April 28: Births and Deaths

Birthdays are a wonderful daily occurrence in our lives. It is rare to weave through one's day without becoming privy to an announcement or celebration of a birthday or two, whether they belong to family, friends, or other eminent figures. Remembering those who have passed each day is, perhaps, just as noteworthy an endeavor, for if their memories are kept alive, one might argue, so too are their spirits.

Here is a sampling of April 28 honorees:

Birthdays

Jessica Alba - Everyone likes to believe the life of the entertainer is embroidered in gold, but Jessica Alba's childhood was anything but trouble-free. Born in 1981 in Pomona, California, she contracted pneumonia several times a year for a period of time, suffered from collapsed lungs, and ruptured an appendix. Amazingly, she was still able to gather herself for a career which began at the age of 13. She vaulted to new heights in the television series "Dark Angel" in 2000 when she was only 19, and has had an active film career since.

Penelope Cruz - Born in Madrid, Spain in 1974, Ms. Cruz is Spain's first female Academy Award winner which she garnered for her recent performance in Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." Her other standout work in American movies includes "Vanilla Sky" with Tom Cruise, "Blow," "Gothika," and "Sahara." She also was multiply nominated for "Volver," a film by one of her favorite directors, Pedro Almodóvar.

Jay Leno - Gifted comedian and long time host of "The Tonight Show," Jay Leno has enjoyed a brilliant career. Thrust into the crosshairs of entertainment history pressure as the successor to Johnny Carson, Leno performed admirably. Born in New Rochelle, New York in 1950 but grew up in Andover, Massachusetts. Leno's route to the top was long, but rewarding. He spent many years as a stand-up comic travelling nationally from gig to gig, a routine he maintains today when schedules allow.

Deaths

Tommy Newsome - Following up on today's "Tonight Show" theme, Tommy Newsome passed away today in 2007. Johnny Carson loved to playfully insult Newsom, calling the band's substitute director "Mr. Excitement" when he filled in for Doc Severinsen. He was a long-time saxophone player in the NBC Orchestra, beginning there in 1962.

Jim Valvano - One of the more charismatic voices on the college basketball coaches' scene, Valvano was tragically struck with cancer early in life, and passed away on this day in 1993 at the age of 47. Only ten years earlier, his North Carolina State team had stunned the basketball world by defeating heavily favored Houston in the finals of the 1983 NCAA Basketball Tournament. His inspirational words about living life and battling defiantly against odds are still remembered today.