March 12: Today's Notable Birthdays

Is March 12th your birthday? Was someone special to you born on March 12th? With whom will you choose to celebrate this excellent occasion?

If today is your birthday, then you are in excellent company.

March 12th was the birth date of several notable (or even notorious) individuals. Here they are:

March 12th Birthdays: Famous Artists

Elaine de Kooning, American Abstract Expressionist painter (Fairfield Porter, Out, Portrait of John F. Kennedy and Summer Afternoon), was born on March 12, 1920.

Danish painter Carl Holsoe (Woman with Fruit Bowl) was born on March 12, 1863.

Andre Le Notre, French landscape artist, was born on March 12, 1613. Andre Le Notre designed the famous Gardens of Versailles.

American bandleader and composer Paul Weston was born on March 12, 1912. Paul Weston's best known compositions included "I Should Care," "Nevertheless I'm in Love with You," "Shrimp Boats" and "The Theme from Shane." Paul Weston was married to singer Jo Stafford.

March 12th Birthdays: Famous Athletes

Hjalmar Andersen, Norwegian speed skater and Olympic gold medalist (1952), was born on March 12, 1923.

American race car driver John Andretti was born on March 12, 1963. John Andretti is the son of race car driver Aldo Andretti and the nephew of race car driver Mario Andretti. Race car driver A.J. Foyt is John Andretti's godfather.

Johnny Callison, American professional baseball player (Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies), was born on March 12, 1939.

Candy Costie, American synchronized swimmer and Olympic gold medalist (1984), was born on March 12, 1963.

Joaquim Carvalho Cruz, Brazilian runner and Olympic gold medalist (1984), was born on March 12, 1963.

Canadian professional hockey player Bronco Horvath was born on March 12, 1930. Bronco Horwath played for the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota North Stars, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Vernon Sanders (Vern) Law, American professional baseball player (Pittsburgh Pirates), was born on March 12, 1930. Vern Law was also known as Deacon Law.

American professional football player Mark Moseley was born on March 12, 1948. Mark Moseley played for the Cleveland Browns, Houston Oilers, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins.

Johnny Rutherford, American race car driver and Indianapolis 500 winner (1974, 1976 and 1980), was born on March 12, 1938.

American professional baseball player Darryl Strawberry (Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants) was born on March 12, 1962.

Gunde Svan, Swedish long jumper and Olympic gold medalist (1984 and 1988), was born on March 12, 1962.

Cristina Teuscher, American swimmer and Olympic gold medalist (1996), was born on March 12, 1978.

American professional baseball player Jim Wynn (Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees) was born on March 12, 1942.

March 12th Birthdays: Famous Authors and Journalists

Edward Albee, American playwright, author and Pulitzer Prize winner (1967, 1975 and 1994), was born on March 12, 1928. Edward Albee's published works included The Ballad of the Sad Café, The Death of Bessie Smith, A Delicate Balance, The Lady from Dubuque, Marriage Play, Occupant,The Sandbox, Seascape, Three Tall Women, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and The Zoo Story.

British-Irish clergyman, philosopher and author George Berkeley (Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision, Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous and A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge) was born on March 12, 1685.

Gabriele D'Annunzio, Italian political leader and author (The Intruder), was born on March 12, 1863.

Lloyd Dobbins, American television newscaster (NBC News Overnight), was born on March 12, 1936.

American novelist Carl Hiaasen (Basket Case, A Death in China, Double Whammy, Flush, Hoot, Lucky You, Native Tongue, Nature Girl, Powder Burn, Scat, Sick Puppy, Skin Tight, Skinny Dip, Stormy Weather, Strip Tease, Tourist Season and Trap Line) was born on March 12, 1953.

Jack Kerouac, American Beat poet and author (Big Sur, Desolation Angels, The Dharma Bums, Doctor Sax, Lonesome Traveler, Maggie Cassidy, On the Road, The Subterraneans, The Town and the City and Visions of Cody), was born on March 12, 1922.

March 12th Birthdays: Famous Business Leaders

British real estate mogul Charles Cunningham Boycott was born on March 12, 1832. Charles Boycott alienated his tenants, who dubbed their campaign against him a boycott.

Adolph Simon Ochs, American publisher (The New York Times), was born on March 12, 1858.

American theatrical producer Roger L. Stevens was born on March 12, 1910. Roger Stevens produced Bedroom Farce, Broken Glass, Bus Stop, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Death of a Salesman, Deathtrap, First Monday in October, Half a Sixpence, A Man for All Seasons, Mary Mary, Old Times, Separate Tables, Shadowlands, Tea and Sympathy, West Side Story and other theatrical shows. Roger Stevens was a founder of The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and The National Council on the Arts.

Clement Studebaker, American automaker, was born on March 12, 1831.

March 12th Birthdays: Famous Performers

Julia Campbell, American actress (Opportunity Knocks), was born on March 12, 1963.

British guitarist, singer and songwriter Graham Coxon (Blur) was born on March 12, 1969.

Aaron Eckhart, American actor, was born on March 12, 1968. Aaron Eckhart has appeared in many motion pictures, including Conversations with Other Women, The Core, The Dark Knight, Erin Brockovich, In the Company of Men, No Reservations, Nurse Betty, Paycheck, Possession, Thank You for Smoking and Your Friends & Neighbors.

American actress Barbara Feldon (Get Smart and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) was born on March 12, 1932.

