin. (Dec. 29, 1980)
In 1943, actress Elizabeth Hartman. (June 10, 1987)
In 1971, Canadian actor Corey Haim. (March 20, 2010)
The Canadian Press
