May 7
1901 - Classic actor Gary Cooper, who won Oscars for
Sergeant York and High Noon) was born in Montana.

1922 - Classic tv actor Darren McGavin was born in
Spokane, Washington. For many baby boomers he'll always
be known as intrepid reporter and 'Night Stalker' Carl
Kolchak. But thanks to TBS's annual 24-hour 'A Christmas
Story' marathon, he's gained new generations of fans as the
mumble-cussing dad, winner of a leg lamp that was "a major
award!")

1926 - Val Bisoglio (Lt. Marsh in 'Police Woman,' restaurant
owner Danny on 'Quincy M.E.') was born in The Big Apple.
He's also remembered as the struggling breadwinner dad of
John Travolta in 'Saturday Night Fever.' ("My hair. My hair!
Why you always hittin' my hair?")

1930 - rotund comedienne and frequent talkshow guest
Totie Fields (real name Sophie Feldman) was born.
Tragically, she died in 1978 of complications from diabetes.

1946 - Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering (later
renamed Sony) is founded with around 20 employees. In
1958 the company changed its name to 'Sony.'

1947 - "Kraft Television Theater" premiered on NBC.

1978 - 'Battle of the Network Stars' aired on ABC. Team
captains were Tony Randall, Gabe Kaplan and Richard
Benjamin.

1989 - Guy Williams, actor ('Zorro,' 'Lost in Space'), dies in
Argentina at 65
Sometime good guy/sometime bad guy John Heard
(Pelican Brief, Big), best-known on television as Tony
Soprano's debt-ridden cop informant, was born in 1944.
Check out his performance in the wonderful film 'The Trip to
Bountiful.'

1945 - Robin Strasser (Dorian, 'One Life to Live') was born
in New York City. No kidding -- her middle name is 'Victory
in Europe' because she was born on VE-Day.

1951 - Robert Hegyes ('Welcome Back Kotter,' 'Cagney
and Lacey') was born in New Jersey. He's cousin to Jon
Bon Jovi.

1959 - Michael E Knight (Tad Martin, 'All My Children') was
born in Princeton, N.J. On the show, his sister's name was
Jenny and was portrayed by Kim Delaney ('NYPD Blue')
Birthdays