May 26: 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 26 honorees:

Birthdays

James Arness - Here is one more entertainer probably known almost exclusively for the character he played. Marshall Matt Dillon was born on this day in Minneapolis in 1923. Very few actors have demonstrated the kind of endurance as Mr. Arness, who played Dillon for 20 consecutive years on "Gunsmoke." He is also fondly remembered for two classic science fiction films, "The Thing," and "Them."

Lenny Kravitz - He is an eclectic talent, demonstrating extraordinary skills as a songwriter, record producer, arranger, singer and musician, often playing all the guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and percussion himself when recording. Mr. Kravitz was born on this day in 1964 in New York City, and emerged as a musical force in the late '80's. He ultimately won the Grammy Award for "Best Male Rock Vocal Performance" four years running from 1999 to 2002, and has won his share of other awards ranging from the American Music Awards to the MTV Video Music Awards

Sally Ride - This former NASA astronaut fulfilled a dream of so many when she responded to an advertisement seeking applicants for the space program, along with approximately 9,000 others in 1978. Born on this day in 1951 in Los Angeles, Ms. Ride became the first American woman and youngest American at that time to enter space.

Deaths

Sydney Pollack - Quite simply, he was one of our great talents who was able to demonstrate extraordinary directing skills, and then effortlessly morph into a brilliant actor along the way. He began directing television shows in the 1960s before moving to films. He directed more than 20 films and 10 television shows, acted in more than 30 films or television programs, and produced nearly 50 films. The list is more than impressive: "Jeremiah Johnson," "The Way We Were," "Three Days of the Condor," "Absence of Malice," "Out of Africa," (for which he won Academy Awards for directing and producing) "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" "Tootsie," "The Firm," "Sabrina," "The Interpreter," and "Michael Clayton." He passed away at the age of 73 from stomach cancer.

"Friz" Freling - Along with the immortal Chuck Jones, Mr. Freleng was responsible for giving us our favorite Warner Brothers cartoon characters, including Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, Sylvester, Yosemite Sam and Speedy Gonzales. Mr. Freleng, who passed away at the age of 89 in 1995, was a skilled animator, cartoonist, director, and producer.