Five People Born on December 15
Today is December 15, 2009 and the 349th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 16 days left in the year 2009. Tonight is the fifth day of Hanukkah. According the Mayan calendar, there are 1101 days till the end of the current cycle. In 1791, the Virginia General Assemble ratified the Bill of Rights. Here are five people that share a birthday on this day:
Tim Conway (Born 1933)
This American comedian and actor was born Thomas Daniel Conway in Willoughby, Ohio, known mainly for his sitcoms, films and television. His biggest television sitcoms were as Ernest Borgnine’s second-in-command on McHales’s Navy and as a co-star on the Carol Burnett show with Harvey Korman and Vicki Lawrence. Conway’s family moved to Chagrin Falls, Ohio where he learned broadcasting from Bowling Green University. His first jobs came with working with local Cleveland personalities, Hoolihan and Big Chuck and late night horror master, Ghoulardi. Through the sixties and seventies, Conway was a regular on television, starring in his own variety show, the Steve Allen Show, and in a series of comedic “How-To” videos where he plays a diminutive golfer named Dorf. Today, he is still acting, making guest appearances on many television sitcoms.
Don Johnson: (Born 1949)
Born Donnie Wayne Johnson in Flat Creek, Missouri, Don Johnson is an American actor known best for his television shows, Miami Vice and Nash Bridges. In addition to being an actor, he is also a singer, songwriter, producer, and director. Johnson always wanted to be an actor, studying theater at the American Conservatory in San Francisco. His first appearance was on the Dating Game in the late 1960s. He did a series of albums in the eighties and nineties playing off of his Miami Vice fame. Today, Johnson has returned to theater, by performing in the London production of Guys and Dolls, and acting in European movies.
Gustav Eiffel (1832-1923)
French structural engineer and entrepreneur, Alexandre Gustav Eiffel was born in Dijon, France. The name of Eiffel was adopted by his father since the French were unable to pronounce the German surname, Bönickhausen. His strongest influences growing up were from his uncles, who were both chemists. Gustav was very intelligent, but did poorly in school due to boredom. His strengths were in history and literature. Eventually, he would go to college where he learned engineering. Afterwards, he took a entry level position designing railroad bridges, but he kept pushing to do more. Eventually, he would start his own firm, gaining recognition for building international railroad bridges and expanding his reputation. He helped to work on the French attempt to build the Panama Canal and found himself doing work throughout Central America and Puerto Rico. His most famous structure, the Eiffel Tower, was built for as the entryway to the 1889 World’s Fair. It was supposed to be torn down after the Fair was over, but was so well received, the French left it up. Today, it is the most visited paid monument in the world and is considered a national icon of France.
Nero (37AD-68AD)
Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty was born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus in Rome, Italy. Upon the death of his uncle, the Emperor Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, he took the name of Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus. He ruled from 54AD to 68AD focusing mainly on trade, diplomacy, and building the glory of Rome. He promoted athletic games and theater within the city. His reign was marked by the Parthian War, the First Jewish-Roman War, and a British Revolt. He was an early persecutor of Christians (being responsible for the deaths of Apostles Peter and Paul) and was also known for his cruelty and extravagances. While emperor, he had his mother and brother-in-law, and pregnant (possibly with his child) sister executed. His entire reign is most infamously known for a great fire that spread through Rome where he purportedly “fiddled while Rome burned.” This is most likely an exaggeration, but it is possible he ordered the fires to be set so he could build more public buildings. Facing public execution by beating in 68AD, Nero committed suicide by thrusting a dagger into his throat – but not until after ordering a servant to show him how to do it by killing himself first.
Mo Vaughn (Born 1967)
American Baseball player born Maurice Samuel Vaughn in Norwalk, Connecticut, Vaughn was a major league first basemen from 1991-2003. Nicknamed “Hot Dog”, he won the American League MVP award in 1995 and was a three time All Star. He was known for “crowding the plate” – a stance where the elbow is hovering over the strike zone which causes pitchers to throw wide and outside. He played for the Boston Red Sox between 1991-1998, where he gained the reputation as a great hitter. In 1995, he hit 39 home runs and held a .300 batting average. He was traded to the Anaheim Angels after having some issues with Boston Red Sox management and the local news reporters, where he stayed till 2001. In that year, he was traded to the New York Mets, where he retired in 2003. Currently, he owns apartments in New York where he helps the underprivileged.
