| June 28 |
| 1902 -- Alan Bunce was born in Westfield, New Jersey. While he guested on a number of series, he's best-remembered as Albert in 'Ethel and Albert,' which enjoyed a long run on radio and then a brief, transitionary move to television. Active until the end, Alan's last professional appearance was on 'The Defenders' episode entitled 'The Prosecutor,' which was broadcast April 29, 1965 -- two days after Alan's unexpected death. He was 62 years old. 1933 -- Noriyuki ('Pat') Morita is born in Isleton, California. His expansive career includes standup comedy, film and television, drama and comedy. Reportedly, Redd Foxx saw his nightclub act and cast him to play Ah Chew on 'Sanford and Son.' Pat went on to play Arnold on 'Happy Days' and one-half of the notoriously short-lived 1975 comedy 'Mr. T and Tina.' (Actress Susan Blanchard, formerly of 'All My Children,' was housekeeper Tina). His legacy may very well be tied to the role of Mr. Miyagi, sensei to 'The Karate Kid,' a role he portrayed four times, the first three with Ralph Macchio in the title role; the last time (1994), it was Hillary Swank. Mr. Miyagi's first appearance netted Pat an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor (the Oscar was won instead by Cambodian doctor-turned-actor Haing S. Ngor for his role in 'The Killing Fields'). Pat Morita died November, 25th, 2005, at the age of 72. Haing Ngor had died nine years before, shot and killed by members of an Oriental gang outside of his home in Los Angeles. He was a month away from his 56th birthday. 1942 -- DuMont -- the world's first commercial television network -- begins operations as WABD. Founded by Allen Balcolm DuMont (also spelled 'Du Mont'), a brilliant but woefully under-funded scientist and inventor. By 1954 nearly 200 stations were affiliated with the DuMont, but they consisted primarily of unprofitable UHF stations and, within two years, the network was out of business. 1946 -- actress and comedienne Gilda Radner is born in Detroit. One of the original stars of 'Saturday Night Live,' she is remembered today as much for her bravery and courage in the face of advanced ovarian cancer as she is for characters such as Lisa Loopner, Emily Latella and Roseanne Roseannadanna. Gilda died May 20, 1989. She was just 42 years old. 1959 -- ABC airs 'The Record Years,' hosted by Dick Clark. Arguably, it's the first broadcast tribute to the recording industry. 1974 -- actor Frank Sutton, best remembered as Sergeant Carter on TV's Gomer Pyle USMC, died at age 50. 1975 -- Rod Serling died when complications developed after coronary bypass surgery. The writer, host and director of the TV series Twilight Zone was just 50 years old. in 1977, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hi was ''Gonna Fly Now,'' by Bill Conti. In 1990, Joan Rivers won her first Daytime Emmy Award as a talk show host. Still in 2006, Charles Gibson appeared for the last time as co-host on ABC's "Good Morning America." Today's Birthdays: Comedian-director Mel Brooks is 82. Actor Bruce Davison is 62. Actress Kathy Bates is 60. Actress Mary Stuart Masterson is 42. Actor John Cusack is 42. Vancouver-born actor Gil Bellows (Ally McBeal) is 41. Actress Danielle Brisebois (All in the Family) is 39. |