birthdays: october 6

Carole Lombard, (1908-1942), though she left us at a remarkably young age due to a tragic plane crash, the much-loved blonde bombshell made a career out of having great comedic presence and even managed that elusive Best Actress nomination for a comedy in My Man Godfrey.  Well-known for her smart blonde persona and tip-top paycheck in the 1930s (apparently no one topped her salary, not even the president), she was the epitome of a talkie star 80 years ago.
Elisabeth Shue, 48, essentially the Benjamin Button of 80s stars (though Matthew Broderick sure rivals her), the spritely young actress made famous playing Daniel Larusso’s plucky girlfriend in The Karate Kid and girl-next-door Chris Parker in Adventures in Babysitting later ditched the good-girl image in her Oscar-nominated turn as a prostitute in Leaving Las Vegas.  Sure, she slummed it last year in Piranha 3D, but the woman has more than proven she not just an ageless wonder.
Ioan Gruffud, 38, aside from his incredibly confusing name, before he tried his hand at television side-by-side with Sarah Michelle Gellar in the new CW mystery Ringer, he blew up A&E in the late ’90s as Horatio Hornblower, fumbled through some semi-blockbuster critical failures like Fantastic Four and King Arthur, and even uttered the chilling line, “Is anyone alive out there?” in Titanic.
Janet Gaynor, (1906-1984), she’s perhaps most well-known as the first-ever winner of the Best Actress Oscar in 1927’s Sunrise… and Seventh Heaven… oh and Street Angel (different times, the ’20s), but she also served as one of the biggest names in the silent film era and famously originated the role of Esther in 1937’s A Star is Born (her other Oscar nod), after which she largely stayed away from the cinemas.
Olivia Thirlby, 25, perhaps best known as the title character’s fast-talking cheerleader bestie in Juno, she got her start as a startled passenger in United 93 and has since stuck mostly to supporting turns in The Wackness and Margaret.
Jeremy Sisto, 37, like his fellow birthday buddy above, he’s got a new show out on the telly (Suburgatory), though he broke out as part of the well-versed cast of Clueless, followed by the title role of the TV movie Jesus, a recurring part on Six Feet Under, and a stint as the lead on the now-defunct Law & Order.

four caps (#1.18)

birthdays: october 5

Kate Winslet, 36, recent Emmy winner (just one more for the EGOT) and widely assumed heir to the Streep throne has come a long way from the fresh-faced twentysomething who headlined the biggest movie ever.  Though some may say she’s lost her touch since 2004, I love the lady and always will.  From playing a wooable teen princess in A Kid in King Arthur’s Court to posing for a saucy drawing in Titanic to dealing with a seriously insubordinate child in Mildred Pierce, Winslet’s still got it.  Seriously people.
Glynis Johns, 88, though I’ve known and loved her as the wise-cracking grandma in While You Were Sleeping, this South African-born actress has a long, Oscar-nominated (The Sundowners), Tony-winning career.  She’s probably best known as the “Send in the Clowns” crooner in A Little Night Music.  Or maybe you’d rather stick to her bit part in Molly Shannon’s Superstar.  Now that’s versatility.
Parminder Nagra, 36, it’s hard to believe she’s really in her late 30s considering how she looks exactly the same age she did 10 years ago in Bend it Like Beckham, but the actress has moved on since to a long-running stint as complicated med student Neela on ER and has laid pretty low since.  Get this fantastic Brit some work, please!
Karen Allen, 60, though she’s been little-seen since her brief hey day in the ’80s (let’s pretend the Crystal Skull never happened), let’s all think back at how great she was as the ultimate Indy girl Marion in Raiders of the Lost Ark and supporting Jeff Bridges’ otherworldly performance in Starman.  Oh, and doesn’t talking about her make you want to go watch The Sandlot?
Jesse Eisenberg, 28, he had a big year in 2010, mumbling his way to an Oscar nod for playing unlikable in The Social Network, but beyond his droll comedic turns in Zombieland, The Squid and the Whale, and Cursed (hmmm… was that not a comedy?), it also turns out he can claim the ’90s Pepsi girl as a member of his family.  Now that’s Oscar-worthy.
Guy Pearce, 44, though he’s kept busy of late winning any Emmy for spurning his birthday buddy (see celebrant No. 1) on the small screen, this Australian actor’s resume is mostly dominated by films, including the no-nonsense Edmund Exley in L.A. Confidential, the confusing tattoo canvas Leonard in Memento, and of course, both Adam and Felicia in drag road trip flick Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
Scott Weinger, 36, another one it’s hard to believe is pushing 40, he’ll be remembered in the flesh as DJ’s squeaky-voiced beau Steve in Full House and in voice-only as the rascally street thief Aladdin in, well, Aladdin.
Bernie Mac, (1957-2008), though he got his start in goofy comedies House Party 3, Friday, and Don’t Be a Menace, etc., his big break came as the patriarch of the equally goofy household in his self-titled show.  Though he passed far too young, he was able to muster up quite the break-out career in television and later films such as the Ocean’s trilogy and the highly underrated Charlie’s Angels 2 (for real, it’s actually really funny).
Mary Gibbs, 15, though her name may not be familiar immediately, the young actress has stepped away from the profession since her memorable performance as Boo in Monsters, Inc. Sure, she helped out with baby lion voicing in The Lion King II, but she’s currently facing the adventures of high school instead of Hollywood.