Mike Gibbons, Welsh rock drummer (Badfinger), was born on March 12, 1949.

British hard rock bassist Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) was born on March 12, 1957.

Marlon Jackson, American pop singer (The Jackson 5), was born on March 12, 1957. Marlon Jackson is brother to singers Jackie Jackson, Janet Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, LaToya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Michael Jackson, Randy Jackson and Tito Jackson.

American jazz singer Al Jarreau was born on March 12, 1940. Al Jarreau's most popular songs include "Breakin' Away," "Moonlighting" and "We're in This Love Together."

Tyler Patrick Jones, American actor (Bad News Bears, Ben 10: Race Against Time, Fathers and Sons, Feast, Ghost Whisperer, Minority Report, Red Dragon, Silver Lake, The Spiderwick Chronicles and Yours Mine and Ours), was born on March 12, 1994.

American actor Jerry Levine (Born on the 4th of July, Charles in Charge, K-9 and Teen Wolf) was born on March 12, 1957.

Samm Levine, American actor (Anderson's Cross, Club Dread, Freaks and Geeks, Not Another Teen Movie, Pulse and Sydney White), was born on March 12, 1982.

American actor (Carousel, The Desert Song and Oklahoma) and singer ("C'est Magnifique," "Hair of Gold Eyes of Blue," "I Still Get Jealous," "It's Magic" and "The Secret") Gordon MacRae was born on March 12, 1921.

Liza Minnelli, American singer, actress (Arrested Development, Arthur, Cabaret and The Sterile Cuckoo) and Academy Award winner (1972), was born on March 12, 1946. Liza Minnelli's parents were film director Vincente Minnelli and singer and actress Judy Garland.

Russian ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinsky was born on March 12, 1889. Vaslav Nijinsky's brother was ballet dancer Bronislava Nijinska.

Brian O'Hara, British rock guitarist and singer (The Fourmost), was born on March 12, 1942.

American actress (Fail-Safe, The Group, Love of Life, The Night Holds Terror and Seven Days in May) and television personality (Down You Go and To Tell the Truth) Hildy Parks was born on March 12, 1926. Hildy Parks married actor Jackie Cooper and theatrical producer Alexander H. Cohen.

Bill Payne, American rock keyboardist (Little Feat), was born on March 12, 1949.

American actor Jon Provost (Lassie) was born on March 12, 1950.

Randy Stonehill, American Christian rocker ("Baby Hates Clowns," "Breath of God," "I'll Remember You," "King of Hearts," "Lonely House," "Shut De Do," "Turning Thirty" and "Weight of the Sky"), was born on March 12, 1952.

American folk and rock pianist, guitarist, singer and songwriter James Taylor was born on March 12, 1948. James Taylor's most popular songs include. "Blossom," "Carolina in My Mind," "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," "Everyday," "Handyman," "How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You," "Mockingbird," "Shower the People," "Sweet Baby James," "Up on the Roof" and "You've Got a Friend." Perhaps the most popular James Taylor song of all was his 1970 hit single, "Fire and Rain." Brother to musician Livingston Taylor, James Taylor was married to pop singer Carly Simon.

Courtney B. Vance, American actor (12 Angry Men,Blind Faith, Cookie's Fortune, Hamburger Hill, The Hunt for Red October, The Last Supper, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Love and Action in Chicago, Panther, The Preacher's Wife, Space Cowboys and The Tuskegee Airmen), was born on March 12, 1960. Courtney B. Vance married actress Angela Bassett.

American actor Titus Welliver (Assault on Precinct 13, Biker Boyz, Deadwood, The Doors, Gone Baby Gone, Mobsters, Mulholland Falls and Twisted) was born on March 12, 1961.

Georgette Lizette (Googie) Withers, Indian actress, was born on March 12, 1917. Googie Withers appeared in Accused, Dead of Night,Devil on Horseback, Northanger Abbey and One of Our Aircraft is Missing.

March 12th Birthdays: Famous Scientists

George Berkeley, Irish bishop, philosopher and scientist, was born on March 12, 1685.

Japanese physicist and Nobel Prize winner (1973) Leo Esaki Reona was born on March 12, 1925.

American astronaut Walter M. Shirra, Jr., was born on March 12, 1923. Wally Shirra participated in the Apollo 7, Gemini 6 and Mercury 8 space missions.

March 12th Birthdays: Famous World (and Other) Leaders

Sir John Abbott, Canadian Prime Minister, was born on March 12, 1821.

Argentinean President Raul Alfonsin was born on March 12, 1927.

Kemal Ataturk, Turkish President, was born on March 12, 1881.

Mexican President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz was born on March 12, 1911.

Jane Means Appleton Pierce, American First Lady (to 14^th U.S. President Franklin Pierce), was born on March 12, 1806.

Mitt Romney, Governor of Massachusetts and 2008 candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Presidency, was born on March 12, 1947. The 2008 Republican Presidential nomination was held by Senator John McCain (R-AZ).

Finnish Premier Vaino A. Tanner was born on March 12, 1881.

Andrew Young, American diplomat and clergyman, was born on March 12, 1932. Andrew Young served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, President of the National Council of Churches and mayor of Atlanta, Georgia.

Do you know any others who are celebrating birthdays on March 12th?

If you know additional notable people (including yourself) who may be celebrating a birthday on March 12th, please indicate so in a comment below. Thank you!

Happy Birthday, March 12th.

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