May 13: Comings and Goings

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 May 13 honorees:

Birthdays

Debby Ryan - She began in community theater as a tot, and transitioned to professional theater in Germany after moving there at age seven. Hence, the dream of stardom! After returning to the Unites Sates at 10 years old, everything fell into place and Ms. Ryan, who was born on this date in 1994, became Bailey Pickett on the "The Suite Life on Deck" on Disney Channel.

Robert Pattinson - For this English actor, model and musician, it is indeed Twilight time. Born on this date in London in 1986, Mr. Pattinson leapt into acting at the tender age of 12. Success did not arrive, however, until 2005 when he landed the role of Cedric Diggory in the film "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." The next career step is legendary as he starred in the wildly popular film "Twilight" playing Edward Cullen.

Stephen Colbert - He gained a measure of popularity as a political satirist performing on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart, and then left for a spin-off aptly named "The Colbert Report," which quickly became one of the Channel's highest-rated programs. He now has three Emmy nominations to his credit and was a featured entertainer at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in 2006. He was born on this day in Washington D.C. in 1964.

Deaths

Selma Diamond - Always a popular entertainer and comedienne, Ms. Diamond enjoyed her most prominent success as Selma Hacker on the first two seasons of the television comedy series "Night Court." She made her living filtering every joke, line, and observation through a monotone, raspy voice. Early in her long career, she was a writer for the legendary "Your Show of Shows" with Sid Caesar. She passed away on this day in 1985 as a result of lung cancer.

Dan Blocker - A beloved actor, Mr. Blocker will forever be known for his outstanding portrayal of Hoss on the epic television series, "Bonanza." In 1972, Blocker died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism following routine gall bladder surgery in Los Angeles. The cast and crew of "Bonanza" were shaken by his death, and the writers took the then-unusual step of referencing a major character's death in the show's storyline that autumn.